Holidays to Barcelona
Whether it’s Gaudí’s whimsical architecture, beautiful beaches, buzzing restaurants serving up tasty tapas or the vibrant La Rambla, Barcelona holidays are muy bueno!
City slicker-meets-beach bum
A city break and a beach break rolled into one, Barcelona delivers the full holiday package. In this world-class city, you can flip-flop between culture, history, shopping and working up a lazy sweat on a sun-kissed beach.
For city vibes, tick off the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art, the Barcelona History Museum and the Nou Camp, and then lose track of time in and around Placa de Catalunya - the heart of the city. For beach vibes, dependable Barceloneta beach is a firm crowd-pleaser, or for a change of scene, head to Sitges.
Trippy architecture
Barcelona is defined by its weird and wonderful architecture. Highlights include the Catalan Gothic masterpiece Casa Amatller, the colourful and quirky Park Güell, the art nouveau Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau and the contemporary aesthetic of Torre Glòries.
Perhaps the most iconic of all is Antoni Gaudí’s La Sagrada Familia, a towering Catholic basilica that is still a work in progress, despite construction kicking off all the way back in 1882. If this is your shtick, then a tour is highly recommended.
Tiny, tempting, tasty tapas
When in Spain, you’ve got to tuck into some tapas - and Barcelona is as good a destination as it gets for small plates. Here you’ll find countless tapas bars and restaurants serving up plate after plate of culinary goodness.
From moreish patatas bravas in Poble Sec to bite-sized albondigas (meatballs) in El Born, with saucers of croquetas, chorizo and calamari in between, every neighbourhood in the city serves up tasty tapas joints.
Bodacious bodegas
Rustic interiors, local patrons and a considered selection of quality wine and snacks, Barcelona’s bodegas showcase a more authentic and charming side to the Catalan capital.
There are loads to choose from. Take your pick (or visit them all on an easy-going bodega crawl) from the no-frills Bodega Montse, the Bodega Fermin (great for beer) and the ever-popular Bodega Quimet. If you feel overwhelmed, ask for a classic vermouth or a recommendation. You’re likely not to be disappointed.
Sneak Peek
Best for... Beach bums and culture hounds who love a late-night vermouth🍸
Go... See a classical concert at the Palau de la Música 🎵
You have to... Drink sangria in the sunshine at a La Rambla cafe-bar 😎
Barcelona holiday deals
SB Hotel Diagonal Zero Barcelona
4.2
Very Good
- 15 July 2025
- 4 nights
- Room only
- From Manchester
Prices from
Catalonia Sagrada Familia
4.3
Very Good
- 7 August 2025
- 5 nights
- Room only
- From Manchester
Prices from
Catalonia Barcelona Plaza
- 7 August 2025
- 5 nights
- Room only
- From Manchester
Prices from
Details
Currency
Euro
Language
Spanish
Time difference
GMT +1
Cost of a beer
€4
3-course meal
€25 - €30
Flight time
2-3 hrs
Bueno, bueno, bueno beaches
Head for Barceloneta beach and you’ll find a kilometre of custard-coloured sand dotted with seafood restaurants and chiringuitos doling out plates of calamari and jugs of sangria. Heaven.
For families, Bogatell Beach is a top choice. Your kids can tire themselves out on the sand and in the water while you kick back on a sun lounger with a cold drink and a good book. Elsewhere, Mar Bella beach, which was actually built for the 1992 Olympic Games, is now a firm favourite with locals and the LGBTQIA+ crowd.
Bottomless culture and history
Home to plenty of UNESCO-stamped Gaudi gems and a generous smattering of art galleries and museums that capture the city’s deep and storied past, Barcelona is a cultural playground with something for everyone.
Roll up to the Jamboree and listen to live jazz, experience the sheer pleasure of being surrounded by one of the best collections of Picasso masterpieces at the Museu Picasso, and jump from one charming bookshop to the next (there are 300 or so in the city).
Eat, drink and be merry
From bikinis (Spanish ham and cheese toasties) to bombas (fried balls of mashed potato), Barcelona’s food is as much fun to eat as it is to order.
On Barceloneta beach, you’ll find pans of paella the size of bin lids, while La Boqueria market dishes up manchego and morcilla. Or, bounce between hole-in-the-wall tapas bars in the Gothic Quarter, Born and Eixample.
When to go to Barcelona
With more than 300 days of sunshine a year, a balmy Barcelona holiday is achievable all year round.
But if you like your city breaks hot and steamy, then you’ll want to book a summer holiday.
In the mood to party? Head to Barcelona in June and July for large festivals like Sónar, Pride Barcelona and Primavera Sound.
For a cheap Barcelona holiday, visit between October and January, when temperatures drop like a Euro-pop beat and the city sees more rain than raving.