Casa Batllo is one of Gaudi's beautiful architecture designs. I purchased the tickets online and…read morewas instructed to download the app. Within the app there is access to the tickets and the audio tour once you arrive that describes the different sections. The exterior is so beautiful and resembles a sea creature. He was known to get his inspiration from nature and it shows throughout Casa Batllo. The tour took about an hour. We went early in the day to avoid a long wait time. There are some gift shops in different sections throughout the tour and they also had an option to take a photo on the balcony which was available for purchase. Overall it was a nice experience!

Another one of Gaudi's works of art. You can pay to get in, or just view it from the street. Either…read moreway it's a must visit.

Absolutely amazing and beautiful historic church that is rich in history and beautiful detail and…read morefinest of craftsmanship. There is a lot of history and as far I know this temple has been being built since the the late 1800's and continued to be worked on until this day. I highly recommend making reservations well in advance to experience the wonder of La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona and the guided automated tour is spectacular and very well done and organized. Each side of the pristine chapel has beautiful meaning and full of rich and tells the story of Christ. Few notes: there is a restroom and souvenir shop available. 5 stars because anything less would be sacrilegious and disrespectful. Thank you for this historic landmark and for maintaining such a beautiful and grand masterpiece that is the La Sagrada Familia!

One of the highlights on our 2-week trip to Spain and Portugal. Gaudi's grand masterpiece in the…read moreresidential Eixample neighborhood is an icon of the city. It boasts bold, wildly creative, unmistakable organic architecture and décor inside and out - from its melting Glory Façade to its skull-like Passion Façade to its rainforest-esque interior. Really spectacular! We came at the end of the day, and the light was flooding through the stained glass window. We also did the Bell tower which has gorgeous panoramic views of the city. You take the elevator up and then down about 300 stairs down a narrow, winding staircase. Note: Buy timed entry reservations in advance, and make sure you book on the official website: www.sagradafamilia.org. I initially got scammed by Feel the City and paid €340, instead of €140. I hate that; the scammer sites are very official looking.

This truly amazing Romanesque cathedral is the centerpiece of this well preserved, living, 10th…read morecentury Catalan village. The first time I came to Barcelona I missed Girona as a day trip and now that I've been here I insist if you're in Catalonia you simply must experience this. A full day maybe two. The massive church is not just Romanesque, there are Gothic and Baroque elements. There are 8 pagan and early Christian sarcophagi (the 4th century), the recumbent Christ dates back to the 14th century by sculptor Aloi de Montbrai. It's just breathtaking. There is an admission fee, I can't remember what it was because a visit here is truly a priceless experience. It is up a steep climb but just take your time, rest a bit, climb on. Do not miss this.

A beautiful church that was once known as Girona's only cathedral up until the 10th century. It's…read morewell known for its' gothic structure, interior artwork, and slim bell tower. The church is named after and dedicated to St. Felix of Girona. I did a walking tour of Girona and the Basilica of Sant Feliu was one of the highlights. It isn't nearly as popular or as crowded as the nearby Girona Cathedral, but it still holds a great significance to the city. I did not get to tour the inside of the church, but the facade is charming enough to warrant a visit even if you don't go inside. If you're able to embark on a guided walking tour of the city, you'll learn a lot about the history of the church. Since Girona is small, most tours include the Basilica of Sant Feliu and you'll be able to walk through most of the downtown area in one day. It's worth a stop and at least a walking tour if you're planning to explore Girona.

Ever wish you could travel in a time machine? Walk the 9th century walls of Girona and it might…read morefeel like you've stepped back in time. I've developed a fear of heights in my old age, but that only meant it took me longer. There's no charge (!) for this amazing historic site, you really want to spend a few hours strolling (and climbing). Make sure your phone or camera has a full charge.

Walking around the old city area of Girona was one of the highlights of our Barcelona trip, and…read morewalking on the old city walls was the pinnacle of that experience, both literally and figuratively! The wife and I visited Girona during the off-peak season, and it was nice to be able to stroll around the picturesque old city without running into too many people. Most tourists were hanging out around the shop/restaurant part of the city and around places like Girona Cathedral. Passeig de la Muralla, the old walls, is rated on TripAdvisor as the #1 thing to do in Girona, yet it saw only a fraction of the foot traffic. Which was great for us! Girona's walls were originally constructed by the Romans, with foundations dating to possibly the 1st century BC. Much of the present-day walls were constructed between the 9th to 17th centuries. The walls offered protection from the outside and a sweeping view of the city inside. Parapets interspersed along the walls, accessible via circular stairs, offer even better views still. The walls look out loftily towards old landmarks nearby and the modern city and large park (Parc de la Devesa) behind. The walkaway on top is fairly narrow, so two people have to squeeze past each other. There are several access points to get up onto the walls, but they do require being able to walk up some stairs. The unsupervised, simple and beautiful experience is what makes a visit to Passeig de la Muralla so wonderful. Definitely worth a visit, but shh, don't tell anyone else.

The Gothic Quarter is the oldest section of Barcelona. My husband and I hired a guide to take us on…read morea private tour of Barcelona, and one of my favorite parts of our tour was walking around the Gothic Quarter. We enjoyed seeing the remains of a Roman wall, the Barcelona Cathedral, the Mercado de La Boqueria, the Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar, cobblestone alleyways, public squares, stores, restaurants, and more. If you are planning a vacation for Barcelona, then I highly recommend that you stroll through the Gothic Quarter.

Most of my adventures through the Gothic Quarter in Barcelona were of historic buildings and…read morechurches which are surrounded by retail shops and unique tapas and cafe eateries. The wife and I got the pleasure to take a four hour food and wine tour throughout the Gothic Quarter providing us the opportunity to taste true Barcelona at four different locations. The area has a dark, wet and slightly unsettling gloomy atmosphere with lots of unsanctioned wall graffiti, although gave it added character to the area.

We heard it was cool fountain with lights and music similar to Balagio fountain in Las Vegas. We…read morewalked a longggggg way to see only to find its not every night and we had passed through some areas we thought questionable sketchy. So the next night we took taxi to and from. Lots of people but we could still see and enjoy. Later several left and we crossed the street to be close and found spots right upfront. I loved it. Beautiful. Fun watching children play there and enjoying the music.

Easy to walk to, check the website for dates and showtimes. Great sight to see when in Madrid!read more

Beautiful monastery, located against the backdrop of the Montserrat mountain where the peaks are…read moreliterally surrounding the monastery. The Cathedral that is at the heart of this monastery is very ornate and gorgeous with classic European craftsmanship from an age gone by clearly visible throughout the cathedral. As beautiful as the monastery is, the elevated views from this location are drop dead gorgeous and worth the trip alone. Unfortunately, on the day we visited, there was a mass going on where they closed viewing of the black Madonna for the day to not be in conflict with the mass which is standard practice. So you need to keep an eye on this if you plan to visit this site. The other negative thing is that the place was slammed with tourist and I felt that the outlying buildings were completely commercialized to sell trinkets to the tourist that visit. I personally am not a fan when places of worship do this, but I do understand that this type of operation probably funds the maintenance and operation of monastery year-round and is probably a necessary evil in this case. All in all, this is one of the main attractions in the Barcelona area and should be included on any itinerary during your visit here. Opportunities to see beauty like this along with it's historical relevance are far few and in between and should be taken advantage of anytime you're given this opportunity.

Quite the journey but makes a great day trip outside of the city. Although it can get very crowded…read moreup there, it's still relaxing and surreal. Book tickets in advance as they sell out, especially the choir which is the highlight of the day. They perform at 1:00pm sharp.

At the heart of Barcelona, Plaça de Catalunya is where the city really comes together. It's a…read morelively square that's always full of people and is surrounded by shops, cafés, hotels, and major streets. It's also one of the easiest places to start exploring, with quick access to La Rambla, Passeig de Gràcia, the Gothic Quarter, and several metro, train, and airport bus connections. It's nice to simply sit by the fountains and take in the atmosphere. It's a great place to rest, people-watch, or grab a coffee before continuing your day.

A place to meet in the Heart of Barcelona…read more Placa de Catalunya is where my family most recently went to meet our tour guide Luke from Barkeno for the Ultimate Gaudí Experience. Since I had been to Placa de Catalunya in the past, it's a stop on the Barcelona Turistic Bus tour, I felt confident meeting there. Enter the most popular running race in Barcelona. Cursa de Corte Ingles is a free race that goes a little over 10K as it weaves through Barcelona. It goes through the Olympic stadium where you can live out your Olympic dreams as you run through the stadium and then cross the finish line in, you guessed it, Placa de Catalunya. It was really interesting to weave through the runners as we navigated our family of five to meet Luke and get our headphones for our Barkeno Guru Walk. We even used the underground Metro station twice to cross under the race. It was much harder when we were in a group of 25! Love the energy and spirit of both visits. Two different days. Very unique experiences. A beautiful place in the Heart of Barcelona.

Worth a stop. I am a fan of arches. We happened here as walking around the town. I don't know the…read morehistory of the arch nor did I care our tour gave us so much history I was glad you just walk around and explore on my own . Don't know if it was somehow trying to copy the arch in Paris either way it was cool . There's a very interesting part very close by with fountains and parakeets and all kinds of cool stuff so if you come to the arch definitely check out that Park beside the zoo . This was Popular location lots of people ... tourists and street performers. Popular photo spot.

This is one the most recognizable landmarks in Barcelona and it was built as the main entrance to…read morethe 1888 Barcelona Universal Exposition. One interesting fact about this arc is that unlike many triumphal arches that celebrate military victories, this one was designed as a symbol of progress and welcome. The red-brick architecture stands out beautifully, and the wide pedestrian promenade leading to the arch is lined with palm trees; suitable walkway. The atmosphere around this landmark is very lively. Locals and visitors gather here to walk, cycle, relax, and enjoy street performances, giving the area a lively but laid-back feel. It's also just a short walk from Parc de la Ciutadella, so it's easy to visit both at the same time.