Ah, travel – that wonderful whirlwind of city-hopping, sightseeing, and endless racing to make sure you don’t miss your reservation at the restaurant in town. At least, that’s how many European getaways unfold as you try to pack four weeks of activities into a ten-day itinerary. But, as remote work has taken off, many people are jumping at the opportunity to explore new destinations the way they were meant to be seen: slowly.
People are extending their vacations and bringing their work abroad with them so they can get to experience more than the traditional touristy locations. But what is it actually like taking your work and travel abroad?
In this blog post, we’re going to break down want a typical day looks like on our Barcelona Slow Food Stay, so you can get an understanding of what it’s like to travel and work abroad.
Stay Awhile in Barcelona
We’ve designed our Stay Awhile experiences to give you plenty of autonomy and free time so you can make your month-long vacation personal and unique to you. As avid travelers ourselves, we appreciate going on a few curated experiences but also love when we can go out and explore on our own.
A day in Barcelona can be whatever you want it to be. Barcelona is known for its incredible art scene, so if you’re into art, you’ll probably be visiting as many museums as possible during your month in Spain.
If you’re more into nature and outdoor activities, then you might take a day to Montserrat for hiking or to the beach for a relaxing day along the Mediterranean.
Either way, Barcelona is a versatile city and has endless possibilities no matter what you love.
Here’s what you can expect during a day in our Barcelona stay:
Early Morning
One of the best feelings in the world is waking up in a new city and thinking of all the new places you have to discover! The nice part about working Western (U.S.) hours is that you have the entire day to explore before the workday begins.
Start your day by wandering around your neighborhood getting to know the area. Pop into a local cafe and pick up some coffee or a baked treat for breakfast.
The best part about spending one month in Barcleona is that you really get to know the neighborhood and have the time to try endless cafes and favorite local spots.
Mid-morning
Now you have the rest of the day to do whatever you want! Barcelona is filled with endless activities, so you’ll always have something to do.
Want to go to an art museum? From Gaudi buildings to the Picasso Museum and the Joan Miro Foundation, you have plenty of options to choose from.
Beach day? Hop on the bus and spend the day at the beach. Afterward, explore the Barceloneta neighborhood, which is practically a city within a city, and stop by for a drink or something to eat.
In the mood to find the best churros in the city? We have a good recommendation.
Or if we have a day trip planned, then you’ll spend the day learning about slow food in Barcelona.
“Late” Lunch
Lunch is most often eaten between 1pm -3pm in Barcelona, although 1 pm might even be considered early.
Don’t worry, it doesn’t take long to adjust to this schedule. Within a few days, a late lunch and dinner at 9pm will seem completely normal!
If you’re working in the late afternoons, then this is the best part of the day to try a local restaurant since you’ll most likely be working around dinnertime. While there are endless Spanish food options, Barcelona is a huge metropolitan city with many different cuisines. We’ve had excellent modern vegetarian food, mexican food, and Indian food in the city.
Afternoon/Evening
If you’re working U.S. hours, then by 3-4 pm, you’ll be ready to start your workday. Surprisingly, it’s quite nice working in the evenings. It gives you time to be outside when the sun is out and to do activities (like museums) when they are open.
We’ve partnered with a coworking space in the city, so you can work from there. Or if you prefer, you can work from the comfort of your apartment as well.
We hope this gives you a good idea of what to expect day-to-day during our stays!
Slow travel is such a wonderful way to get to really know a place and its culture. By the end of the month, Barcelona will feel like a home away from home, and we know you’ll absolutely fall in love with the city!