Journalist Callum Topazio shows us how to spend the perfect day in Barcelona. Boasting a pick ’n’ mix of cultural gems from arty museums to majestic architecture, Barcelona is climbing up the
bucket lists of discerning travellers. But, if your trip only allows for a day in the cosmopolitan capital of Spain’s Catalonia region, here are the hotspots you simply cannot miss.
It was my partner’s 30th birthday that took us to Barcelona as our May getaway, his only wish was to turn 30 in a brand-new country, so he booked the flights and we started planning. As a writer and a graphic designer, arty Barcelona appealed to us as a couple with its glittering offering of immersive museums and striking architecture; we were thrilled with the prospect of exploring a brand new city and it would be my first time in Spain.
The initial stop of the day has to be breakfast to fuel you for all the exploring to come, and like most European cities, Barcelona can be a bit sleepy in the morning. I’d recommend Billy Brunch & Park a trendy and modern spot that serves the Instagrammable breakfast you can’t resist snapping. Known for its mascot, a butter-yellow chick, the breakfast restaurant champions eggs with superfood omelettes and the fluffiest pancake stacks gracing the menu. The restaurant has friendly staff, a buzzing atmosphere, and reasonably priced dishes.
Top Tip: Remember that they don’t take reservations and can get busy at the weekends, so aim to get there as close to opening time (9:30 a.m.) as possible.
Fuelled up, the next stop was to head on the metro to get the Montjuïc Funicular and ride a cable car to the top! We booked our tickets the day before, after seeing the exhilarating views and vistas all over social media. If you plan further ahead than us, day trips are often included in travel passes and I’d recommend purchasing a day pass for the metro so you can travel about as much as you’d like – it’s much like the London underground, just a lot cleaner!
Heading off the metro, we queued for the cable car, bundling us into glass pods that whizzed us 750m up to the top. Despite, simply being the transport to the Montjuïc Castle at the peak, the 360-degree vistas of Barcelona are a marvel and certainly an experience in themselves. At the top, the Castle stands as an iconic piece of Catalonian architecture, but we were happy to wander around the mountain, stumbling upon hidden gardens, marina views and the peaks of the Sagrada Familia piercing the Barcelona skyline around us. There are a few stops to catch the cable car back down to the metro stop when you’re ready.
Top Tip: Whilst you are a bit further out from the central hub of the city, I recommend taking the time to grab some light tapas to keep you going, and the prices will be considerably more reasonable than closer to the city centre.
Perhaps the most obvious suggestion for the perfect day in Barcelona is , the Sagrada Familia was the next checkpoint on our itinerary, not only one of the most famous buildings in Barcelona, but in Europe itself. This iconic building is a never-ending evolution, fulfilling the artistic vision of the famed artist Gaudi when construction started in 1882. This was one of the elements we booked ahead, with entry and a trip up one of two Basilica towers included in our ticket. The interior is a kaleidoscope of stained glass and glowing colour mixed with a sort of Geiger meets Skims architectural skeleton that stretches as far as the eye can see, you can see why this detail-orientated space has taken hundreds of years to perfect.
We were lucky enough to also take the lift up the Nativity Tower, one of the highest points of the Sagrada
Familia. Pushed like sardines into a pod, we whisked up, opening out onto whipping winds and the distant sound of the city humming below us. The Eastern views stretch out on either side of the bridge between the towers, allowing you a birds-eye vista of the bustling urban cityscape. It is a marvel of history, with audio guides and tours available for those who want all the facts.
Top Tip: If you do decide to take a trip up to the towers, note that there is no lift back down, only over 500 spiral steps! They neglect to tell you this until you are halfway up the lift to the top, so keep this in mind if you have accessibility needs. Also, try to book it for sunset to enjoy the pastel skies fade to pink and red.
One of my favourite parts of being on holiday has to be that section between day to night, when your body is weary from your adventures and you retreat back to your accommodation to refresh, open a bottle of wine and get glam for the evening. We were lucky enough to be staying close to the Sagrada Familia, in an Air BnB with views of the marvel itself and just a five-minute walk to the building.
Part of the Hostemplo catalogue, the self-contained flat shone when it came to the private balcony for pre-drinks in style as the city started to turn to dusk. Fully private and only accessible via key card, the space was quiet, cosy and perfect for a short stay.
Amazing at any time of day, the Gothic Quarter is a winding maze of boutique shops, fascinating museums and secret wine bars that may just become your new favourite bolthole. It’s ideal for late-night drinks to round off your perfect day in Barcelona, as you bar hop between the neon signs sipping on sangria and cocktails.
You can’t miss the Moco Museum, a contemporary and modern art exhibition filled with Bansky and Hirst masterpieces that effectively juxtapose the historic cobbles of the streets outside. Plus, the Studio Irma exhibition is a marvel of light and colour, using a completely mirrored room and pulsating strings of diamonds to form an immersive experience that is out of this world. The best part, they’re open till 9 pm so you can squeeze this into your evening itinerary.
Top Tip: The Gothic Quarter is also home to some of the best street art in the region. The Kiss of Freedom is a mosaic formed from individual tiles donated by the public, with every image representing something they love.
For a city you could easily spend weeks and weeks in, it is nearly impossible to fit every piece into the perfect day in Barcelona, but I wish you all the best on your Barcelona adventures.
