The Top 12 Spots to Seek Creative Inspiration in Barcelona

If you’re the kind of person who needs some sensory stimulation to get the creativity flowing, then a visit to the Boqueria market should do the trick. The most famous of Barcelona’s food markets, the Boqueria is home to dozens of stalls overflowing with fresh fish, fruit, vegetables, cured meats and spices. Take a seat at one of the tapas bars inside the market and feel all five senses be engaged as you soak up the lively atmosphere.

Undoubtedly the most famous park in Barcelona, the Park Güell is one of the masterpieces of Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí. Originally designed to be a modern housing estate removed from the smog and pollution of the city centre, the project fell through and was never completed. However, today, there are the remnants of Gaudí’s visionary Modernist design, including the colourful mosaics of the main square and the ornate columns of the marketplace.

Rumoured to have been the preferred drinking spot of Pablo Picasso and Ernest Hemingway once upon a time, the Bar Marsella is also famous for serving absinthe – a strong anise-flavoured spirit that earned the name ‘Green Fairy’ in the 19th century because of the hallucinations it was said to provoke. Step inside the bar today, and you will feel transported in time as the wallpaper and furniture seem to have not changed since the time Hemingway last visited.

Located just next to the bohemian El Born neighbourhood, the Parc de la Ciutadella is one of Barcelona’s most beautiful and most popular public parks. As soon as the weather permits it, you will find musicians, artists and street performers along its green walkways, as well as crowds of young people and families who come to soak up the vibrant atmosphere. In the summer, it can get quite crowded, but the edges of the park are usually quieter than the large green banks in the centre.