Spain Intro Trip: Barcelona, Madrid and Seville — Guaranteed Fiesta
I am a big fan of the Spanish language and culture. I had been learning Spanish since university, and people from Spain were some of the friendliest that I had met throughout the years. The Spanish way prioritizes good food, having a good time and a slower, more leisurely pace to living.
I was really excited for my solo Spain trip in June 2016. I also had friends in Barcelona and Madrid, so I managed to see some places where the locals go to hang out. It was June, and my birthday was coming up. I plan most big trips to coincide around my birthday. It is the best present one can give oneself.
At the time, I was living in Dubai. The best deal I could get on flights to Barcelona was via Qatar airways, with a short layover in Doha. Spain is very well connected by a railway, so I was excited to take the trains between Spain’s 3 main cities from north to south.
A View of Barcelona from Montjuic
Barcelona: Tourist Magnet
Barcelona does not need much of an introduction. It is the most visited city in Spain. It was my first stop on my 9-day trip to Spain.
As a major Mediterranean port city, Barcelona has sunny weather in June, with the sea breeze easing the summer heat. It combines all types of tourists, those looking for a leisurely beach holiday, as well as cultural tourism. It eclipses the capital, Madrid, in terms of volume of international visitors. Its clear advantage is the beach and its reputation for being “the nightlife capital of the world”.
Spanish is the official language throughout the country, but Catalan, the regional language is also widely used in Barcelona. It is common to see signs in both, Spanish and Catalan throughout public places in the city. Locals are proud of their distinct language and culture, which they see as different from that of mainstream Spain. Historically, there have been many referendums to separate Catalonia from the rest of the country.
Upon arrival, I took a taxi to the Barcelona Princess Hotel on the Avenida Diagonal, which cost about 30 Euros. There is a metro line from the airport to the city. However, considering that I am a hoarder and often travel with a suitcase on longer trips, I decided to take a taxi instead.
Despite being so busy with tourists, language barriers can be an issue in some places, even taxis. It does help to know a few words and phrases in Spanish.
Fish and Seafood are a Big Part of Catalan Food
The Barcelona Princess hotel was sleek and modern, with a pool and a bar. While being advertised as a ‘luxury hotel’, I found it to be just above standard for a 4-star hotel. Another downside with staying here was that it was relatively far from the city center and most of Barcelona attractions. However, the area was connected by metro with El Maresme station. Because Barcelona is so busy with tourists in peak season, service is usually average at hotels and restaurants and it is rare for staff to go out of their way to provide exceptional assistance.
The metro is very easy to navigate. Just be careful with your belongings because Barcelona is notorious for petty crime such as pickpocketing. It can also be intimidating to take at night, especially with the hoards of drunken tourist who fly to Barcelona from nearby places for the weekend. In a way, Barcelona is similar to Amsterdam another European city whose authenticity has been lost as it became very international. There has been a lot of backlash from the locals, who feel that their daily lives has been interrupted by over tourism, with calls for reform to promote a more quality and sustainable type of inbound tourism.
As I arrived, I decided to not pre-arranged sightseeing plans and just play it by ear. At the time, I did not plan to document my trips as I do now. My trip itineraries tended to be more much more sparse and vacant compared to later on. With time, I developed my travel skills to take advantage of every hour.
After check-in, I went to explore the bars and cafes in the Eixample district. It was the height of tourist season, so I found the city to overwhelming and overflowing with drunken tourists from all over Europe who were in town for the weekend. Nonetheless, it was fascinating to explore Barcelona’s nightlife. I was also feeling jetlagged, so I found it difficult to stay up for long.
The second day, and to save commute times, I did something which I normally would not do. I took the double-decker tourist sightseeing bus from across my hotel. It was the best and fastest way to squeeze in the whimsical Gaudi architecture throughout the city, see the Sagrada Familia church, pass by Las Ramblas avenue and the Barceloneta beach.
Designed by Antonio Gaudi
Catalan architect Antonio Gaudi is one of the country’s legends. His avant-garde style combines neo-gothic and art-nouveau style, with dramatic shapes in 3D. His most famous work is La Sagrada Familia basilica in Eixemple. Gaudi’s work has left an immortal mark on Barcelona. There are many other Gaudi structures and building throughout the city, such as Casa Battlo, with its skull-shaped windows and balconies, and the Park Güell garden complex, with beautiful views from its ceramic-tiled balcony.
Las Ramblas is the city’s main shopping avenue, with local and international brands. One local brand to check out when in Barcelona is Desigual, which is headquartered in the city. It is known for its colorful prints and asymmetrical designs. The pieces are all very original, and not too harsh on the wallet.
La Barceloneta is another of the city’s most popular attractions. With over 1 Kilometers of sandy beach, it is where locals and tourists come to pass time and play sports. Despite its popularity, it is very clean and well-kept. There is even a nudist area, which is not very typical of urban beaches.
In the late afternoon, I met my friend Carlos, a local whom I had known from since university days in Vancouver. We had a late lunch at the busy Mercado de la Boqueria where we had some regional tapas. Seafood is a big part of Catalan cuisine, and paella comes from the nearby city of Valencia to the south. Black rice or Arròs Negre, is a similar dish to try in Barcelona, with squid or cuttlefish served in rice. The squid ink diffuses a color that colors the rice black. A simple tapa of only three ingredients is Pa amb Tomàquet, which is literally a fresh tomato paste on toast, with a splash of olive oil.
As with all cities in Spain, you can expect small tapas to sample for free with every drink that you order. While Barcelona is considered to be Spain’s most expensive city, you can still have a glass of wine (and a free tapa) for as little as 3 Euros. Expect to pay even less in other cities. Spain is a wine exporting country, and you can try many varieties of sweet and dry wine during your trip.
We then stopped at the Museu Nacional de Arte de Catalunya (MNAC) to admire Catalan art, including Romanesque murals and modernist paintings before taking the cable car up to Montejuic for the best views of the city below.
In the evening, I hit the town again with Carlos as we visited a few bars. Again, I found the nightlife to be too rowdy for my taste, and I had a morning train to catch to Madrid the next day, so I left early. Lesson learned: I will avoid visiting Barcelona in the summer months or at peak tourist season.
Barcelona Enjoys a Pleasant Mediterranean Climate
Madrid: The Heart and Soul of Spain
I took the fast AVE train from Barcelona to Madrid. I prefer trains over planes when possible, since it is also a good way to see some of the country’s landscape. The train ride took about 2 hours, landing at the Puerta de Atocha station in the city center. The train ride was very comfortable and there was enough space above my seat for luggage storage. One of the main advantages of visiting European countries is how well-connected the train routes are. From then on, it was a short taxi ride to my hotel, where I had stayed for 3 nights.
Madrid, a capital city with a metropolitan population of over 6 million, is right in the middle of Spain. It is a quintessentially Spanish city and is a remarkable cultural and business center. In contrast to Barcelona, it is very flat and does not have a beach. This translates to more extreme weather, with hot and dry summers and occasional snow in the winter.
I stayed at the 7 Islas Hotel in the bohemian Malasaña district. The family-run boutique hotel combines an art gallery with leafy inner patios and very tasteful décor inspired by the Canari islands. The staff were also very friendly and hospitable.
Malasaña is a great neighborhood with lots of cozy bars and indie boutiques, and the hotel did not disappoint with its coziness. It is the epicenter of Madrid’s underground scene. It is also within a short walking distance to Gran Via, the main shopping district as well as Chueca, where much of the nightlife is.
I explored much of the city by foot along the wide and elegant boulevards for the next few days. The highlight of my in Madrid was definitely the Museo Nacional del Prado, Spain’s main museum which houses a massive collection of European art. You can see Goya’s work up close here. For more modern art, the Reina Sofia has you covered, with masterpieces by Salvador Dali and Picasso. The perfect trip includes a visit to the Plaza Mayor or the nearby Puerta del Sol city squares for a cold beer on the patio. Being in the country’s interior, summers in Madrid get very hot, so make sure to have drinking bottle on you during your stroll.
I also had the chance to meet my friend Miguel, who lives in Madrid, for a few drinks at the nearby Las Letras district, another hidden gem in the city that is popular with the alternative crowd. It always helps to have local friends who can show you a more authentic side of the city.
Spain is One of the World’s Top Wine Producers
One food that is synonymous with Spain is Iberian Ham or Jamón Ibérico. This highly-prized type of cured meat comes from the Iberian pig, a black breed that is raised on a diet of acorns. It is rich in healthy fats and oleic acid, and can cost up to 150 Euros per kilo. It combines really well with local Manchego cheese. When visiting markets and many restaurants, it is not uncommon to see large cured hams hanging as a form of decoration. Vegans and vegetarians might have a hard time in Spain, since pork and seafood are central to Spanish cuisine.
While this is a much-contested topic, I found Madrid to be much more interesting than Barcelona. It is authentically ‘Spanish’, it also feels more grandiose with its gardens and plazas, has better museums and cultural attractions and felt safer–for one, it has less drunken tourists and pickpockets. Again, this topic is highly debatable and I am adamant on giving Barcelona a second chance on my next trip.
Seville: Europe’s Frying Pan
Once again, I took the AVE train from Madrid to the southern city of Seville (or ‘Sevilla’) for my last two days in Spain.
Sevilla is the capital of the southern Andalucía region, and has some stunning Moorish and Gothic-era architecture. Historically, the region was part of the Moorish empire, and to this day, there is a lot of Arabesque influence on the local culture and architecture. The highlight of my time in Seville was staying at the Las Casas de Juderia. This ancient hotel is formed from parts of the old walled-in Jewish quarter of Seville. It is full of mazes and underground walkways that are easy to get lost in. It is adorned by several courtyards at the center and offers truly astounding atmosphere. It also has a rooftop bar and pool with some great views of the old city. I highly recommend this hotel.
Sevilla is Spain’s Third Largest City and the Hottest Place in Europe
The hotel is also within close walking distance to the Seville Cathedral, the largest Gothic cathedral and the fourth largest church in the world. The interior is beautifully decorated, and visitors can also visit the adjacent bell tower. The Seville Cathedral is also located right next to Plaza de España, the city’s gorgeous main square. In true Andalusian fashion, there are chariots lined outside the street waiting to give passengers a ride.
Summers in Seville are so hot, and all patios have water fans. Stop by a patio for beer, and Gazpacho, a local tomato soup that is served cold. You will need Gazpacho to survive Andalusian summer.
After a relaxing night at my hotel, I went on a walking tour of some of the city’s highlights the next day and a flamenco show in the town where the dance originated. On my last day, I hung out by the hotel’s pool and chose to stay close to my hotel. My trip was coming to an end, and I had to catch an overnight flight to Barcelona before traveling back home. I was glad to have sampled three very distinct regions in this culturally-rich country and had a feeling that I would come back one day.
I did not get the chance to see the Moorish Alcazar palace, along with many other magnificent buildings and museums in Seville as I was running short on time. However, I did spend 2 weeks in Andalucía on a separate trip in 2023, where I got to explore more of Seville and other cities such as Granada and Málaga.
In Spain, Free Tapas Come with Every Drink that You Order
Spain Pros:
Very affordable
Immense cultural attractions
Nice people
Good weather
Food
Shopping
Excellent transportation networks
Spain Cons:
Thefts and pickpockets are common
Occasional language barrier
