6 Things to Do in Barcelona
Two and a half days in Spain is certainly not enough, but due to our limited timing for this trip, which included a stopover in Finland, we were only allotted these couple of days to enjoy this beautiful place called Barcelona.
Our final destination with FinnAir was Spain, specifically Sitges and Barcelona. We spent a night in Sitges and two nights in Barcelona, leaving us extremely sad to leave so soon, as we all fell in love with the country. What’s there not to love honestly? Beautiful beach views, gorgeous architecture, the best paella, plenty of shopping centers, fresh coffee, and so much more. In fact, I’m surprised at how much we were able to do in two nights and complied a list of recommended activities for your next stay in Barcelona.
There is also a post featuring my list of things not to miss when you're in Sitges, click here to read!
1. Barcelona Cooking Class: this is a great activity for groups and you do not need any prior cooking skills as the Chef was extremely helpful throughout the entire process. There’s nothing more satisfying than eating a meal you cooked yourself, especially when it’s paealla. This 3-hour class taught us how to cook appetizers, main dish, and dessert, oh and wine is also included. You can find my Instagram stories from the class here. Trust me, it was really fun and I would’ve never thought I see KSOLE cook.
2. See Gaudi’s Work: Gaudi is no doubt a name everyone’s familiar with and his work is gorgeous. We didn’t have time to see his other works, but we did make a stop at La Sagrada Familia. While his latest project is still unfinished, with an expected completion date of 2025, it is still worth the visit. Expect crowds and if you want to go inside, order tickets in advance.
3. Go Shopping: In Sitges, you will find the cutest boutique stores but the finds may be limited. However in Barcelona, you will be overwhelmed by all the shopping options available. They literally have everything you could want, including stores such as Zara and every luxury brand you can dream of. I personally made a stop into Pull & Bear, Zara, and Louis Vuitton, and let’s just say that I had to check-in my bag on the way home.
4. Lunch by the Beach: For Barcelona, I highly recommend Mamarosa Beach restaurant, located by the W Hotel. It is about 30-minutes from the heart of the town but is worth the short trek. You may want to bring your swimsuit with you to tan on the beach right after.
Mamarosa Beach is a Mediterranean-Italian fusion restaurant with refreshing cocktails and shareable appetizers. For starters, I suggest the calamari, sushi rolls, and a salad. In regards to entrees, they had a great pasta dish and of course, their twist on paella.
5. Escape Room: there are quite a few options when it comes to Escape Room in Spain. We decided with Barcelocked, as it was closest to our hotel. We decided upon doing it at 10PM, which I honestly think was a great time since we were full from dinner and a bit buzzed. Escape Room is such a thrilling activity to do with your friends and/or co-workers, it’s great for team building. While it took us about 30 or so minutes to get out of the first room, we were able to complete the challenge with just 10-seconds left to spare. The feeling of accomplishment after you finish is worth the stress and anxiety you get during the game, lol.
There was certainly so much more to see in Barcelona, but with the limited time frame given, as we also had scheduled dinners and lunch reservations every day, we had to be smart with our time. I'm certainly planning on returning as I still have so much to see and do, but am so grateful and thankful that I was able to have visited. Big thanks to FinnAir for this amazing experience.
