Agenda

If you're thinking of heading to Barcelona for a break in September, there are five key dates on the calendar when the city opens its doors and celebrates its festivals in style. The Catalan capital dresses up for the occasion to pay tribute to the Mare de Déu de la Mercè, patron saint of Barcelona since 1687.

Autumn brought us a new #BarcelonaExperience… and we enjoyed it to the full! A wine and food tour, a visit to Europe's biggest art nouveau complex, a helicopter ride… Could you ask for anything more?

Near Barcelona, you'll find a whole host of wine-tourism activities and ideas you can enjoy on your own, with your husband, wife, partner or friends including wine trails that will give you an insight into the tradition of wine and cava that is deeply rooted in extremely beautiful and diverse landscapes. The five Designations of Origin in the counties of Barcelona have a great deal to offer, from traditional wineries located inland to vineyards by the sea, paired with traditional cuisine and cutting-edge architecture.

If you're someone who enjoys savouring every trip to the full, this is unquestionably your time of year to visit Barcelona. Every year, with the first autumn rains, Catalonia undergoes a cultural and culinary transformation focusing on a food that is an intrinsic part of its identity: mushrooms.

Who said that bikes were only for the summer? In the Catalan capital you can use them all year round. They're also one of the most fun ways to explore the city in the open air, with your friends, family or on your own.

They said to us "This is Barcelona" and showed us a postcard of the Pedraforca. We didn't believe it, but just 2 hours outside Barcelona you can be in the heart of the countryside and the Pyrenees mountains.

In the Pyrenees, you have plenty to do, whether it's sport, culture or gastronomy. In any season of the year, if you go to Barcelona, take a break in the Pyrenees, and discover it for yourselves.

The autumn, oh so lovely. Transformation abounds…everywhere you look in the Val d'Aran there is change. Summer has come to a close and the mountains of this majestic central Pyrenees destination have quickly become a living museum for those fortunate enough to ponder them. Their hues of green, yellow, orange, red and rusty brown compare to the finest of paintings.

Do you want to discover a different, unknown Barcelona while you take your palate on a journey of discovery to sample the finest flavours of the city's locally sourced food? Don't wait any longer and get ready to discover a Barcelona that goes beyond its must-see attractions.

A master of colour, Toulouse-Lautrec, once said that autumn is winter's spring. This season is a source of inspiration and beauty that Barcelona and its surrounding area reveal in all its splendour.

If you ask any Barcelona local to name the best Catalan invention of all time, nine out of ten will probably reply "el pa amb tomàquet!" (bread rubbed with tomato). More than a simple recipe, culinary technique or custom, the gesture of rubbing tomato on a piece of bread is a sign of Catalan identity.

The city streets are an extension of the lives of its inhabitants; they are part of their homes, their way of sharing and living together in what is, in short, their home or everyone's home. If we walk through Barcelona,  we'll see that every street has its own unique story to tell.

Barcelona offers a wide range of gastronomic delights to suit all tastes and pockets. Places where you can travel back in time and discover some of the kitchens where people first began to cook what we know today as Catalan cuisine.

Running fever has spread throughout the world at the speed of an Olympic runner. But where do the Barcelona locals train? What are the best routes for running and discovering the city? That's enough questions. Let's put on our running shoes and explore them for ourselves.

If anything defines Catalonia, it's its vineyards which not only shape its landscape but the very essence of its nature, traditions and historic legacy. Just a short distance from Barcelona, 30 minutes by road, you can immerse yourself in the counties of Alt Penedès, Anoia, Baix Llobregat, Baix Penedès and Garraf, which make up the Penedès region, which is famed around the world for its wines and cavas.

The verb "to sleep" is important in our everyday lives, but it is even more important when we're travelling as a family. After exploring the streets, rest is vital if you want to go back the following day with your batteries recharged to continue to discover everything a great city like Barcelona has to offer. That's why we suggest three different types of accommodation, and an example of each, which are perfect for you and your family to relax and have a rest.

Barcelona has become on of Europe's favourite destinations for the lesbian, gay, trans, bisexual and intersexual community. As an open-minded and cosmopolitan metropolis, the city offers its visitors a whole host of attractions associated with diversity, freedom and tolerance. The LGTBI district, with its year-round offer of services, is a good example of this.

There are many Barcelonas, and the district of Sant Andreu is one of the clearest examples of this. Although outside the city centre, it is steeped in the essence of Catalonia: picturesque spots, history, centuries-old shops and futuristic amenities blend harmoniously. Come and visit and you'll feel like a genuine Barcelonian.

The best way to admire Barcelona in all its beauty is from high above the city. This is where Barcelona reveals itself in total splendour. Standing on a plain surrounded by ridges and low peaks, its unequalled geographical location conceals countless viewing spots, or miradors, that make it a treat for the most inquisitive eyes. Shall we take a look?

Passeig de Sant Joan doesn't just link two of the city's coolest neighbourhoods, it has recently become the go-to place for Barcelona locals. The stretch between Carrer València and Carrer Casp and the surrounding area has been newly laid out making it ideal for cyclists and pedestrians. It has become a hotspot with interesting bars and restaurants, delightful shops and places that will simply amaze you.

Do you want to feel like a true Barcelonian? Well, if you do, you can't miss out on going for a vermut. For years this aromatic, herby wine has been the favourite Sunday pre-lunch tipple with local families.

Barcelona contains a host of literary Settings and many novels have vicariously helped their readers to travel. Now you can tour the city by following the Settings of certain books written by internationally renowned authors. We propose you 5 literary routes.

Love of sporting values and emotions. Love of teamwork and seeing sportsmen and women beat their personal best. Love of the open air, speed and cheering on your favourites. There are so many sports to enjoy in Barcelona, you’ll be spoilt for choice.

Barcelona was a city that I had dreamed of visiting for such a long time and was firmly at the top of my travel bucket list. So I was beyond thrilled and excited to finally visit beautiful Barcelona for four wonderful days.

The Ribera neighbourhood has its own unique charm. The streets of the Ribera are a living time capsule of the city-s history, and the neighbourhood still provides a window onto the Mediterranean. It is a charming spot with a wide range of options for you to enjoy the sea and culture. Below you-ll find some suggestions for activities you can enjoy for a day.

Barcelona can boast of many things, but it is its status as a Mediterranean, historic, cutting-edge, cultural and cosmopolitan city that make it truly special. Here are two great ideas for your visit that will take you from the old harbour, the Port Vell, right by the sea, to Barcelona's green lung, the Parc de Montjuïc, to make sure you enjoy your visitor experience to the full with a perfect combination of sea and city.

Literature and Barcelona are the stars of their own love story. A good number of writers have set their novels in the city or have moved there to pursue their literary careers. Do you want to follow in their footsteps and discover their legacies? If so, our literary trails are the perfect plan. Do you want to turn the page?

Summer's here and the city is awash with things to do! Festivals, summer nights, tapas restaurants and terraces… Choose yours and enjoy!

Barcelona is bursting with things to do for all the family. You'll find a whole host of fun activities all over the city to make sure you never get bored. And you can do all this without having to pack a lunch box in your rucksack, as most of Barcelona's restaurants are considered family friendly.

Shopping can be another way to discover a city. From handcrafted items and unique, local products to foodie delicacies to remind you of the "flavours" of your trip.

If you can picture yourself enjoying the most iconic architecture and finest food, Barcelona is the place for you. You can dine at superb restaurants inside landmarks of historic and architectural interest. Have we whet your appetite?

Journeys are emotions. Sensations. Small but big experiences. Like the discovery of an innovative, surprising dish. Or the feeling of an aria, the magic of a musical score played by angels. In Barcelona, small but powerful emotions await. At the restaurant table, signature dishes. But in the concert hall too, in the darkness with your favourite composer.

Barcelona is the city of contrasts. It is not big in comparison with different capital city, but very dynamic and international, calm but also very active. It has everything: beautiful architecture, cultural events, sea and finally I saw mountains with snow near Barcelona and decided that this is the best city in the world!

The Catalan Pyrenees are just two to four hours away from the cosmopolitan city of Barcelona. Their snow-clad picture-postcard landscape is a haven for lovers of snowboarding, Alpine and Nordic skiing, night skiing, snowshoeing, dog sleds, horse-drawn sleighs, snowmobiles, or, in a nutshell, snow addicts!

It was so cool! I've never gone so faced without an engine. My instructor guided me, and my adrenalin, all the way to the top of the mountain and down again.

Useful vocabulary to spend Chirstmas in Barcelona.

As we have already mentioned in Historic restaurants and In the hidden jewels of the Raval, Barcelona is full of bars and restaurants that seem frozen in time. Here are some suggestions in case you feel like getting away from the present and landing in the past, even if it’s just for a short time.

It's no coincidence that Poble-sec has been given different names and nicknames in recent years. It could be said that it is one of Barcelona's most laid-back neighbourhoods so it's no surprise that the city's hipster set are making a beeline to live here. This authentic Barcelona neighbourhood was known as "little Paris" in the 1940s when it was a hotbed of fun and its cabarets, theatres, concert halls and bars were at the height of their popularity.

Barcelona has its own distinct melody. It sounds of the sea, of terraces full of people, of the wind blowing down from the mountains, of crowds and the Mediterranean. But if you want to hear its most lingering melody, you won't find it in the streets… you'll have to step inside one of the thousands of bars that resound with the sound of guitars, drums, basses and as many instruments as there are groups in the city.

It isnt surprising that the Barcelona locals nicknamed Tibidabo "the magic mountain". Standing 515 metres high, it's the tallest point on the Collserola Ridge and its distinctive outline features on many postcards of the city.

If you want to discover Barcelona with alternative experiences, without spending a penny, keep on reading; you'll be interested in this. Every month there are free activities to get you off the sofa or out of your hotel room to explore the city. Here are just some of the things you can do all year round. But keep your eyes peeled because there's something you can do every day in Barcelona without being out of pocket.

It's a pleasure to have the city in the palm of your hand and to forget about the maps, leaflets, flyers and all the information you accumulate while travelling. Barcelona has loads of apps which help you enjoy the city at the click of a button and more than 600 Wi-Fi hotspots throughout the city which you can use to stay connected.

In five short years, this curious invention, known as gin and tonic has conquered Barcelona's bars; so much so that bottles of gin fill their display cabinets and shelves. Their origins and blends are as varied as the combinations you'll find at the thousands of bars that specialise in serving them.

Making cocktails can be compared to symphony music because you have to be very precise if you want the mixture to attain the perfect harmony. You can't just mix for the sake of mixing; you have to mix with mathematical rigour and in-depth knowledge. If you want to visit some of the city's shrines to cocktails, keep on reading, sit at the bar and watch how the cocktail waiters in their uniforms perform magic in their laboratories.

On Sunday in Barcelona most ticket-office staff seem to have part of the day off, so you won't have to buy tickets for most main museums. The only thing to remember is this rule only applies after 3pm or all day on the first Sunday in the month. That's right! You can enjoy the top museums without paying a penny… surely one of the best deals in town.

City squares, particularly in Barcelona, are a meeting point, the focus of city life that gauge the mood of its residents. Spending a Sunday exploring the city's squares can be a great way to discover the city.

Gastronomy and culture go hand in hand so much so that Barcelona combines culture with fine dining. You can eat in a Museum or in a unique builing here... the choice is yours!

Barcelona provides its visitors with the chance to enjoy music in the most genuine way possible: close up and in small spaces so that you can soak up the local atmosphere just like a local.

Barcelona ofrece durante todo el año una variadísima oferta de música en vivo que abarca todo tipo de estilos. La ciudad cuenta además, con una importante red de espacios donde disfrutar de la música en directo.

Son esos espacios en los que podrás sumergirte en el ocio local como un barcelonés más, empapándote de la atmósfera de una ciudad que vibra constantemente al son de todo tipo de ritmos: el jazz y el soul, el rock, el pop... Barcelona cuenta con espacios por toda la ciudad, desde el centro hasta los barrios periféricos, que te van a permitir disfrutar seguro de la música en directo de un modo genuino.

In summer, in June and September, Barcelona's former villages host their neighbourhood festivals. They are the perfect excuse to visit the city and lose yourself in its districts that are dressed up to the nines. The Sants Festival keeps alive the spirit of a major festival that used to be held in honour of Saint Bartholomew, the patron saint of the former village of Sants.

There's one day every year when travellers and visitors to Barcelona feel like they're on another planet. This is a day when Barcelona is suffused with a different atmosphere and it seems that everybody heads to the streets. So if you're planning on coming to Barcelona and your visit coincides with 23rd April, you're in luck! You'll experience the city on what is arguably the Barcelonians' most cherished day.

The rose and the book are the centrepieces of the image created by the illustrator Magoz for Sant Jordi 2019. This is a new Turisme de Barcelona initiative that will feature a guest artist from a different country every year. Discover the true meaning of this day through the eyes of the Catalan designer.

Turisme de Barcelona gives you the chance to give someone a solidarity rose designed by the illustrator Cinta Arribas, which will also include a donation to Barcelona's Hospital Clínic.