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

Barcelona Clubs: Chasing the Party #2 - SUTTON CLUB

Sutton Club Barcelona, considered by many to be one of the most fancy and glamorous Barcelona clubs: that's where the 'Chasing the Party' crew went last week! Ok ok… we've got to confess that this kind of place is not our favorite kind of party, BUT it would be a huge blunder on our part if we closed our eyes to this internationally-known club located right between Eixample Neighborhood and Gracia Neighborhood, that brings great party nights to Barcelona clubs for the well-dressed-techno lovers.

The Club

Inaugurated in 2001, Sutton Club is undeniably well-designed: impressively chic vip-areas with nice sofas and stylish-sponsored bars along with a colorful dance floor full of lights and big high quality screens, everything contributing to the glamour that it's known for. Also worth mentioning is the great sound quality, high-tech equipment is a highlight of the club. Musically speaking, Sutton offers mainly commercial-techno music, not so different from what you hear in others clubs (like Opium Mar or Shoko), that's something they shouldn't be proud of. From Wednesday till Sunday, it brings together the elite of the city mixed with wealthy tourists and some erasmus students. "Well-dressed", as says the strict dress-code, the party-goers start to get in line around 1am, usually with their names on the list (don't worry, it isn't hard to do so). The ones who gets there around 2am, find a huuuuuge queue and might not succeed in getting in.

Our night

It all began in the famous (or not) Le Cyrano - check our review from there - perfect place to have pre-drinks, especially if you're going to Sutton, it's less than a 10 minute walk. So, after a few drinks, lot of laughs and a great warm-up, at 1h30am we got on our way to the club. The queue was still ok, but we still needed to wait 25 minutes. In the entrance, the same as usual, documents and dress-code verification, so remember: take your ID and dress-up! As we entered, we could see what people were talking about… fancy decoration, pretty people (or just well-dressed) and a posh environment. So far so good, let's check the dance-floor! Well, what can I say? Good multimedia experience? Ok, but not followed by good music. Good space to dance and have fun? Ok, but too crowed and the people are not particularly relaxed? Too worried about their appearance. Before I get to the rest of the party, it's time to talk about the music. What do I mean with "not good music"? It's simple: almost the same you can hear on a radio station. It'll be difficult to be surprised, a lot of popular House and R&B is mainly all you'll hear, with just a few hints of experimentation from the DJs. Ok Ok! You've heard that David Guetta and LMFAO played there! Yes yes, they did, but it doesn't make the music good every night!
Heading to the bars! There, we didn't have any problems, surprisingly there weren't many people, probably because the bars are well-located and bartenders are experienced. It's just expensive, something you should know already - Barcelona isn't usually a cheap city to party if you go to these sorts of clubs. Suddenly, some sparkling lights started shining from the vip-area, what was it? Some beautiful girls in bikinis bringing a bottle of 4,5 liters of Grey Goose Vodka to some guests! Funny and I would say embarrassing, but it's pretty common in posh clubs like Sutton. BTW, for curiosity we checked how much it would cost for that toy. 1400€, but you get the Red Bulls and the shining spectacle thrown in too. From that point till the end of the party, not much happened. We just saw that the ladies toilet had very long queues (not unusual)  and that the smoking area is quite good (you can also smoke outside).  So, around 5h30 we made our way home.

The Verdict

Low points - music, crowd, price, queue High points - place, bar, sound quality. Anyway, go there! You can't miss the famous Sutton Club in Barcelona, as it is one of the most famous Barcelona Clubs ! Unfortunately, lower your expectations. Otherwise, you might have a bad experience. But again, this isn't our favorite kind of party and Barcelona clubs, so we might be a bit biased to talk about it, that's why you should go check this place out for yourselves. Make your own conclusions and tell us, maybe we might change our minds and go there again!

WHERE? Calle Tuset 13 - Sant Gervasi - Metro Diagonal

PRICE? No list - 20€ / List - free (look for "sutton club barcelona" on Facebook, you'll find many unofficial pages to put your name, they all work perfectly!)

And you ? Do you have a different experience for this club or any other Barcelona clubs ? Jack

3 of the Best Free Walking Tours in Barcelona

If you've never been to Barcelona before, a great way to explore the possibilities of the city is to go on a free walking tour. Whether you're interested in history or the best cafès and shopping places, the best free walking tours in Barcelona will provide you with the information that you'll need.

Travel Bar

- Every Day at 11:00, 13:00, & 15:00 from Travel Bar

If you're looking for a more interactive history lesson, then this free walking tour is for you! I was actually a tour guide's assistant for a year and a half while living in Rome, our tours covered St. Peters and the Sistine Chapel. So I feelt I knew what a good tour should look and feel like. The guide of the free walking tour In Barcelona I had was Irish guy called Duncan. He came to Barcelona for a week of vacation and now 8 years later, he's married, residing in the city and after my opinion living the dream!! The walking tour normally lasts for about 2.5 hours. However, we all had a blast and asked a lot of questions so before we knew it 3.5 hours just flew away! totally worth it! The free walking tour takes you to some of the highlights in Barcelona, including the Gotico barrio, Esglesio de Santa Maria del Pi, Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Santa Eulalia (also known as Barcelona Cathedral).

Free Walking Tours Barcelona

- Every day at 11:00 & 15:00 from Plaza Catalunya

These enthusiastic tour guides are sure to give you a great experience... and all for free! These guys are incredibly knowledgeable and always make sure you don't just learn but are also entertained. The tour of the Gothic Quarter is free (though the guides do ask you to tip what you think the tour was worth to you at the end - not an unreasonable request!) though there are other paid tours on offer such as the Barcelona Bike Tour. With a 5* review on TripAdvisor and also Number 1 on their list of open air activities, this walking tour isn't one to miss!

Runnerbean Tours

- Every day at 11:00 and 16:30 in summer and at 11:00 and 15:00 in winter

This company offers free tours of the Gothic Quarter and of the various examples of Gaudí architecture that pepper the city. The tours are approximately 2.5 hours in length and start at Plaza Reial. These tours are also wheelchair friendly so accessibility is not a problem. Tours must be booked online ahead of time to assure you get a place. The weather is nearly always good in Barcelona so there's no time like the present - get out there and see the city for free! Leave us comment about how your tour went, we'd love to hear your recommendations. -Erin

Barcelona Day Trips:

DESTINATION AIGUA BLAVA

In my previous post short adventure to Cadaques,  I promised you to keep you updated with more exiting Day trips in Barcelona.  So, today my Barcelona Day Trip advice will point in the direction of Aigua Blava. Aigua Blava  is a small bay on the Costa Brava coast, not that far away from Barcelona.

Translated from Catalan, the name means "blue water". Although it was the greenest (and cleanest) water I have ever seen! As you may have noticed in the pictures, it is a hidden paradise! All this Caribbean'ish-bounty-beauty, is located along the coast of Northern Spain. Depending on your exact location it shouldn't take more than a couple of hours to get there.

There are a ton of small beaches along the coast line, but the most popular one is named after the area itself - Aigua Blava. If you prefer you can play it safe and enjoy the guaranteed amazing experience of the white sand and beautiful water on the Aigua Blava Beach, but obviously there will be a ton of turists in the high season. So if you are feeling adventerous - feel free to scout the area and discover more hidden gems. You won't regret it!

In our case most of the group spend the afternoon napping on the beach after a cold minty Mojito, bought in a nearby bar (what a Mojito!) But some of us explored the premesis and found a small trail that let up to an area with smaller cliffs. Which more or less lead to a mandatory jump into the turquois water and a swim back to the beach, which was way faster (and cooler) than walking through the rigid coast. What a rush! Personally, that was my favourite part of the Day and a great idea for Barcelona Day trips. On the Aigua Blava Beach there is a few bars, restaurants, showers and changing room/toilets - all you might need for a day on the beach.
If you love the beach life or just the beauty of nature in general this is the place to visit! If it's not to far and you have an extra day without specific plans, do yourself a favor and GO! This is a must see in Spain. To get to Aigua Blava you can rent a car or maybe more preferable (and echonomical) choose public transportation. A company called Sarfa has busses on the Barcelona - Begur route every day. The first bus leaves at 8:30 so you have plenty of time to enjoy Aigua Blava!
I hope you enjoyed my idea for a day trip in Barcelona! Stay tuned for more updates from my travels around Costa Brava. If you have any recommendations – feel free to drop a comment in the section below!

Day Trip From Barcelona: Destination Cadaques

Catalunya is a historically and geographically fascinating region and I, like many others, try to seize every opportunity to explore the area. There are countless day trip opportunities once you are in Barcelona. You can find plenty of great ideas in our dedicated post.
Do you like the beach you see above? That's Cadaques - the town which inspired much of the work of the notable Spanish painter Salvador Dalí. Frankly said, I might turn out to be creative too if I got to spend my summers there - the place is a true gem along the coast of Costa Brava. Unfortunately, all I've managed to arrange so far is a humble day trip from Barcelona to this truly unique place just north of Barcelona. A day trip post cannot start without directions. We went by car, which was quite convenient and we passed by the beautiful town Roses, right before the Parque Natural Cap de Creus.  Once the road starts "climbing" up the mountain, you will spot an amazing overview of the coast and the town itself. It's just magnificent and beyond describable. For those of you without a car, fear not- there are other means of transportation. You can take a train from Plaza Catalunya to Figueres and from then on - just hop on a bus. They leave on regular basis and it takes an hour to get to the heart of Cadaques. Oh yeah, and you will still be able to enjoy an amazing view above Roses I mentioned before!
For the more adventurous amongst you, there's a marked trail from Roses to Cadaques. It is around 15km and goes along the coast line. Who knows, that might be my next challenge! I knew I wouldn't regret choosing this destination for a day trip from Barcelona from the moment I laid my eyes on the white buildings of Cadaques. As much as I love Barcelona, I've been craving for some quietness and relaxation - the exact opposite of the atmosphere in the city. I've read somewhere that the light of the place and the fresh breeze were the exact reasons that enchanted not only Dalí but Picasso as well. Most of the streets are very narrow, tiny and unique. Despite the size of the place, you can easily get lost while discovering the beauties of Cadaques.
There are number of small beaches along the coast line so my advice to you is just to walk around for a bit and choose the one you like the most. The water is crystal clear and although we found it a bit colder than Barcelona, we enjoyed our time to the fullest! You also shouldn't miss Dali's house  which can be very easily found by using the maps located around the town. Lastly, you can conclude your day trip from Barcelona by having tapas or seafood in one of the many restaurants on the beachside.
Cadaques has all the necessary ingredients for a perfect day trip from Barcelona. My adventures around Costa Brava will continue this weekend as well, so in case you enjoyed that little piece of advice - stay tuned for more. If you have any recommendations - feel free to drop a comment in the section below!
Cheers, Ivo

Barcelona For Free: Survival Guide for Your Piggy Bank

Barcelona for free, is it possible? Yes, but... wait! There are many things you can do, but it doesn't mean you can leave your wallet at home! What follows is a bunch of good tips I've put together while living here. For sure, you can explore, enjoy, eat, drink and party for free in Barcelona, and some great extras for less than 5€!
- WALK is the golden rule! It’s free, it’s healthy, it’s the best way to explore the city. Barcelona is relatively small, don’t be lazy! - METRO. The longer you stay, the more you need at least a T10 ticket. More info on TMB tickets page. - AIRPORT: forget the Aerobus and taxi, there are cheaper ways to get to/from El Prat. - MOVING BY CAR: try Carsharing and Carpooling in Barcelona, it works! Our friend and colleague Alper went to Madrid using carpooling  for 25 €! - FREE PARKING: sounds too good to be true, but we know where you can park for free in Barcelona.
- COFFEE & CROISSANT: It's not for free, but in general very cheap. I live and work in the Eixample and the max price I pay for Coffee + Croissant is 2 euros! If you're coffee-holic like me, you'll need a second one: come here visit us, dear SuiteLifers! We’ll offer the second one! And a free hug, if needed. - TAPAS FOR FREE (with a cheap drink): If you pay 1,80 € for a beer, you’ll eat for free! Isn’t it cool? I think it’s the best system. There are many places where you get free tapas when you order a drink, especially in the Eixample. And the drinks are really cheap at these free tapas bars we recommend. - FREE DINNERS: Maybe you’ve heard about this legend! Well, I can’t recommend it to you. I had a bad experience with free dinners in Barcelona. They’re usually at nightbars or clubs, where you MUST get a drink, which is quite expensive, and THEN you can eat for free.  I did it 2-3 times and all I remember is that after queueing for ages, we went to the nearest kebab place. - COOK WITH FRIENDS: If you are renting a flat in Barcelona, you could eat at home with your friends, and cook together. It's way cheaper than eating out and it’s fun to experiment  with Spanish recipes,  like the famous Tortilla de patata à la SuiteLife! - WATER: In Barcelona water is drinkable everywhere and there are lots of water fountains too. Refill your bottle, don’t waste money buying a new one!
- FREE WALKING TOURS: A free walking tour is a tip based tour of the city where you give the amount you want at the end of the tour. It’s also one of the easiest ways to make friends in Barcelona. - FREE MUSEUMS: On the first Sunday of the month, you can enter for free in almost every museum in Barcelona. - FORFREE.CAT: On this interesting website you can find all the upcoming events in Barcelona and tons of useful information.
- As a general rule, if you’re in Barcelona on a budget, never pay to enter a club. Most clubs guarantee free entrance until 1:30/2:00 am.  All you need is to put your name on a list, like Shaz Erasmus. As you can imagine, once you’re inside, clubs will charge you around 10-12 € a drink. So you better drink before! - CHUPITOS: Interested in shots for 2€ ? We recommend Espit Chupitos Bar, they have 200 different shots! - RYANS IRISH PUBS: very popular now, because every day of the year you can get a bottle of San Miguel for 1€. Many of our nights out start at Ryans, but we also know a lot of other cheap bars in Barcelona!
Have you discovered other free things to do in Barcelona? Feel free to leave a comment, so we can add it to the blog! Have a nice weekend! - Elio

Piknic Electronik: Barcelona, Peace and Love

MY FAVOURITE PICNIC IN BARCELONA

Piknic Electronik is a DJ session - picnic in Barcelona, a great idea for the weekend, especially if you have already tried all the other things you can do in Barcelona on a Sunday. I’ve been there and loved it so much. Chilling, meeting nice people and dancing a bit to the beats, what a perfect day. The DJs are very cool, there are 4-5 different ones each Sunday.  It’s hard to define the kind of music they play, so you better listen to some tracks on the official website, just to make an idea. The funny, surprising thing about Piknic Electronik is to see many young families with their kids.  Maybe sitting next to a multi-tattooed dude holding a big joint! The atmosphere is very relaxed and peaceful. It's like a small Woodstock, this cool picnic in Barcelona.

WHEN?

Every Sunday till (the end of September), 1-10pm. Why doesn’t it go on till late night? Cause your legs won’t be able to to take you home! Be sure that around midnight you’ll be sleeping like a baby.

WHERE?

Parc del Montjuic (see on the map).  We took the funicular at Poble Sec Metro station, it was 3pm and the station was quiet, with no queues. The service works pretty well, in a couple of minutes it takes you to the park.

WHAT TO BRING

1 Water. Yes, bad boys don’t drink water. Well, when it’s 35°C you need that, come on. 2 Food. Inside it’s expensive, and there’s just pizza and hotdogs. You’re allowed to bring your own food (in general the only thing you can’t take inside is alcohol), so why not? 3 Sunglasses, shorts and the smallest bag you have.

WHAT CAN YOU BUY THERE

Beers  for 3 euros, drinks and cocktails around 5 euros . It’s not possible to pay cash, you need to buy tokens. Yes, it’s pretty annoying,  cause you have to queue for the tokens AND then for the drink. Note that you have to pay for your cool,  branded glass (1 token) but you can convert it into 1 euro! And the more glasses you give back the more you earn!

AFTER PARTY

Although feeling really tired, my friend and I decided to walk down the hill of Montjuic. This is - in my opinion - the best idea, especially if you wanna stay at the picnic until the closing time. We just preferred to avoid the queue to the funicular (as you can imagine, there is a lot of people waiting), and had a 10/15 min. walk to get back to Poble Sec. Which is a good area to go for tapas in Barcelona at a very convenient price. Recommended! Or do you still have the energy to cook?
- Elio