Last Updated on February 9, 2023
Last weekend, I surprised JC for his 31st birthday with a trip to Barcelona. I had successfully kept this surprise to myself for three months, which was no easy feat. He actually didn’t know where we were going until we got in line to board the plane. We landed very late on Friday, which gave us all day Saturday to enjoy. Find below the highlights of our day and how you too can enjoy a perfect 24 hours in Barcelona.
9:00 AM – Breakfast at Boldú Donuts in Vila de Grácia
Boldú Donuts on Carrer Gran de Grácia is an absolute must for a sugar-high first thing in the morning. My favorite is the praliné with nutella, JC prefers the dulce de leche. We’ll let you decide which is your favorite. Our eyes were definitely bigger than our stomachs. We could barely share one donut between the two of us.
Read More: Where to Eat in Barcelona | The Best Restaurants & Cafés
11:00 AM – Platja del Bogatell
Even though summer has come and gone from Berlin, it is still summer in Barcelona in September. So time to hit the beach! Vamos a la playa! We went to Platja del Bogatell. Beautiful clear water, small waves, many people doing stand-up paddle. It was the perfect way to spend a few sunny Saturday hours.
1:30 PM – Lunch at Toma Ya Street Food
Toma Ya Street Food is JC’s favorite Peruvian restaurant in Barcelona. So of course we had to go there for lunch. Now just be aware, the Spanish eat lunch late. So don’t even think of going to Toma Ya before 1:30 pm (it’s not open!). Make sure to order the chicha morada, a non-alcoholic drink made of purple corn (just trust me on this one). Toma Ya has the best chicha I’ve ever had, in or out of Peru!
5:00 PM – Drinks at Bunkers del Carmel
For the best panoramic views of the city, head to Bunkers del Carmel. It’s about 20 minutes outside of the neighborhood of Gràcia by bus, but well worth the trip. Bring a bottle of wine, sit, relax and enjoy the views.
9:00 PM – Dinner at Robata
Saturday night, the eve of JC’s birthday, I surprised him with dinner at Japanese restaurant Robata. I don’t have any photos of the food, as we were too busy eating it (!!!!) But definitely order the Nikkei roll with leche de tigre, you won’t regret it.
After dinner, for sure you can hit up a bar or club for some further enjoyment. I unfortunately was too tired to make it out dancing at la Fira as originally planned. But for a truly Barcelona experience you can stay out until the sun comes up.
We hope this post helps you plan your 24 hours in Barcelona. What are your favorite spots in Barcelona? Share in the comments below! And be sure to check out our other adventures in Spain.
Read More: Where to Eat in Barcelona | The Best Restaurants & Cafés
