Barcelona, Catalonia : 8-24 hours
Barcelona is all about football and Antoni Gaudi, so take your pick from this list if you find yourself in Barcelona with precious hours to use for a local adventure:
- La Sagrada Familia: Queue up in the morning about 8:15am so that you are among the first 100 through the gate at 9:00am. Cafe con leche can be found right across the street so don’t worry about the time. If you arrive after 10am you will be waiting in line for at least 2.5 hours. It’s worth the wait but you don;t have time to spare!
- Park Guell: A great jog or hike with panoramic views of the region. Excellent pop-in visit for business travelers because it is closer to the Business District then the rest of the city. Also a good alternative if you decide the queue at La Sagrada Familia is too long.
- FC Barcelona game - Barca doesn’t play as often as you might expect so plan ahead, or even plan your trip around the games.
Food: You will want to eat alot in Barcelona because the food is delicious.
- Head over to the Barri Gotic (the Gothic Quarter) and eat at any of the restaurants there that look good to you. If you decide not to eat here, at least have a helado or a glass of sangria in this historic, beautiful, can’t-miss this neighborhood.
- Another option is to go to Mercat de Boqueria on La Rambla and sidle up to whatever counter suits your fancy.
Hotel: I stayed in El Raval at Hotel Barcelo. This chain is very similar to the W Hotels, but half the price. El Raval is a very central location adjacent to Barri Gotic, La Rambla and the Barceloneta. Close to the Metro, great rooftop view of the city - an excellent choice for vacationers.