Weekend break Barcelona
So you've planned a weekend break in Barcelona, but how will you make the best use of your limited time there - after all, there is so much to do in Barcelona on a weekend break.
With that in mind, here we present a list of the top things to do on your stay in Barcelona.
1. Walk down Las Ramblas
Everyone who visits Barcelona should do this anyway, but you can start your weekend at Plaça Catalunya and take an easy stroll down to the port.
Comprising of five different Ramblas (just an area to walk), each with a different name and different character, you can see an eclectic mix of musicians, comedians, almost completely motionless performers dressed as statues, and in fact any kind of street performance you can think of, as well as flower stalls, newspaper kiosks and a section with pet birds for sale.
There are bars and cafes as you walk down, so sit down and
have a coffee, water, or whatever takes your fancy. Do bear in mind
that many people loose their bags, purses, wallets, passports and cameras
in this area, so be discreet with valuables.
2.
Take a bus tour
For around €15 for a day ticket you can hop on and off the bus at will.
This way you get an overview of what the city has to offer, while seeing the bits that interest you in more detail. The commentary isn’t up to much, but the views are worth it and it saves on shoe leather.
Highlights are the Gaudí designed buildings, including the cathedral. If the weather is good, a stroll round Parc Guell is recommended - the bus makes a stop for this.
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3.
Try the local
cuisine
After all that sightseeing you must be hungry. There are many bars and restaurants in Barcelona, so no shortage of food.
Remember that in general, anything on or near Las Ramblas will be more expensive. For a list of some recommended restaurants see our restaurant guide and try some of the local dishes – Barcelona has more than just paella to offer.
Spaniards eat lunch from between two o’clock and dinner from about nine-thirty or ten; don’t make the mistake of eating too early if you want to mix with the locals.
Another good option is to wander from tapas bar to tapas bar; have a drink a couple of dishes in each and you’re almost guaranteed to have a highly memorable evening. Especially recommended are the Basque tapas bars, some of the dishes they offer are truly sublime, but again, don’t start too early.
4.
Museums
There are quite a few to see, such as the Picasso Museum, which is good for his early work, and MNAC (Museu Nacional de Catalunya). It is housed in a palace at the foot of Montjuic hill, which is one of the best sights in Barcelona.
If you're in Barcelona longer than just a weekend then you could visit Figueres, home to the Salvador Dalí Museum, but you need to be in the area for a week or more to really make this worthwhile. Many of the museum's best works are often lent out, so visiting can be disappointing, but it is recommended if you do like his work.
Also interesting is the Monastery of Montserrat,
set in some fantastically shaped mountains and the FC Barcelona Museum
is one of the most popular in the city…
5.
Football
Barcelona has two teams, Futbol Club Barcelona (often known as Barça) and the lesser known RCD Espanyol. Many people view their weekend break to Barcelona as an ideal time to see Barça play, but make sure you're in town on Saturday AND Sunday nights as the match date can change at short notice.
You can order tickets for both Spanish
league and Champions League matches from the web site.
6. Flamenco
Los Tarantos in Plaça Reial, just off Las Ramblas, is well known for its tablau, or Flamenco show. Flamenco is not traditional to Barcelona or Catalunya at all, but it makes a good night out.
For a glimpse of locals dancing Catalunya’s traditional Sardana, you can visit the square next to the cathedral in the Gothic quarter on a Sunday at around midday.
Flights and hotels
The city
centre has many reasonably priced hotels, but if you are looking for
a hotel right in the old part of the city for your weekend break in
Barcelona, we recommend the four star Hotel
Colon, directly opposite the gothic Cathedral.
If
you prefer the ease of booking that comes with a package then it can
also be worth checking our Lastminute.com's holiday section for
deals to Barcelona.
Hotels in Barcelona
Flights to Barcelona
Barcelona packages
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