The Monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes (and how to get there)

The monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes

The Monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes is a Romanesque-style Benedictine monastery which overlooks the Costa Brava, one hundred and fifty kilometres north of Barcelona. Legend has it that the monastery was built by monks who fled from Rome during the seventh century, taking with them the remains of Saint Peter. In reality, the first…

The Controversial Monument to Slave Trader Antonío López y López

All that remains of the monument to Antonío Lopez, Plaça Idrissa Diallo, Barcelona

Many of Barcelona’s squares and plazas feature large and impressive statues. Some of the statues are decorative works of art, while others are monuments which honour famous people. Some of the monuments honour kings or heroes of yesteryear. Others feature famous artists, writers, politicians and wealthy businessmen. One such monument was the statue of Antonio…

The Martinet Valley, Aiguafreda de Dalt and the Dolmen de Cruïlles (Montseny Natural Park)

Panoramic views at Aiguafreda de Dalt

This easy, ten-kilometre hike in Montseny Natural Park is best undertaken in spring or early summer when there will be water in the Riera de Martinet. You can also walk it at other times of the year, but the pools and waterfalls near the start of the trail will likely be dry. The circular route…

Monument to Lluís Companys (Statue of a girl with a handkerchief)

Monument to Lluís Companys, Barcelona

Born in Tarrós in 1882, Lluis Companys was one of the founding members of the Catalan political party Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya and served as president of the Generalitat de Catalunya from 1934 until he was executed in 1940. The first part of the twentieth century was a time of political unrest and upheaval in…

Doing Laundry In Barcelona (Laundries, Laundrettes, Dry Cleaners & More)

Most Barcelona residents air dry their laundry

If you are staying in Barcelona for more than a week, or are visiting the city as part of a more extended trip, then chances are, you’ll need to find somewhere to wash your clothes. Doing laundry when travelling has the advantage that it allows you to carry less luggage, but it does require some…

Monument to Santiago Roldán (The Ass Monument)

Monument to Santiago Roldán (the arse monument)

Barcelona is well known for its public art. Wherever you go in the city, you will see statues and monuments decorating plazas, parks and other public spaces. Designs range from classically styled monuments and busts to more unusual, modern and even surreal creations. One of Barcelona’s most unusual and quirky statues is the Monument to…

Contactless Payment in Barcelona (Credit & Debit Cards, Google Pay, Apple Pay & Samsung Pay)

Sticker in a shop doorway showing which payment methods are accepted

Contactless payment has been available in Barcelona since 2012 and has become so widely available that you no longer need to carry cash. All shops and supermarkets in Barcelona now accept contactless payment, and you can pay with credit cards, debit cards and smartphones at bars, restaurants and tourist attractions. The only caveat is that…

Where to Buy Alcohol in Barcelona on Sunday (with map)

Estrella Damm is the most popular beer in Barcelona

Most shops and supermarkets in Barcelona don’t open on Sunday, which is good news for people who work in shops, but not so great for tourists, especially for visitors who arrive in Barcelona on a Sunday or simply weren’t organised enough to get the beers in on Saturday. Fortunately, there are exceptions, and whether you’re…

Barcelona Low Emission Zone: Everything You Need To Know

Barcelona ring roads are exempt from the ZBE restrictions

The Barcelona Low Emission Zone (Catalan: Zona de Baixes Emisions) was introduced in 2020 to reduce the adverse effects of vehicle emissions on the health of Barcelona residents. Access to the Barcelona Low Emission Zone is restricted from Monday to Friday between seven am and eight pm. During this time, vehicles entering the area must…

How to Check if a Holiday Apartment is Legal in Barcelona

Holiday apartment in Barcelona

Short term apartment rentals are an increasingly popular alternative to hotel accommodation. Whether you are visiting Barcelona with your family, on holiday with a group of friends, or planning an extended stay, renting a holiday apartment is often cheaper than staying in a hotel. You can also save money by shopping at local food markets…

Peratallada: A Pituresque Medieval Village Near The Costa Brava

Plaça de les Voltes, Peratallada

Peratallada is one of the most picturesque and best conserved medieval villages in Catalonia. Unlike most medieval villages and towns, which have grown and expanded over the centuries leaving the original village centre surrounded by newer buildings, Peratallada has retained its original defensive walls and remains largely untouched. Indeed, apart from the three pay and…

Visiting the Gorg de la Plana Waterfalls (Brugent Nature Reserve)

Gorg de La Plana waterfalls

Ninety kilometres north of Barcelona, the Espai Protegit del Brugent is a small nature reserve that follows the course of the River Brugent, just south of the La Garrotxa Volcanic Area. There are seven waterfalls and natural swimming pools located along the length of the river, all of which can be visited by following marked…

La Fageda d’en Jordà Beech Forest (La Garrotxa Volcanic Zone)

The Fageda d'en Jordà beech forest

The Fageda d’en Jordà is a beech forest located in the La Garrotxa Volcanic Zone, approximately one hundred kilometres northeast of Barcelona. The forest is a popular day trip from Barcelona, especially in mid to late November when the leaves turn golden brown, making the area incredibly photogenic. Whatever time of year you plan to…

How To Claim Compensation If Your Train Is Delayed In Spain

The airport train takes aproximately 20 minutes

Public transport in Spain is good value for money, easy to use and efficient. In major cities like Barcelona, Madrid and Valencia you can choose between buses, trams, metro and urban trains. When travelling between cities, you have the choice of long-distance buses or trains. The Spanish national train company is called RENFE, which stands…

Electric Scooter Rental In Barcelona (Read Before Hiring A Scooter!)

Visiting Barcelona's top sights by electric scooter

Scooters are a familiar sight on the streets of Barcelona. A practical way to beat traffic jams and travel quickly around the city, the combination of good weather and easy parking make electric scooters an increasingly popular choice. If you’re visiting Barcelona for a few days and fancy having fun exploring the city on two…

The Miralles Gateway By Antoni Gaudí (Portal Miralles)

Bronze statue of Antoni Gaudí by Joaquim Camps

Antoni Gaudí was the architect behind many of Barcelona’s best known and most iconic buildings. From the groundbreaking design of Casa Milà to the spectacular beauty of the Sagrada Familia, there’s no denying that he left his mark on the city. But Gaudí didn’t limit himself to designing palaces and churches; he also worked on…

Monument to Simón Bolívar

Monument to Simón Bolívar by Julio Maragall

Sometimes referred to as the George Washington of South America, Simón Bolivar was a Venezuelan soldier and politician who fought to liberate Venezuela, Columbia, Peru, Ecuador, Panama and Bolivia from Spanish rule. The bronze statue of Simón Bolívar by Julio Maragall, which stands near the seafront in Barcelona, is replica of a similar monument in…

Where To Buy A Beach Umbrella & Other Beach Accessories In Barcelona (with prices and map)

Colourful beach umbrellas are the order of the day as Barcelona heads for the beach

If you visit Barcelona during the summer, the chances are, you’ll want to spend some time on the beach. The city boasts over 4km of sandy coastline, and Barcelona’s beaches are great places to relax after spending the morning visiting the city’s many cultural attractions or after a long night partying at one of the…

Júlia, the Life-Sized Concrete Mammoth Statue in the Parc de la Ciutadella

Júlia the mammoth

The Parc de la Ciutadella is Barcelona’s oldest and most central public park. Located on the edge of the old town, the park dates back to 1869 when the eighteenth-century citadel, which had previously occupied the site, was handed over to the city council. Home to Barcelona Zoo, the Catalan Houses of Parliament, a small…