Barcelona
Our family has visited Barcelona twice together. The first time we visited (2018), our son was only 5 years old and my husband was there for work. That trip lit a spark for me—not only because of how it expanded my own understanding of the world—but because I saw travel opened up something for my son. On our second trip (2025), we visited old favorites, found new favorite spots, and overlapped with my sister! In 2025, we visited Madrid, Valencia, and Alicante before traveling to Barcelona.
2018
2025
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Basilica de la Sagrada Família: You can’t miss Gaudi’s masterpiece. Nothing could prepare me for the first time I visited. The colors and light are astounding. You need tickets so don’t wait until the last minute!
Park Güell: UNESCO World Heritage Site and public park, this is a beautiful spot to spend the day. I recommend packing a picnic and a book (no restuarants inside the park) and staying all day. There are musicians, picnic tables and other little spots to hang out, and incredible views of the city. You do need a ticket for entry and they do sell out. Plan ahead!
Picasso Museum: We visited in June 2018 and it wasn’t busy and we were able to really enjoy seeing the collection.
El Museu de la Xocolata de Barcelona: The Chocolate Museum was really fun to visit with my son. Anytime you can learn something and eat chocolate, we are in! It is a very short walk from the Picasso Museum. I don’t think it is worth seeking it out unless you are nearby.
Poble Espanyol: My sister recommended this outdoor “museum” of Spanish architecture. When she said there are artisans working in their studios, I knew I wanted to go. It was quiet the morning we went and I purchased a beautiful scarf from flor kanela and really cool collaged art from babalaria while we were there - the perfect keepsakes to remind me of our trip. Both artisans were alone in the studio and chatted with me while I browsed and made my purchases. It was a lovely experience. We purchased tickets when we arrived. but you can purchase in advance online.
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It is tricky to recommend restaurants in major metropolitan areas when you’ve only been in the city for a few days. So, I do not pretend this is conclusive or that I am an expert on the local cuisine. Here are some spots we enjoyed, though!
Suculent: This spot was recommended by friends and I happily made reservations in advance of our trip. They offer two menus and every dish was delicios. Our 12-year old son enjoyed almost all of the dishes, bravely trying everything. You can see their dishes on Instagram.
Brisa Palau de Mar: We went here with my sister and it is in a very nice location by the water. We shared paella because we hadn’t had it in Valencia (shame on us!) and had a few appetizers. The location and vibe and company was the highlight for me!
Mercat de la Boqueria: This is a famous market and is worth visiting! It is a fun place to try a bunch of local foods and just be out amongst the people! I recommend getting fresh juice and some of the Spanish cured meats served in a little paper cone.
Note: I always recommend looking for a market wherever you are staying!
Novotel Barcelona City (restaurant): Our hotel had a huge spread for breakfast - juices, coffee, breads, meats, eggs, pastries, on and on…it was a great way to start the day before heading out!
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DHub: This museum shop was really close to our hotel and my son and I went in and spent a long time looking at every single item in the store. I got a purse and he got a mechanical pencil but there were so many items we both loved!
Westfield Glòries:I am semi-embarassed to recommend a mall but when you’ve been traveling for 10 days and you have a kid who just wants a burrito or you need a basic item, it’s nice to find a bunch of stuff in one spot!
El Born neighborhood: We loved walking around this neighborhood to see Santa Maria del Mar and check out several shops. My favorite was Bon Vent where I got a really sweet little ring, a plate, and some tiny brass spoons. I could have browsed for days. The way they wrap everything is really special > check it out here.
Mercilona: There are several locations and they have darling stationery items and gifts. This is a perfect spot to grab gifts and things that are easy to travel home with.
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Meeting Locals
Two of my fondest memories were experiences we had withlocals.
We met a lovely artist in Park Güell and made mosaic boxes while overlooking the park. She spoke Catalan and we speak English but we did our best and it was an incredible time.
We also spent an evening with a local who took us out for tapas, created a scavenger hunt in a local market for our son, and took us to a place for churros.
I felt so much more connected to Barcelona because we interacted with people who live there and were willing to give us insights into their daily lives!
Tickets
Many of the popular sightseeing spots require tickets. Once you book your flights to go, it is worth mapping out your days around the places you are most excited to see.
Language
People in Barcelona speak Catalan, not Spanish.
Overall Vibe
After living in Chicago for so long, we reallly liked the fact that Barcelona is a big city but also is by the water. It feels like you can really enjoy “the best of both worlds” .
