Holiday bucket list: Barcelona
Every since we spent one single day there after our Disney Cruise back in 2013, I’ve been desperate to go back to Barcelona. Way back then, we were lucky to be with some lovely friends, Dave and Drew, who go to Barcelona a lot and could cherry pick all the best bits to show us in a single day, but even so, it’s impossible to cover in a day. Next time we’re back (which I think is in September), I’ve got so much stuff I want to see.
Last time, we headed to the terrifying, but fantastic Port Cable Car, the Transbordador Aeri del Port, which carried us way up above Barcelona. From there, we walked from the Miramar Gardens to the absolutely stunning (and suprisingly empty) Piscines Municipals de Montjuïc, made famous by Kylie’s ‘Slow’ video.
From there, we wandered through the lush Joan Maragall Gardens - an absolute oasis – past the pretty waterfalls of the Albéniz Palace, and down to the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya. Next time, I want to actually go in and see all the art collections inside. There are so many things I want to do - I want to take time to wander Las Ramblas, get up early and check out all the food stalls at La Boqueria and visit Gaudi’s incredible modernist works, Park Güell, the famous Sagrada Familia church, La Pedrera, and Casa Batllo.
On our trip, we walked down into the city to the Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes and into the Arenas shopping centre, the old bullring in the centre of Barcelona, where we went right to the top, where the roof opens out and you can sit and sip the most enormous bowls of gin and tonic, made perfect with the addition of a scoop of lemon sorbet.
Buckets of G&T in Barcelona
While looking over the city, we saw a couple of incredible rooftop pools and promised ourselves we’d come back and stay in one of the city centre hotels. HCC Hotels has six hotels in Barcelona, but the HCC Regente hotel’s top floor has a roof terrace with just such a pool, fabulous views of the city of Barcelona. I’ve also spotted their ‘wine and gin and tonic corner’ where they have a gin menu which is served with a selection of tapas. TAKE ME THERE!
The rooftop pool at the HCC Regente (pic: HCC Hotels)
What about you? Have you visited Barcelona and do you have any tips or anything I’ve missed out that an absolute must visit? I can’t wait to go back!
When my husband and I were in Barcelona a couple of years back (pre-baby!) he persuaded me to visit Camp Nou football ground with him and although I was reluctant we both really enjoyed it. Not sure how it would play out now with a seven month old but hopefully in a few years our boy will enjoy those sorts of trips! X
Oh that sounds really cool actually! Just think, in a few years you can take him back to where Kylie filmed her video (if he’ll know who Kylie is by then!) xx