Escaping Heat: Say Hola To Barcelona

by Sophie She

Escaping Heat: Say Hola To Barcelona

11 Jun 2024

When the sweltering heat of summer becomes unbearable, we all are looking for a shade to hide in. Thus, we have created a series of Heat Escape Plans — please find some of the editions on Budapest, Milan, Tbilisi, Germany and look here for others.

This episode is about the great centre of Catalonia, Barcelona. The city has it all — it is essentially a perfect blend of beachside relaxation, rich cultural experiences, and cool, shaded treats.

From the iconic Sagrada Família to the bustling La Rambla, and the tranquil Parc Güell to the inviting waters of Barceloneta Beach, this guide will help you navigate the best of Barcelona while staying cool and comfortable.

Photo: Raimond Klavins

How to get?

So, a disclaimer here — you probably won’t find a budget-friendly and direct flight to Barcelona’s airport (BCN) El Prat, as the only company that operates direct flights from DXB are Emirates, and it will cost you 3k+ dineros for sure. But at least, you’ll fly with comfort!

But if you are looking for a cheaper option — you can get a ticket with Wizz Air from Abu Dhabi (AUH) to Rome (FCO) and then Rome (FCO) to Barcelona (BCN). This will cost you around 1k with luggage and a bonus cup of coffee de la crema in Fiumicino airport.

Where to stay?

This one is tricky, as since 2022, the municipality of Barcelona has been trying to control and even decrease the number of tourists passing through the city. Thus, the housing prices are nothing cheap, but okay for Dubai citizens. If you are looking for a sublet, Facebook and Telegram groups like @DogeFlatBot are very useful. However, be cautious of scammers and never transfer any funds before you sign the contract or see the place.

Otherwise, for periods under 5 months, Airbnb is very useful. The best (and safest) areas to stay at are Eixample (the perfect one), Gracia (the suburban-like one), Sants (the very cute one), Poble Nou, El Clot, Les Corts, Sarria Sant Gervasi, and Can Baro. This is the part of the city that was built up after the city wall was demolished in the second half of the 19th century.

If you want exotic, extreme and touristy crowds, check out the multicultural El Raval neighbourhood (watch out for cockroaches here), the Gothic Quarter or the areas around Parallel Avenue — Poble Sec and Sant Antoni.

The once more affluent part of the old town, El Born, which has a good selection of decent bars and restaurants, can be a good option for those wishing to live in the historic centre, but we must mention, it can be a bit of a sketchy at night, just like everywhere else in old Barcelona.

In addition, the old city has a rather peculiar odour due to its narrow old streets (the oldest dating back to the 15th century). In addition, its tourist attractions attract a huge number of pickpockets, so you should always be on your guard in crowded areas. Also, when leaving your flat or going to bed, it is always best to close the windows.

If you desire the sea — settle in Poble Nou, a former factory district on the old outskirts, which in the second half of the 2010s became a mecca for start-ups and other young and successful people.

Photo: Enes F

What to explore?

Walking tours

One of the best tools for a great stroll around the city is Free Walking Tours, which are available in English every day at different times. Don’t forget to tip your guide at the end of the session. Street Art Barcelona is a great paid tour that uncovers how, since the mid-2010s, the city has been a haven for street artists from all over the world and showcases street art objects.

Must-Sees

Of course, the Gaudi creations.

Sagrada Familia. One of the most famous long-built buildings in the world and a symbol of Barcelona. This architectural marvel will be finished by 2026, the year of the hundredth anniversary of Gaudi's death. To get inside, buy tickets online in advance so you don't have to stand in huge queues. Be sure to climb the towers to see the modernist Eixample neighbourhood from above. The best time to go inside the Sagrada is just before sunset, when the sun's rays begin to break through the stained glass windows on the west side of the temple, creating a unique play of light and colour inside.

Photo: Boris Hadjur; Alex Ovs; Alexander Awerin

Barcelona Cathedral is located in the old city, on the very hill where the Roman colony of Barcino once stood.

Palacio Güell. Not far from the main tourist boulevard La Rambla is the Palacio Güell, an early work by Gaudí commissioned by one of the richest Catalans of the time, Eusebi Güell. In this palace, Gaudí was still in the process of finding his Catalan Modernism style, but you can already see some of the signature moves in the design of the facades and the roof.

Photo: Matías Callone

From Palacio Güell, it is fairly easy to get to two more of Gaudí's houses. To do this, take the green metro line (L3) to Liceu station and get off after two stops at Passeig de Grácia station, where the world-famous Casa Batlló and Casa Mila, the first of the 20th-century buildings to be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Parc Güell is another of Gaudi's masterpieces. From its hills you can enjoy views of whole Barcelona. Don't forget to sit on Gaudi's undulating bench and walk along the famous colonnade (the park has admission free, but after 9.30 pm both the bench and the colonnade are open to the public for free). There is also Gaudi's house-museum with a collection of fanciful furniture created by the architect's hands.

Find time to sit in the shade and walk around a small oasis near the old town, Parc Ciutadella. In one part of the park there is a cascading fountain, to creation of which Antoni Gaudi has also contributed.

Photo: Anna Murzilon; Alexsander Barhon; Juli Kosolapova

Museums

The Picasso Museum is the city's most popular museum, with more than 3,500 works by the Spanish artist, mostly from the early period. The museum occupies five ancient buildings dating back to the 13th-14th centuries.

FC Barcelona Museum, located in the undercoat of Barça's football temple, the Camp Nou stadium. It showcases the most detailed history of the Catalan club, taking you into the changing rooms and even onto the pitch of Europe's most spacious stadium.

CosmoCaixa is an interactive science museum with a very cool fragment of the Amazon rainforest, including its sounds and some of its inhabitants. Universe Hall tells the story of the Universe’s creation, from the Big Bang to the most recent human discoveries.

MACBA (author’s favourite) is a huge contemporary art museum with a very easy to find building among the typical Barcelona neighbourhood of El Raval. The area in front of the museum is a favourite spot for skaters from all over the world.

In addition to the permanent exhibition of contemporary art (from midXX till present days), there are many temporary exhibitions of contemporary artists from all over the world worth your attention. We also recommend checking out the museum's bookshop and get yourself a gift you deserve.

Photo: Xhaju

You can continue your art tour at the CCCB Centre for Contemporary Culture, which is next door to the MACBA. It organises in-depth exhibitions on topical issues, festivals of philosophical thought, debates and lectures. Up-to-date information on events can be found on their website.

Moco Museum. Originally appeared in Amsterdam, Catalan edition of Moco Museum opened next door to the Picasso Museum. It features works by Briton Damien Hirst, street hooligan Banksy, the iconic Andy Warhol and Salvador Dali, as well as other masters of modern and street art. Moco also has a separate immersive digital art room designed by Dutch artist studio Irma.

Design Museum. One of the city's youngest museums is housed in a modern building next door to the Torre Agbar cucumber tower near the Poblenou neighbourhood. Each floor is dedicated to a different theme: space design, industrial design and cultural heritage, printing and fashion.

Instagram: @dissenyhub

Where to eat?

Tapas!

The name comes from the word "tapa", which is Spanish for ‘a lid’, i.e. something to cover a glass with to prevent flies or dust. Tapas can be cold or hot, on a piece of bread, or as a small plate with stuffed peppers or roasted meat on skewers.

La Plata is a small bar that has been in business since 1945. The menu consists of homemade tapas and beverages. Rumour has it that U2's Bono likes to visit this bar when he is in Barcelona.

La Bombeta. Here you will find the best stuffed meat and potatoes with spicy bomb sauce. Be sure to get the fried sardines or assorted seafood. A very nice option for a snack with a drink for those who choose to explore the former fishing village neighbourhood of Barceloneta.

Instagram: @la.bombeta

Casa Lolea. A cute tapas bar with a touch of cuisine. Be sure to stop in for a bite if you find yourself near another architectural masterpiece, the Palau de la Musica Catalana.

Sensi Tapas. This is an option to savour Spanish snacks in a beautiful restaurant with pleasant service and interesting presentation. Book a table in advance, the place is on one of the busiest streets in the Gothic Quarter.

Instagram: @sensirestaurants

Coffee

It is usually quite hard to find a proper cup of coffee in Barca.

Spanish even have their own names for different ways of drinking coffee — no espresso or latte here — just café solo or just café (espresso), café largo (Americano), café con leche (Americano with milk), cortado (small Americano with milk).

Here are our catches:

Morrow Coffee

The coffee shop is not far from Plaza España. The guys roast the beans themselves - inside the coffee shop, you can see a small roasting machine. Morrow offers coffees from Colombia, Peru, Rwanda, and the menu also includes scones, cakes and avocado toast for a light snack. The coffee shop space is very cosy and bright - and great for working. And if you are not in the mood for work, take a table outside to bask in the Barcelona sunshine.

Nomad Coffee — Lab&Shop

The establishment is renowned for its careful approach to the entire coffee production process, from bean to brew. The team works side by side with farmers from all over the world and uses quality beans. And the roasting is done in Barcelona, which helps them to check quality standards and maximise the beans' potential.

Nomad's central coffee shop is located in the green corner of the Old Town, in the Gótico neighbourhood. The perfect plan for a visit is to stop at Nomad for a coffee and continue strolling through the Gothic Quarter.

Slow Mov

A place in Gràcia. The guys offer quality coffee from Brazil, Ethiopia and Mexico. The space of the coffee shop is divided into two parts: one for the guests, and the other for the coffee roasting process. If you stop by at the right time, you can watch the beans being roasted right in front of you. In addition to delicious coffee, Slow Mov also offers baked goods.

On y Va

A chain of coffee shops with a love for cycling and quality coffee. The menu with food in the establishment changes depending on the season — this allows the high quality of products to be maintained throughout the year.

Instagram: @onyvabarcelona

Food

Los Caracoles, or ‘the snails’, is one of the oldest restaurants in Barcelona, founded in 1835. As you can easily guess, it gets its name from its speciality dish. At the entrance you'll be greeted by ruddy chickens spinning on the grill and vendors of unidentifiable items, as the place is located on one of the narrowest and busiest streets in the Gothic Quarter. Be sure to try the local duck, seafood and, of course, the speciality.

La Fonda is literally next door to Los Caracoles. A good place to try paella or rice in cuttlefish ink, or perhaps to be tempted by the Catalan dessert crema catalana. Beautiful interior that changes almost every year, white tablecloths and diligent service. During the day, the place offers a pretty good business lunch.

Instagram: @lcaracoles

Ramen-Ya HIRO. Hands down, the best ramen in Barcelona. It is best to come at least half an hour before opening, as the queue is massive. The restaurant is open only in the evenings from 19:30 to 22:30.

Parking Pizza-Parking Pita. This place is worth going at least to enjoy the interior. A good example of how to turn a 500 square metre former car park into a stylish modern restaurant with concrete walls, designer furniture and the right light. The quality of the food doesn't let you down either, and fans of Italian and Middle Eastern cuisine will be particularly surprised.

Taverna El Glop occupies an entire building of several floors in the Gracia neighbourhood. It is a restaurant with the true Catalan cuisine, so if you want to join the “mar y montaña” culture in one fell swoop, don't hesitate to come here with a reservation. The best paella in town is served here.

Instagram: @ramenyahiro

by Sophie She