 | Plaça de Gaudí has great views of La Sagrada Familia | | | | | The first time I went to Barcelona I was 16 and so ready to be awed by the world. Gaudí architecture sprang from city streets amid Gothic cathedrals, Catalan conversations wafted through the air and the Mediterranean unfolded like a carpet of jewels. With incredible design, inspiring art, terraces every few blocks and people coming together to enjoy each other's company throughout the day, the city's identity was at once so clear and yet so magical. There aren't many cities on the planet that wear their cultural experiments and identity so extravagantly. | I recently caught up with Barcelona-based travel writer Joan Torres while he was traveling through Albania with his family. Joan recently contributed to Lonely Planet's new Experience Barcelona guidebook and has shifted from travel writing to creating expeditions for travelers seeking out harder-to-visit places, especially in the Middle East. I can always count on Joan to think about how travelers can maximize their time at top sights, like the Sagrada Família, while also getting off the beaten path to discover lesser-known experiences. Here's what he has to say about his enviable hometown. | | | | | Digital editor, Lonely Planet | | | | | Lonely Planet author and travel expert Joan Torres shares his insider recommendations so you can enjoy Barcelona like a local. | | Take in stellar views in Tibidabo | | | | | | | Wander through El Ravel. It is near the Old City, but it's very multicultural. There is a craft beer bar and an Indian temple and Pakistani shops and some of the oldest bars in the city. | | | | | Taste the best tapas in town. We like to go to Cañete. It's busy and expensive but very good. | | | | | Party in the Gothic Quarter. There are so many bars in a very small area, and it's fun to go bar hopping. | | | | | Tour the city by bike or bus. Though the bus is easier now that I have a baby, and the Metro goes everywhere. | | | Barcelona's top neighborhoods | Head to Gràcia to see Gaudí's Park Guell or stroll Barri Gòtic. These are the best neighborhoods to stay in and visit on your next trip to Barcelona. | | Barri Gòtic, the beach in Barceloneta, El Born | | | | | Our new Experience Barcelona guidebook is filled with insider tips and details (many from Joan) to help visitors navigate this iconic Spanish city's one-of-a-kind offerings. | | | We talked to Joan about his favorite things in Barcelona, from hot spots to less-traveled neighborhoods. | | | | Gaudí's Park Güell is a must-visit site | | | | | Tell me a little about yourself. | I grew up in a small village in Catalan about two hours outside of Barcelona. I moved to the the city for university and have lived here off and on ever since. I run a travel site, Against the Compass – I've recently grown it into a travel agency with trip offerings. | | | What do you like most about living in Barcelona? | It's a cosmopolitan city, very international, but it has really kept its identity. There are some neighborhoods that still have a really strong local identity. Then of course there is the Mediterranean lifestyle. We love seafood and going out. That's what I love about it. | | | | | Look for restaurants that close their kitchens between 4 and 8pm. If the kitchen is open during those times, it's just a restaurant for tourists. | | | What is one thing that surprises you about Barcelona? | That the city is really making an effort to be green. There are bicycle lanes everywhere. There are also vegan restaurants, and I just don't see that in other parts of Spain. I like that it combines the Spanish lifestyle with being a greener and greener city everyday. | | | What would do advise visitors that they must do? | Have breakfast or lunch at a local market. The central Mercat de la Boqueria is popular but very touristy. A real local market, like Mercat del Ninot in L'Eixample, is a better choice. They have the freshest food and all of the restaurants in the market use those ingredients so it's always the best quality food. | | | | | "Barcelona is a very creative and dynamic city. It's where all the start-ups are in Spain." | | | You mentioned you love the architecture. What's the best way to see it? | Head to the Zona Alta. There are a number of buildings designed by Gaudí and most tourists don't know to come to this area. Everything is very historical, very pretty and you can take a walking tour. The Torre Bellesguard is one of the best examples of Gaudí architecture, and you can go inside. | | | What's a really popular thing to do in Barcelona these days? | There is a traditional cultural practice called el vermut having a resurgence. It refers to a social event of gathering over drinks before lunch. There are very specific bars that are only open for vermut called vermuterias, and you can order vermouth or a beer.
We gather at like 12 or 12:20 for vermut, and then we go to the restaurant for lunch after a few hours. For a traditional experience, Bodega Marín is great. La Vermu is modern, but very good, and I really enjoy Bar Bodega Quimet. | | | What's the best weekend getaway? | | | I go to my home village of Roses in the Costa Brava. It is in a natural park called Cap de Creus. You can take a train from Barcelona to Figueres and then a bus to Roses. It has the most dramatic coastal landscape in all of Catalonia. | | | This email was sent to you by: | Lonely Planet Publications Ltd. | 1101 Red Ventures Drive, Fort Mill, SC 29707 | | | |
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