SI YA THERE
The Spanish city with £14 flights, sandy beaches and secret tapas bars
You can't leave this city without drinking sangria
TWO hours from the UK and with 300 days of sunshine a year, Barcelona has long been a holiday favourite for those after culture, warmth and seaside fun.
And with flights as cheap as £13.99 with easyJet, should you be adding the Spanish city to your travel list?
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WHY SHOULD I GO?
A CAPTIVATING city with world-renowned restaurants, architecture and shopping all within walking distance of a sandy beach, no visit to Barcelona is ever the same.
This was my third trip and even when I thought I’d seen it all, I still managed to uncover hidden corners I’d never come across.
STREETS MADE FOR WALKING?
HELL yes. The 25,000-a-day step count on my fitness watch answers that question for me.
I would suggest walking as much of the city as you can — it is only then that you will stumble upon those secret sangria bars or tapas spots you haven’t read about in the travel books or seen online.
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Venture off the crowded La Rambla street down one of the side alleys to uncover boutique shops and cafes.
If you aren’t much of a walker, the Hotel Arts, where my mum and I stayed, offers a free bus from the seafront to the centre. It is for guests only and runs every 45 minutes.
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ANYTHING FOR THE BUCKET LIST?
YOU can’t go to Barcelona without admiring some of architect Antoni Gaudi’s impressive works.
There is the Sagrada Familia church, Park Guell and Casa Batllo all within a few kilometres of each other. I chose to explore Gaudi’s Casa Mila this time, with a behind-the-scenes Sunrise Guided Tour with GetYourGuide (£33.63pp).
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I could not recommend it enough. We were given early access and were also taken to secret spots that regular visitors don’t get to see.
Barriers that protect parts of the building from the public were removed by our guide and we were allowed to touch old ornaments in former apartment buildings as well as the octopus-inspired floor tiles created by Gaudi himself.
We ended with a visit to the rooftop where we captured snaps of Barcelona’s impressive skyline before the crowds appeared.
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WHAT SHOULD I EAT?
TAPAS? Paella? Empanadas? Take your pick. If you want views, wander along the marina for harbourside bars where you can watch the boats while you sip on an aperitivo.
Most of them will serve decent small plates too. We stopped at Cal Pinxo for wine and ended up ordering anchovies, which came drenched in olive oil, and pa amb tomaquet, a local dish of bread smothered in fresh tomato and garlic.
For a special dinner, definitely head to The Secret Pantry.
The speakeasy restaurant is hidden within the Hotel Arts, behind shelves of wine that open up to reveal a dimly lit space with cosy tables.
The small plates here focus on local ingredients — try the scallops served with squash, cauliflower and truffle.
I FANCY A DRINK…
AFTER you’ve finished dinner at The Secret Pantry, stay for a cocktail. Pick from a spiced paloma to the more unusual Dancing With Almonds, made with vodka, strawberries, almond syrup and lime.
You can’t leave Barcelona without drinking sangria.
So head to bar Bubita, down a side road behind the Picasso museum.
It serves the stuff in a huge variety of flavours, including limoncello and basil, and lime, orange and mint.
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WHERE SHOULD I STAY?
“THE Hotel Arts is the best hotel in Barcelona,” our local taxi driver told us on arrival — and it definitely lived up to its reputation.
The high-rise accommodation is right on the waterfront, and our room on one of the upper floors had unbeatable views of the Sagrada Familia.
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Check in was seamless and staff were on hand to help with restaurant bookings, taxis and recommendations.
At breakfast, guests are treated to a spread of fresh cheeses and Spanish hams as well as hot dishes, including one of the best hotel omelettes I’ve ever had.
GO: Barcelona
GETTING THERE: EasyJet flies from Luton to Barcelona from £13.99 each way. See .
STAYING THERE: The Hotel Arts Barcelona has Deluxe double rooms from £250 per night. See .
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