BARCELONA, Spain.


Our trip to Barcelona was part two of our Spain trip! We spent less time in Barcelona than we did in Madrid. And while we aren't upset by the time spent in Barcelona, we did in fact enjoy Madrid more. For us, Madrid felt safer, cleaner, more relaxed and more authentic. The Madrid vibe definitely fit our personalities a bit more and the busyness Barcelona seemed to exude!


We stayed at the Via Sants Hotel during the visit, which was recently updated and gorgeous! We loved how close it was to the Sants Estació metro stop and the train station!


All photos were taken on my Google Pixel 6 and were not edited.

DAY ONE.

We took the train from Madrid to Barcelona, arriving to the midday sun and heat! We also arrived in Barcelona while one of Jason's coworkers was there! So we made some time to visit different attractions and get some delicious food with her! Here are some of the sights and adventures we had our first day in Barcelona...

  • Parc de la Ciutadella
  • Arc de Triomf
  • Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (which had me in my Cheetah Girls strut mood)
  • Arenas de Barcelona
  • For lunch Jason enjoyed seafood paella at Ardèvol
  • For dinner we had Spanish pizza at Can Pizza, which truly hit the spot after a hot day exploring
Arc de Triomf Barcelona Spain

Arc de Triomf

Plaça de Sonia Rescalvo Zafra in Parc de la Ciutadella Barcelona Spain

Plaça de Sonia Rescalvo Zafra in Parc de la Ciutadella

Arc de Triomf Barcelona Spain

Arc de Triomphe

Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya

View from the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya

Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya

Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya

Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya

Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya

We knew we had to see La Sagrada Familia! So we purchased tickets to go inside and to ascend the passion tower at sunset. The cathedral is beautiful inside and out- the attention to detail and the symbolism throughout is truly stunning! Shortly after we returned home from this trip, we learned that the contractors completed the Evangelists Matthew and John towers! Now they have only the central Jesus Christ tower to complete!

Aerial view of Barcelona cityscape through stone archway of Sagrada Familia tower.
Exterior view of the iconic Sagrada Familia basilica in Barcelona with construction crane visible.
Sunset view of Barcelona cityscape from Sagrada Familia tower with stone cross in foreground.
Interior ceiling of Sagrada Familia showing ornate columns and stained glass illuminated by natural light.
Low angle view of Sagrada Familia's intricate facade architecture against blue sky.
Colorful stained glass windows inside Sagrada Familia cathedral creating vibrant light patterns.
Spiral staircase view inside one of Sagrada Familia's towers.
Interior corridor of Sagrada Familia showing soaring columns and stained glass windows.
Sculptural spires and architectural details on Sagrada Familia's exterior towers.

DAY two.

This was our final full day in Spain! We were feeling a bit drained by the Barcelona heat, but had some must-see items on our touristy list for the day!

  • First, we had tickets to see Casa Batlló in the morning - and we learned that Gaudí is basically the hit of the city!
  • After seeing Casa Batlló we enjoyed a quick breakfast at Il Caffe di Francesco and enjoyed walking and taking in the sights, like seeing Casa Milà from the outside.
  • We shopped around Mercado de La Boqueria, and enjoyed some baked treats and fresh squeezed juice- which was super refreshing.
  • A major item on Jason's list was swimming in the Mediterranean Sea for the first time! So we made our way to the beach!
  • Dinner was at a little seafood restaurant near the sea, and we made our way back slowly to the hotel, and loved seeing the city at dusk!
Ornate Art Nouveau facade of Casa Batllo in Barcelona with curved balconies and decorative elements.
Curved wooden window frames and stained glass details in Casa Batllo's interior with natural light.
Geometric tile floor pattern inside Casa Batllo with visitors walking through the space.
Interior atrium of Casa Batllo showing curved balconies and architectural details.
Long white arched hallway with geometric black and white tiled floor pattern.
Elegant room with curved windows, chandelier and wooden details in Casa Batllo.

Our Spain trip was truly a blessing! It was relatively impromptu, which gave a sort of challenge for the planner within me to create the best itinerary I could! I love getting to experience a new country with Jason, and especially having been there for his first time in Europe!


Here's to the next adventure!