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*PRICES QUOTED ARE FOR A RETURN TICKET IN B.LIGHT ECONOMY FROM OR TO BRUSSELS, ALL TAXES AND FEES INCLUDED, IF BOOKED ON BRUSSELSAIRLINES.COM. TICKETS ARE NOT CHANGEABLE, NOR REFUNDABLE. PRICES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE †PER COUNTRY PER CAPITA<br />
SPAIN Population 46,754,784 Currency Euro GDP<br />
BARCELONA<br />
† €20,780 Dialling code +34<br />
Airport code BCN Flight frequency Four times daily Average temp (Aug) 24°C<br />
This city may be at its<br />
steamiest in August,<br />
but with rooftop pools,<br />
shady courtyards and<br />
kilometres of sand, there<br />
are plenty of ways to<br />
stay cool. Barcelona also<br />
reinforces its reputation<br />
as a party town this<br />
month with the weeklong<br />
Gràcia fi estas. Judy<br />
Thomson is our city guide<br />
LA RAMBLA<br />
One of the world’s most famous<br />
boulevards sees a constant flow<br />
of colourful characters.<br />
SLEEP Hotel 1898 (109 La Rambla, tel.<br />
93 552 9552, hotel1898.com, rooms<br />
from €215) has a grand colonial<br />
atmosphere and a rooftop pool (open<br />
all year). Bagués (105 La Rambla, tel.<br />
93 343 5000, derbyhotels.com, rooms<br />
from €190) is the latest opening on the<br />
city’s boutique hotel scene. A former<br />
jewellery studio, it’s adorned with gold<br />
leaf, ebony and an elegant roof with<br />
a slimline swimming pool.<br />
EAT La Xina (3 Pintor Fortuny, tel 93<br />
342 9628) serves tasty dim sum in<br />
suitably lacquered surroundings.<br />
La Boqueria (89 La Rambla) is a bustling<br />
market where you can pull up a stool at<br />
any of the bars – enjoy poached eggs<br />
and a glass of cava for breakfast, or<br />
grilled fresh fish for lunch.<br />
CULTURE Look out for outdoor concerts<br />
at information centre La Virreina (99 La<br />
Rambla), an 18th-century palace and<br />
visual arts exhibition space.<br />
LATER La Isabela (109 La Rambla) is<br />
the Hotel 1898’s cocktail bar, with an<br />
amazing 360° view. The more down-to-<br />
IMAGE PAU FABREGAT<br />
INFO<br />
El Prat Airport is<br />
12km from the city.<br />
Bus There are<br />
Aerobuses, one<br />
from each terminal,<br />
stopping in Plaça<br />
Espanya, Plaça<br />
Universitat and<br />
Plaça Catalunya.<br />
Tickets cost from<br />
€5 and the journey<br />
takes between 30<br />
and 40 minutes.<br />
Train Trains run<br />
from the airport<br />
to Sants and<br />
Passeig de Gràcia<br />
from 6.08am until<br />
11.38pm and take<br />
about half an hour.<br />
Tickets from €2.80.<br />
Taxi To the centre<br />
will cost around<br />
€25, depending<br />
on the traffi c and<br />
amount of luggage.<br />
Tourist offi ce<br />
The main branch is<br />
at Plaça Catalunya<br />
(tel. 93 285 3832,<br />
barcelonaturisme.<br />
com).<br />
Summer sounds: enjoy<br />
live jazz on the rooftop of<br />
Gaudí’s Pedrera this month<br />
earth terraces of Plaça Reial, a majestic<br />
square lined with bars and restaurants,<br />
are good for people watching.<br />
TIP As you stroll La Rambla, keep an eye<br />
out for a Miró mosaic underfoot.<br />
EIXAMPLE<br />
In contrast to the winding, narrow<br />
streets of the old town, this<br />
19th-century area is laid out on a<br />
grid system and holds the city’s<br />
best moderniste architecture.<br />
EAT Tragaluz (5 Passatge de la<br />
Concepció, tel. 93 487 0621) was one<br />
of Barcelona’s original ‘designer<br />
restaurants’. Recently renovated, it still<br />
serves excellent Mediterranean fare<br />
under its enormous tragaluz (skylight).<br />
CULTURE On August weekends a visit to<br />
Gaudí’s spectacular apartment block La<br />
Pedrera (261-265 Carrer de Provença,<br />
telentrada.com) winds up with live jazz<br />
and a glass of cava on its amazing roof.<br />
READ OUR CITY GUIDES ONLINE<br />
at btheremag.com<br />
BARCELONETA<br />
This former fishermen’s quarter is<br />
now the gateway to the city’s<br />
golden beaches and a mecca for<br />
seafood lovers.<br />
SLEEP Marina Folch (16 Carrer Mar, tel.<br />
93 310 3709, hotelmarinafolchbcn.com,<br />
rooms from €65) is a family-run gem in<br />
the heart of Barceloneta.<br />
EAT Jai-ca (13 Carrer de Ginebra,<br />
tel. 93 319 5002) serves excellent<br />
seafood tapas at tables on a street<br />
corner. The cool beers from the long<br />
narrow bar of El Vaso de Oro (6 Carrer<br />
de Balboa, tel. 93 319 3098) are like<br />
nectar on a summer’s day, washing down<br />
tasty tapas like patatas bravas (fried<br />
potatoes) or pimientos de padrón (small<br />
green peppers, often picante/hot).<br />
LATER Eclipse (1 Plaça de la Rosa dels<br />
Vents) on the 26th floor of the W Hotel<br />
has amazing views – though the cocktail<br />
prices are also sky high.<br />
TIP Club Natació Atlètic (Plaça del Mar)<br />
has two public outdoor pools (one for<br />
kids) overlooking the sea.<br />
GRÀCIA<br />
Annexed to the city at the end of<br />
the 19th century, this district<br />
retains a village atmosphere.<br />
CULTURE For a week around 15 August<br />
Gràcia’s festa major is celebrated – one<br />
of the city’s best festivals.<br />
TIP The T10 metro and bus travelcard<br />
(about €8) is also valid on the train from<br />
Plaça Catalunya, either up the coast to<br />
Montgat Nord or south to Castelldefels.<br />
Perfect for a day out of town, it can be<br />
shared between two or more people.<br />
€99 *<br />
FROM JUST<br />
RETURN,<br />
TAXES INCLUDED<br />
Fly to Barcelona from just<br />
€99* return, taxes included.<br />
brusselsairlines.com
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