Your not-so-lazy Sunday in Barcelona

We all love a laid-back Sunday but if you’ve only got a few days in Barcelona, you want to make the most of your time. The trouble is that many locals here will be enjoying a relaxing day themselves, meaning that many doors across the city are firmly shut.

The good news is that Barcelona isn’t completely closed, and if you plan ahead, there are loads of options to make the most of your day.

Beast of a brunch

If you’re going to make the most of your Sunday, you need to get off to a good start. The popular ‘Recovery Menu’ at Milk is a great choice and aptly named for that Sunday morning hangover cure. Their menu offers all sorts of tasty breakfast treats, from pancakes, cereals and Greek yoghurt to eggs benedict and a full-on fry up.

Your not-so-lazy Sunday in Barcelona

Tour the city

Bornbike Barcelona offers a range of different bike tours including a Gothic to Modernisme tour, beach tour, tapas tour (yes, that’s right, tapas by bike!) and a cycle around the hilly Montjuïc. Or you can request a tailor-made tour to suit your interests (and fitness levels!).

If you don’t fancy biking it, walking around Barcelona will take up a nice-sized chunk of your Sunday. Head to Plaça Catalunya, the Cathedral, Gothic Quarter, Montjüic, the Olympic Stadium and el Poble Espanyol.

Your not-so-lazy Sunday in Barcelona

If you really are determined to embrace the laziness of Sunday, you can do your sightseeing on a bus. Barcelona City Tour has two routes which stop at all the most exciting points of the city and run all day long, allowing you to hop on and off where and when you please.

Get your Gaudí on

Luckily for art and architecture fans, all of Gaudí’s sites are open on a Sunday. Wander around Park Güell at your leisure, gape in awe at the Sagrada Familia and explore the fascinating rooms at Casa Batlló.

Museums

The city’s museums definitely don’t close their doors on a Sunday. Do check opening times, though, as some close earlier than usual (around 3pm is the norm).

If you’re lucky enough to be in the city on the first Sunday of the month, take full advantage of free museums day and hit up a few before they close mid-afternoon.

Your not-so-lazy Sunday in Barcelona

Visit Camp Nou with its football museum, Barcelona Centre of Contemporary Culture (CCCB) to see a range of different art exhibitions, the charming Picasso Museum, the Cosmo Caixa science museum or maybe even the surprisingly informative Chocolate Museum.

Take a stroll

There’s nothing like a good stroll on a Sunday to walk off that big lunch you’ve just enjoyed. Take your time wandering around the gardens of Montjuïc or jump on the funicular train up to Tibidabo for amazing views over Barcelona. Alternatively, you could rent a bike and go exploring. There are always interesting activities in Barcelona and Sunday may be a good day to try something a little different. There are tons of groups that organise walks, fun classes and other activites that are often free or very cheap and it gives you a chance to meet the locals and see another side to the city.

Bask on the beach

Barcelona has a great offering of beaches and Sunday is a great day to kick back, relax and enjoy a good book with a view of the city’s coastline. Barceloneta is where it’s happening with all the beach bars and restaurants that line the beach walk but if you want something more tranquil, head up a bit further to Nova Mar Bella.

Your not-so-lazy Sunday in Barcelona

Catch some Catalan culture

Sardana by ZypresseIf you find yourself in the Gothic Quarter around midday, look out for the locals dancing the traditional Catalan Sardana dance outside the cathedral. There’s a joyful atmosphere with music and laughter – don’t be shy to join in!

In Plaça de Sant Josep you’ll find a small art market where Catalan artists of varying styles set up their easels under the shadow of the church. If you like art, or just fancy browsing, it’s a pleasant spot.

If a hearty paella is the order of the day, the best places can be found along Barcelona’s sea front promenade and the popular-with-locals Passeig de Joan de Borbo, faces the old port. Many restaurants here will tout for business but follow the crowds and sound of Catalan chatter and you won’t go far wrong.

Carry on the party

If you’re here to party, why stop for Sunday? Row 14, a club just outside of Barcelona, has summer parties every Sunday which start in the afternoon and continue well into the night. You can get there easily on a bus provided by the club which leaves from Plaça Catalunya.

So, as you can see, there is no excuse to wasting your Sunday away in Barcelona. If you want to take it easy, sure you can but if you are raring to go…GO!

Barcelona, Palau Sant Jordi

Palau Sant Jordi (English: St. George's Palace) is an indoor sporting arena and multi-purpose installation that is part of the Olympic Ring complex located in Barcelona.

It was opened in 1990 and designed by Japanese architect Arata Isozaki and the maximum seating capacity of the arena is 17,000 for basketball, and 24,000 for musical events.

Barcelona, Palau Sant Jordi

The Palau Sant Jordi was one of the main venues of the 1992 Summer Olympics hosting the artistic gymnastics, handball final, and volleyball final. Nowadays, it is used for all kinds of indoor sport events as well as for concerts and other cultural activities, due to its great flexibility.

The arena was the venue of the 1995 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics.

The arena was the venue of three Euroleague final four in 1998, 2003 and 2011. It also hosted the EuroBasket 1997 from the quarter-finals and the 2012 Spanish Basketball Cup.

Barcelona, Palau Sant Jordi

The final of 2000 Davis Cup was the 89th edition of the most important tournament between nations in men's tennis. Spain defeated Australia at Palau Sant Jordi on 8–10 December, giving Spain their first title. The arena also received the final of 2009 Davis Cup between Spain and Czech Republic with the victory for the Spaniards 5-0.

Barcelona, Palau Sant Jordi

The arena was the main venue of the 2003 FINA World Championships. A temporary, regulation swimming pool was installed for the occasion. It played the same role for the 2013 FINA World Championships, since the city of Barcelona hosted the Championships again after 10 years.

Barcelona, Palau Sant Jordi

The arena was one of six sites that hosted the 2013 World Men's Handball Championship including the Final. It also will be one of six sites to host the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain.

Barcelona Hop on Hop off Bus

Buy your ticket online and skip the line!

This is absolutely the most comfortable way to explore all the wonderful highlights that Barcelona has to offer!

Hop on the Barcelona Bus and discover all the highlights that make this Mediterranean city so special. From the Modernist Buildings and the great cuisine, right through to the Olympic city and the Mediterranean sea: it's all Barcelona  The Open-top double decker bus will take you there. With the Audio guide in 10 languages and individual headphones, all you have to do is hop on, listen and enjoy! Hop on and off as many times as you want between the three tour routes at 44 different locations. 

It can be very busy at the ticket offices, so buy your ticket online now and hop on at the location of your choice!

Schedule details

• Enjoy it every day of the year

• First departures: between 09:00 and 09:30 from any stop

• Last departures: 19:00 in winter - 20:00 in summer. See timetables posted at the stops

• Frequency: between 5 and 25 minutes, depending on the season.

Ticket is valid all year! 

Buy your ticket online and skip the line!

Thanks to our collaboration with Ticketbar, we bring you the most exciting and cultural attractions of Barcelona! 

See terms and conditions here. 

For any question about your booking do not hesitate to contact: customerservice@ticketbar.nl

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Barcelona, Eixample district

The Eixample (Catalan for 'extension') is a district of Barcelona between the old city (Ciutat Vella) and what were once surrounding small towns (Sants, Gràcia, Sant Andreu etc.), constructed in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

The Eixample is characterized by long straight streets, a strict grid pattern crossed by wide avenues, and square blocks with chamfered corners (named illes in Catalan, manzanas in Spanish). This was a visionary, pioneering design by Ildefons Cerdà, who considered traffic and transport along with sunlight and ventilation in coming up with his characteristic octagonal blocks, where the streets broaden at every intersection making for greater visibility, better ventilation and (today) some short-stay parking space. 

Barcelona, Eixample district

The grid pattern remains as a hallmark of Barcelona, but many of his other provisions were unfortunately ignored: the four sides of the blocks and the inner space were built instead of the planned two or three sides around a garden; the streets were narrower; only one of the two diagonal avenues was carried out; the inhabitants were of a higher class than the mixed composition dreamed of by Cerdà. The important needs of the inhabitants were incorporated into his plan, which called for markets, schools, hospitals every so many blocks. Today, most of the markets remain open in the spots they have been from the beginning.

Some parts of the Eixample were influenced by Modernista architects, chief among whom was Antoni Gaudí. His work in the Eixample includes the Casa Milà (nicknamed La Pedrera) and the Casa Batlló, both of which are on the wide Passeig de Gràcia, as well as the Sagrada Família. Other architects who made highly significant, and certainly more numerous, contributions to giving the Eixample its characteristic appearance include Josep Puig i Cadafalch, Josep Domènech i Estapà, Josep Vilaseca i Casanovas and perhaps above all Enric Sagnier i Villavecchia, responsible for a total of over 500 buildings in the city (not all of them in the Eixample).

Barcelona, Eixample district

The Casa Terrades, better known as Casa de les Punxes, is a spectacular building replete with Mediaeval allusions that stands at the junction of Av. Diagonal with Carrer Rosselló. It was built in 1903-5 by the Modernista architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch, who used Nordic Gothic and Spanish Plateresque resources side by side, along with traditional Catalan motifs.

The Casa Batlló is part of a block called the Illa de la Discòrdia, along with two other notable Modernista works, Lluís Domènech i Montaner's Casa Lleó Morera and Josep Puig i Cadafalch's Casa Amatller. The block is so named due to the visual clash between the buildings; its Spanish name, Manzana de la Discordia, is also a pun on Eris's Apple of Discord - manzana means both "apple" and "city block".

Barcelona, Eixample district

The district is often divided for practical purposes in two: Esquerra de l'Eixample and Dreta de l'Eixample (left and right sides of Eixample, respectively). Traditionally and officially it is divided into five neighbourhoods. These are, in addition to the areas already mentioned, Sant Antoni, Sagrada Família and Fort Pienc, also known as Fort Pius. The latter has recently become notable for the number of Asian, chiefly Chinese residents and the proliferation of Asian shops.

Some parts of Eixample are rather well-to-do neighbourhoods, especially around the central areas such as Passeig de Gràcia, Rambla de Catalunya and the Avinguda Gaudi/Sagrada Familia vicinity, but it also contains many decaying buildings inhabited by lonely aged tenants on the verge of poverty, especially in the fringe areas. It also has a large proportion of immigrant population.

Barcelona, Eixample district

Passeig de Gràcia connects the central Plaça Catalunya to the old town of Gràcia, while Avinguda Diagonal cuts across the grid diagonally and Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes runs across the entire city from southwest to northeast.

Other wide avenues in the area include Carrer d'Aragó, Carrer de Balmes and Passeig de Sant Joan.

There are five administrative neighborhoods:

L'Antiga Esquerra de l'Eixample (in the past, part of Esquerra de l'Eixample)

La Nova Esquerra de l'Eixample (in the past, part of Esquerra de l'Eixample)

Dreta de l'Eixample

Fort Pienc

Sagrada Família

Sant Antoni

Barcelona’s Botanical Garden

Barcelona’s first botanical garden was created in 1930 in Montjuïc, where a former stone quarry used to be. Due to the 1992 Olympic Games city planning works, the hill has weakened and eventually it provoked a mudslide that destroyed the gardens. That is why in 1999, the city of Barcelona created a new one. Nowadays, the park is more than 14 hectare wide.

Barcelona’s Botanical Garden

About the Botanical Garden of Barcelona

Barcelona’s Botanical Garden is a reference in Catalonia. It features a wide variety of plant specimens from countries with a Mediterranean climate. It highlights the similarity of the Mediterranean vegetation worldwide. Actually, the Mediterranean climate is present in only 5% of the globe, but its vegetation is growing on the 5 continents. It is really interesting to see how the same specimen evolves according to its environment.

Barcelona’s Botanical Garden

Botanical Garden - Montjuic

You will be able to see more than 1350 species from the Canaries, Australia, Chile, South Africa and from Mediterranean countries. Within the gardens, you will find the Botanical Institute entirely dedicated to research. The Institute has one of most important herbarium of Catalonia and a specialized bookstore. The environment is nice and quiet; it is the perfect place to enjoy a walk with your family.

Barcelona’s Botanical Garden

Practical Information

Open every day

From October 1st to March 31st: from 10am to 6pm

From April 1st to May 31st and September (from 1st to 30th): from 10am to 7pm

From June 1st to August 31st: from 10am to 8pm

Price: 3.50 euros.

Free entrance every 1st Sunday of the month and every Sunday after 3pm.

Metro: L1 or L3, Stop Espanya;

L2 or L3, Stop Paral-lel then take the funicular

Museu Blau, the Natural Sciences Museum of Barcelona

The Museu Blau, the Natural Sciences Museum of Barcelona, forms part of the Natural History Museum of Barcelona and it is located in the Forum precinct, the new area of Barcelona at beginning of the most important street of the whole city: Avinguda Diagonal.

The other two cultural centres which compose the Museum are located in the zone of Ciutadella Park (the Martorell Museum and the Laboratory of the Nature) and in Montjuic (Botanical Garden, Botanical Institute and Historic Botanical Garden.

Museu Blau, the Natural Sciences Museum of Barcelona

History of the museum

Hall of the Museum

The museum has been inaugurated in 2011 and covers a total surface of 9000m2, offering space for permanent and temporary exhibitions. It has become a new cultural icon for Barcelona. It is an innovative centre that combines scientific rigor with popular science, recreation with learning about nature, and leisure with a serious look at today’s environmental issues. The spectacular building where it is hosted is designed by the architects Herzog and Meuron for the 2004 Universal Forum of Cultures. The same architects projected and realized all the interior part of the building when, some years later, it was decided to house the Museum.

Museu Blau, the Natural Sciences Museum of Barcelona

Exhibitions and activities

The most important permanent exhibition featured by this museum is called Planet Life, which covers 3000m2 of the museum and which is divided in 3 different sections:

Gaia’ s Biography: It is a count of the history of our planet from the origins until now. It follows a timeline that traces the co-evolution of biology and geology, depicting the vast changes in the Earth’s surface and the great evolutionary leaps in the history of our world. Thanks to the multimedia effects we are taken back to the earliest days of our planet.

Present-day Heart: It shows how our planet is today and how it has changed during the years through the world of fossils, rocks, animals, plants, seaweed, minerals, fungis and microbes.

Museu Blau, the Natural Sciences Museum of Barcelona

Islands of science: Complements the visit by looking at various topics associated with nature and its relationship with human beings. The ‘Islands of Science’ are small, semi-permanent, monographic displays that cover a variety of topics such as evolution, nomenclature and classification, the Mediterranean, animal behavior, reproduction, conservation, ecology, natural resources, and genetics.

This permanent exhibition takes visitors on a journey through the evolution of our planet and the history of life.

In the museum lots of temporary exhibition are shown as Poisoned, a world of Nature’s venoms exhibitions where people can discover the workings and the uses of poisons in the animal world.

Dates

From 19th December 2013 till 1st March 2015

Practical Information

One of the animal collections of the museum

Address: Pl. Leonardo da Vinci, 4-5 (Edifici Fòrum)

Phone: 932 566 002

Museu Blau, the Natural Sciences Museum of Barcelona

How to get there: Metro: L4 stop Maresme-Fòrum.| Bus: 7, 36, 141, 143 and H16.| Tram: T4 stop Fòrum.| Barcelona Bus Turístic: stop Fòrum.

Opening times: Tuesday to Saturday: from 10 to 19 h

Sunday and public holidays: from 10 to 20 h

The Museum will be closed on January 1st, May 1st, June 24th, and December 25th. It will also be closed on Mondays (except public holidays).

Prices

Admission fees: General admission: 6 €

Reduced admission: 2.70 €

Combined admission fee for Museu Blau and Botanical Garden: 7 €

Reduced combined fee: 5 €

Free admission on special days: Every Sunday from 15 h and the first Sunday of every month

February 12th, May 18th, September 24th.

Santa Anna’s church, Barcelona’s hidden church

Santa Anna’s church is a lovely church situated behind Catalunya place, in Ramon Amadeu’s market place between the Ramblas and Portal de l’Àngel.

It was founded between the 12th and the 13th century by the Order of the Holy Sepulchre. Its architecture marks the transition from the Romanesque to the Gothic styles.

Santa Anna’s church, Barcelona’s hidden church

Santa Anna’s church is less as known as the Sagrada Familia, nevertheless it truly deserves that you stop by a few moment.

You will love to admire:

The main entrance: The wood of the doorway dates from 1300. You can see a patriarchal cross that represents Santa Anna.

Santa Anna’s church, Barcelona’s hidden church

Presbytery, transept and dome: Walk done the aisle and you will see the evolution of Romanesque architecture in the Church’s windows.

Chapel of the Holy Sepulchre: You cannot miss the beautiful reproduction of Santa Anna’s Sepulchre dating from 1936.

Chapterhouse: In this small chapel there are references to Santa Eulàlia. Indeed, a long time ago, the church was part of the monastery dedicated to this young goose keeper.

Santa Anna’s church, Barcelona’s hidden church

Cloisters: they were built in the 15th century. The arches in the inner cloisters are in the Catalan Gothic style even if some details reveal a Renaissance influence.

You can visit the church during its opening hours, meaning apart from Service hours.

The Church often welcomes concerts of classical music, or Gospel. You can get more information about the program directly in the Church or here. We recommend you visit this gem hidden in Barrio Gotico!

Tarragona – Roman history in a corner of Catalonia

About an hour’s drive from the spires of the Sagrada Familia there’s a little enclave laden with history which goes by the name of Tarragona. In this city, which is situated on the beautiful Catalan coast, you can still see the legacy left by the Roman Empire.

If you fancy a short break from the noisy crowds of Barcelona, this small but fascinating place is well worth a visit. It’s one of the most important historical centres in Spain and in Europe, due to the wealth of beautifully conserved Roman treasures that remain there.

Tarragona – Roman history in a corner of Catalonia

The city’s Roman roots

Tarragona made its historical mark in 278BC when it became the first military base in the province of Spain. But today it’s more famous for the archaeological finds which are incredible to say the least. Centuries-old stadium walls are so well-conserved that on some pieces of rock you can still see the monograms of the slaves who built it. There’s also a Roman circus with a labyrinth of well-preserved underground passageways, a beautiful amphitheatre overlooking the sea with the remains of a Visigoth basilica at the centre and a wealth of museums, inscriptions and parts of antique pavements. With all this, it’s no wonder it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.

Tarragona – Roman history in a corner of Catalonia

But Tarragona isn’t a city that lives in the past. On the contrary – it’s the past which lives in the present. As you head towards one of the numerous local bars, there’s a good chance you’ll catch sight of a deserted Roman column or step on pavement previously marched on by legionnaires going towards new conquests.

‘The balcony of the Mediterranean’

The second city of Catalonia is known as ‘the balcony of the Mediterranean’ and indeed it is, quite literally. One of the city’s main streets, the Rambla Nova, ends with a long ledge where you can pause to look out onto the expanse of sparkling sea. Nearby you’ll find plenty of bars and restaurants with outdoor tables, taking advantage of this prime waterfront location.

Tarragona – Roman history in a corner of Catalonia

Tarragona’s architecture represents the past 2000 years of its history. Despite being a small city, it vaults effortlessly from Roman to medieval – the Gothic cathedral a perfect example of this period, located on Pla de la Seu which is home to a vibrant food market on Sundays. The Catalan movement of Modernisme is also evident, with numerous buildings on the Rambla Nova the work of famous architects, such as Gaudí and Domenech i Mutaner. But the real jewel in the Modernista crown is the beautiful Teatro Metropol, designed by Maria Juiol (1807-1949).

Proud of its traditions, Tarragona is a city rich in cultural events which occur throughout the year. Look out for the famous human towers (castellers) which take place particularly during the summer season. The dizzying heights they reach are truly spectacular.

Tarragona – Roman history in a corner of Catalonia

The city is constantly on the move, and in 2017 there will be another reason to go – Tarragona, having beaten the Egyptian city of Alexandria to the post, has been selected to host the XVIII Mediterranean Games.

From Barcelona, you can reach Tarragona by train (Renfe) which departs from the centrally located Sants station (taking 40 minutes to one hour, depending on the type of train you take). By car the cities are linked by the AP7 motorway (about 80km from Barcelona) and it is only 7km from Reus airport.

Souvenirs from Barcelona

Did you know that most holidaymakers spend about 50% of their budget on souvenirs and shopping? This is more than is spent on food, good wine or sightseeing. Most of the times we buy souvenirs just because we hold on to the feeling of our stress-free vacation and stupidly think we might be able to catch it by spending our hard-earned money in those – most of the times pretty useless and even kitschy – objects. In order to avoid any error of this kind when doing your next trip to Barcelona, we made a list of what should be on your shopping list and for whom it should be bought.

How to get the perfect gift for everyone:

For soccer fans:

One thing’s for sure: Doesn’t matter if we are talking about your dad, brother or best fellow, when it comes to soccer, most male human beings become like little kids. And Barcelona is kind of their play ground; here you will find any accessory of the most popular soccer club in the world, the FC Barcelona. Luckily you don’t have to actually visit the Camp Nou to do your shopping, you can find many official FC Barcelona shops all around the city:

FCB Fan Shop

Barcelona FC Official Shop – Maremagnum Moll d’Espanya 5

Shop 38-39, Maremagnum Village

Metro L3 – Drassanes, L4 Barceloneta

Barcelona FC Official Shop – Centre Universitat

Ronda Universitat, 37

Metro L1 – Universitat

Barcelona FC Official Shop – Estació Sants

Estació de Trens de Sants

Metro L3, L5 – Santa Estació

Barcelona FC Official Shop Jaume I – Gothic Quarter

Calle Jaume I, 18

Metro L4 – Jaume I

The following gifts will hopefully delight housewives&-men in your surroundings, because they are both non-standard and useful. Our first idea is a kitchen apron on which you will find the recipe of the traditional „pa amb tomàquet“, the very delicious Catalan bread with tomatoes on it. 

Other ideas of this kind would be handmade pottery that you can buy at one of Barcelona’s numerous weekly markets. Or get a Porrò, some typical Catalan glass wine pitcher that is simultaneously used as a glass.

For fashionistas:

If you want to make your sister, your BFF or your girlfriend a happy person, get her some nice dress from one of the famous Barcelona-based designers. By now you can find a Desigual-Shop in almost every bigger city in Europe, so if you want something more outstanding go visit Custo Barcelona. In the past, this label has been outfitting Stars like Beyoncé, Sarah Jessica Parker and many more!

Custo Barcelona

Shopping Center L’Illa

08029 Barcelona (Barcelona)

Metro L3 – Maria Cristina

Custo Barcelona

C/La Rambla, 109

08002 Barcelona (Barcelona)

Metro L1, L3, L6, L7 – Placa Catalunya

If you are afraid to pick the wrong size, then better get a handbag from MISAKO. This brand with a Japanese sounding name is actually a quickly expanding fashion chain with its headquarters in the Catalan city of Esparraguera. The brand is specialized in the production of handbags and accessories; there are more than 150 shops in Spain and in the world. The perfect souvenir for your fashion-conscious friends.

For gourmets

Gourmets will definitely get their money’s worth in Barcelona! Fancy food is the most popular souvenir you can get, because it won’t have the time to gather dust on your shelf. You better consume it together with your friends while you show them the pictures you took during your holidays, wallowing in memories.

This is a short list of the most delicious food you can get as a souvenir in Barcelona:

Jamón: Spanish ham is more than popular! Try out one of the ‘Enrique Tomás’ shops that are specialized in ham and that you can find almost anywhere in Barcelona where tourists gather.

Cava: Catalan sparkling wine with a quality description. The most famous winery might be Freixenet, but you can find many other brands in Barcelona. Be attentive: A real cava’s cork is branded with a star and only the bottles labeled Cava are actually veritable Cavas.

Catànies: A typical Catalan sweet composed of almonds, caramel, white chocolate and cacao and which is quite often used as a gift by locals themselves.

Dont’s! What kind of souvenir you should never ever buy in Barcelona

There are some things that you definitely shouldn’t get as a souvenir in Barcelona! Catalan people are pretty proud of their culture and don’t like to be juggled with the Spanish. This is why we recommend you not to purchase anything showing the Spanish flag or symbolizing the Spanish culture.

The bull: This animal has become the national emblem of the Spanish population; you will often find it stuck on their cars. However, the Catalan associate the bull with the oppression of the Franco Regime. So if you really want to get a sticker from Barcelona for your car, better get a donkey. This mulish but amiable animal is the Catalans favorite.

The Mexican hat: As you can tell from its name, this hat has nothing to do with the Spanish or even Catalan culture. A real mispurchase! If you really want a headpiece from Catalonia, better get a ‚Barretina.‘

Flamenco: While the Flamenco is widespread in Spain, the Catalan have their own national dance: the Sardana. So Flamenco dancing dolls, music or any other item related to this dance is a no-go Barcelona souvenir.

Our hint:

If you are travelling on a tight budget, just bring something self-made! Collect some sea shells at the beach or make a collage out of the pictures you took during your holidays. Anyways, we’re pretty sure that your grandma will even be happy about a new postcard for her collection on the fridge.

Tarragona – Roman history in a corner of Catalonia

About an hour’s drive from the spires of the Sagrada Familia there’s a little enclave laden with history which goes by the name of Tarragona. In this city, which is situated on the beautiful Catalan coast, you can still see the legacy left by the Roman Empire.

If you fancy a short break from the noisy crowds of Barcelona, this small but fascinating place is well worth a visit. It’s one of the most important historical centres in Spain and in Europe, due to the wealth of beautifully conserved Roman treasures that remain there.

Tarragona – Roman history in a corner of Catalonia

The city’s Roman roots

Tarragona made its historical mark in 278BC when it became the first military base in the province of Spain. But today it’s more famous for the archaeological finds which are incredible to say the least. Centuries-old stadium walls are so well-conserved that on some pieces of rock you can still see the monograms of the slaves who built it. There’s also a Roman circus with a labyrinth of well-preserved underground passageways, a beautiful amphitheatre overlooking the sea with the remains of a Visigoth basilica at the centre and a wealth of museums, inscriptions and parts of antique pavements. With all this, it’s no wonder it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.

Tarragona – Roman history in a corner of Catalonia

But Tarragona isn’t a city that lives in the past. On the contrary – it’s the past which lives in the present. As you head towards one of the numerous local bars, there’s a good chance you’ll catch sight of a deserted Roman column or step on pavement previously marched on by legionnaires going towards new conquests.

‘The balcony of the Mediterranean’

The second city of Catalonia is known as ‘the balcony of the Mediterranean’ and indeed it is, quite literally. One of the city’s main streets, the Rambla Nova, ends with a long ledge where you can pause to look out onto the expanse of sparkling sea. Nearby you’ll find plenty of bars and restaurants with outdoor tables, taking advantage of this prime waterfront location.

Tarragona – Roman history in a corner of Catalonia

Tarragona’s architecture represents the past 2000 years of its history. Despite being a small city, it vaults effortlessly from Roman to medieval – the Gothic cathedral a perfect example of this period, located on Pla de la Seu which is home to a vibrant food market on Sundays. The Catalan movement of Modernisme is also evident, with numerous buildings on the Rambla Nova the work of famous architects, such as Gaudí and Domenech i Mutaner. But the real jewel in the Modernista crown is the beautiful Teatro Metropol, designed by Maria Juiol (1807-1949).

Proud of its traditions, Tarragona is a city rich in cultural events which occur throughout the year. Look out for the famous human towers (castellers) which take place particularly during the summer season. The dizzying heights they reach are truly spectacular.

Tarragona – Roman history in a corner of Catalonia

The city is constantly on the move, and in 2017 there will be another reason to go – Tarragona, having beaten the Egyptian city of Alexandria to the post, has been selected to host the XVIII Mediterranean Games.

From Barcelona, you can reach Tarragona by train (Renfe) which departs from the centrally located Sants station (taking 40 minutes to one hour, depending on the type of train you take). By car the cities are linked by the AP7 motorway (about 80km from Barcelona) and it is only 7km from Reus airport.

Barcelona with children

Family holidays can often make for the best memories, but a lot depends on keeping the kids happy! Barcelona makes this an easy task as it’s a city that offers something for everyone, from beaches and parks to football stadiums and museums. To make your family holiday a stress-free experience, take a look at our guide to entertaining  children of all ages in the Catalan capital.

Barcelona with children 

Activities for young children

Barcelona’s Aquarium is an ideal way to spend the afternoon with younger kids. It’s an underwater kingdom housing almost 400 marine species including Nemo and Flounder look-a-likes which children will love spotting. Watch their little faces light up as they walk through the 360º glass tunnel called the Oceaneri – they might even spot a few sharks.

Barcelona with children 

As well as lions, tigers, elephants and gorillas, Barcelona zoo also has a great adventure playground where the children can run wild. We highly recommend the dolphin shows, which are great fun, especially when the dolphins launch balls for the audience to catch. Together with guided tours and workshops, the zoo houses a farm area with goats and rabbits for the younger kids to pet. The zoo is based in the Parc de la Ciutadella which is a nice spot for a family picnic. The park is beautiful, especially on sunny days when children can run around, feed the ducks and take a rowing boat out onto the middle of the lake.

Barcelona with children 

Hit the beach! Many people are surprised when they come to Barcelona for the first time and discover its vast stretches of beautiful beaches. Temperatures are warm enough for you to enjoy the beaches from March to October, so take the kids, let them take a dip and enjoy an ice cream. The closest beach to the city centre is Barceloneta and it can get quite overcrowded, so we’d recommend you heading a little further north to Bogatell Beach or Mar Bella for a bit more space.

Barcelona with children 

Activities for teenagers

CosmoCaixa is a great family day out, especially if you’re searching for something adults will also enjoy. Far from your average natural science museum, it’s an educational yet entertaining and interactive experience. The Amazon rainforest, complete with tropical downpours and alligators, is a particular highlight. You can conduct your own experiments, create sandstorms, and see animal species from all over the world.

Tibidabo is where you will find Cosmo Caixa and is great for slightly older children. It offers unrivalled panoramic views of the Catalan hinterland, the city and the Mediterranean Sea, while its funfair and amusement park are guaranteed to keep kids entertained for hours. Dare them to go on a few of the rides or simply buy some candyfloss and enjoy the view – either way, they will have an adrenaline- fuelled day out!

Barcelona with children 

FC Barcelona Museum and Camp Nou Tour is an absolute must if you have teenagers who are interested in sport and would appreciate seeing the home of one of the greatest teams in the world. This legendary tour takes you behind the scenes; you get a glimpse of the president’s box, the changing rooms and can even walk through the players’ tunnel. The tour also includes entrance to the interactive museum which has over 100 years of memorabilia on show. If you’re lucky enough to be here when FC Barcelona are playing at home, then why not take the family to see a game?

Barcelona with children 

Gaudí’s Sagrada Familia is the most visited attraction in Spain so it’s no wonder many families take their children to see it while on holiday in Barcelona. The Basilica, which isn’t set to be completed for another 20 years, is vast and dream-like. The inside is breathtaking and is full of models, photographs and plans from its humble beginnings in 1882 through the decades.

Barcelona with children 

Shopping! Trawling the shops with kids in tow can be hard work, but it’s something most teenagers enjoy (especially if the spree is on mum and dad!). Barcelona is fantastic for a bit of retail therapy so why not spend an afternoon strolling up and down Passeig de Gràcia or Avinguda Portal de l’Àngel. Or if you fancy something a little different, wander down the side streets of the Born and Gothic Quarter and discover a huge range of independent boutiques.