When I was packing to come to Barcelona, I thought to myself, I'm not going to be spending any time in my apartment. That didn't work out quite as well as I thought, but there are still a few spots I enjoy going to. Below are four spots that you might enjoy going to if you’re ever in Barcelona.
Hidden spot number 1: Plaza de Gracia
This place is bursting with life all the time. During the day, you'll find tons of little kids running around, playing soccer, and eating ice cream. At night, the place is packed with people eating dinner outside. I live right up the street, so I frequent the plaza pretty often. And there is a cute little cafe called Vreneli (I found it the one time I had to study) with almost 50 different kinds of tea, cookies, and free Wi-fi.
Hidden spot number 2: Parks of Sagrada Familia
Ok, its not so hidden, but there's more to it! During the daytime, it's great for people watching. Thousands upon thousands of tourists come to see La Sagrada Familia everyday, and many of the locals hang out in the parks around it. I never go during the daytime though, I'm paranoid about pick pocketers. At night, however, the parks have a different feeling. Gone are the tourists, and on come the lights of the cathedral. A few locals walk their dogs, but other than that, the place is pretty empty. Definitely a good place to just relax for a while.
Hidden spot number 3: Sta. Piadina
I absolutely love this restaurant. It's located in the small streets of El Born and has a charming atmosphere. The food consists of something between wraps and crepes. There are four types of tortillas to choose from, and no, I'm not talking about the Spanish tortillas, and the lady fills it with all kinds of delicious ingredients. I usually get the Sta. Fabiola: mushrooms, eggplant, zucchini, Parmesan, tomato, and a few other things. It's delicious. Plus it's definitely worth the 5 euros (cheap is hard to come by in Barcelona).
Hidden spot number 4: Park Guell
This one isn’t hidden either, but it is impossible not to love this place. Not only is it full of Gaudi’s colorful architecture, but it also overlooks the entire city. If you are a morning person, the view is stunning at sunrise. The park is rather large and it is easy to get lost, but it’s definitely better that way. I usually go up there to read on one of the many benches. Fun fact – the stone balls that encircle the park (people are usually sitting on them) are meant to symbolize rosary beads.
Hidden spot number 1: Plaza de Gracia
This place is bursting with life all the time. During the day, you'll find tons of little kids running around, playing soccer, and eating ice cream. At night, the place is packed with people eating dinner outside. I live right up the street, so I frequent the plaza pretty often. And there is a cute little cafe called Vreneli (I found it the one time I had to study) with almost 50 different kinds of tea, cookies, and free Wi-fi.
Hidden spot number 2: Parks of Sagrada Familia
Ok, its not so hidden, but there's more to it! During the daytime, it's great for people watching. Thousands upon thousands of tourists come to see La Sagrada Familia everyday, and many of the locals hang out in the parks around it. I never go during the daytime though, I'm paranoid about pick pocketers. At night, however, the parks have a different feeling. Gone are the tourists, and on come the lights of the cathedral. A few locals walk their dogs, but other than that, the place is pretty empty. Definitely a good place to just relax for a while.
Hidden spot number 3: Sta. Piadina
I absolutely love this restaurant. It's located in the small streets of El Born and has a charming atmosphere. The food consists of something between wraps and crepes. There are four types of tortillas to choose from, and no, I'm not talking about the Spanish tortillas, and the lady fills it with all kinds of delicious ingredients. I usually get the Sta. Fabiola: mushrooms, eggplant, zucchini, Parmesan, tomato, and a few other things. It's delicious. Plus it's definitely worth the 5 euros (cheap is hard to come by in Barcelona).
Hidden spot number 4: Park Guell
This one isn’t hidden either, but it is impossible not to love this place. Not only is it full of Gaudi’s colorful architecture, but it also overlooks the entire city. If you are a morning person, the view is stunning at sunrise. The park is rather large and it is easy to get lost, but it’s definitely better that way. I usually go up there to read on one of the many benches. Fun fact – the stone balls that encircle the park (people are usually sitting on them) are meant to symbolize rosary beads.
Nadine Merheb is the Spring 2013 CEA MOJO in Barcelona, Spain