There’s a huge group of tourists that solely travel to find hidden gems in their destinations, and Barcelona, Spain is not an exception.
The Catalan city was founded by the Romans a long time ago and has been a cultural hot spot since medieval times, welcoming people from different cultures, this led to many unique findings. Today, I’m going to walk you through some of the most unusual things to do in Barcelona, Spain.
There’s so much to do and so many unique places to see in Barcelona, from the typical Sagrada Familia, and the Cathedral of Barcelona, to the Gothic quarter and other Gaudi creations, but what most people overlook is the huge amount of hidden gems you can find here, from unique shopping centre to Avalon’s therapeutic magic mushroom retreats in Barcelona and many more.
Visit Las Arenas
Las Arenas shopping centre is the first and only one in its class, a bullring for bullfights converted into a recreational centre, and shopping mall. It was designed by the architect who made the Pompidou Center in Paris, Richard Rogers. Las Arenas now hosts leisure, and gastronomic, events done by corporations, films, presentations and even exhibitions, fully transformed into a new hot spot for urban activities.
In its central square, with more than 200 square meters, you can find anything from social and artistic manifestations to cultural events. Another big draw about Las Arenas, is the fact it has perfect locations, making an amazing reference point for a city tour.
The Central Square symbolizes the heart of the building. It is where all the shows are concentrated. With more than 200 square meters, this space hosts artistic, cultural, and social manifestations.
The circular shape and all the amenities that come with it, plus its prime location make this spot a real standout.
Visit the Monastery Of Pedralbes
A stunning 14th-century Monastery, far away from the noise and busy life of the city centre. It was founded by Queen Elisenda de Montcada and King Jaime II of Aragon.
The Monastery of Pedralbes, really stand out for its Gothic style, you can find a stunning covered walk that will leave you speechless.
Tip: I highly recommend you book your entrance in advance, it can get crowded sometimes. Also, on some days and times admission is free!
Visit Floristeria Navarro (A huge Flower Shop)
One of my favourite things about Barcelona is that the city is driven by a strong culture of locally owned shops, this gives a unique feeling to most of the shops and Floristeria Navarro is no different, it has been operated by the same owners for more than 60 years. Located on the L’Eixample (same neighbourhood as the Sagrada Família), this outstanding flower shop is huge and filled with colours, also, it’s open 24/7.
It’s really enormous, you can find an amazingly huge amount of flowers and arrangements for every occasion, one of the most popular flower shops in Barcelona.
Like Beer? Do a Craft Beer Tour
Barcelona is not only one of the best cities in the world when it comes to amazing food, but there’s also a super popular craft beer scene too. If you’re into beer, I highly recommend you to do a crafted beer crawl and try as many as you want in a day.
You can start with BlackLab Brewhouse, a beer house that brews all kinds of different types of beers. The location is great with a cool outdoor area to sit. Your next stop would be Abirradero in Poble Sec, the biggest draw about this location is that they offer to make your own beer session, they brew all their own beers too.
Next head over the Gothic District to Kælderkold or Ølgod for some Spanish and international brews plus some Danish-style flair. If you want a location with more international craft beers, then head to BrewDog and Mikkeller.
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