Travel guide
Weather & Climate
Temperatures 10-24 °C : Spring is a beautiful time of the year to visit Barcelona. The city starts to warm up in March and is typically in the mid-teens (°C) by the end of the season. To take advantage of the beach, come during the summer, when you can expect highs of 28 (°C) and very little chance of rain. Culture-seekers will enjoy Barcelona during the autumn, when the city comes alive with music and food festivals, and the weather is still warm enough for roaming. Or book your holiday during the winter to take advantage of fewer crowds and average highs of 11 (°C).
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BARCELONA IS BEST FOR…
Families: Take an art class in Gaudi’s trencadis technique and you’ll make your own mosaic of broken ceramic tiles to take home.
Foodies: Tuck into some traditional Catalan seafood at a restaurant in the Gothic Quarter.
Art fans: At the Picasso Museum, view the works of one of the 20th century’s most influential artists.
Fast facts:
Language: The languages spoken in Barcelona are Catalan and Spanish
Currency: The currency used in Barcelona is the Euro (€)
Local time: Barcelona is 1 hour ahead of GMT/UK time
Fly to: Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) is 13km southwest of the city centre
Flight time from UK: 2 hours
Tourist Information: Further Barcelona tourist information can be found at www.turismedebarcelona.eu
Visa / Health:
Before your holiday to Barcelona, visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/spain for recommendations and advice on visas and health
Getting around
By foot: The historic centre is compact and pedestrian-friendly.
By tourist bus: The Barcelona Bus Turistic has three hop-on/hop-off routes that stop at all the tourist sites.
By metro: The extensive metro system is efficient, affordable and air-conditioned.
By bicycle: There are many cycle hire companies, some of which also give bike tours in the city centre.
By scooter: Rent a scooter/moped, Vespa or even a Segway.
Events
Party Animals: For three days (and three nights!) in June, Barcelona hosts Sónar, one of the world’s best dance music festivals. Tickets must be purchased well in advance.
Saintly celebrations: On 24 September, Barcelona honours its patron saint by staging live music concerts in the plazas, Catalan folk dancing, a parade and a fireworks display.
Nadal (Christmas): December’s festivities include the Fira de Santa Lucia, a large open-air market in the streets around the main cathedral. Handmade crafts and local Christmas decorations are on offer; nativity figurines are especially popular.
When it comes to things to do in Dubrovnik, this place really does have it all; from cable car rides to walking the city walls and island hopping to Game of Thrones tours, these are just some of the top attractions here. With amazing coastline, sparkling turquoise waters, and beautiful medieval buildings, it’s no surprise that this Croatian city is known as ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’.
Places to go
When it comes to things to do in Dubrovnik, you won’t want to leave without escaping to at least one of the islands off the coast. The uninhabited isle of Lokrum is just a few minutes from the shoreline by taxi-boast, and it’s an unspoilt haven of pines, palms and cypress trees. As you start exploring, you’ll also discover medieval, ecclesiastical, Napoleonic, and Habsburg ruins here.
If one island visit just isn’t enough for you, you can also take boat trips out to other idyllic Croatian islands, like Vis, Korcula and Hvar. A wealth of spectacular scenery awaits, and you can see them all by booking an island-hopping cruise from the harbour
Things to do in Dubrovnik
Cable Car Ride
Enjoy the best views of Dubrovnik with a trip to the top of Srd Hill on the cable car. Starting in Ploce, a 5 minute walk from the Old Town, …
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Game of Thrones Walking Tour
Take the ultimate Game of Thrones fan tour as you walk through King’s Landing, so that you can climb the Red Keep, go through the Farmer’s Market …
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Walk the City Walls
Walk the ancient walls surrounding Dubrovnik to see incredible views of the city from up high. To start your walk, choose between three entrances, …
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Visit Dubrovnik Old Town
On your trip to Dubrovnik, a visit to the Old Town is an absolute must. As the medieval heart of the city, you can rub shoulders with locals along …
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Banje Beach
Relax on Dubrovnik’s famous Banje Beach, just a short walk away from the Old Town in the ancient part of the city. Hire a lounger and set up your …
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Stradun Dubrovnik
Stretching almost 300m, Stradun is the main street in Dubrovnik old town and one of its major attractions. At first glance you could be forgiven …
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