City Guide: Discover Barcelona
Explore the hidden gems of Barcelona with us.
Barcelona is one of those places that has everything. City life, beaches, culture, neighborhoods for endless wandering, good food on every corner of the street, and bars that are open from noon till late. To experience the city at its best, you avoid the tourist attractions and hop on a bike instead. We did the research for you and asked the locals which places you really don’t want to miss while cruising through the city. Vamos!
1. Plaça Sant Felip Neri
Tucked away in the oldest part of the Gothic Quarter, you'll find Plaça Sant Felip Neri. It's a beloved photoshoot location among lovebirds, though the history of the square is quite grim. During the Spanish Civil War, two bombings took place here, with many children among the victims. Nowadays it’s a peaceful place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. Don't forget to pick up ice cream at ‘Un gelato per te’ while you’re there - owner Edu makes the most delicious peach ice cream.
Source: timeout.com
2. Boqueria
We admit that the Boqueria market on the Ramblas is hardly original. Still, if you’re a bit of a foodie you really don’t want to skip this slice of food heaven. While you’re there you can even score some fresh snacks for the road.
Source: Barcelonapagina.nl
3. Carrer Petritxol
Speaking of snacks: you must (yes, must) go to Carrer Petrixtol. This street located in the heart of Barcelona is famous for its local pastries that Catalans prefer to eat with a horchata on the side. This is a sweet plant-based drink made of tiger nut milk, water, and sugar. Salud!
Source: thingstodopost.org
4. Skybar
The Skybar is located on the lively Plaça Catalunya. That's a - yep, you guessed it - rooftop bar with amazing city views. Share a bowl of nachos, marvel at the sunset, and snap a series of photos for Insta while doing your best not to tumble into the rooftop pool.
Creator: Uschi Burger-Precht
5. Paradiso
The best way to end a day of cruising through Barcelona is dancing at Paradiso in the El Born district. Last year, Paradiso finished at number three in the list of top bars in the world. Just as special as the bar itself is its award-winning cocktail list. Put on your dancing shoes and don’t worry about that hangover too much - the Barceloneta beach is the perfect place to recover the next day.
Source: The world's 50 best bars
About Swapfiets
Swapfiets is the world’s first ‘bicycle as a service’ company. Founded 2014 in the Netherlands, the scale-up quickly developed being one of the leading micro mobility providers in Europe with 280.000 members in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, France, Spain, Austria and UK.
The concept of Swapfiets is quite simple: For a monthly subscription fee, Swapfiets members receive a fully functional bicycle or e-mobility solution for their own use. If needed, a repair service is available within 48 hours to repair or directly swap the two-wheeler at no additional cost.
