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I woke up in my hostel bunk with my head pounding like a drum. The last clear memory in my somewhat fuzzy mind was catching sight of our guide, Mofie, absolutely crushing it on the dance floor. Picture the craziest dance moves you’ve seen, multiply by five, and you’ll get the general idea. I remember thinking, “Man, that guy’s got endless energy.” Then, fast-forward to me waking up with a massive hangover and an alarm blasting in my ear. I’d signed up for a walking tour earlier in the week which cost me like 3 euros? So pretty much for free and was determined not to bail—especially since I’d told my mum that I would do something other than party on this trip. 

Stumbling out the door, I somehow made it to Plaça de Catalunya, the starting point. I expected to see some random local guide with a sign, but guess who it was? None other than Mofie himself, looking fresh as a daisy, sporting a bright smile, and showing zero signs of having closed out Pacha a few hours prior. Honestly, I had a moment of doubt—like, is this the same person? Because how do you go from hardcore partying to a prime walking tour guide with zero transition?

He recognised me instantly, gave me a big grin, and cracked a joke about how awake I looked (I was basically a zombie with shades on). The rest of our group seemed to be a mix of early risers and a few others who clearly had the same brilliant idea: party all night, then try to absorb some culture in the morning. Despite my pounding headache, I was already feeling the positive vibes again. If I’ve learned anything traveling, it’s that the best adventures often happen when you’re at your most tired or least prepared.

We set off through the city, and Mofie kicked things off with a quick intro about Plaça de Catalunya and how it’s the crossroads of old and new Barcelona. Even in my hungover state, I found myself getting drawn into the stories—there’s something about hearing local legends right where they happened that always sparks my curiosity. Before I knew it, we were strolling down Passeig de Gràcia and I was mindlessly snapping photos of everything in sight.

Casa Amatller was our first real stop. Honestly, I was still rubbing my eyes, but the intricate facade woke me right up. It’s like stepping into another world: bright tiles, intricate carvings, and a whimsical design that refuses to just be “normal.” Then we rolled on to Casa Batlló and Casa Mila, two of Gaudí’s masterpieces that look like they’re straight out of a dream. I’d seen pictures online, but nothing compares to standing there in person and trying to figure out how one person could imagine such fluid shapes out of solid stone. Gaudí was all about channeling nature, and it really shows in these wavy, surreal lines.

The highlight, of course, was Sagrada Familia at the end. Even with a throbbing headache, I couldn’t help but be blown away. The sheer scale of that place is ridiculous. And the detail—every tower, every sculpted scene is a story in itself. Mofie explained how construction started in 1882 and is still ongoing. Part of me wonders if I’ll get to see it fully completed in my lifetime. If I’m lucky, I guess.

Throughout the tour, Mofie was just as energetic as he had been on the pub crawl. Not gonna lie, I felt a twinge of jealousy. Here I was, struggling to keep my eyes open, while he recounted fascinating bits of history and pointed out hidden symbols in the architecture. He’d crack a joke about how he’d apparently only had half an hour of sleep, and the group would burst out laughing. It created this super laid-back vibe, where we felt like we were exploring the city with a friend rather than just a tour guide.

By the time we wrapped up, my headache had started to fade—maybe from the fresh air or sheer excitement of seeing these insane buildings up close. We ended with a quick group selfie, and a bunch of us immediately started making plans for another night out. I guess that’s Barcelona for you: you show up, you party, you do a walking tour, and suddenly you’ve made friends who want to keep the adventure rolling.

In that sense, the walking tour was the perfect daytime counterpart to the Barcelona Party Animals Pub Crawl. One night, you’re dancing like there’s no tomorrow, meeting crazy fun people in the clubs, and the next day, you’re soaking up the city’s cultural gems alongside some of the same new friends. It’s kind of a beautiful balance between utter chaos and refined appreciation for art, architecture, and history.

If you’re on the fence about doing both the pub crawl and the walking tour, I say go for it. Just be prepared to power through a hangover if you end up partying as hard as I did. There’s a sweet sense of achievement in not letting a headache keep you from exploring one of the most vibrant cities on the planet. And who knows, maybe you’ll run into your very own version of Mofie—someone who can outdance you all night, then blow your mind with local insights the next day. Now that’s what I call a quintessential Barcelona experience. Cheers!

Walking tour - topbarcelonaactivities
Pub Crawl - Barcelona Animals pubcrawl