Barcelona
Luxury Travel to
Barcelona
Barcelona stretches out beneath you— spectacular! —and you are delighted to recognize so many places you have visited. Over there, the Magic Fountains. Further on, the few skyscrapers in the city. The beautiful dome of the Palau Nacional de Montjüic… Above it all, the Sagrada Familia, dwarfing everything else in the city.
The sun sets behind the mountain range. Little by little the city lights twinkle on, and the city becomes even more magic.
Tailor my trip5 things you don’t know
about Barcelona
Nestled between the mountains and the Mediterranean coast, Spain’s second largest city (both in size and population) is a favorite destination in Spain. And rightly so. There is so much to see and do in Barcelona, in terms of art, architecture and nightlife. You likely feel that you already know a lot about this great city—but here are a few things you probably didn’t know:
01
Barcelona, not Madrid, was the capital of Spain from November 1937 – January 1939, during the Spanish Civil War. It is still the capital of Catalonia.
02
The pyramids in Egypt were built faster than Sagrada Familia cathedral. 20 years vs. 140+. Work should be completed in 2026.
03
Have you wondered why so many buildings in Barcelona are octagonal? The corners were cut off in order to lessen traffic jams.
04
The world’s largest metropolitan park is the Parc de Collserola in Barcelona. It is 22 times larger than Central Park in New York.
05
Barcelona’s busiest pedestrian street, Portel de l’Àngel, has 150 000 people walking in it every day. Perhaps because of the great shopping?
Barcelona travel guide
Where to stay in Barcelona?
A true luxury vacation starts with the right accommodations— elegant, exclusive, with meticulous service. This is exactly what AAV has found for you.
A stunningly beautiful hotel in the heart of Barcelona, El Palace is close to many touristic sites and the Ramblas shopping street. The 5-star hotel, built in 1919, offers the elegance, high-level service and atmosphere of a time gone by. Rooms and suites are beautifully decorated, airy, and highly comfortable. El Palace features a gastronomic restaurant, rooftop garden, Mayan luxury spa, and the Bluesman Cocktail bar, with live concerts twice a week.
The Majestic Hotel & Spa in Barcelona is aptly named—the building is majestic, inside and out. The elegant rooms, suites, and penthouses in this 5-star hotel have views of the Paseo de Gracia, the Sagrada Familia or the city. They are cozy and peaceful, decorated with a contemporary design, combining noble woods, marble, and fine textiles. The Majestic’s gastronomic restaurant, SOLC, uses products raised in its own farm in Maresme, close to Barcelona.
Spacious rooms and suites, sunny balconies seafront views, exquisite modern décor, there is a lot to love about the Serras Hotel, a luxury boutique hotel in the heart of the historic Gothic Quarter. You will enjoy the rooftop restaurant and cocktail bar (remember—sea views!), the Nine bar on the mezzanine, and, especially, Informal, the gourmet restaurant. The atmosphere is relaxed; the cuisine is what you would expect when a Michelin-starred chef cooks for his friends. Absolutely lovely!
Less than five minutes from Gaudì’s Casa Battló, the Mandarin Oriental Barcelona is a great “home base” for exploring Barcelona. The rooms and suites are spacious, with an elegant, modern design and garden or city views. The lavish penthouse suite occupies the entire top floor and has sumptuous views of the city from the private terrace. The hotel has several different dining options, including Moments, featuring gastronomic Catalan cuisine.
The Cotton House has a colonial feel—dark woods, marble floors, embellished ceilings, opulent furnishings, ratan chairs in the garden—which reflect the building’s origins as the headquarters for the Cotton Textile Foundation in the 19th century. The rooms and suites are elegant and refined. The fabrics used are, of course, cotton: 300 thread count Egyptian cotton sheets, 600g towels, honeycomb bathrobes. As is common, the hotel has a spa and fitness center, but it also has an outdoor pool, a library, and l’atélier, where a tailor can come to fit you.
The Wittmore is a little gem, an exquisite boutique hotel in the historic Gothic Quarter. This adults only hotel is decidedly modern, quirky, and exclusive. The rooms and suites are beautiful, intimate and sunny thanks to the hotel’s interior patio and vertical garden. The restaurant, Contraban, has playful titles, such as “impatience” for the starters, “creative excitement” for various carpaccios, “frustration” for fish and meat… A playful take on food which is beautifully prepared.
Tailor my tripBest luxury experiences in Barcelona
Gaudí’s Barcelona
Already a hundred years ago, the architect and designer Antoni Gaudí reused materials (his famous mosaics) and created natural cooling systems in buildings. You will visit several sites of this genius’ work with a local expert: the lovely Casa Battló, the surprising Casa Mila, the enchanting Park Güell…. You will also tour the astonishingly beautiful Sagrada Familia, Gaudí’s masterpiece.
The Catalan coast by boat
Your AAV skipper will take you by yacht to visit the gorgeous Catalan coast. Crystalline waters, long stretches of sandy beach, rugged cliffs, intimate rocky coves, picturesque traditional fishing villages—it’s all here. Stop and visit the lovely Jardí Botànic Marimurtra, or simply drop anchor anytime you want to swim. A gourmet picnic lunch will be provided.
On the footsteps of Salvador Dali
A private car and chauffeur will take you to Figureres, the hometown of the great artist, where you will visit the Dali Theatre-Museum, itself a playful, eccentric surrealistic masterpiece. From there, perhaps a visit of Dali’s home in Port Lligat,or the medieval castle in Púbol which he restored for his wife Gala.
Cuadro flamenco
No visit to Barcelona is complete without a flamenco show. Musicians play guitars and cajon, clap their hands, and sing, creating a heady backdrop to the sensual dancers in their flamboyant gowns. It’s an amazing experience. Thanks to its “little black book,” AAV can get you into the best flamenco venues in Barcelona.
When is the best time to visit Barcelona?
Stopping for tapas in the Gothic quarter, going up to the top of the Sagrada Familia—these are fabulous year-round, which makes difficult to say what the best season is to visit Barcelona.
Barcelona in winter:
In winter, Barcelona is cool but not cold, and the days tend to be sunny, which makes it an ideal winter destination. You’ll see Christmas lights along the Passeig de Gracia, pop-up ice skating rinks, and the Three Kings Parade. Fewer tourists also makes it’s a nice time to hit the Museu Nacion d’Art de Catalunya and the Museu Picasso.
Barcelona in spring:
The warmer weather brings spring flowers, which will make you want to enjoy the city’s numerous parks. The Jardins de Mossen Cinto Verdaguer is especially lovely in March and April. Sant Jordi, April 23, is known as the day of books and roses—the streets in Barcelona are lined with stalls selling books or roses, to exchange with your loved ones.
Barcelona in summer:
With the gorgeous weather, you might want to spend a summer day at the beach—and in Barcelona, all you have to do is walk a few blocks. Some of Barcelona’s ten beaches are considered among the best city beaches in the world. Summer is also a great time to see the music, light, and water-show at the Font Màgica Montjuïc. Stunning!
Barcelona in autumn:
Barcelona is probably at its busiest in autumn with events for the locals: the Super Series Sailing Week, the Barcelona Triathlon, numerous concerts to celebrate World Music Day, and the many exhibitions at Barcelona’s art galleries. Autumn is also a great time to visit wine country—both Alella and Penedez are nearby, and the countryside is aflame with fall foliage.
Travel tips about
Barcelona
Barcelona exemplifies Spanish joie de vivre and the country’s happy nature, even in the face of adversity. During the Spanish Civil War and under Franco, Barcelona experienced dark times… and yet the citizens have kept their identity, culture, and thirst for good times, which the city is now known for. You’ll want to visit the amazing Sagrada Familia cathedral, the Museu Nacion d’Art de Catalunya, the Fundació Antoni Tàpies, Parc Guell, Parc de la Ciutadella, as well as the many private homes and buildings designed by Gaudí.
Here are a few more ideas, off the beaten path:
01
The Shadow of the Wind
This novel, written by Spaniard Carlos Ruiz Zafón, takes place in Barcelona and gives you a tour of Barcelona as well as an understanding of what life here was under Franco. It’s also a great read, with intrigue, suspense, and the Cemetery of Forgotten Books…
02
Not just any rice…
Paella comes from the Catalan region, and some of the best are found in Barcelona. We recommend the Can Solé, an institution for over 120 years. Complete the traditional paella base (rice cooked in fish stock) with lobster, clams, cuttlefish, squid… Yum!
03
Jammin’ in July
If you travel to Barcelona in the summer, you will enjoy the Cap Roig Music Festival, held every year mid July. The festival takes place in a lovely setting– an open-air stage in the botanical gardens—and has featured artists such as Bob Dylan, Mark Knopfler and Elton John.
04
Sitges
Whether it’s the Zombie Walk during the Horror Film Festival each October or the drag-themed carnival in February, Sitges is a fun town. Located on the seaside just 40 km from Barcelona, it’s easy to get to and well worth visiting.
05
Best view in town
For a spectacular panorama of Barcelona and the Mediterranean Sea, go up to the Bunkers del Carmel, an anti-aircraft battery built in 1937 to protect Barcelona during the civil war. In the evenings, this is a popular spot among locals.
Plan
your trip
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