With only one week left in Barcelona, the pressure is high to complete your stay as best as possible. That is exactly what my friends and I attempted to achieve with our program ending in December. Of course we put our exams first and exploring second, but take a look at the many places we made one last trip to and why:

The Bunkers

“The Bunkers” is probably the most popular location for young people to gather in the city. It’s a great spot due to its incredible views of Barcelona, many places to sit, and alternative vibe. Hosting graffiti on the walls and teenagers scaling structures hanging over a cliff, it’s definitely a place to remember.

These abandoned bunkers hidden in the hill ended up being one of our favorite sites, and we just had to make a trip out on our last week to watch the sunset over the beautiful city we lived in.

Monserrat

An oasis for hikers and climbers would have to be Monserrat. About two hours by train from Barcelona, and you can encounter these beautiful green mountains. We hoped to explore more of Spain as well as Barcelona in our last days, making this the perfect spot. We only needed to spend one day with no packing necessary.

“Santa Cova de Monserrat” is a grand church tucked away in the mountain. This allows people who are not as interested in hiking to enjoy the location as well. You can grab a quick coffee or snack and explore the inside of the building.

It is also just a great place to relax with friends and breathe fresh air. Many locals return here to spend their weekends.

Parc del Laberint d’Horta

This gorgeous garden is what I would consider a great hidden gem in Barcelona, or at the very least an incredible, romantic date spot. In the heart of the garden is a labyrinth maze to get lost in with your partner.

Different rivers and ponds are spread throughout, with hundreds of benches and seating. These elements make any spot the “perfect spot” to enjoy the views.

As you can see, the gorgeous greenery is shaped to perfection making the space seem like the secret garden of your dreams. There is nothing better than walking through a peaceful garden to calm our nerves about packing.

Another element to the garden is the incredible sculptures spread throughout. The white stone against deep green leaves makes it feel like you’re living in a fairytale.

Christmas Markets

One of the best ideas we had was to explore the cities Christmas markets. This allows us to return to our most frequented spots while also giving us new activities to do. The image shows a market in front of the Catedral de Barcelona.

Final Goodbyes

Probably the best memories from my last week was meeting up with my classmates to say goodbye after we successfully completed our finals. We went to a local café and practiced our Spanish together, sharing stories and making plans to hopefully meet up one day.

I am so grateful for every moment I experienced in Spain and can’t believe it was all possible. My only regret is not being able to stay forever. Maybe one day we can return, but for now…

¡Adéu¡

Audrey Daines is a student at Soka University of America and an ISA Featured Photo Blogger. She is studying with ISA in Barcelona, Spain.