Barcelona – Spanish zest of life

Barcelona has art and architecture, superb museums, haute couture and haute cuisine. With its great beaches and Romanesque architecture, not only does Barcelona have a great Mediterranean climate but also some fine artifacts, a ‘fun’ spirit and a cheap lifestyle. The 1992 Olympic Games which were held at Barcelona turned the city’s dull façade into a spanking vibrant one.

Barcelona is also the gateway to some great Spanish sights. Think the mountains of Pyrenees and the ancient habitats of Tarragona and Gerona. Barcelona also played host to some of the greatest Modernist painters and the galleries are full of the works of Picasso and Dali.

PLACES to VISIT

• Museums: Barcelona houses some world-class museums including the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (MNAC) and many art museums dedicated to the masters – Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró and Antoni Tàpies. Don’t miss the excellent art nouveau architecture as well.
• Santa María del Mar: Built in the medieval times in the 14th century, Santa Maria del Mar is built in the Catalan-Gothic style. Its beauty will awe you. (Timings: 9 am to 1.30pm & 4.30 pm to 8 pm)
• Tapas Bars: Tapas is the Spanish way eating in ‘small plates’, all usually supposed to be shared. Barcelona has some excellent tapas bars and it would be a shame to not check them out. Visit one and gorge on some pa amb tomàquet, escalivad, batata bravaras, cheeses, ham and much more.
• Shopping: Barcelona is Spain’s fashion capital and there’s much to delight in here. Go ahead and splurge on anything from clothes and shoes to antiques, crafts, artifacts and music.

TRAVEL TIPS

• Petty crime and theft is common in Barcelona – stay sharp and keep an eye on your bags and money at all times.
• Barcelona has an excellent public transport system comprising the metro, buses, trams, local trains and a network of railways and cable cars. Pick up a transport map at the Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona.
• Carry an English-to-Spanish phrase book – will come in handy when trying to interact with locals at restaurants and sightseeing attractions.
• Going to Spain, you can get lax about the heat. But stay sharp – carry bottled water at all times and wear sunscreen.

BEST TIME to visit

Spring, early summer and autumn are the best seasons to visit Barcelona when the weather’s mild – neither too hot nor too cold.

BEST WAY to reach

• Air: Barcelona is well connected with the rest of the world, as well as with rest of Spain by air.

ACCOMMODATION

The old part of town has most of the budget accommodation. Go to La Ribera for mid-range hotels. There are many youth and backpacker hostels here as well, for those looking for really cheap accommodation. If you want something with a view of the glorious monuments, be prepared to shell out some serious money.