iNTRODUCTION TO bARCELONA

Barcelona is the third most visited city in Europe. It is the perfect destination for your hen/stag party, and it's not difficult to see why. One part cosmopolitan city, part beach-bummers paradise, this city is brimming with history (it was founded as a Roman city, after all) and the locals are fiercely proud of their heritage and their home. Boasting 8 UNESCO World Heritage sites, more museums than you could possibly get to (including a particularly quirky Erotic Museum which is a definite must), Barcelona is also filled with gorgeous parks perfect for those looking for a calmer weekend, and the beach here has been voted the #1 city beach in the world.

Barcelona BY DAY

UNEARTH AWESOME ATTRACTIONS

L’ Aquarium de Barcelona

L’ Aquarium de Barcelona is the biggest in the city, and as such is home to a variety of different species. This tourist attraction includes the Oceanarium, Mediterranean, Themed and Tropical Aquariums, and Planeta Aqua. As you explore some of the world’s most exotic water species, you’ll get to learn about them via the numerous guides around the aquarium. If you are looking to take part in a unique experience, why not try out a session of shark cage diving?!

Website: www.aquariumbcn.com
Address: Moll d'Espanya del Port Vell, s/n, 08039 Barcelona, Spain
Contact: +34 932 217 474
Opening times: Mon-Fri (10am-7.30pm), Sat-Sun (10am-8pm)

Casa Batllo

Antoni Gaudi’s masterpiece is more than just a building – it’s a modern artistic myth. Visit the legendary Noble Floor (the original residence of the Batllo family), the Attic, and the Roof Terrace with its mythical Chimneys (girded by the backbone of the famous dragon slain by St. George) and the fantastic Stairwell. Hidden well behind the exceptional modernist façade – mirroring a calm sea – a world of surprises awaits you. Casa Batllo is a journey into the past.

Website: www.casabatllo.es
Address: Passeig de Gràcia, 43, 08007 Barcelona, Spain
Contact: +34 932 160 306
Opening times: Mon-Sun (8.30am-9pm

Magic Fountain of Montjuic

The magic fountain in Barcelona is a spectacular display of colour, light, motion, music and water acrobatics - if you mix these elements together in just the right combinations, you end up with pure magic! The magic fountain is a must see when you come to Barcelona and is highly recommended by locals and tourists alike. The fountain’s display shows can be viewed on Fridays and Saturdays – so ensure you put some time aside to take in this spectacular sight.

Address: 08038 Barcelona, Spain

Casa Mila / La Pedrera

Casa Mila, also known as ‘La Pedrera’, is an ironic allusion to the resemblance of its façade to open quarry. It is a beacon that shines with creation and knowledge, and is named as an UNESCO World Heritage Site. The building itself has a range of different spaces inside that can be used for all means of things, making it a popular choice for locals. Its uniqueness, artistic and heritage value make it one of the most spectacular buildings in Barcelona.

Website: www.lapedrera.com
Address: Provença, 261-265, 08008 Barcelona, Spain
Contact: +34 902 202 138 / premsa@fcatalunyalapedrera.com
Opening times: Mon-Sun (9am-8.30am, 9pm-11pm)

Barcelona Football Club Museum

The Barcelona FC Camp Nou Experience tour ticket gives you access to the 'behind the scenes' action at the club as well as access to the FC museum and the multimedia centre. The tour is 'self-guided', meaning that there are no tour guides.Information about the tour is provided on boards along the route. However if you want to gain a more in-depth knowledge of everything on the tour, audio-guides are available prior to the start of the tour.

Website: www.fcbarcelona.cat
Address: Camp Nou, Carrer d'Aristides Maillol, s/n, 08028 Barcelona, SpainContact: +34 902 189 900
Opening times: Mon-Sat (10am-6.30pm)

Park Guell

Another one of Gaudi’s major works, the Park Guell is a public park system comprising of gardens and architectonic elements, located on Carmel Hill. The park itself contains amazing stone structures, stunning tiling and fascinating buildings. At the very top of the park there is a terraced area where visitors can take in the spectacular view of the park and the city of Barcelona.

Website: www.parkguell.cat
Address: 08024 Barcelona, SpainContact: +34 902 200 302 / parkguell@bsmsa.cat
Opening times: Mon-Sun (8am-8.30pm)

EAT 'TIL YOUR HEARTS CONTENT

Can Sole
One of Barcelona's best paella restaurants, this one a little more upmarket than most. The restaurant’s menu has two specialities: paella in various forms, and what is known as 'grandmother's spoon food' – steaming hotpots of chickpeas with chorizo, lentil and potato stew, onion soup with a poached egg and Emmental stirred through it, and so much more.

Website: www.restaurantcansole.com
Address: Carrer de Sant Carles, 4, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
Contact: +34 932 215 012 / reserves@restaurantcansole.com
Opening times: Tue-Thu (1-4pm, 8-11pm), Fri-Sat (1-4pm, 8.30-11pm), Sun (1-4pm)

Cinc Sentits

Every accolade has been deservedly heaped on Cinc Sentits and its haute take on Catalan cuisine. To maximise the diner's experience of what chef Jordi Artal can do, these days the restaurant only serves fixed menus – an elaborate 6-course for €120,and a 4-course for 100€, both with optional wine pairings from boutique wineries across Spain. You should expect dishes such as pigeon served three ways, including a paper pouch containing 'false rice' made from its thigh, and some table-side theatre.

Website: www.cincsentits.com
Address: Carrer d'Aribau, 58, 08011 Barcelona
Contact: +34 933 239 490 / info@cincsentits.com
Opening times: Tue-Sat (1.30-3pm, 8.30-10pm)

Set Portes (7 Portes)
An elegant old paella and seafood restaurant, under an arcaded walkway down near the port. It's been around since 1836, and the great and the good to have graced its tables are immortalised in little plaques on the backs of the chairs. The food is excellent, respecting old recipes while occasionally adding a new twist.

Website: www.7portes.com
Address: Passeig d'Isabel II, 14, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
Contact: +34 933 193 033 / reserves@7portes.com
Opening times: Mon-Sun (1pm-1am)

Montiel
Hidden on one of the narrow side streets in the Born, this small, two-story restaurant offers mouth watering tapas, meats, starters and an excellent selection of fresh fish daily. As one of the only places in the city that has fish on the menu, this is the perfect place for those looking for a refreshing lunch before heading out on the town.

Website: www.grupmontiel.com
Address: Calle Flassaders, 19, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
Contact: +34 932 683 729 / info@restaurantmontiel.com
Opening times: Wed-Mon (1-2.30pm, 7-10.30pm)

ABaC
Although perhaps one of the most expensive restaurants is Barcelona, this two-Michelin-starred restaurant in certainly one of the best in the city. Here you can expect the finest cuisine of seasonal and Catalan origin. The restaurant itself is a unique space located in the Sant Gervasi hotel, and promises to provide an unforgettable gastronomic experience.

Website: www.abacrestaurant.com
Address: Av. del Tibidabo, 1, 08022 Barcelona, Spain
Contact: +34 933 196 600 / info@abacbarcelona.com
Opening times: Mon-Sun (1.30-4pm, 8.30-11pm)

SHOP 'TIL YOU DROP

L’illa Diagonal Shopping Mall

Established in 1993, this mall stands pioneer for a new concept of Illa. Illa in Catalan does not only mean island, but also a block of buildings. This mall tried to gain space in the inner space of the block, in which they include parks. This idea of a green space in the inner part of the block is traditional of some buildings in the Eixample. In 2006, an additional expansion was made, including some bistros that include fresh pasta, Japanese bistros and a fresh fruit market.

Website: www.lilla.com
Address: Avinguda Diagonal, 557, 08029 Barcelona
Contact: +34 934 440 000 / info@lilla.com
Opening times: Mon-Sat (9.30am-9.30pm)

Gran Via 2

Gran Via 2 is located in Hospitalet, about 2 km from Montjuic. What is interesting about this mall is that the design is classical and recalls Rome and Greece. There are four huge obelisks in different colours that sit on the main street of the mall and their height extends to the second level of the mall. The railings of the mall are made of brass and have a Greek key design. The ceiling recalls the ceiling with the small recessed squares of the ceiling of the Pantheon in Rome. There are about 200 stores in this mall.

Website: www.granvia2.com
Address: Avenida de la Gran via, 75, 08908, Hospitalet de Llobregat
Contact: +34 902 301 444 / info-scce@granvia2.com
Opening times: Mon-Sat (10am-10pm)

Diagonal Mar Center Commercial

Located in the western extreme of town, the Diagonal Mar Shopping Mall opened in 2002 in order to bring shopping to the west part of town that it is still evolving since the celebration of 2004 Forum of the Cultures. Counting with over 87,000 square meters of shops and restaurants, your only worry will be not spending too much on clothing.

Website: www.diagonalmarcentre.com
Address: Avinguda Diagonal, 3, 08019 Barcelona
Contact: +34 935 677 637 / info@diagonalmarcentre.es
Opening times: Mon-Sat (10am-10pm)

bARCELONA BY NIGHT

SAMPLE THE LOCAL WATERING HOLES

Solange

Solange is run by the Pernías, a family of mixologists who are already well-known for their Tandem Cocktail Bar. Their newer venture is a delightful golden space where vintage sofas, a stately wooden bar, liquid gold and exquisite decorating taste are the ingredients that go into making this such a superb cocktail bar. The Pernías have stuck with the classics when it comes to their concoctions: no modern ornaments, no exotic flowers sticking out of your glass to poke your eye out. After all, why change a back-to-the-basics approach that has kept clients coming to their establishments for years.

Address: Carrer d'Aribau, 143, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
Contact: +34 931 643 625
Opening times: Mon-Sun (6pm-2.30am)

La Martinera

If you’re one of those people who doesn’t appreciate lemon thyme or vodka infused with beets in your drink (and you don’t want to pay more than €6), steer clear of La Martinera, the bar attached to restaurant Casa Chelis. If you understand cocktails to be a form of fine art, however, this is the place to go. Now they’ve included luxurious hors d’oeuvres created by chef Sebastían Mazzola.

Address: Carrer de Muntaner, 102, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
Contact: +34 934 519 670
Opening times: Mon-Thu (7pm-2.30am), Fri-Sat (7pm-3am)

Boca Grande

The stunning cocktail lounge of the Boca Grande Restaurant is one of the most chic night spots in Barcelona. Aside from the Parisian prices, I have only words of excitement for their Hendrick’s gin and tonic with cucumber slice: the best I've had in a long time. You’ll have to strangle your Visa card, sure, but with top-shelf labels, luxurious décor, and select and polished clientele, it’s worth it. It’s not uncommon to rub elbows with Catalan nobility, famous athletes or elite models. They’ve even taken care with the details in what could be considered the best toilet in town. Believe me when I say it’s a magical space located in the catacombs of the bar; it’s a five-star WC with DJ-programmed tunes and dance music that brings together the concepts of latrine and dance floor with originality and elegance.

Website: www.bocagrande.cat
Address: Passatge de la Concepció, 12, 08008 Barcelona, Spain
Contact: +34 934 675 149 / reservations@bocagrande.cat
Opening times: Mon-Sun (1pm-12am)

Tandem Cocktail Bar

Tandem is an exceptional cocktail bar. Young bartenders dressed like old-timers grab from an endless selection of boozy treats with magic hands prepared to whip up any recipe with a sniper's marksmanship. Here you’ll find a vast selection of whiskies, rums and gins, along with other great spirits. Its long and intimate bar allows you to enjoy the most adventurous and delicious drinks, for an even more exciting twist on the already enticing cocktails.

Website: www.tandemcocktail.com
Address: Carrer d'Aribau, 86, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
Contact: +34 934 514 330
Opening times: Mon-Thu (12.30pm-2am), Fri (12.30pm-3am), Sat (12pm-3am), Sun (12-3pm, 6.30-11pm)

Bloody Mary Cocktail Lounge

Although on the pricier on cocktail bars, you won’t be disappointed in the Bloody Mary Cocktail Lounge. A hip bar created by one of Barcelona’s finest teams, this cocktail lounge pours some ultra-creative and delicious takes on those classic and traditional beverages. With tasty cocktails, friendly staff and a good ambience, it’s a great place to stop for a quick drink before heading out onto the town.

Website: www.bloodymarybcn.es
Address: Carrer de Ferrer de Blanes, 3, 08012 Barcelona, Spain
Contact: +34 934 613 985 / info@bloodymarybcn.es
Opening times: Sun-Mon (7pm-1am), Tue-Thu (6pm-2am), Fri-Sat (6pm-3am)

DANCE UNTIL DAWN

Sala Apolo

Former theatre Sala Apolo retains its thespian roots somewhat indirectly, with performers and audience in familiar positions: the DJ takes centre stage, the enthusiasts churn in the stalls, and a more sedate crowd enjoy an elevated view in the galleries. Club nights run the gamut, from pop-rock at Nasty Mondays, indie and electro at Crappy Tuesdays, and root music on Wednesdays. Weekends reign supreme, with internationally renowned Nitsa parties serving exemplary electronica from the likes of Michael Mayer and Ellen Allien.

Website: www.sala-apolo.com
Address: Carrer Nou de la Rambla, 113, 08004 Barcelona, Spain
Contact: +34 934 414 001 / info@sala-apolo.com
Opening times: Tue-Sat (6pm-12am)

Razzmatazz

This cavernous warehouse is one of Barcelona's foremost clubs, and rightly so: it's huge, popular and has great programming. With a distinctly industrial feel (think steel, steel and more steel), it's spread over five rooms – standard procedure involves getting lost at least once on each visit. Razz Club downstairs offers indie and rock for the hipsters, but for club heads, the Loft room is the crowning glory. This immense space with a banging sound system and superb atmosphere regularly hosts house and techno luminaries such as Derrick May, Cobblestone Jazz and Ewan Pearson.

Website: www.salarazzmatazz.com
Address: Carrer dels Almogàvers, 122, 08018 Barcelona, Spain
Contact: +34 933 208 200 / inforazz@salarazzmatazz.com
Opening times: Wed (11.59pm-5am), Fri-Sat (11.59pm-6am)

Moog

A tiny club with a big reputation, Moog is respected locally and internationally. Its stature on the scene surpasses that of many of its larger rivals. It's an elegantly designed club in swathes of wood and iron – the elongated downstairs space sports a graceful wooden bar and culminates in a sunken dancefloor lined with cabinets full of spirit bottles. Expect a selection of electronic delights, mainly in the house and techno direction. In the smaller mirrored room upstairs and sometimes incongruent selection of pop is provided for the less tech-obsessed crowd.

Website: www.masimas.com/moog
Address: Carrer de l'Arc del Teatre, 3, 08002 Barcelona, Spain
Contact: +34 933 191 786 / info-moog@masimas.com
Opening times: Mon-Sun (12am-5am)

Row 14

Local clubbing aficionados continually bemoan the regulations that restrict Barcelona's after-hours scene. Most post-club parties now take the form of small clandestine events, difficult to discover when you're a little worse for wear at 6am. Row 14 provides a welcome alternative. Located outside the city, Row 14 unleashes its sound system to its full potential, starting at 6.30am. With a huge indoor space and a retractable roof, two terraces and a separate bar, this is Barcelona's answer to an Ibiza super club.

Website: www.elrow.es
Address: C31, Km 186, 1, 08840 Viladecans, Barcelona, Spain
Contact: +34 932 063 034 / info@elrowfamily.com
Opening times: Thu-Sat

La Terrrazza

Now in its 16th year of throwing summer parties, La Terrrazza is a certifiable institution on the Barca clubbing circuit. Located in Poble Espanyol on Montjuic, this beautifully designed open-air club is one of the more "glamorous" options for the city's clubbers. Somewhat predictably, however, the price of drinks reflect this. It bills a variety of international and local DJs, and also has some particularly good local residents, but expect a more commercial side of house music. Remember to write down the address before you get in a taxi, this club is notoriously difficult to locate.

Website: www.laterrrazza.com
Address: Avenida Francesc Ferrer I Guardia, 0 S N (Poble Espanyol), 08001 Barcelona, Spain
Contact: +34 932 724 498

LAST NIGHT OF FREEDOM

bARCELONA HEN & STAG WEEKENDS

Grab your sunglasses and sweep the hen or stag onto a plane for a Barcelona hen/stag do weekend full of fun in the sun and all-night beach parties. Half sexy city, half wild beach town. Choosing what to do here can be a difficult choice as there are so many hen/stag activities in Barcelona to choose from. The city is a sizzling bohemian paradise set up like a boardwalk so you can take in the amazingly gorgeous women while boozing it up and then sprawl on the sand. Full of tourists, but never touristy, this insanely beautiful city will hit you over the head (but in a good way) with its laid-back buzz and make the hen/stag's last nights of freedom hot and spicy…

ACTIVITIES & WHAT TO DO

You're spoiled for choice when it comes to having fun on a Barcelona hen/stag do. Chill in the sand all day, go sightseeing through the breath-taking city centre, and stroll along the famous Las Ramblas, which poet Federico Garcia Lorca called the only street in the world which I wish would never end. This is where the hottest bars, tastiest tapas, and sweetest souvenir shops are all lined up for you to take out, one-by-one. And the street pours out onto the beach, so there's your happy ending right there.

If you want to build up some hen/stag team spirit before a Barcelona hen/stag party night, you should look into creating a weekend package, you can take the group to laser games or paintballing before getting a sassy Salsa or Flamenco dance lesson so you can strut it on the dance floor come nightfall. Or if you want to get out on the water (and why wouldn't you?), charter a private yacht complete with bubbly or for a more in-your-face ride on the ocean, take out a banana boat, guaranteed to get everyone loosened up and laughing before your hen/stag night out.

Fancy something different for your hen/stag do? Then Spain's second largest city is a great choice if you're looking for a fantastic fiesta! A hen/stag weekend in Barcelona isn't complete without getting straight into some awesome activities. How does relaxing on the beach all day and partying all night sound? There are so many hen/stag do activities in Barcelona, so you won't have to worry about being bored! Check out our fantastic hen weekend party packages and stag do packages in Barcelona of more inspiration.

HEN WEEKEND ACTIVITIES

Aqua Park

Who doesn’t want to head to a water park when on holiday in the sun? Well we know the perfect place to send you on your hen weekend away in Barcelona. With over 30,000 m2 of fun waiting for you in a water park where you can cool off and glide down the many slides and pools in a world where water is the main attraction. We can even organise transfers to and from the park for you, just let your party planner know and we can send across the details!

Burlesque Dance Class

When you and the girls get together, singing and dancing is definitely in order! What better time to learn some new moves all together at the same time, which you can then use on another night of your hen do in Barcelona?! The Burlesque class will have you and your hens learning from a top dance instructor and by the end, you will be moving like the pros! So what are you waiting for – it’s time to learn some new moves with the girls!

Spanish Cooking Class

So you and the girls have planned an amazing hen party in Barcelona for your lucky friend, and you are trying to think of the perfect souvenir to take back home to remember your incredible time together... How about an amazing Spanish Cooking Class?! This will last forever, remind you of good times when you cook it in the future, and it's insanely fun at the time too! The Spaniards love their food, and that passion is palpable when you begin the day with a tour though the famous, bustling Boqueria market, where you will pick out your ingredients to cook in the afternoon and learn about Spanish cuisine. You will be guided the whole way by a professional chef, who can fill you in on top tips and local knowledge. With your ingredients and new knowledge in tow, you will then make your way to a local cooking school and work on developing your cooking skills!

STAG WEEKEND ACTIVITIES 

Beer Bikes

If you want to catch the icons that define Barcelona, then it is best done on a beer bike. Beer bikes give you an opportunity to catch up with friends over a beer but in the refreshing open air of the city. But since it is boring to stay in one place as you drink Sangria and Beer, why don't you catch up with your friends as your ride around the city. In this activity, we will have you and your friends picked up from the closest beach and ushered to our amazing beer bike. Since we want you to concentrate on your drinking and banter, we will have a guide worry about the itinerary and riding you around the city. Our English speaking guide is well informed about the city and knows all the hot spots and picture perfect stops that you should make.

Jet Skiing

The sun is shining on the lively Spanish beaches. It is so tempting to out and enjoy the tan. You can opt to go out for a swim or just a relaxed sun busk. But this is a stag weekend. Your friends don't get to marry every other weekend and thus you have to take full advantage of it. Indulge in some high adrenaline thrill. Ditch the towel for the life jacket and get into the water. It is time to Jet Ski. Go into the water flat out, and make the James Bond kind of turns to the amusement of your lads and the giggling of girls. Show them who knows best. Be the king of Jet Ski in your stag weekend party in Barcelona.

Quad Bikes

If you and the lads are looking for a competitive outlet for all the testosterone on your stag do in Barcelona there's really no better, manlier activity than quad biking! You'll all enjoy one hour of pure adrenaline, squeezing tight to the handlebars of your beasty quad-bike as you fly through some of Spain's dirtiest and trickiest tracks! The best part is all of the bikes are made for one rider, so you can all compete with nobody slowing you down!

Our website removes all of the pain and stress of organising a hen/stag party, making it as easy as possible for you to get everything sorted and ready for the big weekend. By using our services you can save boat loads of time and money – just choose your ideal destination and desired activity/activities, enter a few details about your intended group and we will do the rest for you. You can rest easy knowing that this will be a hen/stag party to remember.

So what are you waiting for? Don’t delay! Now is the perfect time to visit this extraordinary city, with so much to do and so much to see. For more travel tips and inspiration for your hen or stag weekend, visit our website today or give us a call on 0800 210 0643.