Year: 2018

Day Trips from Barcelona – 5 Medieval villages in the Empordà 

Natàlia Gibernau

Thinking about day trips from Barcelona? There’s no doubt that Barcelona is a vibrant city with plenty of sights to see, but if you feel like escaping the city for the day, Catalunya has unlimited opportunities for scenic day trips from Barcelona. If you’re into Game of Thrones, or just a lover of all things medieval than look no further than a day trip from Barcelona to the beautiful region of Empordà. Nestled between Sant Feliu de Guíxols and the French border, you may have heard of one of the most famous towns there, Figueres, birthplace of Salvador Dalí and one of the most popular day trips from Barcelona. However, this region has much more to offer, head into the quieter parts where you will find a number of medieval villages to explore.

The fact that the region is just a short hour and forty-five-minute car journey from the city centre make it the perfect day trip from Barcelona. Make a whole day out of it by hiring a car and exploring a couple of the exciting options we lay out below, stopping for a spot of lunch at the location of your choosing – this region has plentiful delicious restaurants.

For your choice of the best day trips from Barcelona, choose from the following list.

Our five favourite medieval villages in the Empordà:

Peratallada

Situated east of Girona city, Peratallada is often considered to be the most beautiful town in Catalunya, due to its authentic medieval streets. A visit here will seem like you’ve entered a fairy tale, as you wander through the pebbled streets and marvel at the stone houses and the fortress around the town that remains to this day. Full of hidden treasures, Peratallada also houses the Peratallada castle, dating back to the 11th Century. Once you are done exploring the town, make sure not to miss Gelats Angelo, an artisanal ice cream shop where you will be sure to have a gourmet experience. For the braver amongst you, it’s even possible to try ice cream flavours such as anchovy or cheese.

Day Trips from Barcelona -Peratallada

Monells

If you are into cinema, you may recognize this town from the movie “8 Apellidos Catalanes”. Just 20 minutes away from Peratallada, the medieval town is built around a former castle, of which only one wall now remains. Take a leisurely stroll through its winding streets until you reach the magnificent porticoed Jaume I square, the centre of an important market in medieval times.

Day trips from Barcelona - Monells

Pals

Known as one of the most charming villages in the region, the historical centre of Pals has been well conserved thanks to a local doctor who ensured it was declared a Site of Historical Interest. Throughout the town you will find a number of historical landmarks, including the “Torre de les Hores”, a circular Romanesque tower, where it’s possible to take a tour for free, and the “Església de Sant Pere”, which exhibits a curious mix of different architectural styles. Not only can you explore the medieval points of interest in Pals, but the town is also famed for its gastronomy.

Day trips from Barcelona - Pals

Palau-Sator

Another place to stop on your day trip from Barcelona is the small quaint town of Palau-Sator. Here you can explore sites such as the “Sant Julià de Boada” shrine, one of the most interesting pre-Romanesque monuments in the region, dating back to the 9th century. Palau-Sator is also a great place to stop for lunch on your day trip, due to its variety of highly-rated restaurants. Try Mas Pou for some traditional Catalan cuisine amongst beautiful countryside settings.

Palau Sator - Day trip from Barcelona

Madremanya

For a rural escape amongst the mountains try heading to Madremanya for your day trip from Barcelona. More than just a beautiful medieval city, Madremanya lies at the foot of the Gavarres hill, making for some spectacular scenery. Thought to date back to 1053, the village oozes history and is the perfect place to hire a bike so you can take in everything this charming town has to offer.

Madremanya

So, if you’re looking for an escape from the bustling city of Barcelona, why not escape to the beautiful countryside on one of these day trips? 

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Panellets recipe step by step – La Castanyada tradition

Natàlia Gibernau

October 31st may be famous around the world for being Halloween, but in Catalunya that day holds a different, special significance. It is a day that is known throughout Catalunya as “La Castanyada”, getting its name from the tradition of eating fire-roasted chestnuts – otherwise known as “castanyes”. Directly after this, on November 1st, is “Tots Sants”, a national holiday to celebrate the lives of those who have passed away.

During these autumn months, as the leaves start to turn brown and fall off the trees, and a chill starts to spread through the air, you will notice little stands popping up around the streets of Barcelona. It is here on these stands you can find street vendors known as “Castanyeres” selling “castanyes”, as well as “moniatos” – fire roasted sweet potatoes.

However, the most famous and traditional cuisine to eat around this time, and especially on “La Castanyada” itself are “panellets”. These are similar to small cakes that are made from marzipan, which is essentially sugar and almonds, and then coated with a topping of the bakers’ choice, although the most traditional topping is usually pine nuts.

Of course, it is possible to buy “panellets” all around the stores in Barcelona, but if you want to make the tradition your own, we’re here to give you the best, and tastiest, “panellets” recipe, so you can try it out for yourself. While there are many different varieties of “panellets”, our recipe uses the classic base of almonds, but be sure to check out other types and recipes!

Panellets recipe step by step:

Ingredients

  • 200g raw ground almonds
  • 200g sugar
  • White of 2 eggs
  • 75g of pine nuts
  • Lemon zest
  • 1 egg yolk
  1. Add the sugar, ground almonds, lemon zest and egg whites to a bowl together
  2. Use a fork to mix these ingredients together. Once they start to form a paste start kneading them with your hands until a thick and even paste is formed.
  3. Break off pieces of the dough you have made and roll them into small balls, placing each completed one on a piece of baking parchment on a baking tray.
  4. Place the pine nuts on each “panellet” and gently push them in so they stick on the surface until covered and then paint with the whisked-up egg yolk for a lovely golden finish.
  5. While you are doing this pre-heat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius.
  6. Once all the “panellets” are covered, place the tray in the pre-heated oven for 5-10 minutes, or until the “panellets” are a golden-brown colour.
  7. Take them out of the oven and leave them to cool.
  8. Enjoy your delicious homemade “panellets”!

If you want a full festive feast, you could even invite your family and friends round on the day of “La Castanyada”, and eat your homemade “panellets” alongside roasted chestnuts and sweet potatoes to help you embrace the autumn chill!

10 Barcelona safety tips to avoid being pickpocketed

Natàlia Gibernau

In general Barcelona is a safe city and most tourists are able to visit without any problems at all. However, you may have heard stories of Barcelona’s (in)famous pickpockets. Follow our simple guide to Barcelona safety tips below to avoid getting your valuables stolen on holiday, which is always going to be a small nightmare and leave an unpleasant taste in your mouth. But all of this can easily be avoided – read our our useful checklist – remember, like any major city, in Barcelona it is important to be careful with your belongings.

Barcelona safety tips - Pickpockets will automatically try and target tourists

Our Barcelona safety tips

Keep your belongings in your sight

  1. Always be aware of your belongings! When you’re sitting out on a terrace try and keep an eye on your stuff and never leave your phone or wallet out on the table, as that’s easy territory for pickpockets.
  2. Be extra vigilant on the metro – this is where a lot of pickpockets operate and trust us, they know what they’re doing! People can try to distract you whilst the pickpockets do their work. If you have a backpack make sure you keep it in front of you.
  3. Other places to take extra care of your belongings are in general in places where there are agglomerations (the Rambla, queues for attractions, the beach, the metro, etc)

Be a tourist, but not too much

  1. Not leaving your belongings unattended is a rule of thumb actually. Never leave your bag out of sight, even in a fancy bar or restaurant. A good tip is to trap a handle of your bag on a chair leg so it is not easy to snatch away.
  2. Pickpockets will automatically try and target tourists, so try to dress and act in a way that doesn’t too obviously attract attention to the fact that you are one. We’re not saying you have to speak Catalan or Spanish (in fact you will hear all sorts of languages whilst you’re here) but try to blend in and dress in a similar way to the locals.
  3. This also applies to stopping in the middle of the road to look at a big map for example. Not only does this immediately draw attention to you as a tourist, it also makes you an easy target for pickpockets.Read our Barcelona safety tips - stopping in the middle of the road to look at a big map makes you an obvious target

More Barcelona safety tips

  1. Be wary of people who approach you in the street. Unfortunately, someone can distract you in order to take your belongings. This can include anything from people offering you club entry or even street performers.
  2. There’s nothing wrong with having a few beers or glasses of wine on your holiday, but if you’re planning on drinking make sure you still have your wits about you. Pickpockets will take advantage of drunken people, especially around the Las Ramblas and Barri Gòtic areas.
  3. It’s always a good idea to keep some cash in separate places on the off chance you do get pickpocketed so you’re not left without any money at all. This is an important one to know anywhere you go, but try and remember the emergency numbers. In Barcelona the number for the local police, Guàrdia Urbana, is 092, or you can also call the Mossos d’Esquadra (112), as both deal with cases of theft. However, if you don’t speak Catalan or Spanish it’s better to call the Europe wide 112 number as they speak a variety of languages and can be dialled from most international mobile phones.
  4. If you want to report the theft, you can check the list of police stations you can go to on this handy link.

With all that being said, these are just the most important Barcelona safety tips to keep in mind in many other places.

Barcelona is a beautiful and wonderful city, and in fact, most of the people you meet here will be friendly and more than happy to help you in any scenario. Stay vigilant but also don’t forget to enjoy your trip to Barcelona!

Sónar 2018: Where music meets technology

Natàlia Gibernau

Have you got your tickets for Sónar 2018? is one of those questions that you’re bound to have been asked lately. As a city, Barcelona has a deep love for music and partying, and therefore it’s no wonder that Sónar, a global reference for music festivals, is considered one of the most highly anticipated social events in the Catalan city. 

What will you find in Sónar 2018?

Founded in 1994, Sónar is a three-day electronic music festival dedicated to creativity, technology and business. It is well known as a reference for international festivals by combining a carefully curated cultural offering, and mixing in avant-garde experimentation with electronic music and latest technology trends.

The 2017 Barcelona edition attracted over 123,000 attendees from over 100 countries. The festival is hosted in two different locations in the city: Sónar by Day is hosted in the city center at Plaça Espanya in Fira Montjuïc, and Sónar by Night is hosted a little further out at Fira Gran Via L’Hospitalet. 

Sónar 2018 - Sonar by night

Sónar 2018 coincides with the festival’s 25th anniversary, and is sure to be a big one! To be hosted 14th June to 16th June 2018, big headliners have been announced already, such as Diplo, Gorillaz, Black Coffee, Amp Fiddler, Tony Allen, Thom Yorke, and more, for tickets and the full line-up click here. Also, keep an eye out for the immersive exhibition, which showcases the festival’s visual history in their 25-year journey so far.

Apart from raving to music by DJs and enjoyment, there is also a massive business and educational aspect to Sónar 2018. If you’re an industry insider, these may pique your interest: discussion panels by notable speakers to share the latest insights and developments. MarketLab, where creators can show the latest innovative technology projects they have developed; workshops and demos for those curious to learn more about music and technology. Networking events so that artists, investors, and start-ups can meet. You can see the organisors of Sónar take music and partying very seriously, and their passion for technology and business shines through.

sónar festival 2018

What else can I do while in town for Sónar 2018 ?

With so many people in town, clubs and nightlife outside of the festival always have lots of events and performances on too, keep your eyes peeled for posters and flyers around town.

If you’re passionate about art, then a visit to MACBA to check out the latest contemporary art exhibitions is a must, or any of our other world-class museums, check here our recommendations for art lovers.

Only in town for a few days and are short on time? You’ll want to squeeze the most out of it with our 3-day and 5-day Barcelona guides, to make sure you tick off all the most important monuments and sights, like Park Güell, Sagrada Família and more.

And lastly, to make the most out of your trip for Sónar 2018, you’ll want to make sure you’re staying in some centrally located accommodation so that you can travel with ease within Barcelona. Check out our full online offering now at https://www.bizflats.com

English Cinemas in Barcelona – Barcelona Travel Guide

Natàlia Gibernau

Visiting an English cinemas in Barcelona may just be the perfect downtime activity during your trip. As much as we love exploring the city, between sightseeing, tapas bar-hopping, or  running all around Barcelona, it can be nice to rest your feet, sit back and relax while watching a film. Or perhaps there just so happens to be a rainy day during your trip (whilst it is rare in Barcelona but believe it or not, it does happen!!), you may be looking to stay dry indoors while still being semi-productive with your time. Or perhaps you so happen to be here in town while your favourite blockbuster film is about to be released.

You may be surprised to hear that we have English cinemas in Barcelona! Indeed most Western films, whether shown on television or on the silver screen, are dubbed over with Spanish or Catalan voiceovers – which could perhaps explain why generally speaking our English isn’t the best, as we never really get exposed to the language.  But for those looking to hunt down the ‘V.O.’ ‘versión original’ of Western films, there are a handful of places you can check out. Keep reading for our recommended list of English cinemas in Barcelona!

English cinemas in Barcelona

Verdi HD & Verdi Park HD

These two sister cinemas are located right next to each other on the ever-popular Carrer Verdi in Gràcia, with many restaurants and cafes nearby, perfect for a post-cinema film discussion over a glass of wine and some tapas. They show many independent “art house” films in the language they were originally produced sobra   including English and other languages.

Carrer de Verdi, 32, 08012 Barcelona
Carrer de Torrijos, 49, 08012 Barcelona

Yelmo Cines Icaria

This cinema is located right near the beach on La Vila Olímpica del Poblenou, in El Centre de la Vila shopping mall. It’s well equipped with over 15 screens and it is perfect for having dinner on the beach after a film.

Carrer de Salvador Espriu, 61, 08005 Barcelona

Cinema Maldà

Calling all the cinephiles! If you’ve got a whole day to spare, why not head to watch films back-to-back at this cinema? You’ll definitely be getting the most bang for your buck with its unique pricing method, which charges by the day.

Carrer del Pi, 5, 08002 Barcelona

Balmes Multicines

This modern and comfortable cinema is located in the upper part of the city and shows all the most popular films in their original language, with a full food bar for the essential snacks and drinks during the film.

Carrer de Balmes, 422-424, 08022 Barcelona

Renoir Floridablanca

A quick walk from Plaça Catalunya, this cinema is perfect for those in the city center, looking to watch a V.O. film.

Carrer de Floridablanca, 135, 08011 Barcelona



Phenomena

This retro style cinema takes you back in time, with its royal red carpets and red curtains. Their wide-ranging selection even includes some retro Japanese anime films like “Akira”.

C/ Sant Antoni Maria Claret, 168, 08025 Barcelona

 

English Cinemas in Barcelona - Phenomena

 

Cinemes Girona

Located in Gràcia, this cinema frequently participates in film festival screenings, such as the Asian Film Festival or the American Film Festival.

Carrer de Girona, 175, 08037 Barcelona

Filmoteca de Catalunya

In Raval neighbourhood, this cinema is dedicated to screening educational documentaries on a wide range of topics, and even have regular exhibitions.

Plaça de Salvador Seguí, 1-9, 08001 Barcelona

Have you visited any of these English cinemas in Barcelona before? What are the latest V.O. films that you want to watch? Leave you comments below and help us to learn more!

Primavera Sound: Next destination Barcelona, capital of music

Natàlia Gibernau

Primavera Sound is an unmissable event in Barcelona. In our eyes, the arrival of summer in Barcelona is marked by a few things: rising temperatures and glorious blue skies, Ciutadella Park and Barceloneta slowly starting to fill up with sunlight lovers soaking in the rays, dinner times getting pushed back later and later as the days get longer, and the streets coming alive with life. The inauguration event to officially kick off summer? Well, we like to think that that’s Primavera Sound Music Festival.

Primavera Sound

What is Primavera Sound?

Primavera Sound is one of Europe’s most popular music festivals, and is hosted annually in Barcelona. This year it’s to be held May 30 – June 3, 2018, and over 190,000 partygoers are expected. The organisers of Primavera Sound pride themselves on carefully curating a mix of music styles and genres, with performances by both well-established artists and smaller acts that are just emerging, so that the audience can jam out to their favourites and also discover new music. El Pais says the music festival is “an integral part of Barcelona”, and La Vanguardia even went so far to rate it as “one of the best festivals in the world”. This year’s line up for 2018 was recently announced, and includes big headliners like Björk, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Migos, Arctic Monkeys, Lorde and A$AP Rocky.

Apart from the music, the location of the music festival plays a key part in the experience. The home of Primavera Sound is Parc del Fòrum, a massive waterfront park that overlooks the sea. With the glorious warm weather in May, there is no better feeling than swaying with the crowd, friends by your side, Aperol Spritz in hand, and watching the sun set on the Barcelona coastline, with the cool sea breeze in your hair… We already can’t wait.

What else can I do while in town for Primavera Sound?

Now that we’ve convinced you to come to Barcelona for Primavera Sound, you may be wondering what other things you can do while you’re here in the beautiful city of Barcelona, and to take full advantage of your travels here. Well, you’ll be spoilt for choice! No matter what you like there’s something for everyone.

For the foodies, you may wish to explore the rich gastronomic scene – plus all that dancing at Primavera Sound is sure to leave you with a great appetite. Perhaps a visit to the famous La Boqueria market on La Rambla? Or tapas-bar hopping in the well-known El Raval neighbourhood? Or you could take advantage of the beautiful weather and have a paella by the sea in one of our many beachside “xiringuitos”.

For those knowledge-hungry visitors, a visit to one of our world-class museums cannot be missed. Whether it’s arts or history, there are a huge variety of educational museums all around Barcelona.

And of course, there are a few historical sights that must be checked off one’s bucket list while in Barcelona, even if your legs are sore from dancing all day and night: a visit to Gaudí’s Sagrada Família, or a stroll through the scenic Park Güell will complete your Barcelona trip. If you’re really squeezed for time during your trip here for Primavera Sound, check out our three-day and five-day travel guides.

Are you attending Primavera Sound this year? What acts are you most excited for and what other things do you plan on doing in Barcelona? Let us know if we’ve missed anything!

To buy tickets and view the full-line up, visit the official Primavera Sound website… Be warned tickets sell out fast, so get yours before it’s too late!

 

Executive Apartments in Barcelona – bizFlats Apartments 

Natàlia Gibernau

Visiting for business and looking for executive apartments in Barcelona? We understand that as a highflying businessperson, time is money. It’s important to be able to go straight from your business class flight, to an executive apartment where everything is prepared for you, and be able to spread out and get productive straight away.

5 Reasons to stay in Executive Apartments in Barcelona

  1. Location location location!: We have apartments all across the city’s most indicative business districts, and close to most business trade fair venues, ensuring you have ease of access to all of your meeting venues, and making it convenient for you to come and arrive easily.
  2. All our executive apartments in Barcelona are fitted with big working spaces within the apartment, so you’ll have total peace and quiet, and can focus on business decisions that matter. Furthermore apartments are equipped with high speed optic internet and electrical plugs, to ensure you can stay well-charged and up to date with the fast paced business world… No more cramming into crowded cafes for poor wi-fi connection or commuting to a separate co-working space – saves on time and money!
  3. Need to host some new business contacts? Our apartments come with spacious lounges and fully equipped kitchens, making it the perfect meeting spot for a quick coffee and brainstorm for your next business idea. Prefer to head out? No problem, you’ll find plenty of trendy restaurants and bars nearby for a power lunch, or a quick round of drinks for some post-work mingling.Executive apartments in Barcelona
  4. If you’re short on time and would like to have everything taken care for you, we are pleased to offer our serviced apartments too, which is the complete package. Our concierge service will ensure your every wish is catered to. Need your business suit cleaned and pressed before your next meeting? No worries. Need a taxi ordered to take you to your next meeting? Straight away!
  5. And finally, comfort. There is nothing more gratifying than resting in a comfortable space after a long day’s work. Our executive apartments in Barcelona come with all the most luxurious amenities to ensure your comfortable stay: crisp linens, comfy pillows and bedding, plus soft towels and more, to ensure you stay well rested, and wake up full of energy, ready to take on another day in the corporate world.

Some of our executive Apartments in Barcelona recommendations

Livingstone

A charming executive apartment furnished with original furniture and oil paintings from South Africa, Livingstone has two double bedrooms and two full bathrooms, plus a fully furnished kitchen and fiber optic internet connection to ensure a comfortable stay for your business trip.

Ferran Batík

This spectacular penthouse boasts a magnificent private terrace of 65 square meters, perfect for panoramic sunset views of the surrounding exclusive neighbourhood of Pedralbes. The floor to ceiling windows make it light, airy and pleasant, and a productive and inspiring place to stay and work. One of our most popular executive apartments in Barcelona.

Are you visiting Barcelona soon for a business trip? Click here to browse our full list of executive apartments in Barcelona, we hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you soon!

Serviced apartments in Barcelona – bizFlats Apartments 


Natàlia Gibernau

You may be comparing serviced apartments in Barcelona, if you find yourself so lucky to be travelling to this beautiful city for a work trip, or better yet, if you’ve decided to relocate here. Our serviced apartments are perfect for travelers looking for a place to live and to call home, instead of just a place to sleep.

Serviced apartments in Barcelona

5 Reasons to stay in a serviced apartment in Barcelona

  1. You can enjoy a high degree of flexibility in a serviced apartment in Barcelona. You can dine out or cook at home as you prefer, or even have the option to host friends and entertain, if you should feel inspired by the colourful produce at Barcelona’s famous food markets. Our serviced apartments come with fully equipped kitchens so that you have the freedom to prepare whatever your heart (and stomach) desires!
  2. Not to mention that serviced apartments in Barcelona typically have at least double the space of a private suite in a hotel, giving you extra freedom and privacy. This includes separate spaces for dining, working and resting. So you can spread out and get comfortable and productive, without having to worry about anyone interrupting you.
  3. Serviced apartments in Barcelona offer a homier feel with personal touches that can create a more relaxed atmosphere, making you feel more welcomed and settled in your new city. Especially if you’re relocating here from abroad with your family, it can make the transition a little smoother and give some normality and routine to your new life here – a home away from home.
  4. Now of course, the key in serviced apartments is the service! To give it that extra special final touch, all bizFlats serviced apartments come with a Concierge service that are on hand to take care of your every need. Before you even step through the doors, the housekeepers will be on hand to welcome you, and even provide you with recommendations of things to do in the neighbourhood and in the rest of the city.
  5. Should you be too busy with your work schedule and need your fridge filled? Right away! Need your business suits to be dry cleaned and pressed before your next meeting? Not a problem. Our housekeeping services will make sure your needs and wishes are catered to, and provide you with the best tailored and bespoke experience.

Some of our best serviced apartments in Barcelona

Parsifal Apartment

This large apartment breathes modernity and is perfect for music lovers, with its proximity to the Gran Teatre del Liceu, a temple of music with international recognition, plus Plaça Reial just moments away, plus a balcony to enjoy early morning breakfasts with coffee and a side of sunshine.

The Penthouse

A bright and spacious penthouse, located high up in the beautiful neighbourhood of Eixample area near Camp Nou, with the ultimate luxury of a private terrace to take in the views and fresh air, making it one of our most popular serviced apartments in Barcelona.

To check the full list of our serviced please click here to visit bizFlats website and browse our full list of serviced apartments in Barcelona. With properties all over the city, there’s sure to be one that suits your needs. Which serviced apartment are you going to choose first? Find yours and let us know!