Our members choose Barcelona to:
- Enjoy sunshine, culture and fine dining on a weekend break
- Experience world-class sporting events: Barca FC at the Camp Nou or the Formula One Grand Prix
- Relax on the beach or in a boutique hotel
Magical Gaudi architecture, beach escapes, Catalan cuisine and welcoming residents - no wonder Barcelona is Europe's best-loved city.Ten UK's travel expert Ana Costello gives her insider tips:
ARCHITECTURE AND ART
Since the dark days of General Franco, the Catalan capital has reinvented itself as an ultra modern, fun-loving and ceaselessly creative city. The iconic, other-worldly architecture of Antoni Gaudi - the unforgettable Sagrada Familia cathedral, Park Guell and La Pedrera - are the images most members take away from a trip to Barcelona, but there are many more layers of culture to discover.
Showpiece galleries dedicated to Catalan geniuses Pablo Picasso and Joan Miró (Museu Picasso de Barcelona and Fundació Joan Miró), idiosyncratic museums and the beguiling charms of the Gothic quarter are just a small sample of what the city has to offer.
Exciting new developments in the arts world are popping up all the time: for example, the recently opened classical music concert venue Sala de Cambra. Ask to Ten to book the best seats
ACCOMMODATION
The city's one-of-a-kind character is reflected in its hotels, which vary between expensive and glossy, and lovely and relaxed. It's a big skyscraper, but members like the Mediterranean-front location, stylish décor and inventive dining of the Hotel Arts, which has a view of the whole city.
If you're looking for somewhere that's smaller but big on charm there are plenty of other offers. The hip, luxury Omma Hotel is also popular.
TRAVELLING AROUND
Barcelona's metro and buses are very reliable, but members often find the best way to explore the city is by foot or rented bicycle. Amble down Las Ramblas browsing for curios or cycle to one of the city's seven beaches. The Sant Sebastià and Barceloneta strips are the most accessible and popular with our members.
For a seaside experience, the town of Sitges - a famous gay-capital, with nightlife to match - is 40 minutes away by train. Tarragona, with its impressive Roman remains, is only an hour away. Talk to Ten about booking a train ticket.
FASHION AND FICTION
Fashion lovers should be sated by the choice of independent boutiques, retro outlets and malls. Bookworms too will be in literary heaven browsing the city's bookshops (with plenty of English material available), which are famous for their accompanying cafes and tapas bars.
EATING
For more substantial meals, Barcelona's contemporary Catalan restaurants don't disappoint. The Torre d'Alta Mar is situated 75m above the sea and has a great 360 degree view of the city, particularly at dusk. It serves high-class Mediterranean cuisine, with a focus on fish. Our members also praised Moo (inside the Hotel Omm), and Basque restaurant Beltxenea.
Eating in Barcelona has nothing to do with normal time zones. Breakfast (coffee and pastry) is generally taken at a bar, lunch from 2pm ‘til 4pm (the main meal of the day) and locals don't even think about dinner until 9pm. Fresh, delightful seafood and tapas abounds, with traditional Catalan dishes - high-quality fish and meat in rich sauces.
Talk to Ten for more information about transport, accommodation and booking.
FOOTBALL, CARS AND PARTIES
Many members choose to tie their trip to Barcelona with a visit to the awe-inspiring Camp Nou football stadium to see Barcelona FC play. Ask Ten to book tickets for a game, or talk to us about the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix, which will be held in Barcelona next April.
Other events include the Primavera and Sonar music festivals held in and around the city in early summer each year, and the Festival del Grec, which runs from June to August, featuring music, theatre and dance, some of it open-air. But Barcelona is primed for partying all year round, with a plethora of bars and clubs catering to all tastes. Some of the more exclusive venues, such as Elephant and Club Catwalk, can be hard to gain entry to, but Ten can get you through the door.
