Get the buzz with a city trip to Barcelona then go skiing in the Pyrenees in fresh mountain air
Experience the best of both worlds with a sun-soaked trip to Barcelona, then hit the slopes in the Pyrenees for fresh mountain air.
The city pad
Smack bang in the centre sits the Yurbban Trafalgar Barcelona, a snazzy hotel with mid-century touches, decadent interiors and a rooftop pool with 360° views of the city.
Don’t miss “wine o’clock” – an hour every evening when you can try local tipples and cheese for free, plus meet fellow travellers.
Double rooms cost from £88 a night ().
OUT & ABOUT: As well as checking out Gaudí’s sprawling Park Güell, make time to visit Casa Vicens.
It’s the first house he built 130 years ago, and it’s where you can get a fascinating insight into the architect’s life. Entry costs £14 ().
Another must-see? Sant Pau Recinte Modernista, a former hospital built more than 100 years ago by Gaudí’s rival Lluís Domènech i Montaner.
A real jaw-dropper, this has art-nouveau tiling, an imposing exterior and tranquil walkways lined with orange trees. Entry costs £13 ().
Refuel at Faborit, a cafe near Las Ramblas that sells indulgent sweet treats – make sure you order the hot chocolate with whipped cream and toast to dip, £3 ().
Later, join a Food Lover Tour to learn about the city and scoff tapas dishes like fried green tomatoes and cheese with tomato marmalade, washed down with local wine, from £42 ().
The mountain escape
Set in pretty Prulláns, the family-friendly Cerdanya EcoResort has a spa, gym, outside pool and tennis courts, not to mention mountain views.
Join a yoga or Pilates class, £5.50, then try its Arç restaurant, which sources ingredients locally.
The three-course menu costs £27 – the beetroot brownie with home-made ice cream is a must. Doubles cost from £69 ().
OUT & ABOUT: An hour’s bus-ride away, Masella has 65 mixed-level runs and is the night-skiing capital of the Pyrenees, with 13 easy slopes open until 9.30pm on Saturdays.
A day pass costs from £28 and a night ski pass starts at £14 (). Meanwhile, snowshoeing in nearby Lles is a fantastic way to explore the mountains, spotting wildlife in the woodlands. Then tuck into Catalan cuisine with a twist at the Aero Hotel, just 10 minutes from the Masella slopes.
Don’t miss the divine minced sausage and potato dish, £8, then finish with crema Catalana, a combo of cream, milk, lemon and cinnamon, £3.50, and a glass of Catalan liqueur ratafia ().
MOST READ IN fabulous
Prefer a summer trip? Kip at Les Planes del Grau, a 14th-century farmhouse with all the charm of a traditional hotel, plus mod cons and an alfresco pool.
It’s perfectly placed for hitting the walking trails. Double rooms cost from £110 B&B ().
FYI
- Plan your trip at .
- Ryanair flies from the UK to Barcelona from £26 return ().