Aside from the vast array of beautiful buildings and unique museums, Barcelona is a city that offers something to satisfy everyone’s desires. Spend hours relaxing in the sun and enjoying a delicious lunch while enjoying local cava from the surrounding vineyards. Go boutique shopping in the city center, take a stroll down the Boulevard of the Ramblas, hang out with locals in the Park Ciutadella, work on your tan at the beach or go sailing on the clear blue waters of the Mediterranean – Barcelona offers something for everyone!
In the evenings, you can enjoy a light dinner, then make the most of the wide variety of unique bars, watch a flamenco show, take a salsa workshop or, if you have enough energy, spend your night enjoying one of the many nightclubs that are open until 7 in the morning!
Barcelona is known for its perfect summers, but even in winter it can often be very comfortable and there are many days where you can still enjoy a sunny lunch on a terrace or sit on the beach wearing a comfortable sweater. If you’re looking for some time in the snow, it’s also ideally located close to the Pyrenees Mountains, and in less than a 2 hours’ drive you can be at the famous ski resorts of Andorra.
Barcelona is also a city with a rich and turbulent history, much of which can still be strongly felt in the city. During the Middle Ages Catalonia was a very important region due to its ideal location on the Mediterranean and claimed a large territory, with people as far as Athens speaking the Catalan language.
During the nineteenth century, Catalonia was one of the few areas where industrialization flourished and the region became an important manufacturing center. Specifically, the textile industry blossomed and became an integral part of the economy, and even today Barcelona is renowned as a major fashion center. This success created a middle class and a bourgeoisie that was lacking elsewhere in Spain. Therefore, over time, through their success and power in the Mediterranean, they developed great pride in their origins, history and language.
Barcelona has also twice hosted the World’s Fair, in 1888 and 1929, the effects of which can still be vividly seen throughout the city in the architecture, art, public transportation and much more.
The city underwent a difficult period of repression during the 80 years the Dictator General Franco was in power, and is still overcoming the fear and suffering that was inflicted on them during this time. Then in 1986 new hope and pride was inserted into the city with the announcement that the 1992 Summer Olympics would be hosted in Barcelona. This initiated a massive transformation of the city, which included upgrading the metro network, expanding the airport, building new roads around the old ones and completely restoring numerous historical buildings.
Additionally, UNESCO holds Barcelona in high esteem and includes a considerable number of buildings and places on the World Heritage List. A majority of Antoni Gaudi’s works can be found on the list, including the world famous Sagrada Familia, Casa Milà, Casa Batlló (La Pedrera), Casa Vicens, Palau Güell and Park Güell. Another famous local architect who is honored on the list is Lluís Domènech i Montaner for his inspiring Palau de la Música Catalana and Hospital de Sant Pau.
A great way to experience the architectural and cultural highlights of Barcelona and to most easily understand the history and present situation in the city is to begin your time here with a guided bicycle tour, which we are happy to arrange for you and help you to customize to suite your interests. In 3 to 4 hours’ time you’ll be able to see the most famous buildings, intimate hidden squares and be able to gain insider knowledge into this city and how best to experience it.
There are few cities in the world which offer the same variety of architecture, culture, art, gastronomy, nightlife and beach activities as in Barcelona. So whether it’s for a stag or hen party, a team outing, an international conference or meeting, a product launch or just a fun-filled holiday weekend, Barcelona has everything you need available at your fingertips to make your time here as enjoyable and successful as possible.
We’re looking forward to making your time in Barcelona as fulfilling as possible!
Look at our activities page to get some ideas for your trip!
The city of Barcelona
There are few metropolitan cities which offer such a perfect combination of architecture, culture, art, gastronomy, beach and incredible nightlife.
Whether you’re coming for a stag or hen party, a team outing, an international conference or meeting, a product launch or just a fun-filled holiday weekend, Barcelona has all the ingredients readily available to make your time here as enjoyable and successful as possible.
Whether you’re coming for a stag or hen party, a team outing, an international conference or meeting, a product launch or just a fun-filled holiday weekend, Barcelona has all the ingredients readily available to make your time here as enjoyable and successful as possible.
