Introducing: Barcelona [What To Expect In The Gothic Quarter]

Barcelona's Magic

Barcelona is a magical city.

Part of me wants to just leave that statement just as it is. It’s simple, but intriguing. It’s rich with mystery and leaves you wanting to know more. So it’s fitting for me to end my Barcelona guide right there, because that’s exactly how the city itself makes you feel. However, you are probably expecting more than five words on this topic, so I will elaborate a bit more. Don’t worry. I won’t spoil the really juicy stuff.

One of the things that makes Barcelona such a special city is its beautiful dialogue between old and new. Truly, it’s impossible to walk through the heart of the city without feeling entrenched in its history. Just look at the brick and stone walls, some still pock-marked from bombs from the 30s and 40s or bearing directional signage for your horse-drawn carriage, weave you through seemingly random little lantern-dotted alleyways that eventually dump you into the middle of a bustling plaza, and you can’t help wondering if you might have also been dumped into another century.

Eclectic Alleyways

Looking back at those little alleyways, you might find a small charcuterie restaurant, a local clothing shop, a sex toy store, a hat maker, a souvenir shop, and the occasional closed gate (because “meh, it’s Tuesday at 3pm, we don’t like being open on Tuesdays at 3pm”) with an intricate graffiti mural of an octopus dancing with a starfish indicating that when this shop is open, it sells seafood.

This can all be one alleyway.

And then the next alleyway over will be a completely different smattering of shops that seemingly don’t make sense as neighbors, but somehow, this place makes it work. It’s like that one friend who puts together crazy outfits full of mis-matched pieces that make you step back and say, “I like some of those pieces, I think some of them are hideous, I would never put any of them together, but when YOU do it, it looks perfect!” Barcelona is that friend.

That’s the Gothic Quarter in a nutshell. If you’re looking for some specific sightseeing insight, I’ve written two separate guides: Here’s what to expect from the most famous tourist attractions, and here’s a little something if you love history and local culture.

And the food? Well, Anthony Bourdain had a lot to say about Barcelona food, and I certainly trust him. So I tried some of his favorites!

General Notes: Logistics And Airport Transportation

TRANSPORTATION

Barcelona is super walkable. Personally, I don’t drive (I promise, that’s not a weird thing in New York). But if you’re a driver and debating getting a car, it’s really not necessary if you’re staying near the Gothic Quarter. Everything is accessible via walking or Metro.

Getting to and from the airport might be a little different. Who wants to jump off a plane with luggage and jet-lag, only to try to navigate a brand new city?

We used Aerobús to get from the airport to the main part of town, and from there it was super easy to get to our hotel. Aerobús was super convenient, comfortable, and (I imagine) far cheaper than a taxi. They also provide a complimentary map of the city, and even Wifi onboard. It was really fun to look out the window, wonder what a cool-looking building was, and be able to locate and identify it on a digital or paper map.

We purchased our Aerobús tickets when we landed at the airport, but we had a few hiccups there. We had to wait in a long line, and by the time we got to the front, we had some difficulty working the machine. Kind of a frustrating start to the trip. If you want to plan ahead a little better than we did, please use this link!

(Note: This is an affiliate link, and I make a small commission from your purchase. Your price is not affected)

General Notes: Food

BREAD & TOMATO

Everywhere you go, you will see bread and tomato on the menu (known aliases: pan y tomate/pa amb tomaquet). It’s a Barcelona specialty, and every restaurant makes it differently! We ordered it everywhere, and you should too. While it is always slightly different, and always delicious! Truly, you won’t get bored of it, and it always pairs beautifully with your plate of cheese and/or ham.

PAELLA

Barcelona makes wonderful paella, but not everywhere! We got a few words of paella-related warning from some of our local guides: 1. Don’t eat anywhere that has pictures of paella and sangria outside of the restaurant. It’s a tourist trap. 2. Paella should cost no less than 17 euros. If a restaurant advertises lower prices than that, it is definitely frozen, and not worth your time (Indeed, I can attest to this. Before I heard this warning, I tried some inexpensive paella. It was fine, but it’s certainly not making my restaurant recommendations list. It was way too salty, and did not taste fresh).

General Notes: Hours and Restrooms

HOURS

Check the hours before you go to any restaurant! Many restaurants are closed at inconsistent hours during the afternoon, and sometimes on unpredictable weekdays.

RESTROOMS

I found most of the restrooms to be structured in a rather unusual way! You open the door to the restroom, and you’re at the sink. Then there will be two more doors. One is the women’s room, one is the men’s room. Often, the demarkation between them will be something cutesy, like a bottle of wine wearing a dress and a bottle of wine wearing a top-hat. It’s a different way of dividing up the restrooms than I’m used to, and if you don’t know to look for it, it might appear that they are both unisex. Also, it is rare to find paper towels or a hand dryer that works well. If this is something that will bother you, bring your own hankie!