The latest report from Mark Stücklin at Spanish Property Insight suggests the Spanish government’s campaign against foreign property buyers is starting to have an impact. New data from the Spanish Notaries Association shows home purchases in 2025 by non-resident buyers from outside the EU — think Brits and Americans — were down 17% year-on-year.

“That’s a striking drop in a segment that had previously been relatively resilient,” Stücklin writes in his latest newsletter.

Overall, the number of foreign home purchases in 2025 was relatively unchanged from 2024 — down 0.6% — thanks to a small increase in EU buyers, who are apparently still happy to buy their home in the sun. In contrast, the sharp drop in non-EU buyers stands out, in large part due to the timing, notes Stücklin, who has been a leading analyst of the Spanish property market for a couple of decades.

The decline coincides with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s high-profile attacks on “speculators” and the influence of foreign buyers, including much-discussed proposals for a 100% purchase tax or an outright ban on foreign purchases. None of these initiatives have gained traction, but they were widely reported and now the data raises an obvious question: “did the message land?” Stücklin asks.

Other factors could be affecting sales, including higher prices, limited supply and a general global craziness. “But political signaling shouldn’t be dismissed,” Stücklin writes. “When a government openly questions whether you should be allowed to buy property at all, it’s not unreasonable to hesitate—or look elsewhere. “

(On an anecdotal level, it definitely seems like there has been a shift in the market It’s interesting how many people I hear lead their international property destination list these days with Portugal, not Spain.)

Stücklin goes a step further and argues that the government’s efforts to curb foreign buyers is going to have little affect on goal of making housing more accessible to Spanish citizens. Non-EU buyers account for little more than 11% of the foreign market, and barely 2% of the total Spanish housing market, he notes. And the non-EU buyers primarily purchase in the coastal areas and the urban centers. They are not competing for homes with working class Spanish citizens.

“If the goal was to address Spain’s housing crisis, this changes nothing,” Stücklin writes. “Even if [the non-EU] segment disappears entirely, it won’t make homes more affordable where it matters most.”

Read the full article and find more info on the latest property trends here.

Leave a comment

At some point in your early visits to Barcelona you will almost certainly find yourself searching for a flamenco show. It’s one of those unavoidable experiences, like a trip to Sagrada Familia or dealing with a surly Catalan waiter.

If a trip to Spain would not be complete without a stage-pounding flamenco experience than you definitely should do it. Flamenco is engrained in Barcelona tourist culture, one of the attractions, a stop on the tour. Check out the big church, hit a Gaudi house, eat some paella and catch flamenco at night, the check list of the in-and-out Barcelona tourist.

Purists will note that flamenco (like paella) really doesn’t have much to do with Barcelona. The movements and lore of flamenco grew out of Andalusia and its very specific mix of cultures. Going to Barcelona to see flamenco is akin to flying to Boston to hear New Orleans jazz.

It doesn’t matter. Once you, a spouse or significant other decides they must see flamenco, there is no way out of it.

There are a dozen regular flamenco shows in downtown Barcelona catering to this obsession. For the most part, they are remarkably similar. A few smoldering, boot-stomping, skirt-swirling dances by slightly bored men and women practiced at the art of looking longingly into each other’s eyes is intermixed with interludes by finger dancing guitarists. As the show builds, the dancers whip the crowd into a frenzy with handclapping and dramatic swirling, invoking images of passionate nights and bitters feuds in far off Spanish locales.

You really can’t go wrong.

And, at this point, I should acknowledge that I’m really not the guy to give insightful analysis into finding the proper flamenco experience for you. I love flamenco and appreciate the artistry and all that but, full disclosure, I have no idea which show best captures the authentic flamenco legends with the most talented performers in the best venue. Anybody who says they can rate the shows is probably selling you something. Your interests, goals and schedules will vary.

Yet, I can definitely offer some advice on how to approach this search, based on personal experience and general flamenco scuttlebutt.

For one, I would start and hopefully end any quest for flamenco at the Palau de la Música Catalana. Designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner in 1908, the glorious theater is one of the city’s modernist masterpieces and still an active concert venue that regularly hosts flamenco shows, featuring top dancers, singers and guitarists.

With the Palau program, you know the quality will be top notch. And the possibility to cross off flamenco and a visit to the Palau from your to-do list in one night is a big win. If you have the opportunity, a Palau flamenco show is the way to go.

Beyond the Palau, the choices get a little murkier. But there are still reasonable guidelines that anyone familiar with the hot Barcelona flamenco scene would definitely support.

As a rule, you might avoid any flamenco place that regularly hosts tour groups. Nothing against tour groups and cruise ship passengers, but it definitely kills the cool vibe when a busload of flamenco-crazed seniors arrives.

This leads to a corollary rule, which may or may not be true, but I’ll go with it anyway: avoid shows that offer dinner. I’ve done it twice, under duress, and I never came away thinking, “yum, that was a great dinner.” Plus, the clack and clanks of a busy dinner service is not really conducive to the sultry-deep-in-an-Andalusia-tavern atmosphere you want in your flamenco experience.

A few smoldering, boot-stomping, skirt swirling dances by slightly bored men and women practiced at the art of looking longingly into each other’s eyes is intermixed with interludes by finger dancing guitarists.

While internet dance experts will debate the quality and style of the different shows and performers, one of the best and easiest to endure is Tarantos, a nightly program in a small theater in Placa Real, the famous old square off La Rambla. Tarantos is billed as “the oldest flamenco tablao in Barcelona,” although it only opened in 1963, which speaks volumes about the historic role of flamenco in Barcelona.

The Tarantos show is known for attracting some of the best musicians and performers in town and the intimate setting — maybe 50 people — allows a close-up experience. Best of all, the show is a crisp 40 minutes or so, which scientists have shown is the psychological limit of peak flamenco enjoyability. It also ensures that flamenco doesn’t suck up your whole night. Shows fill up fast, but you can buy tickets online or queue at the box office starting at 8 p.m.

Click for Tarantos info

(Side note for guitar fans: not far from Placa Real, in the heart of the Gothic Quarter, the 14^th Century Basilica of Santa Maria del Pi, regularly hosts concerts with some of the best flamenco guitarists in the city.)

Beyond these basic staples of Barcelona flamenco, it’s hard to sift through the blizzard of “flamenco extravaganzas” and “nights of passion” advertised to tourists. For guidelines, mid-size venues tend to be a better bet than huge theaters or tiny places. And it’s always a good sign when shows advertise the names of their performers — it suggests the performer is in demand around the city.

Certain shows pop up over and again on review lists. The Tablao de Carmen scores points for hosting shows in a theater that actually looks and feels like an old tavern. It’s in Poble Espanyol, a fake Spanish village on Montjuic created in 1929 to showcase the culture of different regions. It is a dinner show, so it’s already shredding the rules, but it does get consistently good reviews. And your ticket lets you wander around Poble Espanyol, so it’s got that going for it.

Click for Tablao de Carmen info

Closer to the Gothic Quarter, there are several large old theaters offering regular flamenco shows. The City Hall Theater, just off Placa Catalunya is one of the best and considered one of the more affordable. The show clocks in at a crisp one hour and, best of all, you can purchase tickets that include drinks.

Click for City Hall Theatre info

For a venue with more of a vibe, one of the more established regular shows is hosted in the Palau Dalmases, an ornate 17^th-century mansion in the heart of El Born, is hard to beat. The atmosphere is great and the fast-paced one hour show fits nicely into an evening in the old city. Organizers claim to recruit the “best flamenco artists in the world.” You can get a drink; an optional dinner is offered after the show.

Click for Palau Dalmases info

For a place a little off the beaten path, Casa Sors caught my eye, and it consistently gets good reviews. I can’t vouch for the show, but I like that it includes a “museum” of flamenco guitars. Casa Sors is billed as a family business founded in 1972 with “more than 50 years of musical and guitar tradition.” It also claims to the “best-rated” show in Barcelona. It’s located on Consell de Cent, the pedestrian street off Passeig de Gracia.

Click for Casa Sors info

There you have it. Insights. All sorts of options. From here, you’re on your own. I hope you find the pulse-pounding, castanet-snapping dance and guitar experience of your dreams.

Planning a trip to Barcelona? Subscribe to Barcelona Travel Tips.

Leave a comment

As some of you know, I’m writing a book on Barcelona, and this Substack site will be my platform to share stories about the architecture, culture and daily life of a city that has captivated me for years.

The more I’ve learned about Barcelona, the more I became fascinated by the centuries of scandals, tragedies and passions that shaped the community and culture. There are crazy tales behind those old squares and modernist masterpieces.

In recent days, I’ve been primarily focused on building out the site’s Travel Tips section. During my time as a working journalist in the city, I accumulated a wealth of material and opinions. In addition to random notes, I’m focusing on many of the questions I hear over and over again. It’s been fun, and I hope to develop a useful package for travelers and expats. I’m trying to make good on the promise to offer a perspective you won’t get from the guidebooks.

As always, any opportunity you have to read, like and explore the site is much appreciated. Here are a couple of the recent articles.

In the weeks ahead, you’re going to start seeing more articles about architecture, art, design, history and the other elements of Barcelona that make it a great place to visit and live.

Thank you for your support.

Kevin

Leave a comment

A lot of cities talk big about the variety and ethnic diversity of their cuisine. Bloggers babble about “cultural crossroads” and “melting pots,” but in reality most big cities can’t compete with the choices and quality offered in the typical central Barcelona neighborhood.

I know, fighting words. But there are unique forces at play in Barcelona. The whole “crossroads” thing is real in the city. “Local” means Catalan, but the food scene is heavily influenced by the distinct cuisines of other Spanish regions, as well as nearby France. Moroccan and Eastern European inspirations are also baked into the mix, like most of Spain. And Barcelona is a port city, and touristy port cities often host a cultural stew. (OK, sorry for the cooking metaphors.)

Many cities may offer similar ethnic diversity, but the restaurants are separated into different barrios spread across the city. There’s a “Chinatown” or a “Little Italy” or a Greek neighborhood, but little cross pollination. In Barcelona, every type of food can pop up in any neighborhood. Walk around and you never know what you’ll find around the corner. In the heart of the city, everything from “fusion” restaurants led by boundary-testing chefs to fast-food Korean joints are always a short stroll away

On a recent visit to Barcelona, I stayed on Consell de Cent, a pedestrian street in the heart of Eixample, the central neighborhood. I was thinking food after recording a podcast with Brent Petersen for his site, Destination Eat Drink, and I began to explore.

Within a few blocks of my apartment, I found Greek, Indian, Moroccan, Chinese, Japanese, Italian and Argentinian restaurants. But that only scratched the surface, as I expanded the search into the surrounding blocks, where I discovered Malaysian, Mexican, Korean, Colombian, Filipino and Chinese hot pot restaurants, in addition to multiple hamburger joints and a shisha lounge.

There was probably a German place in the area, but I didn’t see one. I did notice an Iranian restaurant, but I didn’t feel it was a good idea to hang out in front taking pictures.

Of course, the ethnic restaurants were only a fraction of the choices. Like any Barcelona neighborhood, there were plenty of the local cafes that bring life and community to every block. I never saw a tourist in this place, where I hunkered down for the menu de dia, which included a first course of pasta with meat sauce, a nice piece of grilled salmon and a bread pudding for dessert, for about $16, including drink and coffee.

My neighborhood also featured the typical array of bakeries, butcher shops, vermouth bars, bodegas and wine shops. It was a residential area close to the university, which meant there were also several coffee bars, a “gluten-free lab,” a churro stand, takeaway kebab restaurants and an artisan cheesecake bakery…

… and one place specializing in corndogs.

In Barcelona, diversity isn’t simply about geographic hodgepodge. Beyond ethnic and cultural variety, the neighborhood presented a full range of pricing and quality levels, including several high-end restaurants catering to obsessed foodies.

A few blocks from my apartment I ran into the Michelin-starred Fishology, where customers can “immerse themselves in a unique experience focused on the marine environment.” The restaurant’s chefs “study and develop ancestral preservation techniques (maturations, curing, sausages, smoking, preserves and salting),” and follow “ancestral techniques from the times of the Greeks and Romans,” to create aromatic artisanal vermouth.

I wasn’t in the mood for an immersive aquatic experience, but this fast-food Chinese place where I could get a €6.90 pork roujiamo, a form of Chinese hamburger, definitely caught my eye.

In a down-and-dirty, what-are-we-having-for-dinner sense, that’s what real cultural diversity means. There is an equation developed by your brain and stomach that is only satisfied by the ability to find something interesting to eat within easy walking distance. That is the promise of a great food city, where affordable street food and innovative, food art can live together.

Barcelona presents a high bar. Although, for the record, there is one thing you won’t find in a typical Barcelona neighborhood: American food chains. And their absence is one of the best parts about the city.

Leave a comment

Share

Substack is hotbed of talented and engaged writers chronicling their travels and life in Spain. Each brings their own perspective and insights as they share stories of the culture, history and communities they are experiencing.

Here are a few that recently grabbed my attention. In typical Substackian fashion, they cover a wide range of topics, from a closed brothel to the power of urban design.

Spending Saturday in Jail in Segovia

Andrea Eschen / Snippets from Spain

“Thirty others also decided to pass a spring morning inside this prison, now called the Democratic Memorial of Segovia. It pays tribute to the men and women of this city, and of other places around Spain, who were locked up and tortured here for resisting Generalissimo Francisco Franco’s dictatorship and his Fascist regime. Usually, one doesn’t think of jail and democracy together.”

Snippets from Spain

Snippets from Spain

I spent last Saturday in jail in Segovia. Thirty others also decided to pass a spring morning inside this prison, now called the Democratic Memorial of Segovia. It pays tribute to the men and women of this city, and of other places around Spain, who were locked up and tortured here for resisting Generalissimo Francisco Franco’s dictatorship and his Fasc…

Read more

a month ago · 16 likes · 10 comments · Andrea Eschen

What the Mixing of Everything Tells You About a City

Rocco Pendola / How It Works (and Why It Doesn’t)

“Cities that work mix ages, not just buildings… In places like Valencia, nobody is pushed out of the public realm because of their age, their schedule, or their stage of life. Everyone simply occupies the city together.”

How It Works (and Why It Doesn’t)

What the Mixing of Everything Tells You About a City

When my wife’s 22-year-old daughter visited last year, she went outside to call her friend at like one in the morning…

Read more

a month ago · 12 likes · 3 comments · Rocco Pendola

King to Mexico: “We’re sorry” (Kind of)

Ian Mount and Adrian Bono / The Bubble

“King Felipe VI (aka F6) raised a few eyebrows this week after casually acknowledging that there was “a lot of abuse” and “ethical controversy” during the Spanish conquest of the Americas.”

The Bubble Newsletter

🌎 King to Mexico: "We're sorry" (Kind of)

Madrid | Issue #140…

Read more

2 months ago · 6 likes · 4 comments · Ian Mount and Adrian Bono

Spain’s abandoned mermaid brothel: A Mediterranean roadside ruin

Melita Cameron-Wood / Unpack. Pack. Unpack.

A stop at an abandoned club is reminder of the power of getting off the road and exploring.

Unpack. Pack. Unpack.

Spain’s abandoned mermaid brothel: A Mediterranean roadside ruin

The motorbike screeched to an unexpected halt. A pair of pert-breasted mermaid statues greeted us with the hollow glare of spray-painted eyes. We’d been planning on driving back to Valencia after a long day out hiking. But something had caught my then-boyfriend’s eye. He had a thing for abandoned buildings — and the one in front of us was a real show-st…

Read more

2 months ago · 17 likes · 11 comments · Unpack. Pack. Unpack.

The Scent and Flavor of Granada: Eight unmissable Places

Blanca Valencia / Gazpacho Chronicles

“An insider’s tour of Granada’s most aromatic corners, from tea shops to olive oil evangelists”

The Gazpacho Chronicles

The Scent and Flavor of Granada: Eight unmissable Places

Like writer Federico García Lorca’s work, Granada is a perfumed stage set alive with the scent of orange blossom and jasmine. These two particular scents are synonymous with El Albaicín, the hilly UNESCO neighborhood overlooking the Alhambra, where they naturally scent the narrow cobbled streets. Every traditional house or…

Read more

2 months ago · 23 likes · 21 comments · Blanca Valencia

Leave a comment

Share

If you really want to get a taste of the real Barcelona, don’t stay in the Gothic Quarter. It’s like visiting Disneyland and choosing to stay in Snow White’s castle. Nobody wants to be in the theme park 24 hours a day.

If you are in Barcelona for more than a quick day or two, you should try to stay in one of the surrounding neighborhoods, where you will truly experience the elements that make the city special. You’ll still be close to everything — it’s a compact city, easy to navigate — while immersing yourself in Barcelona’s active, vibrant daily life.

Finding the right neighborhood for you depends on your personal tastes and travel goals. What do you need to be close to? What are your priorities? Do you like hotels or short-term rentals?

In Barcelona, there are additional elements to consider. The city of Barcelona has announced plans to eliminate short-term rentals by 2028, which is already affecting availability. Some neighborhoods are best known as Airbnb destinations but won’t have many hotel options. You also need to consider if you’re close to a metro stop. And does that stop offer you a direct route to where you want to go? It may not be a great location if you need to transfer every time to get where you want to go.

Or, if you walk a lot, remember Barcelona is on a hill. It may look easy to walk from Placa Catalunya to Parc Guell, until you realize it’s all uphill. Where you choose to stay can have a big impact on the pain in your legs at the end of the day.

That said, here is a quick rundown of the best and worst neighborhood to stay, based on my extremely biased analysis:

**BEST OPTIONS

Eixample

You can’t go wrong. The Eixample is the product of the world’s most famous urban plan, with each block designed to promote sun, fresh air and walkability. The neighborhoods are safe and every street offers a distinct mix of bakeries, restaurants and local shops. Passeig de Gracia is Barcelona’s Fifth Avenue, and the closer you stay to it the better. The blocks to the north, including streets like Carrer de Bruc and Carrer de Roger de LLuria, are among the toniest in the city. The areas around Sagrada Familia are little busier and working class, but still OK.

To the south, Rambla de Catalunya runs parallel to Passeig de Gracia and is a wonderful tree-lined boulevard. Carrer d’Enric Granados and Carrer de Consell de Cent are pedestrian streets, which is nice. It gets rougher the further south you go toward Placa Espanya and Sants Estacio (the train station).

Gràcia

The medieval village of Gràcia is an island in the middle of the booming city. The narrow streets and old buildings are battling the forces of gentrification and tourism, but it is still one of the best places to stay in Barcelona. It’s close to Sagrada Familia and Parc Güell, and a short metro ride to the Gothic Quarter. But there’s a catch: There are only a few hotels within Gràcia; most of the options are Airbnbs, which may or may not exist (legally) in the future. Also, it’s important to read the fine print in the ads. Many of the old buildings may not have elevators, or the buildings are run down with few amenities. Check reviews and pictures. However, if you’re able to find the right place, Gràcia is a one-of-a-kind experience.

Arc de Triomf

The area around the Arc de Triomf is often overlooked, but it’s a great place to stay. There is a variety of hotels and apartments available. And you’re a short walk to El Born, without having to deal with the crowds of the hardcore tourist area. At the same time, you’re next to Parc de Ciutadella, Barcelona’s version of a central park. Bonus: if you’re looking to take a trip — say catch a bus to Tossa del Mar — the train station, Estacio del Nord, is a few blocks away.

**OUTLIERS

Sarria

This is a residential neighborhood, far removed from the tourist areas. There are few hotels, and the quality of the available apartments is all over the map. But the quaint streets and quiet neighborhoods with great restaurants and wonderful shops and markets allow you experience what life is like in Barcelona. You are a bit removed from the tourist attractions, but the tourist center is easily reached by metro or a short walk down the hill.

Lesseps

I’ve stayed in the area around the Lesseps metro stop several times. It’s a busy residential and commercial area, and there are several hotels and tourist-focused apartment buildings clustered around the busy boulevards. It may not have the glamour of some of the other neighborhoods, but it is a short walk into Gracia or Parc Guell. And it’s easy to access the city from the metro stop or a short taxi ride (and taxis are easy to flag in the area).

**AVOID

La Rambla

All the bad things you read about Barcelona — the crowds, the pickpockets, the over-priced tourist traps — all can be found on La Rambla. You might be tempted by some A-list hotels. It’s not worth it.

Raval

Sure, it looks quaint. It’s a labyrinth of narrow streets lined with old buildings and wrought iron balconies. Gosh, it looks like a Spanish dream. And so cheap! Don’t do it. Raval is great for backpackers and heroin addicts.

El Born

This is tough. Everybody loves El Born, with its old streets and great restaurants. But it’s a hard place to stay. It’s hard to get in and out. The crowds swarm the streets every day and night. And most of the buildings are old and don’t have elevators.

Barceloneta

You want to stay on the beach and Barceloneta is right there. But the buildings are old and dirty, and most of the short-term rentals are not great. The neighborhood typically attracts the frat boys and punters for the big party scene. The main hotel is W, the big blue sail-like structure on the waterfront, widely considered by locals as an abomination for ignoring coastal design regulations.

Port Olimpic

If you’re still looking for a spot close to the beach, the Port Olimpic area may look great. But the area was built for the 1992 Olympics and has the charm of a California shopping mall. You’re also far away from everything.

Sants

It’s the train station area. As a general rule, in most cities it’s rarely a good idea to stay near the train station. Barcelona is no different. And, yes, that’s why it’s a cheap alternative.

Placa de Espanya

This is where you stay if you’re attending a convention. If you’re attending a convention, there is little to do in the area, which sits on a busy intersection. You can always check out the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya or the fountain show without the need to stay in the area.

Planning a trip to Barcelona? Subscribe to Barcelona Travel Tips.

More tips:

A ‘Fusion’ Restaurant in Eixample

Seven Random Barcelona Tips

A Heavenly Spot for Flamenco Guitar

Leave a comment

Share

“Fusion” is one of those over-used terms in the restaurant business that means less the more it used. In Barcelona, fusion can reference anything from the work of some of the world’s top culinary artists to burger joints offering chipotle sauce. Any restaurant that combines American cheese with Iberian pork is suddenly a “gastropub” experimenting in modern fusion cuisine.

Indeciso is a small neighborhood restaurant that is taking the concept seriously. On Carrer del Bruc, it is a few blocks from Passeig de Gracia, but miles away from the tourist throngs. It is small, with a cozy atmosphere that feels like many of the neighborhood restaurants in the city. There are only a few tables crammed into the bar space and a couple of tables on the patio; it is the ambiance of a spot only the locals know about (and I was taken there by a local.)

This is how Indeciso describes the cuisine:

“Indeciso offers a contemporary menu that blends Mediterranean and Catalan flavors with creative influences. It’s a space designed for those who want to eat well, discover unique dishes, and enjoy a carefully curated experience in the heart of the city.”

There is a strong emphasis on fresh ingredients. The day I was there for lunch, the menu de dia included a fresh beet carpaccio, with fresh orange, artisanal cheese and a honey-citrus vinaigrette and a main course of potato gnocchi with parmesan, artichoke chips and black olive powder. I opted for a fresh vegetable soup with crispy kale and peanut crumble and a roasted pork loin with pineapple, spinach and ham.

Everything fulfilled the restaurant’s promise to focus on fresh, unique pairings. And there was a real sense that that the chef respected the staples of a Catalan menu, while looking for fresh approaches, instead of the other way around. This was not an attempt to paste old traditions onto new concepts. Unlike many “fusion” restaurants, at Indeciso the offerings and atmosphere remain authentic to the feel of a Barcelona neighborhood restaurant.

In addition to the traditional mid-day menu, Indeciso offers a separate evening menu with “creative dishes and bites to share, designed to explore flavors at a leisurely pace.” There are also vegan and gluten-free choices. And you can make reservations. (It’s also worth noting that our waiter spoke English (and the restaurant displays the menu de dia in English, which is rare in the old neighborhood.)

Click for Indeciso web site

Click for map

Planning a trip to Barcelona? Subscribe to Barcelona Travel Tips.

Leave a comment

Share

Most guides discuss Tossa de Mar as an option for a quick one-day excursion from Barcelona. Although not accessible by train, it’s about a 90-minute drive from the city and it’s easy to walk the castle grounds, have lunch and head back to the city.

Don’t believe them.

Tossa de Mar is a great, affordable place to spend a night or two, and there is a perfect old, faded-glory European hotel to make it easy. The Gran Hotel Reymar dates to the 1960s and the beachfront town’s cosmopolitan heyday, when it was briefly a Mediterranean hot spot. Today, it no longer has that hot spot vibe, despite Tossa’s popularity, and rooms can be found for €120-€175 a night on the fringes of the summer season, and for as little as €200 in season.

An icon of a mid-century modern design, the tiered resort sits at a key spot in the seaside city, on an outcropping that separates the main beach from a much smaller, less-crowded beach, Mar Menuda. As a result, Gran Reymar is a short walk from the heart of the old town but far removed from the crowds and the party atmosphere. There are other mid-range options in town—including the Hotel Golden Mar Menuda, across the street from the Gran Reymar—but most are aging and don’t have the full amenity package.

Gran Reymar has everything you want in a beach resort, including a relaxing private pool space, plenty of sun decks and easy access to the beach. In this case, Mar Menuda is a much nicer beach of soft sand on a quiet cove. (Mar Menuda is also home to the local dive shop, and the launch site for the daily dive treks.)

The Reymar is no five-star resort — many of the elements seem faded and you’re likely to run into groups of elder German and northern European travelers on bus excursions. The bars and restaurants are OK, but I’ve never felt compelled to eat at the restaurant. But the hotel is comfortable, the staff reasonably friendly, and you have easy access to everything in the town. (It’s a little longer walk to the castle, but not bad.)

We’ve stayed at Gran Reymar twice, both times at the end of September, when the crowds had thinned, and found it a great place to take a break from the city and hang out for a day or two of beach time. One tip: if you’re taking the bus from Barcelona. The Gran Reymar will send a van to pick you up at the bus station.

One big note: the Gran Reymar closes for the season each year from mid-October to mid-April.

You can find the hotel’s website here.

Planning a trip to Barcelona? Subscribe to Barcelona Travel Tips.

More tips:

A Cozy Barceloneta Cava Bar

Seven Random Barcelona Travel Tips

Where to Find an American Breakfast

Leave a comment

Share

Barcelona may have earned a reputation as anti-tourist, but the city still works hard to accommodate and encourage the flood of travelers that are the lifeblood of the city’s economy. In recent years, there has been a concerted effort to improve the city’s web offerings and make it easier for tourists (especially non-Spanish speakers) to get information.

A good example is the city’s Getting There site, which offers an easy-to-use route planner. You can plug in your destination, and the planner will offer the different transportation routes available, including the busses and metro. The site offers live traffic updates and includes cycling and walking routes, which gives you a clear idea of the options. (One tip I always share: Barcelona is on a hill; I like to take transportation up the hill and walk down the hill.)

You can find the route planner site here.

Planning a trip to Barcelona? Subscribe to Barcelona Travel Tips.

Leave a comment

The Parc del Laberint d’Horta is a little out of the way. And it’s not the type of activity you’re going to do if you’re a tourist on a two-day Barcelona itinerary. But if you’re hanging out and bored on a weekday afternoon and you really like solid palatial gardens, this park is the real deal.

The 9.1-hectare Parc del Laberint d’Horta (Labyrinth Park of Horta) is the oldest garden in the city. The original neo-classic garden dates to the 18^th Century when the land was part of the estate of Joan Antoni Desvalls i d’Ardena, the Marquis of Llupià. A second “romantic” garden with flower beds, gazebo, a waterfall and canal were added in the mid-19^th century.

The garden’s signature element is an elaborate cypress hedge labyrinth. Think “The Shining,” but there’s a good chance you’ll make it through this maze alive. Visitors can watch people work through the labyrinth from an upper deck, perhaps shouting out helpful suggestions. It must have been terribly amusing for the Marquis and his friends.

Outside the maze, fans of classical gardens will love the park. The grounds are rival the grand estates of Europe, covered with exotic flora and sculptures of mythological figures. Landscape architects can dive into the work of the masters who created and maintained the gardens over the years.

The park is located at the west edge of the city, at the foot of Parc de Collserola. The best way to get there is to take L3 to the Mundet station but be prepared for an uphill walk. From the metro station follow the signs to Velodrom d’ Horta, the competitive cycling stadium. You can always take a taxi there and then walk down the hill to the metro stop for the return.

You can find more info about the park here.

Planning a trip to Barcelona? Subscribe to Barcelona Travel Tips.

Leave a comment

The city has launched a new portal connecting more than 60 Barcelona museums and cultural organizations on one site. Billed as “a unique digital gateway to the city’s museum network,” the new site offers quick access to all the organizations, which includes public and private venues.

On first glance, the site is pretty basic. You can’t buy tickets or get updated information; it is strictly a “portal.” But the site makes it easy to see the menu of options, what’s available and the latest news.

In its press release, the city calls the site a “cultural curator.”

“The new portal is not intended to be merely a directory, but also an active and dynamic cultural curator, with content updated on a daily basis. It allows users to intuitively browse the agenda of temporary exhibitions, permanent collections and family-oriented or specialist activities, and becomes the central hub for major annual events involving museum spaces…”

Content is available in Catalan, Spanish and English, which is helpful. Beyond the general public, the portal is aimed at “cultural tourists, the educational community and specialist audiences.” You can also sign up for a monthly newsletter.

You can find the portal here.

Planning a trip to Barcelona? Subscribe for Barcelona Travel Tips.

Leave a comment

To many Barcelona tourists, Josep Puig i Cadafalch is the guy who designed that really cool mansion next door to Casa Batlló, Gaudi’s main street masterpiece. Millions of travelers have stared in awe at the Gaudi house and its swirling facade, and then glanced to the left and said something like, “wow, what’s up with that place?”

The “place next door” is Casa Amatller, a classic example of the can-you-top this competition that was raging on swanky Passeig de Gracia in the early 1900s. A renovation of an existing building, Puig i Cadaflach’s Casa Amatller finished first, changing the dynamic of the street with its colorful, code-bashing façade filled with symbols reflecting the building’s owners. (In 1906, Gaudi followed with Casa Batlló, followed a few months later by Lluís Domènech i Montaner’s extravagant Casa Lleó Morera, on the other side of Casa Amatller.)

Along with his peers — known as the “Big Three” of Barcelona modernists — Puig i Cadafalch helped shape the city’s aesthetic and the emerging ideas of art nouveau and modernism, even though his name might not be as well known around the world. His work leaps from the cityscape, full of towering Gothic and medieval references.

Puig i Cadafalch’s passions and influences were much different than his peers. Gaudi was a zealot consumed by expressing nature and paying tribute to God. Domènech was an academic and politician who borrowed ideas from everywhere. Puig i Cadafalch was a historian and staunch Catalan nationalist who looked to express Catalan traditions while embracing the form-busting modernist ideals.

Puig i Cadafalch’s most recognizable work is, like Casa Amatller, a dramatic building in the heart of the city that few people know much about. The spires of Casa de les Punxes loom above a key intersection on Diagonal, the bustling boulevard that cuts through the city center. On a triangular lot, Puig i Cadafalch created a residential block for three sisters in a glamorous medieval fantasy castle topped by six spiked turrets that might look at home in a Bavarian forest.

One of Puig i Cadafalch’s lessor known works is right across the boulevard, unnoticed by the tour buses. A few years ago, Palau del Baró de Quadras, a private residence designed by Puig i Cadafalch in 1903, was opened to the public for short tours one day a week as part of a citywide effort to open more of the old mansions to the public. The program is managed by Casas Singulares; as of this writing it is open on Fridays.

Commissioned before the competition on Passeig de Gracia, Palau del Baró de Quadras was designed as the home for the Baron de Quadras, an industrialist who scored big in textiles (primarily wool.) The hardcore neo-Gothic façade fronting Diagonal, with its ornate balcony, carved figures and occasional gargoyle gave the Baron a show palace on the busy throughfare. (The opposite site of the building has a much different, more sedate residential façade.) The owners “were showing off, absolutely,” the tour guide says.

In the early 1900s, Catalan was home to many of the world’s best craftsmen, and Puig i Cadafalch took full advantage of their skills. The mosaic floor, stonework and ornate iron work are typical of the creative explosion happening in the city at the time. The grand staircase is topped with an intricate stained-glass ceiling.

The iron details and colorful tiles help make the building very Catalan.

A mishmash of influences typical of the modernists can be found throughout the house, from the grand columns to the colorful details. The Palau was a job for hire, and it certain reflects the perspective of the client, the Baron, as much as the vision of the architect. Two rooms from the opulent living quarters were preserved, including the columns and grand fireplace.

The building has been restored a couple of times, and it’s been used for different functions over the years. Today it is a working office, home to the Institut Ramon Llull, an agency focused on promoting Catalan culture.

Get tickets and info at Cases Singulars.

Leave a comment

Share

As part of its on-going effort to shift the dynamics of the tourism industry, the Catalonia government last week approved a 100% increase in the nightly tourist tax charged at hotels and short-term rentals.

The new rates, which go into effect in April, will bump the tax rate for holiday rentals from €6.25 to €12.5 a night, while hotel guests will pay between €10 and €15 ($17.60) per night per person, depending on the type of hotel.

For the Barcelona tourist industry, this is the latest in a series of efforts by Catalonia to slow down the flow of tourists flooding the city. The announcement comes two years after Barcelona announced a plan to completely eliminate Airbnbs and short-term tourist rentals by 2028. Last year Spain’s Consumer Rights Ministry levied a €65 million fine against Airbnb for advertising unlicensed tourist rental homes, as cities work to claw back the available supply of homes for locals.

While the new tax rate may infuriate tourists and local businesses — “one day they will kill the goose that lays the golden eggs,” the head of the hotel association proclaimed — there are good reasons behind the moves. Barcelona can often feel like a theme park that decided to let everyone in for free. The city attracts more than 15 million visitors a year, an outrageous number for a relatively small city with a tightly defined tourist area.

At the same time, in a city that prides itself on taking care of its own, housing prices have soared and many residents have been displaced by the short-term rental industry, which exploded in recent years. (There are still more than 10,000 licensed short-term rentals in the city.)

Barcelona is not alone. Cities around the world are asking tourists to pay more, to help support city services. (Amsterdam charges visitors pay 12.5% of the nightly price, Fodor’s notes.) Catalonia will use 25% of the tax revenue for housing programs, which seems laudatory (even as it makes you wonder why it’s only 25%).

In Barcelona you can already see the declining number of short-term rentals available since last year’s crackdown on unlicensed listings. These days, the rentals you find are almost universally licensed — the number will be posted in the listing. For years, Barcelona was the wild west with unregulated flats throughout the city scamming tourists, hosting parties and distorting the housing scene. Getting rid of the unlicensed operators will help bring clarity to the market, while the legislators and courts continue to debate the realities of the ban.

The new taxes might hurt for many tourists and conventions, and some may simply decide to go somewhere else. But in the long term, the city is trying to find a balance between tourism, commerce and supporting the daily life of the city’s residents.

Leave a comment

I first wandered into Can Paixano by mistake. I was walking from Barceloneta to the Gothic Quarter when I was drawn by the buzz coming from the dark cafe. A small line was forming, even though it was still early in the afternoon.

I soon learned that Can Paixano is that rare spot beloved by both tourists and locals. It has the ambiance of an old hole-in-the-wall tavern, cramped with barrels, bottles and canned goods. There are no chairs; it’s standing room only. You cluster around an old counter display case stuffed with meats and cheeses, and sausages and meats hanging from the ceiling. Servers whip out a tasty menu of tapas and small sandwiches detailed on a plastic menu on the wall.

Cava is the main draw here. You can drink cava or water, that’s it. Don’t ask for a beer. They laughed when I asked for a Fanta. I tried the hot jamon y camembert sandwich, but the fresh grilled sausage and fresh cheeses were clearly hot items.

If you can get in, this is the ideal spot for that quick snack and a hit of cava to set up the afternoon. Buy a bottle of the house label for the road.

Can Paixano web site

Click for Google map

Planning a trip to Barcelona? Subscribe to Barcelona Travel Tips.

Leave a comment

With much fanfare, the Catalan Department of Culture released a study this week confirming that a remote chalet in the mountains north of Barcelona was, in fact, designed by famed architect Antoni Gaudí.

The announcement attracted international coverage proclaiming the discovery of a “lost” Gaudí. But it’s unlikely the notoriously prickly Gaudí would be happy about the news, considering he didn’t want his name on the three-story, wedge-shaped building when he was alive.

Gaudí was certainly involved in the design of Xalet del Catllaràs’, located just outside the town of La Pobla de Lillet. During the early 1900s, he was busy in the area creating housing for workers in factories owned by his primary benefactor, Eusebi Güell. He is also credited with designing the nearby Artigas Gardens for another one of his supporters.

But there are complications to declaring the unassuming chalet an official Gaudí, even though it has been commonly referenced as a Gaudí for decades. For one, Gaudí was only involved in the initial design. He was a busy man at the turn of the century. Parc Guell and Casa Batlló were in full swing, and he was becoming increasingly obsessed with Sagrada Familia, the church that would consume his later years. By all accounts, he didn’t supervise construction of the chalet and reportedly didn’t like the final result, which left out many of the more complicated aspects of his original design.

In very Gaudí-like fashion, he refused to formally sign the project’s final paperwork and didn’t include it in any of his professional portfolios, according to published reports. Gaudí was well-known for balking when his designs were altered, most famously when the owners of Casa Mila, his landmark work on Passeig de Gracia, didn’t want to put a 4-meter-tall statue of the Virgin Mary on top of the house.

The chalet’s architect was officially listed as unknown. Over the years, the building was renovated and abandoned several times, leaving little trace of anything resembling a Gaudí project. (This site has a nice look at the building’s history.)

For years, the chalet and its provenance has been a source of debate among local experts, who felt it deserved the full Gaudí recognition. In 2020, a major restoration helped return the chalet to something resembling its original plan. (ROA Arquitectura studied the project a few years ago.)

New research commissioned by the Catalonia Department of Culture confirms Gaudí as the “author” of the design, the agency announced at a press conference this week. The study by architect Galdric Santana, professor at the Barcelona School of Architecture (ETSAB), acknowledges Gaudí did not direct construction and “never publicly claimed authorship because the work was not built according to his design.” However, the study concludes the chalet “contains unique methodologies and techniques by Gaudí that attest to its authorship.”

Several elements were pure Gaudí, the study found. Designs for arches and vaults — including some not actually used in the final design — and the arrangement of the rooms were all typical of Gaudí at the time and would later appear in his other buildings.

The researchers moved into new territory in terms of creating a technical model for analyzing a designer’s influence on a project, according to the press release. The focus on “geometric, structural and compositional evidence” included 3D studies and extensive analysis of historical documents and photographs

“The study details, one by one, all the details that have led it to conclude, affirmatively, that Antoni Gaudí was the author of the Xalet del Catllaràs project,” the Department of Culture announced.

The announcement dances around the issue of calling the project a Gaudí design when Gaudí didn’t want his name on it. It was not unusual for busy architects not to sign the paperwork for projects that didn’t match their initial design, the release suggests. However, the release acknowledges, “the author of this work (Santana) concludes that Gaudí did not direct its construction, and that it was executed and modified by third parties, losing its initial formal and structural meaning.”

In interviews, Santana says the project represents Gaudí’s work and illustrates his way of thinking at a crucial time in his career, even if not all the elements of his design are in the final building.

“What’s most important is that it shows the new architectural approach that Gaudí had,” Santana, who is also director of the Gaudí Chair at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (BarcelonaTech), told Reuters.

Announced as part of the Year of Gaudí, the celebration commemorating the 100-year anniversary of the architect’s death, the conclusion is certainly good news for area tourism agencies, which have a new site to market. The Berguedà region will now be included on maps of Gaudí destinations, Minister of Culture Sònia Hernández announced at the press conference. “Today we celebrate news of enormous value for our cultural heritage,” she said.

Nothing in the announcement answered the question: would Gaudí have been happy with the result? Would he want his name on the building?

In his lifetime, Gaudí answered that question, based on the historical record. He wasn’t shy about claiming his work; or disassociating himself from stuff he didn’t like it. Now, a hundred years after his death, his name is back on the chalet, whether he likes it or not.

Share

Leave a comment

The short answer is, yes, you really need to watch your possessions in Barcelona. The stories are true. Barcelona is the Yankee Stadium or Old Trafford of pickpockets. Like Rome and other great European cities, it attracts the best and brightest of the trade.

However, that doesn’t mean you have to strap your valuables to your genitals. The danger is real, but the fear doesn’t have to consume your planning and daily lives. It’s simply about taking precautions, recognizing the danger zones and being aware of your surroundings.

Almost all the pickpocket activity takes place around the tourist zones and the metro and train stations. Anywhere there are lazy, jet lagged tourists, you’ll find pickpockets. Lately, there have been multiple reports about robberies at the airport counters and rental car pickup areas. The areas around La Rambla are notorious, as well as the streets in front of the major Gaudi sites.

Once you’re outside the tourist zones, as most visitors will attest, Barcelona is a remarkably safe city. Beyond the pickpockets, there is very little crime. Most areas around the city center are safe to walk, day or night. Unlike most major cities in the world, you don’t have to worry about getting mugged as you stroll Eixample, and there are relatively few vagrants or homeless people, at least compared to other cities.

After all the pickpocket stories, visitors are often surprised by how safe it feels in the city. I’ve been with women who were shocked to see other women walking by themselves late at night. In the city center, there’s no ambiance of fear, none of that creepy feeling that you’re in the wrong place at the wrong time when you make a wrong turn. The sketchiness found in so many big cities simply isn’t part of Barcelona life and it’s one of the reasons people fall in love with the city.

Nevertheless, the pickpocket issue is real. And it’s a drag. I never carry a wallet in Barcelona. I keep cash and credit cards in my front pocket. And I’m always careful about my stuff. But once I’m away from the tourist areas, I rarely think about it.

All you can do is be diligent, and there are many oft-repeated precautions you can take to feel safer.

• Be extra cautious in crowded spaces like metro stations and street events

• Pickpockets often work in pairs. Beware of obvious attempts to distract you.

• Pickpockets may not look like pickpockets. Whatever your vision of what a pickpocket may look like, you’re likely wrong.

• Don’t make yourself a target. Don’t wear that expensive watch. Don’t act like an easy mark.

• Never, ever leave bags or your phone where they can be easily grabbed. They’re looking for anything that can be easily snatched up.

Be safe. Enjoy the city. Don’t let fear of pickpockets ruin your trip.

Planning a trip to Barcelona? Subscribe to Barcelona Travel Tips.

Leave a comment

Periodically, we’ll share random tips for new Barcelona travelers. Some may sound basic. Others will sound crazy.

These aren’t meant to be “essential,” revolutionary or mandatory. But these are definitely things you should consider during your trip.

Take a Walk after Sagrada

After your tour of Sagrada Familia, take a few minutes to stroll up the pedestrian Avenue de Gaudi to the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau,Lluís, one of the master works of architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner, the designer of the Palau de Musica Catalana. The Sant Pau hospital is a jaw-dropping modernist wonder too often overlooked by visitors.

Simple navigation tip

Barcelona is on a hill. The Mediterranean is at the bottom of the hill. Lost? Are you going uphill or downhill? Want to conserve energy? Walk downhill from the neighborhoods and take the metro or taxi up the hill.

Don’t Skip the Park

If you have more than couple of days, make time for a few hours in Parc de la Ciutadella, Barcelona’s lone attempt at a large central park. Beyond the swirl of Barcelona life, the park offers a history and a wide array of attractions, from the modernist Castell dels Tres Dragons designed by Domènech i Montaner to the bizarre Romanesque Cascada del Parc de la Ciutadella, built for the 1888 Universal Exhibition. Fun fact: Gaudi designed the hydraulic system and some of the stonework.

Barcelona is not “Barca”

Please, please don’t refer to Barcelona as “Barca.” “Barca” is the football team. The city is known as “Barna,” or simply BCN. It’s a little thing, but nothing labels you as a tourist faster.

Learn ‘Vale’

The most important word in Barcelona is “vale” (pronounced “Ball-eh”). It is used constantly, in every context. It means everything from “great” and “OK” to “see you later” and “yes, I will move my car.” When in doubt say, “vale.”

Stroll La Rambla and Then Never Go There Again

Sure, you need to walk down that famous boulevard. But there is really no reason to hang out anywhere near La Rambla. It’s the land of tourists, pickpockets, overpriced restaurants and scammers. You’ll like Barcelona a lot more when you get away from the tourist areas.

Read “Barcelona,” by Robert Hughes

The famed art critic provides a lengthy and detailed exploration of the city’s architecture and history. He mixes together academic rigor with a gift for storytelling, providing a panoramic view of the city that goes beyond the architecture to look at the elements that built the city.

"Barcelona" by Robert Hughes

Planning a trip to Barcelona? Subscribe to Barcelona Travel Tips.

More recent tips:

Leave a comment

In Barcelona, nobody believes “breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” Breakfast is rarely a sit-down meal. It is a warm-up, something to keep you going until the afternoon, when you can do some real eating. In the neighborhoods, there are no diners or “breakfast spots,” with ham and eggs and hearty sausages. There’s no Denny’s or IHOP.

One of the best parts about Barcelona is its lack of interest in providing an American breakfast. Breakfast in Barcelona is built on the backbone of little bakeries and cafes, where locals can grab a croissant and sip a doble espresso. If you want to experience a Barcelona breakfast, wander into a neighborhood around 10 a.m. and find a cafe, order a strong cortada and a canya — a strudel-like pastry splattered in powdered sugar — and forget the silly concept of pancakes.

Frankly, if a plate of sunny-side-up eggs and crisp bacon is really important, you might as well go to the hotel coffee shop.

OK, I’ve shared my rant. That said, there are several restaurants in the old city that are working hard to bring some of Barcelona’s culinary class to the old fashioned American and English breakfast. With fresh ingredients and an outsider’s perspective, it can be fun to see how they interpret the idea of an American breakfast. The restaurants are often designed around “brunch,” which clearly makes more sense to the Barcelonan rhythm of life. (One chain is called “Billy Brunch.”)

Here are a few options:

Cremat 11

In the heart of the old city, not far from the Picasso museum, this place is always packed. Cremat promises a “creative brunch,” as well as “the best pancakes in Barcelona,” a claim that gets tossed around a lot. The “Full Monty” a four-pancake” tower with Nutella, ganache, pink ruby ​​chocolate, crunchy cereal balls, chocolate cookie, berries. They also offer a real-deal eggs benedict on thick fresh bread.

Click for Cremat 11

The Benedict

The Catalan vision of an American/English breakfast clearly lands on the exotic pancakes and eggs benedict. Benedicts, on the west edge of the Gothic Quarter, offers the full array of hollandaise-slathered classics, include a “Barcelona” with mozzarella and pesto. They also offer a full English breakfast, with eggs, bacon, sausage and beans.

Click for The Benedict

La Desayuneria

This small, no frills spot across from the Sant Antoni market offers “authentic breakfasts from all corners of the United States.” It’s part of a small chain, with similar small restaurants in Madrid and Malaga, and feels more like an authentic effort to present the American breakfast to a local audience. The menu hits every base, from waffles and omelettes to smoothies and yogurt bowls, as well as a full array of pancake options. The web site also notes that it is a “dog-friendly and gluten-free environment.” You can also purchase pancake earrings from their shop.

Click for La Desayuneria

So there you have it. Three delicious choices. Enjoy your bacon and eggs.

Planning a trip to Barcelona? Subscribe for Barcelona Travel Tips.

Leave a comment

Something about the beauty and energy of flamenco guitar requires an intimate setting. You need to be able to see the fingers flying over the strings, the thump of the heal on the wood stage and the artists’ passion and intensity.

Great acoustics are also an essential ingredient. You need to be able to hear every note, every wisp of romance of the Andalucian night.

The best venue in Barcelona may the Basilica of Santa Maria del Pi, the medieval church in the heart of the Gothic Quarter, on an old square that often hosts small open-air markets. The 14^th Century church regularly hosts some of the best guitarists in the city, including the Maestros de la Guitarra, a trio of locals players that also appear regularly at the Palau de Musica.

The schedule is sporadic, but it’s worth strolling by the church or checking schedules to see if a concert schedule. The old church is a spectacular setting, with its 54-meter octagonal bell tower, highlighted by the round 10-meter “Rose Window,” a beautiful example of Gothic stained glass, similar to a window in Notre Dame. In the early days of the Spanish Civil War, the church was gutted by a fire set by anarchists and anti-clerical groups. It was restored in the 1940s and still carries the same weight of its medieval roots, making it a one-a-kind venue for music.

The acoustics are great for the flamenco’s intricate notes, and the music fills the hall, providing a mystic vibe to the guitarists’ talents.

(Fun fact: Scenes for the 2022 movie “Uncharted,” with an all-star cast including Tom Holland, Mark Wahlberg, Sophia Ali and Antonio Banderas, were filmed in the basilica.)

You can usually find ticket information at the Barcelona Turisme site.

You can also check the Maestros de la Guitarra site.

Planning a trip to Barcelona? Subscribe to Barcelona Travel Tips.

Leave a comment

map:

UNESCO has proclaimed Barcelona the “World Capital of Architecture for 2026,” prompting a lengthy program of events throughout the year highlighting the “key role of architecture, city planning, and culture in shaping urban identity and sustainable urban development.”

Barcelona is the third city to receive the UNESCO, following Rio De Janeiro and Copenhagen.

“The city designated becomes a global forum at the forefront of discussions on contemporary urban planning and architectural issue,” UNESCO said in its announcement.

In total, the city will host more than 1,500 activities across 10 city districts, including workshops, debates and exhibitions. Many of the events, including guided tours, will be open to the public.

There is a clear effort to involve Barcelona’s neighborhoods and make this more than an event simply for academics. Throughout the year, activities will focus on the future of Barcelona and the ability of design to alter the city’s quality of life. Discussions will focus on inclusive design that represents the needs and lifestyle of the residents. In districts around the city, children will participate in workshops to imagine the future of city; each group will construct a scale model of their district.

The city’s official site can be found here.

And here’s the program.

As part of the event, Barcelona is also hosting the UIA World Congress of Architects 2026, June 28-July 2, which brings together architects, researchers, and leading professional figures from various disciplines.

More info on UIA 2026.

But the World Capital of Architecture is not the only big architecture event of the year. Barcelona is also marking the 100th anniversary of the death of Antoni Gaudí with the Gaudí Year, an initiative aimed at showcasing the legacy of the city’s best-known modernist and his “lasting influence on the city’s urban identity.”

Find more info here.

Leave a comment