Penedes Wine Country Tour

Just south of Barcelona lie the green valleys and rolling hills of the world renowned Penedès, Spain wine region, the perfect place for a day escape side trip. Known as “cava country” due to being the biggest and best producer of Cava (Spanish champagne), this Spanish wine region boasts many notable red and white wines, as well. The hills of Alt Penedes can be your destination for this wine excursion, where you can enjoy exclusive visits to the vineyards and cellars of small wine and cava makers producing the most innovative and high quality wines in the Penedes wine country.

Catalonia Wine Country

Sant Sadurní d'Anoia, about 35 minutes from Barcelona, is the city's closest vineyard. If you're interested in Catalan sparkling wines, this is your spot.

Vilafranca del Penèdes, on the other hand, is Catalonia's most important production area for still wine. It's been an important trade center since the 11th century and holds a small musem and church in addition to wineries.


Getting to Catalonia Wine Country

"Rodalies" trains depart every 30 minutes from Barcelona Sants or Plaça de Catalunya to Sant Sadurní (€2.25) and Vilafranca (€2.75). Travel time is approximately 45 minutes. If you decide to go by car, head west along Avinguada Diagonal and get on the AP-7 motorway.

Dalí Museums

At least two days are needed to enjoy the visits to the three Dalí Museums properly. The distance between the three Dali Museums means that you have to allow for journeys of at least 40 kilometres if you want to go from Figueres to Portlligat (Cadaqués) and another 40 kilometres from Figueres to Púbol (near La Bisbal d'Empordà, heading in the Girona direction).

Theater-Museum Dalí in Figueres

The Dalí Theatre-Museum, the largest surrealistic object in the world, occupies the building of the former Municipal Theatre, a 19th century construction which was destroyed at the end of the Spanish Civil War. On its ruins, Dalí decided to create his museum.The Dalí Theatre-Museum of Figueres offers a unique experience of being able to observe, live and enjoy the work and thought of a genius. As Dalí himself explained: “It’s obvious that other worlds exist, that’s certain; but, as I’ve already said on many other occasions, these other worlds are inside ours, they reside in the earth and precisely at the centre of the dome of the Dalí Museum, which contains the new, unsuspected and hallucinatory world of Surrealism.”

House-Museum Dalí in Portlligat

The present Portlligat House-museum was Salvador Dalí’s only fixed abode from 1930, the place in which he normally lived and worked up till 1982 when, upon Gala’s death, he took up residence at Púbol Castle.

House-Museum Gala Dalí Castle in Púbol

The Gala Dalí Castle in Púbol, open to the public since 1996, allows visitors to discover a medieval building in which Salvador Dalí lent material form to an exuberant creative effort with his mind set on one person, Gala.

How to reach Figueres and the Dali Museum

By car, take the E-15 / A-7 motorway (Barcelona-France), exit at Figueres Nord or Figueres Sud and follow signs to the city center/ museum. About 1.5 hours from Barcelona.

Trains from Barcelona to Figueres (Barcelona-Portbou RENFE line) leave hourly from Barcelona Sants and Passeig de Gracia. The Dali museum is about a 10 minute walk from the train station; follow the posted signs. About 2 hours from Barcelona.

The SARFA bus company also runs routes to Figueres.

Sitges

Sitges: summer home to Barcelona's chic society and gay community, hot spot for party-goers, magnet for sun and beach lovers... all in all and the place to go if you want to party 'til you drop. Since Sitges is such a popular beach resort, it can be expensive, crowded and touristy, especially during the high season and on weekends. If you don't mind braving the hordes, though, you're guaranteed a great time at night and wide, sandy beaches during the day.

Sitges is also renowned as a gay hotspot. The gay community comes out in full force during carnival time, throwing one of Spain's wildest seasonal parties (Feb-March).

Beaches in Sitges

There are 15 different beaches in Sitges along more than 3km of coast in the city center, plus 7 beaches located in the municipial district. The latter ones are quieter and more relaxed whereas the city beaches offer all types of beach activities and services, such as boat rental, sport activities, chair rental, life guards, public toilets, etc. The water and sand are of high quality and significantly nicer than beaches in Barcelona. Sitges's Passeig Marítim is a great promenade with restaurants and bars -- daytime beach action is concentrated around here, so be prepared for quite the scene.

How to reach Sitges from Barcelona

During the high season (May-October) you can catch a "rodalies" train from the Barcelona Sants station. No need to buy tickets in advance, since as many as 4 trains leave every hour. Alternatively, hop on a "rodalies" train at the Passeig de Gràcia metro station towards "Vilanova / St Vicenç." It will take you approximately 25 minutes to reach Sitges beaches by train. The last departure from Sitges to Barcelona is around 10:30 pm.

Sant Antoni Market

Here’s another food market, similar to La Boqueria except larger and without all the tourists. Also don´t do what I did and go in August as you will find most of the stalls closed. However all the stalls that were still open were doing very good trade, and even the small tapas bar in the middle of the market was full of locals having a bite. The stall owners are very friendly and helpful, and there is a lovely deli counter just on the left as you go in the main entrance if you want to buy something nice to take home with you.

On Sunday from 08:00-15:00 just outside the market there is a book and coin market for all the collectors out there. You will find a tremendous assortment of old books, magazines, comics and postcards.

Boqueria Market

It's the biggest market of Europe and, probably of the whole Occidental world. La Boqueria's market, located in the emblematic Ramblas of the city, is an obliged visit for the tourists and has been converted in one of the symbols of Barcelona today.

The market was constructed with the current metal framework in the year 1914, but the first documents of the market's existence date form back to the 13th century. It's the most famous of the 41 markets that exist in Barcelona. It has a whole of 6.000 m2 where there are located more than 300 booth (of vegetables, fruits, meats, fish, specializations ...) that are the real grace of the market. It's importance takes root in offering a great assortment of fresh products and a great explosion of colours, people and movement that makes it unique in the world. There is a popular expression that says: if you don't find something in La Boqueria, it can't be found in any other place.

The popular name is La Boqueria but it's official name is Sant Josep's Market because the Sant Josep's convent that was burnt in 1835 was placed there. This fact was very important for the reconstruction and consolidation of the market. It's architecture is harmonious, but remains hidden under its iron construction; it is necessary to emphasize that the window and the medallion of the entry are of modernist style.

The market has suffered some architectural changes. In april of this year the works of reconstructions have been finished, which have liberated the squared porch and have supposed the recovery of the perimetrical column. The most important is that the market has wan in lighting and it has been opened to the street.

The services that La Boqueria offers have been extended with small places where we can eat and drink. There are 10 establishments of two different classes; the newsstand - bars to take a coffee, a refreshment or an appetizer, and small bar - restaurants to sit down in stools and to savour the economic menus or the most typical plates, without leaving the market. Between all these mini bars we find the Universal newsstand to take a recommendable menu of the day, the Pinotxo bar with the amiability of Juanito, the owner's bar and key personage in La Boquería throughout the years, which tells us the market has gained with it's reconstruction. We prune to take some tapa's (snack) in Quim's bar or eating a good chocolate with fritters in the Sant Josep's bar. At the end of the market, in the Garduña's place, we find a restaurant that takes the same name, reformed with the last works in the market. This restaurant offers Mediterranean and Catalan food to different prices, and the day's menu costs 8,25 euros.

We recommend to eat in the places that we have named above, but if in case of preferring to eat with carte, the Boqueria's market is surrounded by well-known restaurants where to choose plates of Mediterranean food. It's the case of the Turia restaurant, http://www.barcelona-on-line.es/elturia, in Petxina's street that offers renewed and varied plates, such as fish, seafood and an economic menu of 9,60 euros that is very good. We also outstand The Convent, in the Jerusalem street, specialist in Catalan gastronomy, and La Palmera restaurant that offers market food, located behind La Boqueria.

La Boqueria's market is located in the Ramblas number 101 and opens at 8:00 a.m. and closes at 8:30 p.m.

International Restaurants

International Restaurants in Barcelona

The international restaurant scene in Barcelona far surpasses any other city in Spain. With everything from sushi and kebabs to Cuban, Greek and Ethiopian food, you'll find plenty of options to stray from typical regional fare.

On the creative/ fusion end, Barcelona is a hub for experimental chefs. Native Ferran Adria is world famous for his crazy culinary experiments, and many of his protegès have their own restaurants in the city center at more affordable prices ... and with the possibility of actually getting a reservation in this century.

These "nueva cocina española" haunts are still quite pricey but a definite part of the Barcelona restaurant experience.

Below are some listings for some popular international Barcelona restaurants.

Fusion/ Creative Restaurants in Barcelona

Comerç 24

c/ del Comerç 24, La Ribera

Metro Barceloneta

Tel (+34) 93 319 21 02

Daily Tue-Fri, Sat dinner onlyMeal for one €35-45

Àbac

c/ del Rec 79-89, La Ribera

Metro Barceloneta

Tel (+34) 93 319 66 00

Open daily, Mondays dinner only, closed August

Meal for one €90-100

Cuban Restaurants in Barcelona

HBN BCN

c/ Escar 1, La Barceloneta

Metro Barceloneta

Tel (+34) 932 25 02 63

Daily 1-4pm & 9pm-midnight

Entrees under €15

Habana Vieja

c/ dels Banys Vells 2, la Ribera
Metro Jaume I

Tel (+34) 93 268 25 04

Meal for one about €20

Japanese Restaurants in Barcelona

Hello Sushi

c/ Junta de Comerç 14, El Raval

Metro Universitat

Tel (+34) 934 12 08 30

Daily 12:30-4:40pm & 8:30pm-12:30am, Sun 12:30-4:40pm, closed Mondays

Sushi Itto

c/ Londres 103, Gràcia

Tel (+34) 932 41 21 99

Daily 1:30-4:30pm & 8:30pm-midnight

French Restaurants in Barcelona

Krampus (Crepes)

c/ de Saragossa 89, Gràcia

Metro Lesseps

Tel (+34) 93 200 85 97

Daily for dinner, closed Mondays

La Carassa (Fondue)

c/ de Brosoli 1, La Ribera
Metro Jaume I

Tel (+34) 93 310 33 06

Thai Restaurants in Barcelona

Thai Gardens

c/ de la Diputació 273, Eixample

Metro Passeig de Gràcia
Tel (+34) 93 487 98 98

Closed SundaysMeal for one €25-30

Tapas & Catalan Cuisine

Catalan Cuisine
Catalan cuisine, like peninsular fare on the whole, is largely elaborated with one key ingredient: olive oil. Garlic and tomatoes are other staples, along with excellent seafood, mostly concentrated in the restaurants around the Barceloneta.

Tapas
Tapas culture is not particularly strong in Barcelona. Supposedly born in southern Spain, where waiters would cover ("tapar") a class of wine with a small ration of food, the tapa has never been a Catalan tradition.

Nevertheless, you will find a high concentration of tapas bars in Ciutat Vella, the old part of town. In accordance with Barcelona's "cool" reputation, many of these give tapas a creative twist in a chill-out atmosphere. Going "de tapeo" is a great way to get to know various locales and tastes at an affordable price.

Below we've listed the most traditional and popular Barcelona restaurants serving tapas, Catalan & Spanish cuisine, plus tapas bars for those who want to try this uniquely Spanish activity. Where price range is concerned, remember that the lunchtime "menú del día" will come to €7-13 for a 3 course meal. Our estimates are based on a full dinner meal.

Barcelona Tapas Restaurants

Bodega

c/ del Regomir 11, Barri Gótic

Metro Jaume I

No phone

Daily 1pm-2am, closed Mondays & first half of August

Quimet i Quimet

c/ Poeta Cabanyes 25, Poble Sec

Metro Paral.lel

Tel (+34) 93 442 31 42

Closed Mondays, Sundays lunch only

Txapel (Euskal Taberna)

Pg. de Gràcia 8-10, Eixample

Metro Catalunya

Tel (+34) 93 412 02 89

Open Mon-Thu 8am-1:30, Fri-Sun 10am-2am

Picture taken from "La Tartine Gourmande" http://www.latartinegourmande.com/

Catalan & Spanish Restaurants in Barcelona

Agut

c/ d'En Gignàs 16, Barri Gótic

Metro Jaume I

Tel (+34) 93 315 17 09

Open Tues-Sat, Sunday lunch only €20-30 per person

Cafè de l'Acadèmia

c/ de Ledo 1, Barri Gótic

Metro Jaume I

Tel (+34) 93 319 82 53

Open Mon-Fri€20-30 per person

Los Caracoles

c/ dels Escudellers 14, Las Ramblas

Metro Drassanes or Liceu

Tel (+34) 93 302 31 85 Open daily 1pm-midnight€20-30 per person

Can Culleretes

c/ Quintana 5, Las Ramblas

Metro Liceu

Tel (+34) 93 317 30 22

Closed Mondays, Sundays lunch only €20-30 per person

Set Portes

Pg. d'Isabel II 14, La Ribera

Metro Barceloneta

Tel (+34) 93 319 29 50 Daily 1pm-1am€20-30 per person

Orígens 99.9%

c/ de la Vidriera 6-8, La Ribera

Metro Jaume I

Tel (+34) 93 310 75 31 Daily 12:30pm-1:30am€15-20 per person

Els 4 Gats (Picasso's first exhibit opened here!)

c/ Montsió 3, Barri Gótic

Metro Catalunya

Tel (+34) 93 302 41 40

Daily 1pm-1am€10-30 per person

Casa Leopoldo

c/ de Sant Rafael 24, El Raval

Metro Liceu

Tel (+34) 93 441 30 14

Closed Mondays, Sundays lunch only €30-50 per person