Barcelona – your summer party destination

A summer party is a great way to wind down after a busy academic year, and the world’s summer party capital must surely be the Catalan city of Barcelona in Spain.  Other destinations have great sights to see and vibrant clubs and bars, but Barcelona has all of this and more, including a fabulous beach and a lifestyle tailor-made for night owls.

Party all summer long

Whether individuals prefer beachfront or inner city clubs and bars, there is always a party going on somewhere in Barcelona.  Many clubs open at midnight or one in the morning, and the music and dancing continues until dawn and beyond.  With its wide range of places to stay, Barcelona suits all budgets.  Cheap hotels and hostels with pools and verandas are available, as is grander city centre accommodation such as Casa Con Estil, which offers chic spacious rooms and rooftop terraces.  Check out the options on Expedia.co.uk.

Bars and clubs

Visitors to Barcelona often have favourite places to hang out, as do the locals.  Some venues attract both, such as the Plaza Reial, a large square in the Barri Gòtic area.  Restaurants and famous nightclubs abound, including Karma, Jamboree and Sidecar.  Weekend revellers already familiar with the popular clubs and pubs of Avenida Diagonal may want to venture a little further along the mall to seek out one of the locals’ best kept secrets.  BeCool specialises in electronic music nights and is a medium size club with a fun, revolving dance floor.  On the upper floor, the bar areas host rock, pop and indie nights.

Daytime activities

Those who’d like to explore Barcelona prior to the pre-party siesta will enjoy a walk along La Rambla, which is next door to Plaza Reial.  This is a tree-lined avenue about three quarters of a mile long and a major tourist destination packed with souvenir shops and street performers, including dancers, musicians, puppeteers and “officially approved” human statues.  The avenue also provides access to historic buildings, theatres, markets, museums and the opera house, and it is well worth a visit just to view the famous mosaic work by Joan Miró which decorates the undulating pavement.  Part way along La Rambla, Calle Ferran leads to a collection of high quality bars, restaurants and shops, and there are many hotels of all grades in this area that are favoured by repeat visitors.

Party seasons

In Barcelona, there are citywide parties at certain times of the year, such as the International Sónar Festival held during three packed days in June and featuring Advanced Music and New Media Art.  Fans of cutting edge and experimental electronic music can revel in the wealth of talent on display – showcases and concerts for new, emerging artists take place during the day, while the world’s leading names from the international music scene are featured at night.

Finally, La Mercè fiesta at the end of September is the party to end all summer parties, literally, as it is staged to say goodbye to the summer and to welcome the autumn.  There are free concerts, street performers and creative, original exhibitions that take place over four days and nights without ceasing.  Since it is free, this festival attracts large crowds and is certainly one of Barcelona’s most exhilarating, fun and memorable parties.

Photo Credit: Moyan_Brenn

Category: Travel