This was my third visit to Barcelona and I have done my fair share of sightseeing in the city, but never from a sidecar!
The only thing I’ve done that was comparable to it was a Vespa Tour in Rome. Not coincidentally both were organized by HouseTrip, a revolutionary holiday booking site featuring over 125,000 properties and growing by an astounding 1000 properties a month. Staying in a HouseTrip property helps you live like a local and even Eat Like a Local in Barcelona. Whenever I’ve stayed with HouseTrip I’ve also interacted with locals on a one-one basis or in small groups – something that doesn’t usually happen when I stay at a hotel.
My partner in crime for our unique sightseeing adventure was Michael from Time Turtle Travel pictured above. We took turns riding on the back of the motorbike and in the sidecar. I felt completely safe both in the sidecar and on the back of the bike. Our driver was cautious and emphasized safety. He also offered to make impromptu stops anytime we wanted to take a photo – which we did….a lot.
Besides the views from Montjuïc, my favorite part of the sightseeing tour was visiting the district of El Raval.
It’s a controversial neighbourhood that’s in transition. It’s densely populated and not the quietest of neighborhoods which is what makes it so interesting. It’s teeming with life! Parts of El Raval are still rough around the edges, but its landscape is changing as galleries and up-scale boutiques are opening, attracting a different crowd. Having said that, there are some sections that you may want to avoid at night, especially as a tourist.
