MNAC, short for the National Art Museum of Catalonia, is one of Barcelona's most celebrated art galleries as it is home to the biggest collection of Catalan art in the world. Located in the Palau Nacional in Montjuic Hills, it was inaugurated in 1990. Originally used as a pavilion for the World Fair hosted by Barcelona in 1929, it has to be closed for renovations and was reopened in 1997.

If you are an art enthusiast, at National Art Museum of Catalonia, you will find art exhibited at its best. From the 11th century in the form of paintings, the articles displayed here are simply outstanding. You can also enjoy the huge assortment of ivory or wood sculptures featured here all the way from the Gothic era to the contemporary art. Art faced many transformations during this time, from neoclassicism to realism and finally modernism.

Housing the biggest collection of frescoes filling the rooms, the National Art Museum of Catalonia safeguards valuables from the vestibules of 29 churches so as to protect them from any damage. In addition, in the National Art Museum of Catalonia, you will also find smaller yet spectacular collections of Barouque and Renaissance.

If you have been into coin collection since your childhood, you are in for a big surprise. National Art Museum of Catalonia has a numismatics section that includes a collection of 134000 coins, medals and paper money with some as old as 6 century BC. Not only are these items antique, they are associated with some of the most momentous moments in history.

Enlightening you on all types of art, National Art Museum of Catalonia has sections that are individually dedicated to drawings, prints, posters and photography. The notables of the museum also include the huge paintings, panel paintings, carvings, metal and enamel works that dates back to 13th century.

Displayed in the National Art Museum of Catalonia are the eccentric fusions of figurative arts and their typologies and techniques that never fail to catch the eyes of the tourists. The National Art Museum of Catalonia also shows the evolution of the 'Virgin Mary' in European structure.

Not just dedicated to ancient art, here you will also find Catalan arts from the more recent 19th and 20th century. You will also find out about the different tendencies and art movements that were initiated in different points in time for various purposes.
For those who wish to learn more about the Catalan art, there is a library and archive and this National Art Museum of Catalonia also holds temporary exhibitions in order to spread mass awareness about the art form. In short, a trip to National Art Museum of Catalonia can be the experience of a lifetime for anyone.

Where to stay?

I recommend to book online accommodation Barcelona in advance.

How to arrive:
The MNAC is located in front of Plaça Espanya: Metro Red Line 1 and Green L3
• Buses: Bus Parc de Montjuïc (Av. de Maria Cristina-MNAC)
50 (Av. De l'Estadi/Piscines Picornell)
13 (Av. Marquès de Comillas/Poble Espanyol)
55 (Museu MNAC/Museu Etnològic)
37, 57 y 157 (Pl. Esanya-Av. Paral•lel)
fins a Pl. d'Espanya 9, 27, 30, 37, 56,57, 65, 79, 109, 157, 165
• Bus Turístic MNAC
• FGCL8, S33, S4, S8, R5, R6 (Espanya Station)

Feel the Adrenalin Pumping Up Your Veins!

If you are a holiday-maker and looking for fun and exciting things to do in Barcelona, it is time for you to indulge in the most exciting experience of your life through go karting in Barcelona. Helping you assess your driving skills as you race yourself to victory, this highly invigorating activity is not for the faint of heart.

Helping you experience new heights of excitement, it leaves you breathless as you make those sharp turns at breakneck speeds. There are a few things that are as delighting as go karting in Barcelona. Featuring about 600 venues for the activity in the city and surroundings, you can perfect your technique with practice. The most ideal activity to enjoy with friends or colleagues, this is one thing that the speed demons are bound to love.

And if you are looking for good accommodation deals in Barcelona, I recommend you to click here.

Some of the go karting venues offered in and near Barcelona are as follows:

Gene Karting

Gene karting allows you to go kart with two very promising circuits. The first one is in Badalona named after the city, giving everyone a chance to enjoy the racing world safely. Aimed at ensuring utmost fun, at Badalona circuit, you experience speed and fun like never before.

 Another go karting in Barcelona province track that Gene Karting offers is Terrassa. A new circuit started a while back, Terrassa promises to give you flexibility with a huge assortment of curves and speeds you can enjoy here. Come squeeze your kart, flaunt your finesse and enjoy the new facilities that the Terrassa circuit has to offer. Moreover, Gene Karting also offers simulation making use of the latest simulation technology.

Kartodrom Catalunya

Another place where you can enjoy karting in Barcelona is Kartodrom Catalunya. An impressive outdoor track that is just a short distance away from the city of Barcelona, here you can enjoy seven different car tracks to meet all your demands and desires. Located in an area called Poligin Industrial El Pla, here you experience novelty at its best.

IK Indoor Karting

The track offered by IK Indoor Karting is located in Saint Feliu De Llobregat. Allowing you to get a good grip of the sudden twists and turns, this track is the perfect combination of friction and glide. Considered as Spain's premier karting track, it is not only close to Barcelona but also offers some of the most mind-boggling turns.

With the huge plethora of tracks offered to go karting in Barcelona and its surroundings, vacationing in the area is a dream come true for excitement seeking souls.

If you are a fan of soccer and planning on spending some Barcelona holiday, a good idea is to go there when there is a FC Barcelona match!

The great team is often playing at home, in the famous stadium named "Camp Nou" -which literally means New Field. While staying in your Barcelona accommodation, you must see the team playing and enjoy its vibrant atmosphere. The stadium has a capacity of 99,354 so you don't have to worry, there will always have some FC Barcelona tickets left so you can assist a match!

Created in 1899, the FC Barcelona has since won 11 UEFA competitions, 25 Spanish cups and is the first club to win six out of six competitions in a single year, thus completing the sextuple.

To buy your FC Barcelona tickets; there is nothing easier than booking them online. You can find your FC Barcelona tickets for the date you prefer, and also booking at the same time, any barcelona accommodation apartments.

If you want to be the closest possible from the Camp Nou, you can also easily find a barcelona budget accommodation in the district of Les Corts.

How to get there?

If you are getting there by car, the address is Camp Nou Stadium. Avda. Aristides Maillol s/n, Barcelona.
To get to Camp Nou by metro, we advice you to stop at Badal or Collblanc with L5 (blue line) or with L3 (green line) at metro stops Palau Reial or Universitaria.
By bus, get off at "Estadi del Futbol Club Barcelona?" stop, from line 15, 75, 12.

We will help you discover the erotic museum Barcelona. Always entertaining and (too) often confused with pornography.

This is the first museum in Spain where you can study the development of eroticism through various artistic and cultural facets of the human being: anthropology, history, archeology...

The erotic museum in Barcelona proudly presents over 800 important works of art and historical value, from various cultures, erotic rituals, whether of religious purpose or as a fun factor. There may be an offer of contemporary art exhibition with globally recognized artists.

 If you stay in a Barcelona apartment, be aware of the fact that the museum is open from Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. in October until May and from 10 a.m. to 21 p.m. in June until September.

 Where to find the erotic museum Barcelona?

The museum eroticism Barcelona is located near your vacation rental Barcelona, ??on the famous street La Rambla.

Adress: La Rambla 96, Barcelona

By Metro: Liceu stop, L3 (green line) or you can stop at Catalunya (L1 and L2 violet and red line) and take a walk down the Ramblas.

Where to sleep during your vacation in Barcelona?

If you want to stay on the Ramblas, and near the erotic museum in Barcelona, ??you can find many apartments in Barcelona as well as many hotels in Barcelona.

  The Chocolate museum Barcelona has at one's disposal 600 m² in the city center of Barcelona which will delight the gourmands for their Barcelona holidays in Barcelona apartment.

The gourmands visitors will taste the sweetness of the chocolate for their Barcelona holidays.

The chocolate museum Barcelona also called Museu de la Xocolatain catalán or Museo del Chocolate in spanish is the first in Catalunya. It was open in 2000 and can reach until 92 000 visitors by yeat like in 2007. He was created by the regional pastry corporation of Barcelona which wanted to propose something new, an innovative museum.

The chocolate museum Barcelona that you can visit for a walk in the gothic district, the Barrio Gotico tries to become international thanks to its expositions and the high number of activities proposed.

If you like chocolate, it is the place for you for your Barcelona holidays. The chocolate museum Barcelona proposes workshops for children.

The workshops of the chocolate museum are the following:

The chocolate artists: This activity is proposed for children from 4 to 12 years old. It costs 6.85 euro for one hour activity. The aim of the animation is to create a figurine in chocolate helped by chocolate professionals.

The discover way of the cacao: The children from 6 to 12 will discover for 7.5 euros through games the evolution and history of the chocolate for one hour.

The Fabulous history of the deesse Xispeta of the Cacao : For the children from 3 to 6 years, a visit through theater and stories enable to enter in the chocolate world for 6.85 euros.

Do not miss the chocolate sculptures for your holidays in Barcelona apartment: you will find fictive personage, monuments from Lucky Luck, the Camp Nou, Asterix, Bob the sponge to the salamander fountain of the Park Guell.

You can also do the guided tour of the chocolate museum Barcelona to discover the origine of the museum, the fabrication of the chocolate and to taste the best chocolates of Barcelona for your holidays in Barcelona apartment.

If you come to the chocolate museum Barcelona, walk in the small streets of the Barrio Gotico. To enjoy both the chocolate museum and the Si vous venez au musee du chocolat, balladez-vous dans les petites ruelles du Barrio Gotico, we our advice is to book now a Barcelona apartment in the Barrio Gotico.

Opening hours

Monday - Saturday:10am to 7 pm

Sunday: 10am to 3pm

Price of the chocolate museum Barcelona:

ticket: 4,30 €

group ticket : 3,50 €

Adress of the chocolate museum Barcelona - Museu de la Xocolata

Adresse :

Plaça Pons I Clerch, S/N

08003 Barcelona

Phone number Chocolate museum Barcelona:

              932 687 878       

The Maraton Barcelona 2011 will take place the 6th of March at 8.30 a.m. Avenue Maria Cristina. The first runner will do the course of 42 km in less than 3 hours and will arrive approximately at 10.40 a.m.  The course is urban. The maraton Barcelona 2011 is open to people from 18 years old and without limit of age.

For those who want to participate or encourage runners for the Maraton Barcelona 2011, book an apartment Barcelona is advised. Indeed for the Maraton Barcelona 2011, people come from all around the world. If you want to stay close to the course and have a confortable place to sleep, think to book early your apartment Barcelona. You can book easily with BarcelonaPoint. You can even find a selection of apartments for the Maraton Barcelona 2011 to facilitate your choice of apartment Barcelona.

The Maraton Barcelona 2011 is green this year. Several actions will be organized to manage the impact of the marathon Barcelona 2011 on the city. A selective collection of garbage and clothes will be done and conferences on sustainable development will take place for the Marathon Barcelona 2011.

You can registrer to the Maraton Barcelona 2011 for 70 euros until the 20th of February if it is not done yet. With 12 211 participants last year, the Maraton Barcelona 2011 becomes really famous in Europe. The number of participants and spectators increases each year. The winner of the Maraton Barcelona 2010 was Jackson Kotut from Kenya.

The course goes in all the most popular and beautiful places of Barcelona: the famous Camp Nou stadium, the Ramblas, the Passeig de Gracia, the place Catalunya, the place Espanya, the Sagrada Familia and all the other famous monuments of the city of Barcelona. Thus, you need an apartment Barcelona in the centre to enjoy your week end in Spain. For the runners, an apartment Barcelona in the city centre will be more convenient, the runners will be able to practice the course in real and even for spectators, an apartment Barcelona in the centre is still very convenient.

For spectators, there will be animations and events all the day for the Maraton Barcelona 2011. Twelve points of animations will propose different activities to encourage the participants of the Maraton Barcelona 2011.

So hurry up to book your apartment Barcelona and come to encourage your favorite athletes.

To get to the Camp Nou Barcelona in order to watch the exciting FC Barcelona match, you can take the L5 (blue line) and step out at Collblanc. It is also possible to take the green L3 and step out at Maria Cristina or Palau Reial. You could also use the Tramvia to see the FC Barcelona vs Rubin Kazan 2010 match; then you can take T1, T2 or T3 and step out at Avenida de Xile or Ernest Lluch. To use the Tramvia also means that you can see more during your vacation in Barcelona, so that might be a good solution!

Twice a year, there is a football game in Spain which is one of the most important and legendary games, the match FC Barcelona vs Real Madrid 2010, the battle of the giants. And on 29th November 2010 the match will take place in the famous Camp Nou Barcelona. Buy the FC Barcelona tickets along with a nice Barcelona holiday rental Camp Nou already now, so you don't miss it!

News: The date of the match was delayed because of the Catalan parliament elections taking place on the 28th November.

Because of this, El Clasico 2010 - the match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid takes place at Monday, November 29th. Prepare for that and enjoy this incredible football game!

El Clásico or the Classic, as this match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid is called, dates back to 1902, when the first match between these football legends occurred. The Real Madrid vs FC Barcelona rivalry is therefore very old and the two football clubs regularly compete against each other in order to determine who the best team of Spain is. The Barcelona against Madrid matches can also be seen as a match between Catalonia and the rest of Spain.

 
During the time of the matches, Barcelona will be visited by many fans wanting to see the highly anticipated football game, not only from Spain, but also from the whole world! A perfect occasion for a short trip holiday in Barcelona of course. Real Madrid vs FC Barcelona tickets usually sell out really fast, so book early to experience the most important football match in the world.

 
If you have the FC Barcelona tickets, it is wise to choose a Barcelona holiday rental close to the Camp Nou Stadium, as you can be sure that metros and other public transports are full. I suggest Barcelona hotels or apartments in Les Corts, because from there, you have a walking distance to the stadium. So a Barcelona Apartment Camp Nou is the best way to enjoy the match the most.

But of course, also Barcelona visitors who do not get the chance to purchase a ticket for Camp Nou can enjoy the match; the FC Barcelona vs Real Madrid 2010 game will be showed on big screens throughout the city. In any case, during your Barcelona holiday you will experience the city pulsating and vibrating. And besides the game, there is a lot to see and to do in Barcelona.

The last football game between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona was in April 2010, with FC Barca as the clear winner scoring 0-2. Another famous piece of Barcelona's pride was the game against Real Madrid in May 2009, where FC Barca won and scored 6 goals!

So this El Clasico match of FC Barcelona and Real Madrid 2010 is really a must, whether you like football or not! The atmosphere in the city cannot be described, with numerous after parties (no matter how the results are) and an anticipating exaction. Don't hesitate and plan your Barcelona hotel or apartment near Camp Nou now, for a weekend of unique events!

Starting on November 14th, all athletes or people who like to walk have the chance to participate in the Caminada de Montjuic 2010!

The Caminada de Monjtuic marathon is a yearly walk around Barcelona and the Montjuic Mountain which is about 10 km. Not only people who want to attend this Barcelona event will like it, visitors can also just watch the impressing number of people walking around the city. A perfect occasion to book a Barcelona apartment or a Barcelona hotel!

1283 people participated in the Caminada de Montjuic 2007, in 2008 there were 1771 and last year, during the Caminada de Montjuic 2009, 2161 people participated in this exciting event. You can see its popularity rising, so be prepared that this year there are going to be even more participants!

The Caminada de Montjuic 2010 starts on 14th November at the Parc de les Tres Xemeneies, Barcelona at 9.30 am, with no necessary registration. You can easily get there by using the metro and stepping out at Parallel. The Parallel station is crossed by the green L3 and the purple L2.

If you decide to participate in this Barcelona event during your Barcelona holiday however, be aware that this walk can be strenuous and exhausting. You should have build up a decent condition and have trained in advance to avoid accidents or injuries. But you can also always stop and take a break!

When you plan your vacation in Barcelona and arrive a little bit earlier than November 14th, you could also train in one of the wonderful parks in Barcelona. The Parc del Montjuic is for example favored by many for that.

 
I also want to give a little bit general information for beginners in walking. Like mentioned before, it is important to have a enough condition and practice in walking. In case you feel insecure that you finish the Caminada de Montjuic, don't be ashamed to stop! Your health is more important! It is also wise to consult a doctor for a medical inspection, or a professional trainer in a gym club.

Because this sport event in Barcelona is gaining more and more popularity, you should be there an hour before it starts. This way you have enough time to prepare and warm up.
Besides that, the Caminada de Montjuic 2010 in Barcelona should be an exciting event and perfect if you want to experience sport activities during your Spain holiday in Barcelona!

If you love parks and enjoy spending your time in them, I have a nice suggestion for you: use your Barcelona vacation to visit the Parc de la Ciutadella in Barceloneta, not far from the sea.

Besides the famous Parc Güell, which you of course also should visit, the romantic park is one of Barcelona's most beautiful parks. It's perfect for couples, but everyone including families and single persons should enjoy this park.

The Parc de la Ciutadella Barcelona is really large, giving you the possibility to participate in different activities such as sport or just relaxing and enjoying the plants and calmness.

There is an enormous and beautiful fountain with an impressing golden statue on top of it. It is called the Cascada and has also a little triumphal arch with a small waterfall. The Cascada was designed specifically for the universal exhibition in 1888 with Gaudí as assistant. Inspiration for the Cascada was the famous Trevi Fountain in Rome, Italy.
The fountain is the perfect location to take wonderful pictures - it could even be the perfect wedding location with a small pavilion right next to it and a nearby church in the park. So why don't like to spend your Barcelona holiday or honeymoon and enjoy the park? You can also have a romantic picnic together.

In the pavilion, music is sometimes played in the evening, another wonderful chance to spend your honeymoon or vacation. Enjoy this cultural event in Barcelona if you like to dance or just love listening to music. You can also rent a boat and steer it on the small lake located in the park. A boat for two costs 6€, three persons have to pay 9€ and four or five 10€. You can use the boat for half an hour.

The church mentioned earlier is situated opposite the Catalan Parliament in the Parc de la Ciutadella and you can attend messes every Sunday on 10 a.m. Furthermore, there are different statues located in the park and each of them tells its own history.
But also those who want to see a little bit more the park is a good solution for spending free time.

The Parc de la Ciutadella has also the famous Barcelona Zoo and many museums. Maybe you have heard of the Zoo's late mascot: the albino-gorilla called Snowflake or Copito de Nieve. Although the popular gorilla unfortunately died of skin cancer (people or animals with albinism lack melanin, a pigment found in all cells - this leads to a higher risk of skin cancer), the zoo is still worth a visit.

The Parc de la Ciutadella is so big and beautiful that you can visit it a lot and still discover plants and places you didn't see before. Also, you have to see the park in the different seasons! It doesn't matter if it's spring, summer, autumn or winter, the park is breathtaking everytime. It is a perfect location in Barcelona to spend time with your partner, family or friends, due to the mass of leisure activities.

To get to the park, you could best take the L4 (yellow line) and step out at Ciutadella-Villa Olimpica or Barceloneta or take the L1 (red line), step out at Arc de Triompf and walk towards the Parc de la Ciutadella.

This year in October, the International Jazz Festival in Barcelona takes places again in Barcelona!

The 42nd Voll-Damm Festival Internacional de Jazz de Barcelona (the official name) will start on October 3rd and end on December 2nd throughout the whole city. So if you book a Barcelona holiday rental in the city, it practically doesn't matter where exactly, you can be sure that there is always a Jazz performance close to you!

Although the complete line-up still needs to be confirmed, you can nevertheless expect well-known names to perform on the International Jazz Festival in Barcelona! A confirmed name will be Jamie Cullum, perfoming in the Palau de la Musica Catalana on Friday, 26th November at 9:00 p.m.

The English singer-songwriter is known to largely improvise his gigs, also including different musical influences and combining it with Jazz. That is of course perfect for the International Jazz Festival in Barcelona. Don't miss him if you like the unexpected! According to the official website, the prices for tickets will range from 32€ to 65€, so keep that in mind if you want to use your Barcelona holidays for this event. But if you find Barcelona apartments cheap enough that shouldn't be a problem.

Also do not forget to check the official Jazz Festival in Barcelona website to keep you updated if a new performer is confirmed!

Depending on your personal preferences, you can choose the dates for your Barcelona holidays to match with other events. In December for example start a lot of Christmas markets in Barcelona, the largest one being the Feria de Santa Lucia where you can buy a lot of interesting and traditional souvenirs to give to family and friends (I wrote here about Christmas in Barcelona last year).

 
And you can also buy your other Christmas presents! I'm sure you know that Barcelona is a perfect location for shopping sprees with a lot of outlet stores and department stores.
So what do you think about combining your interest in the International Jazz Festival in Barcelona with Christmas shopping during your next holiday in Barcelona?

Do you like concerts? Well, then it's time to already plan your Barcelona holidays in October!

Former "The Police" lead singer Sting is giving a concert in Barcelona 2010 on October 29th in the Palau Sant Jordi! The Palau Sant Jordi Barcelona is located in the Parc Del Montjuic and also used for sport games and matches.

You can get to the Stadion Palau Sant Jordi if you take the green L3 until Poble Sec or Parallel (the purple L2 also crosses this station).After the concert or even before could walk around the beautiful park or towards the Plaza Espanya, which is not too far away, while gazing at Barcelona's amazing monuments and architecture.

You can look for a hotel in Barcelona which is close, or if you look for a more low cost accommodation, you should search for a Barcelona apartment cheap enough but of course with a good quality.

Sting was born in the United Kingdom and is a well-known singer, songwriter and also actor. His most famous songs include amongst many others the often covered Police song "Every Breath You Take", "Englishman in New York" (one of the many covers of this song is "Jamaican in New York), Desert Rose and Fragile. Sting even recorded a new version of "Fragile" called "Fragilidad" singing in Spanish for the musical project Rhythms del Mundo.

That would fit perfectly to your Barcelona vacation! The Sting concert 2010 in Barcelona is also a perfect occasion for a short weekend trip to the beautiful Barcelona.

As mentioned before, the concert takes places on Friday, 29th October. On the rest of the weekend you can enjoy your accommodation in Barcelona and visit the city's other sights.

So keep this weekend free and take part in this nice Barcelona event!

On October 8th until October 10th the Nacional Royal Breed Exposition will organize the Sieger Show 2010 in Barcelona for the first time. It is all about the German shepherd, a popular dog not only in Germany.

Besides the Sieger Show 2010 in Barcelona, in which the best German shepherd is crowned after a competition, there will also be a lot of stands with information about animals, for example how to raise a puppy, adequate animal housing and feeding. Dog-owners as well as people without animals who are staying in their Barcelona apartment rental or hotel can visit the Sieger Show 2010 in Barcelona to provide themselves with information.

The Sieger Show 2010 in Barcelona will be held in the Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, which is located on the Olympic ring, or Anella Olímpica as it's called in Barcelona. It is situated in the Parc de Montjuic, directly next to the Poble Espanyol de Barcelona.

If you spend your vacation in Barcelona around October 8th, you should visit the Sieger Show 2010, especially if you like animals and especially dogs a lot! The location in the park offers you more activities you can engage in; you could take a relaxing walk around the park or visit the famous Poble Espanyol. To have a short walking distance, I suggest a Barcelona Hotel in the Sants-Montjuic district of the city.

The closest metro station is the Plaza Espanya, crossed by the red L1 and the green L3 line. From there, you can walk towards the Palau Nacional (and visit it if you want) and then on the right hand towards the park Montjuic.

For owners of a German shepherd it is also possible to enlist their dog to participate in the competition. The inscription prices differ, so if you are interested you should check the official site for details.

In any case, spending your Barcelona holidays on October 8th has a lot of benefits. The beautiful city is worth a visit in every time of the year, so search for a good accommodation in Barcelona and you will experience the charming Barcelona once more!

You don't have the chance to combine your interest in books with the love for travelling very often in your life. But next week, the Liber International Book Fair Barcelona gives you the possibility to book a hotel for your Barcelona holidays and at the same time look for a new book to add to your stash!

It takes places already next week in the Fira de Barcelona at the Plaza Espanya from Wednesday, 29th September until Friday, 1st October. The Plaza Espanya Barcelona is crossed by two lines, the red L1 and the green L3, so you should enter them in order to get to the Liber International Book Fair Barcelona. In the metro, the station is listed as Espanya, not Plaza Espanya so don't let that distract you.

The Liber Book Fair 2010 is very popular for Spain's publishing industry, so everyone interested in reading - private persons or professional persons - shouldn't miss this fair. It is not only highly regarded and important; it has also a lot of activities you can participate in! The best way is to book a central apartment in Barcelona so you can reach the Liber Book Fair Barcelona from walking distance. Hotels in Barcelona near the Plaza Espanya are also a good solution; however, most times are Barcelona apartments cheap in comparison to central hotels.

Those who think the Barcelona Football club is the only important sports club in Barcelona are wrong! Besides the world-known soccer team, Barcelona is also home of the multiple winners of ABC championships and the Euroleague - Regal FC Barcelona.  This impressing famous basketball team has its home base in the Palau Blaugrana in Barcelona. And although football is usually more popular in Europe, basketball also has a wide fanbase here.

And on Thursday, October 7^th, Regal FC Barcelona will meet another legend of basketball:  the Los Angeles Lakers or more commonly known as L.A. Lakers.  You don't want to miss this chance to book your vacation in Spain!

The Lakers belong to the National Basketball Association (NBA) and are the winners of the 2010 NBA finals. Currently they are probably the most important basketball team in the United States, which makes them an impressing opponent for Regal FC Barcelona.

Another interesting fact is that one player of the LA Lakers, Pau Gasol, is originally from Barcelona. It will be sure an interesting match for him, playing against his former home, as well as for visitors who want to enjoy a wonderful event in Barcelona.

So in October Barcelona will once again be the centre of attraction when it plays host to a match of two gigants! The friendly match takes places at the Palau Sant Jordi, so you should book your low cost Barcelona apartment already now, so you can walk directly towards the stadium.

To get to the Palau Sant Jordi Barcelona, which is located in the Parc de Montjuic, you should take the L3 (the green line) and step out at Poble Sec or Parallel, or you can also take the L2 (the purple line) and step also out at Parallel. If you don't mind, you can also step out at the Plaza Espanya  (L1 - the red line and L3 - the green line both cross this place) and take a walk through the beautiful city of Barcelona and enjoy the sights you come across.

When the colors of blue and maroon will fight against the colors of purple and gold, which one will win? I, of course, hope that Regal FC Barcelona beats the LA Lakers. But to be fair, may the best one win!

Boat owners and those who want to have a boat in the future have now the chance to visit the annual Barcelona International Boat Show, Salon Nautico. The event will take place from November 6^th until November 14^th at Gran Via and Port Vell for the 49^th time this year.

The Salon Nautico Barcelona has of course an ideal location for an International Boat Show because Barcelona is directly at the Mediterranean Sea and offers therefore many possibilities for boat owners.

If you plan to attend the Barcelona International Boat Show at Port Vell, you can walk comfortably from your Ramblas Barcelona Apartment along the famous Las Ramblas towards the harbor. This port is the ninth largest container port in Europe and besides a free trade zone also has the Maremagnum, a really big mall and a multiplex cinema. After the show or before you watch a movie or shop in one of the many different stores at Las Ramblas.

The best way to get to the Port Vell is if you take the L3 (the green one) until Drassanes and then walk towards the sea.

But also the venue at Gran Via offers a great location with a lot of shops and impressing buildings to see. To get to the Gran Via venue it is easiest to use the bus 79 or, if you don't mind walking a little bit to enjoy the beautiful buildings, you can either take the L1 (red one) and step out at Bellvitge or the same line and step out at Santa Eulàlia. Both are more or less the same away from the Gran Via venue.

During the Salon Nautico Barcelona there will be different sections, for professionals as well as private persons. At Port Vell, large vessels like mega-yachts will be displayed, at Gran Via there will be more different displays. Examples include accessories, sailboats, speedboats, paints, a shopping area and many more.

Of course there will also be regattas that are exciting to watch. Don't miss them! But also for smaller visitors the Salon Nautico Barcelona could be very interesting: the Spanish Navy organizes seafaring baptisms for schoolchildren and there are many simulators for sailing or fishing (which also are interesting for adult visitors of course).

And for persons who want to exhibit at the Salon Nautica Barcelona, there is the possibility to book different options. After all, Barcelona is a very popular business centre and according to the fair, more than the half of all boat sales in Spain start at this important fair.

 So if you are in a Barcelona hotel or apartment during the 6^th and 14^th November, you should visit the International Boat Show in Barcelona, as it offers many possibilities for young and old or professional and private! 

If you think that after the summer season there are not many interesting events in Barcelona, you're wrong! Starting from November 5^th until December 5^th, the famous Cirque du Soleil will be present in Barcelona.

If you book your Barcelona apartment rentals early enough in advance, you can make sure that you find cheap Barcelona apartments that are not overpriced, because the high season is over in November. So take your time and prepare everything soon to avoid any stress that might occur.

The Cirque du Soleil, which means Circus of the Sun, is probably the most famous circus in the world. It was created in 1984 in Quebec, Canada (and not France, as many think) by two street performers. Since then, it has risen to fame during the years. I'm sure you already have heard the name!

Contrary to what comes in your mind when you think of circus, the Cirque du Soleil has no performances of or with animals, which is a huge benefit for many people. Instead, the show offers amazing and breathtaking performances of different (human) artists, with incredibly detailed costumes. The Cirque du Soleil has many different shows, but there is always unbelievable acrobatic artistry, dances inspired from different regions, juggling, balancing and act on the trapezes that are really wonderful to see.

The Cirque du Soleil Shows are also always inspired by cultures all over the world and combine traditional customs, myths and legends with fantasy elements, showing peak performances of the acrobats that make you gaze in amazement and wonder about the capabilities of the human body! But don't feel intimidated, it is really a must to see the Cirque du Soleil in Barcelona.

 The Show of the Cirque du Soleil in Barcelona is called Varekai and takes place in a fantastic wood with the main character, Icarus, whose name might sound familiar to you. The duration is about three hours, so prepare for that.

Besides their tours and shows, the Cirque du Soleil also releases albums and singles which are quite popular. If you enjoyed the show and music you could buy a CD to have nice souvenir from this event and to remember the great time you spend every time you listen to the music.

So if you in Barcelona or the surrounding and you like exceptional events, you should book your tickets for the Cirque du Soleil in Barcelona early as this popular show is probably sold out fast!

The prices usually range from around 30 € up to around 200€ per ticket, depending on seat and age.

The Cirque du Soleil in Barcelona takes places directly at the beach, at the Grand Chapiteau, at the Plataforma Zoo Marino near the Forum.

You can either enjoy your stay and book a Barcelona hotel that is really close to that, to walk along the beautiful houses and the beach before or after the show.

Or if you are in a Barcelona Hotel in other districts, you can take the metro L4 (the yellow one) and step out at Selva de Mar or Besòs Mar.

Enjoy the Cirque du Soleil in Barcelona and maybe take a romantic walk after the show along the beach!

From the 16th to the 19th of September, the 99th international jumping competition (CSIO) will take place in Barcelona. The event is organized by the Real Club de Polo de Barcelona and gather the best riders in the in the world who will compete on an imposed program of twelve classes. If you are a fan of the equestrian world or just if you are spending your holidays in a nice Barcelona hotel or Barcelona apartment in September, you shouldn't miss this event!

 
The program will start at 11:00 am on the 16th and will include various events like shows, diners or cocktails, and of course different competitions to win different prices. To be sure not to miss anything you can even eat at the panoramic restaurant, a gourmet restaurant situated on the principal stand. And if you planned to go with your children, this is not a problem: they will be able to discover the equestrian world at the pony park, a small park located near from the competition.

The competition will take place at the Real Club de Polo de Barcelona situated in the Parc de Berrida , Palau Reial. This place is easy to access from Barcelona Center: you can even go by metro.

Real Club de Polo de Barcelona

How about enjoying some good music in a nice park during a warm summer night? That's possible in Barcelona: the Musica als Parcs program for 2010 already started since June the 2nd in different parks of the city. If you are enjoying holidays in the city and staying in an hotel Barcelona or in a Barcelona apartment, you should definitely find the nearest park and go there to enjoy some jazz or classical music tonight!

All concerts are totally free and the event will last until the last week of august. They take place in eight different parks of Barcelona depending on the type of music that will be played. Thus, you can enjoy some classical music in the following parks: Turó Park , Jardines de Príncipe de Girona and in the parque de la Ciutadella. Jazz music concerts will also be in the Parque de la Ciutadella but in the Jardines de los Derechos Humanos as well. Moreover, you can enjoy concerts from the municipal band in the Parque de la Creueta del Coll, Parque de Diagonal Mar, Parc de la Barceloneta et Parque de la Guineueta.

Classical concerts are every Thursdays and Fridays and start at 10pm while jazz concerts take place every Tuesdays Wednesdays at 10pm. For municipal band concerts, you should check the dates on the Musica als Parcs program but keep in mind that they all start at 8pm.

As every year, the musicians for classical concerts were selected by a jury of experts and are a part of the Conservatorio del Gran Teatro program y de la ESMUC (Escuela Superior de Música de Cataluña) . The jazz musicians were also carefully selected so you can be sure to listen to good music!

Now, it's only up to you to choose which type of concert you want to be attending!

What would Spain be without its famous Tapas, Sangria, Beaches, and of course Flamenco ?

Do not miss the opportunity to attend a show of Flamenco in Barcelona. How amazing would it be to enjoy a modern and comfortable Hotel in Barcelona, or an Apartment in Barcelona and being able to enjoy the traditional Spanish Flamenco in Barcelona? Whether you are on holiday, on business trip, on visit, study abroad, do not leave with regrets.

Here is a guide of where you can find Flamenco shows in Barcelona:

Sala Montjuic: Open air film and music festival: 2d of August: Cargolé Flamenco in Montjuic Castle. Cargolé is a project built around the unmistakable, emotive sounds of the flamenco guitar, given its head in a contemporary music setting in search of intimate atmospheres in which audiences can lose themselves amid its notes and harmonies. Do not wait and check how far it is from your accommodation in Barcelona with the tube map, Line1 and Line3 get off at Plaza Espanya.

El Tablao Cordobes: Located in the heart of the Ramblas, arabic-andalusian influenced Flamenco in Barcelona, you will enjoy the food and the high quality shows at the same time.

El Tablao de Carmen: Created in 1988 as a tribute to the famous Flamenco dancer: Carmen Amaya. Located in Montjuic, this restaurant is renowned for its amazing 60 minute-long shows based on the purest flamenco music, dance and songs tradition featuring famous flamenco artists and young promising dancers.

Palacio del Flamenco: Located in an old theatre in the centre of Barcelona.

Years ago, Barcelona has developed to a major European shopping center. Since then, crowds of visitors flock to Barcelona not just beacause of a holiday in Barcelona to spend at the beach but also to check out the numerous shopping possibilities.

With more than 35,000 stores, Barcelona offers a huge choice covering every taste. Also, Barcelona owns the largest shopping street within Europe having a length of 5 km. It leads from one end of the city to the other and is THE hotspot for all shopping enthousiasts. Moreover, shopping tourists appreciate the proximity of their accommodation to this major shopping spots. Therfore, Barcelona hotels in the Eixample district are very popular among those tourists.

Walking along the Passeig de Gracia and the Rambla de Catalunya give you the opportunity to enter one of the most popular shops. Beside juwelier, gastronomy and shoe stores you will find everything you need. In addition to that, the Passeig de Gracia provides you with cultural sights, such as the Casa Milà, the Casa Lleó Morera, the Casa Amatller and the Casa Amatller. To sum up, Barcelona can offer you a delight for the senses.

Those of you who will be visiting Barcelona in the beginning of June, will be able to see a magnificent theater show at the Teatro Poliorama.

For many people, family holidays do not only mean to stay at the beach and relax all day long, but also to do some cultural activities. If you go from your Barcelona apartment or your Barcelona hotel to the Poliorama theater in Barcelona, you can jion a colourful and joyful celebration.

This show is for the young and young at heart celebrating with numerous characters from fairytales and popular stories, such as the Wizard of Oz and many more. The show starts at 12:30 pm. Beside music and magic, there will also be circus artists entertaining the audience. This celebration usually heralds the end of the theatre season and is celbrated every year.

Tickets can be bought at the Servi Caixa homepage.

Adress:

C/ La Rambla, 115 - 08002 Barcelona,

Tel. (+34) 933 177 599

Do you like doing sports? Do you love to run marathons? Then you should definitely come to Barcelona on the 7th of March 2010. A few thousand runner will open here the marathon season in Europe on the famous Placa Catalunya when they will start at 8:30 a m. Don't miss such an outstanding event! Pack your shoes and book a Barcelona hotel. But you should be aware that your Barcelona accommodation is near the Placa Catalunya as the marathon and all the events around it will be there. So you will have enough time to attend for example the sport exhibition which will take place 2 days before. It is your last possibility to get the latest equipment.
The Barcelona marathon itself has a great history. The first time that event took place was in 1987 but not exactly like today. So it was a run from a suburb of Barcelona to the city. Since a few years it is a true city marathon. The 42 km trail is going from the bottom of Montjuic to Camp Nou in the north. Afterwards you will pass the Avinguda Diagonal in the direction of Eixample, Passeig de Gracia, Sagrada Familia and then back to Placa Catalunya. Within this run you will pass the most famous sightseeing in the whole city. Run past the Casa Milà, the Torre Agbar and the Arc de Triomf.
Every 5 km there will be refreshing stations where you can drink something. The registration fee is usually 65 Euros but if you will sign in during the rest days of February you will get an discount of 10 Euros.
So don´t miss this unique chance to discover the megacity during running!

If you don´t know what to do between the 27th of January and the 29th of January 2010 and if you are a fashion victim, you should definitely come to Barcelona! Not only because Barcelona is really know for its fashion and trends but because in this period of time the Brandery will take place here. In line with the great fashion shows all over Europe international designer will show their latest fashion creations, mainly in the urban fashion. So if you want to be in the middle of the fashion circuses just book a Barcelona hotel. But be aware to have your accommodation in Barcelona near the Fira Barcelona. Thus you will avoid the chaos in the public transportations and have a relaxed stay here.
Every year more and more visitors come to see the Brandery. Last year over 53 500 people from all over the world wanted to see the latest trends from more than 100 exhibitors and designers. In this way the hosts will manage to reach their goal - to become the most important fashion exhibition of this kind in Europe.
The place itself is departed in four different areas. In "the cathedral" the designers present their own brands. In "the loft" you will find selected components, whereas in the "warehouse" designs with a lot of denim can be found. If you prefer the sporty style - no problem at all. At "the stadium" the latest fashion trends in sneakers and street wear is shown.
Furthermore, there are special areas where one can relax and where people discuss about the trends.
So you see, you will find there something for every taste. Don´t miss the chance to discover the latest trends. Maybe you can tray on a few of them!

You want to see some art and culture during you holidays in Barcelona? Then I really recommend you to go to the Picasso museum which is the most popular museum of the town. It is also the most visited one. So you will find definitely a cheap Barcelona hotel in the neighborhood and then the museum is within walking distance as well as the most other important things of the city. So additionally you will discover yet unknown places, cafés and restaurants.
The main focus of the museum is the young years of the painter and the development of art. So there is chronological order for the more than 3800 works. Every period of his life is described and you will find the corresponding pictures to each of them. Here you can also discover how the relationship between Picasso and Barcelona was and how the city has influenced him in his work.
Pablo Picasso was born on the 25th October 1881 in Malaga but already five years later he moved to Barcelona where he also had his first exhibition. Even if he moved to Paris he had never forgot about Barcelona and therefore he gave a lot of his art to the museum by himself. But not only the art is worth to see, also the building itself. It consists of 5 town buildings from the 13th - 15th century. Here you can linger across the courtyard and feeling back in time.

The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday and the entrance fee is about 9 €-
But if you are in the city on a first Sunday of the month, you can go in for free.

Adress: Montcada 15-23
08003 Barcelona

If you are spending your family holiday in Barcelona but it is raining or too cold to go outside why don´t you do some sports with your family? What about climbing, for example? But don´t worry you needn´t to go to some mountains - now you can do it directly in Barcelona! Not far from your central apartment in Barcelona the "Bosc Urba" is located. The recently built hall is the first indoor climbing hall in Barcelona.
The adventure park offers various possibilities on a total area of 6 000 m2. There are activities for every target group and every age. It doesn´t matter if you are beginner or a professional, just go there and enjoy this kind of sport.
The park provides three different areas with different level of difficulty. The orange one is for children between 4 and 10 years and has a high of 1.30 meters. If you are looking for a higher level of difficulty you will found it on the blue course. It is applicative for children from 8 years and adults. But the ultimate adrenaline kick you´ll get on the red. It is 6 meters above the ground and ends with a rappel over 120 meters.
Furthermore the Barcelona Urbà Organisation offers specials for birthday celebrations or business meetings.

It is located in Placa del Forum where you can easily go with the metro line 4 until "Maresme/Forum"
Adress: Parc del Fòrum s/n 08019 Barcelona
Mail: info@barcelonaboscurba.com

If you are planning to spend your holiday in Barcelona and you want to see something different than the Christmas shows then you should definitely try to get tickets for Los Vivancos. Book a cheap apartment in Barcelona near the Teatre Victoria de Barcelona and experience an outstanding flamenco show.
But it is not the standard flamenco which you might expect but a mixture of this with break dance, circus and hip-hop. The 7 brothers who have created the show will dance their interpretation of the Latin way of life. The show was already in 5 continents and are known almost everywhere with their special shows. After Barcelona a worldtour will follow in 2010 with stations for example in Germany, France, China, Australia, New York and Chicago. So take this special chance and experience the show in the extraordinary atmosphere of the Teatre Victoria. You can get ticket for the almost 2 hour lasting show for Tuesday to Sunday.
So get tickets and enjoy the Latin way of life.

Love, music, happy endings and dance made in India. This is what makes Bollywood so popular at the moment. You can see Bollywood movies in TV now every week. But now you will have the chance to experience a unique Bollywood show that will make your holiday in Barcelona a special one!

A troupe of 35 actors, dancers and musicians arrived in Barcelona from Delhi to tell you this story. Don't waste your time and get your tickets for this exceptional show, because the last show will be on the 15th of November. The show will take place in the Teatre Victoria in the Parallel district, where you can also find great Barcelona apartments.

The show includes effects of light, by the fabulous scenery and beautiful costumes which will deliver you the perfect Bollywood feeling. They will put you directly into the mysteries of India, the rituals, magic and exotic landscapes. Sit back and marvel a fairytale come true. This show has already conquered the rest of Europe, now its your turn to fall for the charm of India.

The show can be seen from Wednesday until Sunday. Prices range from 22€ to 38€, depending on whether you want to sit on a standard seat or on a balcony seat.

How to get there:
The Teatre Victoria is situated in the Avenida Parallel 67-69. You can easily get there by Metro or bus. The Metro station "Parallel" is situated close to the theatre. You can use the Metro lines L2 and L3 to get there. There is also a bus stop in front of the theatre. The bus lines 20, 36, 57, 64, 157, N4 and N6 stop there.

If you are planning to do a city trip to Catalonia in the next weeks or if you already have booked a Barcelona apartment or some other Barcelona accommodation you have to have a warm jacket in your suitcase because it will snow soon!
At the Olympic station of Montjuic the next big happening will take place - the Barcelona Snow Show 2009. During the weekend from 7th and 8th of November 2009 the world best snowboarders and skiers in freestyle will come to Barcelona and will attend the LG FIS Snowboard World Cup Big Air and the International Freeski Big Air. Over 100 international riders will compete against each other on these day - 60 snowboarders and 40 skiers.
They have to show their skills from a 35-meter-high Big Air which is the highest ramp in whole Europe. This ramp is even a special construction only for this event.
But if you are not so much interested in the happening itself there will be of course several other events around it. For example the big opening Party on Saturday where you can also find a large area of exhibition with several brand stores, travel agencies, tourist offices and so on.
So don´t miss your chance and get tickets for this unique happening. Enjoy the breathtaking atmosphere in the Olimpic station at the Montjuic and make this holiday unforgettable.

If you spend your Barcelona holiday in or close to the gothic district, then you will directly experience some impressive examples of medieval buildings. Some of the most amazing remains of earlier times are the Cathedral, the Santa Maria del Mar church and the Santa Maria del Pi church.

The Cathedral of Barcelona
The gothic Cathedral which is also known as "La Seu", includes all the typical attributes of the gothic times like the typical gothic gargoyle and ornate sculptures. The Cathedral is situated in the heart of the Gothic district. Its official name is Cathedral de la Santa Creu i Santa Eulalia. Eulalia is the holy patron of Barcelona. Since 343 AD this square has a religious significance. The construction works on the current building already started in the year 1298 and the main building was primary finished in 1913.
Adjoining the Cathedral there is a abbey from the 14th century. In the garden, belonging to this abbey you can always find 13 goose, each representing a year of Saint Eulalias life. Saint Eulalia just became 13 years old. She was tortured to death from the Romans because of her religion and her beliefs. Her remains are buried in the crypt of the Cathedral.
From the roof of the Cathedral you can enjoy an exceptional view over the city of Barcelona.

The Santa Maria del Mar church
Known as the church of the sailors and fishermen, this church is the most popular church for marriages in Barcelona. Situated in the district El Borne - La Ribera, this impressive church dominates the whole church.
King Alfons placed the first stone of this church in 1329. It was finally finished in 1383. During the Spanish Civil War, the inside of the church was completely burned in 1936. For that reason, this church looks less artful than the other churches in the city. But at the same time it highlights the beauty of the building itself.
The church has a big rose window from the 15th century. Unfortunately the original was destroyed in 1428 by an earthquake. The church has great acoustics so that a lot of music concerts are held in that church.

Santa Maria del Pi
The church is situated on a charming square in the district Ciutat Valla and was named after a pine forest which was situated there once. The other appearance of the church catches your eye through the distinctive decoration of the entrance and the enormous rose window. This can be seen better from the inside to admire the amazing colors and its beauty. The church includes the grave of Antoni Viladomat - an artist and the holy Josep Oriol.

These churches are just some examples of the fascinating gothic architecture which you should not miss during your Barcelona holiday. There are much more gothic sightseeing highlights in the city which you can easily access from your Barcelona hotel.

From the 6th until the 8th of November you will have the chance to discover the best kept treasures of nature. You will experience magic colours, textures and shapes, whcih look like from another world. This event in the Fira Barcelona should not be missed by any mineral collector and dealer. You can easiely find Barcelona apartments close to Plaza Espany, so that it will be easy for you to reach this great event.

This trade fair is ideal for people that like to discover or purchase precious stones and relicts from earlier times. This event will present all the trends in minerals and stones which can be found in modern jewellery.

Again as last year, the Expominer 2009 will provide a great program including: Exhibitions of fossils, Exhibitions of photoluminescence in minerals,lectures on how people worked in mines in Prehistoric times, a drawing contest, Geode demonstration, artisan craft workshops, Expominer pan handlers and gold prospectors award.

On the trade fair you can find hundrets of exhibitors that show their unique stones, minerals and fossils and also sell or exchange them. If you are interested in such minerals, it is the perfect opportunity to start your collection. You can also find metal-hammering and jewellery-making workshops where you can improve your skills with the help of professionals.

If you are a fan of minerals or just interested in the earliest lifeforms, you have to visit the Expominer 2009 in Barcelona. This is the biggest event of its kind in Spain. You will be amazed of the things you will see there.

How to get there:
The trade fair will take place in the Fira Barcelona building which is located directly at the Placa Espanya. You can reach it via Metro with the lines 1,3 and 8, where you just get out at the station "Espanya". There are also a lot of bus stops situated around Placa Espanya, where several busses stop. If you are staying in an apartment in Barcelona which is clsoe to the Placa Espanya during the time of the trade fair, you can easily walk to this unique event.

For more information about the Expominer 2009, you can visit their official website.

The 48th edition of the Salon Nautico trade fair will take place in Barcelona again this year. From the 7th until the 15th of November you will have the possibility to experience this unique boat show ath the Fira Barcelona building at the Plaza Espanya. You can easiely find Barcelona apartments close to Plaza Espany, so that it will be easy for you to reach this great event.

The Salon Nautico includes 5 pavilions in the Gran Via exhibition centre and 3 docks in the Port Vell. In Port Vell you will have the chance to see the On-Water show. In total more than 270 boats will take part at the Salon Nautico in this year. There will be a lot of unique luxurious yachts that you have never seen before.

As well as last year, there will be a lot of international exhibitors again. Exhibitors from the most important European seafaring nations will show their new boat trends such as Italy, France, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, Great Britain and Germany. This boat show is the biggest of its kind in Europe.

More than 150,000 visitors come to see this event every year. The visitors are impressed by the wide range of interesting trends that are to explore within this trade fair. The main important parts of the Salon Nautico include: Accessories, Canoes and Kayaks, Sailing Charters, Decoration, Electronics, Motorboats, Sailboats, 'Menorquina' boats, Fishing/recreational boats, Sailing Schools, Speedboats, Bookshops and Publishers, Engines, Jet-skis, wave-runners, Inflatables, Paints, Specialist media, Marinas, Trailers, Insurances, Nautical services, Shopping Area, Scuba-diving, Nautical tourism, Nautical clothing and Windsurfing.

The Salon Nautico takes place from the 7th until the 15th November. It is open for visitors from Monday to Thursday: 10:00 a.m to 7:00 p.m and from Friday to Sunday: 10:00 a.m to 8:00 p.m. From Monday to Friday you have to pay 10€ for a ticket and on Saturdays and Sundays you will have to pay 12€.

How to get there:
The trade fair will take place in the Fira Barcelona building which is located directly at the Placa Espanya. You can reach it via Metro with the lines 1,3 and 8, where you just get out at the station "Espanya". There are also a lot of bus stops situated around Placa Espanya, where several busses stop. If you are staying in an apartment in Barcelona which is clsoe to the Placa Espanya during the time of the trade fair, you can easily walk to this unique event.

For more information about the Sonimagfoto 2009, you can visit their official website.

The international trade fair for (digital-) photography and multimedia takes place in Barcelona again this year. During this trade fair you can experience the new trends and developments in the field of photographie and its technology. The Sinimagfoto 2009 takes place in the Fira Barcelona from the 7th until the 11th of October. If you spend your holiday in Barcelona at the moment and you are interested in Photography, then you should not miss this exceptional trade fair.

This will be the most multimedia based Sonimagfoto of all time. It will present the new developments in the fields of Image capture, Image storage, Image editing, Image processing, Image publishing, AV multimedia systems, Accessories and consumables, Studio equipment for professionals, Image services and Photo art. This year around 165 exhibitors out of 9 counties will come to present their new trends. 100,000 visitors are expected to visit the 11,100 m² big trade fair hall this year.

The trade fair includes 400 different brands of photo equipment, electronic, computer systems, telecommunications, graphic art and exhibitions. Here you can experience a new world of multimedia and technology.

You will also have the possibility to visit several photography courses. Well known photographers will help you to increase your skills in shooting photos.Furthermore you will see how photos are going to be professionally retouched.

You will also find a lot of foto exhibitions within the trade fair. In more than 20 exhibitions, well known photographers are going to present their work. In these exhibitions you can take a look on how proffesionals shoot pictures.

How to get there:
The trade fair will take place in the Fira Barcelona building which is located directly at the Placa Espanya. You can reach it via Metro with the lines 1,3 and 8, where you just get out at the station "Espanya". There are also a lot of bus stops situated around Placa Espanya, where several busses stop. If you are staying in a Barcelona accommodation clsoe to the Placa Espanya during the time of the trade fair, you can easily walk to this unique event.

For more information about the Sonimagfoto 2009, you can visit their official website.

The Monster Truck show "Monster Jam" is on their world tour at the moment. On Saturday the 24th of October they will stop in Barcelona to offer an amazing show. It will be the first time that this show will take place in Spain. If you spend your holiday in Barcelona within this time you should not miss this event.

The show will include Monster Trucks, Freestyle bikes and a Harley Davidson show. All the most known Monster Trucks including their famous drivers will come to the Olympic Stadium on the Montjuic. These 3 meter high Monster Trucks will give a great show including risky actions that just professionals are able to do. You have to experience a Monster Truck with its 4 tons, jumping on cars and making them flat. These jumps can take a distance of approximately 30 meters.

The show includes two parts, the racing competition and the freestyle competition. In the racing competition two Monster Trucks will race against time at the same time, trying to reach the finish line as the first one. During that race they have to jump above several cars. In the freestyle competition the Monster Trucks have a limited time to show spectacular movements like long jumps, destroying cars and unique stunts.

A special part of the Monster Jam show is the Pit Party, where the audience gets an insight behind the Monster Truck show. This part of the program takes place before the big show. Here you will have the opportunity to meet the drivers and see the Monster Trucks up close. You can check out all the details of your favorite Monster Truck and besides that you can get autographs from the drivers.

How to get there:
The show will take place in the Olympic Stadium on the Montjuic mountain. The easiest way to get there is to take the Metro Line 1 (Red) and get out at the station "Espanya". From there you can walk to the stadium which will take approximately 10 minutes. If you want to get out directly in front of the stadium, you have to take the bus 55, which also stops at the Plaza Espanya. If you live in a Barcelona accommodation close to the Plaza Espanya, you can walk to this exceptional event.

Tickets:
The prices for adults for the show vary from 20€ to 70€. Kids can enter the show for 10€ up to 70€. If you also want to see the Pit Party which starts 2 hours before the main show, you will have to pay 5€ more for the ticket. There are also several promotion prices available, which can be found on the official website of the Monster Jam..

an extraordinary event

The spectacular Red Bull Air Race 2009 will stop for the final race in Barcelona. So why don´t you come to this amazing city and stay in one of the several vacation rentals Barcelona. Or if you prefer you can also book a Barcelona hotel. From there you can go easily to the air race which taking place on the 3rd and 4th of October 2009. So spend an extraordinary day in the capital city of Catalonia.
The new discipline in the aviation was created by the company Red Bull in the year 2003. In these races the 15 best pilots of the world compete against each other during several weeks in 6 cities. It is not only about speed but also precision and skill. The pilots have to pass a special course with obstacles where they would navigate at high speed. The air gates are made up of one two or four pylons which are 20 meters high and spaced 10 to 15 meters apart. The racers must complete 5-6 kilometers long track and fly between the Air Gates a predetermined race track configuration. During their flights maximum speed from 370 km/h will be reached
The Air Race 2009 started on the 17th of April in Abu Dhabi. The next stations were USA, Canada, Hungary and Portugal. Finally, at the beginning of October the great event will come to Barcelona where the last race will be. In 2006 over 1 million people watched the finale and this year even more people are expected.
So take the chance and watch the breathtaking event on the beaches Bogatell - Villa Olímpica. And there is even free entrance, so it would definitely worth it!

If you are staying in one of the many beautiful holiday homes Barcelona or in another Barcelona Apartment and have any free time you should definitely try to get some tickets for the coming concert of Green Day. It will take place on the 1st of October in Palau Sant Jordi. Experience a great and extraordinary event in a special environment.
After 22 years since the band existed Green Day is one of the most important punk bands in America. One of the reasons for the great success is that the guys are real and won´t do anything because anybody thinks it would be better. They stayed themselves and don´t care to criticize the government or politicians. The band was created in 1989 from Billie Joes Armstrong and Mike Dirnt who are still in the band. Later Tre Cool adjoined them.
Their latest album 21st Century Break is finished now and available. The songs tell a story about a young couple who try to find their way nowadays in the new century.
So if you want to enjoy the great old songs and experience the new songs, coming to Barcelona and see Green Day live in concert!

an adventure for everyone

If you are staying in one of the cozy holiday homes Barcelona or in a nice Apartment in Barcelona and you want to do something special - go to the chocolate museum.
Here you can learn everything about chocolate. It starts with the history and how it came to Europe. But there is also a lot of information about chocolate as a medicine or as an aphrodisiac. It is shown too how to produce this valuable product in all detail.
This museum is one of the smallest in town but nowhere it is so much fun! The flavor is lingering everywhere and one wants to have a piece of chocolate at once. But don´t be worry - you will get one at the entrance!
Fortified you can discover all the surprises of the exposition. At the beginning you learn something about history and there is also shown a tree and cacao fruits. If you go to the second room there will be explained what a meaning chocolate once had. Continued by the European history and several sculptures and pictures made of chocolate.
But the biggest part is the production of chocolate. Here you can see machines and the whole process.
Of course you can buy all different sorts of chocolate at the shop which you will receive at the end of the tour. So this kind of attraction the whole family will enjoy!

Big sport event

If you will stay these days in an accommodation in Barcelona or will stay for holiday in Costa Brava this event might be very interesting for you.

The biggest sport event in volleyball, the FIVB World Cup 2009 will be in Barcelona for almost a week. On the 8th of September the Hyundai Open starts here with the Country Quota playoff matches. This will be followed by double-elimination and finally on the 13rd of September the medal matches will take place. The first place is donated with $ 30000.

For this money women of 68 teams from 23 countries will compete against each other. They are coming from countries such as Austria, Brazil, Canada, Netherlands, Germany, Japan, Mexico, United States and a lot other.

Before the 14th Swatch FIVB World Tour will come to capital town of Catalonia it had stations in eight other European countries. The matches will be played on the Plaza Carles Bulgas in front of the Museum National d`Art de Catalunya (MNCA).
The favorites are Juliana Felisberta and Larissa Franca - the Brazilian team. The two of them have already 28 SWATCH titles and want even to improve their placing on the world list.
All in all this happening is a great possible to see sport on the top level and spend an extraordinary holiday day.

One of the biggest and most important museums

If you will stay for holiday in Barcelona and stay in a Barcelona hotel you should definetly visit this really interesting mueseum with the whole family.

The CosmoCaixa is not even one of the biggest museums in Barcelona but also one of the biggest in Spain. After 100 million euro the modernism building was opened in the year 2005. It is one of the most important museums of science sponsored by the famous bank "la caixa".

The most significant difference to other museums is that it is no typical exposure. The people should try the different things by themselves. You can do physic, engineering, geological, chemical and math experiments. So it is not only fun for kids to learn how different things are working.
It all starts with a 30 meter coil which is around a tropical tree from Amazon and ends in the 5th basement floor.

There are then a lot of different theme areas. For example you could see a pendulum which shows the rotation of the earth. Furthermore, you could learn much about waves, which different kinds there are and with a simulator you could see how they form the coast. Or if you want you could create your own sandstorm.
Even a rainforest with trees and plants from the Amazon exists. Of course there are also a plenty of Animals from this region. But be careful - sometimes it will rain there.
If you are hungry you could go in the outside area of the museum and have a picnic or you will visit the satellite dish which is only 80 meters away and shows how the sound is been created.
So in whatever you are interested, a visit in this museum is definitely worth time.

Gaudis cathedral Sagrada Familia is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Barcelona

If you will do vacations in Barcelona and stay in an apartment in Barcelona or in one of the many hotels in Barcelona go and see this master piece of architecture. If you stay in one of the holiday homes Barcelona in the Eixample area you can reach the cathedral easily by walking.

The Sagrada Familia which is located in the area Eixample was planned by Antoni Gaudi in 1882. The original architect was Francisco de Villar who had an artless church in mind. After Gaudi took over the project the plans were drastically changed and referred to the Gothic style.

The building has a crosswise outline and around it there is a cloister. All over the cathedral are adornments like the towers which look like sandcastles. The church has different fronts. There is a Nativity Façade to the East, the Glory Façade to the South and the Passion Façade to the West. The Native Façade is the one which had the biggest influence of Gaudi because it was built before his death in 1926.

During the construction of Sagrada Familia the architect Antoni Gaudi died because of an accident in front of the building. After this the work was interrupted until 1935. In the civil war the construction plans got lost but the later architects reconstructed the idea of Gaudi through oral tradition and from they still knew of the former plans.
Today 8 of the planned 18 towers are finished as well as the crypt and apsis. Furthermore, the most of the pillars are finished and in the near future the room for the mass will be completed.

The building will be finished in the year 2026, the 100th anniversary of the death of Gaudi, but of course it depends from the financial situation.

Are you over 18 years old and do you plan a Barcelona holiday? Then you should definitely visit the Casino Barcelona.
You should especially spend a night in the casino if you are staying in one of the many beach apartments Barcelona in this area. If you have already lost all your money at the Roulette table you should better look for one of the many cheap Barcelona hotels.

The Casino Barcelona is the biggest in Catalonia and is situated in the beautiful district Port Olimpic, next to the beach.

You can choose from a variety of different games, machines and gambling tables: video-poker machines, Blackjack, Hold'em Poker, American and French Roulette - these are just some of the many choices you have in the Casino Barcelona. The casino has also three bars, one nightclub and four different "top-quality restaurants" where you can find something to eat for every taste.

The casino is located in the heart of Barcelona and thus can be reached easily from Barcelona Airport.

Do you spend your holidays in Barcelona in a Barcelona hotel or in a Barcelona apartment? If you just answered this question with yes, you definitely shouldn't miss this natural phenomenon.

Every year in August many falling stars can be seen in the night sky but tonight this phenomenon reaches its peak with about 200 falling stars per hour.
A falling star is not really a star but a very, very tiny piece of cosmic dust. Most of the falling stars are about 1mm big, the bigger ones (>10mm) are called Bolides. When they enter our atmosphere 100km above the ground they start to glow and 60km above the ground they have burned up completely. These falling stars are also called the Perseid meteor shower because they seem to pour out of the constellation Perseus.

This phenomenon occurs every year between mid July and the end of August because during this time the earth crosses on its orbit around the sun a cloud of dust from Comet Swift-Tuttle. The intensity og the shower depends on the distance of the comet to the earth.

The best place to watch the Perseid meteor shower an open and dark space, for example, the beach or a mountain and watch towards the horizon. Try to get away from the city lights as far as possible to see all of the falling stars. But don't worry, even in the city many of the brighter falling stars can be seen.

So close your eyes and make a wish!

L'Aquàrium de Barcelona is by far one of the most visited sight in Barcelona and in the whole of Catalonia. Visiting the aquarium is a perfect excursion for families who spend their holidays in Barcelona because it has something to offer for young and old. It is situated at the harbour of Barcelona next to the column of Columbus and it is the most important marine leisure and education centre about the Mediterranean Sea.

The aquarium has 35 basins, 11,000 animals and 450 different species. Walk through the 80 metres long glass tunnel and experience the feeling of being surrounded by sharks. It contains more than 6 million litres of water and has already been visited by 14 million people.

Built in 1995 it was opened on the 8th of September 1995. The newest technology was connected to art and a walk was created which leads the visitors along 21 basins representing all the different facets of the underwater world. The combination of entertainment and education is outstanding and you can feel the devotion to this project in the whole building.

So don't hesitate and visit this extraordinary aquarium which is as well the biggest in Spain. Why not connect a visit to the aquarium with a short trip to Barcelona? You can spend your holiday in a comfortable apartment in Barcelona or in one of the many Barcelona beach hotels.

OPENING HOURS:
Open all year round

Opening: 9.30h

Closing:
Of Monday through Friday: 21.00h
Weekend and public holidays: 21.30h
June and September: 21.30h
July and August: 23.00h

(Ticket offices and accesses open until one hour before).

For more information: +34 93 221 74 74

PRICES:

Adults: 17 €
Children from 4 to 12: 12 €
Adults over 60: 14 €

The FC Barcelona is one of the biggest and most impressive football clubs in the world. If you visit the city of Barcelona you should definitely watch a game of the FC Barcelona or at least visit their museum including the stadium. During your stay in Barcelona you can live in one of the numerous Barcelona hotels or you can rent a comfortable Barcelona apartment.

The Camp Nou, which is the great stadium of the FC Barcelona, is situated in the middle of the neighborhood Les Corts. It is the biggest stadium in Europe, with a capacity of 98.600 seats. You can easily reach it with the Metro lines 3 and 5. Tickets for the FC Barcelona are really easy to get. The FC Barcelona has signed several world famous players. One of them is Lionel Messi, who is seen as the best football player in the world of many football experts. In summer 2009 the club won the Champions League which underlines the extraordinary strength of the team.

The Motto of the FC Barcelona is "més que un club", which means more then a club. The motto totally fits for most of their supporters. For most of them the FC Barcelona is part of the family. The club is the way of life and is a symbol for freedom and home. Especially for the proud Catalans, it is a pleasure to win against their unpopular enemy Real Madrid which represents the central Spanish force Madrid. This game decides every year again about the mood of most Catalans.

If you experienced the atmosphere in this stadium once, then you will realize that the FC Barcelona is more than just a football club. If you feel like visiting this stadium now, then come to Barcelona and spend a few days in a comfortable Barcelona accommodation. The city also offers more cultural and artistic highlights, so that you can also discover a lot of other attractions besides the stadium.

The Park Güell is one of the biggest tourist magnets in Barcelona. It is a unique park, situated in the North of Barcelona which was created by the famous artist Antonio Gaudí. He worked on that park from 1900 until 1914. The park includes unique pieces of art. If you want to visit this exceptional park, you can live in a nice Barcelona apartment or Barcelona hotel.

When you enter the park, the first that you see are two house that look like they are taken from a fairy tale world. The houses are colored and have round and natural forms. After theses two houses, you walk up some stairs which are decorated nicely with some mosaic and a fountain. Then you are at the big terrace square. This one can be seen as a big piece of art. But you can also find a lot of small pieces of art in it. This square is main place for tourists and artists to come. There are also several cultural events taking place from time to time. In the whole park you can find impressive stone constructions, ceramic works and unique buildings.

In the park you can also find Gaudi's house where he used to live in during he created this park. This house is used as a museum now and includes paintings and furniture that he designed. In front of that house you can find his former garden. It is a really interesting created big garden which is free for visitors. You can combine the visit of this park with a great Barcelona holiday.

How to reach the park:
The easiest way to reach the park is via Metro. You just enter the green line 3 and get out at the station "Lesseps". From this station you walk approximately 15 minutes to entrance of the park. The way to the entrance is provided with road signs, so that it is really easy to find the park. You can also reach the park easily by bus or taxi.
The entrance to the park is free. It is opened every day from 10.00-19.00.

If you want to go back in time to see how Barcelona may have looked during medieval times and before, visit Barcelona's neighborhood El Born. Aside from the trendy shops, restaurants and modern transportation, very little has changed over the years. From the small winding streets to the large squares where people go for lunch or dinner, El Born is a great place to spend your holidays in Barcelona, e.g. in one of the comfortable holiday homes Barcelona in El Borne.

Nearby Museums in El Borne

Beside the various shops, restaurants and cafes, there are several museums in El Born that you may find interesting. Spend a day or an afternoon in one or more of the following museums to learn more about Barcelona and its rich artistic history.The museums include:

• Picasso Museum - The Barcelona Picasso Museum is located on Moncada Street, this museum hosts over 3,500 works by Pablo Picasso. Completed with a café and a bookshop, you can spend all day at this museum viewing Picasso's work and many other of his personal items.

• Barcelona Textile and Costume Museum - Since El Born was once the headquarters of the Barcelona textile guilds, it's fitting that a museum dedicated to textiles would be located here. You will find a variety of exhibits that feature embroidery, costumes from different time periods and clothing from the 20th century.

• Maeght Gallery - The Maeght gallery in Barcelona, which is open to the public features artwork by Kandinsky, Miró, Giacometti and art of many further famous and well-known artists.

El Borne is not a large neighborhood, but there are beautiful Barcelona hotels and other types of accommodation in Barcelona to choose from. There are two metro stations dedicated to El Borne and therefore you can easily get around anywhere within Barcelona. Your Barcelona holiday should include visits to different neighborhoods so you can try out different kind of food as well as other cultural delights this city has to offer.
For those traveling with families, El Born is centrally located and is a ten minute walk away to the beaches and the city center of Barcelona.

Are you a passionate fan of spending your summer vacation beside the beach and under the mediterranean sun?
Well then the city is the ideal location to spend some unfortgettable holidays in Barcelona. Beside the various oportunities the city can offer you, you'll also find kilometre long beaches which are well appreciated when temperatures are rising up. The coastline of Barcelona is down to 4.5 km and the city offers some different beaches to enjoy during the whole year. The most famous beaches of Barcelona are Barceloneta, Bogatel, Llevant, Mar Bella, Nova Icària and Sant Sebastià.

The webpage "Ajuntamente de Barcelona" enables you to learn about all necessary informations regarding the beaches of Barcelona. Each beach has its own conditions regarding the presence of jellyfishes, the weather, the public transports and more.
So, what are you waiting for? Book a flight and a comfortable Hotel in Barcelona, pull on your swimwear, apply enough sun protection on your skin and get ready for ... the beach!

The Barceloneta beach is the closest one to the historical city center of Barcelona. Therefore it is a great oportunity to rent an Barcelona beach apartment in Barceloneta from where you can access the city easily and at the same time benefit from the immediate proximity to the sea and it's beach. From the Barceloneta beach you can access the city center within a 10-minutes-walk only. There is also a metro station (yellow line) which brings you directly to different sights within Barcelona. Another advantage of the Barceloneta beach is that there are plenty of restaurants and bars where one can satisfy its' hunger and thirst or enjoy a romantic dinner just in front of the sea.

The Nova Icaria beach is situated beside the Port Olimpic and is also filled with beach bars and restaurants. Another Barcelona beach is the Mar Bella beach which is dedicated to the sport fans among you. Here bathers can go for windsurfing, kajaking, sailing or play volleyball. In contrast, the Nova Icaria Beach is a paradies for rollerbladers, cyclists and joggers.

All beaches in Barcelona are equipped so that handicapped people can access them without any problems.

The calendar of the seasons in Barcelona:

The high season in Barcelona with all the infrastructure and service installations takes place from 31st of May until the 28th of September. The rest of the year beaches are less equipped and visited. Enjoy your beach vacation in Barcelona!

On the 29th of June a very special cinema opens its doors: The SALA MONTJUIC which is an open-air cinema situated on top of the mountain Montjuic and which lasts until the 31st of July.

You are on holiday in Barcelona during this date? You are staying in a comfortable Barcelona apartment or in one of the charming Barcelona beach hotels? Then you should not miss to face the opportunity to visit at least one movie in the open-air cinema which is displayed on a huge screen every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, starting at 08:30 pm in an exceptional location.

The movies are played in original version with Catalan subtitles. The entry ticket costs 5 € and you can loan a chair for 3 €.

Tickets are limited to 2500: 2000 tickets can be bought online on the website of Sala Montjuic, the other 500 tickets can be bought in advance from ServiCaixa.

The organizers Ways Band are very enthusiastic about this year's edition which is in collaboration with the « Cinema Verdi », a cinema which is specialized in movies in original versions. Information regarding the cinema program and its dates can be accessed on the official website of the Sala Montjuic.

This is the perfect occasion to spend some joyful time with your family or some friends in an exceptional atmosphere. It's also a good chance to make a picnic together with them and also to discover Montjuic - one of the spots that must be seen when travelling to Barcelona.

Today I would like to suggest you a typical „Sunday-afternoon-programm" for your Barcelona holiday: A small Barcelona excursion on the deck of the so-called "Las Gollondrinas" boats.
The Barcelona Las Gollondrinas offer different tours within the Barcelona harbor and along the coast of Barcelona.

Tour 1:
Departure in a typical wooden boat from Portal de la Pau. The journey goes through Barcelona's harbor from where one will see the World Trade Center, the bridge "Porta d'Europe", the international sea-station and the new harbor entrance.
This tour takes approximately 35 minutes and the costs for adults, retirees and students are 6€ whereas the costs for children between age 4-10 are only 2.60€.

Tour 2:
Departure also from Portal de la Pau in a catamaran. Riding this tour will also enable you to see the World Trade Center, the bridge "Portal d'Europa", the international sea-station. In addition, you will pass by Barcelona's beautiful beach-district Barceloneta, the different beaches of Barcelona and further to Vila Olimpica, the Port Forum and to Sant Adria de Besós.
This journey lasts about 1.5 hours and costs 12.50€ for adults, 10€ for retirees and students and 5€ for children between 4-10 years.

Watch the following video of Las Gollondrinas and get an insight of this superb boat ride:

For more information about the Las Gollondrinas, visit the official website http://www.lasgolondrinas.com/index-ang.html.

Departure location is at Portal de la Pau, just vis-à-vis of the Columbus-statue at Barcelona's Port Vell.

The „Barcelona Salón International del Automovil" is a mandatory date for all automobile fans among you.The event takes place from the 9th until the 17th of May. In case you are visiting Barcelona for the Formula 1 Grand Prix (on the 8, 9, 10 May) it would be a great opportunity to visit both events in once.
More than 200 exhibitors will demonstrate the latest and most advanced technologies within the automobile market. Over 1 500 000 visitors from all around the world are expected to attend the exhibition which takes place at the Montjuic fair ground.
The Salon International de l'automobile de Barcelona is considered as the largest Spanish fair and globally it is ranked on place 5.

INFO:

For more information visit the oficial web-site of the Salón International del Automóvil Barcelona.

Visit this excellent event from your accommodation in Barcelona. For instance, in one of the economical Barcelona holiday apartments in Sants which are located close to the venue.

This year, the 16. Edition of the Sonar festival is taking place in Barcelona. It's the largest and most famous festival for electro-music within Europe. Every year, top-class musicians, newcomers, record labels and popular Djs from all around the world re-gather in the metropolis of Barcelona in order to experience this unique event live. The festival is allocated within the whole city of Barcelona. Sonar during day takes place in the Centre de Cultura Cotemporània de Barcelona (CCCB), in Barcelona's Museum of Modern Art (MACBA) and in the Centre d'Art Santa Monica.
Sonar during night takes place on the Fira Gran Via M2 terrain. The Sonar 2009 lasts from the 18. - 20. June. More than 80.000 visitors are expected to attend this amazing event. An excellent and unique atmosphere with hundreds of international artists is ensured.
After the official Sonar 2009 festival, there will be another event, called "SonarKids". It is created by the founders of the Sonar festival and offers attractive workshops and different courses for kids. It's actually not only a workshop for kids, but also for their parents. Parents, who have visited the concerts or exhibitions have the possibility to share their impressions with their kids. SonarKids takes place on June 21, 2009 (Sunday).

If you would like to visit this amazing event, don't miss to book the appropriate accommodation in advance. PerfectSunTravel offers great hotels in Barcelona and apartments in Barcelona.
If you want more info about the Sónar 2009 festival you can visit the official website: sonar.es

Each region of Spain and other countries has his own traditions and celebrations. As eastern is approaching, I would like to provide you with some useful information about eastern in Barcelona.
"Semana Santa" is the name for the eastern week in Barcelona and the Catalan culture generally and means "Holy week". During this week, more than 600 000 habitants of Barcelona leave the city and with their families travel to other villages, sea-side locations or even abroad.
Typical Catalan Easter processions can be seen in different churches of Barcelona. For instance, the church "La Iglesia de San Agusti", which is located in Barcelona's district Raval is a nice location to experience this procession with its traditional music and its sinister hooded penitents. The celebration there starts at 17:00 and more than 300 people are expected to attend it. Another nice place to see the Catalanian Easter celebration is by the "Iglesia de Sant Jaume" in the centrally located Gothic district, also at 17:00. Both occurrings take place on "Good Friday".
Of course, eastern in the Catalan culture has also a culinary side: The most important culinary delight is the "Mona de Pasqua" eastern sweets which can be found everywhere during Eastern. It is a must, that the godfather gives such a delicious chocolate composition to his godson after the Easter mass on Sunday. On the following day, the Easter-Monday, there is usually a family-gathering where they will eat paella or rabbit together bevor eating lots of "Mona de Pasqua" as dessert afterwards. (And of course, the wine is not missing too!)

The sweet "Mona de Pasquas" can be found in many different shapes and colors almost in almost every pastry shop during Eastern. For instance, sometimes you can find houses and little man in chocolate shape which can be eaten.
Eastern is an occasion to spend holidays in Barcelona and experience this very important celebration and get your own "Mona de Pasquas" - you will love it!!!

If you are spending holidays in a Barcelona family apartment, don' forget to visit the zoo. The Zoo of Barcelona is not far away located from the sea; in the famous "Park de la Ciutadella". Visiting Barcelona's Zoo which hosts more than 400 different animal species is an experience for really EVERYONE: giraffes, bears, lions, turtles, storks, lynxes, otters, elephants, hippos, leopards from Sri Lanka as well as a huge range of exotic species of birds are only few of the many, many animals which can be seen in the zoo of Barcelona.
The probably most famous animal of Barcelona's Zoo is until today "Copito de Nieve" (= snowflake). This was an albino-gorilla (white coat!), what is a very rarely existing species of gorillas. Unfortunately, Copito de Nieve has already passed by some years ago. However, he is still in the mind of many visitors from all around the world who saw this funny animal when visiting the Zoo.
Promenading through the great Zoo of Barcelona enables you not infrequently to experience live how the most "dangerous" and "exceptional" species of animals are fed by their custodians.

Barcelona's zoo is opened throughout the year. However, the time schedules change every now and then in regard to the certain season. Entrance fees for adults are 16€ and 9.60€ for children.
If you would like to know more about the Zoo of Barcelona check out the official website on the following link: http://www.zoobarcelona.com/default.htm

Port Aventura is Europe's largest Theme Park and offers a magical family experience with its many rides, Caribe Aquatic Park, Beach Club and Port Aventura Hotels. The Park is located in a convenient distance from Barcelona of approximately an hour and is easily accessible via taxi or train. Families can find a variety of great Barcelona hotels or Barcelona family apartments, in close proximity to the park.
Rides for any age group make Port Aventura a great entertainment venue for families e.g. the Dragon Khan roller coaster with its eight inverted loops and the Wild West Aventura roller coaster. Families can choose from over 100 shows with anything from Chinese acrobats to Tahitian dancers. Most impressive is the pyrotechnical show, Fiestaventura, named "Best Show in the World".
Choosing an accommodation in Barcelona is a good option for families who are looking for a short distance to the Port Aventura Theme Park but yet stay outside of the park.

The CatHelicopter Barcelona Sky Tours enables you to visit Barcelona from a very special kind of view - namely from ABOVE!

This means that you don't need to visit all the important sights of Barcelona by foot, but you can see them in short time out of the helicopters' windows.

A tour with the CatHelicopter includes all important sights of Barcelona which have to be seen when coming to the city:

From the sea to the mountains, from Sagrada Familia to the new Agbar Tower, from the Olympia stadium to Montjuic and furthermore over the forum of culture. And last but not least from the district "Eixample" to Barcelona's most famous street Las Ramblas.
And who knows - probably you will even recognize your wonderful luxury hotel in Barcelona, which is located just beside the beach, from the grandiose view out of the helicopter?

The prices for a Barcelona Helicopter ride are dependent of the duration of the tour. For instance, the tour mentioned above, which lasts around 10 minutes, costs 80€.

However, there are also shorter and less expensive tours available, as well as longer and more expensive ones - whatever YOU prefer!

TIP: Helicopter-Flights over Barcelona are very common and famous to be handed over as gift-vouchers', especially for the ones who live according to the principle of "No Risk - No Fun".

The "Queen of Pop" is giving a concert in Barcelona in the Olympic stadium and for sure you don't want to miss this magnificent event - LIVE!!!

Madonna, the uncrowned "Queen of Pop" is storming the charts with her music like nobody else ever did before.
And finally, she is going to rock Barcelona - and Barcelona and YOU will rock with her.

Thousands of peoples are expected to sing and dance along her hits, such as "Like a Virgin", "Music" or "Hung Up" when she hits the stage.

It has been said that "Sticky & Sweet", the current Madonna tour which has started on August 2008, has set up new standards regarding production, technology, visuals, costumes, choreography and music.

So, what are you waiting for???
Go get your tickets, book your flight and a convenient accommodation in Barcelona and experience a memorable event.

INFO:
Date: July 21, 2009
Location: Olympic Stadio, Barcelona
Ticket costs: between 65€ - 403.50€

If you are planning on visiting Barcelona anytime soon something you should definitely not miss the so called Poble Espanyol at the Montjuic in Barcelona.

The little village within Barcelona unites different lifestyles, architectures and arts throughout the whole of Spain. It was constructed in 1929 for the World Fair that was held that year in Barcelona. The outdoor museum occupies a total area of 49.000m². The best way to get to this major attraction would be to take the metro L1 or L3 in Barcelona. If you don't want to have any additional effort travelling, staying in the Montjuic Apartment Ramblas Port will be the best accommodation for you.
You can find prices and opening hours of the Poble Espanyol on the official Poble Espanyol website.

Special events within the Poble Espanyol are different live shows of "inhabitants" including traditional glassblowing or other manufacturers. Souvenir shops, cafes and different restaurants will furthermore contribute to a great day learning about the Spanish country, culture and architecture.

On holidays in Barcelona and Christmas approaching, you might want to know more about traditions and customs in Catalonia? Rendezvous tomorrow for the beginning of the popular celebrations!
On the 12th of December is the Christmas traditions and customs day (Diada de Tradicions i Costums Nadalencs). This year it will take place in Plaça Nova, beginning in the morning with a tió popular, a Catalan game where children beat a log (tió) to get small presents. Then you will be given the possibility to follow a procession with the Barcelona Christmas Coach (Carassa de Nadal de Barcelona), a giant carnival figure who gives out sweets, accompanied by the Pessigolla de la Plaça Nova, grallers playing their shawms.
For your children, the afternoon, early evening, will be the perfect time to attend the Sebastià Vergés theatre company show which will be telling Christmas stories from 5.30pm. The best stallholder award, Firaire d'Honor, will be presented and the day will conclude with some magic and a dance performance by the youth section of the Esbart Català de Dansaires.

We already knew that Barcelona was the city of wellness and one of the most gay friendly city in europe but what we didn't know was that some gay dedicated wellness institutes. Indeed, the city offers dozens of saunas, all located in the Eixample Esquerra. In these places you could relax, chat with your friends or benefit from the jacuzzi and the other exclusive services offered. Saunas are generally opened from monday to thursday and some, like the Sauna Casanova, offers great discount to the members of gay activist groups. By choosing a luxoury barcelona apartment in the Eixample Esquerra, you make the choice to be at two steps of these saunas.

If you are on holidays in Barcelona, you will have a lot of sunny days. On one of these days, you should plan a trip with the Teleférico de Montjuïc. The cable-car is the most interesting way to reach Castell de Montjuïc (Montjuïc castle) and the rest of the sights on Montjuïc hill. It starts from Avinguda Miramar where it connects with the funicular railway from Parallel metro station. It is made up of four cabins that give you fantastic views along the way of both the port and the hill itself. You can take it both ways. The cable-car station can be reached either by stairs or by an elevator. If you are looking for a Barcelona apartment close to the calm and beautiful Montjuïc area, there is for example an accommodation called Montjuic Apartment Ramblas Port. If offers space for up to 4 people and is ideal for families. The full equipped apartment has a balcony from where you have a fantastic view over the harbour. You will definitely enjoy your holidays in this comfortable apartment and there is a lot you can discover in the Montjuïc area.

If you are on holidays in Barcelona, you will have sunny days most of the time. But if there is one cloudy and rainy day, it is a good opportunity to visit the most important marine leisure and education centre in the world concerning the Mediterranean which is located in Barcelona. It consists of a series of 35 tanks, 11,000 animals and 450 different species, six million litres of water and an immense Oceanarium that is the only one in Europe. Since its opening in 1995 it has already been visited by more than 14 million people. One highlight is an underwater tunnel, 80 metres long. You walk directly through a huge tank with sharks. The excellent combination of information, entertainment and education makes sure that everybody gets its get one's money's worth. The Aquarium Barcelona offers two absolute highlights for adults and children. Children between the age of 8 and 12 has the possibility to spend a night with sharks. That means they can stay one night in the aquarium and sleep surrounded by sharks. An unforgettable experience! Adults can dive with sharks, but they need a diving qualification. A nice Barcelona apartment close to the aquarium is the Selva de Mar Duplex Apartment. It offers space for up to four people and has 120m², two balconies and a nice view to the sea. Enjoy your day in Barcelona and discover the Mediterranen sea life!

Barcelona will be hosting the 47th edition of the Salón Náutico Internacional de Barcelona which is the main yacht exhibition of the year. From the 8th until the 16th of November, more than 180 000 visitors will find there way into the Fira Barcelona. If you planned to go visit, for professional reason or just for fun, be sure to find a nice hotel near the Fira. The Hotel Fira Palace would be perfect for you. Located on the Plaza España, this charming hotel would offer you the comfort you'll need after a day walking in the 121 000m²'s Fira. If you are staying a little far away, you will have no problem to go to the show. Just avoid taxis because of the crowd. Your best way to get there will be the underground, just go down at the station Espanya. That's it you got all the tips to make your stay unforgettable. And if you are willing to make a tour of the city, don't hesitate to book it in advance on the BarcelonaPoint's website.

Yesterday was the first game of the UEFA Champions League between FC Barcelona and Sporting Lisbon. I had to go to see the game and try this famous stadium. I took care of inviting a friend and thanks to him we had great seats just above the entrance. Entering the stadium, you'll be surprised about how big it is, it comes an impression of majesty.
Players are coming to the playground and, surprise, only Lisboan's supporters were singing and we could hear them! When the game began, Spanish supporters stayed quiet, applauding for each time the FCB team was attacking. Half-time, time to get some food, one pack of salted pop-corn and a drink later, back to the game. The score is still 1-0 for the local team and the challengers are coming close to the Spanish goals.60th minute, penalty kick for Eto'o and a second goal. The stadium is cheering its team. A great header from Tonel brings Lisboan team back to the game but finally a beautiful action concretized by Xavi permitted to set the score at the 87th minute.
Other particularity, a quarter of the stadium left 10 minutes before the end (and so missed the last goal), probably to get their cars and avoid the crowd. That did not matter us as we were on a scooter (definitely the best way to move in this city).
End of the game, tradition want everybody to go have a frankfurter sausages sandwich and a beer in small bars. Everybody comments the game, the victory is Spanish and then the crowd leaves to go back home.
The impression is quite weird about that since most of the stadium is filled with Spanish executives that own their seat. To conclude this review, let's say that it is one time again a strong Spanish and catalan culture here in Barcelona that we can even meet on a football game night filled with tradition. You'll just need to find an hotel in Les Corts, near the stadium, and lucky you, BarcelonaPoint is here for you!

During your holiday in Barcelona you would like to do some sports? Nothing easier than that, because Barcelona is a city with many sport clubs and public sport events are offered very often during the whole year.
To explore the city by bike is much easier than walking. There are many extended bikeways next to the streets, which makes the cycling tour to a secure event. Some bicycle rentals, of which some also offer guided tours, are for example "Bike Tours Barcelona S.L." and "Fat Tire Bike Tours".
For the ones of you who like to play golf during the holdays, that is also possible. Around Barcelona are two golf courses: "Campo de Golf del Prat" which is approximately 15 kilometers southern from Barcelona and "Campo de Golf de Sitges" which is circa 40 kilometers away from Barcelona.
As the metropolitan area of Barcelona has 40 kilometers of coastlines and three fourths of them are beaches, is it recommendable to have a nice day there with swimming and sunbathing. Water sports are often offered at the coast, like sailing and diving. To stay close to the beach, you could rent a Barcelona apartment in La Barceloneta.
Regardless of what you would like to venture in Barcelona, you can always have a comfortable Barcelona accommodation and therefore enjoy your holiday!

Barcelona, one of the top city spots in Europe and a famous tourist destination all around the year, has many a lot to offer to visitors. Spending Barcelona holidays sightseeing will be one of the main things to do to get to know the city and its rich cultural, historic and architectural heritage. From A as Arc Triomf to Z for the Zoo of Barcelona you will have plenty of choices to discover the Catalonian capital. From the heart of the city, Plaza Catalunya, you can stroll around Barcelona´s center with the Gothic quarter and the famous Ramblas. Gaudi´s artworks throughout the city, including Sagrada Familia, Parc Güell and La Pedrera, are another "must visit".
After visiting the city center holiday makers can relax on the Barcelona beaches or enjoy best cuisine in one of the restaurants at Port Vell. On the evenings from Thursday to Sunday it is worth to go to Montjuic near Plaza Espanya to see the Magic Fountain - a unique light, music and water spectacle.
Barcelona is an amazing city where you probably only see your Barcelona accommodation for sleeping a few hours as there is so much to discover.
Traveling with children it might be a perfekt choice to choose a Barcelona apartment for the stay offering privacy, calmness and a Barcelona home that will never be forgotten.
Come to Barcelona and enjoy the Catalan hospitality in a breathtaking beautiful city!

Barcelona, the Catalonian capital, offers a lot to visitors spending holidays in Barcelona. It is a beautiful city with many world wide known landmarks, historic buildings and a special charm.
Even though during your stay there is also a lot to visit outside of the city. Day trips from Barcelona are a nice alternative to the big city life and sightseeing that you can experience in Barcelona.
Depending on what you want to see, there is plenty to do outside the city of Barcelona. Some popular tourist destinations include: Montserrat, Sitges and Figueres.
Montserrat is the famous monastery in the surroundings of Barcelona and about 60 km from the city. There you can get in touch with the history of the region.
Looking for a nice coastal town with beautiful beaches, you should choose Sitges for your day trip from Barcelona. The town is only 45 minutes away from Barcelona by train and perfect for enjoying a day on the beach in the picturesque coulisse of Sitges.
Those loving art should visit Figueres on the Costa Brava. Here you can visit the famous Dali museum exhibiting famous art works of the Salvador Dali.
Make your choice and leave your Barcelona accommodation for a nice trip to the coast or sightseeing in Montserrat or Figueres. Barcelona´s transport system offers regular train and bus services to every of these locations.

"Harmonia", the first trade fair dedicated to personal well-being, will be held in Barcelona next spring. In March 2009, the newly concepted fair will be launched at Barcelona´s Fira. Harmonia will offer special services and products related to the more and more developing sector "personal well-being". With this fair, another big event is coming to Barcelona and is setting up trends. On about 10,000 square meters, more than 150 exhibitors will present products and services related to well-being of physical, mental and aesthetic nature. These include: cosmetic medicine, healthy food and nutrition, dietetics, dermocosmetics, special therapies like homeopathy or acupuncture as well as sports centre and relaxation therapies.

Harmonia, developed by the Fira Barcelona, will be a trade fair combining social and business needs.
Those interested in the field or working in the personal well-being sector, should mark the weekend 20th to 22nd March 2009 in their calendars and visit the city of Barcelona. Searching for accommodation in Barcelona, BarcelonaPoint.com can be your travel partner. Whether you are interested in Barcelona hotels or Barcelona apartments - don´t miss to book your accommodation for this trendy event 2009 well in advance.
For more information on the Harmonia fair you can consult the official website of Harmonia.

Harmonia
Fira Barcelona -Gran Via
20-22 March 2009

The best place to watch movies in their original version in Barcelona is the cinema "Cines Verdi".
Right in the heart of Barcelona´s Bohemian district Gracia, Cines Verdi Barcelona offer a great variety of international high-class cinema. Spending holidays in Barcelona, you might want to enjoy a good movie during your stay in the Catalonian capital. At Cines Verdi all films will be shown in their original version with subtitles in Spanish or Catalan. Therefore, language learners might also love this cinema.

Before or after the visit to Cines Verdi in Barcelona, you can stroll down the charming streets of Gracia, enjoying a coffee or a beer with some tapas in one of the nice terrace bars around the area.

There is also a variety of Barcelona apartments in Gracia that will enable holiday makers to discover one of the most beautiful districts of Barcelona.

Don´t miss the next movie highlight at Cines Verdi Barcelona!
Cines Verdi - C/ Verdi, 32, 08012 Barcelona

Barcelona´s Social and Cultural Center, CaixaForum, is located near Plaza Espanya and the fair grounds of Barcelona. The former textile factory is now a top venue for exhibitions, contemporary arts, music concerts and family activities. Spending Barcelona holidays in the Catalonian capital, visiting exhibitions or concerts at CaixaForum will be a nice activity.

From Monday to Sunday, 10 am to 8 pm, and on Saturdays even until 10 pm you can enjoy the exhibitions of international importance without any entrance fee!
You can also have a coffee with your friends or some snacks with your family in the cafeteria. Climbing up one of the towers of the former factory building, transformed into a top social and cultural center in 1992, you will see the interesting architectural works of Josep Puig i Cadafalch who has created a unique terrace landscape on top of the halls.
Until 24 August, the work of Hannah Collins - "Current History. Films and Photographs" - is one of the exhibitions that visitors can enjoy. After a visit at CaixaForum you can walk around the beautiful area near Montjuic.

Those searching for a nice place to stay in the city will find Barcelona apartments at Plaza Espanya that offer best design and quality.

Caixa Forum - Av. Marquès de de Comillas, 6-8, 08038 Barcelona

Barcelona, a 100% gay friendly travel destination, has held another top gay and lesbian event these days. With the Circuit Festival from 4th of August until today, a international culture, leisure, clubbing and party gay and lesbian event has attracted many people to visit Barcelona and to attend the spectacular festival. On 14 different clubbing venues party animals could enjoy the best atmosphere ever! And the Circuit Festival still goes on! Tonight (11-08-2008), you will have the chance to attend the "Butch party" at Martin´s (Passeig de Gracia, 130). Activities and dance time starts at 11:30 pm and will last until 6 in the morning. If you want to join the party, just take the green metro line (L3) from your Barcelona hotel to the station Diagonal.

This years Circuit Festival has brought a unique variety of activities, events and parties to Barcelona. Spending days at a waterpark just for gays and lesbians has added a special charm to gay holidays in Barcelona. Art exhibitions, films, workshops and debates as well as the smashing clubbing acts are the key ingredients of the Circuit Festival.
As one of the major gay & lesbian events, its venue Barcelona, the gay capital of southern Europe, is the ideal location for having a great time!
As many people flock to Barcelona to visit one of the international well-known gay & lesbian festivals like the Loveball, the Circuit Festival or the famous Gay Circus it is recommend to book any Barcelona accommodation very well in advance. For sure, Barcelona gay and lesbian festivals in 2009 will be as splendid as these year´s events.

Spending family holidays in Barcelona you really don´t have to worry. Even the young will enjoy the city and the diverse offers and activities will allow you to arrange your stay in Barcelona family friendly.
On the sunny beaches of Barcelona, like Barceloneta, Marbella, Nova Marbella, Nova Icaria and Bogatel, little water rats will enjoy the water fun on the Mediterranean. A nice Barcelona trip is to take the "Golondrinas" boat, taking you on a tour on the sea. To discover more about the fauna of the region, a must visit is the Barcelona Aquarium! Here you will truly dive into the Mediterranean and a lot of activities, including games and playgrounds, for children have been developed.

The Zoo of Barcelona is also a nice place to spend a day in Barcelona with the whole family. After a day of sightseeing in Barcelona and a lot of activities, the best place to go to is the park Ciutadella right in the centre of the city. Here you can relax and enjoy a bit of tranquility besides the vibrant city life.
At BarcelonaPoint.com families can choose from family friendly accommodation in Barcelona of all kinds and styles. Whether you opt for a Barcelona apartment or a hotel in Barcelona that offers all comfort families are looking for- you will have a great time in Barcelona discovering the city together with your children.

During holidays in Barcelona, it is a must for everybody who is keen on sports to visit the famous football stadium "Camp Nou" (engl. new field) in Barcelona. It is the home stadium of FC Barcelona and the largest one in Europe and the tenth largest one in the world. Built in 1957, it has a capacity of 98,772 seats. Many international matches, like the UEFA-Champions League finals have taken place in here. The whole area with many sports facilities for example for ice hockey, basketball, handball, futsal, swimming, etc. it has a incomparable size of 55,000 m². In September 2007 it was decided to restructure the "Camp Nou" and to create 10,000 additional seats. This project will cost € 250 million. Another very interesting place that should be visit during your stay in a hotel in Barcelona is the "Camp Nou" museum. There you can learn everything about the history of the stadium and the FC Barcelona and look behind its scenes. A fan shop offers everything you can imagine of this famous football club. For those who are more interested in music than in football, there are many possibilities during each year to attend a concert of a famous musician like. Some music artists like Julio Igelsias, Bruce Springsteen, U2 and Frank Sinatra have already performed at "Camp Nou". If you are looking for a hotel near "Camp Nou", the Hotel Atenea is a good choose to enjoy your holidays in this calm area.

Barcelona is truly a shopper's paradise. But where to find the best bargains? If you are a 'shopaholic', you should opt for a centric accommodation in Barcelona near the shopping districts of the city.
Until the 31st of August holiday makers in Barcelona can also benefit from the great Barcelona summer sales offers throughout the city. In the vicinity of the famous Las Ramblas, Placa de Catalunya or Passeig de Gracia you will find a lot of shops, boutiques and design studios offering the very best at low prices.
But there are even more shopping hotspots in Barcelona. In central Barcelona you can shop at places like the Carrer de la Boqueria, and Carrer del Call. Shopping centres like the MareMagnum (address: Muelle Espanya 5, 08039 Barcelona) are open from ten in the morning till ten in the night and also on weekends, even on Sundays.
A district of Barcelona you shouldn´t miss for you shopping tours is Eixample with its famous Passeig de Gracia, the so called shopping mekka of Barcelona with famous designer shops and fashion boutiques. Spending Barcelona holidays shopping in the city will also be a kind of sightseeing on Passeig de Gracia - a street with many architectural jewels and known works of Antoni Gaudí.
Barcelona souvenirs and a great variety of culinary specialities of the region will be found in Barcelona´s markets and market halls. The market halls are open during weekdays. The most beautiful and attractive market hall is the Mercat La Boqueria at La Rambla. Here Barcelona's merchants sell fresh vegetables, fruits, fish, meat etc.

Whatever you want to buy - Barcelona offers never-ending possibilities. Experience the Barcelona shopping paradise!

This summer, Barcelona will offer to everyone the opportunity to rent a book while they are enjoying the beach. As beach time is leisure time, holiday makers might enjoy reading on the beach. During the summer months, July and August, the Barcelona Library Consortium in cooperation with the City Council Environment Department is providing beach libraries.
This service will be offered in two different beaches of Barcelona, the main one, La Barceloneta, from the 1st of July till 30th of September, and the Nova Mar Bella beach in Bac de Roda, from the 1st of July until the 31st of August. Just like in any of the city´s public librabry, interested beach goers can ask for a registration card (for free) that allows to borrow up to two items from the beach libraries per day. Just remember to return the books the same day after your relaxing day at the beach. The libraries offer 180 items each, including novels, comics, story books, daily newspaper and magazines, for adults and children. Everybody will be able to enjoy it as there will items available in Catalan, Spanish, English, French, Italian and German! Staying at Barcelona hotels or Barcelona apartments, holiday makers are not any longer forced to bring heavy books with them to the beach. Just enjoy the given facilities with the new service. Even from Barcelona apartments in Barceloneta that are very close to the beach you might want to benefit from the wide variety of items available at the Barcelona beach libraries. The two library centers are welcoming you daily from 11 am to 7 pm.

Only a few days ago, on the 1st of July, the summer sales in around 50,000 retail outlets in Catalonia started. Until the 31st of August holiday makers in Barcelona can also benefit from the great summer sales offers throughout the city. During the stay at Barcelona hotels travelers should stroll down the famous pedestrian streets in Barcelona to make bargains for clothes, gifts or other shopping articles. Therefore, one should consider coming to Barcelona with less luggage in order to find space for all the great shoppings. On Sunday, the 6th of July, holidaymakers staying at Barcelona apartments can even go shopping if they want as shops are allowed to open on that day. Don´t miss the great shopping opportunities this summer! You will find high class brands with discounts up to 50 percent in the excellent boutiques on the famous Passeig de Gracia. Furthermore, the big department store Corte Ingles comes along with many unbeatable offers. Two department stores of this chain are right next to Plaza Catalunya in the heart of the city. At all shops throughout the city you will find "Rebaixes" signs (Catalan for summer sales). At the end of your stay in Barcelona you can be sure to leave your Barcelona accommodation with many luggages.

If you are on holiday in Barcelona hotels with your family, a great place to visit is the Illa Fantasia Aquatic Park on the outskirts of Barcelona. This park is the ideal location to combine leisure and fun. You can easily reach the water attraction park from Barcelona as it is just a short way up the coast. If you want to go by train just take the RENFE from Plaza Catalunya o Sants Estacio to the direction Mataró, Calella or Blanes. The stop you have to get off is called Premiá de Mar. If you want to visit Illa Fantasia by car you have to drive approximately 25 km on the road C-32 (direction Mataró - Exit 92). This daytrip will be loved by all family members. It is also a welcome change from the busy city life of Barcelona even if you are staying in a comfortable Barcelona apartment. This year the Illa Fantasia Aquatic Park is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Facilities of the water and fun park include over 20 water slides, three swimming pools, changing facilities with lockers distributed over the whole park area, a children´s play park. You can even have a nice family picnic inside the park. There are also restaurants on the grounds that will welcome you kindly. To get more information on this amazing water park, please consult the virtual map of Illa Fantasia. Don´t miss this fun experience and cosset your children with a visit to one of the greatest Aquatic Parks in Europe.

Address: Finca Mas Brassó s/n, 08339 VILASSAR DE DALT (BCN)
Tel. 93 751 45 53

Opening Dates and Hours: 24th /25th May and 31st May to 14th September (from 10 to 19 h)

Have you ever tried baseball, athletics or competetive swimming? In just one months you might try those sports and participate in the night of Montjuic in Barcelona. On 5 July the main cultural and sporting facilities on the Montjuic will be holding free activities well into the early hours of the morning. The whole are of the ‚magic mountain' won´t sleep at that night. Sports enthusiasts shouldn´t miss this event where they could have work outs together with athlets from Barcelona. There will be a great variety of sports events during the night. You might watch a baseball match, take a refreshing bath in the swimming pools or visit the athletics stadium that will offer many fun activities to ist visitors. This sporty night at the Montjuic mountain will suit all tastes.
If you are currently planning to come to Barcelona during the summer time, you might consult the accommodation offers of BarcelonaPoint.com. Many Barcelona apartments throughout the city are still available for rent. To get a 24 hours service you might also opt for a hotel. From the Hotel Parallel Barcelona you can easily access the Park of Montjuic and are close to the venues of the vibrant sporty night at Montjuic. Don´t forget to add it to your calendar.

Barcelona Bicing has attracted more than 130 000 users since its introduction one year ago. Currently there are 286 Bicing stations spread over Barcelona, with 4300 bikes for the public. The majority, i.e. almost 50% of the people using this service is between 21 and 40 years old. The battle of the sexes is balanced, with 51% of men versus 49% of women as Bicing fans. Eixample and Sant Marti are the districts with the most density of Bicing users. The huge advantage of Bicing is the physical exercise, yet at the same time you can avoid annoying traffic jams and crowded metro stations before and after work. The average time of usage is at 20 minutes, which is the least costly time and also the average time to get from home to work or the site of interest in the center. The reason why Eixample and Sant Marti have the highest density of users is also because they are well connected with Bicing stations. Districts like Sants for example, are not yet well connected. However, the Barcelona Ajuntamiento has plans on further connecting and establishing 400 Bicing stations in the catalan sunshine capital. So, for your Barcelona vacation, you might also reserve an authentic Barcelona holiday apartment and use the service as the locals do. Also, Barcelona Hotels, especially those in the center, are well connected to Bicing stations if you wish to take the bike to ride along the habor or to work.

Have you spent your holidays in Barcelona? Whether you spend your stay in a Barcelona Hotel outskirts, or in a Barcelona apartment in the center, this initiative of the Barcelona Ajuntament calls out to everyone to submit their video to Barcelona Visio. The topic being: "How do you see Barcelona". So if you are going to take your camera along - use it! And if you already did, submit your clip to the Barcelona Visio.
Also, if you are about to plan your trip to Barcelona, you might want to take a look at some of the videos, especially if you don't know yet, which sights you want to visit and which to leave out, which bars to go to, etc.
In case you do not have a Barcelona accommodation yet, Barcelona Point offers Barcelona apartments in every district of the city, the same is true for Barcelona Hotels.
Enjoy watching, filming and submitting!

Are you staying or planning on staying in Barcelona for a bit? If you have a weekend or a couple of days off and already done the Barcelona sightseeing tour, you should definitely consider going to Salou at Costa Dorada. You can stay at a Salou Hotel and either relax on the golden, sandy beach all day and enjoy the nightlife, or visit the town. If you are traveling with friends and family also consider booking Port Aventura tickets, the rollercoasters and rides guarantee fun for all ages. You can book "pay for 1 day, get 2 day tickets" with Barcelona Point, together with your Salou Hotel. Quick, online and safe. It has never been easier to plan a couple of days get-away!

Opening snow and ice hotels and bars has long been a trend in the Northern countries and has then spread to the south, where no ice and snow are to be found. Now, since November 2007, you can be sure, no matter how hot it is, you can find a place with negative temperature besides freezers in Barcelona. The IceBarcelona Bar in Vila Olímpica.
Here the exact address:
Ramon Trias i Fargas, 2 -
08005 Barcelona (Vila Olímpica)
Metro L4 Vila Olímpica
Now if you go there from your Barcelona Hotel or Barcelona Apartment, you do not even have to bring a jacket, since they offer them to you upon entry. So if you decide to make a short detour before going home to your Barcelona Hotel or Barcelona apartment, you can stop by any day for a drink - the bar is opened 7 days a week from 12 - 2:30. With the entrance fee of €15.- you already get a cocktail of your choice and you can stay 45 minutes.
Enjoy your visit!

At the end of April 2008 it is time to come to Barcelona for all Grand Prix Fans! You can already get hold of your Grand Prix Spain ticket for the race on the 27 April 2008. It is advisable to do so, because tickets are sold out quite rapidly. Since Montmelo, the venue of the GP Spain 2008 is only located 30 minutes outside of Barcelona, you should consider prolonging your stay and pay the vibrant nightlife of the Catalonian capital a visit too. Get your friends together, rent a Barcelona apartment get your perfect guys-only weekend in Barcelona - leaving the girls at home. Rent yourself a nice and centrally located hotel in Barcelona or a group holiday apartment in the heart of Barcelona and escape the ordinary!

The best time of the year has arrived to Barcelona. Instead of staying in your apartment you can make use of lots of outdoors activities now, like going to the beach and swimming, going to the cinema, to the zoo or just for a walk.
Visit Montjüic Park by coming over by cable car from the waterfront or by taking the Funicular from Paral-lel metro. There you can can enjoy a nice view over the city, as well as the Olympic stadium, a castle, museums and a cactus garden.
If you are a fan of Gaudí you should seriously visit Park Güell. There you will have a nice view over Barcelona again and inside of the Park you will find the Museu Gaudí and lots of masterpieces of Gaudí.
Throughout the summer months small street festivals are held in different areas across the city. These events always involve markets, live music, dressing up and dancing. It is very nice to stay in a Barcelona beach apartment, but a good alternative to staying at
Barcelona´s crowded beaches is to get to calmer beaches near to Barcelona at the Costa Dorada or Costa Blanca.
You could easily use the train (Renfe).
Have a nice time in Barcelona!

The luminous Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona is located in Plaça dels Angels. Once inside, you go from the ground to the fourth floor up to a serie of swooping ramps which afford continous views of the plaça below and the sixteenth-century Convent dels Angels. The collection represents the main movements in contemporary art since 1945, mainly in Catalunya and Spain but with a good smattering of foreign artists as well. The pieces are shown in rotating exhibitions so you may catch works by Joan Miró, Antoni Tàpies..However, hotel rooms in Barcelona are among the most expensive in Spain and finding a vacancy can be very difficult out there, especially at Easter, in summer and around the time of any festivals or trade fairs. You are advised to biik in advance. You can also book on line your Barcelona apartment and find an accomodation in Barcelona in the city centre. You can also prefer to book a Barcelona hotel. While you are in the vicinity, it is worth looking around the small private galleries or having a drink in one of the fashionable new bars that have sprung up in the wake of MACBA. Adjoining it you have the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona or CCCB, which hosts temporary art and city-related exhibitions.
MACBA
Plaça dels Angels, 1
08001 Barcelona
Tel +34 93 412 08 10
Fax +34 93 412 46 02
Winter Hours: September 25th to June 23th
Weekdays: 11 am to 7.30 pm
Saturdays: 10 am to 8 pm
Sundays and holidays: 10 am to 3 pm
Closed: Tuesdays (except holidays), December 25th and January 1st

Summer Hours: June 24th to September 24th
Weekdays: 11 am to 8 pm
Thursdays: 11 am to midnight
Saturdays: 10 am to 8 pm
Sundays and holidays: 10 am to 3 pm
Closed Tuesdays (except holidays)

Admission fees
Normal 4 ?
Reduced 3 ?
All tickets are valid to visit the chosen exhibition as many times as you want

Capella-MACBA
Free admission

Seasonal Ticket (valid for 3 months)
Admission 10 ?
With this ticket you can visit the MACBA as many times as you want. You get discounts in the purchase of some catalogues
Wednesday: Admission for everyone 3,50 ?

Reduced Admission
Students, Carnet Jove and groups of 20 or more

Free Admission
Senior citizens (65 and over), the unemployed and children younger than 14

Style city, architectural wonderland and one-time creative base for some of the most innovative visual artists of the last century artistically, Barcelona has a fine international reputation. Barcelona has a unique artistic allure: a steady flow of inspired internationals has brought new ideas and artistic techniques, fusing them with the distinctive humour and style of local innovators Everything can be found here, from figurative painting and sculpture, to high-tech audio-visual installation, digital photography and performance art.
Gallery listing appear in the weekly magazine , sold in most kiosks.

If you intend to spend some days in Barcelona, you will have the opportunity to choose among many differnet possibilities of Barcelona accommodation: from Barcelona hotels to Barcelona apartments, there are many online booking agencies which offer Barcelona apartments in different categories: economical apartments or Barcelona group apartments.