As you know, earlier this month I went on a fabulous birthday weekend away to sunny Barcelona! It was so much fun and I spent it wandering around the gothic quarter, checking out Gaudi genius and eating my weight in tapas. But I’ll tell you more about that later. Today I wanted to tell you about a hidden gem I discovered whilst I was there: the Carmel Bunkers.
You see, I hadn’t heard much about the Carmel Bunkers beforehand but Google told me it was the best place in Barcelona for a kickass view. And boy oh boy am I a sucker for a kickass view.
But they’re a hidden gem for a reason, folks. They’re not exactly in the easiest place to get to, but as long as you have a maps app on you’re phone, it’s doable. You just have to get the Metro to the ‘El Carmel’ stop and it’s a 15 minute walk to the bunkers. But the thing is, it is STEEP. Like really seriously uphill. I was a bit out of breath getting up there but I’m a girl that goes to the gym three times a year and has asthma, so if I can do it, anyone can.
And it’s totally worth it.
This site is basically ruins from an anti-aircraft battery during the Spanish Civil War so there’s not much there other than plaques with more information about what used to stand there. But the views. Oh, the views…
On one side you can see central Barcelona, with the Sagrada Familia rising up above the other buildings, all the way out to the sea. There wasn’t great visibility on the day we visited but it was still completely stunning!
On the other side you can see the colourful houses of outer Barcelona and the El Carmel area you would have walked through to get to the bunkers. From the highest point you get 360 degree views of Barcelona so you can see the whole shebang. You can’t really ask for more as far as views go, right?
The best part was that because the Carmel Bunkers are such a hidden gem and so off the beaten track, there weren’t many people there at all. I know as a blogger I tend to crop people out of my photos for a nicer shot, but this is a genuine shot of the place when it was at it’s most busiest whilst I was there:
That’s not bad for those kind of views!
Plus, this is a completely free thing to do. And it was one of my favourite experiences on my Barcelona city break. It’s really quiet so is a great place to relax and take it all in. I could’ve stayed for hours but it was a bit windy up there in January! It must be awesome in the summer.
I would recommend visiting the Carmel Bunkers to anyone that wants something a bit different in Barcelona. It definitely felt like a more authentic experience with so few tourists and even the walk through El Carmel with just locals around.
I’ve heard it’s amazing at sunset too, so definitely try at come around that time if you can. A little picnic or a few beers would be perfect up here around that time. Just don’t stay too late because I imagine it would be difficult to find your way back in the dark!
Definitely check it out if you’re in Barcelona, I promise you won’t be disappointed with the views!
Have you been to the Carmel Bunkers? What did you think? Any other Hidden Gems in Barcelona you’d recommend?
Let me know in the comments below or tweet @HeelsInBackpack!
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