La belleza de Barcelona es una belleza que no puede comparar con otras ciudades. The beauty of Barcelona is a beauty that cannot be compared with other cities. As one of the top tourist destinations in the Mediterranean country, Spain, Barcelona has a lot to boast! During my recent “Semana Santa” [Holy Week] vacation, I was able to revisit the beautiful city after first visiting it when I was 15 years old and in high school. There was little that I could remember about the city, especially being so young and not really taking the time to appreciate what I was seeing. Coming back to Barcelona was definitely much-needed! I was only able to spend three days of my vacation time in the city, which was certainly not enough to see everything that Barcelona offers.

Planning a trip to Barcelona is no easy feat. It is one of the biggest tourist cities in Spain, among Madrid, Sevilla, and Ibiza. While my group and I were planning our trip to Barcelona, we did some hefty researching for the cheapest accommodations that still provided us with everything we wanted (can I get a holla for free Wi-Fi!). Finding cheap accommodations in the city center was tough; but we managed to find and book a nice hostel called The Mediterranean Youth Hostel. For three people in a four person room, we each paid €20 per night. The hostel also offered “family dinner” every night for €5, and a pub-crawl for €13. The Mediterranean Youth Hostel is in a great location that is close to two different metro lines and within walking distance to famous sites, such as Paseo de Gracia, Las Ramblas, and the picturesque Gothic quarter. The social vibe made it easy to meet different people and connect with other guests from around the world.

If this is your first time visiting Barcelona, or even your second or third visit, I would definitely recommend renting bikes to see the city through a different lens! My friend and I rented bikes for the day through “Ride or Die” for only €10! Barcelona has a very large bike community, which makes it extremely easy to visit different areas of the center. “Ride or Die” also offers different bike tours for tourists, a map of the city and its bike lanes, and extremely affordable prices. It was my first time renting a bike as a tourist, and I’m honestly hooked!

My absolute favorite aspect of this beautiful city, however, is the influence of artist, Antoni Gaudi. An extremely talented architect, many of his buildings are now considered World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. The most famous of his buildings and the number one tourist attraction in Barcelona is La Sagrada Familia. La Sagrada Familia is a breathtaking temple that is the perfect example of the detail and work that Gaudi provided for the city. To see the inside of the temple, I would recommend buying tickets online in advance. Unfortunately, I did not follow my own advice, and have yet to see what the temple has inside.

Barcelona is a city that is rich in culture, heritage, and vibrant in art and architecture. I have no doubt that you’ll fall in love with the city as much as I have!