Once we’d finished our tour of Camp Nou, we went back to the Metro and off in search of a beach. Yup, a beach in October. Just another reason why Barcelona is such a wonderful place, because you can sunbathe in autumn. We hit the sands of La Barceloneta, Barcelona’s most iconic beach.
La Barceloneta Beaches
Barcelona’s La Barceloneta district was formulated back in the eighteenth century, when it was a fishing village. Today, La Barceloneta paints a very different picture. The streets of the district have unique architecture, and are bustling with restaurants and bars. There are lively beaches too, making it a great hotspot for locals and visitors alike.
One of the first things that will strike you about La Barceloneta is the unique icons of the area, including the sail-shaped W Barcelona Hotel. The beaches are beautiful, and even in October they were warm enough to enjoy. The beaches here are also the oldest in the city, with a vibrant atmosphere, areas for sports, and restaurants and bars nearby. La Barceloneta was the perfect stop for us after a busy morning at Camp Nou.
There are four beaches at La Barceloneta, and Sant Sebastià is nearest to the chic W Barcelona hotel. The Barceloneta beach is next, with a vast stretch of sand which is perfect for playing sports. After that, you’ll see the beach of Sant Miquel, and finally Somorrostro, which used to be a shanty town housing thousands of people up until the mid 1900s.
We mainly hung out at the Sant Sebastià and Barceloneta beaches. There’s a fun vibe, and it’s perfect for lying back and people watching. The one thing to be aware of is the vendors who try to sell you endless blankets and massages. Avoid them and head instead to one of the chiringuitos – little tin shacks selling awesome cocktails and nibbles on the beach.
Foc, Barceloneta
Talking of nibbles, by now we had worked up quite the appetite. We headed back on the path from the beach towards La Rambla and the Metro. Along the way, we stumbled across a little gem called Foc.
Serving up delicious Latin dishes, we indulged on raspberry sangria, loaded nachos, and the freshest and zingiest ceviche Barcelona has to offer. Foc is well and truly worth a visit.
Once we’d finished, we walked back along the promenade to the Barceloneta beach in search of a chiringuito. Here, you can expect chic staff, latino music, exquisite cocktails, and a fine location next to the beach.
We relaxed for a while, enjoy the vibes and the view. With the temperature turning chilly as afternoon melted into evening, we hopped back onto the Metro and off to the Sant Gervasi area in search of our hotel. After a quick stop for caffeine refuels, we got ready for our last night in Barcelona.
Magic Fountain of Montjuïc
Barcelona has a passion for colourful water fountains, and hey, we’re not complaining. Having got ready for our night ahead, we set off in search of the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc to catch a ten minute water display. The Magic Fountain of Barcelona was designed back in 1929, and was more recently restored in 1992 for the Barcelona Olympic Games. It’s been a popular attraction for visitors ever since.
Each night except in the winter, displays are shown each night. The large fountain cascades colourful water to music. It puts on a fun show that’s worth catching, and many people gather each night to watch it. Once the water show finished, we got a taxi over to the iconic W Hotel Barcelona in La Barceloneta. As well as being a luxury hotel, the W Hotel boasts a famous rooftop bar. If you follow my blog, you should know how I feel about rooftop bars by now!
The W Hotel Barcelona
As well as becoming an icon of Barcelona, the W Hotel has become one of the city’s most controversial structures. Opening back in 2009, the hotel’s unique architecture makes it look like a sail in the sea. Its glass structure also reflects the waves, and it has since won various prizes for its design. The controversy regards the fact that the hotel was built too close to the ocean, breaking private housing rules. Some environmentalists also disagree with the structure. What are your thoughts?
We went up to the rooftop bar, and were surprised with the views from the windows. The bar itself glitters with all manner of cocktail spirit. The views from the bar are even better.
We managed to coordinate a stag do from London. They kindly invited us along back to our favourite clubbing district in the city from our first night at Opium – Port Olimpico. How could we possibly turn it down? We secured some seats in the VIP area of Carpe Diem, and showed them how to party.
How’s that for an expensive bottle of bubbly?
If you watch the Apprentice UK, you might recognise this guy as one of the candidates. We couldn’t believe his name was Courtney either! When 3am struck, we went to hunt down some food. Who knew that the Spanish don’t really do late night fast food? There was one thing for it – taking a 15 minute taxi ride to a 24/7 McDonalds. That’s commitment for you.
Ending the night feeling satisfied with 20 McChicken Nuggets in our bellies, Jo and I headed back to our hotel for a very well-deserved three hours of sleep before we had to be up for the airport. Farewell, Barcelona – you’re an absolute blast, and we’ll be back before you know it.
Have you visited Barcelona, or been on the Barceloneta beaches? What’s your favourite bit about this sunny city?
Yes it is time for summery drinks like Sangria!