City break holidays to Barcelona tick off tree-lined shopping streets, modernista masterpieces from legendary architects, and a top-notch dining scene, all cosied up to the bold blue waters of the Med.
City breaks in Barcelona
Catalonia’s capital is a smorgasbord of bustling street markets, Gothic architecture, blonde sandy beaches, tapas bars, and widescreen, tree-lined boulevards. Las Ramblas is at the heart of the action – this pedestrianised street’s jam-packed with restaurants, souvenir stalls, and street performers, and it’s the main link between the city’s main square – Placa de Catalunya – and the seafront. Loads of the hotels in our Barcelona collection are pitched within a 10-minute stroll of the city centre sights, and there’s a shedload of metro stops to whizz you round the city, too.
Modernista architecture
Gaudi’s footprint is stamped all over Spain’s second-biggest city, with his handiwork lurking around pretty much every corner. Casa Milà and Casa Batlló are the two famous Gaudi houses that you’ll spot on the postcards – they’re just a 10-minute stroll from Barcelona’s main square, Placa de Catalunya. But it’s La Sagrada Familia that really gets the tourists filling their camera roll – building work on this humungous Gothic-style cathedral kicked off way back in 1882, and it’s still being tinkered with today – they reckon it might be finished by 2026.
Superb shopping
Barcelona’s like Christmas and a birthday all at once for shopaholics, with big-name designers sitting side-by-side with budget-friendly souvenir stalls. Passeig de Gràcia’s the go-to street for the big brand hitters. It’s got the Placa de Catalunya at one end and the Avinguda Diagonal at the other – a near seven-mile stretch of street that shears the city in two. Perhaps Barca’s most famous street, though, is Las Ramblas – this bustling boulevard connects the city’s main square to the seafront, and lines up street stalls, high-street labels, al fresco restaurants, and street performers along its seemingly never-ending pedestrian pathway.
Beachfront eats
One of the most popular sweeps of sand in Barcelona is La Barceloneta. And it comes with a big helping of restaurants that make the most of their seafront location. They serve up the city’s best seafood, fresh from the net. Try it mixed into a paella or fideuà, or order a selection of things to try at a tapas bar, like baby squid and prawns.What's on in Barcelona
Plan your stay around these festivals and events. Or, if you’re already booked, see what’s on while you’re out there. Powered by OccasionGenius
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