July in Barcelona is an exciting time to visit. With hot, sunny weather, the city is ripe for visiting the beaches, Montjuic mountain, or having a sangria on a rooftop bar. As one of the most popular months to visit, Barcelona is a buzzing city with plenty of outdoor festivals, seaside events, and of course,…
Author: Justine Ancheta
California native, churro aficionado, and mom of 3, Justine Ancheta writes fervently about Barcelona and Spain. Since 2008, she's been eating burnt onions (calçots) and tripping on cobblestones in the Gothic Quarter. She shares tips on popular attractions, exposes offbeat non-touristy spots, and gives insight on exploring Barcelona with kids. Her next Catalan culture challenge: top level of a human castle (castellers).
The Barcelona Pass: Save Time and Money
The Barcelona Pass: Save time and money If you’re looking to get discounts on Barcelona attractions, look no further. The Barcelona Pass is a fantastic deal if you want to save money with discounts and save time by skipping the line. What is the Barcelona Pass? It’s a special card that gives you skip-the-line /…
CosmoCaixa: An Interactive Science Museum in Barcelona
Remember this? Your physics teacher tells you to turn to page 137 of your textbook. He rattles on about a formula or a chart. You try to understand it, but you find the “hugs not drugs” posters on the wall much more intriguing. Yawwwwnnnn… So, how do you make learning science FUN AND EXCITING? You…
Barcelona Group Tickets For Museums and Tours
If you’re traveling with a large group, it can be complicated to reserve your visits for Barcelona museums, attractions and tours. Not anymore! I’ve partnered with Group Sightseeing so that you can book tickets for your group for more than 9 people. Just click on the link and leave your information with a form. Someone…
Barcelona: 2 Day Itinerary for First-Time Visitors
Curvaceous Gaudí buildings, narrow Roman streets, and infinite views of a gridded city. Barcelona is massive, and it’s overpacked with things to do. That doesn’t mean that you have to miss out on the important sites. It IS possible to experience most essential places to see in Barcelona when you just have 2 days. As…
Vall de Núria, Spain: A Guide to this Magical Valley in the Mountains
Vall de Núria, l Spain: A Guide to this Beautiful Mountainous Destination Imagine taking a 40-minute train ride in the mountains, then arriving at a rolling, lush, green valley. It has a beautiful building complex, a large lake, and is surrounded by rolling grass and towering Pyrenees mountains. One of the most stunning landscapes in…
Caga Tió, A Crapping Christmas Icon
He’s a defecating log with an exuberant smile on his face. And he brings holiday joy to Catalan children every Christmas. I don’t really quite remember the exact moment when I heard about the peculiar Catalan tradition of the Tió de Nadal (Christmas log), commonly called the Caga tió (pooping log). I’m sure that it took awhile…
Where to Find the Best Shopping in Barcelona
From the high-end shops on Diagonal Avenue – to the vintage boutiques in Gracia, Barcelona doesn’t disappoint with the range of places to shop. Whether you’re seeking designer retail stores – or places to shop for local goods like leather shoes, you’ll find places plenty of options for yourself or someone else. Read about the…
How to Care For Your Caga Tió (Tió de Nadal, Catalan Christmas Log)
If you want presents on Christmas Eve, you’ve gotta do some work: Give your tió de nadal some tender lovin’ care. And if you’ve never heard of him… The tió de nadal is a log with a face on it. And he poops presents for Catalan children on Christmas Eve. So if you have a…
Faborit Casa Amatller, A Modernist Cafe + Chocolate
Casa Amatller has one more reason to enchant modernist art lovers, who are seeking another experience of modernisme in Barcelona. The lesser-known neighbor to the famous Casa Batlló, Casa Amatller invites visitors to Faborit, the “urban healthy coffee shop”. For the stomach, Faborit serves sandwiches, salads, wraps, smoothies, coffee, and exquisite chocolate. For the eyes, the…