Make a date with Picasso, rest your head in boutique luxury, watch a local football match and get up close to weird and wonderful architecture. The vibrant city of Barcelona is never boring.
Be inspired at Museu Picasso
Prepare to be inspired as you enter the five thirteenth-century stone palaces and courtyards of Museu Picasso. Home to an extensive collection of more than 4,200 of Pablo Picasso’s works, it is a must-see for insight into the genius of this artist.
The museum opened in 1963 and is renowned for showing the deep relationship the Spanish artist had with Barcelona, as well as for its comprehensive collection of art and work from the artist’s early, formative years.
Also on display are the Las Meninas series of paintings. An exciting program of exhibitions is held throughout the year to complement the permanent collections. From March to June, a major exhibition, Picasso Portraits, will be shown, exploring Picasso’s portraiture through his paintings, sculptures, drawings and prints from various periods of his career.
Relax in luxury at Hotel DO Plaça Reial
Centrally located in the heart of the city, the Hotel DO Plaça Reial takes up residence in a stunning nineteenth-century mansion. It has 18 plush rooms, most of which double as great people-watching spots, overlooking the Plaza Real.
The beautifully designed and renovated five-star hotel features an impressive historical façade and two restaurants (one is located in the vaulted cellar) serving up creative Mediterranean cuisine and tapas — as well as a spa, pool and an unmissable rooftop bar. With views of the plaza, rooftops and Gothic Quarter, the terrace of the rooftop bar is open during the summer months (June to October), when staff will be shaking and pouring delicious cocktails away from the crowds in this lovely, luxe space.
Cheer on FC Barcelona like a local
Experience Catalan passion and a true local symbol of the city of Barcelona by attending an FC Barcelona match. To give you an idea of the atmosphere you can expect: the famous FC Barcelona football stadium, Camp Nou, seats almost 100,000 people and is the largest stadium in Europe — a decent-sized space to cheer on what is arguably one of the best football teams in the world.
For a real behind-the-scenes look at the sport, tours are available that show off the ground area and give access to the museum, as well as offer a glimpse of the dressing room, press conference space, and VIP areas.
With capacity for six to 16 people, catering, and not to mention the live entertainment, those in the city for business could make that meeting unforgettable by taking it in Camp Nou’s VIP Business Box. Sky Boxes (with a second-storey view) and VIP seating are also available for a one-of-a-kind exclusive experience of a Barcelona FC match.
Be awed by the architecture of Antoni Gaudi
Barcelona is famous for the incredible modern work of Antoni Gaudi, whose unique Art Nouveau architecture has left his creative imprint on the city. To see his creations and that of others, join the Modernisme Barcelona Walking Tour, which ventures along the Passeig de Gràcia and the Quadrat d’Or heritage district.
It passes the likes of Pedrera and Casa Batlló by Gaudi, as well as other great buildings by architects such as Domènech i Montaner and Puig i Cadafalch. By night, visit El Born, a neighbourhood bursting with character, to enjoy a line-up of cool bars and restaurants and recharge on pintxos, tapas and cava.
Want more? Make your way to the nearby Gothic Quarter and feast your eyes on the likes of the cathedral in the Plaça Nova, the civic and government buildings in the Plaça Sant Jaume, and enjoy the medieval charm of the streets around the Plaça del Pi. Then wander to nearby shopping hot-spot the Portal de l’Àngel.
