Few cities can boast as many preserved traces of the different periods in their history. In this case, Barcelona’s past begins towards the year 14 B.C., the date on which the Romans founded a small colony, Barcino. Its ruins can still be seen, among other corners, in the Paradís Street, where the columns of the Augustus temple rise, and in the entrails of the emblematic of the plaza del Rei, whose medieval air turns it into one of the most beautiful squares of the city.

The Middle Ages have also been generous with Barcelona, since this period gave the Jewish quarter or Call, the church of the monastery of Sant Pau del Camp (in the Raval district, and the best example of Romanesque architecture of the Catalan capital) and three imposing buildings that leave visitors speachless: the cathedral, the church of Pi in the Gothic quarter, and, above all, the basilica of Santa Maria del Mar from the XIVth century, this majestic temple is one of the greatest exponents of Catalan Gothic. And that’s not all: it also inspired Ildefonso Falcones to create his best seller “Cathedral of the Sea”.

The Born market ruins belong to a more recent period, one of the very few examples of the early eighteenth century cities that are preserved in Europe, and especially the jewel of the crown of the city: modernism.

Between the end of the XIX century and the beginning of the XX, architects such as Josep Puig i Cadafalch, Lluís Domènech i Montaner and, above all, the one and only Antoni Gaudí chiseled buildings of impossible shapes that turned the city into a unique outdoor museum. The latter created buildings such as the Sagrada Familia, Casa Mila also known as La Pedrera, Casa Batllo, the Park Güell, Palau Güell and the Casa Vicens, all declared World Heritage by UNESCO.

We should not miss Montjuic hill either, which was built on to host the 1929 International Exposition. There are such attractive claims as the Spanish Village that recreates representative buildings and displays of popular architecture throughout Spain, or the Magic Fountain that impresses due to its indescribable image and sound show. All of this without forgetting the interesting museums and the Montjuic Castle, from where you can enjoy one of the best views of Barcelona.

And as a final touch to any visit, do not forget to go on a stroll along the always bustling Ramblas, one of the most charismatic and picturesque arteries of the city.

No one should miss the Catalan cuisine, based on the Mediterranean diet, which is considered one of the most prestigious in the world. That is why in this city you can find some of the most renowned Spanish chefs. One of them is Martín Berasategui, responsible for the first restaurant in Barcelona awarded three Michelin stars: the Lasarte.

However, the city brings together other chefs who have been awarded stars by the prestigious travel guide, such as Carme Ruscalleda, who is in charge of Moments, at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel; Sergi Arola, who runs the kitchen at the Hotel Arts, or Jordi Cruz, heart of Àbac. In addition, the city is counting down the days left for the arrival of Ferran Adrià‘s new culinary project.

That’s right: this is just a small sample of everything provided by the wide gastronomic offer of the Catalan capital. In fact, Barcelona had 7,400 bars and restaurants in 2016, most of which are concentrated in the Eixample district.

However, far from its structured streets and avenues, there also other pleasant surprises to be discovered. As an example, it is enough to refer to Can Culleretes, the second oldest restaurant in Spain according to the Guinness Book of Records (dates to 1786);

the traditional chocolatiers that fill the street of Petritxol, in the heart of the Gothic quarter – and one of the favorite meeting points for local people in the long winter afternoons – or the large choice of restaurants, bars and pubs that mark the Paseo del Born, next to Santa María del Mar.

On the other hand, and although it is true that tapas culture remains almost a rarity among bars and restaurants in Barcelona, some establishments in the city have earned a well-deserved fame for their expertise in this area. This is the case of El Tomàs de Sarrià, a bar located in the upper area and which is said to serve the best patatas bravas in Barcelona.

As far as fish and seafood lovers are concerned, there is nothing better than to be tempted by some of the excellent seafood restaurants that fill the paseo de Joan de Borbó in the Barceloneta seaside quarter. Without a doubt, this is the best place to taste a paella with authentic Mediterranean flavor.

By the way, for those looking for something really different, it is worth remembering that the city even has an ice bar close to our beach apartments in Barcelona: Ice Barcelona, where you can have a drink at -5 ° C (with thermal clothing, of course).

Apart from its spectacular buildings from different eras, Barcelona has a first-rate cultural and museum offer. In fact, there are five museums that each exceed the mark of one million visitors per year by far : El Born Center of Culture and Memory, the F.C Barcelona Museum (unmissable for Messi and Barça fans), the Museum of the City’s History – which is spread out throughout several locations-, the Joan Miró Foundation and, above all, the basilica and the Sagrada Familia museum, leading the ranking with more than 3 million annual visits.

In any case, the catalog of museums in Barcelona does not end here. To this list we should add other places that record a large influx of visitors throughout the year. One of them is the Picasso Museum. Located in the stately Montcada street, this institution brings together pictorial works of the prolific young artist from Malaga as well as the famous series of Las Meninas paintings, among other works of incalculable value.

Also, we should mention the National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC), the custodian of the most important collection of Romanesque paintings in the world.

As part of this collection you can find the superb Christ in Majesty of the Sant Climent de Taüll church of the 12th century, as well as the frescoes of the Sant Joan de Boí church of the 11th century.

And of no less importance is the Museum of History of Catalonia, located in a beautiful palace by the sea. From its terrace you can enjoy splendid views over the port of Barcelona.

Other museums worth discovering are the Museum of Archeology of Catalonia, the Ethnological Museum and the CaixaFòrum, all located in the Montjuïc hill; The Museum of Modernism, the European Museum of Modern Art, the Museum of World Cultures, the Maritime Museum of Barcelona, the Museum of Music, the Wax Museum, the Joan Antoni Samaranch Olympic and Sports Museum, the Antoni Tàpies Foundation, the Center for Contemporary Culture of Barcelona (CCCB), the Santa Mónica Art Center, the avant-garde Museum of Design, located in the Plaza de las Glòries -which possesses interesting samples of old ceramics and industrial design-, or the Center of Contemporary art Can Framis, located in the Poblenou neighborhood, where the luxury Barcelona apartments of Lugaris Beach and Lugaris Rambla are located.

Traveling with children to Barcelona is literally a child’s play, as the Catalan capital offers  leisure activities that are  fully adapted to the tastes and needs of the little ones.

The kids’ romance with Barcelona starts in museums and exhibition halls, as some of them like the CaixaFòrum or CCCB organize free activities and crafts designed for youngsters, so they will have a great time and learn while their parents visit the exhibition halls.

In this sense, Barcelona also has museums which collections that are perfect for children, such as the Museum of Music, the Blau Museum, which is the unofficial name of the Museum of Natural Sciences in Barcelona, or CosmoCaixa, a center with interactive exhibits, where what is prohibited is not toching anything. In fact, it offers numerous educational games and experiments for visitors to learn about laws of physics firsthand. In addition, it also allows kids to contemplate a recreation of an Amazon rainforest, where some  species that were brought from this jungle currently live.

Another classic thing to do for those who visit Barcelona with children is to spend a few hours in the Barcelona Zoo, located at one end of the Ciutadella park. And of course, dedicate a day to tour all the corners of the amusement park of Tibidabo, the third oldest in Europe. Built at the beginning of the 20th century, it also offers street shows and allows access to the unique Automata Museum.

You should not forget that Barcelona has theaters that usually include shows intended for children and youngsters in their programme, such as the Gaudi Theater, near the Sagrada Familia, or the Jove Teatre Regina.

If the trip to Barcelona coincides with the warmest months of the year, do not forget visiting any of the 10 beaches in the Catalan capital. In turn, taking a trip on board the Golondrinas – traditional boats that sail through the port of Barcelona – is also an unbeatable option for those traveling with children.

Also worth mentioning are the events for children, such as the Sant Medir parade, which takes place in the district of Gràcia on March 3 in the afternoon, or SonarKids, the successful family version of the popular electronic music festival in the middle of June.

In any case, whatever kind of trip you have in mind, we have the best family apartments in Barcelona to make your stay in the Catalan capital simply unforgettable: Lugaris Beach and Lugaris Rambla, the best apartments near the beach in Barcelona.

Equipped with all conveniences and with a capacity for up to six people, these flats are fully equipped to make you feel at home right from the beginning.

Like Barcelona, our apartments also deserve to be discovered. Contact us: we will be delighted to have you as are our guest.