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We all know that Spain is a hugely popular summer holiday destination for millions of people every year. But did you know there’s plenty to see and do in the winter? One great example of a city for all seasons is Barcelona, the capital of the Catalan region and the home of the world famous football club. The following tips will, we hope, encourage you to take a winter holiday in Barcelona. Getting There A winter break is usually shorter than a summer holiday – so really, flying is the best option. Flights on budget airlines at this time of year can be very reasonable. We found return flights from London for less than £50 on easyJet, Ryanair and Monarch. The flight time is only about three hours so you don’t really need to pay more for extra legroom. Also, because a winter break tends to be no longer than a few days, with some careful packing your carryon luggage should be enough. Because your winter holiday in Barcelona is short, consider booking an airport shuttle service to meet you and bring you back to the airport. It saves you a lot of time and, in the long run, money. Getting Around Barcelona has an excellent underground, bus and tram service that makes getting around the city easy and fast. You can get an excellent value two to five day Transport Pass for as little as €13.30. If you like biking, the city has an extensive system of bike lanes and there are tons of places where you can, weather permitting, rent a bike. Where to Stay One of advantages of a winter holiday in Barcelona is, because it’s off-season, there’s no shortage of hotel rooms and apartments at reasonable prices. Use the internet and hotel sites like Booking.com to find the best deals. Things to See & Do There is so much to see and do on a winter holiday in Barcelona that it’s difficult knowing where to start. For up-to-date info, try the official Barcelona Tourist Site. You can also download one of the many free apps, like the Official Guide to Barcelona or the Official Barcelona Restaurant Guide, available for both Apple and Android, for your smartphone. Barcelona FC - If you’re a football fan then you have to visit Barca’s stadium, Camp Nou. It’s open all year (except January 1 and December 25). The stadium is usually open from 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Sagrada Família Basilica – A must see stop is this fantastic, unfinished basilica designed by world famous architect Antonio Gaudi. Construction began in 1882 (and that’s not a typo!) and is still not complete. The basilica is located at Calle Mallorca, 401 and is open, during the winter, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mercat de la Barceloneta – set just off the beach in Placa de la Font, this local market is a festival of site, sound and aroma. Hundreds of stalls selling everything you could possibly imagine and then some. Its open Monday to Thursday and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and on Friday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Museo d'Historia de Catalunya – a museum celebrating the history of the Catalan region. Lots to see and the explanations are in Spanish and English. Located in Moll de la Barcelonetta and open Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. General entry costs €4.5 and special exhibitions may cost more. Nightlife – there are plenty of bars and clubs to keep you dancing until the wee small hours of the morning during your winter holiday in Barcelona. Try out the Barcelona Night Card, which gives you fast-track entry into more than 20 of Barcelona’s hottest night spots. There’s lots more to discover in Barcelona – all that’s left is to wish you “buen viaje” (bon voyage) and have a great time! Lukas Johannes is a driver for Shuttle Direct, the number one provider of shared and private airport transfers all over Europe and northern Africa. If you’re heading off for a winter holiday in Barcelona Lukas and his colleagues can make sure that you and your luggage get to and from the airport swiftly, safely and at an affordable price.
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