EuroGames 2008 - July 24-27

In 2008, something big is going to happen in Barcelona...

...because in July 2008 the city of Barcelona is going to play host to the EuroGames Barcelona 2008, the European championship for gay, lesbian and transsexual sportsmen/women and their friends. An amazing event which will involve more 30,000 people and which for a few days will transform Barcelona into the authentic European capital of sport and gay and lesbian culture.



EuroGames Barcelona 2008 will consist of 28 sporting events together with a range of cultural and leisure activities based in and around the city. The event will make its mark on Barcelona for a few days as more than 5,000 sporting participants descend upon the city from all corners of Europe.

EuroGames is sport, fun and culture. Are you going to miss out on such an incredible adventure? Come south, join in the fun and take part! Together we will make the EuroGames Barcelona 2008 the best games in Europe!


Do you plan to participate to the EuroGames 2008 in Barcelona? Find an accommodation here.

Gay Friendly

Barcelona has long had the reputation as a city with a vibrant and integrated gay scene. Whilst there are some areas that are frequented more by the gay community, everywhere in the city is welcoming and open-minded, making Barcelona a gay friendly popular destination for members of the gay community.

Barcelona Areas that are popular with the Gay community

Many of the gay bars, clubs and hostels are around the area called Eixample (pronounced eshaumplay) and nicknamed "gayxample". This is the heart of the gay scene, although it's not exclusively a gay area.

Eixample is a beautiful and relatively modern and trendy district in the centre of Barcelona, with all you could ever need in the form of bars, clubs and accommodation for both the gay and straight communities.

Another area that is very popular with the Gay Community is Sitges, which is just a short train journey away from Barcelona.

FC Barcelona

Barcelona's football club - FC Barcelona or simply "El Barça" - is not only out of this world, but quite possibly the best soccer team in the world as of the 2005/2006 season. They took home the European Champions League cup in 2006.

If you're even remotely a football fan, you shouldn't miss the chance to see a game live a Camp Nou, the team's home stadium. With a 100,000 spectator capacity and amazing three level tiers, it provides fans and visitors alike an unforgettable experience.

FC Barcelona is currently lead by Ronaldinho, the incredibly agile and irresistably likeable Brazilian forward who truly plays in a league of his own. Other FC Barcelona stars include Samuel Eto'o, a Cameroon native who's been named African player of the year not once but twice, and 18 year-old Argentine sensation Lionel Messi, a veritable phenom.

It wouldn't be fair to leave out the fact that Barcelona has another football team, Espanyol de Barcelona. Though not as renowned or successful as FC Barcelona, they're still in Division I and participate in the European Champions League. Depending on the year, they can dish out a threat on the field. The Espanyol plays at the Olympic stadium in Montjüic.

FC Barcelona Football Museum

The FC Barcelona Football Museum (Museu del Futbol Club Barcelona), held within the Camp Nou complex, is one of Barcelona's most visited attractions. It provides a comprehensive history of the team and a great look at Spain's national sport. You can enter via Camp Nou's Gate 14.

Are you looking for an accommodation to attend a game in the Camp Nou? Click here.

Camp Nou

The Camp Nou Tour is the best way to experience Barça from within.

You can visit every corner of the stadium and get a first hand look at the places where day to day life takes place at the club and feel the magic of a five star venue. The Camp Nou Tour takes you through the past and present of an emblematic stadium for both Barça supporters and other football fans alike.

Follow in the footsteps of the players that have made history, such as Kubala, Cruyff, Maradona, Guardiola and Ronaldinho and feel the passion of FC Barcelona as you visit each of the fascinating zones: the presidents box, the press area, the changing room area and then down the tunnel and onto the pitch where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the stadium and really sense the dream of every Barcelona supporter, to feel for a moment just what it would be like to be a Barça player.

The Cam Nou Tour also includes a visit to the Club Museum, where you can spend as long as you like admiring all the different trophies, photographs and personal belongings of the legendary stars that have all helped make FC Barcelona what it is today.

Hours:

Mon-Sat, 10am-6:30pm, guided stadium tour at 5:30pm;

Sundays & Holidays, 10am-2:30pm, guided stadium tour at 1:30pm

Entrance fees:

Adults €6.50 (only museum), €10.50 (museum + Camp Nou tour);

Children, groups, retirees and students €5 (only museum), €8 (museum + Camp Nou tour)

How to get tickets for an FC Barcelona game

Football season runs from late August to May, and FC Barcelona games are usually played on Sundays. Tickets for Spanish league games can be purchased via the methods listed below. Prices for nosebleed seats start around €25, and it just goes up from there.

FC Barcelona ticket offices at Camp Nou are open: Monday to Thursday, 9am to 1:30pm and 3pm to 6pm; Friday, 9am to 2:30 pm; Saturday, 9am to 1.30pm

You can also buy tickets...
At ServiCaixa ATMs
By telephone: (+34) 902 18 99 00
By Internet - on the FC Barcelona website

Hostels

Terminology for budget sleep options can be a little confusing. From "hostal" to "albergue," "pension," "fonda," and "residencia," you'll find yourself asking, "what in the world is the difference?" Don't worry: these terms are largely interchangeable.

"Pensiones" and "hostales" tend to be small, family-run hotels. In other words, you'll find single and double rooms at these Barcelona hostels, but often will share a bathroom with other guests. You'll pay roughly between €30 and €60 a night per person.

A Barcelona youth hostel is usually called a "hostal" or "albergue." (So when you see "hostal" it could really be this or a family-run hotel, so don't forget to ask). Youth hostels tend to pack bunk beds into a large room and provide a number of shared bathrooms. If you don't mind possibly noisy conditions and a bunch of backpackers snoring around you, these Barcelona hostels are the cheapest option starting around €15 a night for a bed.

Find a different accommodation option, click here.

Hotels

There are a variety of different accommodation options in Barcelona. On the whole, you'll get much better deals when traveling with others, as single rooms can be quite expensive. The good old days of the peseta have unfortunately come to an end, and prices are constantly rising.

Barcelona hotels are among the most expensive in Spain, just about on par with Madrid. Expect to pay a bare minimum of €50 for the cheapest single and up to €400 for luxury suites.

Many Barcelona hotels include breakfast, usually continental (pastries, coffee and juice). If breakfast is not included, however, you're probably better off discovering a nearby café.

Find another accommodation option, click here.

Gracia Festival - Festa Major de Gracia - August 15-21

The Neighborhood Festival of Gracia, celebrated during the last half of August, is an incredibly well-organized and artsy local fiesta. Gràcia's residents spend months planning parades, concerts, floats, arts & crafts activities and more.

During the day, events are held in the area's brightly decorated streets and squares. Acrobats build amazing human towers; performers dress up as giants and devils to express Catalan folklore.

At night, the Festa Major de Gracia inspires live music, dancing, fireworks and general partying outdoors. Best of all, it's not just for those who live there: the whole city heads to Gràcia to join in the fun!

The Festa Major de Gracia is a good occasion to come to Barcelona with your friends to enjoy this amazing event and discover this beautiful city. You don't know where to find a budget accommodation? Easy...Click here!