Barcelona beyond the Sagrada Família
Barcelona
Gaudí is only the start. Neighbourhood bars, the bunkers at sunset and staying out until the metro reopens.
Most visitors to Barcelona see the same four Gaudí buildings, walk La Rambla and leave. They are worth seeing (book the Sagrada Família and Park Güell ahead), but the city is at its best in its neighbourhoods.
Gràcia has small squares full of bars where locals actually drink. Poble-sec has Carrer de Blai, a street of pintxos bars where each bite costs a euro or two. Climb to the Bunkers del Carmel, an old anti-aircraft battery, for sunset over the whole city.
Nights out
Nobody eats dinner before 9pm, and clubs don’t fill until 2am. On Saturdays the metro runs all night; on other nights it stops around midnight and reopens at 5am. Watch your bag on the metro and on La Rambla: pickpocketing is common.
