Barcelona Retreat 2023
17th January 2023
Sangria, sun and fabulous architecture – our Barcelona retreat summed up.
The Bopgun team flew out to Barcelona for a long weekend at the start of January. Check out the video below to see what we got up to!
Grab a tea – or Cava – and sit back as we give you the lowdown on our Barcelona retreat, added with some exclusive recommendations from the team.
Now, if you’re thinking about jetting out to the Catalonia capital anytime soon, take it from us that three days is the perfect amount of time to explore all the famous attractions while getting a feel for the hustle and bustle of city life.
Make sure to bring some comfy shoes, though! While Barcelona is a large city, it’s still possible to trek to each attraction – excellent if you’re keen to get your steps in for the day. 24,000 maybe?
Day one
Our day started early with a morning flight to ensure we could make the most out of our day. We arrived in Barcelona around 11 am, and after a reasonably easy flight and metro journey, we decided it was time for a well-deserved (three-hour) pitstop in Cervecería Universidad.
Nachos, fries, tapas, you name it, they had it, with a large selection of alcoholic beverages too. Perfect for that first-day energy, meaning a jug of Sangria for lunch! Only joking…
With fast service, tasty food and the option to sit in the sun, it would be difficult to fault this place.
Apartment
It was time to scout out our apartment and check-in. Feeling rather merry, we headed over to our home for the next three days, which was (rather handily) just opposite where we had been eating.
The views from our apartment – no complaints at all. 10/10.
We stayed in the centre of Barcelona in a Miro EnjoyBCN Apartment. The apartment offered a stunning sight of the city, including the star on top of Sagrada Família. If you’re travelling with a large party, this apartment works well with plenty of bathrooms and bedrooms.
The Steakhouse
After a couple of rounds of UNO and peach schnapps pong, it was time to devour our faces in a remarkable restaurant picked by Emily.
Immediately, when walking into the restaurant, you’re wowed by the shrubbery and foliage that decorates the wall. While the plants may have been fake, the effect was certainly impactful.
The Steakhouse offered a selection of cuts of steak, which they impressively displayed in clear refrigerators.
They tasted great too – we recommend going!
Day two
Jardins Sagrada Famila
Following a much-needed lie-in, it was time to explore the city. Our journey started by heading to Jardins Sagrada Família, with a few stops to admire some architecture.
It’s no wonder the cathedral is one of Barcelona’s most popular attractions. The building is colossal with intricate architecture. You could stare all day and still pick out something new.
Parc Guell
Parc GuellOur next stop was another Gaudi phenomenon, Parc Guell. The park focuses on nature, with winding paths through trees (keep an eye out for the cute parakeets) and insight into climate change at the end. The park provides a spectacular view of the city too.
El Mercader de l’Eixample
For the final night of our Barcelona retreat, it made sense to go traditional for food. This hidden gem offered classic Spanish cuisine, from bread and cheese platters to yoghurt and pomegranate for dessert. With a rustic courtyard feel, the atmosphere was relaxing and rounded off our day nicely.
Day three (leaving day)
Monday meant our last day. Although, with an evening flight, we still had plenty of time to adventure. Check out complete. Next stop, coffee.
Breakfast done, we headed towards Port Vell with a stop at the La Rambla markets.
La Rambla
If you love food, the La Rambla market is for you.
From colourful fruit platters to countless flavours of ice cream, there’s something for everyone. It was easy to get lost amongst the endless displays of food on offer. The market was buzzing, and it’s no wonder.
Port Vell
The sun made an appearance for our venture by Port Vell. The sea was shimmering, and yachts were bobbing up and down – it felt like summer in January – England could never!
We stopped in a restaurant on the marine where Caz intrigued us with her choice of grilled octopus tentacle, which tasted great. Don’t knock it until you try it.
Home straight
The final part of our retreat consisted of some last-minute shopping and absorbing the city one last time before jetting back to England.
Overall, if you’re looking to get your creative juices flowing with some artsy architecture, it’s the perfect place, with everything within walking distance and just a two-hour flight away.
We thoroughly enjoyed our Barcelona retreat and are grateful for the opportunity to travel to such a place.
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Our travels got you interested? Check out our 10th-anniversary team trip to Madrid!
