Barcelona - On the Go with Josieo

Experiences and Sights...

Barcelona is a beautiful city where you can experience nature, history, art, and beautiful architecture.

You can visit Antoni Gaudí's most famous works, including Sagrada Familia and Park Güell. Sagrada Família is a beautiful temple initiated in the late 1800s and it is still incomplete! The final tower is under construction, as can be seen in the photo below. As of now, the estimated completion year is 2026. We are definitely considering going back to see the final project, although I am up for another trip to Barcelona even if the project is delayed!

The Gothic Quarter, where we stayed, is a historic area with narrow medieval streets (many for pedestrians only), quaint squares, local markets, and the majestic Barcelona Cathedral. This location is perfect for wandering around, shopping and dining.  We stayed at Hotel Colon, where you can sip on your favorite bevvy from the rooftop bar! 

My family and I explored the city by booking an E-Bike Tour.  Fat Tire Tours made getting around the city a breeze. We covered more ground on two wheels, then we could have on two feet. We got to see the city park, the beach, and cruised through town to see Gaudi architecture and artwork. Our local guide entertained us with  fascinating stories.  Did you know that Barcelona turned down the Eiffel Tower? You can book an E-Bike tour here:

Explore Top Attractions in Barcelona | Bike Tours | Fat Tire Tours

As far as gorgeous nature, the city's coastline has beautiful beaches like Barceloneta, where you can relax, sunbathe, and enjoy water sports.  If the beach isn't your scene Montserrat, or 'saw-toothed mountain', is one of the most unique places to explore just an hour outside of Barcelona. There you can hop on a cog-wheel train or take a tram to see the breathtaking views. Montserrat is home to the famous Black Madonna image and the Museu de Montserrat, which has one of the finest collections of art in Spain.

There is so much to do, it's impossible to highlight all of the places and views in this great, historical city! 

Fill your belly here...

If you know my family, I have boys, and they love to eat!  The challenge though is they both have celiac, so we need to find gluten free options.  Before I left for Barcelona, I did heavy research on where we could eat. I am delighted to say, I found two gems in the city that were 100% gluten free and 100% delicious!    

These are two restaurants we dined at the two nights before we boarded the ship. I would not hesitate to go to either place even if you don't require gluten free meals.

ARUKU

Aruku, what an absolute delight! I wouldn't say this place was packed with "atmosphere", but it was full of hungry guests and the food was delicious. We tried the edamame, lots and lots of sushi rolls, sashimi and gyozas (Braydon was pumped about these) and I of course had a poke bowl with ahi. It did seem a bit strange to eat Japanese in Spain, but we could not pass up an opportunity where Gavin and Braydon could eat ANYTHING on the menu!

ArukuBCN - Sushi Barcelona

Messie Pizza Sin Gluten 

Messie Pizza did not disappoint! We tried two different pizzas (one pictured above) and a giant bowl of risotto. We thoroughly enjoyed every bite.  Thank goodness we did so much walking in the city, after all the carbs we consumed! Although we didn’t try the pasta, it looked pretty good at the table next to us. Who knew pizza in Spain could be so delicious? 

Messié Gluten-Free Pizza – Gluten free | Messié Pizza Gluten Free Barcelona (messiepizza.es)

I know what you are thinking, Josie, I am not gluten free… I want to try the tapas and some of the more traditional dishes in Barcelona. Not to worry, I have just the spot for you to try!

Pepitos Restaurant

Located in the heart of Barcelona.  Pepitos specializes in wood-fired meats, elaborate tapas and delicious fish tartars. My family didn’t eat there, but another group of friends did. I think this was at least the third time they had eaten there in two trips to Barcelona.  What they loved most was the cozy atmosphere, amazing service and delicious steaks. This place will definitely require a reservation.

Pepito Restaurant | In the heart of Barcelona (pepitorestaurante.com)

There are so many amazing eateries in Barcelona just steps outside your hotel door. Take the opportunity to wander around and you just might stumble on to your new favorite place. If you do have dietary restrictions, a little more planning will be required, but the research ahead of time is totally worth it! 

 Stay tuned for our next blog as we board the ship and head to France!  Adios Barcelona.... Bon Jour French Riviera!