Travel Stories

10 min read • Feb 18, 2023

Barcelona is a dream for culture vultures and foodies, but entry fees and tapas bills can mount up. Here are the 20 best free things to do in Barcelona.

7 min read • Feb 11, 2023

There's more than one star in Catalonia – venture away from the road well traveled with these 10 great day trips from Barcelona.

5 min read • Feb 7, 2023

Compact, easy-to-walk and with several distinct districts, here are the 6 top neighborhoods to explore in Barcelona.

6 min read • Jan 5, 2023

With its relatively compact size and developed public transportation system, Barcelona is a pretty manageable city to get around.

7 min read • Aug 8, 2021

Famed for its architectural treasures, Barcelona is dotted with striking Gothic cathedrals, fantastical Modernisme creations and avant-garde works.

6 min read • Jul 30, 2021

Barcelona is studded with parks, gardens, wild spaces and green landmarks. If you crave open spaces, here is our pick of the best parks in the city.

4 min read • Feb 12, 2021

One of the world's greatest beach cities, Barcelona has sand for every demand. These are the best.

4 min read • Feb 12, 2021

Barcelona is known to have a very busy tourist season, so when is the best time to visit to avoid the crowds?

1 min read • May 8, 2020

What happens when a globetrotting music teacher gets grounded in Spain by the COVID-19 pandemic? She turns her apartment window into a concert venue.

7 min read • Oct 16, 2019

Volunteering for a beach clean allows travellers to do good, get outdoors and meet locals. Here are six cities where you can help to clean the coastline.

4 min read • Sep 16, 2019

Poblenou lies at the centre of the Barcelona design movement, with trendy markets, concept stores and innovative festivals. Check out our favourite spots.

4 min read • Sep 10, 2019

La Mercè is Barcelona’s biggest festival, taking place this year from 20-24 September 2019. Writer Esme Fox shares her tips on how to join the fun.

6 min read • Aug 15, 2019

Western Europe's major attractions are impressive but also draw huge crowds; the magic of exploring the big sights can be quickly lost amidst long queues…

5 min read • Jul 28, 2019

Barcelona – laid-back, beautiful and right on the beach – is a great city to bring the kids.

6 min read • Jul 19, 2019

Barcelona's popularity as a tourist destination has surged in recent years, but there are still many local barrios (neighbourhoods) to explore away from…

7 min read • Jul 11, 2019

Between the ‘left-hand, right-hand' debate, mega roundabouts seemingly sent from hell, and frustratingly incomprehensible road signs (what does that…

5 min read • Jun 12, 2019

A weekend in Barcelona can only ever be a teaser of what this majestic beachside city has to offer, so here is a grab-bag of highlights, spanning ancient…

5 min read • Jun 10, 2019

After arriving in one of Europe’s cultural capitals, you could check into your hotel and take time to rest and reset. Or you could hit the ground running …

4 min read • Jul 30, 2018

Lonely Planet Local Esme Fox first fell in love with Barcelona over 10 years ago on a rail trip around Spain, and nowadays she's lucky enough to call the…

9 min read • Jul 25, 2018

As the sun sets, Barcelona comes alive. Explore from dusk ‘til dawn to encounter the places and people at their brightest during the city’s darkest hours.

6 min read • Jun 1, 2016

One of the great football powerhouses of today, FC Barcelona has always been ‘més que un club’ (‘more than a club’). This motto, coined back in 1968, does…

6 min read • Apr 11, 2016

One of the world’s most visited cities, Barcelona is likely on your bucket list to visit or re-visit. But all that attention has a cost. As this…