Barcelona, Spain is a popular destination with its beautiful and unique architecture, delicious tapas, and fun and lively scene. Besides the most popular destinations, we really wanted to experience some unique things that were off the beaten path and special to the Catalan area of Spain.

Here is a list of some of the most memorable and unique things we experienced on our most recent trip!

1. Biking at one of the “Cycling Capitals of Europe”

>> North of Barcelona

Did you know that Girona, Spain is one of the biking capitals of Europe? Girona is about an hour north from Barcelona and famous for its amazingly preserved medieval streets as well their access to hundreds of miles of bike paths with all types of difficulty and terrain right from the city.

We always enjoy staying active and decided to get some bike rentals from Campo Bicicleta. They carry all sorts of Road, Gravel, Mountain, and Touring Bikes as well as E Bikes. They also had some bikes for our kids so we could ride as a family. We met with the owner Paul we helped us map out the perfect bike path to enjoy for the day and even suggested an amazing end point for lunch. They can also provide a gps device of your route so you won’t get lost.

This ended up being one of our most favorite experiences of our whole visit to Spain and we already talk about returning.

2. Watch an authentic Flamenco Dance in a Gothic Palace

>> Barcelona

Flamenco Dancing is the most famous dance of Spain with a history in folklore and gypsy roots. There are many opportunities to see flamenco dancing but we highly suggest visiting Flamenco Palau Dalmases which is a 17th Century Palace in the heart of Barcelona. They have live shows of authentic and award winning singers and dancers showcasing the famous art of Flamenco.

We tried their Tapas before the show and it really was the most perfect cultural experience of Spain!

3. Exploring Costa Brava

>> North of Barcelona

If you drive an hour up the coast from Barcelona, you will arrive at the Costa Brava region with its breathtaking coastal views and small towns built along picturesque beaches. There are so many towns to stay at and we chose the town of Llafranc which was very central and easy to get to.

We loved the small town feel but the town being big enough for easily accessibility of amenities, restaurants, and of course their beautiful beach. It was an easy drive to neighboring towns along the coast, cove hoping, or visiting charming medieval downs such ad Begur and Pals.

4. Listen to a live DJ in a Vineyard

>> South of Barcelona

We came upon this vineyard almost by accident when searching for things to do near our Vacation Rental. Located an hour South of Barcelona is one of Spain’s wine region: Penedès. Highly suggest finding a cute wine town to stay in and explore both the wine area as well as easy access to coastal towns in the the area.

Once a week, SICUS winery opens their grounds for “Els Plans” night where you can come sample their wine, buy bottles and food and enjoy a live DJ while taking in the natural surroundings.

*They are open FRIDAY NIGHT (FROM MAY TO SEPTEMBER FROM 7:00 P.M. TO 12:00 A.M.)

5. Stay in the Gràcia Area

>> Barcelona

The most popular area of Barcelona for tourists is the Gothic Quarter. It is close to the ports for cruises and where a lot of vendors and medieval and Jewish Quarters can be found. We stayed in both the Gothic Quarter area as well as the Gràcia area of Barcelona and really enjoyed the Gràcia area more. Much less tourists wandering around and more of a laid back and local feel. There are a lot of small pedestrian streets there where it is a lot more quiet and lots of small plazas lined with restaurants, bars, and cafes.

We stayed at Casa Jam which is a hostel with private rooms and bathrooms options. Very clean and centrally located. They are also very family friendly- highly recommend!