Barcelona Accommodation & Cheap Lodging

Fanciful architecture and hip restaurants have come together with the sunny southern Spanish climate and beaches to transform Barcelona in just a few decades from rough port city to one of Europe's - if not the world's - premier destinations. It is simply the city offering almost everything to almost everyone. But, Barcelona is also the city offering that over the top thing to the really craving ones! Stroll along La Rambla, admire the Casa Calvet's facade or the Casa Mila designed by Gaudi, visit the Market of la Boqueria or shop at El Corte Ingles. Or why not sample some of the many bars, cafes and late night haunts, Barcelona has it all.

Like many other cities on the Mediterranean, Barcelona was founded by the Romans. The original settlement, called Barcino, was a small port located on the same spot as today's cathedral. The town was overshadowed by Tarragona, the capital of the province. Both the Visigoths and the Moors invaded Barcelona. However their influence was not as important to the future of the city as the arrival of the Franks in the late 9th century. It was at that point that Barcelona and Catalonia started shaping their own identity, different from the rest of Spain. This is most apparent in the language. Spanish, or Castilian, has many Arab words, while Catalan has many French words instead. So Catalan is not a Spanish dialect, but a language in its own right, related to other Romance languages. Barcelona's history is seen everywhere in the city. The oldest areas are by the sea, including the shopping enclave Barri Gotic. On the other side of the main boulevard, La Rambla is the legendary Raval district. Until the 1980s this was the slum area, home to the city's own Chinatown (Barrio Chino) and the red light district. Today designer shops and cafes have moved in. Further north is fashionable Eixample, the area created as a result of the 19th century expansion of the city.

Much of the attraction of Barcelona is the city's wide range of sights. The architect, the design nerd, the football fan, the art historian, the city planner – there is something for all of them in the most self-assured city on the Mediterranean. A visit to Sagrada Familia, Casa Mila and Casa Calvet is a must when visiting Barcelona.

Sagrada Família The craziest building site in the world. Gaudi's genius, and the fact that the cathedral will never be completed, make it even more astonishing.

Nou Camp FC Barcelona is much more than just a football club. Sometimes it feels as if it carries the whole nation's pride on its shoulders.

Espai Gaudi - La Pedrera If you don't have time to visit all of Gaudi's landmarks, be sure to see this one.

MACBA Leave the busy streets behind you for a moment by visiting Barcelona's museum of modern art.

Palau de la Música Catalana Not quite as wacky as some of Gaudi's architecture but this sublime concert hall designed by Domènech i Montaner a hundred years ago is actually more representative of Modernism.

Santa Maria del Mar Barcelona's most beautiful church is probably the best existing example of the Catalonian Gothic, with a cleaner style than normally associated with Gothic architecture.

Parc de Collserola The green part of the city. Immediately behind Barcelona there is an 8,000-hectare park - 22 times larger than New York's Central Park, as those in charge like to point out.

L'Aquarium de Barcelona The sharks are the stars at this Mediterranean themed aquarium! L'Aquàrium is situated at the end of Las Ramblas and very close to the city centre.

Barcelona Restaurants
It is easiest to divide Barcelona's overwhelming range of restaurants into two parts: the new and the old. Some of the world's most modern restaurants, managed by the world's most innovative chefs (the most famous is Ferrán Adrià) can be found here. But there is also traditional Catalonian cuisine which despite being heavy on occasion, includes very good vegetable dishes (samfaina, a kind of ratatouille, escalivada, grilled, peeled peppers, aubergines and onions; espinacs a la catalan, spinach fried with garlic, pine nuts and raisins). Best known is the simple rustic pa amb tomàquet, a slice of bread with olive oil, salt and freshly crushed tomatoes. "The new ones" in particular may be very expensive, but many of the best known chefs' apprentices have now opened their own lower-priced restaurants. Generally speaking, "the old ones" provide better value for money, although even the traditional restaurants know how to charge. You should always reserve a table in Barcelona. Dinner is not served until 21.00.

Barcelona Bars & Nightlife Barcelona stays awake while the rest of Europe sleeps! Nightlife starts late, preferably at a bar. Spaniards believe it's smart to eat while drinking, so most bars also serve food, and generally tapas. Barcelona's trendy nightlife is in a constant state of change. This makes it impossible to list the hippest bars and nightclubs. The best advice is to ask around for the latest and greatest places, especially in fashion and record shops, or to approach people who you think might know. In the meantime, Fastcheck's Barcelona guide suggests the below places for a night out.

Barcelona Cafes Barcelona's cafe culture is half Italian, and comes with its own set of simple rules. Café con leche (café amb llet in Catalan) is for breakfast, preferably with a croissant. Mid-day, especially after a meal, the locals have an espresso, café solo (un café) or a cortado (un tallat), which is an espresso with milk. Café Americano is what some would call watered down versions of the two first coffees. In the afternoon, or after dinner, order a café solo corto, a strong espresso, or a carajillo, a café solo with Spanish brandy.

Barcelona Stores and shopping streets
Shopping in Barcelona offers lots of interesting browsing. Unusual shops can be found in most parts of the city, but those who want to be efficient should focus on Placa Catalunya and Barri Gotic. The amusing, and gigantic, department store El Corte Ingles is by Placa Catalunya. Come here for the wares, but also for the people. Across the street is El Triangle, a grotesquely large shopping palace with a good perfumery and a Camper shoe store. Calle Avinyo in Barri Gotic is possibly Barcelona's most interesting shopping street. This is where Z is located, the crazy interiors store selling both kitsch and comical trinkets. Other fun stores include street fashion store Soda, Angel Gimeno specializing in trendy shirts for men, and Loft Avignon, which caters to the more sophisticated set. Close by is Zsu Zsa, where two Argentinean sisters and their mother design their own line of discreet women's wear. Herborista del Rei, on Calle del Vidre 1 in Barri Gotic, is the best choice for herbs and spices. The store has been here since 1823, and provides a somewhat odd experience. Visiting the La Boqueria, half way down La Rambla, is something of a must. The fishmongers deserve most attention - their selection of mussels, seafood, and shellfish is overwhelming. Stop by Petras Fruits del Bosc for the best mushrooms in town. Then sample the fresh baby octopus with garlic and parsley with a glass of cava at the El Quim or Pinotxo bars. The El Born district is also a good place to shop for food. Casa Gispert, C/Sombrerers 23, on one of the long sides of the Santa Maria del Mar church, has devoted itself to roasting coffee since 1851. Dried nuts and fruit, cocoa, spices and mushrooms are also sold here. Tot Formatge, Passeig del Born 13, is one of Barcelona's best-stocked cheese shops with both Spanish and foreign varieties. For serious fashion shopping, make your way to Passeig de Gracia, the parallel street, Rambla de Catalunya, and the surrounding district. You will find all the big international fashion names here, including Spanish greats such as Adolfo Dominguez, Armand Basi, Groc and the leather specialist Loewe. More economic alternatives such as Zara, Mango and Massimo Dutti are also represented. You can find a good selection of trend-conscious designer fashions at Notenom, C/Pau Claris 159. Gonzalo Comella, Passeig de Gracia 6, is a Barcelona institution in the world of fashion - the chain has been in existence for more than a century - with a wide selection of designer fashions. Vincon, the home furnishings department store with cult status is also at Passeig de Gracia (no. 96). Colmada Quilez on the parallel street, Rambla de Catalunya 63, also has cult status. This is Barcelona's most famous food shop with thousands of tinned products, dried goods and bottles on shelves that run from floor to ceiling all the way round the shop walls. There is an enormous range of wines and spirits. There is also cheese and a delicatessen, and you are served at the counter by male assistants in striped overalls.