Ethan's Travel Guide: Barcelona

Art, architecture, superblocks, tapas & more from BCN...for curious urban minds

Mar 31, 2025

I first visited Barcelona nearly 7 years ago. I was there for about a day and a half with friends before we hopped over to Madrid to begin our summer abroad courses. What I remember from those rushed 36 hours in Barcelona was a lot of walking (in the rain, ironically), striking architecture, and big…big…pans of paella, but it was such a short time that I barely felt acquainted with the city. So when I had the opportunity to return to BCN this spring, I was thrilled! Not only would I get to know the city through the lens of urban planning and design (I was there as an associate for an urban planning studio course), but I’d also have the chance to settle in for a week and really get a feel for the space.

I wrote about Barcelona’s urban resilience last week, which you can read here. As I said then, its proactive approach towards innovation has put its urban design significantly ahead and made the city a model for urban resilience. Overall, there was a refreshing, relaxed energy about the city. It oozed creative autonomy and still respected its rich Mediterranean history. Though the pace might be slower (in the best way possible), there was no shortage of things to do. I’ve rounded up some of my favorite spots, ranging from art & architecture to superblocks & tapas bars for your next visit to Barcelona.

Ethan x