Villas in Barcelona
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Rent a great villa in Barcelona for a wonderful holiday.
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Travel guide
Overview
Known for its vibrant culture, Barcelona city is one of the most visited locations in the world and the ultimate sun-drenched city break. As the capital of Catalonia, it offers plenty to explore for all ages and holidaymakers. Tourists flock to this cosmopolitan metropolis for the exquisite architecture, world-class gastronomy, vibrant nightlife and Mediterranean backdrop where palm-lined, urban beaches offer a refreshing break from the city's heat. Barcelona is the biggest city in the Mediterranean and the only city in the world awarded a Royal Gold Medal for architecture by Royal Institute of British Architects.
Key holiday info
- A direct flight to Barcelona airport from the UK is approx. 2 hours.
- Barcelona enjoys a warm Mediterranean climate, with the average temperature in summer reaching 28°C.
- Barcelona is Spain's second largest city, and the capital of Catalonia, with approx. 1.6 million residents.
- Barcelona has 9 UNESCO World Heritage sites. Seven of them were created by Gaudi.
- Barcelona is rated as the best beach city in the world, according to National Geographic.
Getting there
Flights to Barcelona from the UK are about two hours long. City taxis are black and yellow with green light on the roof indicating vacancy. There are always a bunch of them waiting at the airport and the minimum charge for a transfer to the city is 20 Euros. There are also buses available with options of fixed or door-to-door drop-off services, and ticket prices vary between 15 and 30 Euros, depending on the destination.
Beaches
Barcelona basks in the warm sun, and on top of that, it’s rated the best beach city in the world by National Geographic. Its coast is flanked by a five-kilometre stretch of golden sand diving under the Balearic Sea, cut up into 10 gorgeous beaches connected by a promenade. A central location of the Barceloneta beach, resonating with a very unique and colourful cosmopolitan vibe, makes it quite popular with tourists. Still, the atmosphere on the rest of the beaches is not much different. The promenade is dotted with fast food joints, bars and restaurants with great snacks, drinks and seafood.
Golf
Apart from being an excellent choice for a beach holiday, Barcelona also offers outstanding golf courses. Real Club de Golf El Prat lies between Terrassa and Sabadell and boasts a very well manicured 18 holes course which is among the 100 best golf courses in Europe. Can Cuyas Pitch & Putt Golf Course is a lovely par 3, 9 hole course in the hills above Barcelona. The course has great facilities, well kept greens and a tiptop driving range. One of the oldest golf courses in Spain is Sun Cugat Golf Course. It is par 69 with 18 holes on shipshape fairways and excellent greens. All clubs have restaurants inside with a large choice of dishes.
Location attractions
Barcelona's streets have something to catch your eye in every direction; from the historical relics to the colourful market stalls, street performers, art museums and vibrant street murals. The energy of this colourful city reverberates throughout, bringing together crowds of people from all corners of the globe. Stroll down the atmospheric old quarter, visit Picasso's favourite spots, mingle with the crowds at La Rambla boulevard; or simply unwind and people watch on Barceloneta beach! The seven buildings of Antoni Guadi are examples of the city's exquisite architecture and involvement in surrealist art. The works of Spain's most famous architect are Park Guell, the Casa Milà-La Pedrera, the Casa Vicens, the Nativity Façade, the Crypt of the Sagrada Família, the Casa Batlló, and the Crypt of the Colònia Güel. Gràcia Barrio is a neighbourhood with a whole lot of flair. Popular with the bohemian crowd, its streets are filled with food and colour during the annual week-long festival in August. The architecture itself here is enough of a reason to visit! The urban beaches of Barceloneta, Sant Sebastia, Ocata, Bogatell and Mar Bella were created for the 1992 Olympic Games in order to attract more tourists. Their golden sands are the perfect place to people-watch, offering a refreshing break from the busy crowds of the city's centre. The Picasso Museum is home to some of Picasso's most iconic paintings. Picasso spent much of his youth and his most creative years in Barcelona, and this captivating Medieval-style museum showcases his early works, including art from his famous 'Blue Period.' Port Olimpic is the world famous 1992 Olympics marina, located to the east of the port of Barcelona. It is also the gateway to Barcelona's urban beaches, where you'll find everything from water sports to some of the finest seafood restaurants in town. Here is also where you can find world-famous waterfront bars such as Opium and Shôko.
Kids activities
Barcelona is teeming with activities for kids, whichever way you go. Here are a few suggestions to spend the day. Tibidabo Amusement Park offers fun and thrilling rides for the entire family, and the view from Plaça Tibidabo is amazing from where you can see the entire city of Barcelona. Catalunya en Miniatura is a theme park with miniature Catalonian landmarks scattered around. It’s a great way for kids to learn about Catalonia whilst having fun; plus, there is a nice restaurant with excellent food and decent prices. If kids are showing affinity toward underwater world and they are interested in watching all kinds of fish, take them to Aquarium Barcelona. Braver parents may even go scuba diving with sharks.
Getting around
Barcelona’s public transport network covers every inch of the city. The integrated fare system allows passengers to use the travel card on the metro, buses, trams, FGC trains and Renfe trains which is very useful for getting around the airport. Single ticket is 2.50 Euros, but you can get a day pass for 15 Euros. Taxis are metered and a good way to get around, especially if you’re not familiar with Barcelona. Car rental is also an option, but the traffic can get quite hectic and with over 180 kilometres of bicycle lanes, why not choose a greener, healthier and cheaper option by renting a bike.
Food and drink
Culinary scene in Barcelona offers something for every palate and pocket. Of course there are fast food joints and snack bars on every beach and each corner of the city, however Barcelona also boasts over 20 Michelin-starred restaurants and the best one, holding 3 such stars, is Lasarte. But Michelin star or not, there is a good deal of restaurants in Barcelona for every taste and wallet. Bar El Tropezon, for example, offers sizable and delicious portions for low prices. The ambience is mediocre at best but you don’t come here to admire the walls, you come for the food.
Nightlife
Barcelona resonates with music - streets, bars, venues and flamenco clubs, there’s music everywhere. When visiting Barcelona for the first time, it’s best to stick to the classics and go bar hopping. There is a great selection of bars between Plaça de Catalunya and Mirador de Colom. That is unless you’d rather stay at one place, then visit Razzmatazz. It’s a disco club several blocks south of Plaça Catalunya with several rooms playing different music. For excellent shows and passionate flamenco performances, why not try one of the theatres - Tablao Flamenco Cordobes is a little pricier, but burns with passion; Palau del Flamenc doesn’t offer many dinner or drink options, but puts on a great show.
Shopping
Whatever you might be looking to buy - from haberdashery to cars and motorcycles, Barcelona is a shopping paradise. If you need fresh produce, Mercado de La Boqueria is the place to go; if you need shoes, then visit Cruyff; if you’re looking for clothing, go to Intimissimi... Most of the shops, therefore, are located in the city’s central districts - Ciutat Vella and Eixample. For a broader choice in a single place, try exploring one of the numerous shopping malls in the city. Malls offer spots to eat, shop and relax, and we would definitely recommend visiting La Maquinista, Maremagnum and Diagonal Mar.
Did you know...
- Barcelona is the only city in the world awarded a Royal Gold Medal for architecture by Royal Institute of British Architects
- Barcelona is the biggest city in the Mediterranean with an area of 101.4 km2.
- More than 10% of Barcelona is made up of urban parks. Parc de Collserola is the largest in the world, 22 times larger than NYC's Central Park!
- Barcelona has over 20 Michelin-starred restaurants.
- Barcelona is extremely bike-friendly, with over 180km of bicycle lanes.
Discover Barcelona
Take a look at our blog posts about where to go in Barcelona and what to do on your holiday in Barcelona.
