Day Trips from Barcelona: What you Can't Miss...

Day trips from Barcelona are so refreshing! Sometimes you just need to get away from it all. So SuiteLife has carefully put together the ultimate guide to getting out of the city. Explore the best of Barcelona's surroundings!

Barcelona Day Trips: Life's a Beach!

Day trips from Barcelona come in all shapes and sizes. Beach themed trips are by far the most popular. Here are some of the best beaches around Barcelona that are worth a visit!
Sitges:  The small beautiful town of Sitges (pronounced 'See-chez') is one of the best day trips from Barcelona.  Located just a 1/2 hour train ride down the coast, its short commute will leave you with lots of time to enjoy yourself.  If you're trying to escape the tourists, then this is not the place.  However, the beaches are nicer than in Barcelona and there is abundant nightlife.  Sitges has a bustling gay community and during Carnival it's off the hook! How to get there: The fastest way is to jump on the RENFE train (leaves every 30 minutes) from Passeig de Gracia station.  It shouldn't cost more than about 5-8 euros roundtrip.  For rates and schedules check out their website.
Tossa de Mar: Tossa is truly a gem of the Costa Brava and is one of our favourites of all the day trips from Barcelona.  This tiny romantic town is host to a gorgeous beach, excellent restaurants, and even ancient ruins.  Try the Pandora's Box walking tour, or just lay out in the sun and sip a cocktail.  Either way, you'll be glad you got away from BCN, even if it's just for a day.  Tons of info here How to get there: Go to Estación del Nord (North Station).  The closest metro is Arc de Triumf L1  .  Hop on a bus from the company SARFA, which will take you directly there.
Sant Pol de Mar: Between Tossa and Barcelona you'll find Sant Pol de Mar, a  golden choice between all the day trips from Barcelona.  The town has a beautiful beach surrounded by its typical white houses that cover the surrounding hills.  The old Benedictine monastery gave rise to this town and; on the outskirts, you can check out the ruins of the Iberian-Roman town of El Farell. How to get there: Take the RENFE Line 1 train from Clot (Metro L1 "Clot").

Barcelona Day Trips: Can't Miss Towns

If you're allergic to the sun, or around in the winter, then some of the best day trips from Barcelona are to the following nearby towns:
Figueres:  This one is highly recommended ! The highlight of this quaint town is the Salvador Dali Museum, which is the permanent home to the largest collection of Dali's works in the world.  This über-creative man was a visionary and a visit to the museum will leave you with your jaw on the floor. It is definitely one of the most culturally rich day trips from Barcelona out there. How to get there: Take the RENFE train from Passeig de Gracia station.  They leave every 1/2 hour to an hour and the ride takes under 2 hours.
Tarragona: Sure, they have a great beach but if you're a history buff, you'll absolutely love this place! The modern city is built around some of the oldest Roman ruins on the Iberian Peninsula. Work on your tan and check out the Roman Amphitheatre at the same time! How to get there:  RENFE trains from Passeig de Gracia run the 100km south to Tarragona frequently.  Round trip will cost you about 7 Euros.  Another of the great day trips from Barcelona and again, only a train ride away!
Girona:  Although you could easily spend a couple of days in Girona, you can get a great taste of it in one full day.  It's a complete mélange of Roman and Gothic building and ruins of old military fortresses.  There's also a Jewish district worth checking out.  Overall a very pleasant experience and one of the most popular day trips from Barcelona. How to get there:  The RENFE train is your saviour again.  Cost is about 7 Euros round trip.

Barcelona Day Trips: The Mountains are Alive with the Sound of Music!

Barcelona day trips come in all shapes and sizes and some folks love to head to the mountains!
Pyrenees / Vall de Nuria:  The Pyrenees is the vast mountain range that acts as a natural border between Spain and France. If you’re a skier or snowboarder this is your dream location! Only an hour and a half from the city and you’ll be rewarded with some great powder skiing. In the summer, the area’s exquisite nature offers wonderful hiking, climbing, and camping opportunities. Vall de Nuria is the western part of the Pyrenees and if you’re looking for outdoor activities such as horseback riding, hiking, and climbing, then these types of Barcelona day trips are for you. How to get there: Take the RENFE to Ribes de Freser. Then jump the rack railway up to Vall de Nuria.
Montseny: Nature at its best folks! Montseny has some titillating legends with one involving beautiful water maidens. The legend says they only appear on warm nights to bathe in the ‘black pool’. This is the place to come to hike and see some incredible Roman ruins as well as natural treasures. These day trips from Barcelona just keep getting better and better! Tons of info here: www.turisme-montseny.com How to get there: Gonna have to rent a car for this one. Check out the directions on the site listed above.
Mont Serrat:  Just 40 kms from BCN, you probably won’t find a Catalan person who hasn’t visited this site. Literally meaning “sawed mountain”, it’s a unique geological form of tremendous beauty. This is where Richard Wagner wrote his famous opera "Parsifal". There’s a beautiful monastery where monks held secret services in Catalan, while the language was outlawed by Franco. How to get there: Take the train from Plaza Catalunya, runs every two hours from 9:11am. We'll be adding new and exciting ideas for day trips from Barcelona soon!  Do you have any favourites that are not listed above?  As always, we'd love to hear from you in the comments below! Cheers, Benny

Clubbing in Barcelona: Chasing the Party#3 - RAZZMATAZZ

The search for the best clubs to go clubbing in Barcelona never stops. Two weeks after hitting Sutton, our next stop was something tooooootally different (and better, I might add). The place: Razzmatazz. The promise: "One Club, five rooms". If you're one of those people who loves huge clubs, with different kind of music and people not caring about their appearances, there's no better choice than Razzmatazz! As our 'Chasing the Party' crew is in love with good places to dance the night away and eclectic music, we couldn't stay away from one of the biggest places to party in Barcelona! As usual, the night began at some bar near the party for some pre-drinks, the chosen one this time was Taberna Sonora! The stylish american sports decoration adds to a very good and cozy atmosphere, that is even better when we consider the music: only classic rock n' roll mixed with modern rock! Neither the beer nor the shots were expensive, and it's only 3 minutes walking distance from Razzmatazz! So it was perfect for the warm-up! So, it was around 1am when we left to go the club! The queue wasn't a problem at that time, but people say that if you get there around 2am, you better not mind waiting for a bit. To enter, the usual: Bouncers, ID and tickets. The doormen were ok, they don't check anything but your ID and your mental health, so three important things to remember!
1. Don't forget your ID. 2. Don't be so drunk you can't even stand still and talk, they might kick you out. Jack

Halal Restaurants in Barcelona - Halal goodies and delis!

Hi Guys! Todays blog is about Halal Restaurants and where to find them in Barcelona. As someone who only eats Halal meat, this was a quite a big deal for me as for when I first arrived in Barcelona I didn't have the faintest clue where to find any sort of halal meat. But now I know, so what are we waiting for, lets take a trip down the halal meat lane! (p.s. there is no actual halal meat lane) The ideal place to find all your halal meat is El Raval! Famous today for its huge cultural diversity El Raval is your best choice for trying delicious Halal cuisine. Literally, walking around the area for 5 minutes is totally enough for you to find a nice and cozy Halal restaurant.

Maharaja Restaurante

This restaurant opened its doors in 2001. Running for nearly a decade and a half, Maharaja has built its fine reputation as being one of the 'big' players in traditional Halal cuisine making it one of the finest Halal restaurants in Barcelona. Maharaja offers typical Indian dishes prepared with typical Indian techniques. Expect nothing less than brilliant food with rich flavors and textures. What's famous about this restaurant is their fine selection of Indian spices. Having more than 40 types of spices in the chef's disposal you can be assured that your meal at Maharaja will be the most aromatic and flavoursome thing you have tasted all day. This restaurant just wows its visitors with its brilliant decor. Typically colorful draperies and table cloths, walls full of great Indian art and an atmosphere to die for is what this restaurant is all about. This is my personal favorite of all the Halal restaurants in Barcelona.

Askadinya

If that doesn't pickle your fancy ... get it pickle ... okay maybe not. Well Askadinya is another top Halal Restaurant in Barcelona.  This restaurant specialises in both Arabic and Palestinian food! Askadinya is all homemade food and provides a Mediterranean diet! I'm not even sure what a Mediterranean diet consists of but I'm having it! Located in the heart of Gracia, Askadinya offers a range of food, all Halal! They also do special menu deals for both weekdays and weekends which is ideal if you love 3/4 courses like myself! This is a perfect restaurant for someone who eats Halal food but also wants to eat healthy. The restaurant itself provides a great atmosphere and friendly service from its staff.  Askadinya is most certainly one of my top Halal Restaurants in Barcelona.

Bombay Spicy

One of the Halal restaurants in Barcelona where value for money meets quality. The offered food is simply amazing. What's better than enjoying an exquisite meal in a friendly restaurant that makes you feel like home for a very reasonable price? Well, nothing! A great bonus that Bombay Spicy has to offer is delivery. For the times when you are just feeling too comfortable at home enjoying a good movie but craving some delicious Indian food, all you have to do is just dial the number, place your order and soon enough the delivery guy will be outside your door handing you your delicious food. But honestly, why waste the opportunity and not go to the restaurant to have a perfect dining experience? In summary, this is one of the best choices when it comes to Halal restaurants in Barcelona.

Pita House

Do you love Pita? Do you love Houses? Look nowhere else !! Pita House is the place to be! Located on La Ramlas this place is meant to be one of the top Halal restaurants in Barcelona. Pita House caters all, whether its for lunch, dinner or just a snack. This place aims to satisfy all. Whether its quality food you want for certain fancy occasions or just take away food for a night in. Pita house is a must visit Halal restaurant in Barcelona. From Falafels to chicken pitas from Hummus to Durums this place oozes in Arab cuisine. So if you are drooling on your keyboard like I am then Pita house is a place you should dine!!! Pita house is a great Halal restaurant in Barcelona because not only are the food and the prices great but it also has a terrace you could eat on which has a capacity of 48 people!! Perfect for family and friends. It is also really easy to get to as all you need to do is get the L3 at LIceu. And your list of the best Halal restaurants in Barcelona is complete, folks! Or is it? If you know any other great restaurants offering Halal, please let us know is the comment section. Much of love to you guys and have a great week! Weekly joke: Q: What did one plate say to the other plate? A: Dinner is on me. Sincerely, Chris and Hasan

The Best Ice Cream in Barcelona : Homemade Is Always Better !

Summer is here! It is very hot in Barcelona and there is a constant influx of tourists. Why do tourists choose Barcelona for their holidays? Firstly, it has some of the best beaches in Europe where you can relax and enjoy the fresh air. There are tourist areas such as Barceloneta, Gracia, Las Ramblas that are well worth a visit. The impressive buildings designed by Gaudi are another incredible sight in Barcelona, one of his most famous being the Sagrada Familia. As in any other Spanish city, there are tapas bars not to be missed in Barcelona . Even if you only have one chance to go during your stay you must eat at one of them. What I like most in the city during this hot period, however, is its homemade ice cream. Here we share with you some of the best places to go to enjoy a homemade ice cream in Barcelona!

Gelateria Italiana (Placa de la Revolució 1)

This place is easy to find because there is always a queue in front of the store. There is also a terrace in a nice square where you can relax with an ice cream. They offer different flavours of ice cream that shouldn't be missed!

Arcobaleno (Calle Ferlandina 35)

This place is run by Italians and all the ice creams are made according to a traditional recipe. Many say it is the best place for ice cream in Barcelona. The reason is that there is more than a great ice cream, the staff are also amazing!

La Jijonenca (Av. Gaudí, 32)

It is located near the Sagrada Familia and they offer delicious ice creams. You will also find a queue here, but it's worth the wait!

Amorino (Calle Gran de Gracia 53)

It was first opened in Paris and due to its popularity, Amorino's ice cream has expanded to several European countries. You can find Amorino branches everywhere in Barcelona. Make sure you check it out, the price-quality ratio is amazing there!

Giangrossi (Av. Diagonal 545 to 565)

Giangrossi homemade ice cream offers a wide variety of flavours. Over 40 flavours are prepared daily with fresh milk and natural fruits. Don't miss it!
Between a visit of the Sagrada Familia and the Ramblas, nothing beats a good homemade ice cream! Each shop is unique and offer delicious varieties of homemade ice cream. Have you been to any good ice cream shop in Barcelona? Let us know in the comments below! ~ Diarra

This Is Our List Of Things Not To Do In Barcelona!

Don't do in Barcelona!

DON'T plan a relaxing day at the Barceloneta beach!

Barcelona is a touristic place, with a lot of people coming to enjoy the sun! Unfortunately, the Barceloneta beach - the central beach in the city, is NOT the cleanest one and is full of tourists. If you really want to lie down, get a tan, get in the water and have a good time check our ebook "The Barcelona Bible: Barcelona Beaches". You can always visit one of the neighboring towns, e.g. Castelldefels, which have lovely beaches and which you can get in around 20 min by train.

Don't do in Barcelona!

DON'T drink on the street and don’t buy from beer sellers!

It is forbidden to drink on the streets of the Barcelona, although t there are many street beer sellers everywhere and people buy  their 1 euro beer, which might seem like a good deal but if the police pick you up drinking in a public place you can be fined. It goes without saying that its better not to buy from people trying to sell you their beer on the street. Most of the time, they are offering warm beer which they carry in their bags... or hide in other unsavoury places. It can be just really unsanitary, and it is illegal to sell the beer this way and it hurts local businesses. You can find the beer sellers in all most popular touristic places in Barcelona, like: Plaza Catalunya or Las Ramblas. And if a guy comes up to you asking if you're looking for a good coffee shop...well, they're not trying to sell you coffee, let's put it that way.

Don't do in Barcelona!

DON'T think that SIESTA is just the myth!

Remember! "Siesta" time still exists in Barcelona!
Barcelona embraces the Latin lifestyle of leisurely mornings, mid-afternoon siestas, and late dinners. There are two periods of siesta in Spain - siesta for shops and businesses, during which many people go to a bar or restaurant, and then siesta for the restaurants, which obviously can't rest when everyone wants to come and eat. SO…! Shops might close during lunchtime (1:30-4pm) whereas restaurants might close after lunch and before dinner (5-8 pm). Small neighbourhood shops are quite often closed from 2pm till 5pm . It is better not to plan shopping during that specific hours or going out to eat in the restaurants, but you can find out that in the city canter of Barcelona, in the touristic areas, most places are open all day.

Don't do in Barcelona!

DON’T expect everything to be in Spanish!

Catalan and Spanish are both official languages in Barcelona. The Catalan language is used by approximately 50-60% of the inhabitants of Barcelona whilst Spanish is spoken by 98% of people. However, a lot of people are more comfortable speaking the regional language and also feel their connection with Catalan culture and need for independence very strongly. You have to be ready for this: you will hear the Catalan language all the time in the city and that most signs, names, and menus are written in Catalan first and then in Spanish. But hey, that's not a bad thing at all! If you're going to live here especially, it's pretty nice to learn some Catalán and it shows the locals you actually care.

Don't do in Barcelona!

DON’T show too much of your body!

Barcelona is the hot city in which everyone is trying to wear the least amount of clothes as possible. You might be shocked by the topless girls with thong bikinis on the beach, however Catalan woman tend to be more conservative in the centre of the city, dressing smartly despite the heat and sun. Holidays seem to never end here, with mainly tourists being the ones wearing shorts/mini skirts with strappy tops/bikinis in the city centre. A lot of guys also  take off their T-shirts and just walk on the streets half naked, or leave the beach without any tops. This isn't really an acceptable thing to do unless you're very close to the beach. Boys, when you're on the streets of the city its best to keep your T-shirt on, as the police always react and stopthe men who are not dressed appropriately. So, if you don’t wanna be the one of them, remember, don’t show too much of your body – you have the beach for that in Barcelona! Check our blog to find out more about one of the beaches in Barcelona where you can enjoy sun wearing as little as possible, or simply, nothing at all! ;)

Don't do in Barcelona!

DON'T eat on Las Ramblas!

Las Ramblas is the main touristic spot in central Barcelona, where you can find a lot of restaurants, cafes and shops. It is over-rated, over-crowded, tacky, filled with tourists, and most importantly over priced. All that combined with the fact that the quality of the food isn't usually great. Don’t be silly and fall for posters with pictures of the dishes and overly eager ‘hosts’ trying to entice you in. This is not what you want from Barcelona. Better try food on the backstreets of the Old Town or go to beautiful Passieg De Gracia where food is usually really good or find some other great place to eat in Barcelona by reading some of our food blogs:

• Traditional Catalan Restaurants in Barcelona: Top 5
• Looking For The Best Barcelona Restaurant? - Top 10 Barcelona Restaurant Guide!
• Vegan Restaurants In Barcelona: Top 5

Don't do in Barcelona!

DON’T think that church in Spain is just a touristic attraction!

Not always, but it happens, that people have been turned away from the churches in Barcelona because of the bare shoulders, especially during Mass. You must cover your shoulders and legs in a traditional sign of respect in religious settings. On a hot days, toss a lightweight scarf in your bag which you would use to cover your shoulders or tie around your legs for entrance into churches and cathedrals.

Don't do in Barcelona!

DON'T take a sightseeing bus to see the city!

Barcelona is the amazing city with a lot of places to see, and because of this tourists are not too confident, thinking that the best way for them would be just take a sightseeing bus. But in reality this is the biggest mistake – the city transport is really easy to use, it is really cheap compared to another big European cities, and is gives a ton of possibilities for planning sightseeing days without losing too much time. You can spend  your money a lot better while experiencing real life in the city. The bus can be really packed, especially in August, and you might just end up waiting in the queue hours on end in the sunny hot day. At the end of the day you will feel that you didn’t see that much. Barcelona is a city hiding most of its beauty in the tiny streets where the buses can't go, and as it is not that big, it's better is to take a walk and enjoy the lazy day, stopping for a coffee and some tapas in nearby places (Check one of our Tapas Blog!).

Let's summarise our  top things which you should not do in Barcelona:

• DON'T plan a relaxing day at the Barceloneta beach
• DON'T drink on the street and don’t buy from beer sellers
• DON'T think that SIESTA is just the myth
• DON’T expect everything to be in Spanish!
• DON’T show too much of your body!
• DON'T eat on Las Ramblas
• DON’T think that church in Spain is just a touristic attraction.
• DON'T take a sightseeing bus to see the city.

If you would like to share with us any more tips about things which people should not do in Barcelona, then please leave us a  comment below ;) Or if you don't agree with one of our points we'd also love to hear from you! Cheers, ~Natalia

Why Rent A Holiday Apartment in Barcelona Instead of a Hotel ?

If you're wondering whether to book a hotel or rent a holiday apartment in Barcelona, here are some stellar reasons as to why self-catering Barcelona apartments are all the rage:

1. Live as a 'local':

We can't stress this enough: Barcelona is a weird and wonderfully eclectic and beautiful city. Each neighborhood (check out our Barcelona neighborhood guide) has it's own charm and by staying in a Barcelona vacation apartment you'll get a much better idea of what it's like to live in the city, just like a local! If authenticity and truly experiencing the feel of a city is your style than don't book a hotel!

2. More character:

There's no doubt about it, the sterile sameness of hotel rooms can get a tad monotomous. Barcelona vacation apartments often are oozing with character and charm, from exposed brick walls, to lovely sunny terraces, to gorgeous Catalán style vaulted ceilings, if you are a fan of interior design and architecture, booking a self-catering apartment in Barcelona is the choice for you!

3. Cook your own meals:

If you're looking to save a bit of money on your vacation or if you're just a completely shameless foodie like us, there is nothing better than having your own fully stocked kitchen while on vacation. Have the flexibility to eat out or in and the treat of being able to cook some of the local fare on your own! Here's an idea, stop by the Boqueria Market, one of Europe's largest working markets, grab whatever tickles your fancy and come home to make your own Spanish/Catalán feast! Talk about experiencing the city! Sometimes you just need a home cooked meal, even on the road.

4. More spacious and comfortable:

This one's a no brainer. Hotel rooms in Barcelona tend to be a small box of a room just big enough to fit a bed. In a Barcelona vacation flat, though you generally have a lot more room and comfort.

5. The price:

The price of a Barcelona holiday apartment is usually considerably cheaper than a hotel room. Of course that is not always the case, but there is a lot more variety in terms of price/value with apartments and it's easier to find one that will fit nicely with whatever your specific requirements are. For instance, if you're traveling with a family or a group of friends you'll likely be much more comfortable with the amenities in comparison with a traditional hotel. We love Barcelona so much it comes oozing out of us! Checkout all our holiday rental apartments in Barcleona and our Barcelona Bible Blog in order to get lots of great insider info on this amazing mediterranean city. Enjoy! ~Benny

Le Cyrano Barcelona: cheap Drinks and great vibes!

When it comes to nightlife and partying hard, Barcelona never disappoints. Thanks to the huge variety in bars, pubs and clubs, Barcelona attracts millions of visitors each year willing to make the most of the amazing nightlife scene! I am myself an enthusiast and frequent customer of the many bars in Barcelona, and I must say that after a while one can have the impression that some of them are very similar. They always rely on Tapas, Sangria, Beer and so on to attract customers, especially in the touristy areas. By the way, if you fancy some Tapas, you can check our Barcelona Tapas Ultimate Guide :) ! Even though it can be really enjoyable to share a few Tapas and a couple of pints with your friends, you can get tired of it and want to go for an unusual experience or atmosphere! This is why I have decided to talk to you about a very unique bar in Barcelona: Le Cyrano. It is open on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and is located in Aribau 154.
In my opinion, this is by far the best bar in Barcelona and its concept is just too awesome!! Here is how El Cyrano works: -First you enter the bar and hopefully find a table to sit. Yes, Le Cyrano is often packed so it’s better to either go early (it opens at 11PM so sometime around that) or to hope that one free table will be waiting for you! -Then you go to the bar and order a drink of your choice. The bartender will give you an empty glass and will bring you the liquor bottle of your choice so that you can pour your own drink! I am serious, you can put as many alcohol as you like in your drink!! He then takes the bottle back and gives you a bottle of soda or juice to mix with your alcoholic beverage. Of course it is not recommended to fully pour your drink with alcohol as it could annoy the bartender but I have been there and you can put 70% or 80% of alcohol in your drink without a problem!! -Concerning the prices, they are incredibly low! The price range is 3 - 5€ for any mixed drink, so that’s one hell of a deal!! Forget the clubs that make you pay at least 10€ for a drink! The only negative point is that with people being numerous and most of them drunk, the place is really noisy and it can be challenging to talk to your friends and understand each other properly! But that shouldn’t be a problem since that’s the case in all the clubs and no one really cares.
Apart from that, this is the perfect place to go before going to a club!!! I usually prefer to “pre-game” at home with a few friends since drinking in bars before going to a club implies spending quite a lot of money, but I have to say that I was amazed when I went to Le Cyrano for the first time! You can literally get wasted for 10-15 € there and after a few drinks it’s really easy to meet and talk to new people there while being with your friends at the same time! And I forgot to mention that they have free pop-corn as well! Everyone there is young, happy (half-drunk) and wants to have a crazy night out in Barcelona, isn’t that what you’d expect of a bar in Barcelona?! So if you don’t have any plans for the weekend yet, you know where to go now!! Have fun guys!! Rémi

There's No Clubbing in Barcelona.. Yeah Right

Hey party people, where do you go for clubbing in Barcelona? With the short period of time that I have lived here, I can say that Spanish people don’t need their regular nine hours sleep; instead the lifestyle is keeping people enjoying their lives. That spirit has got into me as well. Many clubs in Barcelona are open each day of the week and there is something for every taste. In this blog I am introducing seven clubs and one bar where tourists and locals find their way for clubbing. Remember there are plenty more to explore (e.g Nasty Mondays). When it is the hottest time of the year in the city why wouldn't you also try the rooftop bars in Barcelona. Many blogs would give you a description of these clubs based on copying info already found on the Internet, but I actually went to experience them. At this point is good to mention that I did my clubbing in Barcelona-tour during the same week to make it more experiential. I had a great time! Though waking up in the morning wasn’t that fun, but what I wouldn’t do for writing a blog..

Opium

Opium is a fancy (and touristy) club playing excellent music. Well known DJ’s including Maxwell, Nicky Romero etc. are playing there this summer. You can find more information from Opium's website. As a high standard club there is a dress code and the age minimum is 21 or 23 depending on the night. They also have dancers and a VIP area above the dance area (it costs only 330 euros) plus an outside terrace which is just next to the beach. It is definitely worth of going there especially in the summer.

Shoko

Do you like cocktails? Come to Shoko! In this club a bartender uses fresh berries for delicious cocktails. This club has a big dance area, though sometimes it is too crowded so you literally don’t have space to move. Shoko has an outside terrace next to the beach (always a plus) which at daytime is a restaurant seating area. For the entertainment they have dancers (only female, where are the male dancers?), and VIP area for groups. Shoko is known as a club that organises different kind of theme nights. Fancy place for clubbing in Barcelona!

Catwalk

One thing about clubbing in Barcelona is that parties in the club start around 2 am, sometimes at 3 am. If you go there too early you don’t see that many people but as soon as people start to gather to the dance floor, the party is fully on. Catwalk is not an exception. My previous time here was one of the best in Barcelona. People were friendly and the atmosphere was magnificent! While going out, instead of giving a stamp, a man on the door drew a heart to my hand. A bit corny but absolutely sweet! Just to make sure, they play house, funk, soul and R&B which is not everyone’s favourite clubbing music, but if you like it, bring your ass here.

Moog

Moog is a small club in the centre, but a bit hidden. It looks mysterious, and I didn't know what to except. It was one of the smallest clubs I’ve seen but also one of the best in Barcelona. The main attraction was the DJ that night. He was brilliant! The DJ in Moog is playing just above the dance floor and you can see him (maybe some nights her) doing tricks with his keyboard. People were dancing as if they were in a trance. Perfect music for clubbing in Barcelona!

Boulevard

I was actually going to another club while this friendly guy was standing with a stamp in front of me. He offered me free entry with a COMPLIMENTARY DRINK and I thought that’s not a bad deal. This is only for girls so sorry guys; you still have to pay (not a bad business idea while we all know what brings boys to the club). Boulevard is a wicked place with good club music (though it was better on the weekend). Techno is played on the main dance floor, and house in another room. Additionally they have a third dance floor upstairs, but I didn’t spend too much time there. Honestly superb club!

Razzmatazz

Everyone is talking about Razzmatazz and I expected it to be bigger than the sky in terms of clubbing in Barcelona. Yeah it was a huge place combining three floors, two floors for dancing and one floor between the two for VIP people. Was it really the coolest place in the Barcelona? … Entrances are confusing because they close some gates so to go to a balcony or a dance floor you have to go down and then up from another side. It took me some time to figure out the building and meanwhile it was an exercise climbing between the floors. Bouncers were mostly nice. Especially the one in front of VIP area who agreed with me that la gente en VIP area está muy loca. He was funny! However the bouncer at the entrance door was another story. I stepped out to hear my friend over the phone but coming back wasn’t that easy. Because I stepped out that half a meter, I entered out the club and therefore I should have used another door (with a long queue). Nonsense! With my good negotiation skills I got back in so everything was fine. Overall comment about the club: great music (anyone can dance to it) and terrific atmosphere. People are really having a good time here! Especially the live concert (short one, but still) made people crazy. Would I go there again? Yes, but maybe not this week.

City hall

Nice club, not that big, but it has a brilliant location, just next to Placa Catalunia. I don't have too much to say about it, good club music, beautiful place (especially the outside terrace). Go there!

Living Lounge Bar

Again as it happened already before I wasn’t going to this bar, but then a guy invited me there (he actually walked me to the entrance) and I got curious. I hadn’t heard anything about this bar before but after visiting it I was wondering why. Atmosphere was great! Even the tiny dance floor behind the dj was crowded. Staff was really friendly and sometimes while bringing drinks to the table they were dancing a little. People liked that! That night they were playing R&B and hip hop (in the voucher it says soul and funk so maybe on other nights). Excellent place to have drinks!
Where do you go for clubbing in Barcelona? Let us know!

Wakeboarding in Barcelona: Simply Too Much Fun

A picture of us, exhausted after our hour of wakeboarding! Did you know you could go wakeboarding in Barcelona? Neither did I! OK, full disclosure I have never really done any board sports, and although I used to waterski as a child, I was definitely a beginner with a capital B as I headed down last weekend to the forum to try wakeboarding with my fiance and a couple of my boys.

My Experience Wakeboarding in Barcelona

"Wakeboarding in Barcelona?" I repeated confusedly back to my friend when he asked if I wanted to come. So yes, you can wakeboard in Barcelona, and I was about to find out just how much fun it was. We arrived to the forum (the place is a bit difficult to find) and luckily there was no one else there as the weather wasn't so hot. The guy running the place (unfortunately I forget his name but he's a sponsored professional wakeboarder) was super friendly, spoke English, and was really psyched that it was my first time. Basically, you pay 50 € and what you get is the equipment (wakeboard, wetsuit, and lifejacket), lessons if you need them, and an hour of wake boarding time, with up to 4 other friends. Split between some friends it's a really great deal. [caption id="attachment_36811" align="aligncenter" width="614"]
Freddy rockin the park[/caption]

There's NO boat involved?

Nope. According to our instructor using boats for wake boarding is now a thing of the past. Boats use too much gasoline and are too costly. The future of wake boarding is on cables! Yes, they have cables setup overhead and the line that you hold on to is attached to this cable. The instructor has a control box and he manipulates the controls to pull you back and forth along the water. It's actually pretty ingenious. Also because the angle of the line is much higher compared to wake boarding behind a boat, there is less drag and it's much easier to get up on the board (this worked well for me with my beginner status). I got up the first try and didn't have much trouble. [caption id="attachment_36816" align="aligncenter" width="590"]
Look Ma! One hand![/caption]

How it Feels

Wakeboarding feels amazing. It's super strenuous so if you need to get in shape like me it's a full body workout. Flying along with the wind in your hair is wonderful, and for those of you who might be a  little nervous, falling does not hurt one bit. I wiped out over and over and it hurt a lot less than I had anticipated. If you are already adept at wake boarding or are feeling a little adventurous there are various jumps and ramps (a la skate park) setup for your aerial pleasure. [caption id="attachment_36815" align="aligncenter" width="576"]
getting ready to take the plunge[/caption] All the info you need can be found at the DoubleWake Website. Wanted to share this nugget with all you SuiteLifers. Have you been? Would love to hear your thoughts in the comments! Cheers, ~Benny

Stoke Travel Trips - Surf Camps

Welcome to the first guide in our series covering the awesome Stoke Travel and their crazy ass trips to.......pretty much everywhere! This week, we're going talk about their super cool surfing trips to the surf meccas such as San Sebastian in the Basque Country (North Spain) and further afield. Don't know who Stoke Travel are? Read our interview with the man behind the magic - Toby Paramor. As you may be aware, summer has officially landed in Barcelona and the city is really coming to life with wave upon wave (excuse the pun, this is a surf blog after all!) of tourists descending on our city. At some point, you'd be glad just to get out for a few days. Undoubtedly, there is no better way than to go to another part of Spain or even to another country and let your hair down. If surfing is your thing then you'll probably realise by now that there isn't much in the way of surfing in Barcelona. So what's a guy who wants to surf to do? Enter Stoke!

Surfs up! Tell me more.

When you think of surfing, Europe is probably not the first part of the world which comes to mind, but thanks to Stoke Travel you can certainly change that image and experience some of the best surfing spots in the world. Without wanting to sound overdramatic, Stoke Travel could be the closest to what Barcelona has to a surf God. Offering surf trips in Spain, France and Portugal, and even outside of Europe to Morocco and even Brazil, there is certainly no limit to the surfing based miracles that these guys can conjure up! If this wasn't enough, they even have exclusive surf camps at these destinations! One of their trips is a so-called 'Surfari' around Spain and France which is exactly what it says on the tin (no animals though). You go travelling with them to parts of France and Spain looking for good spots to surf! If you're a massive surf fan (I mean who isn't really?) then you will find such opportunities unmissable and you'll get quite possibly the best deal ever with these guys.
Trips on offer include:

• San Sebastian surf camp
• San Sebastian surf camp and Spanish lessons
• Surf camp France
• Surf camp Santander
• Surf camp Morocco
• Surf camp Portugal
• Brazil
• Surfari through Spain and France

Sound incredible? It gets better!

Amazing, but how much?!

The icing on the metaphorical cake for these trips has to be the price. Some trips (such as the San Sebastian trip) have different packages that are offer depending on what you want. If you want just the basics, then each trip has a basic package which includes well.......the basics. You can even just turn up and hire a board and have lessons if you so wish! But the all inclusive package is where its really at. For a bargain 50+ Euros per day you can get your accommodation (camping of course!), 3 meals a day, surf lessons, surfboard hire and almost as good as the surfing - unlimited beer and sangria (for an extra 5 Euros). Sounds too good to be true? You'd better believe, cos good times don't cost a lot with Stoke which is why the trips that don't offer such packages still prove to be bargains too. The only thing you have to sort out yourself is getting to the destinations, which Stoke can help you with too!
Naturally, they have a lot of trips so the best way to keep up with up to date info is by heading their website and following them on the wonder that is Facebook. I'm sure that you'll agree this is an incredible way to try your hand at some surfing in Spain and beyond while you're here in Barcelona. Been on a Stoke trip before? Let us know what you thought! We'll bring you another Stokedate soon! - Chris