Barcelona has some of the most unusual, almost fantastical architecture in the world, thanks to Antoni Gaudi. His fluid, Catalan Surrealist/Modernist buildings are all over the city, shaping much of Barcelona’s unique and colourful character. Many of them are UNESCO World Heritage sites.
The city is also synonymous with top-flight Spanish football, its name often abbreviated to Barca, after FC Barcelona’s nickname. Even on short breaks to Barcelona, you’re virtually sure of experiencing its passion for the team and the sport.
There are sandy beaches and waterfronts where you can eat at bistros and restaurants, plus a waterfront to stroll along. It’s also a very old city, with plenty of small side streets to explore and small town squares where you can sit at cafes, listening to traditional Spanish street musicians.
With a warm Mediterranean coastal climate, absorbing architecture, natural beauty and a wealth of cultural attractions, a weekend break to Barcelona is very rewarding. For a nice centrally located hotel, look in the Eixample district – a place like Exe Plaza Catalunya will be spot on.
Please refer to the travel restrictions page on the KAYAK website for the most up-to-date travel restrictions before booking your travel.
Things to do on Barcelona city breaks
Saturday morning: Gaudi’s Barcelona attractions
For your first taste of food in Barcelona, head to Federal Cafe for an early brunch. With so much of the city’s character influenced by its architecture, a great way to get acclimated on a Barcelona city break is to visit the Antoni Gaudi-designed buildings.
Top of the list is the city’s most iconic building, Basilica de la Sagrada Familia, one of Barcelona’s UNESCO World Heritage sites. This is arguably Gaudi’s most famous building (or infamous, in some circles), a wonder of surrealist Art Nouveau architecture. Here, you couldn’t ask for better-placed accommodation than Hotel Sagrada Familia.
Some of his other important buildings to visit on a weekend break to Barcelona include Casa Mila, a fantastical private residence with an ornamental facade and free-flowing contours. It’s one of the finest examples of his Modernist work. Casa Batllo is also known as La Pedrera, “The Stone Quarry”, as this is what it most resembles. Its undulating shapes are fascinating, and inside you’ll find the Fundacio Catalunya Cultural Centre.
The piece de resistance is Parc Guell: Gaudi’s Surrealist Park. It’s also a World Heritage site, created in the early 1900s to showcase the architect’s work, on about 20 acres of landscaped gardens, olive groves and pine forests. It also contains Casa Museu Gaudi, the original house where he lived.
Saturday afternoon: historical heritage and museums in Barcelona
For an almost bewildering array of lunch choices, go to La Boqueria, a food market Barcelona residents have flocked to since the 1980s. It’s filled with eateries – the tiny El Quim de la Bouqueria has been a local favourite since the 80s.
Explore the city’s ancient heritage in Barri Gotic, the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona. You’ll see the remains of ancient Roman houses amid the old town’s buildings from the Middle Ages. Rising above the narrow cobbled streets and alleys is Catedral de la Santa Cruz y Santa Eulalia.
This is also where you’ll find the Picasso Museum and the Museum of History of Barcelona (Museu d’Historia de Barcelona). Another landmark is Placa del Rei, the main square. You’ll see residents socialising in tucked-away cafes and encounter kids playing street football. It’s a true slice of everyday traditional life that you can see on short breaks to Barcelona.
Speaking of football, the Barca Museum is also worth a visit, if only to admire the club’s incredible history. You can go on guided tours of the team’s change room and the players’ tunnel, and even walk out onto the hallowed pitch. A little further away, at Palau Nacional of Montjuic, is the National Art Museum of Catalonia (Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya).
Saturday night: hit the nightlife in Barcelona
To find the best nightlife for Barcelona city breaks, you can go to the city’s main social hub, La Rambla. It’s a long boulevard, stretching from the port district all the way to Placa de Catalunya, where you’ll find the Romanesque Convent of Santa Anna, from the 12th century. The pavements are lined with outdoor cafes, restaurants and other venues. You can enjoy a drink al fresco or watch live music and impromptu street performances.
For more action on a weekend break to Barcelona, La Rambla will also be a good choice. Here, you can head to either the trendy Boadas cocktail bar or Kiosk La Cazalla, or go for a pint at Wild Rover Irish Pub at the end of the strip. There’s also the Old Irish Pub, which is the preferred hangout for locals.
In the Eixample district, Robata is one of the best restaurants in Barcelona, a sushi bar and Japanese grill, while the main late-night spot where locals go to socialise is Belushi’s Bar. For a slightly older crowd (but not by much), there’s CocoVail Beer Hall. If you’re looking for something more sophisticated, head towards the Diagonal part of Eixample, where you’ll find places like Slow Barcelona and Firebug.
If partying is high on your agenda for Barcelona city breaks, you can stay in the middle of the action at a hotel like Sunotel Central.
Sunday morning: natural Barcelona attractions
Sleep in a little before setting out to explore the city’s natural areas, parks and gardens. Montjuic is on a hillside overlooking the city, where you’ll find views out over the Mediterranean and a natural park. For seaside parks, there’s La Barceloneta, a beach-side neighbourhood with a promenade lined with palm trees.
A large park you can visit on a weekend break to Barcelona is Ciutadella Park, which is also where you’ll find the Barcelona Zoo. You can also hire a row boat to go out on the lake, or have a picnic near a huge fountain that Gaudi helped design. Horta Labyrinth Park has ponds, waterfalls, bridges over flowing streams and a cypress maze created in 1791.
To explore the city’s natural biodiversity, you can visit Doctor Pla I Armengol Gardens, with its programmes for frogs, turtles, bats, birds and insects. If you’re on a weekend break to Barcelona from spring to autumn, you can marvel at the thousands of roses blooming in Cervantes Park.
Sunday afternoon: Barcelona road tripping
Sunday afternoon is the perfect time to take a drive and find some of the things to do in Barcelona on the outskirts of the city and beyond. You can hire a car through KAYAK and go on an afternoon road trip, stopping off at the many historical and cultural landmarks you’ll encounter. But first, eat some of the finest home-made paella, at Can Ramonet – they’ve been serving it since the 1960s.
A highlight of Catalan Gothic architecture not too far out of the city is Reial Monestir de Santa Maria de Pedralbes, on the Sant Pere Martir hillside, just on the city outskirts. You can also drive to the imposing Montserrat mountain peak, where you’ll find the Montserrat Monastery. It’s one of the main tourist attractions in Spain, built in the 11th century.
Costa Brava is also not too far away. It’s one of the most celebrated beaches in Europe, and a visit will also afford the opportunity to explore the town of Santa Susanna. It has historical watchtowers from the 15th to 18th centuries, to protect the village from pirates.
Sunday night: saying goodbye at the best restaurants in Barcelona
After you’ve returned from your road trip and freshened up, a lovely way to end your Barcelona city break is to sample some of the city’s finest cuisine. For a mixture of Catalan and Galician traditions, book a table at Botafumeiro, one of the most renowned restaurants in all of Spain. The service is as impeccable as the cooking. For more Catalan food, served in very generous portions, there’s Set Portes in the Old Town, which specialises in local seafood dishes. There’s also La Dama in the Eixample district, serving international cuisine in one of Barcelona’s hallmark Art Deco buildings, designed in 1918.
For Michelin-star dining, treat yourself at Comerc 24, where you can either choose to dine in the elegant restaurant section or enjoy a more informal meal at the tapas bar. Just make sure to book, as you won’t be able to find a walk-in table – it’s very popular and one of the best restaurants in Barcelona. You can also go to Boca Grande, one of the more chic restaurants in the city.
Finish off your all-too-short break to Barcelona at The Magic Fountain of Montjuic, a huge Art Deco fountain built for the 1929 International Exhibition. Its choreographed light shows are something to behold.
