Carina Pacheco is a student at University of Texas, Arlington and an ISA Featured Blogger. Carina is currently studying abroad with ISA in Barcelona, Spain.
It’s almost impossible to believe that I’ve been here for 2 months already! Picking Barcelona as the host city for my study abroad experience has definitely been one of the best decisions I have ever made. There are no words to describe the amount of fun and adventure that I have come across while living in this fascinating city! So what are the reasons my time studying abroad in Barcelona has been so amazing?
Top 10 Barcelona activities and sights:
1) ISA City Tours:
Getting to know Barcelona and witnessing so many spectacular sites would have been challenging without the help of ISA. Thanks to the tours offered by ISA we were able to become familiar with many of the remarkable must-sees in the city such as La Pedrera, Casa Batlló, Park Güell, La Catedral and Sagrada Familia. These astonishing sites are truly what set Barcelona apart from other cities in Spain.
2) Walking through La Rambla:
Any, sunny or chilly, day of the week is right for taking a walk through La Rambla Street, located in the center of Barcelona. This street is always busy with people and filled with great shops and delicious restaurants. Whether I’m with a group of friends or alone, I enjoy walking to La Rambla and picking up a cup of fruit from La Boqueria Market or a dessert from one of the many street stands.
3) Mount Tibidabo:
An incredible recent experience I had was visiting Mount Tibidabo, a mountain overlooking the city of Barcelona. Accessing the mountain is easy and takes about 30 minutes. At the top of the mountain there is an amusement park, a beautiful Catholic church, and the panoramic view of Barcelona is absolutely breathtaking!
4) FC Barca vs. Real Madrid futbol game:
Perhaps one of the most unforgettable events I have experienced while living in this amazing city is definitely the Barça vs. Real Madrid soccer game on Febuary 26. I had previously been to two other Barça soccer games at Camp Nou, but neither one compared to this classic match. The rivalry between these two soccer teams is very extreme and sitting among all the dedicated fans while listening to their intense screams and chants was unbelievable!
5) Visiting Montjuic Castle:
Taking the bus to top of Montjuic is definitely a great experience. There is a fascinating view of both the city of Barcelona and the ocean. The castle of Montjuic, located at the top of the hill, is also astonishing. The castle itself isn’t very big but there is so much to see and take pictures of!
6) Santa Maria del Mar:
Perhaps one of my favorite churches in Barcelona is definitely La Iglesia de Santa Maria del Mar. It is a beautiful Gothic church with interesting stained glass windows. One of the stained glass windows actually contains the FC Barcelona symbol on it! The church is astonishing from both the outside and the interior. Attending mass here is a great experience!
7) Laying out by the beach:
Being a coastal city is definitely what makes Barcelona such a great city. I really enjoy going to the beach to relax after a long day. Whether I’m with my friends or I have to complete homework, the beach is always the perfect spot. There’s nothing like grabbing a towel and heading to the beach to enjoy my bocadillo in front of the ocean.
8) Getting lost in Parc de Labarint (Labyrinth Park):
Visiting the Labyrinth Park was definitely an exciting adventure! It is filled with vegetation and gardens, but most importantly the park has an awesome maze that my friends and I were able to walk through. Even though the maze doesn’t seem very big from the outside, it took my friends and I a while to find our way out!
9) Shopping:
There are so many options when it comes to shopping in Barcelona. The variety of shops is endless! Walking along the stores of Passeig de Gracia or Plaza Catalunya is definitely my favorite! I also enjoy going into the department store El Corte Ingles because it contains everything you can imagine. The Mare Magnum mall also contains a nice variety of stores and is great for rainy days!
10) Barcelona’s vibrant culture!!
The atmosphere here is truly one-of-a-kind and the variety of places to go is endless. I love that there is always something fun to do. The fact that Barcelona has such great public transportation makes moving around the city very easy. The weekends I spend going out dancing with my friends are the best! Enjoying Barcelona’s vibrant culture definitely has to be one of my favorite all-time activities in the city.
Liked this blogpost a lot! Seems like real fun to study in Barcelona! I would be really glad to go there on such kind of a programme! Barcelona is a nice city to live in!