Barcelona

Barcelona is a hugely popular destination, and therefore has an abundant and varied selection of hotels. There are options to suit all budgets, from the five-star Hotel Arts Barcelona (Carrer Marina 19-21) to the no-frills Travelodge Barcelona Poblenou (Carrer de Llacuna 23-24). The five-star Ohla Hotel (Via Laietana 49) is a relative newcomer to the luxury market, while the nearby four-star Grand Hotel Central (Via Laietana 30) is a comfortable choice.

There are the usual souvenirs to be found in such a major city as Barcelona, ranging from artistic to sporting memorabilia, although there are of course plenty of places to delve deeper into the shopping scene. Boulevards such as Passeig de Gràcia boast a selection of designer stores, or for a more quirky purchase head to the El Born district. Make for the renowned La Rambla and get your fresh produce at the stalls of the Boqueria Market (Rambla 85-89), or the imposing El Corte Inglés department store (Plaça de Catalunya 14) for a wide selection of goods.

Immerse yourself in the relaxed European nature of Barcelona’s dining culture, where tapas is abundant and sitting down for an evening meal after 10pm is commonplace. Quimet & Quimet (Carrer del Poeta Cabanyes 25) is a great choice for tapas, while Michelin-starred Cinc Sentits (Carrer d'Aribau 58) boasts a reputation as being among the very best in the city. Wash down your meal at Bar Pesca Salada (Carrer Cera 32), which serves some 24 brands of gin and is housed in an old fish store.

Carnaval

February/March

Build up to the climactic “burial of the sardine” by gorging on food and drink as this pre-Lent celebration. Expect colourful costumes, musical parades and bars packed to the rafters as Barcelona gets into the party spirit.

Sant Joan

June 23rd

Prepare for the Sant Joan festival with days of revelry, making sure you join in with the locals by partaking in the tradition of supping on cava. Beach bonfires and firecrackers illuminate the night sky on June 23rd each year.

Festival del Grec

June-August

The Teatre Grec on Montjuïc lends its name to this sizeable highbrow festival of culture. The theatre is one of the key venues as dance, music, circus and theatre performances are put on.

Sónar

June

Billed as an “International Festival of Advanced Music and New Media Art”, this three-day extravaganza hosts creative professionals by their thousands, and is the setting for some serious partying at the hands of its electronic-spinning DJs. 

Festes de la Mercè

September

This is quite literally Barcelona’s biggest annual festival, as giants parade the streets in honour of the city’s patron saint. A week of celebration sees concerts and firework displays bringing the streets to life.