Do's and Don'ts of Barcelona

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I recently had the opportunity to visit Barcelona which was nothing short of magical, my cousin decided she wanted to take her senior photos there and since I was the photographer it obviously meant that I would go along. (Side note: Can more seniors make international senior sessions a thing? Combining a senior trip with photos seems like an amazing idea to me!)

While we were there we learned the do’s and don’ts of the town, of course not all of these will apply to everybody, but this is a summary of our experience. 


DO:

Bring A Professional Camera - If you’re going as a photographer this one only makes sense, you have to have your gear to complete a job! If you’re just going as a tourist I would bring the nicest camera you have available, the colors and details around every corner are incredible so you want to make sure you have the best possible camera to capture all the memories and preserve them for years to come.

DON’T: 

Taxi/Uber/Lyft - Opt for the Metro! It might take a little bit of effort to map out your journey but it’s so worth it. A 30 minute ride in a taxi service could cost upwards of 40-60 Euros, save that money for sangria and grab a metro map instead.

DO:

Go Wine Tasting - Even though you may only want to grab a few glasses sangria since it’s so delicious, but I highly recommend making a point to go on a wine tasting while you visit Barcelona. We found the tour on www.GetYourGuide.com, which maybe makes you cringe a little bit because you don’t want to be that “tourist-y” person, but I promise it’s totally worth it. Holy cow was it worth it. We visited SO many different locations and were able to taste SO many different wines. I have so many memories from the tour, I lookback on the photos multiple times a week just because they make me smile so much. Plus you get to take home a bottle of wine, I probably won’t open mine for about 50 years but I am definitely tempted to all the time because the wine was just that good. Click HERE to be directed to the same tour I took!

DON’T: 

Order Pasta - You’re probably wondering why this is in this list. Well for starters we had a bad experience, dry, not enough sauce. Secondly, you’re in the land of Tapas, aka the best appetisers you will ever eat. 10/10 order some different plates to share than a full meal just for yourself. You’ll get a chance to try so many different and incredible foods and dishes, and it’s socially acceptable to steal a piece of food off someone else’s plate. And if you really DO want pasta, Italy is just a hop, skip, and a jump away… And I’m totally down to photograph a senior session, or a wedding, or anything there.

DO: 

Stay at Apartment SixtyFour - We had a rough experience with our Airbnb, it definitely didn’t live up to the listing and we had to scramble to find last minute accomodations. We were so excited when we found Apartment SixtyFour because it was exactly what we needed! It was reasonable, we had space to spread out, it was centrally located which made getting around a breeze, plus it was so cute and trendy. I couldn’t recommend them more!

DON’T:

Go To Parc Guell - Hear me out, I worded it that way just to make your jaw drop. You know… Shock factor ;) Don’t go to Parc Guell in the afternoon! We went to Parc Guell at Sunrise right when the parc opened and it was breathtaking. There were only a handful of people in the parc at that time which means we pretty much had it to ourselves and our portraits weren’t obstructed by hundreds of tourists and we were able to explore at our leisure. Plus, the sunrise was priceless.

Other DO’S!

  • La Ramblas - One of the most famous streets in the world, filled with color, creativity, and culture. There are so many amazing little vendors and places to grab a quick bite to eat. Think of if an outdoor food market met a flea market, tons of amazing things to see and purchase. Definitely the best place to grab a souvenir from the trip.

  • The Market - Come hungry, leave happy. But seriously, be ready to try all the different foods and treats at the market. From mounds of handmade chocolates to freshly pressed juice and smoothies. Your taste buds will never want to leave.

  • The Gothic Center - This place is so much fun. The best way to describe it is a maze of phenomenal little shops, food, and nightlife. It’s the perfect place to explore with a group of your pals at night. We wandered around the streets all night from 9pm-1am and found some of the most incredible bars and tapas restaurants. (If you are looking for a specific recommendation, definitely check out Espit Chupitos, there’s no words to even describe how cool this place was!) Plus if music is your thing, there’s almost always live music in the area.

  • Sagrada Familia - Over the top architecture, details that will leave your jaw on the floor, this cathedral is like nothing you’ve ever seen before and it’s something that you need to experience before you leave!

  • (Just for fun) Blasting The Cheetah Girls 2 Album ;) 

Of course there’s an endless amount of things to do and see in Barcelona, but to me these are some tips and tricks for visiting Barcelona. Have you gone to Barcelona? Planning a trip? What are some of your favorite things? Leave a comment down below!

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