EXPLORE EUROPE: Barcelona

Travels in Barcelona: July 2015

Barcelona has to be one of the most stunning cities I have ever been too. At the peak of summer I recommend finding shade in the hours between 1-3, the heat is incredible.

Getting around the city:

The city itself is massive. Lots of beautiful hidden streets and pavement cafes to explore. However, La Rambla and the surrounding area is extremely busy and full of tourists which makes it impossible to drive through. I recommend using the tour bus system. The way it works is that you pay for a two day pass which allows you to travel anywhere in the city on a double decker bus. The ticket is valid for two days which makes it perfect for weekend trips. As you arrive on the bus you are welcomed with a book of discount vouchers to popular attractions and restaurants in and around Barcelona. You are also given a complimentary set of ear phones that you can plug into their tour radio to listen to interesting facts about destinations as you drive past them. The bus stops very regularly so you are able to hop on and off any time you like as long as you display your ticket as you arrive on the bus. It allows you to not only travel around to different attractions, but also allows you to experience the whole city at a inexpensive cost. 

Must do's in Barcelona?

There is so much to do in Barcelona that you could honestly spend weeks there trying to do it all and so this is my short list of 'must do's' when visiting Barcelona:

• Magic Fountain of Montjuïc - These fountains certainly live up to their name. If you visit in the evening, you have a chance of seeing the fountain(s) being light up with beautiful colours which is truly magical.

• Montjuïc- Montjuïc is a hill in Barcelona. You can travel up this using a gondola which gives you the best view over the city and allows you to see the amazing beach. This is very inexpensive to do and only costs a couple of euros per person. The gondola has several stops but the final one takes you to a castle which you can visit if you wish. 

• Park Güell- This is a public park system composed of beautiful gardens and breathtaking buildings located on Carmel hill. I do not recommend walking up this hill to reach the entrance, unless you have too. I suggest taking a taxi as it is extremely steep, however it is not impossible.

• Sagrada Familia- I don't often visit churches but, wow. This is a MUST when visiting the area. On a sunny day the colours in the stain glass windows bounce into the church making it light up like a rainbow. The height of it is unbelievable and you can even walk up the towers to the top. This is the most beautiful church I have ever been to in my life and I recommend it to everyone visiting Barcelona, whether you're religious or not. 

Food and Drink:

If you love tapas, Barcelona is definitely the city for you. With a unbelievable amount of tapas bars to choose from, you can find something for everyone. Even if tapas isn't your cup of tea, there are plenty of Italian and Indian restaurants too. For breakfast and lunches there are a ridiculous amount of supermarkets located down every street which provides a wide range of foods. Who knew that alcohol is actually cheaper than fizzy pop there?!!

Shopping:

Being a shopaholic, Barcelona definitely met my standards + more! Unfortunately in Britain we don't have a sephora but I got to experience going for the first time in Barcelona (twice lol)! I was in my element. Many designer shops such as Gucci and Micheal kors are located on la rambla. However, there are plenty of high street stores all around the city including Zara, Mango, H&M and topshop. I especially liked Zara in Barcelona as it was much cheaper compared to the ones back in Britain AND they were hundreds all over the city! 

I hope you enjoyed reading my rough guide to Barcelona. Here's some of my favourite pictures from my time in Barcelona, enjoy x

If you want to check out more of my adventure check out my youtube video! If you have any questions then pop them in the comments section below, thanks