A Boutique City Escape to Barcelona With Hidden Coastal Gems

A city of bold flavours, golden light and rooftop moments. Barcelona is where culture meets cool, and every corner feels like a photo waiting to happen.

Barcelona is one of those cities that seduces you slowly. From the sunshine-dappled balconies, the smell of warm pastry on every corner and enough mosaic tile to make your camera roll burst with colour. I took myself on a little city escape here. I partly needed a reset, but also wanted to do a bit of style scouting and café-crawling wander. It’s safe to say I fell head over sandals for its easygoing glam in an instant.

While Barcelona itself is undeniably beautiful, some of the best moments came just outside the city limits. This guide includes not just my favourite stylish spots within the city, but also two hidden gems, Sitges and Tossa de Mar, that are well worth the short train or coach ride if you’re craving sea air, boho boutiques, or a break from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Whether you’re planning a solo trip, a girls’ weekend, or a luxury-leaning city break, here’s how to do Barcelona the stylish, soulful way, without needing a suitcase the size of a Vespa.

Quick Links:

• 3-Day Barcelona Itinerary

• City Chic: Extra Tips to Elevate Your Barcelona Escape

• Final Tips for a Stylish City Break

• Would I Do It Again?

Note: For a visual journey through my stay here, feel free to explore my dedicated Instagram highlight under the handle @SammyLouLuxe

3-Day Barcelona Itinerary

Where to stay

Let’s start with your home base. I stayed at Casa Bonay, a design-lover’s dream in the Eixample district. With tall shuttered windows, crisp white linens, local artisan touches, and a rooftop terrace perfect for golden-hour sangria, it was everything I had imagined Barcelona to be and more! It’s equal parts creative and calming, and quite simply the entire energy I wanted for this trip.

Other standout options if you're mixing it up:

• Hotel Brummell (in Poble Sec): Minimalist, urban jungle vibes with an outdoor pool and yoga classes.

• The Hoxton, Poblenou: Rooftop pool, pastel interiors, and a buzzy downstairs crowd if you're solo and fancy chatting over brunch.

  
  

Pro tip? Don’t overpack. Most boutique hotel rooms are gorgeous but compact. I brought a single carry-on with mix-and-match linen sets, oversized sunglasses, and sandals that can survive both cobbles and cocktails.

Day One: El Born, Beach Breezes & Tapas That Ruin You

Morning:

Start in El Born, a chic, artsy neighbourhood that feels like Barcelona’s answer to SoHo. Grab a flat white and a cardamom bun at Cafés El Magnífico and stroll through the shaded alleys lined with galleries, jewellery ateliers, and concept stores you didn’t know you needed.

Pop into Espai Joliu if you love coffee with your cactus collection. I absolutely adored it’s a plant-filled café/gallery hybrid! Or swing by Makamaka if a delicious hearty brunch is calling your name.

Afternoon:

Barcelona does beachy without trying too hard. Barceloneta can get touristy, so I wandered a little further and found a quieter patch of sand near Nova Icària. It’s great for a sunbake or an impromptu journaling session if you’re feeling reflective. Go for La Xampanyeria (Can Paixano). Although its standing room only, you can enjoy cava by the glass and tapas that are wildly underpriced for the flavour bomb you’re about to receive.

Day Two: Gaudí, Rooftops, and a Spa Reset

Morning:

No Barcelona trip is complete without a Gaudí moment. I booked an early ticket to Casa Batlló, which feels like stepping inside a seashell dreamworld. It’s surreal, opulent, and surprisingly meditative at 8:30am before the crowds descend.

Afterwards, I wandered Passeig de Gràcia (Barcelona’s answer to Fifth Avenue) for a bit of luxury window shopping. I didn’t technically buy the Loewe bag… but I did make eye contact with it for a concerning amount of time.

Lunch:

Tucked behind the designer boutiques is El Nacional, a beautiful, buzzy food hall with several restaurant options under one Art Deco roof. I opted for seafood and a cheeky glass of Albariño.

Afternoon reset:

Book yourself into AIRE Ancient Baths, a candlelit sanctuary in an old warehouse with steam rooms, salt baths, wine soaks. It’s everything your body needs after 20k steps and a regrettable attempt at breaking in new sandals.

Day Three: The Coast is Calling – Day Trip to Sitges

Just 40 minutes by train from the city is Sitges, a dreamy seaside town that looks like someone Pinterest-boarded the Med. And yes, it’s worth the effort.

Getting there:

Trains leave frequently from Estació de França or Passeig de Gràcia, and return until late, perfect for golden hour views.

What to do:

• Stroll the promenade: bougainvillaea-draped white villas and turquoise waves.

• Visit the Maricel Museum for unexpectedly brilliant art in a fairy-tale building.

• Shop: Sitges is full of small boutiques with locally made linen, ceramics and jewellery.

• Eat: Grab a table at La Zorra for elevated paella with sea views (book in advance). Finish with gelato from Giovanni’s on the seafront.

Sitges is also known for its LGBTQ+ friendly, fun-loving vibe. Whether you’re with your girls or solo, it’s a welcoming, joyful spot that feels like a mini holiday within a holiday.

Bonus Hidden Gem: Tossa de Mar

Want something even quieter and more under the radar? Head to Tossa de Mar, a medieval coastal town just under two hours from Barcelona by coach or rental car.

This is the place for you if:

• You want a castle overlooking the sea (you do)

• You love charming, cobbled streets with fewer tourists

• You secretly like the idea of feeling like a 1950s movie star on holiday

Wander through the old walled town, dip into Platja Gran, and have a long lunch with cava at Can Carlus (a local favourite). Tossa is small, so it’s perfect for a half-day trip or even an overnight trip if you want to completely unwind.

City Chic: Extra Tips to Elevate Your Barcelona Escape

Barcelona might be all sunshine, sangria, and seaside strolls but if you want to do it well, there are a few little luxuries and clever hacks that make the difference between “just a nice trip” and “already planning my return.” Here are the extra insider tips I wish I’d known before my city break.

1. Book Rooftop Bars in Advance

They fill fast! This is one of the easiest ways to add a dose of effortless glam to your stay. Rooftop bars in Barcelona are serious business: locals love them, tourists love them, and they tend to book out on weekends. If you’re hoping for that golden-hour Negroni with skyline views, don’t leave it to chance.

Top picks:

• Azimuth Rooftop Bar at the Almanac Barcelona – ideal for date nights or solo journaling over cava.

• 1881 per SAGARDI – part of the Museum of Catalan History, with sea views and a chic, mellow crowd.

• Terraza Ayre – overlooking Sagrada Familia, so bring your phone because this view delivers.

Most bars welcome walk-ins during the day, but if you're going for a sunset slot or weekend cocktails, reserve online where possible.

2. Skip the Hop-On Bus — Take a Vespa Tour Instead

Tour buses are fine, but they’re… not exactly your vibe if you're reading this. Opt for something more open and freeing like a Vespa. Trust me, the helmet hair will be totally worth it!

Alternatively you can use an e-scooter if you don’t fancy full throttle. These small-group or private tours take you off the beaten track with panoramic hilltop viewpoints, tucked-away Gaudí buildings, and tiny tapas spots you'd never find on your own.

Try BrightSide Tours or Vesping, both with great reputations and English-speaking guides.

3. Add One “High-Low” Food Moment

Barcelona is packed with incredible food, but the real magic happens when you mix a Michelin moment with a hole-in-the-wall churro stop.

Here’s how to do it:

• Have lunch at Tickets or Disfrutar if you're splashing out (book months ahead).

• Then later, ditch the silverware and devour piping-hot churros con chocolate at Granja M. Viader, an old-school café that’s been doing it right since 1870.

You’ll thank me when you're dipping churros into a cup of molten chocolate while still wearing your designer sunglasses.

4. Bring a Mini Steamer & Travel Lint Roller

This one’s niche, but hear me out: Barcelona is a city of linen, neutrals, and lightweight tailoring, especially in warmer months. And nothing kills the aesthetic faster than pulling a crumpled dress out of your carry-on.

A handheld steamer is my travel MVP. And a lint roller? For when you sit on a beach towel and suddenly look like a mop. Toss both in your bag and keep your outfits camera-ready. Your Instagram grid will thank you.

5. If You Love Vintage or Designer Finds, Head to These Streets

Skip the mass-market shops on La Rambla. Instead, set aside an hour or two for treasure hunting in these local-loved spots:

• Carrer del Rec in El Born – full of concept stores, vintage boutiques, and independent designers

• Carrer de Verdi in Gràcia – think boho, handmade, and authentic Barcelona fashion

• L’Arca – for antique lace, bridal pieces, and flapper-era glamour (yes, really)

Many of these shops have only a few pieces in stock at a time, so if you love it, buy it.

6. Tapas Timing is an Art Form

Quick heads-up: if you're used to early dinners, Spain will test you. Most locals don’t eat until 9pm. Want to do as the Catalans do? Here's your timeline:

• 5pm – Have a vermouth and light nibble at Bar Cañete (their croquettes are dreamy)

• 8pm – Slide into a proper tapas crawl in Poble Sec or Sant Antoni

• 10pm – Say yes to that extra plate of padron peppers and an espresso martini nightcap (it’s a holiday, after all)

And if you're doing it solo? Sit at the bar. You’ll get better service, great conversation, and you won’t feel like the only person without a table of six.

7. If You Need a Break from the Heat… Visit a Museum

This is not just a culture hack, it’s a climate control hack. Barcelona in high season can be sweltering, and museums are gloriously cool, quiet, and (often) air-conditioned.

Favourites that aren’t swarmed with tourists:

• Museu del Modernisme – dreamy art nouveau interiors and fashion sketches

• Fundació Joan Miró – on Montjuïc hill, with incredible light and views

• Museu Frederic Marès – an oddly delightful collection of everything from fans to sculpture

Also, many museums are free after 3pm on Sundays. Check their individual websites for deals.

8. Say Yes to Solo Travel But Know the Zones

Barcelona is safe and walkable, but if you're travelling solo, especially at night, keep these basics in mind:

• Avoid wandering deep into Raval or Barri Gòtic after midnight unless you’re familiar

• Stick to well-lit boulevards like Passeig de Gràcia or Avinguda Diagonal

• Use taxis or Uber at night if you’re dressed up or carrying valuables

That said, I had zero safety issues, even coming back from dinner at 11pm. Keep your bag close, walk with confidence, and trust your gut just like you would in any big city.

Final Tips for a Stylish City Break

• Pack like a local: Barcelona women have mastered the art of effortlessness. Think breezy dresses, neutral palettes, and comfortable shoes you’d actually wear at home.

• Dinner is late: Most restaurants don’t even open before 8pm. Embrace the Mediterranean rhythm (and the naps).

• Safety solo: I felt very safe walking around alone, even after dark. Just stay alert and stick to well-lit areas, as you would anywhere.

• Photos: Go early if you want shots at Park Güell, Casa Milà or the Gothic Quarter without the crowds. A tripod and self-timer are your best friends if you’re travelling solo.

• Budget a little splurge: Barcelona isn’t the cheapest, but it rewards those small indulgences such as a rooftop drink, a taxi to save your feet, the massage you didn't think you needed. All totally worth it when needed!

Would I Do It Again?

Absolutely. Barcelona gives you culture, a lot of tapas, and an eclectic seaside escape. Plus with Sitges and Tossa de Mar on your doorstep, you get the best of both worlds: buzzy cosmopolitan vibes and quiet coastal charm.

So next time you’re craving a stylish adventure or a last-minute escape, skip the predictable spots and give Barcelona your attention. Trust me, she really is more than just Gaudí and sangria, she’s a whole vibe and I am already planning my return!

If this has sparked your wanderlust, make sure you’re following me over on Instagram and TikTok [@sammylouluxe] as that’s where I share behind-the-scenes stories, travel tips, and magical moments from my trips as they happen. Think of my Stories as your front-row pass to the adventure, long before it hits the grid or gets turned into a guide.