Jan Fleischer

You don't have to max out your credit cards or take out a second mortgage to book a place to stay in Barcelona. From designer hostels to small, charming hotels, the options for accommodations in the Catalan capital are many and varied. And even better is that you needn't trek out to the sticks to get a good deal, as most of these spots are in central neighbourhoods. Have a look at our list of the best cheap hotels in Barcelona and save your euros for discovering all the things to do among this city's best of culture, entertainment and gastronomy.Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every hotel featured below, we've based our list on top reviews and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

Having a lovely and cosy place to rest your head is the key to every dream vacay. And for the ultimate experience, the location, location, location has to suit you. In the Spanish capital, Madrid, each neighbourhood has its own personality and character, and they're all incredible places to stay, so it can be hard to choose which one. We’ve created this guide to help you choose the area that’s just right for your taste, needs, and preferences. From the nightlife in Chueca to the tranquillity of Chamberí; the classic architecture in Los Austrias to the alternative Malasaña; from multicultural Lavapiés to the epicentre of tourism, Sol – Madrid has a barrio that'll fit your vibe. Here's our selection of the best neighbourhoods in Madrid. Hasta luego!  RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in Madrid🏡 The best Airbnbs in Madrid🛏 The best hotels in MadridThis article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click here.  

Considering that this part of the world birthed Cubism, Impressionism, Modernism, Post-Modernism and then some, it's no surprise that the museums and galleries would be second to none. When it comes to big buildings filled with pretty things, Barcelona does not disappoint. The museums in the Catalan capital are one big love letter to art, with legendary permanent exhibitions and a conveyor belt of temporary ones that deserve all the attention in the world. Hopping from one treasure trove of visual gems to another is one of the best things to do in Barcelona, especially when followed by a visit to a rooftop bar to consider all the magic you’ve devoured. For our budget-savvy travellers, you'll be glad to know it's free entry on the first Sunday of the month for many of the museums across this incredible city. Now, what are you waiting for? Chuck a dart at our list of the best museums in Barcelona and start exploring! RECOMMENDED: See our pick of the best Airbnbs in BarcelonaRECOMMENDED: Plan your next trip with the best hotels in Barcelona This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click here.

This epicentre of Catalan culture has enough must-see attractions to fill a lifetime. Barcelona is simply packed with excellent museums, restaurants and beautiful sights. No matter your tastes, you’ll easily find something to love here, you just have to find it. Helpfully, we've whittled it down to the bucket list items for those short on time. From the world-famous to the decidedly local, our pick of the best attractions and places to visit in Barcelona covers a lot of ground. You’ll be pushed to do all of them in one trip, but there's no harm in trying – or you'll just have to come back again, and again, and again… RECOMMENDED: Barcelona's best AirbnbsRECOMMENDED: The best hotels in Barcelona This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click here.

There’s so much great food in Madrid, it can be a little overwhelming, huh? Do you go for classic tapas, a local gem, or one of its Michelin-starred fine dining options? Well, the correct answer is that in Madrid, you can have it all.  Madrid’s gastronomy scene has been enjoying its time in the spotlight for some time now, so you’re pretty much spoilt for choice, no matter your tastes. On this list you’ll find both blinding culinary creativity and first-class local produce, dishes from faraway lands and meals that are truly, deeply from Madrid. Whether you’re going all-out or doing the Spanish capital on the cheap, here are the best restaurants in Madrid.  RECOMMENDED:🍸 The best bars in Madrid🥘 The best things to do in Madrid🏘️ Where to stay in Madrid🏨 The best hotels in Madrid This guide is by Gorka Elorrieta, a writer at Time Out Madrid. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Looking for a top-notch place to stay in the Spanish capital? We’re here to help you narrow down your choices with our pick of the best hotels in Madrid. Whatever you want, Madrid’s got it, from exclusive five-star luxury to boutique hotels and those with dreamy spas to the most affordable places to stay that don’t skimp on style and good taste. Plus, don’t forget that some of the city’s very best restaurants are also housed in hotels, which makes choosing where to go for dins that significant bit simpler. And we highly doubt it, but don’t worry if you can’t find your dream bolthole on this list – there are literally hundreds of other brilliant places to stay here. This is just the crème de la crème. Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in and review every hotel featured, we've based our list on our expert knowledge of the destination covered, editorial reviews, user reviews, hotel amenities and in-depth research to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

Why wander around aimlessly when you could save all that energy by jumping aboard a brilliant Barcelona bus tour? Whether you choose to travel by hop-on-hop-off double-decker, minibus or open-top luxury bus, the Catalan capital offers an abundance of tours that’ll take you around as many sights as you’d like. After all, you couldn’t come to such a photogenic city without gawping at as much beauty as possible. Plus, it’s a fab way of seeing loads of attractions effortlessly and efficiently.  Get up close to La Sagrada Família and other in-your-face Gaudí structures, roam the cobbled medieval streets off La Rambla and ride the cable car up Montjuïc. Day trips are also on the cards if you fancy an adventure out to the luscious coastal region of the Costa Brava or even popping over to France and Andorra. Wherever you want to head, we’ve rounded up the best Barcelona bus tours, so take a look and start exploring. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best things to do in Barcelona

Eating paella in Spain is a rite of passage. It is one of those things you simply have to do, like drinking Guinness in Dublin or eating pizza in Naples. Yes, there is a cliched element to it, but forget your cynicism and dig in. We all need more delicious food in our lives, and the best paella in Barcelona is just about as dictionary definition ‘delicious’ as it gets. Paella has its origins in Valencia (a simple day trip down the coast), but you’ll find plenty of options in Barcelona if you’re looking to sample this most traditional of dishes. Of course, the people of Barcelona will argue that their rice dishes (found on menus as arròs, not paella) are better than the others, but we’ll let you be the judge of that. Here is the best paella in the city.  RECOMMENDED:🥘 The best restaurants in Barcelona🍤 The best tapas bars in Barcelona🍹 The best rooftop bars in Barcelona📍 The best things to do in Barcelona This article was written by the editorial team at Time Out Barcelona. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Looking for an inner-city retreat? You’re in the right place. Sure, Barcelona is a buzzing place, and you’re going to spend most of your time exploring its very many sights and attractions, eating at incredible restaurants, drinking in its bars, and maybe even squeezing in some much-needed downtime at one of its many beaches. But when you’re pining for the sight of some greenery, a bit of a picnic, some rowing or even a whizz round a maze, you might fancy a trip around one of the best parks and gardens in Barcelona. There’s a surprising wealth of opportunity to embrace the great outdoors here, whether you want to dig into a good book or snap some content for the ’Gram. Here are the best parks in Barcelona.  RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in Barcelona🍹 The best rooftop bars in Barcelona🦐 The best tapas bars in Barcelona🏨 The best hotels in Barcelona Marc Angrill is a writer at Time Out Barcelona. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

Flamenco in Barcelona? Why, yes, thank you. Though you may have heard that flamenco shows in Barcelona simply can’t be authentic because flamenco is from the south of Spain, you may be surprised to find out that the genre’s roots in Barcelona and Catalonia go back nearly two centuries. The biggest names in flamenco, including the great dancer Carmen Amaya, singers and guitarists El Pescaílla, Peret and Gato Pérez, the fathers of Spanish rumba, and many others, roamed this city’s streets and squares, and transformed them into places with a rich (and still thriving) flamenco scene. Local cantaors (flamenco singers) like Miguel Poveda play to sell-out crowds at the Palau de la Música Catalana and smaller venues such as Luz de Gas, as do singers and guitarists from the south such as Paco de Lucía, Diego de Cigala and Vicente Amigo. Dancers, including Rafael Amargo and Sara Baras, appear at the Liceu. And prestigious festivals such as De Cajón! have helped keep Barcelona at the forefront of the international flamenco scene. Whether you like your shows with a drink, tapas or a full meal, we’ve rounded up the very best places to see flamenco in Barcelona – so put on your dancing shoes and get out there. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best clubs in Barcelona

When Madrid entered into Phase 2, the city's restaurants got a new boost. As of June 8, restaurants can open their interior dining rooms to serve up to 50 percent of their maximum capacity. And that's in addition to the terraces that have been open since the start of Phase 1 two weeks earlier. As more businesses have been encouraged to reopen across the capital in Phase 2, we couldn't wait to recommend some of favourite eateries we've also been looking forward to getting back to. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best restaurants in Madrid

As we just head into Phase 2 of de-escalation in Madrid, some of us are already starting to wonder what restrictions will be loosened in Phase 3. So we've set out to give you an idea of what the differences will be between the two phases on our way to the so-called new normal. - Say adiós to timetables. Probably the most noticeable freedom in Phase 3 will be no more set hours for certain groups to go out and exercise, run errands or do anything else. - Increased capacity on terraces and in bars and restaurants (plus bar service). While in Phase 2 we can head inside bars and restaurants to eat and drink (with a limit to 40 percent of the venue's maximum capacity) only seated at tables, in Phase 3 you can also elbow up to the bar. Of course, you've still got to keep the minimum safety distance of 2 metres between you and the next customer. The measure also implies expanding the interior capacity of the premises. Similarly, the capacity on terraces is increased to 75 of their previous maximums. - Up to 800 people allowed at outdoor shows. This represents an important change, since it means a doubling in audience size compared to that of Phase 2, when a maximum capacity of 400 was allowed. - Cinemas, concerts and theatres, at 50 percent capacity. Going to the theatre, to the cinema or to a concert won't yet be what it was before confinement, but gradually it will get closer. Phase 3 brings a relaxation in the control of the capacity, which goes from 30 percent up to 50 percent, a

If you’ve ever had the misfortune of doing your laundry among the masses in slot-machine washers and dryers, you’ll know the anxiety, impatience and boredom of waiting for the cycles to end. But not in Barcelona, where Marta Pérez and Gerard Navas have opened LaBar: a spot that’s half-laundromat and half-café/bar. You can hook up to the wi-fi in the bright and welcoming space, then relax with an excellent coffee for less than €2 or, even more cost-efficiently, a well-poured €1 beer. There are also eats such as homemade houmous, guacamole, sandwiches and cakes. All of this turns one of your mundane weekly chores into a sociable excursion where you’ll never ever have to suffer staring at your spinning smalls in sordid solitude.   Sign up here to get the latest from London straight to your inbox.