Barcelona Holidays
Barcelona Overview
City breaks: Barcelona seems like the perfect destination for city breaks as the streets are densely packed with creative architecture, medieval buildings and vibrant shops. It’s an amazing mix of old and new, with modern designs standing side by side with ornate Baroque designs and extravagant statues.
Beach holidays: Whilst Barcelona is often thought of as the epitome of urbane sophistication, it actually also has a beautiful glittering marina and four golden sandy beaches. Surprisingly, this stretch of coastline is just ten minutes from the city’s metropolitan centre, so you can combine sightseeing with sunbathing on your short breaks in Barcelona!
Enticing bars and restaurants: Barcelona city breaks are filled with opportunities for culinary delights. Spain’s proud heritage of tapas-style dining is emphasised on short breaks in Barcelona in the form of hundreds of restaurants serving this classic national cuisine. And if you feel like partying after dinner, you’ll be enthused by the classy bars in Barcelona, playing all sorts of sounds in gorgeous surroundings until the early hours.
Attractions in Barcelona
Sagrada Familia: Undeniably a national symbol of the city of Barcelona itself, this incredible landmark is a testimony to the perseverance of the Catalan people and indeed Gaudi, the lauded architect who died during work on this cathedral. The exterior facades actually consist of strikingly different styles. The gothic intricate carvings on the side which Gaudi designed are a distinct contrast to the angular figures of Josep Maria Subrachs. This attraction is a must see on short breaks in Barcelona.
Palau de la Musica Catalana: Another incredible sight which you simply must visit during city breaks in Barcelona. Built in 1905 in the modernista style characteristic of many of the buildings you’ll see in Barcelona, without doubt the focal point of the structure is the concert hall itself. The first thing you’ll notice is the stained glass skylight, which dominates the ceiling with its myriad colours and symmetrical patterns.
Cathedral of Santa Eulalia: Based right in the heart of Barcelona, this imposing cathedral has stood in this prime location since the 13th century. As you enter from the refreshingly open square outside, you’ll be transported back to Medieval times as virtually everything inside has stood the test of time. The huge facades and ornate altar are particularly awe-inspiring, but perhaps the most peaceful aspect of the cathedral is actually found outside in its cloister. Here you’ll see 13 geese waddling at liberty around a free-flowing fountain and moss-covered pond. It’s a surprisingly relaxing place well worth visiting on short breaks in Barcelona.
Activities in Barcelona
Park Guell: Part of Antoni Gaudi’s astonishing collection of architectural works in the city, this wonderful park has been built with a fairytale-like imagination. The entrance to the park has curved arches, wavy steps and colourful mosaics. In fact, it’s fair to say there’s barely a straight line in sight! You’ll also see snake-shaped benches and perhaps the most photographed attraction of the park – Gaudi’s incandescent multi-coloured dragon fountain at the entrance. The perfect place to unwind after sightseeing during Barcelona city breaks.
Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art: The design of this fantastic gallery is actually a work of art in itself, with its clean white lines and open glasswork proving a real contrast to the wavy stone based structures of Gaudi. Another distinction of the museum is that it focuses exclusively on particularly modern art, with all pieces displayed being created after 1945. With the artwork divided into three periods spanning from the 1940s to the present day, expect to see videos, sculptures and installations of a very contemporary nature.
Parc de la Ciutadella: This pleasant leafy park is an oasis of green within the heart of the urban area of Barcelona. It actually has a number of places of interests of its own, making it perfectly possible to spend a good few hours here on a bright day. There’s a large lake where you can hire rowing boats, as well as an exotic zoo, a museum of zoology and geology. Plus that’s not forgetting the centrepiece of the park – a stunningly ornate fountain with shining statues and stone columns.
Beaches in Barcelona
Barceloneta Beach: Being the closest beach to the centre of Barcelona, Barceloneta is also the most popular, especially in the summer holidays. It’s a very pleasant golden sandy stretch, and this being Barcelona, you’ll also see some intriguing iron art sculptures dotted along the promenade!
Icaria Beach: This beach is comparatively calmer than Barceloneta, largely because the beach is broken up into sections – some public and some privately owned by the hotels offering all inclusive holidays in this area. Again, it has gorgeous golden sand just like Barceloneta, but there’s a more relaxed atmosphere here, and as such it’s preferred by people on family holidays in Barcelona.
Sitges Beach: The quietest of all the beaches in Barcelona, it’s a good idea to head here if you just want a relaxing time away from all the hustle and bustle during Barcelona city breaks. Luckily the beach is just as beautiful a stretch of golden sand too.
Restaurants in Barcelona
Con Gracia: If it’s fine dining you’re after whilst on Barcelona city breaks, then there’s nowhere better than Con Gracia. A truly memorable meal here consists of a staggering (admittedly small) seven courses. The menu is extremely innovative too, combining Asian influences with luxury Spanish cuisine. Opulent surroundings mean you can really make a special night of it here.
Tapeo anem de Tapes: We’re sure you’ll want to try the classic Spanish cuisine of tapas during short breaks in Barcelona. Well Tapeo is surely one of the best places you could choose to try this intriguing way of serving food. Each dish is presented on small plates to encourage you to share. There are a variety of classic Iberian flavours on offer here, such as cured ham, chorizo and richly flavoured aubergines.
Mariscco: Barcelona city breaks have quite a reputation for modern restaurants with elegant, contemporary decor. Just like Tapeo anem de Tapes, Mariscco is another example of modern styling, with sleek square tables, a monochrome colour scheme and soft lighting. On the other hand, the food is an impressive fusion of the modern and the traditional, with fish dishes in particular a speciality of the restaurant.
Nightlife in Barcelona
Many clubs and bars: Variety is the order of the day (or should we say night) when it comes to visiting clubs and bars on Barcelona city breaks. There are literally hundreds to choose from! As a general rule, it’s best to pick an area depending on your musical tastes and what type of atmosphere you’d prefer. For example, the bars around Las Ramblas (the main shopping street) are your best bet for chilled out drinks in serene surroundings. Nightspots such as Bar Lobo, Pacha and Rita Blue spring to mind as some of the best establishments in the area. Whereas if you head to L’Eixample, you’ll find a thriving gay scene, or at Port Olimpic (near the marina) you’ll come across a particularly stylish crowd. There are also a number of Chupitos dotted around the city; this chain of bars features all kinds of exciting twists on shots (Chupitos means ‘shots’ in Spanish) with flavours including the ‘Harry Potter’ and the ‘Monica Lewinsky’!
Shopping in Barcelona
Vibrant variety of shops: If there’s one thing that Barcelona city breaks really excel at, it’s choice! So alongside cheap market stalls and bargain shops in Barcelona, you’ll also come across high-end labels and designer boutiques. Some of the unique clothes here are remarkably cheap, and Barcelona has a strong artistic community so you should be able to find lots of unique artwork and handicrafts. Original shops in the area include Custo Barcelona (a label which has now spread across the world), Amateur and Desigual. Of course, there are some fantastic shopping centres too, such as Maremagnum just off the main commercial road of Las Ramblas, as well as the flagship store of the famous Spanish department chain El Corte Ingles. This being Barcelona, you won’t have to walk too far before you come across crafts of some kind, with the creative offerings in Art Montfalcon and Wawas Barcelona of particular interest.
