City breaks soared in popularity with the inception of budget airlines, these airlines gave the ability for everyone to jump on to a plane and have a mini break at a very affordable price. A whole host of websites complimented this concept with reduced rates for hotels and car hire.
Spain has always been a popular place to go, especially within Europe, and the south coast benefits from considerably warmer climates than the rest of Europe. With a great lifestyle and unique culture it is undoubtedly one of the most desirable hot spots around.
Out of all the destinations in Southern Spain, Barcelona is arguably the complete package with the most comprehensive range of offerings for weekend breaks. There’s certainly loads of potential for a boy’s weekend away, with their revered football team showcasing some of the best players in the world, according to FIFA’s Team of the Year… and everyone else. Although Barcelona FC is maybe the most marketable aspect of the city, it is not necessarily everyone’s cup of tea but that is part of what makes this destination such a great one; the capital of Catalonia has much more to offer than just football.
If you’re a culture vulture, you’ll know how apparent Gaudi’s work is across the city as some of the most iconic landmarks are courtesy of this famous architect. The Sagrada Familia is the most instantly recognisable building of Barcelona, in the same way that Big Ben is in London. Gaudi’s took great inspiration from nature and, arguably, it can be seen at its very best with this impressive, yet incomplete church. Park Güell and Casa Batlló are probably the next most notable pieces of work by the famous Catalan architect with his trademark bright mosaic pieces on display here.
If art is really your thing then you won’t mind the trip to Figueres, where the incredible Dali Museum is. It houses the artist’s personal collection, of his own paintings, as well as numerous other pieces which have since been acquired. Figueres was the home town of Salvador Dali and as a result is the perfect location for the museum with the locals taking real pride from his accomplishments.
As an overview, the culture of Barcelona is intoxicating from the way they approach life to their cuisine. Although tapas and paella are Spain’s most renowned exports, regarding their food; it is far more diverse than that. Being a seaside city Barcelona boasts fantastic seafood as well as cured meats. Their approach meals is fantastic, a hugely social event which only the Italian could hope to match.
If all that sounds too much like hard work, then the beach is a calling for many travellers. Great weather with perfect sand and sea comprise the perfect ingredients for a top beach destination. The beach is surrounded by numerous cafes, bars and restaurants so you’ll have everything you want at your finger tips. The local beer, Estrella, is often the most favoured beach prop.
When it comes to nights out, the Catalonians are not to be beaten and Barcelona claims top spot with the best range of nigh time venues. Nights out tend to start late and continue long into the morning; the key streets of La Rambla and Passeig Maritim hold many of the favourite stomping grounds. La Rambla is a tree-lined pedestrian avenue and could be considered the main street as it has pretty much everything on it from shops and restaurants to bars and clubs; so you could easily find an evening’s worth of entertainment here. Passeig Maritim is a seafront promenade which is home to some epic beach bars and clubs, with sea views they offer the perfect setting for a very different night out; this is merely emphasised by the Ice Bar which is situated here.
