Barcelona apartments, Barcelona Hotels,

Apart from all the sightseeing and the beaches, Barcelona is also well known to go shopping. If you're staying for a few days in a Barcelona Hotel or in a Barcelona apartment and you are crazy about shopping, don't miss La Roca Village.

Located at 40minutes from Barcelona by car, La Roca Village gathers all the biggest brands outlets in only one place. Indeed, you will be able to shop at about a 100 different shops with some discounts going until - 60%. You will find famous brands such as Hugo Boss, Swarovski, Levis or Pepe Jeans. It's definitely worth it!

To go to La Roca Village, you can take a bus directly from Barcelona, The "La Roca Village Shopping Express" bus. It runs from Monday to Saturday, 3 times a day and leaves from Plaça Catalunya (12 Euros round trip).

Don't miss this opportunity!

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!

If you are planning to go to Port Aventura Salou during the summer, it could be interesting for you to know that from the 17/07 to the 28/08 you can enjoy a night at the park (from 7pm to midnight) for lower prices than during the day. Indeed, Port Aventura Night Tickets are sold at 28 euros for Adults, 23 euros for seniors and juniors, and 16 euros for handicapped people. Buy your Port Aventura tickets online now to avoid waiting too much at the entrance!

Port Aventura Salou is a theme park located on Costa Dorada, near from Tarragona (20 minutes) and an hour from Barcelona. It is very well communicated and you can even access the park easily by train since it has its own train station.

The theme park will please all the family with its various different attractions. If you are a thrill seeker, then you can experience the roller coasters, and if you want more calm, you can play golf or enjoy the swimming pools in another part of the park. Each part of the park recreates a different atmosphere: trough the attractions and animations you will travel to China, Mexico, Polynesia, the Far West or Mediterranean coast.

Now it's only up to you to discover this amazing park!

Barcelona is not only a holiday destination for culture enthusiasts and sunseekers. Since years, the city has developed and has become a major destination for shopping tourists.

It took several years since Barcelona was able to compete with other major fashion centers in Europe. Today, the city even hosts big fashion events and trade shows.  Popular brands have also settled down in the Mediterranean metropolis. Taking a walk from your Barcelona Hotel or your Barcelona apartment along the Passeig de Gracia, you will find plenty of famous brands.

Those who like it more inexpensive should take trip to the old city center or the Gracia area in the North of the city. There, you can find small shops that are dating back decades waiting for your visit. These little "tiendas" are part of the whole Gracia district with its unique charme. From traditional Spanish fashion to modern accesiores, you will find everything the heart desires.

Are you more into interesting shops that are located close to each other? If yes, you should take walk through the Diagonal Mar shopping mall. There, you can find also prestigeous shops, electronic shops as well as a wide choice of  restaurants. After an exhausting day in the mall you can relax at the nearby beach! That's Barcelona!

Visitors appreciate especially the diverse culture, when they come to Barcelona.The city is home of several world famous musicians and artists. One of those, is Joan Miró.

A major criteria for Barcelona visitors is to resident in the proximity to the main city sights in a hotel in Barcelona or an apartment in Barcelona. Especially in spring and summer there will be crowds of people passing by or visiting the famous museum "Fundació Joan Miró".

The museum itself impresses art lovers with a huge choice of art. This includes more than 225 paintings, 150 Skulptures and numerous graphical works. Moreover, the museum provides a huge exhibition of 5000 drawings from Joan Miró.

In conclusion, this museum is perfect for art lovers and those who would like to know more about this artists.

The museum is open almost throughout the year. It is possible to take part in a guided tour trough the "home of Joan Miró". These tours usually take place during weekends (temporary exhibitions on Saturdays and permanent exhibitions in Sundays).

Barcelona offers plenty of interesting spots to discover. Among them is the Plaza Catalunya, Plaza Reial, Plaza Espanya and of course the Plaza del Sol.

As its name implies, the place is famous for its sunshine hours. During the whole day, you can enjoy the day and lounge in the sun, provided that the sun is shining, of course. Being located in the Gracia district, it provides a typical Spanish atomsphere with its small alleys and old buildings all around.

Departing from your Barcelona apartment or your Barcelona hotel, this place can be reached by public transport. Take metro line 3 (green) until you reach the station "Fonatna". From there, you reach the place within a few minutes on foot. The audience is quite diverse: Beside tourist you will be able to find a lot of students, as well as locals and other sunseekers.

Plaza del Sol is also famous for its numerous cafes and bars. One of them is the Cafe del Sol. It is open all year long and offers a variety of cold and hot drinks, depending what the weather is like in Barcelona.

The Casa Àmatller by Antoni Àmatller is one of the architectural highlights withín the city of Barcelona. Built in the style of "Modernisme Catala", it is also a likeness of the Catalan Culture.

When visiting Barcelona, you should take a trip from your Barcelona hotel or your Barcelona apartment to the Casa Amatller at Passeig de Gracia. Built in 1899/1900 by Josep Puig i Cadafalch, this building has been inspired by the Dutch townhouses from the 17th century. Inside, you will find bright wall constructions with tall windows that are omated with mosaics.

At the entrance hall of the palace different kinds of sculptures by Eusebi Arnau can be admired. Among them chocolate makers, almond trees and blossoms, as well as St. George - the dragon fighter. Beside chocolate, photography has been a huge passion of Àmatlle. Thus, a large exhibition of fhis otos are on display at the ground floor.

Guided tours through the chambers of the chocolate baron, his photo exhibition, as well as a visit in the old kitchen to try some his famous chocolate take about one hour.

address: Passeig de Gracia 41

metro: Passeig de Gracia

opening hours: 10am - 8:30pm

Thousands of visitors are expected to come to Barcelona in the middle of June 2010. But not only for adults, also kids will get the opportunity to meet the stars at the Sonar Kids festival.

The Sonar Kids festival attracts with music and entertainment in the CCCB in Barcelona (Cult Centre Barcelona)  Those of you planning to visit Barcelona in mid June and are interested in electronic music, will be able to experience this exciting festival. From your accommodation in Barcelona, such as a family friendly apartment in Barcelona you simply need to take the metro to the CCCB in the city centre.

For 17 years now, the Kids edition of the Sonar Festival has been celebrated. This year, the festival will take place on June 12th and 13th from 10:30am - 8pm. The Lineup included world famous stars such as Chemical Brothers, Hot Ciopi, Dizzee Rascall, Joy Orbison and Roxy Music. The Sonar Kids does not only incorporate music but also body art, finger skate and several workshops, such as the DJ workshop for kids. Ticket prices range from 14 Euros (4 - 14 year-olds) to 20 Euros (for adults). Kids under the age of 3 are free of charge.

Address:

The Parc d'Atraccions Tibidabo is a theme park overlooking the whole city from the Tibidabo mountain, which is the local mountain of Barcelona. Soaring 512m into the Barcelona sky, the Tibidabo offers a magnificent view together with several park attractions.

If you have booked your family holidays at Costa Brava or directly arranged an accommodation in Barcelona, you and your family should not miss the Tibidabo mountain. Part of a mountain chain, the Tibidabo offers a great view over the city, sea and the surrounding areas. The theme park is the main attraction offering several nostalgic rides.

The park has been built at the beginning of the 20th century by a wealthy pharmacist. Several years ago, the park encountered financial problems, so that it has been bought by the City of Barcelona. Since then, the park has been renewed and renovated. Thus, it is onre of the main attractions for visitors.

In May, the park is usually open every weekend from 12am - 9pm. It will be also open at Whitsun 2010 (May 24th) and additionally in June (9./10. - 16./17./18. - 24./25.)  During Juli and Augsut, the park will be open from Wednesdays to Sundays from 12am to 11pm. The park can be reached easily by public transport from Plaza Catalunya.

During summer time Barcelona offers plenty of events and festivities. One of them is the Revetlla de Sant Joan - the most popular and spectecular one.

Every year Barcelona celebrates the shortest night with fireworks and a big party. Having booked an accommodation in Barcelona, for instance a hotel in Barcelona offers you one of the most exciting nights in the city of Barcelona.

The festivities start at sun set and take the whole night. There will be bonfires all across the city on large places. In addition to that, there will be fireworks and firecracker also.

The tradition behind this event is easy: You write your wishes on a piece of paper and throw it into the flames. Afterwards you will need to jump three times, so that the wish will coome true, according to the legend. This will take place all across the city, so that every part of the city has its own fireworks and partys. Therefore visitors have the possibility to explore and enjoy this beautiful tradition.

In the recent years, Barcelona became the Mecca for skate sports. Whether skateboarding, longboarding or inline skating, Barcelona offers perfect conditions, such as skate parks all over the city.

Even Tony Hawk, the world famous skate star, has spend some days in Barcelona Hotel the discover the city running on rollers. He must have liked the city so much that he included it in his Video game "Tony hawk Underground 2". For all fans of the virtual skate sport was this a landmark in video game history.

Beside virtual sports, real sports offers even more fun! Especially the skates love the city in Northern Spain. Barcelona offers a lot of opportunities, like public parks and places that are perfect for skating. There are also special skate parks in the city. El Raval and the Plaça de Universitat, next to the Museum of Contemporary Art are such places that are very famous.

 For those of you who do not want to bring their own skateboards and inline skates, there are several opportunities to rent a those sports equipment in shops. Even those of you who have never tried to skate or never dared to - this is your opportunity. One of those shops is called Inercia located not far from the beach. Prices range from 5 Euro per hour, 15 per day or 25 per weekend.

Whether you rent your skates or bring your own, Barcelona will offer you perfect conditions to live your lifestyle. Barcelona does not only offer skating but also a lot of activities and culture.

In Sitges, at the Costa Dorada, approx. 40km southwest of Barcelona, the Carnival of Stiges is celebrated every year. This is a unique celebration at which more than 250.000 people are expected.

This celebration orients oneself by the curch calender and is especially know in the gay community. This year the festivities start on 11 February 2010, Thurday before Ash Wednesday. The people from Sitges at the Costa Dorada expect many tourist from around the world, that usually live on one of the Costa Dorada Hotels or Costa Dorada apartments.

The reason for the "Carnival de Sitges" was the midwinter that the Romans had already celebrated many years ago. Between the late 30s and eyrly 80s, the carnival has even been forbidden by the Spanish government. Meanwhile, the festivities have returned to the Costa Dorada without losing its unique allurement.

The solemmities are known for the colourful and fancy costumes. It reminds some people even of the famous Carnival de Rio de Janeiro. The parade usually passes the whole city with its unique congeniality caused by the masks and costumes.

At the beginning, ther is a huge party in the middle of the city to celebrate the arrival of king "Carnestoltes". In addition to that, there is a separate gay carnival that offers special event such as the Tourist Night, Miss Organic, Glamour Night, Carnival Bingo, Cabaret/Roman Circus and the Prizes Night.

The dragqueens, in particular, are the eyecatcher during the celebration. Besides celebrating and disguising oneself, there is also the Spanish cuisine, which attracts a lot of tourists and local citizens. A lot of bars and clubs will be open during the carnival celebartion. Moreover, there will even be laser shows and fireworks.

The carnival de Sitges ends on Ash Wednesday with the historic fight between the king and his queen against the "Ghost of the Lent". Part of that historic ritual is also the transport of the defeated king and his queen to the beach, where they will rise from the dead the next year. In the end, there is the celebration called "El Entierro de Sardina", which symbolizes the end of the "good times". 
 

The district La Barceloneta contains a broad sandy beach. Due to the fact that Barcelona is directly located at the Mediterranean Sea, is it possible to enjoy the beach atmosphere and relax after the sightseeing-tour. The beach of La Barceloneta provides everything you need at the beach, like white sand and a gentle surge.

Directly situated at the beach there are many bars and small restaurants. There you can drink and also eat with the panorama of the sea and nice music in the background. Furthermore, there is the possibility to rent sunshades and beach couches.

Besides that the beach offers public utilities. There are public toilettes and douches to make sure that everybody can enjoy the day on the beach. Moreover, the beach is guarded by employees of the Red Cross. Thus, swimming in the sea can be a save fun. There is also tourist information at the beach and the employees are always willing to answer all the questions about Barcelona.

To stay very close to the beach you can rent an apartment or hotel in Barcelona, situated in Barceloneta. These are relatively cheap und very central located. As the water in the sea is still warm enough to swim in autumn and many days with sun are provided, it is advisable to plan your Barcelona holiday in that time. Besides that the city and especially the beach are not as overcrowded with tourists as in the main summer time.

A holiday in Barcelona during the summer would not be complete without sampling some of the city's typical drinks. With many fine restaurants, cafes and bars, you will be able to try traditional favorites such as Sangria or trendy drinks that have become popular in nightclubs and beach parties. Drinking a glass of wine or beer or two during an evening meal is common in Barcelona and in other parts of Spain. Here is a list of Barcelona´s most popular drinks:

Sangria
Sangria is a fruity mix of red wine, fresh fruits and other liquors. Even though this drink is considered traditional, there are many varieties that will appeal to your individual taste. You can add different fruit combinations and use a variety of wines that range in flavor, so that two glasses of Sangria will not taste the same.
Sangria is such a fun drink to have during the summertime because of its array of colors and flavors. Since the fruit is meant to soak up the wine, you will taste many flavors as you drink. Edible flowers are often added to give the drink a more colorful appearance.

Beer
In addition to fruit and vegetable based drinks, beer is very common in the bars and restaurants of Barcelona. A cold beer on a hot day is a great way to relax after a day of sightseeing. With many varieties, you should be able to find one that you like.

Orxata
Another popular drink you will find in Barcelona is Orxata. Made from water, sugar and tigernut, this refreshing drink can be found in bars, restaurants and street vendors. Even though this drink is simple to prepare, you will be amazed by the taste. You should have this drink with a dessert or as an afternoon snack between visits of museums and other historic sights of Barcelona. Many Barcelona hotels and cafes serve Orxata and other light drinks, so you should be able to find it easily.

After the lights and energy of Christmas, it's time to see in the new year. This is an exciting and vibrant time of the year in many faiths and countries around the world. It's a time to forgive and forget and to make those all important resolutions; most importantly, it's a time to start afresh. Experience New Years Eve in a cosmopolitan city and spend your holiday in Barcelona.

Keeping with tradition, the new year celebrations begin by eating twelve grapes, one for every time the clock chimes for midnight. In many Spanish places this is performed outside and the streets are covered with people eating grapes. In Barcelona, it is not seen as necessary to eat the grapes outside and many eat their grapes at home before venturing outside for the big party.

Every club and venue is called into action at this time and usually organizes a special new year party for which tickets are issued in most cases. There are also super-sized parties held in venues across the country and some people choose to hire out their own private venue for a special party of their own. Others may be slightly more intimate and hold a party at their Barcelona accommodation for friends and family only. Although a diminishing tradition, some people wait to see the sun rise over a beach. Traditional food associated with new year is "churros", a finger or banana shaped pastry and hot chocolate. During the New Years Eve time you can still find a lot of available Barcelona hotels and Barcelona apartments.

The first week of the new year is dedicated to children. On the night before the 5th January, the three kings - Melchior, Gaspar and Balthazar, disembark their ship at the harbour and there is a grand parade through the town with the kings and their pages - another opportunity for the children to get involved. The kings are then left alone in the city to hide presents. It is customary to write a letter to the kings and request specific presents although they may like to throw in a few little surprises.

These traditions are not all necessarily followed to the letter although the majority will participate, especially in the precession of the kings. In Barcelona Christmas is accepted as a time for having fun with friends and most importantly family.

Like many of the great European cities, Barcelona comes alive over the Christmas period. There are many traditions and activities for all ages as well as exciting festivals which capture the true spirit of Christmas. It is a great chance to spend a holiday in Barcelona during Christmas.

There is a Christmas market each year called the feria de Santa Lucia which is in operation form early December until Christmas eve. It is located in the Plaça de la Seu and Plaça Nova and has an array of hand crafted gifts and traditional nativity scenes. On a practical note there are also many opportunities to stock up on the Christmas essentials such as the all important tree. The streets surrounding the square are, of course, brilliantly adorned with every type of light conceivable in order to create a magical Christmas atmosphere. Around these two places you can find comfortable Barcelona apartments and Barcelona hotels.

For those who really like to get involved and really get into the Christmas spirit there is the Tio de Nadal. This is a decorated Log with a face painted on it. The idea is for children to find the log by coincidence and then beat it before Santa arrives. This is believed to release the presents and occurs on either Christmas eve or Christmas day itself. The children also sing songs to the log and this is a traditional activity.

Christmas day itself is a time for spending with the family and of course opening the presents which are placed underneath the Christmas tree. This is a very strong tradition in all Catalan homes and this often continues through to boxing day or St. Stephen's day. It is said that this period cannot pass properly without the famous cannelloni which is a dish prepared by hand consisting of square pasta sheets and a filling. In more modern times, many restaurants have been opening on boxing day and are therefore incredibly busy; they serve traditional Christmas meals and of course cannelloni. A lot of Barcelona hotels are also carrying out a special Christmas program with some activities and Christmas meals.

It is true that the modern way of celebrating Christmas has become very consumer lead but Barcelona is one of the few places which still has an incredibly strong sense of tradition. This is highly evident over the Christmas period during which the city really comes alive. You can experience true tradition by spending your Christmas holiday in Barcelona.

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.

Only a couple of decades ago, the moral legacy of the Spanish dictatorship confined homosexual behavior to a handful of underground bars and the city's gay population lived in fear of abuse on the streets. Nowadays, men with shaved heads and combats are more likely to be on their way to a leather bar than anything more sinister, and recent legislation introducing same-sex marriages caused hardly a ripple of dissent.

In Barcelona anything goes; most gay bars welcome straight drinkers, and vice versa. The lack of segregation means that there isn't a gay ghetto as such. The area bordered by the streets of Diputacio and Arago, Balmes and Villarroel in the Eixample is known as the "Gaixample" and is where most gay venues are concentrated. Yet even this isn't really a gaybourhood: although it has a buzz at night, the wide streets make it anything but villagey. In that area you can easily find a Barcelona hotel or a cozy Barcelona apartment.

For more information on what's going on in the city, pick up a copy of the free gay map or magazines from bars and gay bars. There are several discos where gays can enjoy theirselfes during the whole night. Barcelona even has a beach for the gays. Officially the San Sebastian beach in La Barceloneta is a nude beach, but in the summer months it is always full of gays.

Barcelona is a nice city anyway, and the Eixample district is one of the best and nicest area of Barcelona. If you intend to spend some days in Barcelona, you should stay in this area and also visit the other spots of interest. A Barcelona holiday is always a great experience for gays.

This weekend a farmer's market takes place at Placa del Pí in the Barrio Gotico.

If you are on holiday in Barcelona and stay in a nice Barcelona centre hotel or in one of the many apartments in Barcelona go and see this farmer's market. It's definitely worth a visit!

Every first and third weekend of the month this market with a lot of regional products from the Pyrenees is held in the Barrio Gotico. So if your trip to Barcelona is on the first or third weekend of a month you shouldn't miss the opportunity to visit the market and see and try the regional products.

Mainly food and drinks are offered on the market and many things can be tested. Wander from stall to stall and try all the delicious self-made food. The range of products is quite diverse, no matter if you prefer honey, jam, cheese, chorizo, pâté or herbs you will definitely find something. At the same time it is a good opportunity to buy some really authentic and special souvenirs.

The famous district of Barcelona, a former fishing village, is a rectangle between the Port Vell, Franca station and Port Olimpic in the east. There are many fish restaurants along the Passeig Joan de Borbó. The beautiful place of Barceloneta with its delightful restaurants and bars and the Baroque parish church of Sant Miquel del Port are places you shouldn't miss! If you love fish you have to visit Calle Almirall Cervera, as well.

The district of Barceloneta is a neighborhood visited throughout the year. Do not hesitate to book one of the many Barceloneta apartments to enjoy the charms of this area. Whether for a romantic and delicious dinner in one of the innumerable fish restaurants, a picnic at the beach or a swim -- there is always something to do! If you want to enjoy holidays by the sea when you visit Barcelona, book your Barcelona beach hotels now!

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 €

Catalonia is known for its excellent Mediterranean and culinary food. In Catalonia you can find various restaurants in that you can experience the exceptional Catalan food. Their chefs are known for giving their meals a handful of essential ingredients like olive oil, garlic and tomato which gives Catalan cooking the special Mediterranean flair. The creativity of the Catalan cuisine is known in the whole country. Specialties are for example to cook meat with fruits, to mix nuts and raisins into vegetables or to combine rabbit with snails. It is a great experience to visit Barcelona and try the amazing cuisine during your stay you can live on on of the various Barcelona hotels.

The Catalan food is an important ingredient of the Mediterranean tradition. You will notice neighboring influences from France and Valencia when enjoying the extraordinary Catalan cuisine. The closeness to the sea also influences the cuisine by adding a lot of seafood. In general you can find 3 kind of Catalan cuisine. There is the cuisine from the Mountains, with its meat, cheese, sausages, and vegetables. Then you have the cuisine of the coast which includes fish with rice, pasta or potatoes. Finally there is the cuisine from the cities with its diversity of traditional and international meals.

A visit in Catalonia is not just advised because of the great cuisine, the nature and culture of Catalonia is also very interesting. The region satisfies every kind of traveler. You can travel to the big city Barcelona, you can do a party holiday in Lloret de Mar or Blanes or you can just spend a relaxing holiday on the nice Catalan coast with its long beaches. During your stay you can stay in one of the various Costa Brava hotels or Costa Dorada hotels.

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.

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!

Fancy shopping areas are spread across the whole city and vary enormously. The world-famous street Las Ramblas which ranges from Plaza Catalunya to the harbor of Barcelona is in fact a famous shopping street - yet, it is more likely to buy expensive tourist souvenirs there. If you are looking for famous and sophisticated brands such as Chanel, Gucci, Armani, Cartier, Miró or Zara, you should better go for Passeig de Gracia, Diagonal or around Plaza Catalunya. However, if you rather prefer alternative brands from the very famous ones, I recommend you to go to the winding alleys in the districts El Borne or Barrio Gotico. There you can find some small, unknown but yet hip and innovative labels. Besides, shopping in the Barrio Gotico enables you combine a shopping trip with visiting some of Barcelona's most famous cultural sights (e.g. cathedral). Besides some small fashion and clothes shops, you'll also find plenty of antique shops, small bookstores and of course welcoming cafés and restaurants to take a rest. In case you are seeking for music stores, alternative clothes or second-hand shops, then you should go to the district El Raval (the other side of Las Ramblas).
Very famous Spanish brands are - among others - Zara, Mango, Bershka, Stradivarius, MiSaKo and Desigual.

General infos about shopping in Barcelona:

Barcelona shops opening hours:
Monday to Saturday from around 10:00 am to 08:30 pm. Smaller shops often have "fiesta" between 02:00 pm until 04:30 pm. Many shops on Las Ramblas are open the whole week (also Sunday).

Barcelona sales:
Generally, there are 2 main sales in Barcelona: Winter and summer sale. Winter sale: From the second week of January until end of February. Summer sale: From middle of July until end of August. Discounts range between 20%-50% and finally up to 70%.

Barcelona shopping bus:
The Tombus is a bus which is considered for all shopping lovers and brings you to all the most important shopping spots within Barcelona: Departure takes place every 7 minutes from Plaza Catalunya. From here it drives up to Placa Pius XII (Diagonal). The air-conditioned bus costs 1.50 € and stops at 28 different stops.

The Caribe water park which is situated in the theme park Port Aventura is the perfect place to spend some great holidays with your family or some friends.

With its 9000m2 large swimming pool, the palm trees and the Mediterranean sun which is always shining over the beautiful Costa Daurada you will feel as if you are in the Caribbean itself.
Even more, if you are spending a night in the tropical paradise Port Aventura hotel "Caribe". Staying in this hotel in Port Aventura, enables you to receive free entrance to the Caribe water park and to the theme park Port Aventura.

Furthermore, when spending your time in the Caribe water park you will benefit from: Beaches of the "Bahamas", the waves of the "Bermuda triangle" and your children will love playing in the "lagoon of Woody Woodpacker".

Port Aventura tickets as well as tickets for the Caribe water park can be bought online along with some special offers which will make your stay even more attractive! Enjoy it!!!

The theme park Port Aventura, which is situated at the beautiful Costa Dorada, is an ideal park to spend entertaining and relaxing family holidays in Spain at the same time. And even more, since the Caribe water-park has opened its doors in May: The amazing Caribe water-park is situated just next to the theme-park Port Aventura and offers a great view towards the sea. The coming warmly temperatures are just ideal and invite you to spend some time in the two parks with your family.
There are plenty of hotels at Port Aventura, which each offer pleasant themes and decorations for the certain hotel rooms. They can be enjoyed by their young and old guests.
For instance, you could stay in a Port Aventura theme bedroom of "Woody Woodpecker" in the Port Aventura theme-park hotel.

For the ones who seek for maximum comfort, Port Aventura offers the "San Joan Club", which is situated in the heart of the Hotel Caribe. The San Joan Club offers spacious luxury bedrooms in order to ensure its' guests highest well-being.

The theme parks with their different kind of rooms are just ideal to spend some memorial holidays together with the whole family in a fantastic place, which will stay in all family member's minds forever and ever.

Book your favourite Port Aventura hotel NOW and benefit from the "4-in-1 booking special":

- Book a hotel and receive free entry to the theme park Port Aventura.
- 1st child free: Your 1st child (under 12 years) comes for free.
- Book NOW and pay LATER: for every booking made 60 days prior to arrival.
- Early booking discount: If you book 90 days in advance, you'll receive a 30% discount.

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Today I would like to recommend you a very special destination which will impress you and your whole family during your next holidays... I'm thinking of holidays in Salou Costa Dorada!

A holiday for the whole family, thanks to the amazing theme park Port Aventura Salou and its water-park CARIBE AQUATIC PARK. Just great is the special offer "2 days Port Aventura for the price of 1" or "3 days for both parks for the price of 2" and many further special offers provided by BarcelonaPoint.com.

Besides the fun you will have at the theme park(s), you can also benefit from kilometer-long, beautiful sand beaches from one of the Salou hotels where you can relax with your family or friends.
Beeing at the beach of Salou ebales you to participate in numerous nautical activities, such as wind-surfing, excursions with a catamaran, water-skiing, fishing, sailing and more.

In case you don't come on vacation in Salou during summer, there are still many activities which you can perform during the other seasons of the year.
For instance, you could go playing golf in Salou in one of the 3 golf-courses with more than 45 wholes.
Furthermore, the Costa Dorada is a region with loads of cultural heritages of the Romans to offer you, e.g. you could visit the ruins and other vestiges from the ancient epoch of the gladiators.
In winter as in summer, many festivals, feasts, concert etc. take place here in Salou at the Costa Dorada.

For more information about the city Salou, visit http://www.isalou.info/, the official Salou website. I wish you a wonderful holiday in Salou at the famous Costa Dorada!

Barcelona is generally a very cosmopolitan and tolerant city regarding nationalities, religion, complexion and sexual orientation. Regarding the last point, I would like to present you this very special hotel in Barcelona:

In the district "Eixample", also known as "Gayxample", the very modern and gay-friendly Barcelona Hotel Axel is located. The 3-star hotel is equipped in a very comfortable and chic way in order to ensure its guests the maximum of comfort and well-being.
One can find anything, what has to be included in order to ensure a pleasant stay in Barcelona: Swimming-pool, a bar on the roof-terrace ("Skybar"), Chill-Out-room, sauna, hamam, conference room and much more.
Not only the Axel hotel itself, but also the location has a lot to offer: One can find plenty of bars, restaurants, shops as well as like-minded-people around there. Moreover, the famous street "Las Ramblas" is only 800m away from the Hotel Axel.
This Barcelona hotel is generally very popular and well-known, especially in the national and international gay-scene.
Persuade yourself of this fancy hotel and the tolerance of the city Barcelona and book your (next) stay in the Barcelona Axel Hotel or any other convenient accommodation in Barcelona.

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

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