Barcelona is the second biggest city in Spain and is located on the coast of the north-eastern shore. Capital of the autonomous community of Catalonia, Barcelona is famous for its stunning architecture, unique culture, beautiful beaches and of course, its football team, which dominates the global sport scene.

There is so much to see and do in Barcelona, it would be impossible for us to write about them all on this page! Undoubtably Barcelona’s best-known attraction is the Sagrada Familia, a one of a kind church that is still being constructed to this day and has been under construction for the past 140 years. A trip to Barcelona also wouldn’t be complete without a walk down La Rambla, the city’s most famous street.

A Barcelona holiday is perfect for families, couples and groups of friends who love relaxing in the sun while lounging on the beach, sightseeing in the city and enjoy a lively nightlife scene.

To learn more about things to do in Barcelona, the best time to go and local info see here.

Things to do in Barcelona

 Attractions

• Watch the unstoppable FC Barcelona play in Camp Nou, the largest football stadium in Europe
• Take a trip to Park Guell to witness spectacular city views and some quirky architecture
• Climb the stairs from Placa d’Espanya and visit Catalonia’s national art museum, where you can watch a magic fountain show at night
• Take a trip to the Picasso Museum, where you can see some of Pablo’s original artworks

Nightlife 

As Barcelona is one of the biggest cities in Spain the nightlife options here are endless. No matter where you are in the city you will find endless Irish pubs and cocktail bars to enjoy a casual drink in. There is also plenty of nightclubs in the city if you’d like to dance the night away to some Reggaeton music!

Dining Out

Barcelona has thousands of restaurants to suit all taste’s and budgets. But be sure to visit a tapas restaurant and experience the cities Catalonian and Spanish cuisine.

For Families   

For a fun day out take a trip to PortAventura World in nearby Salou. Home to three theme parks, there are plenty of attractions here to make a trip to PortAventura the highlight of the family holiday!

Beaches

For a lively beach day take a trip to Barceloneta Beach. This beach is found in Barcelona’s fishing quarter and is the popular choice with locals, due to its golden sands and vicinity to some of the best bars and restaurants that the city has to offer.

Shopping 

For the best clothes shopping in Barcelona visit the Centro Comercial Glories, home to over 160 stores, a cinema and many restaurants.

The Festa de Sant Roc

The Festa de Sant Roc, Barcelona’s gothic quarter festival dates back to 1589 and is held annually in August. During this festival you will see ‘giants’ walking the street, traditional Catalonian dances, and street games that tourists can join in on!

Best Time to Go 

 As Barcelona is in the North East of the country, it experiences cool winters and hot summers. For a city break with some sun, visit Barcelona during the summer months when temperatures average in the mid-high twenties. A summer holiday to Barcelona gives tourists the best of both worlds, as you can sunbathe on a beautiful beach while experiencing the excitement of exploring a new city.

Local Info

Currency

Euro  is the currency used in Spain.

Time Zone

Barcelona is one hour ahead of Ireland (GMT+1).

Getting around 

Flights from Dublin to Barcelona operate up to seven days a week during the summer months, with the estimated flight time being two and a half hours. Barcelona is well linked with public transport, so there is no need to rent bikes or cars while exploring the city.