Top COVID-Safe Things To Do in Barcelona
Things To Do in Barcelona
Things haven’t yet returned to normal for many countries around the world, but the end of COVID is in sight for many. With careful travel restrictions, social distancing, mask wearing, and of course multiple vaccines being produced and distributed worldwide, you’ll be strolling through that airport again in no time.
Barcelona should be top of your wish list when it comes to post-COVID trips and adventures. There aren’t many countries that can offer the variety and culture that Barcelona can. But what COVID-safe activities are there to do in Barcelona in 2021?
This Idyoma article is here to help with a rundown of some the top reviewed spots to hit up while you’re in Barcelona. Whether you’re staying for a few days or a few weeks, you could return to these destinations time and again and still enjoy yourself – safely.
You might be wondering what’s open and available in Barcelona as the Coronavirus is steadily battled worldwide. You can use sites like GoCity to stay up to date on where is open and safe currently, and of course always check travel restrictions in your country before you book.
Things to do in Barcelona
1. Barcelona’s Beaches
2. Picasso Museum
3. Gaudi’s Park Guell
4. Tibidabo and Montjiuc Mountain Ranges
5. Umbracle
6. Casa Mila
Barcelona’s Beaches
The beaches of Barcelona are extensive and idyllic, and definitely the first place you’ll want to visit when you touchdown in Barcelona. Once you’ve unpacked and learn some of the local language to make navigation of the sprawling city easier, you can head to one of the many public beaches. There is 4.5km of coastline within the city limits of Barcelona, so the choice really is yours. You could make a day out of walking the lengths of beaches and picking out your favourite spot to recline on a beach towel, listen to the gentle Spanish waves, and feel thankful for the world around you post-COVID.
There are lots of reasons why hitting the beach is one of the best things to do in Barcelona. Perhaps you’re at one with nature and love to feel the sea breeze on your skin. In Barcelona the sun is usually always shining, so hot Spanish sun is almost guaranteed in the spring and summer months. Top up your tan for a few hours while you read up on the native language, or watch your family enjoy the heat and the views together. Even if you’re not the bikini-toting type, though, you can still get your beach on with water sports and a leisurely swim.
When it comes to being COVID-safe, Barcelona’s beaches are a safe choice, mainly because you’ll be outside in the fresh air right beside the rolling Mediterranean Sea. With all that coastline to soak up, why not take your time finding a quiet place? You’ve got plenty of sandy space to choose a perfectly socially distant spot, especially if you visit during the quieter periods.
And, once COVID is safely in the traveller’s rear-view, you could even consider popping over to one of the famous chiringuitos or beachside bars. They serve world famous cocktails and are known for their evening vibes with great company and even more memorable music.
One of the Best Things To Do in Barcelona - Picasso Museum
The unmissable Picasso Museum is an experience of a lifetime. If you’re an art enthusiast or artist yourself, this museum is likely on your bucket list. Picasso is a globally recognisable name, and most people also know his tragic back story and the source of his artistic inspirations. This story gives Picasso some of his attraction and is partially why this museum has found so much popularity. That’s not to mention that the Picasso Museum, founded in 1963, hosts a breath-taking collection of almost 4,000 original works by Pablo Picasso.
Taking a tour through the beautifully designed halls of the museum, you can experience another one of the best things to do in Barcelona, the evolution of Picasso straight from his formative works, some of which are mostly unknown by history. The artwork featured in the museum that dates between 1890 and 1904 are particularly interesting if you want to see how Picasso experimented and developed into his iconic style. There are also sketches from his days as a student to inspire any young artist, unfinished landscapes, and even his early attempts at the cubism art style. With so much to see, you could easily spend hours in this museum. And with clear COVID safety guidelines restricting the number of visitors inside the museum at a time, you can feel safe too.
Gaudi’s Parc Guell
What is about Gaudi that makes one of the most popular things to do in Barcelona, you might ask? The Gaudi Parc Guell is an astounding park uniquely designed by famous architect and artist, Gaudi. Many fans of Gaudi’s work will instantly find their surroundings familiar as they walk through the Parc Guell gates. You can explore for free, taking in the gorgeous and often bizarre design ideas and architectural techniques. Gaudi was best known for his bizarre perspective use, and it’s certainly recognisable in even the briefest of strolls through Parc Guell.
If you want to access the Monumental Zone, you will have to pay a small fee to the park. Until 2013 all areas used to be free to access for the public, but a huge influx of tourism and popularity lead to the park requiring help with upkeep and to contribute to the local area. The fee is also used as a deterrent to reduce crowds and ensure the modernista’s masterpieces are preserved for decades to come. When you visit, try to explore every single avenue and nook, as you never know what surprise may be hiding, just waiting to inspire you. Don’t miss the astounding and immaculate serpentine bench and the truly mind-blowing views of the city if you take a walk to the park’s highest point, marked with a cross. Bring your mask along with your camera, as although the park is open-air, it may get busy at peak times.
Things To Do in Barcelona - Tibidabo and Montjuic Mountains
Hot off the back of parks, we bring you mountains!
Again, the mountain range will offer you COVID safety purely because of its huge natural expanse. You could certainly hike for miles without meeting anyone else, particularly if you time your hike to miss the tourist bursts in the early morning and evenings when many are trying to get the best sunset and sunrise photo opportunities.
For the best views of mountainsides and forestry and one of the most beautiful things to do in Barcelona, we recommend the exceptional views found on Tibidabo, Montjuic, and Collserola. There are well-worn and easily mapped trails for the part-time explorers, untrodden paths for the expert adventurers, and easily accessible funicular for anyone with trepidations about making a climb to reach these views. The funicular is also part of the accessibility available in the mountains for the disabled, particularly in the Tibidabo amusement park.
What should you make sure to see on each mountain apart from the views? Well, the Tibidabo amusement park is great fun for kids and adults alike with a huge choice of all the familiar rides and vendors, which will be subject to COVID guidance when they open.
In Collserola, at Can Calopa, you can indulge in some rather more adult wine and olive oil tastings as well as a luxury lunch you won’t forget. If neither of those tickle your mountainside fancy, then Montjuic boasts a stunning botanical garden that is often peaceful and less travelled to by the tourists if you want a tranquil escape.
Umbracle
Speaking of botanical gardens, Montjuic doesn’t have the only one. This is one one ouf our favourite things to do in Barcelona. Barcelona’s Umbracle botanical garden is an ideal visit for the nature lover and plant enthusiast. The iron architecture that encompasses the gardens was designed by Josep Fontsere and built in the late 19th century.
The exterior of the structure possesses a unique likeness to a birds cage, forged in iron and with enormous brick columns to support it. This design only compliments the wild plumage of the plants that inhabit the gardens, though. And you may well find yourself wandering for hours undisturbed through the vast conservatory admiring exotic plants from almost two dozen different countries.
This space is open weekdays between 8am to 2pm so be sure to pick the quietest time for your visit.
Casa Mila
Finally, the Casa Mila cannot go unmentioned in your trip to Barcelona. Casa Mila, or La Pedrera, is named due to its unusual appearance, as if it were hewn out of rock. It is a modernist building in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Casa Mila was the last private residence designed by architect Antoni Gaudí, and it was built between 1906 and 1912. This monumental building won’t be missed. Wherever you are in Barcelona, you will see it or hear of it and you’ll be drawn to its oddity.
The building is unique as it is the only building in the world serving five purposes whilst retaining its original build structure. It is used for tourism, particularly for its architectural and artistic appeal as Antoni Gaudi’s most memorable constructions in Spain. It also contains his entire oeuvre. It is also culturally and socially used within its locality for art exhibitions and events. The Casa Mila is also administrative in usage, in other words it is the base for the Catalunya la Pedrera Foundation and contributes to the preservation of cultural heritage.
You may also be surprised to learn it has permanent residents! Three tenants call the La Pedrera home, and their families have lived in the building for over 70 years.
What do you think of these COVID-safe things to do in Barcelona?
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