National Palace © Paul Micallef

Why? Travel to Barcelona and you will land in sunny Spain's major holiday city, cosmopolitan and lively, with awesome architecture, superb shopping, great climate, beautiful beaches and plenty of Spanish pizzazz. The city is also the gateway to the Costa Brava with its popular resorts of Sitges and Vilanova. A holiday in Barcelona also offers the opportunity to view the bizarre creations of architect Antonio Gaudi, and a stunning collection of the works of Picasso.
When? It is always the right time to holiday in Barcelona, with its hot summers and mild winters. The best months to travel to Barcelona are between June and September, but those who find the heat and crowds taxing should avoid mid-summer (August).
Who for? A holiday in Barcelona is for everyone and anyone seeking fun in the sun, good food, good shopping and interesting sightseeing.
More Info: Before planning a holiday in Barcelona it is advisable to study our comprehensive Barcelona travel guide containing up-to-date information about the city with details of all attractions, events and top restaurants and all the basics like how much to tip and what electrical connection you need for your hairdryer.

Overview

The enchanting city of Barcelona is a visual delight, and has an atmosphere that combines elegance and sophistication with provincial charm. In exploring its streets you'll discover medieval romance in its Gothic quarter and the awe-inspiring delights of the fantastic and sometimes outrageous Art Nouveau architecture of Gaudi and his contemporaries.

The funicular up to Tibidabo, or the cable car up Montjuic both offer breathtaking views over this city. Its skyline is perhaps most famous for Antoni Gaudi's masterwork, the still incomplete church of the Sagrada Familia, as well as the city's huge Gothic cathedral. The artistic legacy of Barcelona is one of the city's most appealing offerings, with museums containing extensive collections of the works of Miro and Picasso.

Barcelona is also a shopping Mecca, with the city's flair for style reflected in its numerous boutiques and markets, open late into the afternoons. As the sun sets, and the city's many bars and restaurants open, the night comes alive. Dinner is served at any time between nine o'clock and midnight, and the festivities around the bars and nightclubs carry on well into the early hours of the morning.

Barcelona is the commercial centre of the popular holiday region known as the Costa Brava, the northernmost Mediterranean seafront in Spain, as well as the Costa Dorada to the south. The coast is dotted with popular resort towns, many retaining their age-old charm, which can be easily reached from the city.