Whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy, please confirm event/venue details in advance.
COUNTRY CODE:
Dial +34 for Spain
FROM THE AIRPORT
Car Hire :
Take advantage of the special easyJet inflight rates. Visit the Europcar desk on arrival or call +34 93 298 3300 from 7am–midnight seven days a week.
Airport Transfer :
Pre-book your door-to-door transfer with easyJet’s transfer partner, Holiday Taxis—from home to the airport, then city or resort (easyjet.holidaytaxis.com).
Train :
Trains go to Barcelona's Sants station every 30 minutes. Tickets: €2.50.
Taxi :
A ride to the centre costs €20–€25.
Bus :
The Aerobus stops outside each terminal every 6-15 minutes and heads to Plaça Catalunya. Tickets: €3.90.
(15 Carrer Tuset. Tel. 93 414 7272) Dozens of pizza varieties ranging from the classic (tomato and cheese) to the more daring (strawberry with mascarpone) are served at this classic pizzeria in Sarrià.
(10 Carrer Mercaders. Tel. 93 310 2179) This Born-quarter eatery is given a romantic air by its 17th-century stone arches. The food is essentially Mediterranean, although international flavours appear in dishes like salmon ceviche.
(7 Carrer Lleida. Tel. 93 424 8152) Some of the best shellfish and seafood served anywhere in Europe graces the tables of this iconic restaurant near Plaça Espanya. The exquisite shellfish is flown in daily from Galicia.
(33 Carrer Carme. Tel. 93 481 3686) A bar, lounge and restaurant rolled into one, the funky-chic Rita Rouge serves drinks and food day and night. After dinner, it's the varied cocktail menu that gets attention.
(23 Carrer Robadors. Tel. 93 317 7179) A bohemian bar tucked away in the Raval, Robadors is hard to pin down. Live shows range from jazz jam sessions, to flamenco concerts, to lip-synching divas.
(3 Carrer Antic de Sant Joan. Tel. 93 310 7148) Classic rock, jazz and soul tunes set the mood at the inviting Ribborn bar, at the edge of the Born district. A chilled-out spot for drinks, it draws a mixed crowd.
On the ground
Shop
Can Gavatxo is a little taste of France in Barcelona. Find everything from wine and sauces to freshly made quiches and pastries (35 Carrer Sant Lluís, Gràcia).
Insider Tip
On 7 January, the twice-annual Rebajas (Sales) kick off, and prices are slashed in stores across the city.
Key Area
The cafés, tapas bars and unique boutiques of the Gracia district make it an ideal area to explore. For a dose of culture, stroll past Gaudí's Casa Viçens, one of the architect's first major works.
This month
If you're in town on 6 January, don't miss the Three Kings Day celebrations. There's an elaborate parade through the city, and kids receive gifts from the Magi.
Day Tripping
Pristine Priorat
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The Priorat wine region is just two hours south of Barcelona, but it seems worlds away. Etched into impossibly steep slopes, the vineyards are the birthplace of some of Spain's most potent red wines. Of the dozens of wineries, only a few are open to visitors, but it's well worth contacting them to organise a day's tasting tour (www.turismepriorat.org).
No way!
In the 1930s, writer George Orwell came to Barcelona to fight against the fascists during Spain's Civil War. To honour him, a plaza in the Gothic quarter now bears his name. Ironically, however, when it became a hotspot for drug dealers and petty criminals, police installed 24-hour surveillance cameras eerily similar to the all-seeing eyes of Big Brother in Orwell's classic novel 1984.
