Some cities get all the luck. Not content with a plum coastal location and some supersized beaches, Barcelona also boasts world-class levels of gastronomy, culture, architecture, and entertainment. It’s a self-confident and fiercely independent city, with gifts enough to keep visitors coming back time and time again – which they do in abundance. Mixing Catalan flair with an undying passion for a good night out, there’s nowhere else quite like it.
Football Fever
The name Barcelona is well known all across the globe, and much of this fame is down to the success of the city’s extraordinary football team. Owned by its fans and guided by the skill of players like Lionel Messi, the club has become one of the world’s strongest sporting brands. If you can’t bag a ticket for a match, take a tour of the CampNou stadium (Carrer d’Arístides Maillol 12), which includes a dressing room visit and entrance to the club museum.
Admire the architecture
No weekend away to Barcelona from Glasgow Airport would be complete without incorporating the works of Antoni Gaudí. The legendary Catalan architect has a hugely distinctive style, almost dreamlike in appearance and best evidenced by the still unfinished cathedral of Sagrada Família (Carrer de Mallorca). It’s a remarkable building, but there’s just as much reward to be had from visits to smaller Gaudí treats such as the Casa Batlló townhouse (Passeig de Gràcia 43).
Drink, eat, dance
Classic Barcelona activities such as walking La Rambla and exploring the Gothic Quarter are rightly considered unmissable, but the soul of the city is just as easily sampled with a visit to a well-chosen bar, restaurant or club. Join locals for a drink at the Dry Martini Speakeasy (Carrer d’Aribau 162), try the authentic tapas at La Cova Fumada (Carrer del Baluard 56), or visit Sala Razzmatazz (Carrer de Pamplona 88) for dancefloor action.