What to do in Barcelona
Barcelona is our destination for winter holiday in 2018. We went there for three nights in December. It is quite pleasant to go to Barcelona in winter. The weather is cold, but it is not freezing. We stayed at Hotel Roger de Lluria in the central Barcelona. The nearest metro to Hotel Roger de Lluria is Urquinaona.
![](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Hotel-Roger-de-Llúria-Barcelona-1.jpg)
We like the hotel so much. The room is big and spacious. There is a minibar and also a balcony.
![Hotel Roger de Llúria balcony room](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Hotel-Roger-de-Llúria-balcony-room.jpg)
![](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Hotel-Roger-De-Lluria-960x720.jpg)
![Hotel Roger de Llúria balcony](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Hotel-Roger-de-Llúria-balcony-960x720.jpg)
Look at this lovely minibar below! And the bathroom is spacious too!.
![Hotel Roger de Llúria minibar](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Hotel-Roger-de-Llúria-minibar-960x720.jpg)
![Hotel Roger de Llúria bathroom](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Hotel-Roger-de-Llúria-bathroom-960x720.jpg)
We also love the big breakfast, even though it is quite expensive (I think around 18 Euro per person).
![Hotel Roger de Llúria Breakfast room](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Hotel-Roger-de-Llúria-Breakfast-room-960x720.jpg)
There are nice selection of cold food and hot foot. With desserts and pastries too.
Hotel Roger de Llúria Hot Food for breakfast
Breakfast at Hotel Roger de Llúria
Here are our activities in Barcelona:
Visit to the Sagrada Familia
This is a must activity in Barcelona. The Sagrada Familia, once refurbished, could be the largest Catholic church (probably in the world?).
![Sagrdara Familia under construction](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Sagrdara-Familia-under-construction.jpg)
We buy an online ticket to enter, which is cheaper than the door ticket. I simply go to their website and pay online for it.
Magnificent Sagrada Familia
I love the outside architecture of Sagrada Familia. However the inside is surprised me. I think it is quite modern. I notice that it has also the old part of the Church in the basement, but the main part, I guess is designed in a quite modern way.
![Sagrada Familia Barcelona](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Sagrada-Familia-Barcelona.jpg)
It has the feeling of nice, clean, seek inside, which is not probably my taste, because I love OLD STYLE church very much. The older the style the better!
Pillars at Sagrada Familia
So what do you think of it? Do you like how it is designed inside?
![inside the Sagrada Família](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/inside-the-Sagrada-Família.jpg)
![Sagrada Família pilars](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Sagrada-Família-pilars-960x720.jpg)
I prefer the outside look of Sagrada Familia. It has the quirkiness style of Gaudi.
![Sagrada Familia](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Sagrada-Familia.jpg)
![Gaudi Sagrada Familia](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Gaudi-Sagrada-Familia.jpg)
You can sit to a nearby Cafe (across the Church) and enjoy a drink with a fabulous view.
![Drinks with a View](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Drinks-with-a-View.jpg)
If you have time, you can also visit Casa Battlo, a building designed also by Gaudi. As for us, we don’t really come inside, but the architecture from outside looks weirdly stunning.
![Gaudi Casa Batllo](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Gaudi-Casa-Batllo.jpg)
Visit the Gothic Quarter
Barcelona is quite famous for its Gothic quarter. It is the old town and the historic part of Barcelona. Placa Sant Jaume, for example, is very impressive.
![Placa Sant Jaume](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Placa-Sant-Jaume-960x720.jpg)
![Placa Sant Jaume Barcelona](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Placa-Sant-Jaume-Barcelona-960x720.jpg)
Just tuck away from Placa Sant Jaume, there are Roman ruins of the Temple of Augustus. It is quite amazing to see the Roman remains in Barcelona. The temples are amazing too!
![Temple of Augustus](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/temple-of-augustus-in-barcelona.jpg)
![Temple of Augustus Barcelona](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Temple-of-Augustus-Barcelona-960x720.jpg)
We also visited the Chapel of Santa Maria del Pi. And attended the mass there. The Chapel is very old and it is quite mesmerising to be inside.
![Chapel at Santa Maria del Pi Barcelona](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Chapel-at-Santa-Maria-del-Pi-Barcelona.jpg)
The Gothic quarter is very special. It is typical old town Europe. With narrow streets and old buildings.
![Barcelona at night](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Barcelona-at-night-960x720.jpg)
![Barcelona near Gothic quarter](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Barcelona-near-Gothic-quarter-960x720.jpg)
Visit the Flea Markets
Please see here for more information about antiquing in Barcelona.
![Barcelona's Flea Market](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/5445CA42-A787-4B49-923D-2F0C0323576C-960x720.jpeg)
During the Festive season, also visit the Christmas market.
![Christmas market in Barcelona](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Christmas-market-in-Barcelona-960x720.jpg)
Eat Tapas
Yes! In Barcelona, you must try Tapas! There are many cafes and restaurants serving tapas.
![PaTapas Barcelona](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/PaTapas-Barcelona-960x720.jpg)
I also love Seafood Paella! As a seafood lover, seafood paella is a must!
![Seafood Paella](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Seafood-Paella-960x720.jpg)
![Tapas and seafood paella!](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Barcelona-Tapas-and-Paella-960x720.jpg)
We also try a lovely Spanish dinner from an authentic Spanish restaurant called ‘Casa Alfonso’ at Carrer de Roger de Lluria.
![Dinner in Barcelona](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Dinner-in-Barcelona-960x720.jpg)
Appreciate Barcelona as a democratic society
When we were there, we seen at least two demonstrations. One was in exactly in front of our hotel. Although we do not understand what are the demands or what they are campaigning about, we appreciate the democratic feel in Barcelona, that people can and have appropriate medium (in this case through demonstration) to raise their concerns so that their voices can be heard.
![Demonstration outside Roger de Llúria](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Demonstration-outside-Roger-de-Llúria-960x720.jpg)
![Demonstration outside our hotel barcelona](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Demonstration-outside-our-hotel-barcelona.jpg)
![Demonstration Barcelona 2018](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Demonstration-Barcelona-2018.jpg)
Enjoy the lively evening in Barcelona
Around Placa de Catalunya, it is always bustling busy.
![Barcelona near Placa de Catalunya](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Barcelona-near-Placa-de-Catalunya-960x720.jpg)
![Lights in Barcelona](https://mariabristoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Lights-in-Barcelona-960x720.jpg)
I hope you like my post about Barcelona. Visit my other travel pages too here.