My 7 Favorite Things to Do in Barcelona While Pregnant
Things to do in Barcelona while pregnant!
This past July, I traveled to Barcelona as part of my MFA program. We stayed there for two weeks and I got to know the city pretty well. Being six months pregnant, I wasn’t exploring the bar scene like I normally would be sans kids, so I can’t speak to that (to be honest, when I went in college I was too inebriated to remember exactly where we went), but I can tell you some great things to do in Barcelona while you’re preggo, or if you just want a chill vacation that doesn’t involve the infamous night scene. Being there two weeks, I still feel like I missed out on some activities. It’s a big city and you really need a few weeks to see it all, but this list are some of my favorite things to do in Barcelona while pregnant.
- Montjuic – I will forewarn you that doing Montjuic on a hot, July day is not advisable. I did this and came out with sunburn and some major cramps (read: braxton hicks), but if you are earlier in your pregnancy, or go in a cooler month, Monjuic is a beautiful sight that shouldn’t be missed. My favorite part of the excursion was riding the cable car from the port up to the mountain. They have a closer and shorter cable car, but we opted for the scenic views of the ocean and Barcelona and it was well worth the money. Once there, we were on a tight schedule so we took in the views and visited the castle. I’d recommend allotting a whole day for this so you can actually see the rest of the mountain including the olympic stadium and the gardens. They are on my list when I go back someday.
- Sant Pol Del Mar – Here’s the thing: When you go to Barcelona, the majority of people go to Barceloneta and other nearby beaches because they’re just a short walk from the city center. However, this means that the beaches are really cramped. Also, back when Barcelona hosted the Olympics, they brought in sand to create the beaches, so it’s technically an artificial beach, and where’s the fun in that? A friend who used to live in Barcelona instead recommended we take the train about 45 minutes north to Sant Pol Del Mar. This beach was exactly what we needed to unwind. The sand is teeeeeeny tiny pebbles that shake right off your towel – no sand sticks to you or any of your items – and the water is crystal clear, much like a Caribbean beach. There’s a surplus of salt in the water so you can easily float. It isn’t in a touristy town so pretty much everyone on the beach are locals, and you have big stretches of beach to yourself so there’s a lot of privacy too. We happened to meet some Americans on the beach but they were students studying abroad in Barcelona who knew about this beach too. We were two of maybe twenty people max on a beach that went on for probably a mile in each direction. We went on 4th of July and I have to say, it was one of my favorite 4ths I’ve ever had, even when compared to American beach vacations over the 4th.
- Park Guell – No visit to Barcelona is complete without visiting Gaudi’s famous park. Originally, this was supposed to be like a subdivision for the very wealthy, but it never took off. Instead we get the pleasure of enjoying Gaudi’s intricate candy-like structures throughout a gorgeous park set on a high slope with unbelievable views of the city below. The ride up on bus is not for those with a weak stomach as there are lots of twists and turns. If you’re pregnant, or easily car sick, like I was, I highly recommend taking a taxi. It was well worth the money. Take it easy inside the park in the summer, as there is little shade, and if someone offers you a bottle of water for 1 euro at the beginning of the park – take it! I regretted it later when we got further inside and had to buy water at the cafe for a few more euros.
- Gothic Quarter – My favorite quarter in Barcelona has got to be the Gothic quarter. The buildings are gorgeous, there’s historic churches that are picture-perfect. There’s tons of good food places, including burger and ice cream, not just tapas! I loved that we stayed in a hotel in the Gothic quarter of Barcelona. It was easy access to the beach, but also easy access to touristy things like la rambla. It also wasn’t loud at night, which is great when you’re pregnant and have the worst insomnia.
- Arc de Triomf – So this isn’t really something to do as much as it is something to see. I kept seeing signs for Arc de Triomf the entire time I was in Barcelona. So, on the last full day there, we decided to venture down the road and check it out. I was floored. It was MASSIVE. We enjoyed some picture-taking and strolling down the long sidewalk. If you’re looking for a fun photo-op, I definitely recommend this.
- Spanish Cooking Class at Cook & Taste – Y’all, this was the bomb dot com for real! I love the mess out of the cooking class we all attended at Cook & Taste. Not only was our assigned chef just the right amount of sweet and sassy, but the 3-course meal we made as a group was so delicious. I’m still drooling thinking about those potatoes. This was seriously a pregnant mama’s dream! DO IT.
- La Sagrada Familia – Last but definitely not least, everyone needs to visit La Sagrada Familia! Even though it’s not finished, it is still a sight that should be considered a bucket list item. I’d been to it in 2010, but this was my first time actually going on a tour of the inside. The outside is brown and rough in appearance but once you step inside, everything is light and sleek, with gorgeous multi-colored stained glass and ceilings that seem to reach the heavens. The only downside to this church is that it’s so tall, you have to be realllllly far away to take a good selfie. 😉
Well folks, there you have it! These are my 7 favorite things to do in Barcelona while pregnant. I’d probably have a few bars or nightclubs on this list if I could have booze while there, but since I needed a relaxing and low-key 2 weeks, these adventures were perfect for me. Remember, traveling while pregnant is a whole different ballgame. Don’t push yourself too much and endanger your sweet babe cooking inside of you. Do what you can and be prepared for having to take frequent breaks and drink plenty of water.
Are you preparing for international travel while pregnant? Check out my blog post to learn how to prepare and pack for traveling abroad while pregnant! If I can do it, so can you. 🙂
