Barcelona has it all - history, culture, stunning architecture, beautiful beaches, exciting cuisine, one of the world's biggest soccer clubs and a definite cool factor. On top of all this, Barcelona is home to some of the most enthusiastic party-goers on the planet. It's no wonder that it is a regular in lists of must-visit cities. Happily, that means there are always plenty of cheap flights to Barcelona.
Two of Barcelona’s most famous artists are Pablo Picasso and Antonio Gaudi. Picasso lived in the city between his teenage years and early-20s. His museum is at 15-23 Montcada. There are 3,500 works there – sketches, collages and paintings. To see Gaudi's work, look around the streets. The Sagrada Familia church is stunning, and unfinished. The other is Parc Guell. The rainbow-coloured architectural features bubble and morph and melt, the most famous is perhaps the smiling dragon that reclines on the stairs.
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The climate is Mediterranean - hot summers and mild, damp winters. The hottest months are July and August. Temperatures average 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit). The coldest months are January and February. Average temperatures are about 10 degrees (50F).
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Peak Season:
Summer is peak season, however travellers planning cheap flights to Barcelona in August should note that many locals clear out of the city for the month. May, June, and September are great months to visit. The weather is warm but not overbearing.
Off Season:
There's no real off season per se. Barcelona, between leisure and business travellers, is a four-season destination.
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Once travellers have disembarked their cheap flights to Barcelona, there are several ways of getting to the centre of the city. These include Aerobus shuttle service, which runs to and from Placa de Catalunya every 15 minutes or so, dropping off at locations along the way, and costing about €5 one-way.
Trains whizz from the airport station near Terminal A to points around the city centre every 30 minutes. You'll need to get a T10 ticket (costs about €3) at the entrance to the RENFE train platform at the airport.
Metered taxis await outside the terminals. The journey into Barcelona takes about 20-30 minutes and costs about €25.
Renting a car is another option but Barcelona has such a good public transportation system that it's not necessary.
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Public transportation is a great way to get around in Barcelona. Once you’re in an area, walking is a very nice way to explore. The metro is best and buses will take you to the airport and out from the centre of town. The double-decker Bus Turistic makes stops at popular tourist destinations in the summer.
Save some money by buying multiple-ride tickets. The Barcelona Card gets you discounts at various restaurants and tourist attractions. You can also rent mopeds and bicycles, or hail a taxi. Taxis are reasonably priced, but it’s always a good idea to make sure the meter is running. Note that night fares are more expensive.
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- A lesser-known tourist attraction is the Museu del Calcat, the shoe museum. You'll find it in the Gothic Quarter between the cathedral and Carrer Banys. Showcasing exhibits from Roman times, entrance costs just a couple of euros.
- The GothicQuarter has some of Europe's best-preserved medieval streets. The new part of town is around Montjuic Hill from where there are sumptuous views.
- For evening entertainment, walk along the tree-lined Las Ramblas. It's a buzzy area of market stalls, cafes, and lots and lots of street theatre.
- Take a cruise on the catamaran Orsom, which is moored at the port of Barcelona. Cruises take about one hour, 20 minutes and there's a bar service. Sunset cruises are the best of all. Book at the port at the bottom of Las Ramblas near the Columbus statue.
- To avoid the crowds at the Sagrada Familia, get there in the early morning.
- The closest beach to the city is Barceloneta. As you'd expect, it's a very busy spot. Take a short bus trip to Nova Icaria, near the Olympic marina, for a quieter beach experience. To sunbathe in perhaps more privacy, visit Ocata. Hop a train to Blanes from Sants Estacio, Placa Catalunya or Arc de Triomf. The train stops virtually on the long and sandy beach.
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El Prat Barcelona Airport (BCN) (website:
www.aena.es). The airport is located 12km southwest of central Barcelona.
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