Three weeks ago I visited Barcelona with my friends. This city is one of my favourite places to visit. I thought I’d share five key places you must see on your next trip to Spain’s cosmopolitan capital.

1. La Rambla & La Boqueria Market

I really believe that being lost while wandering around a city is the greatest way to experience it. La Rambla, on the other hand, is a street you must be sure not to miss. Restaurants, bars, and every kind of clothing store you can imagine are located along this famous tree-lined avenue. I was ecstatic to see how Stradivarius, Pull and Bear, Zara, and Bershka appeared in their own nations. These shops didn't let me down. I don't know about you, but these shops are favourites of all shoppers in Ireland, where I currently reside. I wasn't really ready for how much bigger and more diverse the clothing was in their La Rambla stores.

La Boqueria Market is a short distance from La Rambla's main drag. The most famous street food market in Barcelona is this one. It is situated in El Raval and is accessible from La Rambla. Along with a broad selection of meat, fish, and dairy-based snacks, the street sellers also sell several fruits, vegetables, and desserts. You shouldn't miss it at all!

2. La Sagrada Familia

In Barcelona, La Sagrada Familia is among Gaudi's most well-known creations. That's not a typo, a massive basilica has been under construction since 1882. The construction has really been ongoing for quite some time, and it will likely take some time to finish.

This is something beautiful and not to be left off your to-do list. There isn’t another place even remotely close to anywhere in the world. You can feel this even just standing outside it. However, once you enter you will really feel like you’re on another planet completely.

3. Magic Fountain of Montjuïc

One of my favourite things to do for an evening in the city before hitting the pubs and clubs is watching the Magic fountain show outside the Museu Nacional (MNAC).

There’s something very special and unique about sitting on the massive steps that lead up to the MNAC, a museum that used to be part of a palace and watching the colourful light and water show with friends. It’s something I’ve never seen anywhere else and it’s completely free to attend! This is a must if you’re trying to travel Europe on a budget.

The shows happen every Thursday to Saturday night, from 8 pm and last around 30 minutes.

4. Castell de Montjuïc

Montjuïc is a hill in Barcelona and the second tallest mountain in the city. The work done for the 1929 Universal Exhibition and the 1992 Olympic Games has made Montjüic a very diverse and interesting area. It includes several museums and even has an option of riding in a cable cart to reach the top. This is the part that I get the most excited about. The cable cart option to the Castell de Montjuic lets you see the whole of Barcelona from above. It makes for some breathe taking views and fun photo opportunities.

The castle itself is a fun trail to walk around and is covered in interesting art features and lush green plants and trees. The views from the top of this trail are incredible as well.

5. Park Guell

Park Güell is a garden with gorgeous architectural elements designed by the very famous Catalan artist, Antoni Gaudí. Barcelona is a city that takes much of its visual inspiration from the work of Gaudi.

Although you can pay for a guided tour of the park you really don’t need all of that to enjoy it. My advice is to grab your friends and wander around the park. Just take it all in and make sure to take tons of photos. General admission for an adult is 10 euros. Park Guell is open daily from 9:30 am to 6 pm.

So there you have my top five spots. There are so many amazing places to visit, it was so hard to just pick five, but this blog post would never end otherwise! I hope this post will be helpful in planning your next holiday away.

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