The Chocolate Museum of Barcelona

In Barcelona, there is nothing better than the Chocolate Museum to completely enjoy this Easter week !

This museum, telling the history and the manufacturing of chocolate, will marvel you thanks to its sculptures entirely made of chocolate.

You will recognize some of the heroes from your favourite cartoons as Tintin or Astérix, but also the most famous buildings of Barcelona, and even a reproduction of the Camp Nou and its players!

But that's not all, the museum also offers activities for all ages, one of the most popular is of course pastry classes or how to make chocolate sculptures by yourself!

Finally, this museum will surely give you the munchies ... Fortunately, the Chocolate Museum has planned everything and has at your disposal a shop where you can buy all kinds of chocolate and other sweets! In the cafeteria, you can also taste the original Xocoatl, the chocolate drink of the Aztecs.

OPENING HOURS :

From Monday to Saturday : 10.00 - 19.00

Sunday : 10.00 - 15.00

Address :

Museu de la Xocolata

Plaça Pons I Clerch, S/N - 08003 Barcelona

Metro : Jaume I (L4)

Tel : +34 932 68 78 78

View Larger Map

Walking in Barcelona :

If you cannot go to the Museum, you also have an other option : indeed, you could see a lot of chocolate sculptures on all the bakeries display, during Easter week.

La Feria de Abril 2011, in Barcelona

Updated April 28 2011

Let you immerse yourself in an Andalusian atmosphere for a week in Barcelona!

You are visiting Spain and you can not go to Andalusia? Do not panic!

From April 29 to May 8, 2011, Catalonia celebrates the 40th Feria de Abril. During this period, Barcelona will be in Seville’s colours at the Forum Park, where you can enjoy various typical activities from the south of Spain, as if you were really there!

For the occasion, the Forum Park, located in the district of Diagonal Mar on the seaside, will be transformed into a small Andalusian village with many stalls where you can find:

- Flamenco music with its guitarists, singers and dancers dressed in their prettiest costume;

- Traditional food such as tapas, fried anchovies and calamari, Spanish ham... without forgetting its famous wine;

- Craft products, accessories and souvenirs originally coming from Andalusia;

- Attractions for all ages specially installed for the occasion, and all kinds of games and entertainment.

This festival is really worth, since the entry is free as well as the stalls! By the way, it will be the opportunity for you to visit the famous Forum Park.

If you want to come and dance flamenco with us, book your apartment now by clicking on this following link : Top Barcelona Apartments.

Transportation:

Metro:

4: Station El Maresme - Forum

On Saturday, April 30 and May 7 subway runs all night.

Bus:

Line: 7, 36, 41.43, 141 (17h service strengthened to 22.30)

Special service: between Plaza de Catalunya and El Fòrum 10pm at dawn and until 3am on Sundays and 5:30am on Fridays. (Every 10 minutes)

Opening Times

Weekdays: 10am to 2am

Friday, April 29: 6pm at 4:15am

Saturday, April 31-Sunday, May 1: 10am to 4:15am

Friday, May 6: 10am to 22pm

Saturday, May 7: 10am to 4:15pm

Sunday, May 8: 10am to 18pm

Address:

Parc del Forúm

Avinguda Diagonal 1 - 08019 Barcelona

Metro : El Maresme Forúm (L4)

View larger map

Semana Santa 2011 (Easter Week) in Barcelona

This year, Barcelona celebrates the Semana Santa from the 17th until the 25th of April. For Catholics, coming to Barcelona for Easter Week is a good option but also for Non Catholics, since everybody could enjoy processions organized in the city. These processions are a great opportunity for tourists to discover the charm and the historical part of the city.

Palm Sunday procession route

In Barcelona, Easter holidays will start on the 17th, with Palm Sunday. A first procession will take place on this date in the Raval area, starting at 10.00 from Plaça Sant Agusti and ending around 12.00. Here is the procession route :

View Palm Sunday procession route - 17/04/2011 on a larger map

Holy Friday procession route

On the 22nd of April, during the Holy Friday (Viernes Santos), two main processions will take place.

The first one is called "Nuestra Señora de las Angustias" (Our Lady of Sorrows) and will start at 19.00 from Sant Jaume church. It will end around 22.30 in the same place. The procession will go through the Gothic area, from a point to another that you can see on the following map:

View Holy Friday procession route - 22/04/2011 on a larger map

The second one is called "Nuestro Padre Jesús del Gran Poder y María Santísima de la Esperanza Macarena" (Our Father Jesus of the Great Power and Holy Virgin of Macarena). It will start from Sant Augusti church to finish in this same place. This will follow almost the same itinerary than the procession for Palm Sunday, going from the Raval area to the Gothic area:

View Holy Friday procession route - 22/04/2011 on a larger map

Finally on the 25th of April, the Semana Santa will end with Easter Monday, where the family eat together a traditional easter cake (Mona de Pascua) offered by the godfather to his godchildren on Palm Sunday.

Funny tip:

But for the Semana Santa, there is also a funny tradition for children, which is called "The dancing egg" ("L'ou com balla" in catalonian). This tradition, still unknown from the public, consists in taking the shell of an empty egg and trying to make it turn on itself the longest as possible. For the occasion, fountains are decorated with fruits and flowers.

You could try this childish game in the Cathedral of Barcelona, el Poblet, The Frederic Marés Museum, The Santa Ana Church, el Ateneu barcelonés, The Bones Letres Academy and the Purisima Concepcio Church.

If you still need an accommodation in Barcelona for Easter holidays, check our website : Top Barcelona Apartments.

The Aquarium of Barcelona

For the happiness of youngest as well as oldest, the Aquarium of Barcelona opened its doors in 1955. Today, it is one of the biggest in the world regarding Mediterranean marine life and has more than 35 aquariums, 450 species and about 11.000 “hosts”.

A 80 meters gallery goes through the Oceanoarium, the most spectacular pools of the aquarium, where you could bump into a few of the most disturbing specimens which smartly live with all kind of fishes. We can also find some pools reserved for tropical and Mediterranean species. Among the most intriguing subjects, you could see the sea dragon, strange creature similar to seahorses, or the moon fish, a singular animal with circular shapes.

The Aquarium organizes several activities for children and adults, including puzzles to solve, treasure hunts but also an exceptional diving with sharks! Besides, it is also possible for children to make a birthday party there.

Good to see: The gallery under the Oceanoarium and rare species.

OPENING HOURS (Ticket offices and accesses open until one hour before):

Open all year around

From Monday to Friday: 9.30 - 21.00

Weekend and public holidays + June and September: 9.30 - 21.30

July and August: 9.30 - 23.00

CHARGES

Adults: 17.75 €

Children from 4 to 12: 12.75 €

Adults over 60: 14.75 €

Tip:

Enjoy a reduction of 2 € by printing the coupon here!

To spend pleasant family holidays in Barcelona, you can book one of our apartments on our website: Top Barcelona Apartments.

Address:

L'Aquarium Barcelona

Moll Espanya del Port Vell, s/n, - 08039 Barcelona

Metro : Drassanes (L3) ou Barceloneta (L4)

Tel : +34 932 217 474 / +34 628 265 908

Nearby : Port Vell, Maremagnum, Mirador de Colon.

See larger map

Christmas and New Year's Eve In Barcelona

Whoever would like to spend a few pleasant days in Barcelona enjoying the Christmas atmosphere on the streets must absolutely take in several events and know about certain customs from the secular tradition, some of them quite curious.

Christmas markets: Outdoor markets where you can find Christmas trees, figures for nativity scenes, decorations for the home and other decor items, in addition to lots of gift ideas. The most famous Christmas markets are:
-Santa Llucia Fair, around the cathedral until 23rd of December.
-Sagrada Familia Christmas Fair: until 23rd of December.
-Plaza de Sants Christmas Fair: until 23rd of December.
-Reyes (3 Kings) Fair: a fair featuring toys, gifts, crafts and Christmas items. Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes (between Muntaner and Entença). From 24th of December to 6th of January.


Tio de Nadal (Christmas Uncle): Starting on the feast day of the Immaculate Conception, the 8th of December, every night families begin to "feed" a tree trunk decorated with a face on one end, which is usually covered with a blanket so it doesn't get cold at night. On Christmas Day, the wooden "uncle" is put in the fire and after being hit it with a canem, it produces sweets and nougats for the children.


Traditional dishes: The traditional dishes at Christmas time are "escudella" stock and its "carn d'olla", followed by stuffed capon or turkey. For dessert, the traditional "turron" nougats are savoured, made with almonds, hazelnuts and honey, or marzipan and candied fruit.

New Year's Eve: New Year's Eve is celebrated with meals and parties as people await the sound of the twelve bells tolling on the city's clocks. At that point, everyone eats 12 "lucky grapes" to the beat of the 12 rings as they toast with cava and wish each other a Happy New Year.

Parade of the Three Wise Men: At sundown on the 5th of January, at 5:30pm to be precise, the Three Wise Men arrive in Barcelona and for three hours they parade around the city's most central streets in their royal carriages, tossing sweets to the children along the wayside.

Come to Barcelona in December and enjoy the Christmas and New Year's Eve atmosphere! Still apartments available at the best price!

The Cirque du Soleil in Barcelona

Until 02 January, the Cirque du Soleil is setting up shop in Barcelona with Varekai, a spectacular which offers a reinterpretation of the Icarus myth and pays tribute to the nomadic spirit of circus artists. The Grand Chapiteau, the Canadian circus company's spectacular big tent, will become a magical forest full of fantastic creatures.


Deep within a forest, at the summit of a volcano, exists an extraordinary world—a world where something else is possible. A world called Varekai.




From the sky falls a solitary young man, and the story of Varekai begins. Parachuted into the shadows of a magical forest, a kaleidoscopic world populated by fantastical creatures, this young man sets off on an adventure both absurd and extraordinary. On this day at the edge of time, in this place of all possibilities, begins an inspired incantation to life rediscovered.




The word Varekai means "wherever" in the Romany language of the gypsies the universal wanderers. This production pays tribute to the nomadic soul, to the spirit and art of the circus tradition, and to the infinite passion of those whose quest takes them along the path that leads to Varekai.

Varekai features down-tempo, chill-out house music with a Latin flavour, inspired by the 2002 production of Varekai.

Espectacle 'Varekai', a càrrec de Cirque du Soleil
From 05/11/2010 to 02/01/2011
Grand Chapiteau (Gran Carpa) a la Plataforma del Zoo Marí
Av Litoral, 99
Sant Martí

Enjoy the Low Season to rent an apartment in Barcelona and see the Spectacle of the Cirque du Soleil in Barcelona!

20th European athetics Championship in BARCELONA

Yesterday, July 26th, was held in Barcelona, the inauguration of the 20th European Championships of athletism. The championship which really started today until next sunday takes place at the same location as the 1992 Olympics Games.

Visitors saw a water show of dance and acrobatics in the Magic Fountain of Montjuic with the under a beautitiful full moon in the Olympic Stadium.
During 70 minutes, a spectacle staged by Hansel Cereza, a founding member of "La Fura dels Baus, the group that designed the Olympic ceremonies, entertained thousands of spectators and reached a moment of great beauty.

The water was the main reason for the ceremony. The director mixed it with dance and sports with music by Nacho Cano, former member of Mecano, and Salvador Niebla, author of the music used in the Spanish synchronized swimming team.









Then we could see a parade ofrepresentatives of the 50 countries participating in the championship, with sounds of the anthem of Europe. Chema Martinez, candidate for the Marathon medal, was the flagship of a Spanish team of 88 athletes.
The Organizing Committee Chairman, José María Odriozola, said that chamionnats held in Barcelona is a good opportunity for the Catalans to enjoy the beauty of the sport in the Montjuic stadium or on the street.


President Montilla closed the ceremony, announced opened oficially the european championships. On sunday the championship will end with a concert of the famous group of Catalan rumba, Troba Kung Fu, in the Avenida Maria Cristina.

Do you want to take holidays in Barcelona and enjoy everything this city offers? We know where you can rent apartments close to the city center and Montjuic at really good price!!!

Tibidabo, Barcelona's mountain

The mountain of Tibidabo is the highest point of the Collserola hills, in Barcelona, it hosts an amusement park. Everyone in the city remembers its fantastic grottoes, the dizzying experience of the Talaia, the Hall of Mirrors with its grotesque reflections, the excitement of the Aeromàgic, the fascination of the old fair of automatons. Sensations which can now be rediscovered by young and old.

Summer hours: noon-10pm weekdays, until 1am on weekends

Off-season hours: noon-6pm on weekends only, with varying closing times depending on the weather

Tel (+34) 93 211 79 42

Entrance fees: €22 full admission; €11 for limited access to rides; €19 with youth ID; €9 senior citizens; €9 children

With rides dispersed over the slopes of the Tibidabo mountain, Barcelona's amusement park provides a wonderful excuse to ascend Barcelona's highest peak for ample views of the city, the Pyrenees, and even the Baleares Islands on a nice day. You can enjoy attractions as diverse an an antique fairground and rides from the 1920s to modern roller coasters.

The FGC To Avinguda Tibidabo (last stop on the Tibidabo line) will drop you right at the gates of the Tibidabo Amusement Park. On weekends and holidays you can take the antique tram service up the hill.

You should come and rent an apartment and enjoy this fabulous attractions park.

Park Güell

Park Güell is a 17, 18 ha wide garden complex with architectural elements situated on the hill of el Carmel in the Gràcia district of Barcelona, Catalonia. It was designed by the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí and built in the years 1900 to 1914. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Works of Antoni Gaudí".





The park was originally part of a commercially unsuccessful housing site, the idea of Count Eusibi de Güell, whom the park was named after. It was inspired by the English garden city movement; hence the original English name Park. The site was a rocky hill with little vegetation and few trees, called Muntanya Pelada (Bare Mountain). It already included a large country house called Larrard House or Muntaner de Dalt House, and was next to a neighborhood of upper class houses called La Salud. The intention was to exploit the fresh air (well away from smoky factories) and beautiful views from the site, with sixty triangular lots being provided for luxury houses. Count Eusebi Güell added to the prestige of the development by moving in 1906 to live in Larrard House.


In the event only two houses were built, neither designed by Gaudi. One was intended to be a show house, but on being completed in 1904 was put up for sale, and as no buyers came forward. Gaudi, at Güell's suggestion, bought it with his savings and moved in with his family and his father in 1906.




The Park Güell is a good place to visit during your trip to Barcelona, and you will be able to enjoy a wonderful view of the all city (from the mountain to the Mediterranean sea).


For more information to do organice your vacation in Barcelona, click here.

Barcelona Zoo

The Barcelona Zoo is based in the Parc de la Ciutadella the best way to find it is to go to Ciutadella park and to follow the signs to the Zoo. The zoo has a wide variety of animals on show: a collection of some 7,500 individual animals belonging to more than 400 species from all over the world.

Barcelona Zoological Park first opened its gates on 1892.. The Zoo also has a restaurant, picnic area, a shop, electric cars, ponies and a mini-train. Its biggest attraction was an albino gorilla nicknamed Snowflake who was born in 1964 and died en movember 2003. The gorilla was found in Equitorial Guinea in 1966, he was the only albino gorilla known to man.

A nice place to go especially if you are travelling with children.

Rent an apartment to spend a family holiday in Barcelona and discover all the activities the city offers.

Sightseeing bus

If you are coming to Barcelona for the first time, or if you are planning to stay in the city for a short time, this is one way of getting to quickly see the city’s monuments and most important tourist sights of interest. The "Bus Turístic"(as it's officially known) offers you an easy and quick way to start your visit to Barcelona and gives you an easy way to "find your feet" so that you can gain an overview of the main sights and then go back more depth later if you wish.

The "Bus Turístic" runs every day of the year, except on the 25th December and the first of January.You'll enjoy three different routes, to discover the main tourist and cultural places of Barcelona, from the two storey buses. What's more, all the routes are now accessible with the same ticket!!!

Journey takes between 40 minutes and two hours, depending on the route. Bus frequency varies between 5 and 25 min.Timetable: from 9:00 a.mYour ticket may be of 1 or 2 days. Along with it, you will receive a complete paper guide in 6 languages featuring the places you may visit at each stop, and also a leaflet with discounts coupons valid at the main monuments, and also at a number of selected shops in the City.

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Route North

Plaça de Catalunya -> Casa Batlló- Fundació Antoni Tàpies -> Pg de Gràcia-La Pedrera ->
Sagrada Familia -> Gràcia -> Park Güell -> Tramvia Blau Tibidabo -> Sarrià ->
Monestir de Pedralbes -> Palau Reial -> Fútbol Club Barcelona -> Francesc Macià-Diagonal ->
MACBA-CCCB

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Route South

Plaça de Catalunya -> Casa Batlló- Fundació Antoni Tàpies -> Pg de Gràcia-La Pedrera ->
Francesc Macià-Diagonal -> Estació de Sants -> Creu Coberta -> Plaça d'Espanya ->
CaixaForum -> Pavelló Mies van der Rohe -> Poble Espanyol -> MNAC -> Anella Olímpica ->
Fundació Joan Miró -> Funicular de Montjüic -> Miramar Jardins Costa i Llobera -> World Trade Center -> Colom -> Museu marítim -> Port Vell -> Museu d´història de Catalunya -> Port Olímpic -> Platja del Bogatell -> Cementiri del Poblenou -> Parc de la Ciutadella-Zoo ->Pla de Palau -> Barri Gòtic

Carnival 2008

Carnival in Barcelona epitomises some of the more gluttonous aspects of traditional celebration. The time before the Lenten fast is spent indulging in the very best of soon-to-be-forbidden pleasures, and for Barcelonans this means a gargantuan feast dedicated to anything particularly fatty.

Carnival weekend sees revellers converge on the market places and streets to watch as the local carnival guilds and commercial establishments compete for the best costume or representation. On Saturday afternoon the celebrations come to a climax with the Gran Rua de Carnaval, a colossal parade of adorned carriages and carnival groups and a snowfall of streaming confetti.

All good things must come to an end and the celebrants mark the occasion appropriately with a funeral. The king of carnival has, after all, died and taken the carnival with him. A funeral cortege of his widows and entourage, all suitably dressed in black, mourn his passing.

Carnaval in Raval, also called “Ravalstoltada” this year.

On Saturday 2th February at 16.30, the “ Rambla del Raval” will be the meeting point for all the diferent parades organised by neighbourhood associations.

Meeting point: Rambla del Raval and Carrer de Sant Oleguer
District : Ciutat Vella

You still have time to book an apartment near this area to enjoy the Carnaval at the Raval.

Family accommodation

This apartment is located in the heart of the city, in a pedestrian street called "Calle Tallers". It is just within 2 minutes walking distance from the "Plaza Catalunya" and the Ramblas.


This type of accommodation is perfect for families or groups of friends, you have more space than in a hotel room, and you can feel more like "at home".
This apartment will allow you to cook and enjoy meals with all your family and make feel more like a local barcelonian.

This is a 3 bedroom's apartment and accommodates up to 8 people.

The living area provides the guests with a pullout sofa . You will find TV, DVD and air conditioning/heating in the apartment.

Internet ADSL WI-Fi.

The kitchen is fully equipped with all of the comforts of home. The apartment has got also a bathroom with a large shower unit, toilet, modern sink unit and vanity mirror, and also hairdryer.

Would you like to know more about this apartment? Click here.

Port Aventura

PORT AVENTURA - SALOU
HOW TO GET THERE ???


PortAventura is a unique spot in the heart of the Costa Daurada.

Each day at PortAventura offers the most exciting of adventures and a whole range of experiences that you will remember forever. Family holidays, a weekend break with friends, a business convention with your company... it doesn't matter who you are, where you come from or what you come for.The important thing is that once you've been, the experience will stay with you for a long time to come.

PortAventura Park
A theme park full of action-packed adventures from all corners of the globe: imperial China, the wild Far West, exotic Polynesia, Aztec México and the mellow Mediterrània.

Caribe Aquatic Park
A huge water theme park where you can really take the plunge. There is also a covered area so you can have fun all year round.

It can be a good idea to go to Port Aventura for a day trip with your family or your friends during your stay in Barcelona. Looking for a place to stay in Barcelona? Click here

How to get to Pot Aventura from Barcelona ?

By Train

RENFE
PortAventura has its own train station which can be reached from other mainline stations. You can take the train from Barcelona at Passeig de Gracia train Station.
It takes only 1h20 approximately.
Information and reservations:
0034 902 24 02 02

By Bus
There are numerous regular lines of buses that realize periodic trips to PortAventura from Barcelona. Calling to the park they will inform you closely.

From Barcelona city up to Port Aventura offered by Autocares Plana. More information and reservations (Tel. 0034 977 35 44 45). Segales buses and other companies offer excursions including transportation and entrance to the park.

By Car
PortAventura is located at exit 35 of the AP-7 or Autopista del Mediterráneo.

You can also use the following national roads:
N-240 Tarragona-Lleida
N-340 Barcelona-Valencia

GPS coordinates:UMT (X=344975,1205; Y=4551203,34)

Ciutadella Park

The Parc de la Ciutadella is right next to the area called "El Born", a very popular suburb of the "Citutat Vella" (Old City) in Barcelona . In 1888, the World Exhibition in Barcelona partly took place here and numerous Modernism architects contributed to the design of the park. Nowadays, it is a space for Barcelonans to enjoy nature, culture and their free time in the centre of Barcelona. On Sundays the park is full of young people who play drums, sell food and clothes.

The Ciutadella Park is the perfect place to relax and do some jogging. The Park houses the Barcelona Zoo and the Zoology Museum. It has a peaceful, welcoming atmosphere and pleasant attributes such as the spectacular waterfall, the pond, gardens and abundance of trees will give you the feeling of being far from the city. You can sip a beer, and the kids can have an ice cream at the no-frills cafe opposite. Stroll over to the lake and rent a rowboat. A leisurely, purposeless float around the small lake is a great restorative after a hard day.

A picnic in the Ciutadella Park with your couple or friends can be a good break to rest from a tiring day.


If you are travelling with children, the "Parc de la Ciutadella" is a great place to spend a sunny day with your children. Usually on Sundays, there are plenty of activities for children such as clowns shows.



Rent an apartment to spend a family holiday in Barcelona.