Wow - what a cool place…read more This is the second time we've toured the Sagrada Família. The first time was 10 years ago in 2016. We returned to see what had changed in the last 10 years. From a casual glance, it was the same. But looking closer, much has happened on the outside. Some new towers have been completed and new feature pieces have been set atop several towers. We bought tickets online, several weeks before our arrival. Entering was easy. We went through external security by showing our ticket. Then inside, we placed anything we brought with us into a plastic bin, much like at an airport. It all got scanned, we got it all back and we got our tickets scanned for entry. We purchased the audio guide that uses your smartphone. That was great as we were able to use our own earbuds and not have to hold anything up to our heads. So we self-guided ourselves through the place, following the numbers corresponding to the Audi guide tracks. We stopped to rest, we stopped to take pictures and videos, to read placards of information and just to take in the sheer awesomeness of this place. I took 383 pictures that I'm still winnowing down and editing. While we don't plan to return to Barcelona, it's my feeling that no trip here is complete without taking in the Sagrada Família.

An absolute must when visiting Barcelona. La Sagrada Família is one of those places that genuinely…read morestops you in your tracks! The intricate architectural details are stunning at every turn and the way the sunlight filters through the stained glass windows inside is something else entirely. Truly breathtaking. My biggest recommendation is to book a tour guide. There is so much rich history behind this cathedral that you simply can't absorb from just admiring the architecture alone. Having a guide really brings everything together and makes the whole experience so much more meaningful. One practical note worth mentioning: the dress code enforcement here can feel inconsistent and as someone with a bigger bust, I experienced that firsthand. I wore a modest, relaxed maxi dress with minimal cleavage showing and was turned away at the entrance, while other women in similar or more revealing styles were waved right through. It seems the same outfit reads differently depending on your body type, which is worth being aware of. If you're curvy, bring a shawl as a precaution to avoid any unnecessary stress before your tour. I found one at a nearby shop and made it in just in time, but a little preparation goes a long way

Casa Batllo is a work of art! This is Antoni Gaudi's most…read morefamous works, located in the heart of Barcelona & became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005. This house was originally intended to be a luxury apartment building, with the owner & his family residing in the lower level, the "Noble Floor", and tenants living in the upper levels. We got tickets from GetYourGuide & decided to do the Gold Tier the night live music experience on the rooftop terrace. This came with an audio guide, augmented reality tablet, Dome experience, concierge room access, front row seats for the concert, & glass of cava wine. The whole experience was lovely! Entrance time was 8pm & we arrived 20 min before, which a line had already formed. I loved the augmented reality tablet; it shows you what the rooms looked like with furniture, when the family lived there 120 years ago. We did this experience on the first day of arriving in Barcelona & was a great way to start the trip! We honestly were expecting a group of performers but it actually ended up being one singer, who was amazing! I highly recommend this experience to anyone looking to visit Casa Batlló. We were also able to get a photo on the top floor, looking out of the window which was super cute. The experience was ~2-2.5 hrs overall.

Very very popular tourist spot. We snagged tickets on get your guide with the gold tier ticket…read more Lining up we were in the shorter line with priority access to the house tour of Batlló. We showed up for our time slot, waited about 20 min early, staff came out and handed us tokens and wristbands. Token is for a drink included (champagne). Gaudi had a wild mind. The architecture was definitely... different haha not my taste but i appreciate the vision he created. I'd probably go crazy if I lived in such a house but the place is huge, so many rooms and floors with so many hiding spots, boy hide-n-seek would slap. I do love me some history, so seeing all this and listening to the headset on the self guide was enlightening. We grabbed tickets that included a show on the rooftop and it was nice. We ordered some drinks and snacks and enjoyed our live performance. Super cute for date night!

Casa Mila or La Pedrera is another example of Antoni Gaudi's architectural genius. My husband and I…read morevisited on a Saturday morning with GetYourGuide tickets in hand. It was actually easier buying it on GYG because the official website kept refusing my credit card. We chose the 11 am timeslot and arrived at the house on time. We were given audio-guides on the way in and spent our time going through each floor of the house. We even explored the attic and the rooftop. The view on a clear day are fantastic. As we moved through each area, we were provided information via audio-guide during our wanderings. The house is beautiful and was a marvel when it was completed in 1912. The curvy lines and the columns give it the modern feel that is still unmatched to this day. If you're a Gaudi fan, this house should be on your list. This was my second visit to Barcelona but my first visit inside Casa Mila. I'm so glad I got to see it from the inside.

I felt like stepping into another world by walking into Casa Milà. It's designed by Antoni Gaudi…read moreand every room has its own character, from the flowing shapes and colorful details to the clever use of natural light. We took our time exploring the apartments, courtyards, and attic, and it was fascinating to see how far ahead of its time the design was. Even if you're not an architecture enthusiast, it's easy to appreciate the creativity behind every corner. My favourite part was the rooftop; the famous chimney sculptures and panoramic views over Barcelona were beautiful and there were plenty of photo opportunities. The audio guide was helpful and explained the history and design very carefully and clearly. If you're planning to visit, booking your tickets in advance is a good idea since it gets quite busy, especially during the summer.

The Gothic Quarter is exactly my kind of architecture. This is where the Catedral de Barcelona…read moresits, and it was so beautiful in person. I wish I had more time to actually learn about the cathedral and its history. Great place to take pictures obviously. Even though there were a lot of people around, we were still able to get shots without anyone in the background. Probably because we went there around evening, but it was still rather bright at night. Highly recommend!

The Cathedral of Barcelona, which is also called the Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia,…read morewas built in the Gothic style from 1298 to the 15th century. It is an active church that provides masses, confessions, and other sacraments. It also provides tours for 16 euros and up (as of the time of this review). I understand that some people think that a church should be free to enter, but I also understand that many tourists are not practicing Catholics and that the church needs to bring in revenue to pay its bills. My tour guide took my husband and me to the exterior of this church and explained its architecture and history. We did not pay for an interior tour. It is a lovely church to see.

Montjuic fountain show was actually something we almost didn't go see, but fate had it, we stayed…read morean additional couple of days. This gave us the opportunity to experience the fountain show, which was down the block from our second hotel we stayed at on the trip. It's open to the public- Free entry 9:30pm-10:30pm show in the summer, wedsneday through Sunday! They have music playing, it's lively and the fountain show I feel was super nice, a great little date night experience in front of the castle. Now what I did think was a bit annoying were those fools who were selling the LED spinning launcher toys. They would be shooting those up at the climatic points of the fountain show and it was a bit distracting. Aside that, the fountain show can be seen 360, no matter which side you stand on it's great! The water lights up all sorts of colors, timed with the music for dramatic effect. I really enjoyed it!

On Google, it says the Montjuïc Fountain is closed on Wednesdays but actually they were open!…read more From June 3rd-Sept 27th, they do fountain night shows from 9:30pm-10:30pm Wednesday through Sunday. In the Fall, they do shows Thurs-Sat 9pm-10pm. It is completely free & a must-do when in Barcelona! We're so glad we were able to make it to see the show. It was beautiful & such a great experience.

What a cool quarter. It's beautiful in the day and even…read moremore beautiful at night. There is so much history and awesome buildings to explore.

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.

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.

Cool arch and area…read more So this review is a bit thin as I walked by this arch around 6:30 am while on a brisk walk in Barcelona. I took a couple of photos and carried on with my walk. Several times over the last couple of days, while in Ubers, we passed by the arch and I could see a lot of detail on it. Inscriptions and carvings. Also, the park behind the arch was large and looked fun. This is a pretty amazing landmark and you should try to walk or drive by it when visiting Barcelona. Had I had more time, I would have returned in the daytime to get some great pictures of this cool piece of architecture.

We only say this at night but it was beautiful…read more There was a live event for the bringing of summer celebration.

The building was stunning and the architecture was impressive. Definitely need to do a tour of…read moreGaudi buildings at least once. You also get a stunning view at the rooftop.

The Palau Güell is one of Antoni Gaudí's earlier architecture designs. The mansion was designed…read morefor Eusebi Güell. The mansion is located in the Ramblas, we went earlier in the day and the line was not very long. The price was 12 euro and includes an audio guide. It was interesting to see the intricate design of the house and opulent furniture. The ceilings are impressive! You can get a feel for how the family lived when the house was occupied. The top floor had modern art and sculptures on display and the terrace has great views of the city. We were there for about an hour and a half, that was enough time for us to walk around and see everything.

Tan típica arquitectura de Barcelona (Gaudí), vale la pena pasar por aquí…read more So typical architecture in Barcelona (Gaudí), is worth walking by this one.

Architect Salvador Valeri i Pupurull created this unique modernisme style building 1909 to 1911,…read moreobviously influenced by Gaudi. The building is topped by a turret in the shape of a harlequin's hat clad in green glazed ceramic. It's asymmetrical so take a little time to see both facades. front and back. Overlooks Avinguda Diagonal.