Barcelona Holidays

Barcelona is like 10 different cities in one, so most of its visitors barely scratch the surface of what it has to offer. Each neighbourhood, or ‘barrio’, brings something unique to the tourist map. On a whistle-stop tour of the city you could see the bustling streets off Las Ramblas make way for the ancient sights of the Gothic quarter, and the graffitied walls in Poblenou lead down to the sands at La Barceloneta. Plus, if you want to escape the city hubbub, hilly Montjuïc is perfect for getting in touch with nature.

Not only is Barcelona packed with impressive architecture and world-famous art museums, but there’s some really creative street art to seek out, too. For the city’s finest graffiti, look no further than the tags left by famous street stars in El Raval, or Poblenou, where four blocks of buildings are splashed with unique designs. If galleries are more your style, the Museu Nacional D’Art de Catalunya is a good pick. It covers over a thousand years of art, and you can see the likes of Romanesque frescoes and early works by Salvador Dalí under the same roof.

You can walk along the streets of Barcelona, visiting all of the sights, without really knowing how history has affected its art and architecture over the years. The Museu d’Història de Barcelona is a good place to learn more, as it takes you back to the city’s Roman beginnings as a town called Barcino. Stroll across the ruins of ancient streets that date back to the year 10 BC. For more recent history, you can explore the underground shelters that were built to protect the Barcelonians during the the Spanish Civil War – an event that shaped the city’s future.

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.