TO PLAY // FESTIVALS

Barcelona boasts one helluva festival season. The legendary Primavera Sound is held at the start of every Summer and is easily one of the biggest festivals in Europe. It incorporates a whole stack of creative magic, and lasts an entire month, culminating in a four day music marathon with five stages, and several hundred of the best bands in the world belting their tunes out to crowds of 30,000.

TO SHOP // LAS RAMBLAS

Las Ramblas runs for about a km or so down the centre of Barcelona and it’s full of fab shopping, pick pockets plus partying ’til dawn. If you wander down any of the side alleys here, you’ll find some of the best vintage shopping in the world. There’s plenty to keep you entertained here for hours on end. Highlights include walk-in tattoo parlours, cheap electric bicycle rentals and locally made jewellery.

TO SEE // THE ARCHITECTURE 

The most beautiful bits of Barcelona (not including the friendly folks who live there) are easy enough to spot. Most people say the best way to see the city is to simply walk outside and let yourself get lost. I'd have to say I agree. Every street corner has some beautiful building to admire, and every Spaniard has a story to tell. The best thing you can do is wander. Do yourself a favour, leave your phone at home and look up.

TO EAT // TAPAS AND SANGRIA

By the bucketload. This city knows how to eat. Look out for tiny little bars tucked into small spots scatttered throughout the city centre. The smaller the bar, the better the service. Tapas are king here, so find a friend and split a small feast between you. Wash it all down with some of Sangria. Just about every bar will have a happy hour, usually around Siesta time just after lunch. So if you fancy skipping the Spanish snooze, make the most of 1 euro cocktails while the locals nap.

TO WEAR // SUNDAY SOMEWHERE + KILO VINTAGE

The sunny Catalan capital is renowned for its secondhand clothes and vintage wonders. Just walk through El Raval neighbourhood, the quirky and allusive district to the edge of the famous Las Ramblas. It's lined with vintage shops of every kind, ranging from the classic vintage kilo stores and thrift shops. All the gear in this post was thrifted from vintage stores I found in the back streets of Barcelona. 

Click here for more details on Vintage shopping in Barcelona. 

Charli wears the Junita frame in Gold.

Text and Images courtesy of Charli Burrowes.

Charli Burrowes is a friend, visual artist, creative director + photographer based in Brisbane, Australia. Follow her story and find out more here.