Ancient quarters, interesting museums, rainbow mosaics, Mediterranean cuisine, gorgeous beaches - these are just some of the reasons why you should visit Spain!
My husband and I, as always, planned our trip to Spain long before the trip and, of course, on our own. We have not used the services of travel agencies for a long time, as we prefer to develop routes and choose hotels ourselves. And preparing for the next trip is an extremely exciting thing.
This was our first trip to Spain (usually we choose Asian countries). But this time we were practically persuaded to choose Spain, and we did not regret it. The warm sea, stunningly beautiful landscapes, an abundance of fruits, cheeses and jamon, as well as the friendliness of the local people made our holiday excellent.

Barcelona

Barcelona

Tickets were purchased several months before departure. The choice was: either expensive tickets direct flight from St. Petersburg to Barcelona, ​​or cheap, but with transfers. We are not looking for easy ways, and besides, we travel quite often, so we chose tickets through Helsinki and with a transfer in Riga. AirBaltic airline tickets were cheap (about 15,000 rubles per person in both directions, departing from Helsinki), but had their limitations: luggage was paid separately (we flew with hand luggage), and you also had to register online. If you do not check in online, you will have to pay additional fees when checking in at the airport. Hotels in Mallorca were booked almost six months in advance, since in the summer good hotels there is very high demand here.

Embankment

Travel route to Spain

Two weeks flew by. Five days were allotted for Barcelona. We did not try to cover as much as possible in one trip to Barcelona. After all, in the Catalan capital there are so many interesting places: cathedrals, basilicas, monuments, beautiful squares and narrow streets! And I want to look at everything without rushing anywhere. In addition, the suburbs of Barcelona: Figueres, Girona, Sitges also attract tourists from all over the world.
For our first visit, we determined that we definitely wanted to visit the Gothic Quarter, see the Sagrada Familia by the great architect Antonio Gaudi, climb Mount Montjuïc, walk along the central Rambla, look at the Boqueria market and, of course, visit one of the most popular parks in the world entertainment - Port Aventura.

Most of all, I love combining a dynamic holiday in big cities and the tranquility of a beach holiday in one trip. This time we chose the Spanish pearl - Mallorca, and managed to live on two opposite parts of the island. So, first things first!

Spanish market

The trip was strictly planned by day, and we did not deviate from the plan. To briefly describe our journey, this is what happens:
1 day: departure to Finland. Since our Schengen area is Finnish, the trip through Finland was beneficial for us (there was no need to go there specifically). So, early in the morning we took a bus from St. Petersburg to Helsinki Airport (we ordered a transfer). We took an evening flight from Helsinki to Riga. We had to spend 6 hours at Riga airport, during which time we had dinner and even slept a little. In the morning we were already in Barcelona, ​​tired, but looking forward to a great holiday.
Day 2: Barcelona greeted us with great weather! In the afternoon we checked into an apartment pre-booked on booking.com. Despite being tired, after checking in we immediately went for a walk around the city. And the first attraction on our way was the Sagrada Familia.

Sagrada Familia

Then we went for a walk along the famous Rambla, looked into shops along the way, and visited the ancient Boqueria market. And already late in the evening we managed to go to shopping mall Arena.

Arena in Barcelona

Day 3 spent in the Port Aventura amusement park and water park. And it was a very emotional day!

Port Aventura

Day 4 We didn't plan it in advance. We just went for a walk in the city center. And we found an amazing place - Citadel Park.

Barcelona

We walked along the ancient streets of the Gothic quarter and, of course, could not pass by the Picasso Museum.

Picasso Museum

Day 5 We took a morning flight from Barcelona to a heavenly place - Mallorca. We took a taxi to the hotel, located at the westernmost point of the island. Sant'Elm is a picturesque and peaceful place for a beach holiday.
Days 6, 7, and 8 we spent at the beautiful Universal Aquamarin & Aquavilla hotel. The main attractions of Sant'Elma are the beautiful beach, walks along several streets and the amazing cuisine at the hotel.

Day 9 In the morning we packed our things and took a taxi to the eastern part of the island of Mallorca - the small town of Porto Colom. The sandy beach of Cala Marsal, popular among tourists, is located here.
9 - 11 days we stayed at the JS Cape Colom hotel, located among picturesque cliffs. His business card is an observation deck on the top floor, from where a stunning view opens. The hotel has an all-inclusive system, but the cuisine was not at all pleasing. But I was very pleased with the presence of a good tennis court, the use of which was included in the price of the stay. Please note that this hotel is for adults only. And this is correct, since the hotel’s beach is very unique; entry into the sea is via stairs from a cliff.
Day 12 In the morning we moved to a hotel in the capital of the island - Palma de Mallorca. We spent only a day here. On the first day we saw the main attractions of the city - the Cathedral and central square, as well as Bellver Castle.

Day 13 In the morning we walked around the main square of Palma de Mallorca and spent a couple of hours shopping. After lunch we flew to Barcelona. In Barcelona we spent a romantic evening in one of the restaurants in the Gothic Quarter.

Seafood in Spain at every turn

Day 14 The last full day in Barcelona was very eventful. In the morning we went to the Laberint d'Orta park, located next to the hotel where we stayed.

Barcelona

Then we went to the center, planning to visit Gaudi's great creation - Casa Batlló. But due to the huge queue, we postponed visiting it until our next trip to Spain. Instead, on cable car We got to the famous Montjuic Castle, admired the beauty of the National Museum of Art of Catalonia, walked around the Olympic village, and even had lunch in the cafe of the Olympic stadium.

Barcelona Olympic Park

Also on this day we saw Spain in miniature in Poble Espanyol. This so-called Spanish Village turned out to be just a large collection of overpriced shops and restaurants.

Spanish village

We spent the evening, of course, in our already beloved Gothic Quarter.
Day 15 In the morning we bought cheese/jamon in the shops closest to the hotel. In the evening we flew to Riga. It turned out that on this very day - August 13 - Riga celebrates City Day. We found our little hotel with difficulty and had a delicious dinner at a local restaurant (the food seemed incredibly tasty compared to Spanish food). We didn’t go to the square to watch the fireworks because we were tired and didn’t want to freeze.
Day 16 In the morning we walked along the central streets of Riga, looking at all the disgrace that was happening on the streets after the celebration of City Day. After lunch we flew to Helsinki, from where we finally got to St. Petersburg by evening bus.

Prices in Spain

Holidays in Spain left a lot of positive emotions. What I especially liked was the general friendliness and openness of the Spaniards. And their language is simply music to my ears! I even wanted to learn it in order to understand not only the well-known ones - “gracias”, “ola”, “buenos dias”, etc.

Barcelona from the observation deck

Of course, while traveling, we involuntarily compared our holiday in Spain with the Asian countries we had visited. And everywhere has its pros and cons. The biggest disadvantage of Spain is the fairly high prices for food, transport, souvenirs, and excursions. But it's all in comparison! But the deposit have a good travel- do not compare with previous holidays. But planning independent travel to Spain, take more money! The average bill in a cafe is 30-60 Euros for two without alcohol, a taxi around the city is 10-20 Euros, entrance tickets, for example, to Park Aventura - 47 Euros per person.

A little about food

The only thing we were a little disappointed in in Spain was the local food. Perhaps due to too high expectations. Before the trip, we read that Spanish cuisine can be considered one of the main attractions of the country, it is so good. We had lunch and dinner in many restaurants of different price ranges, from cheap cafes to a famous restaurant in Mallorca. But we didn’t get much pleasure. Paella, gazpacho, tapas (various snacks), chorizo ​​- it's all, of course, delicious! But after a few days I want something completely different. This does not apply to our beloved brie cheese, jamon and, of course, sangria!

Spanish salad

When it comes to holidays in Mallorca, there is something for everyone. Either calm beach holiday and an evening promenade along local streets (such as in Sant'Elm), or unbridled fun for young people in the Arenal resort.
In a short time of travel we saw a large number of sights of Barcelona, ​​had a real rest famous island Spain and even managed to see Riga a little. We will start our next trip to Spain from Madrid, and then we would like to see Seville, Zaragoza, Valencia, and the island of Tenerife. But we didn’t see all the sights in Barcelona, ​​and we also want to visit the Port Aventura amusement park again.

For those unfortunate people who have not yet been to the land of oranges, wine is also dedicated!

There are many in Europe sunny countries, but there is one special one - Spain! In this “hot” and “passionate” world there is plenty of joy for any person! Spain is “caressed” from both sides by two water “ladiesmen”: the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Wherever you go, you will be welcome, because the Spaniards are hot, brave, but friendly people.

The most popular holiday destination in Spain is the dream resort of Mallorca (Mallorca). Mallorca belongs to the Balearic Islands. Tourists arrive in large numbers on the island all year round. And why? But because if you’ve visited this fabulous place once, seething with joy and fun, you’ll want to come back here again, and what’s more, you’ll want to stay here forever! A mild and favorable climate will not give your health And mood be capricious, fresh fruits and seafood delight the eye around the clock. Nature the island is rich and varied, which means it will give you many memorable photographs. Sandy beaches- the main bonus of the island, and why be modest, of the whole country as a whole!

If you're planning to get to know Spain better, head to Barcelona, ​​a city of vibrant art, cuisine, and entertainment. Of course, speaking of Barcelona, ​​immediately start fantasizing about what the work of the famous architect Antonio Gaudi looks like. You will be committing a huge “sin” if you are in Barcelona and do not see his creations. If you are going on vacation with kids, then by all means take them to Port Aventura - they will be grateful to you and will never forget this fun, full of impressions visit to the amusement park!

For lovers of fiery dances, we present ourselves to the city of passionate flamenco and bullfighting - Seville! The whole city is drowning in orange trees to delight the eye and intoxicate with aromas. Here, as throughout the country, rivers of refreshing Sangria flow, streams of national Spanish songs and guitars flow, and the sun gives happiness.

Well, for special tourists, Spain keeps Tenerife, an island from the archipelago Canary Islands. All the most “nourishing”, “juicy” and unforgettable things are collected here! The island "lives" on the Atlantic Ocean, known as the "island" eternal spring", has a year-round warm climate. Tenerife is surrounded by an abundance of vegetation, a group of palm trees is often found here. The most high point islands - famous volcano"Teide". We can talk about Tenerife forever, so it’s better not to waste time talking about it, go there immediately!

If you love Spain so much that you dream about its rich and bright holiday colors, then go to any city you see on the map. This could be Malaga, where you will enjoy fresh sardines, or Toledo, the former capital of Spain, and the current capital of Madrid. You will be fed with a divine delicacy for gourmets - jamon, rice with seafood - paella, you will be given water and fruit everywhere - sangria, and of course you will be enchanted with fans and castanets. The emotional Spanish language will excite your insides, walks along the narrow streets will seem very intimate and because all of Spain is permeated with threads of passion and love.

Think about it, there are many beautiful places in the world, but you won’t find one like Spain. It combines joy, depravity, laughter, romance and sweet sadness. Holidays in Spain are famous all over the world. The land of dreams will give you a lot of happiness, introduce you to new people, because all of Europe comes there to get their dose of joy and magic. Every day there is something celebrated here holiday, you will love the noisy voice of the crowd, bright smiles, food and dancing. Once you visit there, you will never forget it!

The largest of the Balearic Islands, Mallorca, washed by the waters of the Mediterranean Sea. His geographical location contributed to the fact that at different times the island was owned by the Arabs, the Carthaginians, and the Greeks. Currently, Mallorca is part of Spain.

Whatever the island is called by those who have visited it and loved it forever - and ideal place for sailing, and a paradise, and the best beach resort.

If you are fed up with the bustling, diverse Barcelona and have explored its attractions, it’s time to expand your borders and go further to Mallorca. In our article we will tell you how to get from Barcelona to Mallorca and back and how to get from Palma de Mallorca airport to the city center.

Distance from Barcelona to Mallorca- 203 km.

How can you get to the island? Of course, by sea. From Barcelona to Mallorca and back daily ferries run two companies Balearia and Acciona. Departure time from Barcelona at 23:00 - arrival in Mallorca at 06:30. Ferries from Mallorca to Barcelona depart at 12:30, arriving at 19:45. There are other flights - choose the ones that suit your time.

Ticket price one way for seats - from $121 during the hot August season, you can purchase them directly at the port of Barcelona (or Mallorca) immediately before departure. You can book a ticket online, for example, through the website.

This is not difficult to do - just enter the necessary data in the window on the left: from where and where you are sailing, the number of people, the date of the trip. The system also asks if you will need a car and if you need a return ticket (or just one way). Finally, having seen the proposed ferry raids, you can choose the appropriate one and pay for tickets online (bank cards are accepted for payment). Don't forget to print what you received in the mail. e-ticket!

It is possible to purchase “cabin” places, for a night's rest. If you decide to buy a round-trip ticket right away, there is a chance to get a significant discount. On the ferry you can not only enjoy the beautiful views passing overboard, but also listen to music, watch a movie, or sit at the bar with a glass of cocktail.

Vacationers, for the most part, are very satisfied with ferry trips:

• Many praise the cabins and overnight travel, commenting positively on the comfortable stay and delicious food served on board.
• Others say that sailing on the ferry is easy and pleasant. Moreover, everything went without delays and exactly according to schedule.
• Still others mention that the deck is very clean, the seats are comfortable, and the staff is polite; the employees help you board and carry your luggage.

Cruise Barcelona - Mallorca

Nowadays, short cruises are being chosen more and more often. Mediterranean Sea. The amenities on the ship are the same as in an expensive hotel, and the atmosphere is romantic and mysterious.

For example, a 4-day trip will allow you to see several coastal cities. The liner will stay in a picturesque bay all day, you can have a good time, swim and sunbathe, and all transfers are carried out at night.

Thus, you save significantly on hotel and ground transportation.

For those who are not afraid to fly and want to save time by leaving it to explore unexplored places, there is great option travel from Barcelona to Mallorca and back by plane. Travel time ranges from 45 minutes to 1 hour - you must admit, this is quite a bit.

Ticket price It’s also very reasonable - about 30 euros one way. There are plenty of airlines offering their services for flights from Barcelona to Mallorca and back, including Vueling, Air Europa, Air France, Iberia, Air France, Niki, Ryanair, etc.

Flights operate daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., so choosing a time that suits you and booking tickets is easy. We advise you to opt for proven low-cost airlines (for example, Iberia or Vueling) - the tickets are inexpensive and the travel time is less than an hour.

List of airlines flying to Mallorca and approximate ticket prices (August, one way per passenger):

Iberia	from 37 euros
Ryanair, Vueling	from 19 euros
Air Europe	from 47 euros
Niki	from 217 euros
British Airways	from 230 euros
Air France	from 234 euros
Swiss Air	from 257 euros
Germanwings	from 261 euros

And now a few words about where and how to buy a plane ticket from Barcelona to Mallorca and back. It is most convenient to use online services that specialize in searching for tickets according to given conditions (route, dates, fares).

We advise you to pay attention, for example, to aviasales.ru. On the main page, you just need to enter the point of departure and arrival, flight date, number of passengers and class (economy, business, etc.). The search engine will select all possible flights, and you, in turn, will choose the one that is suitable in terms of time and price by going to the seller’s website (as a rule, the sellers are the air carriers themselves - Ryanair, Vueling, Iberia, etc.).

Next, it’s quite simple, just check everything again and pay online (bank cards are accepted for payment). An electronic ticket will be sent to your email address, which must be printed before the flight and presented at the airport.

Barcelona-Mallorca: by ferry or plane?

Travelers often face the question of what is better to use to get from Barcelona to Mallorca and back, by ferry or by plane?

Cost of ferry trips more expensive than by plane. Travel time also varies - by plane it takes 40 minutes to 1 hour, and by ferry it takes about 7 hours 30 minutes. So, if you are short on time, you should choose a plane.

If you have plenty of free days and you are not afraid of seasickness, you can safely take ferry tickets and enjoy the seascape and bright sun. However, we note that it makes sense to go by ferry to Palma de Mallorca for more than one day. True, there is also a “combined option”: sail to Mallorca by ferry, return to Barcelona, ​​fly by plane.

How to get from Palma de Mallorca airport to the city center

Palma de Mallorca Airport (or Son Sant Joan Airport) is 8 km from the city center. You can get from the airport to the center and back by taxi or public transport.

You can take bus number 17 from the airport to the city center for 3 euros. And by bus number 1 - from the airport to Plaza de España and the port for 2.5 euros. Motion interval public transport- 15-20 minutes.

If you want to travel with greater comfort and not tire yourself of waiting for the bus, you can take taxi or rent a car.

It is more convenient to order a taxi by phone or online, through the official websites of the companies. A trip from Palma de Mallorca airport to the city center will cost you 30-40 euros (depending on the location of your hotel).

Taxi in Palma de Mallorca

The most convenient way to order a taxi is through a Russian-language service, where you can clarify your wishes and choose the class of car. Taxi and transfer prices in Mallorca are reasonable. Use:

• KiwiTaxi (transfer cost from 42 euros)
• (from 10 euros for transfer by shuttle bus)

Car rental in Mallorca

Another option for moving from Palma de Mallorca airport to the city center and back is by rented car. Rental services are provided directly at the airport.

You can view all offers from international and local rental companies, find available cars and book online on the website

Thousands of tourists year after year choose Spain for a long-awaited vacation with the whole family. They are faced with the question: where is the best place to relax? Fabulous Barcelona attracts with its Gothic buildings, museums and shops. Mallorca teases beautiful scenery, beaches, nature reserves and ancient castles. To make your choice, you need to know about the features of holidays in these resort centers in Spain.

The first thing that comes to mind when mentioning Barcelona is the famous architectural monuments of this city. The Cathedral of the Holy Family (Sagrada Familia) became the life's work of Antonio Gaudi, who declared a taboo on straight lines in architecture. In addition to this grandiose building, there are many other of his creations in Barcelona. They forever changed its appearance and made it unlike any other European city.

But the capital of Mallorca, Palma, also has unique buildings in the Gothic style. Cathedral Gaudi also did not ignore it during its reconstruction. The appearance of Palma was influenced by the Arabs. A striking example of this is the Almudaina fortress.

History buffs will love Barcelona. There are many museums in it: historical, military, art. Many of them are located in medieval buildings. There are also favorites for tourists: the Gaudi Museum, Picasso, the Egyptian Museum, and the Spanish Village complex.

Palma also has museums. Some are located in private medieval houses. The city history museum is located in the only round Gothic palace of Bellver in all of Europe.

If architectural sights are more to the liking of adults and teenagers, then young travelers will enjoy the aquarium in Barcelona. Thanks to the tunnel through the huge Oceanarium, you can see the life of underwater inhabitants from the inside.

There are 8 water parks in the vicinity of Barcelona, ​​the closest one is 30 minutes away. They have entertainment and attractions for all ages, both adults and children.

Mallorca also boasts several water parks, a zoo and an aquarium.
Beach holidays are the main goal of many tourists. Barcelona has many beaches for relaxing family vacation, and for youth with noisy discos. In most cases, they are crowded and have a developed infrastructure for entertainment and games.

Mallorca has more than 80 white beaches with turquoise water. They surround the island along the perimeter. In most cases this sandy beaches, there are calm bays, protected from waves and wind. The most popular among young people and surfers is Magaluf with its stormy nightlife and discos. More suitable for families with children: Palma Nova with a gentle entrance to the sea, Paguera, Santa Ponsa, Alcudia, Cala d'Or.

It’s a good tradition for the second year in a row to extend the summer and exchange the Moscow autumn rains for sun and warmth. If last year the exchange was slightly conditional (there was no sea in Prague and Vienna), then this year we made up for lost time: we went to sunny Spain and spent first a week in Mallorca, and then on the mainland, in Barcelona.
Perhaps this was the first full-fledged Vacation (with a capital V) in my life, the way it should be - with sea and sun, parties, with a historical and cultural component and, of course, two weeks.
Long after such a rich and multifaceted vacation, the post-vacation syndrome lasted, when in the dull Moscow reality nothing but photographs, discussions, memories and new contacts on Facebook reminded of the wonderful Spanish days.

Planning is everything
When you are planning a vacation in September, and in most resort towns it is already getting cool, the choice for destination becomes not so wide (if you choose from Europe). Initially, we wanted Spain (anticipating the appearance of a six-month Schengen visa), so the choice was eventually narrowed down to its island part, because... at the beginning of autumn it is still quite warm there.
We did everything ourselves, as usual - to the Spanish visa center; on the vueling and ozone website (via Air Europa) book three flights: Moscow - Palma de Mallorca, Palma de Mallorca - Barcelona and Barcelona - Moscow; hotels on your own booking; read Vinsky and continue to study guidebooks.

Majorca,El Arenal
Impressions: beach, cocktails and clubs
Joy knew no bounds when we finally checked into the hotel and put on our swimsuits and got to the beach. The water is excellent, sand, sun!
A local specialty is drinking cocktails (mostly sangria with ice and Sprite, but any other can be used) from huge buckets with a bunch of straws, lying right on the beach. This is my favorite photo from this trip:

It looks funny when you come to the beach with a 12-liter bucket, three of you, girls, and start vigorously making a cocktail. By the way, it turns out not as alcoholic as it might seem: don’t forget about the whole bag dangerous ice!

The myth that Mallorca is a fashionable resort was completely debunked. Nothing like that, completely ordinary hotels and ordinary beaches, without any frills or bells and whistles. Locals told us that in Spain and surrounding countries Mallorca is considered budget holiday(as I understand it, like Turkey for Russia).

90% of tourists in El Arenal are Germans. In Magaluf (another resort, to the west of Palma), on the contrary, it is predominantly English. It remained a mystery at what historical moment such a division occurred, but the fact remained: during our stay on the island we heard German speech much more often than Russian.

Perhaps, focusing on German preferences in music and parties, the owners of El Arenal clubs chose a specific format that we did not like at all: there are no usual beautiful clubs where everyone is in dresses, and the music is not in the “thump-tum-tum” style with German motifs a la march. Therefore, in search of a good club atmosphere, it was decided to go to Palma (20 minutes from El Arenal by car/bus), to the club Tito’s, which was recommended by locals as the best club in the city. The girls liked it, but that day, unfortunately, I was at the hotel, struggling with acclimatization syndrome.

Island tours
The ideal option, of course, is to rent a car and drive yourself. But, if, like me, you use your license solely as an ID when paying for purchases in a store, you can always use the services of local travel agencies that sell excursions in the surrounding area. We chose a route through the Lluc monastery in the mountains, the port of Soller and the settlement of Fornalutx to another cute village of Valdemossa. Basically, the road was represented by a mountain serpentine, driving along which on a huge bus it seems that you are about to hit oncoming cars and overhanging rocks. If you get seasick (like me), take anti-seasickness pills...

When we arrived in Lluc Monastery, I wanted to quote Lermontov: “ A few years ago / Where, merging, they make noise / Embracing like two sisters, / The streams of Aragva and Kura, / There was a monastery»..
Pilgrims from all over the island flock to Lluc, because... This is where the figurine of the island’s patron saint, St. Virgin Mary Luke, is located.
How the monastery was built is completely unclear, because... It's quite difficult to get there. Very close is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen: the sea turns into the sky.

At the next stop - portSoller, time seemed to stand still.. A beautiful harbor with many snow-white yachts, hillsides with cute houses, warming sun, delicious food and magical music played on the street by the Indians.

Fornalutx And Valdemossa- two small island villages. It’s incredibly nice and cozy there and you want to stay at least for a little while, but the excursion schedule calls for further.

Valdemossa famous for the fact that Chopin and Georges Sand lived here for some time. It was here that several of the composer’s most famous works and the book “Winter in Mallorca” by the writer were written.

I would like to give a few words to our guide, a native Mallorcan, Rafael. In his, I think, about 60 fairly vigorous years, he spoke 6 (!) languages: regular Spanish, Mallorcan dialect, German, French, Russian (since he was married to Russian Natasha), and English, of course. Wanting to make his story understandable to all tourists present on the bus, Rafael duplicated the information in 5 different languages ​​(excluding the local dialect).

Palma de Mallorca
You can take a walk in the “capital” of the island for one day, it will be just right. The town is very nice, a beautiful embankment, an old palace-castle towering above it, nice streets, many shops, a port with yachts, and, as I said above, night club Tito's!

The anthem of Mallorca will remain the song Call me maybe, which was the soundtrack of the last unforgettable night, which smoothly turned into a real teleportation to Barcelona..

From unvisited
Ferries depart from Palma every day to neighboring island- Ibiza. Unfortunately, we didn’t get there because:
1) you need to spend two full days there (arrive at 7 am by ferry, leave your things at the hotel, wander around the island, go to the club in the evening, back the next morning), and out of the six we had at our disposal, it was a pity to spend them not on the beach;
2) on the days when Tiesto, Van Buuren and Guetta performed, the ferry ticket cost several times more + entrance to the clubs themselves was also paid.

Barcelona, ​​capital of Catalonia
Try as we might, we couldn’t find anyone like Javier Bardem. As it turned out a little later, he himself is not from Catalonia at all, so you may have to go to Las Palmas, where he was born, and look there.
Catalonia is known to be a province of Spain that is strongly striving to become independent. Catalan flags are hung everywhere, everyone loves Lionel Messi, the inscriptions are duplicated in two languages ​​- common Spanish and Catalan. As our Spaniard friend Sergio said, if there was a referendum on independence from Spain, he would vote “yes,” citing not only economic issues, but also the fact that the identity of Catalonia, customs and traditions, are suppressed by Spain (Catalonia was conquered by the Spaniards when some time ago).

Where to live in Barcelona
Since we were going to spend exactly a week in the city, it was important to live as centrally as possible and close to the necessary transport routes. After a short search, the apartments were found Feel Good Apartments Plaza Cataluña at Santa Ana, 35 (street perpendicular to La Rambla, 5 minutes to Plaça Catalunya and about 10 minutes to the Columbus Column at Portal de la Pau in the port). The location was excellent, and the small entrance door in the center of a busy street added a special flavor - we felt like natural city dwellers when we opened it with our own key, and without going to any reception.

The check-in system is as follows: first you need to come to the office at Ferran, 11 to get the keys. On the day of departure, the door will be locked at 11 a.m., so if you need to leave things, you can, again, walk to the office or (which is much more convenient) for a couple of euros you can drop your luggage at the locker at Carrer d'Estruc (literally 5 minutes from the apartments) .

LaMerce, feast of the patron saint of Barcelona
The day of arrival in Barcelona coincided with national holiday La Merce (September 24): all the Barcelonans were out walking, there were many concerts and street performances. Surprisingly, among the crowds of people wandering around the city, not a single policeman was seen; everything was quiet and peaceful. It was striking that the column within the framework of the Festival of Giants consisted entirely of joyful and satisfied residents of the city, even mothers with strollers were walking, in contrast to the forced processions associated with May 1 or June 12 in Russian cities. The holiday ended with a beautiful light show projection onto the city hall building, which we watched while sitting right on the square on the paving stones along with city residents and other tourists.

National cuisine and where to try it
The most popular are, of course, paella and sangria. I forced myself to eat real seafood paella - incredibly tasty, despite the unpleasant-looking scallops and shells! Sangria flowed in jugs, and this made the city even more beautiful and pleasant!

In Barcelona you should definitely eat fish and seafood, everything is fresh and very tasty.
A great place that serves a whole mountain of seafood in literally- El Rey de la Gamba-2 in the Barceloneta beach area. I read about this place on Vinsky, thank you very much, it’s gorgeous. And finally they bring shots, just like that :)

In the city center, the favorite restaurant with the most delicious sangria has become Ambos Mundos at Plaça Reial, 10.
We liked the breakfast the most Pastisseria del Pi at Ferran, 12, where after the second visit we were already recognized. Coffee, croissants, pies, bruschetta, puddings, etc. (and at times closer to lunch, more substantial food).

I still don’t understand why they eat jamon with melon. Maybe you haven't tried it?

Port
Barcelona harbor begins at the Column of Columbus, where, according to history, he sailed after the discovery of America to inform the royal couple about this. On the embankment right by the water they sell tickets for a 2-hour sail on a pleasure boat, which will take you from the harbor to the open sea with real huge waves. The entire Barcelonetta beach will be at your fingertips.
It’s nice to sit on the embankment in the evening, drink something unobtrusive, and look at the stars.

Barceloneta beach
It was a little cooler in Barcelona than in Mallorca, but we couldn't pass up the beach. An ordinary city beach with sand, starting immediately behind the residential areas. The sea here is completely different: strong waves on which you can swing crazy and then shake the sand out of your swimsuit for a long time. Well, it was colder, of course, compared to the calm water of Mallorca.

If you walk from Barceloneta towards the W Hotel Barcelona along Sant Sebastian beach, you will find an amazing bar Salt, located right on the shore. Wicker chairs stand on the sand, lounge-style music, pleasant cocktails, the sea splashing at your feet, the night sky... It was very good.

ClubOpiumMar andCDLC
One of best clubs Barcelona, ​​located on Barceloneta a stone's throw from each other. It’s great when the club is right on the beach, and you can go out onto the sand with a cocktail and listen to the waves. The music is excellent, the people are nice and international, admission is 20 euros, you can get there by taxi (there are huge numbers of them waiting for those who want to ride around the city at night on the Rambla and in the center in general).

Tibidabo Park
Everyone who watched “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” remembers the old amusement park and the red airplane - this is the park on Mount Tibidabo, where the seducer Bardem brought his two girls.
The park is over a hundred years old, but you can ride the rides without fear that they will fall apart. The American roller coaster is not scary at all, even I liked it. Cool wild high-speed train and a carousel on chains.
Tibidabo offers an excellent view of the city, and it even seems that the statues of Christ on top of the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart are touching the cloud.
You can get to the mountain from the Avinguda Tibidabo metro station, first by the Blue Tram, and then by funicular.

Montjuic
Montjuic is another one Observation deck, opposite Tibidabo. You can get there by cable car, which runs through the entire bay (it’s scary, by the way), starting from Barceloneta metro station. In general, Montjuic has a park, a Spanish village with the main attractions of Spain in miniature, and Olympic swimming pools, but since the visit to Montjuic was planned for the penultimate day, I just wanted to take a walk and take another look at the city. Therefore, having reached the end point of the cable car, we began to descend to Plaza de España in order to look at the Magic Fountain at the National Palace.

On the way, we found a cool little bar called Noa-Noa at Carrer de Lleida, 23, with a fun atmosphere and a Russian-speaking owner.

Port Aventura
How can you visit Barcelona and not go to the Port Aventura amusement park? Even if you are afraid of slides. There is a direct train from Passeig de Gracia station (via Tarragona in the direction of Salou), and at the station you can buy a ticket to the park + a return ticket. Helpful advice: Check the schedule of return trains and whether any interruptions in transport services are planned for this day.

We didn’t go on the two very best roller coasters (Dragon Khan and Shambhala), because... I personally was scared to even look at them, and when I learned that in Shambhala they only fasten them to the belt, and their arms dangle, I decided that this was too much.. So, even if you are not a fan extreme slides, there is still plenty to ride in Port Aventura.

Furius Baco, for example, is classified as “black”, but I enjoyed riding it even twice (it is located at the very beginning of the park). Oh God, I just read that it accelerates to 135 km/h!.. It’s not felt at all (I tried to reassure).
I really liked all the water attractions - Tutuki splash (Polynesia), Grand Canyon Rapids and Silver River Flume (Wild West). I advise you to buy a raincoat!

Return from Port Aventura back to Barcelona made me worry.. The required return train did not arrive at the time indicated by the schedule. He didn't come even after an hour. And in two hours too. It was already dark outside and even colder. People on the platform began to get nervous; no one understood how to get back to the city. Only the local Spanish Rastafarians did not strain, who, for heating purposes, lit a fire right next to the station and urged everyone to relax. As a result, taxi drivers quickly found out about the transport collapse, and we drove back (2 hours by car) for 200 euros per car... The Spaniards, what can we get from them, are constantly on strike, apparently, and there was another strike on the railway!

I won’t write anything about Gaudi and Park Guell, you just have to go there, it’s a must see!

Transport in Barcelona
If possible, it is better to avoid the metro. I have never seen such an ill-conceived and inconvenient system anywhere. Firstly, it’s incredibly stuffy there (on the platforms while you’re waiting for the train) - after 10 minutes you have an irresistible desire to see the light again and breathe in the air. Secondly, you can wait for the train, but it will not come (by analogy with the railway). Well, the system of signs indicating where to go to go further is clearly suffering. It's better to use by land transport. The same applies to the way to the airport: it is better to be guaranteed to leave by bus or call a taxi (about 30-40 euros from the center) than to wait for an unknown amount of time for the metro.

Shopping in Barcelona
Was left until the last day. In the area of ​​pl. Catalonia has three large El Corte Inglés shopping centers, as well as many small shops.
Needless to say, we didn’t have time to go around everything; already when we were dragging our suitcases on the bus to the airport, we saw a wine library and ran there in joy, but, realizing that we couldn’t take much, we returned. I didn’t want to fly away more than ever! Barcelona is a wonderful, hospitable city that you should visit for at least a week. This is one of the cities you want to return to.