Barcelona by motorhome - what to see?

“This city has magic. Before you know it, it will get under your skin and steal your soul, "wrote Carlos Ruiz Zafón in his novel" The Shadow of the Wind ".

Barcelona is one of the most crowded cities in the world at any time of the year. Thanks to the mild, Mediterranean climate, we can always perfectly rest in it. The capital of the rebellious Catalonia, on the one hand, symbolizes Spain more than the capital city of Madrid, on the other, it emphasizes its individuality at every step.

How to get to Catalonia?

Spain is located far away (over 1,800 km from the Polish-German border), so the trip in a motorhome will take us some time. A minimum of 24 hours should be allowed for the journey from Warsaw to Barcelona, not including breaks for rest and meals. That is why a motorhome trip to the Catalan capital is most often chosen by adventurers, for whom Barcelona is only one of the stops when traveling around Europe.

But what if we want to see not half of the continent, but most of all Barcelona itself and its surroundings, while taking advantage of the freedom of a motorhome? There is a way too. You can come to Spain by plane (thanks to cheap airlines it can be done for a few hundred zlotys per person), and a tourist vehicle can be rented on the spot.

There is no shortage of motorhome and caravan rentals in Barcelona. We will also find a Polish company - Four Side of the World , which offers a wide selection of motorhomes with minimum formalities. It is certainly worth considering the offer of this rental.

Barcelona and its symbol

What do you associate with Barcelona? It is very possible that the Sagrada Familia! It is one of the most recognizable buildings in the world, a symbol of Barcelona. It is a clear example of Antoni Gaudí's genius, and its towers are visible from almost every part of the city.

This still unfinished church (built since 1883) attracts millions of tourists around it. Non stop. Therefore, it is best to buy tickets online (with reservations for a specific day and time). The play of lights that you will see inside the church as soon as you raise your head up is breathtaking. Gaudi designed it in such a way that the sun, as it shifts, creates the impression of rippling water on the surface of which light is reflected. And it really is! The entire basilica emphasizes Barcelona's relationship with the sea, its fauna and flora.

Another attraction that cannot be missed is the main communication hub - Plaza Catalunya, where the districts of Barri Gòtic, Raval, Ciutat Vella and Eixample meet. Nearby, we will see the Arc de Triomphe, and of course the famous La Rambla promenade.

Next we enter the Ciutadella Park . The city park has lots of greenery, playgrounds, dining areas and a beautiful lake with boats. You will see (and hear) colorful parrots in the trees.

Reaching the Rambla will not be a problem for you, because you can certainly count on the crowd heading towards it. It is simply a wide promenade, always crowded, noisy, with numerous restaurants, shops, bars and ... delicious ice cream.

It's time to finally visit the sea. You can start with the old port, which has long ceased to serve a commercial function, but gathers both residents and tourists. There is a marina for yachts. A wooden extension of the most famous street, called La Rambla del Mar, leads from the city to Port Vell . The great Maremagnu shopping center rises next to it. The main point of the port, however, is the Aquarium de Barcelona , an oceanarium where you can watch sea creatures from all over the world and walk through the tunnel over which sharks swim. It's worth it.

The next must-see is La Barceloneta . This is the most famous district in Barcelona, right next to the sea. It is perhaps one of the most famous boulevards in Europe. It is a very modern space with numerous office buildings, exclusive hotels, bars and clubs - the most famous of them is Opium. It is in this part that we find a huge metal structure of a fish which is a symbol of modern Barcelona.

After seeing the seaside district, we can go to the Montjuïc hill. Preferably on foot, climbing the terraced stairs and passing numerous artificial waterfalls. We can also take a special train - Funicular de Montjuic, which will take us to the middle of the route. We can also use the Teleferic de Montjuic cable car. It is worth noting that this is not the same railway as Transbordado Aeri Del Port. The latter is located in the Port, and the waiting time to get into the trolley in the season is approx. 1 hour. From the top you can see the panorama of the entire metropolis and a beautiful view of the port and the sea. Journey time is approx. 20 minutes.

Finally, one should mention the legendary football stadium - Camp Nou . It is the pride of not only the Barcelona people themselves, but also the whole of Spain. Thanks to the FC Barcelona team, the facility has become one of the most recognizable symbols of the entire country. It is the largest active stadium in the world. The stands can seat 98,772 people!

It is impossible to list all the attractions of Barcelona. It remains to visit the villas: Casa Milla, Casa Battlo, Casa Vicens, as well as the Palau Güell Palace, Park Güell or the Colonia Güell estate ... All designed by Gaudí. If you want to see Barcelona's other attractions as well, you would need a really long vacation.

Figueras and Cadaques

Lovers of Salvador Dali must visit Figueras . The museum-theater that is located there is amazing. This is the world created by Dali. There are eggs on top of the red building and loaves of bread on the walls. The interior is filled with the artist's works. And you don't have to be a lover of art or surrealism.

Cadaques is a fishing and tourist, quiet town. One of the most beautiful on the coast. It is located about 40 kilometers from Figueras, from where we can reach via winding paths. Named a white town, it was an inspiration for Salvador Dali to create his paintings, films and sculptures.

Lloret de Mar

If you are not fed up with the sea, you must visit one of the most famous resorts in Spain - Lloret de Mar. It is wrongly perceived as exclusively youth-party. Of course, there are many hotels and discos here, but it is worth paying attention to the beautiful Gardens of St. Clotildes with unique specimens of flora from the Mediterranean basin. The view of the sea and Cala de Boadella captivates.

The beach itself is also worth visiting, it is small and part of it is intended for naturists. Various rock formations protrude from the sea here.

Lloret has a few more beaches. In the city itself, it is worth seeing the church of St. Romy . It is impressive both during the day (beautiful tiles) and at night, when it is beautifully illuminated. Around it, we find a charming square with lots of restaurants. It is also good to visit the modernist cemetery where eminent inhabitants of the city are buried.

Tossa de Mar

Tossa de Mar is located near Lloret. In the past, it was a meeting place for artists from around the world. Marc Chagall described it as a blue paradise. Tossa also charmed Ava Gardner when she was making Pandora and the Flying Dutchman. The statue of the actress adorns one of the viewpoints in the town. At the top there are the walls of the castle surrounding the oldest and parts of Tossa.

La Vila Vella , or the old town, located a little lower, is an unusual medieval complex of buildings, with narrow, cobbled streets and beautiful tenement houses. Thick walls surround everything. One must venture into this medieval labyrinth.

It is impossible to visit Catalonia in just a few days, but if you have a longer vacation, it is worth spending it on this part of Spain. There will be plenty of attractions, and everyone, whether a lover of history and architecture, nature, sportsman, or simply a person looking for rest and good cuisine, will find something for themselves.

The prices of tourist attractions and restaurants are more affordable than in nearby France, so families with children should also be satisfied. Spaniards, moreover, are famous for their love for the youngest and you can actually see it at every step. Another plus is the weather, you can relax here from April to October, and some say that even until mid-November. So there is still time to organize the trip!

And with a camper during such a trip, we will be able to explore Catalonia comfortably and at our own pace.