A weekend in Barcelona full of surprises and discoveries

We went back to Barcelona for the weekend to rediscover the Catalan capital off the beaten track, before embarking on the inaugural cruise on the last day. Harmony of the Seas, the largest cruise ship in the world.

During our first Weekend in Barcelona In 2014, we did the touristy thing by exploring the main attractions of the city. From the Guell Park to the Mercat de la Boqueria, passing by the Ramblas, the Casa Batllo, and so on… In short, a first discovery is always accompanied by the must-visit places! This time we wanted to go off the beaten path and discover new neighborhoods that we hadn’t had the opportunity to visit during our first stay.

Before starting the tour, we put our luggage in a beautiful apartment that we booked for the weekend. Waytostay. It was located in a modern building in the lively and vibrant Gràcia neighborhood, two minutes’ walk from Lesseps metro station (line 3). The apartment was clean, the decor simple, the living room bright, and the bedroom was nice with a comfortable bed. The kitchen was equipped (although we always ate out in the city), in short, the ideal place for a weekend in Barcelona.

As for the discovery of Barcelona, we already had some ideas of neighborhoods to explore, but we left the opportunity to the agency. Emovio to prepare a surprise day for us… Yes, this agency specializes in organizing mystery trips; from the day, to the weekend, or the entire week! Just give them some interests or themes and they take care of everything. Just before the Emovio stay, they send a small package with many envelopes to open at specific times of the day. For our part, we had asked for «well-being» (for Capucine of course) and the unusual/alternative (for me, Thibault).

The day therefore began with some relaxation SPA Aire de Barcelone, a place that takes you back in time that we really enjoyed. The spa is set in old stone cellars that add a mystical touch to the oriental decor. 2 hours of pure relaxation in a surprising setting… We left the spa feeling a bit exhausted, on a little cloud, but the day had just begun so we had to get back on track and actively continue our surprise discoveries. To recover from our emotions, we took a little walk right next to the spa in the Ciutadella park before heading back towards the Gràcia neighborhood.

SPA Aire : Passeig de Picasso, 22, 08003 Barcelona

Then we went for lunch at the Amélie restaurant on Vila de Gràcia square, which offers local specialties to be enjoyed on the terrace facing this typical and very lively square at all times of the day. Aside from the service that was a bit long, we enjoyed ourselves and had a pleasant time. We then took the opportunity to discover this charming little «village» located right in the heart of Barcelona.

Around Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia, there are plenty of small alleys that we invite you to explore. Feel free to get lost in some of them and let yourself be carried away by the local atmosphere; you’ll discover beautiful small boutiques by designers, small grocery stores and local markets that few tourists visit. In the evening, the atmosphere is at its best in the many small bars in the neighborhood, beloved by its residents!

Restaurant Amélie Plaza de la Vila de Gràcia, 11, 08012 Barcelona

Do you know how picky I am!? I simply love the good things in life and what I love about traveling is discovering the culinary specialties! Generally I try everything (even insects 😜) Yesterday I tried a Catalan dish: La Fideua, a kind of paella with seafood, a delight! Thanks @emoovio for the surprise! #tmhinbarcelona

A photo published by 🌺 Capucine – Blogueuse Voyage (@capucineee) June 5, 2016 at 2:44 PDT

After a nice digestive walk in the Gràcia neighborhood, we open our last mystery envelope and head to the Gothic neighborhood at the shop. El Ciclo which offers original tours of Barcelona. After the Visit of Barcelona by Segway, Time to discover Barcelona’s most beautiful street art spots on bamboo bikes! Impossible, right? It was the most beautiful experience of this short stay…

Antoine, our passionate French-speaking guide of street art in Barcelona, took us to the most remote places in Barcelona, mainly in the popular neighborhood of Poblenou, to hunt down the many street art murals and installations in the area. Some are made on legal walls and others in remote, hard-to-find places. We learned a lot about the local artists, the place of street art in Barcelona, the symbolism, the commitments, etc… I was so passionate that the visit lasted almost 5 hours instead of the 3 hours originally planned! We highly recommend this activity!

El Ciclo C/ Nou de Sant Francesc, 17, 08002 Barcelona

Yesterday we did a city tour off the beaten path in the Poblenou neighborhood, discovering the most beautiful street art creations. Almost 4 hours of unusual bamboo bike ride, accompanied by Antoine from @streetartbcn and @elciclobcn 👊🏻 A must-see if you’re passing through BCN! #streetart #streetartbarcelona #igersbarcelona #barcelonagram #TMHinBarcelona

A photo published by French Travel bloggers ✈️ (@travelmehappy) June 5, 2016 at 2:37 PDT

It’s 7pm, time to get ready for the aperitif! As we made our way from the port to the beaches, we stopped at the bars MakaMaka and Colombo Bar, two very nice establishments with a quirky, alternative style, where there is a superb atmosphere and where you can enjoy excellent cocktails and savour specialities if you’re in the mood (burgers, tapas, salads, etc.)

Colombo Bar / Makamaka: Carrer de l’Escar, 4, 08039 Barcelona

Before leaving for the night in the Raval neighborhood, we wanted to try a good tapas restaurant. Looking around our location on Tripadvisor, we found a few places, but they were all completely booked! We realized that we had to wait a little before a table became available. No secret: the best tapas restaurants are the simplest and most authentic. No translated menus in 10 languages, no photos of the dishes, no waiters approaching you on the street. On a small side street we discovered the restaurant Bombeta, an institution in Barcelona that we highly recommend. You can choose tapas already prepared in a showcase or order other specialties. There is an incredible choice! Seafood, Iberian ham, salads, etc…

Restaurant Bombeta: Calle de la Maquinista, 3, 08003 Barcelona

Thanks to our partners Emovio and Waytostay for this beautiful weekend in Barcelona.