Things to do in Barcelona

Barcelona boasts beautiful architecture, great shopping and superb cuisine. If you are planning a visit to the Spanish city, here’s what you need to know.

What to see

Barcelona’s La Gran Teatre del Liceu was first built in 1847 and has seen it all: fires, wars, and recessions. Yet it still stands, magnificent and opulent. Adorned with gold leaf, rich red seats, and ornate carvings embellishing every surface, the setting might just be as grand as the performance.

If you’re looking to get out of the city for a while, visit the beautiful Montserrat Mountain and the beach town of Sitges to learn more about Spanish wine.

What to do

Take a yacht tour of Barcelona with Sail District Barcelona to avoid the traffic and overcrowding of the city. Drink champagne and indulge in Spanish gourmet treats as you discover the most outstanding views and flavours in Barcelona - all on your exclusive, private, luxury yacht.

Where to shop

Located half an hour away from Barcelona is La Roca Shopping Village, a spot to which all serious shoppers flock. You’ll find all the best contemporary brands from Calvin Klein, G Star Raw and Diesel, to Barcelona labels Desigual and Custo Barcelona. If you’re not looking to travel far, Passeig de Gràcia, one of the city’s main avenues, boasts impressive Modernist buildings and an abundance of international designers (think Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Prada). If you take a left at the top of Passeig de Gràcia, you’ll find many more quality shops along the Diagonal and the top section of Rambla Catalunya, where you can shop for bridal dresses designed to feel like “princess dresses” and various interior design stores.

Where to stay

If you want to be in the heart of Barcelona then look no further than the luxurious five-star Hotel Casa Fuster G.L Monumento. It has a sauna, gym, jazz bar and rooftop chillout bar.

If you prefer to be away from the hustle and bustle, Hotel Camiral is a five-star hotel on the doorstep of Barcelona - the perfect location for outdoor sports enthusiasts, golf-lovers, sun-seekers, culture vultures and foodies alike.

One to watch out for is the new Nobu Hotel Barcelona which opens later this year - the latest offering from the prestigious hotel group named as one of the 25 most innovative luxury brands by the Robb Report. 

Or for something completely different, Barcelona is also the taking-off point for luxury yacht operator Sea Dream, which runs a voyage that touches down at Saint-Tropez, Monte Carlo, Calvi and finally Civitavecchia (giving you access to Rome). 

Where to eat

Barcelona is no stranger to fantastic restaurants. Promoting the elite cuisine of Catalonia, the city is a treat for those with a taste for fine dining. If you’re looking for modern Catalan cuisine, ABaC is a two-star Michelin restaurant and generally considered one of Barcelona’s finest. It is elegantly sophisticated and intimate, with a total capacity of just 56.

For a top-notch glass of wine with dinner, Monvinic is an upscale wine bar and restaurant. It opens a selection of thirty wines every day from around the world. Suffice it to say, if you’re looking for a good wine, they’ll have it.