Kailey’s Guide to Cities in Spain

Sóller, Mallorca

Disclaimer: Based on lived experience in each city. None of the links are sponsored, but purely for your ease.

1. Barcelona — I want to preface my bias to this city by stating that I lived here for nearly 4 months studying and exploring beautiful Barcelona. Every other city on this list I spent 1–3 days in, so none could truly compare. But I will list reasons you need to visit Barcelona anyway because you probably haven’t lived there for 4 months. It is home to Gaudi’s famous architectural designs which are extravagent and amazing. La Sagrada Familia is the most unique religious structure I’ve ever been to, and it is still being completed. The food is diverse and delicious. From Spanish tapas to Asian cuisine, Barcelona has anything. For the price, which is cheaper than many European countries, you get quality meals. It may not compare to Italy, but the gelato is so yummy, especially Jijonenca near Sagrada Familia. Barceloneta!! What more can be said than salty waves, long stretches of golden sand, and a workout pier to entice you to visit. Did I mention clubs? The clubs in Barcelona are some of the most renowned and highly-rated spots in the world. Shôko, Opium, Bling Bling and Sala Apolo are to name a few. If you want my recommendation, you’ll get to Razzmatazz on Wednesday to see El Dirty. Barcelona is the safest city I’ve traveled to. I never felt endangered, especially due to the amount of people out late at night. Except for catcalling, which is uncomfortable but not physically endangering, you will be left unbothered. The city sweepers are out all day and night cleaning the city, so it may be smelly but never dirty. Everywhere I traveled, no matter how far, I always wanted to return home to Barcelona.
2. Sóller, Mallorca — My friends and I stayed at an AirBnB 40 minutes Northeast of Palma de Mallorca in a town called Port de Sóller. There is a beautiful port with crystal clear water and a beach just outside of the marina (Platja den Repic). The food was more expensive, but absolutely delicious. I had a salmon dish at Bar Albatros that was well worth the price. One night we traveled via bus to Palma for a night out and to explore the club scene in the capitol city of the island. For drinks, we headed to Vintage Santa Catalina (I couldn’t find it on Google Maps, so the link contains the general street block location), then Sala Luna for dancing. We also took a 30 euro, 1.5 hour long boat tour down the Sa Calobra coast of the island where we saw caves, tightrope walkers, and swam with fish in the clearest deep blue waters I’ve ever seen. In the town, they have a trolley for families with a short railway around the Port. As someone who feels that the club scene is not the most important part of one’s travels, I ranked Sóller highly because of my experience. I would suggest Sóller for anyone seeking a calm, romantic, and relaxing trip. With time to reflect, here is a list of activities I wish we had planned ahead of time to do: hiking of Puig de Sa Rateta and Caló del Moro — both provide scenic water and geographical views. For an extended stay on the island, a day trip into Palma would suit those hoping to spend time on the beach with access to a variety of restaurants and shoppes.
3. Tossa de Mar (Costa Brava) — This trip came recommended by the IFSA program director who suggested our group visit the famous Costa Brava just one hour North of Barcelona. We hopped on an early bus from Barcelona Sants and we arrived in Tossa around 11am, then walked down to the main beach Platja Gran (Tossa is also part of Catalunya and speaks Catalan. So instead of Playa Grande, it’s Platja Gran, meaning Grand Beach). The expansive beach is tucked into a bay where a 12th-century historic castle/fortress rests at the far end. Climbing the hill and exploring this area provides stunning views of the city and surrounding coastline. If you’re working with a bigger budget, the Mare Meva restaurant at the top with a vast view of the vibrant blue of the Balearic Sea. Since we were college students working on a travel budget, we decided to get tapas dinner in town at Sa Cova Congre, a restaurant with delightful food, extensive options, and an attentive waitstaff. Unfortunately, an issue we ran into was the failure to book a bus ride back therefore leaving us stranded. We ended up taking a taxi to a nearby train station where we took an inter-regional Renfe back to the city. This day trip was great for basking in the sun, exploring new parts of Catalunya, and enjoying regional foods.
4. Seville — Our study abroad advisor was from Sevilla and decided to take our small program of 11 students to visit her home city for a weekend. Sandra — the most thoughtful, kind, and engaged advisor — planned the entire trip and took us to all the important sightseeing spots. Our group stayed at TOC Hostel Sevilla, well-established hostel brand with global locations with hotel-quality ensuite bathrooms, bunks, and an unbeatable location. The most memorable, in my opinion, was climbing the tower of the Catedral de Seville to receive the best views of the city. You may be able to tell that I’m a sucker for a good higher level view — this might stem from being short. We toured the Royal Alcazar of Seville which regarded the history of Arabic influence within Spain, with Mediterranean designs and colorful gardens. Given time to explore between our scheduled visits, we took up traditional tourist activities like scouring the city for shoppes and roasted nuts. I have found some of the most beautiful, fragrantly-designed dresses in tons of stores in Spain, but the most notable being Be Happy in Seville. The Setas de Sevilla is a really unique mushroom-shaped attraction in the city area that offers neat views and a walkways atop the structure. Underneath the is the interesting part — archeological remnants of the old city are hidden beneath the large wooden mushroom. One night, our director took us to an intimate traditional Flamenco performance where we watched Spaniards clap, play guitar, and stomp their tap shoes to an insanely precise beat. Without a beach, the city of Seville still provides fabulous entertainment and unique attractions to visit.
5. Sitges — It is known as one of the gayest towns in Spain with over 24 gay bars in such a small vicinity. This town is a 40-minute train ride from Barcelona and offers stunning Catalunyan coastal views and shoppes. One of my roommates stayed at a hotel on the sea with her mom and grandmother, so we took the train down on a holiday without classes. The water was chilly but crystal clear. There were several coves where you could bask in a pool of water protected from the waves and heated by the sun with its smaller surface area. After a day of sunbathing in the cooler breeze from the Spanish fall, we headed into the town and along the beachwalk to gaze at shoppes. I bought two rings and some of us bought dresses from local owners. Missing a taste of home, we opted to stop for a quick bite at a Sports Bar for burgers and American foods. After dinner, we made an imminent stop for gelato at All Sin. This experience was fun, light-hearted, and beautiful as always. In the future, I would love to travel here for Pride!
6. Besalú/Girona — These medieval towns are full of history and cultural significance to Catalunya. Both of these places are Northeast of Barcelona, closer to the border of France. A view of the Pont de Besalu from the Mirador de Besalú shows the entirety of the golden-brick town, including the sign posted at the entrance of the bridge calling for freedom for Catalan political leaders, emphasizing their desire for Catalan independence. Besalu only has a population of about 2,500, so an exploration of the town is very intimate and knowledge of Catalan is useful. To visit in Besalú: Sinagoga Miqvé — a Jewish temple (the Jewish quarter is much smaller after Franco ran them out of their homes), Sant Pere (Monastery), anywhere along the Carrer de Canó and Carrer Pont Vell. A tour guide would be very useful here and can be found either online or at the Oficina Municipal de Tourismo. Girona is larger than Besalu at 100,000+ residents with tons of shoppes, restaurants, bars, gelaterias, and more. It is also a filming location for Game of Thrones. One of the most poignant sights in Girona is the colored-buildings which can be viewed from two different bridges: Pont de Pedra or Pont de les Peixateries Velles. For lunch, our group ate at König, a delicious restaurant with tons of tapas options. Afterward, we toured a monastery and archeological site called Claustre de Galligants and walked to the top of the Jardin dels Alemanys for a broader view of the town and surrounding geography — there’s also a 9th-century city wall called Muralles de Girona which looks like a very mini Great Wall of China. Finally, we visited Rocambolesc, a famous gelato shop founded by one brother of a Michelin-star restaurant sibling pair located in Girona. It’s important to note that many of the warmer-climate Spanish towns should be visited before November and after April when shoppes are more likely to be open.
7. Madrid — On one random mid-week holiday, I booked a return train from Barcelona to Madrid to spend the day exploring the city. This would be my first ever solo-trip! In two days, between finding out about no school and the holiday itself, I booked tickets, planned a route by saving locations on Google Maps as “Want to Go” (my favorite travel secret), and made an itinerary to follow timing and ensure I don’t miss my train back to BCN. I was very nervous about this trip considering I would be a woman alone in a different city with my only contacts 2+ hours away. Luckily, it went off without a hitch (we won’t mention my getting in the wrong train car and not having a seat for 30 minutes — check your train ticket!!) My first and foremost suggestion is to get food on Calle de la Cava Baja, an infamous tapas street, AFTER 4pm because none of the restaurants will be open. For a quick view of all the places I visited, I have made a comprehensive list: Palacio de Cristal in El Retiro Park (Madrid’s Central Park), Museo Nacional del Prado, Fuente de Cibeles, Calle Gran Via (iconic split street), Royal Palace of Madrid (also contains the Royal Armory, if booked in advance), Catedral de la Almudena, Plaza Mayor, Chocolateria de San Ginés (widely renowned for chocolate con churros — the line is worth it), and Puerta del Sol. Within all of these locations are tons of restaurants and shoppes. To me, Madrid felt very metropolitan — a bit more formal than Barcelona. Places I couldn’t go because I only had 8 hours: Velázquez Palace, Estanque Grande de El Retiro (lake with paddle boats in the park), Puerta de Alcalá, Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Temple of Debod (reconstructed ancient Egyptian temple), and Plaza de España. Including touring as many museums you’d like, seeing the sights, and settling in for dinner, you can spend between 1–3 days in Madrid.
8. València — Unfortunately, I had to rank València last on my list though I know it would’ve been first on some of my friends’ lists. Personally, I enjoy sightseeing and experiences. I felt that València was a relaxing place to spend a weekend, but did not provide a lot to see. We stayed at Purple Nest Hostel Valencia which had a bar inside and rooms with ensuite bathroom options. The beach was satisfying and refreshing (where we spent most of our time). Due to València being the birthplace of paella, I would absolutely recommend making a reservation at a highly-rated restaurant as it would provide a bang for your buck. A fun activity I booked through GetYourGuide.com that was an instant yes for our group was a 1.5 hour catamaran cruise with sangria available for purchase on the boat. There are tons of options, but we did one mid-day with a swim stop in order to make the most out of the day and still have time for dinner. (p.s. you should get there at least 30 minutes early to ensure a spot on the netting as there is a host of people along on this trip). Another place unique to València is the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias — an amazing science museum and surrounding complex with an aquarium and garden. The Plaça de la Reina has nice local cafes and shoppes if you’re looking to spend some free time. The Plaça de la Verge is a neat square with a fountain sculpture and a local feel. When our group visited this area, a local store was handing out free orange juice (València is known for its oranges!) Cathedrals to visit: Sant Nicolau de Bari i Sant Pere Màrtir, Valencia Cathedral, Sant Joan de l’Hospital (the oldest in València after the Reconquest). The best way to spend time in València is to schedule time to enjoy the beach and restaurants, while also taking in cool museums and historic, beautiful churches.

All in all, my experience everywhere in Spain was fun-filled, active, and enjoyable. There are places higher or lower on my list, but this list is constrained by how much of an amazing time I had at each place, making it so incredibly difficult to chose between them all. As I’ve read before, Spain is underrated in that you can get such a good variety of experiences in one country compared to other countries in Europe with less geographical or cultural differentiation.