10 Things to do on a Sunday in Barcelona

Many people freak out when we tell them that there is a law in Barcelona that obligates all shops to be closed on Sundays and holidays. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO!!!!!!???? our guests ask. Well, here are 10 ideas that might just save your Sunday and make it the BEST day of the week.

From morning to night, these ideas will get you up and doing things in the city on a day that is famous for being the “lazy Sunday”.

10) GO GROCERY SHOPPING

What?! But all the supermarkets are closed on Sunday! you are probably thinking. Believe it. You can still get some grocery shopping done on Sunday in any Opencor store (a branch of the Corte Ingles). Of all the supermarkets in the city, only the Opencor has permission to stay open on Sundays. In this store you can find quality products but the only downside is that this convenience store is convvenient but pricey. Just keep in mind that anything you buy here will have the price jacked up just a little bit more than the average supermaket prices due to their being the only darn thing open on this day. I highly reccomend the Opencor bread if you go as I find that it is better quality than in many other normal supermarkets. Everytime I go the baguette are always still warm…mmm…..

9) GO SHOPPING IN THE MAREMAGNUM

If you really just need a shopping fix, maybe you just lost your shoes in the party from last night or you are looking for some presents for the folks back home, you can find everything you need in this enormous mega mall located right at the end of the Ramblas in the sea port. Not only do you have the opportunity to pass a couple of hours in consumerist heaven but the bridge that you cross to get to the Maremagnum is really very lovely and romantic and you could easily spend another hour or so wandering aimlessly with your significant other or let the kids run up and down the green grassy areas by the mall.

8) VISIT THAT MUSEUM…FINALLY

So you have been wanting to visit a certain Barcelona museum for sometime but with the various interests of the family you haven’t been able to go yet. Now is the perfect opportunity! A really great thing about museums in Barcelona is that some museums offer free entrance on a certain Sunday of the month. If you get lucky enough to be in Barcelona on one of these Sundays, you can skip the pricey ticket prices and it gives you just so much more reasons to go. Isn’t life just that much nicer when things are free? If you are interested in finding out the dates of the free Sundays in various museums in Barcelona, please refer to my other blog post FREE MUSEUMS BARCELONA

7) GO TO THE BARCELONA BEACH

Barcelona beaches are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and is a perfect plan for everyone. This is always the default plan if you do not know what else to do and it is always a great option for families. You can work on your summer tan, sleep off that hangover or start the night again with a cocktail from the chiringuito next to your towel. The kids get to do a bit of exercise while you can chill out. A quick side note: the Barceloneta and Ciutadella beaches are usually really crowded. If you are really looking for tranquility, you should take advantage of the beach close to your You Stylish apartment rather than heading down to the more “known” beaches.

6) FÚTBOL IN BARCELONA BARS

I love the Barcelona football team. Although I am an outsider in the sense that I was not born with a Barça socio card in my hand, I still love the team and had the great fortune to enjoy the many triumphs that this team has enjoyed over these past years. A nice idea for a lazy Sunday afternoon is plant yourself in the local bar where other Spanish Barça aficionados will certainly be getting ready for the game. The norm is to go with friends, have a couple of beers or claras (beer with lemon flavoured Fanta added) and eat tapas for dinner during the match. Make sure to wear your Barça shirt on this day as that will be your ticket into integrating with the locals.

5) TAKE A DAY TRIP TO SITGES

Don’t know what Sitges is? Sitges is a beach city very close to Barcelona about 35 kilometers southwest from Barcelona. There, you will find some top seafood restaurants, premier beach space, more shopping options, sightseeing spots and what Sitges is really famous for: nightlife. Sitges is also famous for it’s wicked Carnaval party. For 2012, the famous Sitges Caranval parade will take place on Sunday th 19th of February.

4) TAKE A DAY TRIP TO MONTSERRAT

Taking a trip to Montserrat is a good idea if you want to do a little bit of hiking and perhaps catch the breathtaking sounds of the Montserrat all boys choir. .

3) PARTY HEARTY IN THE NIGHTLIFE OF BARCELONA

Barcelona has it’s own reputation of “party every day”…that includes Sunday as well of course. There are many nightclubs that offer a special party on Sundays with free entrance. Make sure to do a quick google check to find out where the party is at the Sunday that you will be in Barcelona.

2) GO TO A FANCY RESTAURANT

The best part of Barcelona in my opinion is the vast culinary options that are offered. Barcelona is the city of some of the greatest chefs in the world like Ferran Adrià, Carles Abellan, Martín Berasategui and others. Why not treat yourself to an eating experience with some of these greatest chefs? They say that once you eat in one of these restaurants, your life chianges. Even if that is not true, its a good idea for a Sunday afternoon and an even better excuse to dress up.

1) PLAY SPORTS IN MONTJUÏC

What the Spaniards love to do more than anything on Sundays is to sleep in and then either take a stroll around town looking at window displays or they go for walks/runs/ bike rides up Montjuïc or the hills of the Colserolla where the wild boars live. Walking around in the gardens of Barcelona is a great way to get exercise after all those patatas bravas and croquetas that you are probably going to have while you are here and is also a great way to see the softer side of the city. Sometimes you will find people playing handball off the tall walls of the old battle fort on the top of the Montjuïc hills. Other families might come out and play with their dogs or have a drink in the bar/restaurant in Montjuïc hill where they usually have a DJ spinning. Others prefer to run up the hills or bike ride. In the tree strewn area of Tibidabo, you find that you can’t even hear the cars of the city anymore, just the singing of the birds.

YOU STYLISH BARCELONA APARTMENTS

Your choice in Barcelona

Rambla de Catalunya 77,

Pral. 2ªB, 08807 Barcelona

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