Barcelona tips

After more than 140 years of incomplete construction, Barcelona's famous Sagrada Familia church is expected to be finished in 2026, per a report released by the church March 20.

In the 16th century, Antwerp, Belgium, with its busy docks along the river Scheldt, was a booming center of trade and one of Europe’s most influential cities, attracting artists, intellectuals and entrepreneurs. In 1576, Christophe Plantin ran a prestigious printing business (one of the continent’s largest) in the center of the city, a half-mile from where, a few decades later, the painter Peter Paul Rubens would build his own studio and semicircular sculpture hall, modeled after the Pantheon. Over the years, while other long-established port cities like Venice and Barcelona evolved into throbbing tourist centers, Belgium’s second city largely kept far away from the spotlight, yet it’s always quietly maintained a reputation as a place for innovation and creative expression. In the 1980s, it became an important fashion hub with the emergence of the Antwerp Six: a group of young designers, including Ann Demeulemeester, who had been educated at the city’s Royal Academy of Fine Arts.

Barcelona has a food scene like none other. Home to some of the world’s most extravagant dining, including three three-star Michelin establishments and the world’s second-best restaurant according to The World’s 50 Best, the Catalan capital is also a surprisingly laid-back destination, brimming with casual tapas bars and natural wine joints.

It's the summer of the Paris Olympic Games and Taylor Swift's Eras Tour across European cities, but for locals, this summer is already heating up to be one of protests—across Lake Como, Barcelona, the Canary Isles, Venice and Amsterdam, residents are already fighting what they perceive as overtourism.

For years, residents of Barcelona’s La Salut neighbourhood have had to share their bus route with crowds of tourists.

If you just saw your first total solar eclipse—or you are desperate to see another—here’s where and when to go to experience another totality:

Barcelona increased its tourist tax this week for the first time since 2022.

Our aim is to arm you with the information needed to plan your next green getaway responsibly and enjoyably.

“We could combine this with a trip to Leonardo da Vinci's birthplace,” suggests Paola Donato, a shore excursion expert in Italy for Windstar Cruises. It's a January morning, and I'm standing on the tree-lined grounds of the 16th-century Villa Dianella winery in Tuscany with Donato, project manager Melissa Witsoe, and destination manager Gonzalo Mones as they choose locations for new shore excursions for their Legendary Winter in the Mediterranean sailing. This year marks the first time Windstar will sail the Med in the colder months, but the trio is already planning for 2025.

A year after Spain launched a special digital nomad visa to encourage foreign business talent to move to the country, it has met with muted success.

Barcelona’s tourist tax is set to rise once again on 1 April.

Set on the golden sandy beaches of the Costa Dorada, less than an hour south of Barcelona, Le Méridien Ra is the laid-back luxury beach resort that locals have been trying to keep to themselves. Until now.

A recent study into expat happiness around the world saw Old World great Spain dominate the rankings.

Part of the enduring appeal of Barcelona is the ease with which travelers can wander between neighborhoods.

Qatar Airways has won the best business-class title for years — so I was excited to finally fly it when I traveled to Spain last year. 

Barcelona is Spain's most visited city, and it's not hard to see why – the historic capital of Catalonia is packed with galleries, museums, attractions and an incredible food scene.

There’s always a buzz at Casa Bonay: its chic bars, reasonably priced rooms and restaurants – just a stone’s throw from the city’s imposing Arc de Triomf – are a draw for both visitors and locals. With mosaic-tiled floors, statement sliding doors and floods of natural light, sleeping quarters here are an oasis of cool and calm, complete with Mubi streaming and yoga mats. The rooftop is split between a seasonal dining space and guest-only urban garden, while downstairs there’s a restaurant, coffee shop and bustling cocktail bar serving into the early hours. Plus, bikes to explore the city are free of charge. Rooms from £117, casabonay.com

Pablo Ruiz Picasso was born in Málaga and spent most of his life in France, but it was arguably in Barcelona that his evolution as the most celebrated artist of the 20th century began.

Over the years, Barcelona has undertaken numerous sustainable initiatives, transforming itself into one of Europe’s most environmentally conscious cities. Significantly, the city is a proud signatory of the Glasgow Declaration, demonstrating its dedication to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Barcelona also holds the distinguished title of the world’s first Biosphere City, underscoring its unwavering commitment to shaping a sustainable future. The milestone of becoming the number one city in Europe for sustainable tourism is a testament to Barcelona’s meticulous focus on various aspects of environmental stewardship. Boasting one of Europe’s cleanest and most efficient public transport systems, Barcelona sets the gold standard with a fleet of low or zero-emission vehicles, contributing to reduced carbon footprints. With an impressive array of 283 sustainable tourism options, Barcelona surpasses its European counterparts, leaving Stockholm’s 134 offerings behind.

Park Güell, a public park system in the district of Gracia, Barcelona, is spread over 17 hectares of hilly land and welcomes approximately nine million visitors annually. Originally designed by Antoni Gaudí as a residential estate, the failed housing project became a municipal park in 1926 and a World Heritage site in 1984. Within the park, every path you tread, bench you rest on, and vista you admire are a testament to Gaudí’s architectural brilliance. Whether you’re an art enthusiast or not, Park Güell deserves a spot on your travel itinerary of Barcelona. Because of its popularity, the attraction can be extremely busy, especially in the summer months. On all days of the week, between 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM, you’ll be jostling for a view. One way around this is to stay close by in a Park Güell Airbnb and visit first thing in the morning or at sunset. The vacation rentals below are in or around the Gracia area and have rave reviews, outdoor spaces, and beautiful decor to complement the experience of visiting one of the world’s most colorful parks.

Every year, more than 20 million passengers take a cruise.