Best of Barcelona
Barcelona is undoubtedly one of Europe’s most enchanting cities, with the exciting juxtaposition of beach and city side by side, endless amounts of culture and so many things to see and do there, it’s the perfect location for a short break.
Marvel at the architecture
Image courtesy of Sagrada Família (oficial)
Barcelona is blessed with some of the most fascinating architecture in the world, thanks largely to the distinctive work of Antoni Gaudí. A visit to Barcelona simply wouldn’t be complete without taking in some of his Modernista creations. The most famous of which are the gargantuan Sagrada Familia, the peaceful oasis of the Park Güell and the striking façade of Casa Batllo.
There’s much more to the city than just the work of Gaudí, and you’ll see the incredible Modernista style all over the city in the apartment buildings, churches, shops and everywhere else.
Taste some tapas
Image courtesy of Elemaki
One of the most wonderful things about Barcelona is the sheer number of magnificent tapas bars that are dotted all over the city. Pick one that appears to be filled with locals and ask your waiter for recommendations to find some of the best dishes. Don’t forget to wash it all down with a glass of authentic Spanish cava!
Wander the Gothic quarter
Image courtesy of Kippelboy
The Gothic Quarter, or Barri Gòtic, is one of the most charming areas of Barcelona, thanks to the narrow, winding streets filled with shops and tapas bars that lead onto wide open squares lined with cafes and restaurants.
Don’t miss the Plaça Reial, one of the most beautiful squares in the city, just moments away from the hustle and bustle of La Ramblas. Pick a café, order a drink or some tapas and enjoy the sunshine and people watching.
Explore the different neighbourhoods
Image courtesy of Bernard Gagnon
Although Barcelona is a sprawling city that has more than one and a half million people living there, each of the different areas still seem to have their own atmosphere and distinct characteristics.
One of the increasingly popular neighbourhoods is Gràcia, which is home to intricately decorated buildings, excellent restaurants and plenty of pretty squares filled with cafes, people and live music at the weekend.
Visit the Camp Nou
Image courtesy of russavia
No visit to Barcelona would be complete for a football fan without a visit to the iconic Camp Nou, the home of FC Barcelona.
As one of the largest and most impressive football stadiums in the world it is a fascinating sight to see. FC Barcelona are also one of the world’s most successful football clubs and their football museum takes visitors through the intriguing history of the club and allows access to the dressing rooms, stands and pitch.
Check out the Magic Fountains
Image courtesy of jarmoluk
The gorgeous Palau Nacional building has a number of very large fountains situated in its grounds and on certain nights of the week as dusk falls, they are lit up and ‘dance’ along to music that is played.
The show is completely free and as it gets darker the changing colours of the fountains are more prominent and look fantastic against the backdrop of the early 20th century National Palace building.
Getting there
Travel in style and charter a private jet to one of Barcelona’s many airports. Barcelona El-Prat is the most recognisable, and is closest to the city centre, however there are also numerous quieter alternatives such as Sabadell airport and Girona Costa Brava airport along the coast to the north.
