Image by Rafa Dujarric

If you happen to be around, take a minute to go to Carrer del Bisbe – one of those typical narrow streets of the Gothic quarter, starting at plaza nova in the cathedral avenue.

If you are lucky enough and the weather is good, you’ll find street artists at the two alleys that cross the backyard of the cathedral (Carrer de Sta Ilucia and Carrer de la Pietat).

The best time of the day to get teased by the enticing sounds of a bandoneon or a harp player, the melancholic mood of an opera or tango singer, or the infectious melodies of a flamenco guitar player is the end of the afternoon.

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Carrer del Bisbe | Music, Relaxing
Carrer del Bisbe | El Barrio Gotico
Daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Barcelona

Image by Rafa Dujarric

Feeling down and need something to raise your soul above the social mall? Or just need a break from fashion cocktails, top 40 lousy music, fancy high heels and naughty party ragers?

Whether in spring, summer, autumn or even in some good weathered winter days, at the end of Portal del Angel when going down towards the Gothic Cathedral there is a magic corner with the proper acoustic atmosphere for street musicians to perform outdoors on any season without the need of expensive sound amplifying gear.

Be ready for getting enraptured by the groove of an authentic blues singer or the captivating tunes of a world music quartet. Well, perhaps at this time you would find musicians with heavier clothing but still… it’s a magic spot.

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Portal del angel Street | Music, Relaxing
Corner Carrer dels arcs & Carrer cucurrulla | El Barrio Gotico
From morning to late night

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Barcelona

Image by Haarland Sinclair

This is a really good year-round spot to chill out.

Given its location at the junction of Passeig de Gracìa and Diagonal it’s surprisingly quiet and peaceful. 

In the cooler months it’s a good place to check out an exhibition.

Right now there’s an EXCELLENT exhibition about the world famous restaurant, El Bulli and its celebrated chef, Ferran Adrià. You must NOT miss this.

During the summer the garden is a great place to cool off, maybe have a packed lunch, pretend to read a book, or just hang for a while. In the evening the garden and pavilion may come alive with music, discussion and debate.

The exhibitions here, about aspects of life as is lived, or was lived, in Catalunya, are always interesting, and have included: the aborted People’s Olympics in 1936 (set up to counter the official Nazi Olympics); and a series of beautiful aerial photographs showing the rich diversity of the regional landscape. The most recent photo exhibition in the garden celebrated the castellers (human castle builders) of Catalunya.

The Information Centre here is very good with very knowledgeable and helpful staff who manage a comprehensive range of materials in all the main European languages. If you’re planning a trip out of the city, go along and get advice and information on walking routes, themed trails, museums, hostels and refugios, and local food and drink. A visit here will save you time lining up at the main, and very busy, tourist information centre in Plaza Catalunya.

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Palau Robert | Art & culture, Relaxing | Free
Passeig de Gràcia, 107 | Eixample | +34932388091
Mon – Sat 10:00 – 19:00, Sun 10:00 – 14:30

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Barcelona

Image by Rafa Dujarric

Before 1985 there were the ugly railways, as if the city was stabbed to death and was losing its bowels, but then an enlightened and visionary soul started turning it into a relaxing space.

This piece of Gaudian art was finished in 1991 by Beverly Pepper, who achieved the harmonic coexistence of nature and manly intervention to create a magic atmosphere that exerts a strange influence over people that go there for a picnic.

Be aware that there is something in the air in this park and sometimes picnics might turn into a roll in the hay.

It is also said though, that there is a dark mob that operates in this park stealing dogs in order to sell them to some labs that need living victims for their sinister tests and evil experiments with chemical products. At least they tried to steal the front tire of my bicycle almost in front of my nose :-/

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Parc de l’Estació del Nord | Relaxing | Free
Napols 42 | Eixample
07:00 – 23:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Barcelona

Image by Anna Boluda

This beautiful park -one of the best ones in Barcelona, if you ask me- is a little bit far from the typical tourist places, and actually is normally pretty quiet. For me, it’s an oasis of peace just on the edge of the city. Metro station Mundet (green line) is the closest one, and then you need to walk for about 15 minutes to get there. 

The park has an open part, normally busier with neighbors from the area, and the labyrinth area, where access is limited and costs two euros (discounts are available for youth, and it’s free on Sundays and Wednesdays). 

Once you enter that part of the park, the combination of silence and birds singing makes you forget that you are in a big city. The labyrinth itself is pretty interesting, and finding the exit might be harder than it seems! Besides this there are some more areas with local plants, and the whole walk can take an hour or more. There are some nice spots to sit and read too. 

By the way, the place used to belong to a marquess family, who brought an Italian architect over to build these gardens at the beginning of the 19th century. It became public in the 1970′s. 

For me, it’s the perfect place to hide from civilization once in a while… also on the hottest sunny days, as there are some shadowed parts that are perfect for those times!

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Parc del Laberint | Relaxing | Entrance (free on Wed & Sun) € 2
Castanyers 1 | Above diagonal
10:00 – dusk daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Barcelona

Image by AC Uribe

Ok, Barcelona is not Rome but still… why not take the “local” way and wander around with a bike – even better, a Vespa? Via Vespa offers the same service of the old car rental but focused on shiny red motorbikes.

Via Vespa has prices per hours or day and depending on the moment, you can even get something like a week special. If you decide to go around the city on bike remember: you have to wear a helmet (it is enforced by law), you should park correctly (“motos en vorera” means “motors on the sidewalk) and be very careful with the thousands of pedestrians around the city.

If you don’t want to go on your own, you can also chose for a guided tour to discover the places that are always in the spot light. Barcelona being the city with the largest number of motorcycles per inhabitant, you will definitely feel at home riding one of these red cuties.

Do remember you need a drivers license and a €300 deposit (card or cash) to rent them out. And if you’re looking for the cheapest possible deal, look on their website: you might find a surprise.

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Via Vespa | Relaxing | Per hour € 9
Princesa 56 | El Borne | +34933196754
09:30 – 20:30 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Barcelona

Image by Pedro Ghinaglia

I must confess one of my all-time favourite hobbies is seeing people. I can’t help it, I’m very curious about people. Personally, sometimes I like to go to La Virreina square, located at Barrio de Gracia, to spy the “urban fauna” and seeing their behavior and fashion. I enjoy imagining what they do, what they think or where they’re going.

La Virreinas square is a great scene to interact with other people.

It’s one of my loved spots because it offers so many options. I see that place as a beginning of a great night. Sometimes I propose that place as a meeting point with my friends.

Once we’re together and considering our mood we can stay there or pick a terrace from the three options of bars you can find located there or perhaps hiking through the area looking for some new bars or restaurants.

Have you tried a “clara” before? I can’t imagine a best way to taste a clara for the first time than sat at some of those terraces located at La Virreina square, surrounded by such special neighborhood.

If you want to experience a typical Barcelona’s night away from the city`s center you should start here. A magic night is almost guaranteed.

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La Virreina’s Square | Coffee & tea, Relaxing, Snacks
Plaça de La Virreina | Gracia
24 hours daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Barcelona

Image by Pedro Ghinaglia

The Turó del Putget Park is one of those beautiful green spaces this city offers to whom nature plays a very important role in any urban scene.

I consider it a lovely privilege to be there for two important reasons. The first -most of the lazy people will like this- it is very easy to visit this park and enjoy a moment of peace. The second reason is the views of Barcelona you can enjoy once you’re there at the top of the hill this park is located. You can see almost 360º around, so it’s a great spot to understand how this city works from the Tibidabo’s Mountain to the beach.

I highly recommend you start the visit from the highest side of the park. You will need to climb a long slope until reaching the top but I promise this tiny effort worth it. Feel free to take your photo camera with you and walk down until the main entry.

Shhh… Do you hear it? Hmmm… You don’t hear anything, right? That’s the idea, don’t you think? Go and enjoy.

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Turó del Putget Park | Relaxing
Manacor 9 | Above diagonal
10:00 – 18:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Barcelona

Image by Pedro Ghinaglia

I know a place for readers and writers, to take the kids to play football and run around, for families to have a picnic, a place for the elderly, for lovers and friends. La Ciutadella Park is where everything is possible if the weather’s on your side and this is easy to find in Barcelona where almost never rains.

La Ciutadella Park is one of the most beautiful parks in Barcelona and it has plenty of cosy corners to talk and spend the time lying down on the grass, sit at some bank or walk around through sculptures, statues and trees.

You will find the Museum of Modern Art, The Geology Museum, the Zoo, a greenhouse and a castle called “Three Dragons Castle” where’s also placed the Zoology Museum. This park is a gorgeous open space behind El Borne; it’s close to the France Train Station, the Olympic Village, La Barceloneta, the peer and the beach. If you use this park as a shortcut to anywhere you’re going, I’m sure you will feel invited to stay. There’s a place for you too. I know.

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La Ciutadella Park | Art & culture, Relaxing
Between Pujades and Picasso streets | El Borne
08:30 – 22:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Barcelona

Image by Pedro Ghinaglia

I will talk this time about a treasure of peace located at Barrio Gótico; the best place to escape from tourists and the crowd. I have no doubts about it: the Sant Felip Neri’s Square is one of the most beautiful places of Barcelona.

Every time I go to to the place a feeling like discovering some virgin waterfall in the middle of the forest comes over me. It’s like a shelter or refuge, a forgotten corner away of the chaos.

At Sant Felip Neri’s Square you will find a small terrace (that belongs to the Neri’s Hotel) a huge tree and a fountain in the middle of it. The whole place is built over a medieval cemetery and you will find the Footwear Museum (see the museu del calcat article) and a big door that invites you to know the Sant Felip Neri’s baroque’s church.

I invite you to feel the experience of being there. You will love this place as I do.

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Sant Felip Neri’s Square | Relaxing
Sant Felip Neri’s Square | El Barrio Gotico
24 hours daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Barcelona