Immerse yourself in maritime Barcelona

In the 1980s, Barcelona transformed its seafront by making its beaches part of the everyday lives of its inhabitants and visitors. This has made Barcelona’s beaches one of its main attractions, particularly during the summer period.

Barcelona’s beaches offer every amenity for your enjoyment: public transport from anywhere in the city, ample parking, beach bars, sporting and recreational activities, and services.

And, in addition to this, Turisme de Barcelona invites you discover the close relationship between the city and the sea by offering you the following programmes:

Barcelona Mar, a trip on a sailing boat so you can take your first steps in the art of sailing while you enjoy views of the Barcelona skyline from the sea, learn basic sailing techniques and then celebrate your maiden voyage with a glass of cava.

Barcelona Walking Tours Marítim, a guided tour of the city’s maritime districts so you can discover the history of Barcelona from medieval times until it became the leading cruise harbour in the Mediterranean.

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In Barcelona, family holidays are synonymous with sharing unforgettable moments

In Barcelona, or nearby, you’ll find a whole host of fun leisure attractions to suit all ages. Here are just a few of them.

Zoo de Barcelona and L’Aquàrium for animal lovers. Places that are full of life where you can see all kinds of animal species in the own habitats.

El Tibidabo and Port Aventura, with spectacular rides and new attractions that will take you breath away… but where fun is always guaranteed.

For those who prefer an adrenaline-fuelled day out, there’s Illa Fantasía with its slides, mazes and swimming pools and Spheremania for a gravity-defying experience.

And for those who prefer a more relaxing pace, the El Poble Espanyol offers a peaceful stroll through some of Spain’s landmark architecture, and CosmoCaixa has a whole host of interactive activities, workshops and entertainments for all ages.

Experience your summer in Barcelona with the family!

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This summer, Barcelona will be opening more of its gardens, courtyards and terraces which you can enjoy in the open air

At this time of year, people feel more like going out to enjoy themselves in the open air. This is why the city welcomes the warmest months by opening its outdoor terraces, courtyards and spaces.

Having a drink or sampling some tapas, taking in breathtaking views of the city and the sea, and soaking up the most Mediterranean Barcelona are part of the tradition of enjoying a moment’s rest and relaxation at the terraces of bars, restaurants and hotels.

In Barcelona, people often sit at one of the many pavement cafés and enjoy a refreshing “orxata”, a delicious, typically Mediterranean drink, with its own unique characteristics and flavour, which is much appreciated for its healthy properties.

You will enjoy the best open-air atmosphere both day and night on Barcelona’s terraces.

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Plan your stay in Barcelona at our tourist information office in Plaça de Catalunya

Barcelona is a city that offers a whole host of activities for everyone and this is why it is important to plan your stay carefully.

Turisme de Barcelona’s information offices can help you. Our Plaça de Catalunya, located right in the city centre, is our main tourist information centre. If you drop by, you’ll find the best ideas so that you can enjoy your visit with us.

Forget about looking for the activities that best suit your type of stay and ask our expert tourist information officers for their advice so that you can organise your time, take advantage of our current offers and special deals, and ensure you don’t miss out on any must-see attractions.

You’ll find the following at our tourist information office:

• Tickets for theatres, events and trips
• Shop selling souvenirs and gifts that encapsulate the spirit of Barcelona
• VAT refund service
• All kinds of informative material

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Tourists give top marks to Barcelona’s architectural offering

In 2011, the overall evaluation tourists awarded the city rose to 8.28 on a scale of 1 to 10, surpassing the overall score given in previous years. The city’s architectural offering is the most widely appreciated feature by its visitors and obtained an “excellent” (9.06) score.

However, the tourist’s favourable opinion of the city is also reflected in other aspects such as its culture, hotels, transport, restaurants, cleanliness and safety, and in 21 more items included in the surveys carried out every year by Turisme de Barcelona.

The tourists’ assessments confirm that Barcelona isn’t just a city with major attractions, but it betters itself year after year to welcome its visitors…. and they notice and appreciate it.

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Barcelona the city of festivals, this summer with many more suggestions

Barcelona hosts a wide range of festivals which bring together countless styles and cultural disciplines.

From 30th June to 31st July the GREC 2012 Barcelona Festival will be staging 68 dance, theatre, music and circus performances. Montjuïc is the main setting for the festival, but two new venues have been added this year: the marquee by the Montjuïc Magic Fountain and the Hub-Plaça Margarida Xirgu.

From 27th July to 11th September, the San Miguel Mas i Mas Festival will be offering an eclectic mix of jazz, hip-hop, flamenco and techno with established performers as well as up-and-coming new talents in these and other musical specialities.

Between August and September, the city will be hosting the 3rd DANSALONA Festival at a number of theatres. A wide variety of contemporary dance performances by renowned troupes from Spain and around the world.

There’s also MECAL AIR, the cool, laid-back festival at the El Poble Espanyol where you can enjoy short films and music on summer evenings while you relax on a lounger.

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