Each city has a different vibe which is difficult to characterize because of its sort of ethereal quality. Barcelona’s vibe is even harder to pinpoint because of its range of influences from language to culture to art, history, fashion and the weather, just to name a few. So here’s a small introduction to the city and its splendid people. 

If you like art, Barcelona is a great city for you. Buildings like Gaudí’s Sagrada Familia, Casa Batlló and Parc Güell are works of art in themselves with even more exploring within. Other great art museums include the Museu Pablo Picasso and my personal favorite, the Fundació Joan Miró.

There are endless restaurants to try in Barcelona but for a small taste of everything, check out La Boqueria. If you’re adventurous enough to try cooking while in town, food blogger El Comidista has a list of the 10 best stands. For the non cooks, you can avoid the tourist trap stands with numbers 5, 8 and 10 on the list and find your way around with this map.

While the city is great to visit any time of the year, it can get a bit hot and crowded in the summer. I like visiting in early January. The weather is still nice (though maybe not beach weather) and city is all dressed up for Christmas. With gorgeous decorations, a chance to catch the magical Three Kings parade and grab a roscón de reyes, the city is so charming it’s easy to forget it’s not summer. Plus, after January 6th many stores have big sales so you can take gifts back to all your friends and family without breaking the bank.Welc

Other things to do: take a stroll down La Rambla (Barcelona’s most famous avenue) check out the seaside, and wander the winding streets of the Barri Gòtic. While there, also remember to take a moment meet some of the amazing locals, below.

If you’ve been to Barcelona and are done with all the touristy places I mentioned, check out Xenia Alonso‘s blog, La Barcelonette. She’s become quite famous in Spain and abroad for her great tips on places to go and what to wear in the city.

A telecommunications engineer with an MBA, Julián Vinué has a passion for innovation having successfully led various start-up communities and accelerators in Barcelona.

As an independent brand strategy advisor Anna Muni loves design thinking and building brands.

Josep Amorós is also highly involved in the startup community of Barcelona and a member of the Sandbox Network for extraordinary achievers under 30.

In Barcelona it is fascinating to hear Catalan being spoken and as a Catalan language and literature teacher, Maria Pilar Àlvarez Serra is ensuring that the language continues.

 Ricard Sierra has translated an incredible 300 movies into Spanish and we love his bright photo which makes it seem he is still “having blast in the translation industry”.

 A digital marketing professional, Marisa Marcos Martín is passionate about running. She’s a co-founder of RunninGirls, a community for women runners in Barcelona.

A DJ, community manager and actor, we really enjoyed seeing the miniseries Sergi Pedrero stars in called El Piso (The Flat). You can find the link to it on his page.

We love this smiling photo of Patricia González García a communication strategist who is interested in open data and innovation in public administration and governance.

Sergi Bayod is a neuroscientist who is researching the cause of Alzheimer’s in order to develop cures for the disease. In his free time you can find him running marathons.

A journalist, Natalia Carranza has a wide range of hobbies including playing piano, drawing and dancing, among various others.

Credit for our header photo today goes to photographer and about.me advisor, Christopher Michel.