Barcelona is one of Europe’s most popular holiday destinations, and it’s easy to see why with its fantastic mix of culture, bars, restaurants, and even a sandy beach. This makes Barcelona unique in the fact that holidaymakers can experience a stylish city break and a sun-drenched beach holiday within the same trip, so you can enjoy the best of both worlds!
As the capital city of Spain’s Catalonia region, Barcelona has a fascinating history and an almost endless array of jaw-dropping architecture for holidaymakers to take in. Museums, art galleries, excellent shopping and vibrant nightlife can all be found in abundance, whilst out of town there are gorgeous parks, such as Catalan artist Gaudi's Park Güell where you can relax and take in the stunning skyline views. Speaking of Gaudi, don't miss an opportunity to visit La Sagrada Familia, the breathtakingly beautiful church that he designed and is still not yet finished.
Whether you are exploring bars, stalls and street entertainers in the iconic Las Ramblas tourist hub, or making your way through the winding streets and quaint squares of the Gothic Quarter, there is always something new to discover in Barcelona. And for sports fans, a trip to the city would not be complete without visiting the Camp Nou stadium, home to the world-dominating FC Barcelona.
Between your strolls around the city, while away a few hours on Barcelona’s golden beaches which stretch for 4.5km along the Balearic Sea coastline – leaving plenty of space for holidaymakers to lay back, unwind and soak up the Spanish sun. Take a boat trip to get out onto the open water, or should you fancy getting your adrenaline flowing, try your hand at watersports at the beach to see the city from a different perspective!
With so much to see and do, holidays in Barcelona are great for couples, families, solo travellers and groups and here at Hays Travel we can help you to book your dream Barcelona holiday. We offer stays in a range of luxury, budget or family-friendly Barcelona hotels and have over 37 years’ experience in booking unforgettable holidays for our customers.
We have been voted the UK’s Best High Street Travel Agent so there really is nobody better to trust with planning your perfect Barcelona trip than Hays Travel! For yet more inspiration, why not check out some of our other Spanish city break destinations including Madrid, Seville, Valencia and Granada.
Shopping, sightseeing, sunbathing there are plenty of things to do on a break in Barcelona. The Metro is a quick, efficient way of getting around the city, but to see it in all its glory, take an opentopped bus tour. Gaudi's signature architecture can be seen at the spectacular Sagrada Familia, Casa Batllo and out of town at tranquil Park Guell. Famous art alleries include the Picasso Museum, Joan Miro Institute and Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona. For greenery galore and great city views, climb the Montjuic hill. Sports fans should visit FC Barcelona's Nou Camp Stadium or the Olympic Stadium and its accompanying museum. Children love the city's aquarium and zoo. The new Las Arenas centre is inside the exbullring building and is home to hundreds of shops, restaurants and the Museum of Rock. After exploring the city, there's plenty of space to relax on the Barcelona's golden sandy beach. Nightlife in Barcelona is vibrant and varied. La Ramblas and the nearby Gothic Quarter are packed with pubs and bars, while Placa Real has big clubs. For a more bohemian vibe, explore the hip bars of El Raval, or visit the area surrounding Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona. For sophisicated nightlife, head to central El Born area, or venture out to Port Olimpic, where you'll find glossy cocktail bars and glamorous clubs.
Barcelona has all the eateries you'd expect from a large city, including fast food joints, gourmet restaurants and eveything in between. Local specialities like sangria, tapas and tortillas are best enjoyed al fresco and many restaurants have terraces or pavement tables. Barcelona's seaside location means the fresh fish and Paella are famously good grab a table at one of Barcelona's restaurants and dine by the Mediterranean Sea.