We visited Barcelona + Seville, Spain over New Year’s this year and I thought it would be fun to share a few of the places we loved and some thoughts I had that might help you in planning your future trip.
When we go back to Spain I think we will skip Barcelona, but it was an experience worth having. Seville on the other hand, I could have definitely have spent more time in. Below I’ve separated each city and then shared our Airbnb, transportation suggestions, whether or not Spanish was necessary, as well as our favorite coffee, food, + sights.
As always, feel free to send me any addiitonal questions or let me know if you’ve visited either of these cities and what your experience was!
Barcelona
Where we stayed
This was the Airbnb we stayed at. The asthetic of the space was everything we were looking for! It was clean and had everything we needed. The location was great. We were in the Vila de Gracia neighborhood and it was perfect! I would definitely recommend this place.
Transportation
Barcelona has a very strong public transportation system. They have both buses and a metro that can get you wherever you want to go. We used the metro to get to the airport and train station, but because of our great Aribnb location mainly walked otherwise which was perfect.
Language
The primary language used in Barcelona is Spanish. We are not fluent in Spanish by any means and we were able to navigate our way through pretty well. There was a significant amount of people that could speak English, but it’s always polite to at least attempt to communicate in Spanish first. It’s deifnitley worht learning a few phrases to help communicate.
Additional Tips / Thoughts
We went during a non-busy time (January) and the weather was a bit chilly (50’s/60’s) but the crowds were much more mild. You kind of have to pick your poison per se. We really don’t enjoy crowds so we were willing to brave the slighly chilly temps, but if you are looking for a warm Spanish getaway and aren’t deterred by crowds, then you might want to go closer to Summer or Fall.
Coffee
Three Marks Coffee - This was our top coffee in Barcelona for sure. I had read about this coffee shop in Standart and knew I had to go. Their coffee selection was fantastic and the vibe was bright and spacious. One of the pour overs we tried had mint as a tasting note which was super interesting!
Right Side Coffee formerly Satan’s Corner - Really great pour over menu with unique offerings. A bright space you could definitely sit and read or get some work done for a few hours.
Nomad Coffee - Tucked away in an adorable alley way you’ll find this small but mighty shop. When we first arrived there wasn’t anywhere to sit. There’s really only a few bar seats and then two benches to sit and wait for your coffee so if you’re looking for a place to sit and work for a few hours this probably isn’s the place. But if you want a pour over that will knock your socks off, you’re in the right spot. They had an extensive menu of pour overs that had us struggling to make a decision on which one to get. All of the baristas were incredibly kind and knowledgable. It’s also worth noting that the counters behind bar were incredibly clean — like unbelievably clean. I’ve worked in a coffee shop and I know that’s not easy to do. This is definitely our #2 pick for coffee in Barcelona.
Brew Coffee - Knowledgeable and kind baristas and a great pour over selection.
Slow Mov - This shop won our hearts over with great coffee and even better food. Both the cortado and pour over were incredible. We discovered this shop on our last day, but if we had found it on our first day I can guarantee we would have gone here multiple times.
Food
Bru - This place was located right next to Nomad Coffee. It had a super cute Scandinavian diner vibes that caught our eye. It’s located in a fun, secret passageway. The food was delicious. Josiah got the Eggs Benedict and I got the Shakshuka.
Honest Greens - If you’re looking for a cultural experience, this probably isn’t it, BUT this place is delicioys. We stumbled upon this place on New Year’s Day when we arrived in Barcelona and struggled to find food that was open. We lucked out though because the food was both delicious and nutritious! I wouldn’t say fly to Barcelona to go here, but if you need a healthy bite to eat this place will fit the bill.
Honestly, we did a lot of snacking during our time in Barcelona versus stopping for a full meal. There were a lot of restaurants that were closed since we were there around New Year’s. Definitely worth noting if you’re planning to be there around that time.
SIGHTS
La Sagrada Familia - This stunning cathedral is reason enough to visit Barcelona. We didn’t end up going inside because although we are interested in Architecture the 36 Euros to get inside didn’t necessarily seem worth it to us, Even just getting to see the outside was an experience. Take note is is currently under construtction and is not scheduled to be completed until 2026 so it’s very difficult to get photos without construction equipment.
Gothic Quarter - This neighborhood is definiteluy worth walking through if you love architecture.
Park Guell - This area was originally going to be a development for the rich, but it ended up being turned into a park. It’s 16 Euro to walk through.
La Rambla - A touristy tree lined road with shops. I definitley recommend taking a stroll down this street and landing at Mercari de La bouqueria (a really large market) to grab lunch or some fruit + veggies to take back to your Airbnb.
Picasso Museum - We ran out of time, but next time this will be a must for us.
Paella making class - This was a definite highlight of the trip. The class was offered in both Spanish and English. We chose English (Maybe one day we will get brave and take a Spanish only cooking class). We learned how to make traditional tapas, sangria, and paella. The class was about two hours and very interactive. There were about 8 total participants and we all contributed to the meal — chopping ingredients, adding ingredients, stirring, etc. The was cost $45/person and the experience was 10/10. I would highly recommend booking!
SevillE
Where we stayed
This was the Airbnb we stayed in. It had an adorable patio where we could sit and enjoy the fresh air and city sounds around us. A major bonus of this airbnb was the access to a washer (note: there is not access to a dryer so plan accordingly. Make sure you request access from the host when you meet her at the house.) Our host was such a gem and the location could not have been more perfect. We were right in the city center so we could easily walk anywhere we wanted in less than 20 minutes. It was perfect and I would definiltey recommend staying there again.
Transportation
Since our Airbnb location was so central we literally walked everywhere. When we arrived to Seville from Barcelona we arrived at the train station that was about a 25 minute walk from our Airbnb. You could have definitely gotten an uber if you preferred, but we both like walking and it gave us an excuse to see more of the city. When we left Seville we were flying out of the airport so we did have an Uber drive us there because walking was not an option. It was relatively affordable though.
Language
The primary language of this area of Spain was Spanish. We don’t know a lot of Spanish, but we did know enough to get around. It would be good to at least know a few phrases for ordering at restaurants and basic greetings, but you by no means need to be fluent.
Coffee
Muy coffee - I’d be lying if I said that this wasn’t the top reason we ended up visiting Seville. They serve Ineffable coffee and since we’ve been obsessed with them ever since we stumbled upon them in Lagos, Portugal we knew we had to visit the shop that works closely with the roastery (We had also hoped to visit the roastery that is also located in Seville, but we weren’t able to because of timing). They coffee shop has 500+ 5 star reviews on google and from our experience, I would say it is well deserved. The space is very small and earthy and warm, but also eclectic. Their pour over menu was impressive and the owners are three brothers who immediately make you feel like family. With this being the reason we traveled to Seville, they absolutely lived up to the hype and our travels were well rewarded.
Food
BraXAS - This tapas spot was right across the street from our Airbnb and was the perfect spot for us to indulge in some classic Spanish cuisine. We had a variety of tapas that had us both speechless!
Takitos Granitas - This place served up some really delicious cheese and dried meat in a cone. It was located right below our Airbnb and lended itself as the perfect stop for a snack or small dinner.
Sights
Plaza De Espana - This was easily one of our favorite things we saw on the trip. It’s a very, very cool plaza designed to sympolize peace between Spain and its former American colonies. It’s so detailed and gorgeous. It’s the perfect place to bring a picnic and hang out for a few hours.
Royal Alcazar of Seville - A royal palace that is still in use today. We didn’t actually visit the palace because we honestly weren’t interested in dealing with the crowds, but people talk highly of it.
Trianna neighborhood - This was a fun neighborhood to get out of the touristy areas and explore more of how the working class of Seville live. It gives a more authentic persepctive of what it would be like to live in the city.
Barrio Santa Cruz neighborhood - If you visit the palace you’ll end up in this neighborhood and be greeted with lots of incredible arcitecture that will have you
Metropolitan Parasol - This is the largest wood structure in the world and it was so cool to see! We didn’t actually pay the 5 Euro to go on top of the structure and take in the views and to be honest, i am kicking myself. If we go back we will definitely pay to go on top.
