Aire de Barcelona

Aire de Barcelona (spa)
Paseo de Picasso 22 (Borne)
tel: 932 955 743
http://www.airedebarcelona.com


Aire de Barcelona is a VERY nice spa, they have 2h turns starting from early morning until mid-night. Do book ahead as it's been quite popular.

Barcelona Zoo

Barcelona Zoo
www.zoobarcelona.cat

Not the cheapest retreat with 16EUR per head for adults, but worth your money! Especially the dolphin show was amazing - check timetable from the website. Great plan for a sunny day.

Place: Forum "beach"

Forum "beach"
(very nice for picnic... or as VERY city "beach")
@ Forum (take a metro to Forum and then head to the beach, the big solar panel is a good landmark)

The Forum "beach" offers a nice option for those who doesn't like the sand... or do like that showers and bathrooms are just few meters away. You can have a nice picnic at white marble platform or freshing swim at the sea!

Very nice place for picnic

J chilling...

Our friend Anna enjoying the sun...

Churros

Churro (xurro)

A churreria close to Passeig de Gracia and Diagonal

Typical winter time breakfast / snack: churros and hot chocolate. Churros, deep-fried dough, are normally served sugared or covered in dark chocolate. You can get them from cafés, churrerias or outdoor-stands.

Festa Major de Gràcia

In BCN pretty much every district (barrio) has its own little festival during the summer months. The "fiesta" held in Gracia is one of the most renowned ones, because its residents put a lot of effort into making the streets turn into a fantasy land. Each street has a different theme as can be seen from the pictures below.

Place: Aqua Urban Spa

Gran de Gracia, 7 (at the far end of Paseo de Gracia)
Tel. 93 238 41 60 (necessary to book in advance)
www.aqua-urbanspa.com

Almost as relaxing (this photo from Sitges!)...

A week ago A took E for a surprise pampering trip to this urban spa just two steps away from the city center. BCNjoy recommends "ruta del bienestar" (51 e) with different saunas, hydro massages etc. You can't help but relax in the middle of candlelight, incense and light music. Chech out the pictures.

Place: Golf Montjuic

Golf Montjuic
inside Club de Natacion, Montjuic
www.golfmontjuic.es
(how to get there)

Range with very affordable prices

Golf Montjuic offers a range, with very good prices - range fee 6e, balls (35) 2e and rent of a ½-set of clubs for 2e. Took a while to reach there and if you are not a fan of walking or do not have much time, a taxi is a good way to get there. It is situated in Montjuic, inside the Club de Natacion Montjuic.

Place: La Boquería - market

La Boquería - market
Las Ramblas (app. in the middle, on the Raval side)
open Mon-Sat

Our favorite fruit&vegetable stall

La Boquería is the most famous market place in BCN. As it is located right by the Ramblas, it´s very popular among tourists - BUT plenty of local people (and people like us, foreigners living here) also buy their fruits, vegetables, fishes and meats there due to great quality and freshness combined with much lower prices than in supermarkets [if you don´t buy from the first stalls right at the entrance from Ramblas - best price-quality ratio is found further at the back of the premises].

Very busy on Saturdays, so hold on to your wallets, cameras and other belongings!

Place: Labyrinth Park

Labyrinth Park (El Parc del Laberint)
close to Mundet -metrostop (green line)
Wed & Sun free, other days 2€

It´s surprisingly easy to get lost in there..

Labyrinth Park was built 1791 by a local marquis, later on when his family no longer could maintain the park it was donated to the city council and it was opened to public in 1971.

The labyrinth itself is about 40m x 30m with 2,5m cypress-walls - and great fun! After a rain it might be little muddy though. Actually, the labyrinth is only a small part, the park offers wide variety of flora, fountains, artificial river with swans and also various picnic spots.

The Labyrinth Park is without doubt one of the most romantic spots in BCN.