Picking a list of my favorite places in Barcelona would require a 50 page guide filled with dozens of amazing restaurants, tourists sites, and neighborhoods along with rationalizations explaining why I made the difficult decision to exclude pretty much every other place I've been in the city. For the sake of time, however, I will (painfully) limit myself to three of my favorite places to visit when
studying abroad in Barcelona.
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| A view of the water from the Bunkers at sunset is unlike anything else
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If I haven't already made it clear, there are a ton of things to do in Barcelona and plenty of great places to see. The three places I am going to focus on, however, are favorites of mine because I never get tired of them no matter how many times I visit. Even the idea of missing them after I leave in two months is already painful. The first happens to be my own neighborhood, Gracia.
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| Outdoor eating in the plazas of Gracia is always a good idea
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When I first got the news that my apartment was a metro ride away from my classes and the center of the city, it didn't seem ideal. I quickly learned, however, that I could not have been luckier to be placed in this area. Gracia is a neighborhood known for its abundance of young people, artistic and lively atmosphere, and adorable restaurants, shops, and plazas. Walking around Gracia makes me feel like I live in a student town as opposed to a large city. Whether or not you are staying or living in Gracia, I highly recommend anyone come spend an afternoon in the beautiful neighborhood.
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| My friends and I love the big trees in the park
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Another of my favorite places in the city is the gorgeous Parc de Ciutadella. I somehow managed to make it a whole three weeks in Barcelona without even knowing this park existed. Once I found it however, I never stopped going back. Starting with the stunning Arc de Triomf, the park is filled with incredible sights such as the breathtaking giant fountain, the city zoo, the Parliament of Catalonia, a small lake, museums, gardens, and some of the coolest trees I have ever seen. With just enough people to fill the area with energy but enough space to get some alone time for relaxing or studying, this park is the perfect place to enjoy the Barcelona sun.
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| The beautiful fountain in the park is always surrounded by people
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Lastly, perhaps my favorite spot in Barcelona is the Bunker del Carmel, known to everyone in the city simply as "Bunkers." There are plenty of awesome places to get a good view of the city, but this one is by far the best in my opinion. Less of a tourist site than other popular viewpoints, the Bunkers are free to visit and are an easy walk or bus ride from Gracia. The site consists of the remains of an old civil war bunker, which provides many different structures to climb on and settle in to get a 360 view of Barcelona. Especially during the sunset, you will find locals and visitors playing music or enjoying a picnic with a group of friends all over the ruins. The incredible view of the water, mountains, and monuments of the city that seem close enough to touch make this place a magical experience I don't think I could ever grow tired of.
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The Bunkers are also an ideal photo
spot I have to admit
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Julia D. is the Spring 2017 MOJO Blogger in Barcelona, Spain. She is currently a Junior studying Communications & Film at University of Michigan.
