Barcelona.
Getting there.
Train travel in Europe is easy and avoids all the baggage annoyances of flying. We took the InOui from Paris to Barcelona and it was a delightful trip. We had reserved seats around a table which was comfortable and convenient.
I just wouldn’t rave about the food onboard.
We had pre-booked a transfer from Barcelona Sants to our hotel - don’t bother, taxis are frequent and about half the price.
RE: The Scooter: Barcelona’s sidewalks are very bumpy and not suitable for scooters.
Stay.
To be honest, although we were located in the Gothic Quarter, we wouldn’t recommend the hotel nor the exact location, near Primark.
Many people rave about Hotel Gaudi which we’ll go for next time. It would be almost half the price and very close to Park Guell.
Eat.
Not far from where we stayed were a series of outdoor restaurants surrounding a playground. This was great as it enabled us to order and eat whilst Archie played. Our favourite there was Kasparo.
Not far from here is Mercado de La Boqueria, a bustling food market in which we purchased small meals of about 5€ - little containers of cold meats, cheese, fruit, and patatas.
Play.
A visit to Sagrada Familia will awaken the senses and the heart. Plan to be there for about an hour.
Equally, Park Guell, a beautifully designed park by Gaudi is worth your while. We booked a ticket that included both of these attractions.
Take the train, funicular, and cable car up to Montjuic Castle. It’s quite inexpensive and Archie loved the transport options. Plus, there’s a great view of the city from there.
Looking for a day trip? Grab a local train to the beach at Tarragona. It’ll take about an hour from Barcelona Sants but the water is beautiful and there are restaurants galore. Just remember to bring some shade with you as there’s not much on the beach itself.
