Barcelona is, by all accounts and purposes, the place to go if you ever visit Spain. Barcelona is living history, and one of the best displays of Spanish culture you will find in the country.

Deciding on where to stay in Barcelona may not be too much of a challenge, though it’s easy to find yourself restricted to well known locations and tried and tired destinations.

While the usual tourist spots such as La Sagrada Familia, Las Ramblas and Park Guell are all quite nice, the magic of any place lies off the beaten track, and it’s there that you will find the good, the bad, the ugly and the awe inspiring.

El Refugi 307

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This current generation is very lucky to not have seen the devastating effects of war, and all the consequences that come with it. Although some parts of the world are still under oppression, for the most part, we can say that the Earth is rather peaceful on the surface.

However, war will always be part of our history, as mankind, and so the El Refugi allows us a minute insight of what it’s like to live through the horrors of the Spanish Civil War of 1936-1939. An old, decrepit bomb shelter spanning over 200 meters with some rooms still intact, it’s a good place to visit if you are looking for some chills.

El Ray de la Magia

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Founded in 1881, El Ray de la Magia is worth anyone’s time to at least visit. There’s just something about legitimate magic shops, more so if they are very old and preserved. It’s the perfect place to visit if you are bringing kids along, as this may be the first stop in any budding magician’s future career. El Ray de la Magia is as much as a historical place as it is a shop- it would probably count as the Spanish version of a shop in Diagon Alley

Parc del Laberint d’Horta

The oldest park in Barcelona, entering the Labyrinth may make you take a turn towards romance, for how peaceful and essentially isolated it is. You’ve got watch towers and statues, and, of course, the sprawling maze of of trees is a nice step back from the bustling center of Barcelona. Bring a small bag of bread crumbs just in case you get lost.

Calle Petrixol

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If you are adamant about getting the most out of Barcelona and seeing all the sights possible, you will need food. Calle Petrixol is a discrete street you will find in the city, and here there are a couple of small places for you to choose from, should you find it. It’s pretty quaint, not exactly a tourist spot, though a great place to go if you really want to experience Barcelona the way locals do.

Euskal Etxea Taberna

A nice bar in Barcelona that specializes in tapas, with an interesting way to charge patrons- by the number of used toothpicks. With this system, you know that their tapas game is strong, and on the menu you’ll find a variety of meat, seafood and of course, cheese dishes that probably go extremely well with an alcoholic beverage of your choice.