Barcelona

Barcelona is a huge city, offering a lot of opportunities for spending your vacation. Walk along the boulevards, go shopping or enjoy the sounds and smells of the morning market. Then, head to the museums, to the beach or to the mountain. Tired? Not yet. Dance the night away in one of the popular clubs.

Location

Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia and the second largest city in Spain, is located on the Mediterranean coast, between the mouths of the rivers Llobregat and Besòs, while to the west is limited by Serra de Collserola ridge.

How to get to Barcelona

International travelers arrive in Barcelona via Barcelona International Airport (BCN). Several low-cost companies operate on this airport, linking Barcelona to cities all over Europe.

Barcelona is well connected to the rest of Europe by rail as well. Most connections are via Marseille, Nice and Montpellier (all in France).

Ferries connect Barcelona to Italy (Genoa and Rome). It’s actually cheaper to come from Rome by ferry rather than by bus.

Many European countries offer directly buses to Barcelona.

Weather

Barcelona has a Mediterranean climate. The summers are warm and dry, while the winters are humid and mild. Snowfalls are very rare. The hottest months are July and August, with temperatures ranging between 19 C / 66 F and 28 C/ 82.4 F. The coldest months are January and February when the temperatures range between 5 C / 41 F and 14 C / 57 F.

The busiest month is August but about 10% of facilities are closed as the owners go on vacations themselves.

The best time to visit is in April, May and mid-September when the humidity and temperatures are comfortable for sightseeing.

>>more information on Spain weather

What to do

Start your explorations on La Rambla, the city’s main boulevard. During the day is packed with tourists and street performers which are very good at surprising the visitors, while during the night, the locals come out. If you manage to get out on the boulevard after Barca (the local soccer team, Barcelona) win, you are in for a treat.

Just a few blocks from the boulevard, you will find La Boqueria, the city’s market. Plan to visit it early in the morning and enjoy the smells and noises of a fresh air market.

Walk up to Tibidabo, located on the mountains. It’s the place where you can enjoy magnificent views of the city.

Visit Barri Gotic, the medieval city center, which is magnificently preserved.

Museums, galleries and churches complete the Spanish experience. Don’t miss a visit to Sagrada Família but make sure to come at night when it offers the most incredible sights.

There are 68 parks in Barcelona. Out of them, 5 are thematic (botanical) parks. The parks cover about 10% of the city. Montjuïc is the largest park and is located on the mountain with the same name.

Barcelona is home to 7 beaches. Sant Sebastià and Barceloneta are the oldest, largest and the most popular among tourists. Take a walk on the coastline or get a tan on one of the beaches. During summer, each Sunday night is special and filled with live music on the beaches, complete with drinks and swimming.

At night, head to Olympic Port, a collection of restaurants, bars and clubs where you can enjoy Barcelona’s vibrant nightlife.

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