Only after a few weeks in Barcelona the city made its way far up my list of favourite places. What about your list? ...anyway, here are a few ideas and suggestions for a perfect week in town:

Most of the museums are closed on Mondays but the "Sagrada Familia" isn´t, so try your luck and see if there are tickets available for the day if you haven´t bought tickets over the internet yet. Still in process and hopefully finished in 2026 at the centenary of Gaudí‘s death, the church is like no other. The entrance doors are covered with little frogs and bees and thousands of leaves and the light inside the church makes you feel as if you got swallowed by a rainbow. If you have extra money to spend you can buy a ticket which allows you to go up the towers as well.

Gotten hungry or just to relax visit the restaurants on "Avenida de Gaudi" on your way to the former hospital 

"Sant Pau Recinte Modernista", a huge Art Nouveau complex expanding over a whole block just a few meters in diagonal from the Sagrada Familia. If you still have energy left you shouldn´t miss to see its interior.

Because of the growing tourism in Barcelona the access to the park, at least to the part which created Gaudi, has been reduced to a certain amount of people at a time. In the summer months it would be wise to get your tickets online or to get there very early. The park itself is open without restrictions and offers a great view over the city and many little paths to have a walk or rest. After your visit make your way to nearby "Barrio de Gracia" my personal favourite quarter of Barcelona and get something to eat. Stroll down "carrer de verde" and take a picture of the street art around or explore the many little shops.

Dive into the busy city center. Start at "Plaza Catalunya" and walk down "La Rambla" until you reach "La Boqueria" on the right side. Stop here at the biggest food market of Barcelona to buy fresh food or a smoothie or simply have a meal in one of the many little restaurants and bars. Keep walking "La Rambla" and turn left for "El Gothico". Get lost in its thousands of small streets and discover all the little shops and independent labels located in that hip quarter. If you feel like needing culture visit the "Palau de la Musica Catalana" with its Art Nuoveau architecture or "La Catedral de Barcelona" right in the center. Afterwards stroll down to the harbour of Barcelona. Here you find all you need for the rest of the day: restaurants, a shopping mall, cinemas, a playground, the aquarium or simply a bank to sit on and feed the seabirds (yes, I am getting old).

Get out the metro at "Plaza Espanya" and get an elevated view over the region on the 5th level of the shopping center "Arenas de Barcelona". Buy everything you need for a pic-nic downstairs in the food court and start your walk across the plaza and past the "Venezian Towers" up to the "Museum of Catalan Art". After a quick visit continue walking past the museum until you get to "Parc Montjuic" where you can have a pic-nic and enjoy the view over the city on one of the many greens. If you can cope with more culture, walk or take the funicular right to the entrance of the "Castell de Montjuic" overlooking the harbour of Barcelona. Afterwards descent to the "Raval" quarter or dine in one of that restaurants overlooking the bayfront in the evening.

Start at Metro "Diagonal" and walk down "Passeig de Gracia" towards "Plaza Catalunya". On your way you will not only cross Prada, Gucci, Valentino and so on but also "Casa Milà" known as "La Pedrera" as well and "Casa Battlò". Both works of world famous artist "Gaudi". If you like see their beautiful interior design. If you are in the mood for shopping just walk around "Plaza Catalunya" you find everything which has a reputation there.

To complete the day, go and have a beer! Order a "Canyas" with some "Tapas" in one of the restaurants around and maybe if you are not planning to go to the South of Spain you want to see a flamenco show with it.

Camp Nou

With the line 5 (Badal, Collblanc) or line 3 (Palau Reial, Les Corts) it is only a small distance to Europes biggest football arena. Try to get tickets and see "Messi" in action as long as it is possible.

...or if you are not into football take a day trip to Monserrat.

Monserrat

The R5 train from "Plaza Espanya" takes you within 1 hour to the foot of the Monserrat mountain. From there you have two options, take another train or the furnicular up to the monastery. If you buy the tickets from "Plaza Espanya" you pay around 20 € (2018) for the round trip with the train and the furnicular included. At Monserrat mountain soak up the peace and silence of the monastery and have a walk over the multi-peaked rocky range.

Relax on the beach of the "Barceloneta" and put your feet in the sand. If you want to stay active, go for a walk along the bayside promenade or play beach volley. If you are tired come to the park "Cuitadella" and see a street show at nearby "Arc de Triomph". End the day relaxing on your beach towel in the park listening to bongo beats or working on your yoga moves or your juggling skills with the people around.