I recently went to Barcelona for 3 nights with my best friend and we had the most amazing time. It’s the perfect place to go as a couple or even as a bigger group for a quick city break, a longer beach holiday, or an extended stopover before or after a luxury cruise holiday.

We stayed in the Melia Sky, ​​a lovely hotel which has a gorgeous pool area perfect for sunbathing. There is a bar up there and you can order food to your sunbed if you fancy a bit of relaxation. The hotel was about 25 minutes from Barcelona airport by taxi and a 35 minute walk from Las Ramblas at the heart of Barcelona.

I would best describe the area we stayed in as the commercial quarter of Barcelona and almost everything was around a 30 minute walking distance. This is great if (like me) you like to get your steps in and have a good walk, but we found ourselves getting a taxi into the city centre on a few occasions as it was fairly cheap and only took 10 minutes.

If you have a decent budget for your trip, the best area to stay in Barcelona is the Las Ramblas area. There is an abundance of tapas restaurants, streetside bars, and it’s much more walkable to other popular tourist sights; there is something for everyone. If you’re looking for somewhere to enjoy brunch, we found a quirky little place called ‘Brunch and Cake’. This restaurant was across the street from the famous La Sagrada Familia, the most iconic building in the city which is still yet to be finished!

We managed to fit quite a few things in during our stay, including a few cocktails on the rooftop bar of the Ohla Barcelona hotel. This gorgeous hotel offers the best panoramic views over the city; I would highly recommend a pre- or post-cruise hotel stay here. One of the highlights of my trip was drinking espresso martinis at sunset with a view of La Sagrada Familia, it was truly unforgettable. 

Top tip: Pre-book this like we did, otherwise there were people queueing up outside to get in as it is so popular!

We also managed to take a ride on the famous Montjuic cable car to the castle on the hill at the very edge of the city. Again, the views from here are incredible and there are lots of parks, gardens, and museums to look around up there. Tickets are around £13 to do this which doesn’t break the bank and I fully recommend it.

If you’re strapped for time, for example if you have just one night pre- or post-cruise in Barcelona, then definitely stick to the main city centre. Head to the beautiful Gothic cathedral, La Sagrada Familia, where entrance tickets cost around 20-30 euros (depending on age and what is included in the ticket). We also saw lots of rooftop bus tours around the centre of Barcelona, these are a great way to see the major sights all in one easy day trip.

Of course there is also the beach to enjoy in Barcelona and if we had another day there we probably would have spent more time sunbathing and relaxing by the sea. Barcelona is such a versatile travel destination and caters to all kinds of travellers, from those who enjoy chill beach days to those who prefer sightseeing and city life!

Barcelona is the city of happiness, it is such a bright and vibrant city with so much to see and do. Whether you book a nice hotel with a rooftop pool and enjoy the glorious weather or you visit many of the popular tourist attractions then there is something for everyone… but the Spanish tapas and amazing food options won it for me!

Fancy a luxury cruise holiday which incorporates beautiful Barcelona in its itinerary? Take a look at our luxury Mediterranean cruises and get in touch with Katy to find out more on 0161 513 8200.