A Vacation in Barcelona

With its architectural treasures, rich cultural history, cosmopolitan scene, easy access to the beaches and vibrant night life, Barcelona offers almost unlimited options on things to do. The city will appeal to both the old and young who will find plenty to keep them engaged.

When to Visit Barcelona

Barcelona has wonderfully mild weather, with sunny skies inviting you out most of the year round. Spring is probably the best time to visit, but with winter temperatures averaging at 11°C/52°F, almost any month of the year is a good time to plan your vacation. You should try to avoid late July and all of August when the soaring temperatures and uncomfortably humidity drive even the locals away from the city.

Where to stay in Barcelona

You can choose from among several characterful neighborhoods to set your mood for the vacation to come. Suit your budget with digs ranging from hostels, lodges, apartments, vacation rentals and luxury motels to be had. The city puts a well connected and affordable public transport system at your disposal so all you need is a handy metro station and you are all set to explore.

What to do

Visitors need to ask this question simply to make sure they don’t overwhelm themselves with too much to do. Research the city before arriving to make the most of Barcelona during your vacation. Discovering the delights of La Rambla, visiting La Sagrada Familia, viewing Gaudi’s Casa Batllo and La Pedrera, and exploring the Museu de Picasso are some of the top billed things to do in the city. Apart from these, the list runs long but things of interest are the beach, several notable museums, a game at Camp Nou for football enthusiasts, a family day off at L’Aquarium or Park Guell, or some very stylish local brand shopping for the modish. You will need plenty of time to cross off all those items on your things to do list in Barcelona.

What to Eat

Barcelona serves up the tourist haunts of McDonald’s, Burger King and KFC along with several international cuisines. But with sumptuous Spanish fare offered in the form of tapas, paella, bocadillas, churros with thick hot chocolate and delicious Sangria, the discerning visitor will make the most of the excellent local food. You could dine out in style at any of the numerous café’s dotted around La Rambla, Passeig de Gracia or the many squares of Barcelona.

Where to Party

Barcelona is the quintessential beach city wearing a separate day face and night face. Clubs and bars open late but fill up quickly and you can always spot the more popular joints by the size of its clientele overflow spilling out onto the sidewalk. Crawl around the trendy L’Eixample and you are sure to run into something you like. Suton, Otto Zutz, Elephant and Razmataz are some of the hipper hangouts for the in crowd today.