Celebrate in Spain with a Trip to Barcelona

In case you missed it (you know…those of you who may have been living in a cave for the last month), Spain just won the World Cup and the country is still on a celebratory high. The Spanish city of Barcelona is always a great place to visit in the summer, but this year it’s sure to be even more spectacular.

Cheap flights to Barcelona are easy to come by and it’s a relatively short flight. It costs just a few euros to get into the city by bus, and once you’re there you can live as frugally (on cheap tapas and wine, or meals from La Boqueria market eaten outdoors in Parc Guell) or as lavishly (luxurious hotels and 5-course dinners aren’t hard to find) as you want.

Barcelona is the home of many of architect Antonio Gaudi’s most famous works, like the Casa Battló and Sagrada Familia. The city makes a great base for exploring the Catalonia region as well, with visits to cava producers and the stunning monastery at Montserrat just two options for great Barcelona day trips.

If you have more than a long weekend, you can easily head out from the city and see a bit more of Spain; Barcelona is well connected by bus, rail, and plane to most of the rest of the country. Compare the country’s two major cities by adding a trip to Madrid, head south to Andalusia, or make for the beach from Barcelona to Ibiza.

Even if you simply stay put in Barcelona, you’ll find your days packed with beautiful beaches, delicious food and wine, fantastic art and the warm hospitality of the Spanish people.

Photo by MorBCN