Living and Travel
Before exploring Barcelona take a map with the main historical sights and attractions, choose what you would like to see and off you go. Barcelona is a city of a thousand facets. Each area has its own character and something unique to discover. Ciutat Vella (locally known as the "Casco Antiguo": the historic center), is probably the most fascinating part of the city, endlessly mixing modern and ancient. You can wander for hours in the charming Gothic Quarter, with its narrow cobbled streets, small, cozy cafes and lovely old squares. Don't miss the magnificent Cathedral of Barcelona. The Eixample is a modern district with wide tree-lined avenues and boulevards filled with smart boutiques, high-class stores, stylish restaurants and bars and the famous Casa Mila of Gaudì. Between the two districts is Placa Catalunya, heart of the city and an excellent starting point to explore every corner of it. Definitely a great place to rent a cheap apartment in Barcelona. and live like a local! Close to it and just beside the famous Ramblas is El Raval, a multi-ethnic neighborhood where many artists have chosen to live.The MACBA (Museu D'Art Contemporani De Barcelona) and Centre of Contemporary Culture are located here. One of the coolest district of Barcelona is El Born, a stylish and trendy area to hang out, dine and shop. The evenings here are packed with people and it hosts one of the most fascinating church of the city: Santa Maria del Mar. Finally, for those who love beach, the Barceloneta is a few minutes walking to the city center but directly on the waterfront. Nightlife, culture, sun and sea? Barcelona has it all. You just have to choose!
Caixa Forum Social and cultural centre Monday to Friday: 10.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays and holidays: to 10.00 a.m. to 9.00 p.m. Av. de Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia, 6-8 08038 Barcelona Tel. +34 93 476 86 00. Fax. +34 93 476 86 35 Metro Plaza Espanya The CaixaForum Social and Cultural Centre is … [Read more...]
It is the 14th century and the city of Barcelona is at the peak of its prosperity. Those who live in the Ribera, a humble neighborhood of fishermen, decide to build the greatest temple to the Virgin Mary ever seen: Santa María de la Mar, Saint Mary of the Sea. It is not a cathedral but a church. There is only one cathedral in Barcelona, … [Read more...]
Barcelona Gothic Cathedral La Seu Adress: Plaza de la Seu (Metro Jaume) Entrance door on Plaza de la Seu and on carrer de la Bisbe (very nice old street) Barri Gothic district Entrance fee : … [Read more...]
Ice skating rink in Barcelona for the first time. Plaza Catalunya gets an ice skating rink for Christmas. The plaza Catalunya is all the way up the Ramblas. The rink is covered with a plastic roof to let plenty of light in. It is 1200m2 big (40m by 30m) making it the biggest outdoor ice rink in Europe with room for 350 skaters. It is open from … [Read more...]
Are you a fashion victim? Once again, Barcelona is "the place"! The city is famous for its multitude of fashion shops to suit all budgets and tastes. They range from the classic brands of the international scene to others more originals, since several emerging , cutting-edge designers from around the world have chosen the Catalan capital to live … [Read more...]
Street art and street performers line Las Ramblas from Barcelona and create a truly unique vibe with-in this beautiful city. True enough, you will find street performers in many other European cities but Barcelona is some how the authority on this “industry”, and you will see an incredibly high level of professionalism here, … [Read more...]
Barcelona would not be Barcelona without the Rambla. La Rambla from Barcelona is exactly 1.2 kilometres long and nearly everyone who visits Barcelona walks along it. La Rambla was laid out in 1766, following the contours of the medieval city walls that had bounded this part of Barcelona since the 13th century. The locals took it to their hearts … [Read more...]
Las Arenas de Barcelona Plaza España Website Las Arenas Shopping centre open from 10 … [Read more...]
Shop til you drop - Barcelona is a very popular destination for shopping enthusiasts. One of the reasons are for sure the accessible prices for the Spanish clothing brands like Zara (Inditex Group) and Mango. Zara copies all new trends and designs from fashion designers right from the catwalk almost immediately. Other shops which belong to the … [Read more...]
Barcelona is a very popular destination all year long, and each season has its special attraction. Also well known for its night life and endless options of bars, restaurants, clubs and more, Barcelona is a favorite for New Years Evening. Wether you want to enjoy a great dinner, go out clubbing or celebrate in the streets, Barcelona has something … [Read more...]
At this time of the year Barcelona has been warmly decorated with many lights in the streets of the city center. The Plaza Catalunya ( especially El Corte Inglés), the Ramblas and Portal de l´Angel are the most wonderful iluminated spots. In Barcelona Christmas and New Year are celebrated in a quiet atmosphere and most of the time with family … [Read more...]
A nice article about Barcelona has been published in El Viajero on the 17th of November 2010. El viajero is the weekly travel magazine of the well known news paper El Pais. The article consists of recommendations from readers of El Pais. Dan Bailie recommended Cocoonbarcelona to rent a holiday apartments Barcelona. He talks about the romantic … [Read more...]
Shakira´s new video clip "Loca" has been recorded in Barcelona, you can see a lot of the city of Barcelona in this latest clip. Youtube Shakira video LOCA Making of of this video in Barcelona on August 19th 2010 Shakira's manager got in touch with us to rent a beach apartment, but unfortunately we didn´t have any apartment available for … [Read more...]
Every year in september Barcelona becomes a city of traditional spectacles side by side with the most contemporary artistic shows like theatre and independent musician. La Fiesta de la Merce is the cities most important festival of the year. The distant origin of the festival today: in the 17th century the city asked the Virgin of Mercy, la Mercé, … [Read more...]
The 24th of June is the celebration of Sant Juan ( or San Joan in Spanish) in Catalunya and in some other places like Valencia. It´s a bank holiday, but more important is the ´magic´night of the 23rd of June when the beginning of the summer is celebrated. People have dinner at home or in a restaurant with afterwards a special desert … [Read more...]
Cheap restaurant in a pedestrian street from the Born area : Pim Pam Plats La savora de la abuela means the grandmother's savour Carrer del Rec 18 08003 Barcelona Phone 93 315 20 93 Website Pim Pam Daily Menu at 5 €. 6.50 €, 8,50 €, 9,50 € for a starter and a main dish . Choice of 3 different starters and dishes for each … [Read more...]
Since 1992 , year of Barcelona Olympic games, there are 4.2 km of golden sandy beaches only 10 mins from the city centre. 1) The Barceloneta Beach. This is the first beach close to city centre. You can get there with metro (yellow line) stop Barceloneta. Walk on the Passeo Joan Borbo full of sea food restaurants, cafés with terrace. At the end … [Read more...]
This district, an ancient village enclosed in Barcelona’s city centre is a favourite. Shops, retro and trendy boutiques, nice restaurants, bars and cafés, charming little squares… Take it easy & enjoy a sunny nap or a shady coffee. Musicians, designers and artists of all sorts have made this Bohemian neighbourhood one the nicest in … [Read more...]
The new city: an extension to the north of the city built up at the end of the 19th c. It is the economic, commercial and fashion hub of Barcelona. To see: Gaudi’s main masterpieces. Passeig de Gràcia : the Champs-Elysées of Barcelona. A wide avenue lined with the most famous modernist buildings: casa Mila, casa Battlo. The best fashion … [Read more...]
The historical centre of Barcelona from Plaza Catalunya to the old harbour alongside the Rambla. Medieval streets, gorgeous buildings, prestigious or peaceful squares. Trendy shops, friendly restaurants, tapas bars and all you need for a fiesta by night. Day and night, the streets are flooded with locals, tourists, students & young people … [Read more...]