Experience Barcelona: Flamenco Shows, Festivals, and Must-See Attractions

Barcelona is buzzing with entertainment

Is it just me? I have visited Barcelona in Spain a few times, but I just can’t get enough of Barcelona. Barcelona is a city buzzing with life. Therefore, there are many restaurants, shops, bars, and full of entertainment that will never bore you.

Where You Stay Matters

We stayed at the Hotel Cuatro Naciones in La Rambla 40, Ciutat Vella, Barcelona, Spain. We chose it because of the location right on La Rambla. You can’t get any better than that. The hotel, built in 1849, was one of the city’s most luxurious hotels and still maintains its old-world charm. The rooms are cozy and the staff is friendly. For its perks, it is a fairly priced hotel — especially with it being right on the Rambla. It is very much worth the cost and, as I have previously mentioned, you can’t beat the location. Just so you know, if you rent a vehicle, this hotel does not offer parking, so you would need to park in one of the many parking garages around the city.

Immerse Into the Culture with a Flamenco Show

Though I have been to Spain a few times, we had never been to a Flamenco show. To our surprise, right across the street from the hotel was Tablao Flamenco Cordobes. Of course, we made a reservation to see the show, and it did not disappoint. You can choose the show alone, which includes a drink; or dinner and a show. We opted for the drink only. A heavy meal at 10 pm seemed too late for us. However, it is common to eat dinner after 8 pm in Spain. The show was fabulous! After the show, we took a stroll through the streets of Barcelona and ended up at the Plaza Reial for some late-night entertainment, tapas, and drinks.

It seemed we booked our trip during the festival of Merce. La Merce is the patron saint of Barcelona and the festival is the biggest celebration in Barcelona. It spans a week of parades, music, and mythical characters marching throughout the streets and plazas. This event dates back to the 1800s, making it one of the largest cultural events in the city, and it’s FREE. We had the best view from our hotel room balcony.

So Many Places to Shop From

Shops, shops, and more shops. So many places to choose from. Most are family-owned businesses — from restaurants to clothing — you will find what you need or want just a few steps away at unbeatable prices. And, one of my favorite places to visit is La Boqueria. You can’t miss that one. Care to visit known USA box stores? Well, they have them too. But why bother when I can do that when I get home, right?

Architectural Land Marks

Ah, you can’t visit Barcelona and not go to the Basilica Sagrada Familia. It is a must-see, especially when yearly, there is a new area completed. We usually drive to the city center when visiting the Basilica, but this time, we opted to stay in a hotel, Sercotel Rosellón, just mere blocks away with roof-top views of the Basilica. And the views did not disappoint. This was our third time, and its grandeur always amazes us. We will definitely continue to visit the Basilica until its completion.

Montjuic Hill in Spain

We also made our way to the Montjuic and Tibidabo parks. It was only for a couple of hours, but it was just as enjoyable. Montjuic is home to Las Arenas Bullring, which is now a shopping center since they banned the bullfights in 2010. You can hop on the cable cars and enjoy the views of the city and marina. Visit the Magic Fountain, the Montjuic Castle, the Catalonian National Art Museum, or stroll through the streets of Poble Espanyol. This time around, we explored the Montjuic Castle. It is not too big, therefore, an easy exploration for us.

Tibidabo Park

Tibidabo Amusement Park is another major attraction among locals and tourists. Tibidabo sits upon a 1680-foot hill with spectacular views of the city and coastline. There is no cost to visit the park unless you plan to get on any of the rides. Do you want to see more? Then climb up to the peak of the Temple Expiatori del Sagrat Cor de Jesús. Though you can climb up to the crypt for free, there is a moderate fee to see the views. Experiencing the temple is enough to leave you in awe.

As I have mentioned before, I’ve been to Barcelona a few times, but it never seems to be enough. There is so much to explore that one 3-day visit to this amazing city does not suffice. Will I be back? Of course! And if you have not been to Barcelona, Spain, I hope you get to visit soon.

Originally published at http://travelerwow.com on August 6, 2024.