Top 10 Beaches in Catalonia Spain

visit the costa brava in catalonia

Sink your toes and plant your umbrellas without having to travel far.

5 easily reached Beaches & 5 hidden gems near Barcelona

1 Playa de Sant Sebastià

You find this particular beach in the old town and the marina of Sitges, located in a neighborhood of seafaring tradition. It is a family beach frequented by residents of the town, with a length of over 200 meters. Relaxing on the soft sand, you can enjoy magnificent views of the old town, located on a small hill overlooking the Mediterranean. The beach has all services and is adapted for the disabled.

2 Morer Beach

Located in the northern part of the municipality of Sant Pol de Mar, this beach runs parallel to the railway line and the N-II road. It has a length of 750 meters of coarse-grained sand and golden color, and narrows as it moves eastward. Located above the highway, are the Roman ruins of Morer, a production of wine from the 1st century. The beach has a shower service, footbaths, a Red Cross point, source of drinking water and boardwalks for disabled.

3 Cala de l’Home Mort

It is a nudist beach located in a secluded corner south of the term of Sitges, formed by the Platja de l’Home Mort and Platja de Roses. The two are separated by a small rocky ravine, cutting through a bay welcoming the frequent the winds in the area. The length of both beaches is close to 300 meters, but no more than ten meters wide. The waters are shallow and the seabed is composed of small rocks and sand. There is a snack bar with terrace and rental of hammocks and parasols.

4 Platja de Sant Simo

It is located in the north of Mataro, between the Sant Simó and the municipality of Sant Andreu de Llavaneres. It has a length of 1,100 meters of white sand; it is quite narrow and loses width as seen approaching Sant Andreu de Llavaneres. The beach is divided into an area for family use which is closer to Mataro, where you find -parking toilets, showers and footbaths, hammock rental and beach huts.This sector is more interesting for those who practice diving.

5 Les Casetes del Garraf

Located in the village of Garraf, this beach has a length of 380 meters, fine sand mixed with stones and very little inclination entrance to the sea. Between the beach and the railway is the area which gives its name to the beach, a kind of marine district built almost on the sand of the beach. The log cabins, now remodeled, are old barracks that fishermen used to store their utensils. Service has showers, toilets and rescue equipment, hire of sunbeds, parasols and “pedalos”. There is also a hotel and a couple of restaurants to enjoy.

5 Beaches explored by car & off the beaten track 

1 Portitxol Beach

Located between l’Escala and Sant Martí d’Empúries, Portitxol beach is a nice sandy area surrounded by a pine forest that reaches almost to the sea. The beach with calm waters and fine golden sand is protected on either side by rocky formations: on the south tip of the coves, lined by pine trees and large rocks of curious shapes that plunge into the sea; and north, ravines known as Muscleres Petites, which separate it from the neighboring beach of Les Muscleres or Convent. These formations protect Portitxol beach and generate a zone of calm, shallow waters, ideal for a calm dip.

2 Platja Illa Roja

Located in an idyllic setting of rocks and pine cove Illa Roja it is characterized by its clear waters and because it is headed by a prominent rocky islet of reddish color that gives the name. It is a quiet, uncrowded, with coarse sand and golden color with a penchant entrance to the sea quite steep. It is a nudist beach – popular among locals and tourists both. This is, truly,  a little rugged oasis.

3 Platja del Castell

Castell Beach jumped to the front page of the newspaper during the first half of the 90 when the protests of the residents of Palamós first, and a popular referendum later made it possible to keep it free of developments. Since then it has become one of the last stretches of sand that remains virgin in the Costa Brava. Shaped crescent surrounded by woods and fields, and with the mouth of a right laugh in the middle, this beach remains as we saw our grandparents, with the addition of a couple of bars that are installed in summer and nudists seeking refuge behind the rocks that rise on the right side.

4 Cala Fonda

Popularly known as Waikiki Beach, this is one of the best preserved beaches of Tarragona coast. We talk about a sandpit located a few kilometers from the city of Tarragona-indeed is within the municipality Tarraconense, it is completely unspoilt with the primal aspect of how the Mediterranean was only a century ago. Cala Fonda is located in the forest of the Marchioness, one of the vegetation zones more ecological valued of this part of the coast. To access,  it is necessary to walk from the Long Beach Tarragona on a road signposted towards east, surrounded by pine forests, cliffs and natural vegetation.

5 Playa del Fangar

Fangar beach is extensive and oriented NW to SE. As the Fangar Peninsula lengthens and narrows curving, up close a lot of salt water to form an inland sea known as the Puerto del Fangar. The beach, semi-deserted and untouched appearance, is one of the most unique places in the Delta del Ebro. The sand is very fine in texture and in contact with water forms a very compact mass that could explain the name of the place. The scenic walk is about 3’5 or 4 km where you can reach the viewpoint, the lighthouse or the northern end of the peninsula.

A unique way to experience the beaches in Catalonia is to hire a yacht in Barcelona and cruise along the coast! This way, you can set anchor at whichever beach looks the most attractive. We are happy to find the boat that is most suitable for your needs.

 

Eat healthy in Barcelona

market fresh produce in barcelona

Eating healthy is about finding the proper ratio between your body and mind. It´s a mood about feeling great, having more energy, improving your insights towards to a better world and society. Once you´re overwhelmed by all that the nature gives to you, so you will be more inspired to live, and travel. But travelling is a hard task to keep the balance of your body while you are abroad, eating differently in an absolutely various environment. Might be difficult, but nothing is impossible! Have a deep breath and make a list of tips how to keep healthy eating habits while visiting to Barcelona.

How the Spanish eat

First of all, let´s see how the local Spanish eat. The main thing you should consider is that you have to adjust your regularities to the time clock of the locals. Spanish people used to eat in the late evening. To generate an overview of the daily meals in Spain, breakfast is not very important, usually a cup of coffee with some milk (café con leche) or fruit juice, some light pastry or an omelette with potato (Tortilla – Spanish omelette). As the opposite to breakfast, lunch is really heavy in Barcelona. If you are eating in a local restaurant, you will have at least 3 courses, finishing with coffee, or tea in the end. When it comes to dinner, it actually starts quite lately in the evening and lasts a few hours. The thing you will like most in Barcelona, here people are friendly, and like to eat together, share the food, drink up to 2-3 am in the morning.

A healthy Barcelona

That was all about the way how people usually eat in Barcelona. Could seem a bit strange, but the modern Barcelona offers a better quality of eating to you. New businesses are recently growing in Barcelona for bio-lovers, eco-friendly community, vegetarians, vegans, etc.

The best thing about Barcelona is that you can get your own fresh fruit and vegetables from local markets. The price is pretty cheap if you compare it to the prices of bio and organic food in other European countries. The main local market is called ¨La Boqueria¨, located on Las Ramblas street, just in the city centre. Here it´s offered everything which is organic and fresh. Once visiting in Barcelona, you cannot leave this city without trying a food tour.

Fall in love with Spanish food

Even though Spanish food is usually heavy and greasy, still there are many options you can try in low-fat and light. You can sample the typical dishes in small portions, which is normally acceptable in Spain. Take just little bites in the cultural tapas evening. If you are a real veggie person, order parillada de verduras, which is a plate of grilled vegetables with a variety of ingredients depending on your taste. Moreover, it makes sense that the Spanish eat more fish and seafood per person than any other European nation since Spain has hundreds of miles of coastline on the Cantabric, the Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea.  Spanish cuisine has dozens of seafood main dishes that are delicious. Discover a sea world, order fish dishes – paella, suquet, atun en rollito, percebes, marmitako, empanadas; each is an absolutely splendid taste never to forget. Feel lighter and kill your hunger pain. Get a quote for a real Barcelona eating experience!

If you really feel like discovering and learning about the food culture of Barcelona, you can search for the hidden gems of Barcelona where you will find the local cheese and olive oil, the most traditional ones. Moreover, you can take some classes on how to make your own tapas (appetizers or snacks) and sangria (an alcoholic drink – wine with fruit juice and some chuckled pieces of fruit), so that you will be intimating with the culture itself. For further information, please contact us!

While taking a stroll around the city, treat yourself, get some fruit juice. You can find a fantastic selection of juices and smoothies to refresh the body and stabilize your energy. The main juice stores in Barcelona are Fruit Express, Flax&Kale, Mother, Green Shots. Visiting artisan and organic bakeries (like Cloud Street, La Pastisseria Barcelona, Barcelona Reykjavik) is also not a bad idea, where you will enjoy a healthy pastry with gluten-free, organic products.

If you already miss home cooking, and have a kitchen equipped with the necessary stuff, you can pick up organic veggies and fruit from the organic grocery shops throughout the city and get your meal ready at your place. It´s a great way to save money with your delicious home-made meal.  Find the most recommended organic shops and markets around the city: Boqueria, Veritas, Obbio and many others.

A trip to Barcelona will not be an excuse not to follow your wholesome diet. Barcelona would seem like a food heaven for vegetarian and vegan people. Choose your lovely spot in the restaurant on your way, eat mindfully on a budget. Vegan burgers and burritos will make your tasty and nutritionally balanced Barcelona experience.  Should definitely try Flax&Kale, Vegetalia, Rasoterra, Gandhi.

Nowadays, eating healthy is not about avoiding of the locals´ way of eating, but more about getting back to old traditions.  As you’re planning your trip to Barcelona, you can still maintain your healthy, balanced diet at a rich. Still more and more to list, better to visit and explore by yourself. Enjoy the traditional cuisine — and your health — anywhere you go!

For help and advice with food and restaurant bookings, contact us on info@barcelonatours.net.

Casa Viçens a Hidden Gaudí Gem

Casa Vicens

In this post, we explore more about Casa Viçens, a “hidden” Gaudí gem. Perhaps it is a bit odd to refer to a building by Barcelona’s favourite architect, Antoni Gaudí, as a hidden gem, however, this house – his very first commission – is easy to overlook due, in part, to its location.

Casa Viçens is located on C/de les Carolines, 20, in the bohemian Grácia neighbourhood. Until recently it was under private ownership, closed to the public, and as it now is open to visitors, we find this an opportune time to remind people of its existence!

The house was completed in 1885 on a commission for Barcelona businessman, Manuel Viçens. Casa Viçens was constructed as a summer house for the family on the outskirts of the, then-independent town of Grácia, which just five years earlier had received town status and housed just 13.000 inhabitants.

For architecture buffs, the first thing you will notice about the building is the Moorish influence, which was all the rage in the 1880s. Early on in his career, even the eccentric Antoni Gaudí was influenced by the trends of the day! One element typical of Gaudí is, however, evident: the mixing of materials. The architect was, throughout his whole career, fascinated by the potential of different materials and the putting together of disparate types to create a new whole.

The house stands today as it did in 1885, with the exception of an expansion to the rear of the building, overseen by architect Juan Sierra de Martinez in 1925. This, and other changes done on the property, were in fact approved by the original architect, who was by then working “full time” on the Sagrada Familia, his great achievement.

Architectural Style and Significance

We have already mentioned the Moorish influence, and this so-called “Neo-Mudéjar style” is particular to Spanish architecture of the era. Furthermore, a typical aspect of this would be the intricate tile and brickwork, something that would also be a staple of traditional Catalan architecture. Gaudí would eventually move in a much more “organic” direction, taking his clues more from nature than from culture(s), but the Casa Viçens stands as a brilliant testimony both to his unique talent and vision, as well as to how he fits into an artistic architectural practice of the time.

We highly recommend visiting the bustling, colourful Grácia district, and besides shopping, chilling-out at the town squares and paying the numerous restaurants, bars and cafés a visit, drop by the Casa Viçens.

You can get tickets here.

Or if you are interested in one of our private guided tours through Barcelona, make sure that we include this gem in your itinerary!

Hidden Gem: Hospital Sant Pau

visit the hospital sant pau in barcelona

As true Barcelona enthusiasts, at BarcelonaTours we feel the need to promote more than the most widely known attractions in the city. This is our goal for our “Hidden Gem” stories, we are doing small presentations of things in Barcelona that we find fantastic, but that might not be on everyone’s to-do list. The topic of the first gem in our series is the architectural marvel, Hospital Sant Pau.

If all hospitals looked like this, people would be checking themselves in, constantly!  The hospital was constructed between 1901 and 1930, and concocted in the mind of the famous modernist architect, Louis Doménech i Montaner. The architect might stand in the shadow of his more illustrious compatriot, Antoni Gaudí, like the hospital is in the shadow of Gaudi’s greatest work, the Sagrada Famila, but he is one of the most prominent modernisme (or Art Nouveau) architects.

Besides its opulent façade and ornamentation, the architecture has been hailed for its successful adaption to patient needs. It is probably fair to say that he Catalan version of Art Nouveau is the more “phantasmagorical” of the various strands, taking inspiration form nature and striving for natural, more than strictly functional forms. However, as an architect, Montaner kept closer to “the rule book” than his colleague Gaudí did.

About the Architect: Louis Doménech i Montaner

Born in Barcelona (1850) he became a significant figure in the city development, as an architect and as a professor at Barcelona’s school of architecture, for 45 years. His name is probably more associated with another Barcelona building, the Palau de la Música Catalana, a beautiful concert hall situated in the Sant Pere neighbourhood ( a 10 min. walk from Plaza Catalunya), and  well situated on the list of the most iconic buildings in Barcelona.

As an architect, he favoured more open structure and spaces, a contrast to Gaudí’s more intricate, undulating forms. Both the Hospital Sant Pau and the Palau de la Música bear witness to this.

World Heritage Site

The hospital complex, a UNESCO world heritage site, has been a museum and cultural center since 2014, meaning that architect buffs can get up close and personal with the buildings. The hospital is one of the finest examples of Catalan modernism, and well worth a short detour off the most well trodden tourist trails in Barcelona.

How to get there

From Sagrada Familia – Walk up (west) the pedestrian Avinguda Gaudí street for ten minutes and you arrive at the gate of the hospital.

From Plaza Catalunya – Walk to the Metro stop on Passeig de Grácia and take the L4 (yellow) line to Guinardó-Hospital Sant Pau, which will bring you to the backside of the hospital. Or, take the D 50 bus to Indústria-Independéncia, then walk for 4 minutes up C/Badajóz to the hospital. Both options will take about 25 min.

At BarcelonaTours we customise your Barcelona experience, whether you want to focus on architecture, food or other themes. Check out what a private tour of Barcelona can entail!

Flamenco in Barcelona

dance flamenco in barcelona

It is a common misconception that Barcelona is part of the very Spanish tradition of flamenco. This is not the case. Flamenco originates from the southern region Andalucía’s contact with Arab (North-African) culture. The Catalonian folk music, on the other hand, with its root further north in Europe, could hardly be more different! This doesn’t mean that you can’t experience great flamenco music and dance shows in Barcelona.

There’s a large Andalusian community in the region. Historically, Catalonia has attracted workers to its numerous factories from all over Spain, as it has been the engine of the industrial revolution in the country. This community brought with them some of their most valued culture heritage: flamenco.

Interestingly, though, the newest (and most) sparkling star on the flamenco heavens is Catalan, Rosalía. Not being of Andalusian, or gypsy, origin  and mixing the traditional with modern grooves and production, naturally there’s a debate regarding her authenticity. Be that as it may, we see her has a product of a truly creative and productive “mestizo” culture in Barcelona.

So, while visiting the city, why not get up close and personal with the flamenco? You might not be able to catch the much in-demand Rosalia in concert, but there are plenty of opportunities to experience lesser known yet brilliant artists.

Flamenco Shows in Barcelona

  • Palau Dalmases Barcelona – Beautiful setting in a 17th century mansion in the Gothic Quarter. Only 50 seats, so it is intimate and atmospheric.
  • 23 Robadors – Another Old Town venue, this time in the El Raval neighbourhood. Also hosts jazz, folk and other shows.
  • Tablao de Carmen – A more touristy option in the Poble Espanyol, where you can combine enjoying the historic Spanish architecture of this open-air museum with a flamenco show and dinner.
  • Palau del Flamenc. Located in the center of town, in the modern Eixample neighbourhood, this “palace of flamenco” is a place for larger scale shows.

Flamenco Classes in Barcelona

If you already are, or become while visiting the city,  a real flamenco enthusiast, you might feel the urge to join in the  “palmeras” – the hand-clapping and the stomping feet. The wiser move, then, is to join in on some flamenco classes in Barcelona. We offer private classes, from just 24 EUR per person. Learn the steps from a real pro and you will feel the confidence to join in on the exuberance of a flamenco dance.

Where to Dance Flamenco in Barcelona

So, you’ve got you moves down and your dancing shoes on – where next? There’s not a whole lot of clubs or dance-halls dedicated solely to Flamenco in Barcelona, so keep an eye out for listings (Time-out and the like) and flyers announcing nights dedicated to flamenco. One club to recommend, however, is the above mentioned 23 Robadors located in the El Raval neighbourhood of the Old City, at C/Robadors 23. Here you can dig your heels in the floor and clap your hands to the rhythms of “bulerias”, “Sevillanas” and the “fandango”.

Flamenco – A Playlist

  • Paco de Lucia – The late great flamenco guitarist was no stranger to experimenting and mixing the flamenco with various musical styles, like jazz, but his personal sound and rapid fire runs were always dominant!
  • Andres Segovia – First and foremost the preeminent star in the world of classical guitar in the 20th century, but as an Andalusian no stranger to the flamenco.
  • Diego El Cigala – The Madrileño of gypsy origin is arguably the most famous male singer of the flamenco of our times.
  • Ojos de Brujo –  A multi-cultural band to come out of Barcelona. Their mix of flamenco, rock, funk etc. made them an international favourite on the independent music festival scene.
  • Rosalia -From Sant Esteve Sesrovires, Catalonia. Born in 1993, Rosalia represents a new generation not afraid to take liberties with the old forms. Her two albums to date, the quiet duo album “Los Angeles” and the rowdy, electronic “El mal querer” shows her unique stylistic reach and pure talent.

What to do in July in Barcelona: Music & Movies under the Sun & Stars

July, simply put, is usually a scorcher in Barcelona. The spring showers have passed, the summer storms of August have yet to come, so it’s blue skies and hot sands as far as the eye can see. July also is one of the busiest months of the year when it comes to festivals, both international and local, so read on the discover the exciting things that await you in Barcelona in July…

 

Cruilla Festival: A mix of local and big name bands

Let’s kick off with this brilliant and budget-friendly festival that takes place at Parc del Forum.

With the most expensive tickets priced at 160€ for the full four days, Cruilla Festival, which is incidentally celebrating its 10-year anniversary in 2019, is also offering combo tickets which let you mix and match which days you want to attend. For example, you can purchase a two-day ticket which allows you to enter on just Wednesday and Saturday, or Wednesday and Friday and so on, as well as one-day and three-day tickets. This flexible approach ticketing means that you don’t need to buy a full ticket in order to catch the acts you’re interested in.

Known as having more commercial acts mixed with local bands, this eclectic festival has the likes of Kendrick Lamar and Lauryn Hill among its headline alumni. This year you can catch Black Eyed Peas (Wednesday 3rd July), Foals, Bastille (both on Thursday 4th July) and finally Years and Years and Kylie Minogue (Saturday 6th July). Held at Barcelona’s favourite festival spot, Parc del Forum, you will also find dance stages, comedy stages and speeches scattered around, meaning there’s always something to see.

 

Festival Jardins Pedralbes: Music in the Park

These beautiful gardens are not as famous as other parks in Barcelona, and they are far enough from the centre that you might not immediately want to add them to your list of must-dos if you’re only in town for a few days. However, each year for the past 7 years, the gardens have drawn big crowds for the big-name acts that perform at the Festival Jardins Pedralbes. The gardens themselves are large, lush and green, with flowers everywhere in July, which makes it the perfect summer setting for an evening of great music.

Although this festival began at the beginning of June, it carries on until mid-July with many great acts still ready and waiting to perform. June saw the likes of Carli Bruna and Mariah Carey take to the stage, but the line up definitely hasn’t trailed off towards the end! In July you can catch Joss Stone (Wednesday 3rd July), Kraftwerk (Saturday 6th July) and The Beach Boys (Friday 12th July).

This year, if you visit on Saturday 13th July, you will get two events for the price of one, as Soundeat! hosts their nighttime edition in the Pedralbes gardens. For those who can dance for hours, this is a great way to spend time in the stunning surroundings of Pedralbes while boogying the night away from 17.00h until 02.00h!

Hint! If you like the sound of Soundeat!, get your tickets sooner rather than later as the tickets increase in price the closer to the event you purchase them. This is not the case with the rest of the Festival Jardins Pedralbes.

For more tickets and information about the Pedralbes Festival, please visit their website.

Sonar Festival: Techno by day and by night

That’s right, another festival! Sonar takes place the third weekend in July with venues spread across the city. This is accompanied by OFFSonar, a bunch of awesome events which are thrown at the same time as the main event, so there’s no excuse to miss out on being a part of the action.

The cheapest tickets are for the daytime events, which are on sale for around 60€ for a full day of music fun. If you’re more of a night owl, the night tickets start from around 80€, and the full festival experience of three days and two nights will set you back 195€. If you really want to make this a special event, Sonar also has VIP Packages starting from 115€ for one night, all the way up to a pocket-burning 315€ for the full festival VIP experience. This includes access to exclusive VIP stages, bars and restaurants, as well as an exclusive VIP zone and even a free bus shuttle to the venue.

However you choose to enjoy the festival, you can see acts such as Disclosure, A$ap Rocky, Four Tet, Peggy Gou and Skepta.

Hint! Remember, in Barcelona night means night! Sonar by Night kicks off at 22.00h and goes until the early hours of the next morning, so be sure to have a siesta if you choose to attend the night festivities – unless you’re also at the day festival of course!

“Festa Majors” of Raval and Poble Sec: Sun and “cerveza” in the streets

Seasoned visitors of Barcelona will know that throughout the year, come rain or shine, each “barrio” or neighbourhood has their own designated street parties. If you’re here in July but not fussed about forking out a lot of money to visit a festival, then taking to the streets with the locals is for you. The Raval parties are in mid-July, with Poble Sec taking over the reins from the 19th to the 28th.

Stages and bars are purpose-built around the city streets. You can purchase a beer, wine or cocktail for just a few euros and park yourself in one of the streets to watch the local bands that come to play. If you get bored in the streets (unlikely, but it could happen) then you can head into one of the many bars in the neighbourhood.

What kind of music is it? Well, expect the unexpected! From cheesy cover bands to reggae beats to house music to an old man and his guitar, anything and anyone could be a headliner at these events. Attending one of these street parties is a great way to get really immersed in what summer nights in the city are all about, so get out and discover the real Barcelona.

Sala Montjuic: Movies under the stars

Finally, a seated activity! To round off our blog about dancing, drinking and get out and about comes the Sala Montjuic. Barcelona in July has the perfect weather for an outdoor cinema, and tickets are as little as 5€.

The location is little short of spectacular. Up on the hill by the sea sits the Montjuic Castle, and the cinema screen is set up in the old moat! You can bring along your own picnic and alcohol and sit on the floor, or for a comfier experience, you can rent folding chairs for just a couple of euros extra. There’s also always a musical act or other artistic production on before the movie, so you can head up the hill in the early evening to set up camp and enjoy the music and the atmosphere before the film kicks off.

The programme for this year includes everything from comedy classics such as Some Like it Hot to big hitters from this year like Bohemian Rhapsody and The Favourite. Check out their website for the full timetable.

Hint! All the movies are shown in their original language with Spanish subtitles, so be sure to check that you’re not attending a movie you won’t understand!

Book an activity with Barcelonatours to make your visit extra special! Visit our Boat Trips page to organise a nautical adventure and our Activities page to see what great options we have for fun in the sun in July.

What to do on New Year’s in Barcelona

celebrate new year in barcelona

Are you feeling the pressure? That nagging end of  the year feeling, the need to have the maximum amount of fun lined up for New Year’s Eve? If you are in Barcelona, you’re in luck, we’ll point you in the direction of the best restaurants, activities and parties on the night.

No Sour Grapes!

In Spain and Catalonia festivities come with their own customs. At the stroke of midnight you are “obligated” to consume 12 grapes, one for each strike. Washing it down with a glass of cava, the local sparkling wine, is recommended! With or without the wine, the 12 grapes, will supposedly bring 12 months of luck and prosperity.

On the other hand, If you are used to spectacular fireworks on New Year’s Eve you might be slightly disappointed, although there’s a good firework show on Plaza Espanya. Our theory is that the “Barcelonins” are all “blasted out” when they get to the end of the year as they are prone to setting off fireworks with any minimal excuse all year, with Midsummer’s Eve – Sant Joan as the, literal, highlight.

No worries though, our guide will help you make your own fireworks on the night!

New Year’s for Party Animals

  • New Year’s on the Beach: Opium Barcelona – There’s a long standing tradition in Barcelona of taking your party to the beach, and why shouldn’t you? With kilometers of clean, white sand beaches it would be madness not to take advantage! The Opium nightclub has been a hotspot in Barcelona for a long time, and the beachfront location by the Hotel Arts is unbeatable. If you want to dance away the last night of 2018, Opium is a classy setting with deep grooves. Tickets from 50€ here.
  • Hot Club Night: Razzmatazzz – This club, in the beach adjacent Poble Nou neighbourhood is one of the city’s premier concert halls and nightclubs. For New Year’s the club invites you to explore different concepts in the different spaces of the club, so you can get your own personal groove on! Tickets from 44,50 € here.
  • New Year’s Party with a View: Mirablau – As settings go, it’s hard to match the Mirablau restaurant & nightclub up on the Tibidabo hillside.  It is almost hanging in air over the city, and needless to say the panoramic views are perfect! Tickets from 44€ here.

New Year’s for Couples

  • Restaurant with a view: Torre d’Alta Mar – For many, getting a new perspective on a year, means getting up in higher altitudes. There’s also something undeniably romantic with sharing a meal while sharing a view. This restaurant, specialising in modern Catalan cuisine, delivers for the eyes as well as the gut, situated in one of the harbour towers for the cable car that runs between the harbour and the Montjuic hill. Book a table here.
  • A Romantic Evening: Restaurante Afrodita – Located in a backstreet in the romantic Gothic Quarter, this restaurant is a good choice for a more intimate setting on the big night, as the name suggests. Reserve a table here.
  • Dance the night away – Retro Style: Hotel Barcelona Center – “Back to the 80s & 90s – Disco Funk and Classic House” are on the menu at this stylish hotel, located, naturally, in the Barcelona center, the Eixample district. Tickets from 20€ here.

New Year’s for Families

  • A Fun Tapas Celebration: Restaurante Orio Gótic – Kids tend to love tapas, and going to a tapas restaurant in the Barcelona Old Town should be a fun night out for the whole family! At this restaurant they serve Basque inspired tapas in an informal and lively atmosphere. Reserve table here.
  • Fireworks at Plaza Espanya – As mentioned, midnight marks blast off for the official city firework show. This is a must-see when traveling with children. Keep in mind though, it gets crowded, so get their early, find a good spot, and make sure the whole family is well clothed and fed for the night!
  • Restaurant with Harbour Views:  Restaurante 1881  – Trying out some traditional Mediterranean dishes while enjoying the views over the Barcelona harbour is an activity the whole family can be on board with! This is a spacious, open restaurant and as such a good choice for bringing children. Reserve a table here.

So, there you have it, our insider’s tips on how to enjoy your New Year’s Eve in Barcelona.

Bon any nou 2019!

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