INTRODUCTION 1MEET THE TEAM 3EDITORS’ PICKS 5TRAVEL TIPS 10SIGHTSEEING 26PARKS & BEACHES 54

ARTS & CULTURE 66SHOPPING 78SPORTS & ACTIVITIES 94FOOD 100EVENTS 110BARS & CLUBS 116

FEATURE: FEATURE:FEATURE:FEATURE:FEATURE:

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Barcel OH! Na OdditiesCatalunya and IndependenceEspaña y SudamericaSpotted: DogsBarcelona: On Location

CONTENTS

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WELCOME TO THE GUIDE!

¡Hola Amigos!We are here to provide you with a budget version of Barcelona, without compromising on quality and fun! Whether you’re a student who has just left school, enjoying some time away from education, or simply a young person who fancies a city break, this guide is for you. Look out for our writers’ picks, where you can find a variety of activities to suit any budget and personality, ensuring you make the most of your trip in the vibrant city of Barcelona.

So you’ve landed in Barcelona and successfully navigated passport control – now what? We’ve got tips on cheap accommodation, how to get around the city’s metro system and how to stay safe: how to avoid pickpockets, what to do if you lose your phone and how to get medical treatment. Find this in our Travel Tips section.

Looking to live the student life with a Catalan twist? At night, Barcelona really comes alive. Cocktails for just 2.50€? We have it all in here. We can tell you which club is the best to visit depending on the night of the week, whether you’re looking for a chill night, or a memorable one (or not, depending on your alcohol intake!) We represent the eclectic bar and club scene, from salsa and jazz bars to the heaviest club nights.

The morning after the night before, heal that hangover on one of Barça’s beautiful beaches, or soak in some of the city’s unique architecture. Barcelona is brimming with a cosmopolitan mix of cultures, so take time to explore both the main landmarks and the lesser known nooks and crannies featured in this guide! Check out our Arts & Culture, Sightseeing, Parks & Beaches, Sports & Activities and Shopping sections for ideas. Foodies are also in luck – avoid touristy spots (generally anywhere with an English menu!) and sample some inexpensive, authentic Spanish cuisine.

Here at Spotted HQ we have been inspired by the lively and laid back nature of Catalan culture, which we have weaved throughout our guide. Barcelona isn’t a small city and can be pretty overwhelming, but our team has infiltrated the local scene to bring you the best and cheapest take on this diverse city and steer you away from the usual “Tourist Traps”. It hasn’t been easy and there have been some hit and misses but we have gained an acute know-how that we hope will come in useful.

Barcelona has the given our team the opportunity to come together and pool our talents to create this guide. With our help you can build your own, unique Barça experience.

¡Gaudeix! ¡Gaudeix! ¡Gaudeix! All of our love, The

Team

3 4

Tal, 21,

Ellie, 20,

Bilyana, 28,

Rhian, 19, Amy, 18,

Lara, 25,

Studying German and Spanish at the University of St Andrews. Best moment:

skydiving for charity!

Studying History at Studying History at Durham University. I

love jewellery designing & salsa dancing!

Studying Spanish Studying Spanish Studies & German Literature. Probably

the most clumsy person in the world.

Literature student. Literature student. Keen traveler and theatre aficionada!

Studying at Bath Spa Studying at Bath Spa University. My pet

goldfish is named Mr. Squishy the Fishy.

Social Science and Social Science and Spanish Culture at Ruhr-University of

Bochum, also Chef de cuisine at home.

Studying English & Studying English & History at the University

of St. Andrews. I’ve broken 4 toes from

pointe shoes.

Studying German and

Hannah, 20,

Sean, 21,

Kirsten, 18,

Tom, 20,

Tanja, 23,

Nadine, 25,

Kirsty, 20,

Alice, 19,

Studying English Lit Studying English Lit at Northumbria. I trip

over air. A lot.

English Language and English Language and Linguistics student in London. I’m a major

shopaholic.

Student. Barcelona Student. Barcelona advice - Don’t be

another brick in the wall.

Studying Media and Studying Media and Cultural Studies I find the best things when

getting lost - that happens quite often.

Finished Tourism Finished Tourism Studies, now working

as an Online Marketing Assistant. Always got the

travel bug!

Travelling Down Travelling Down Under, now planning

to study politics. Good parties tend to end in the hospital for me.

Studying English Lit at Studying English Lit at Manchester University.

Forced to learn Irish dancing as a child, now

I bring it out in clubs.

MEET THE TEAM!

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P. 581) ALICE: Parc de la Ciutadella

P. 412) AMY:Fat Tire Bike Tours

P. 1123) BILYANA : Picnic Elektronik

P. 1024) ELLIE : Caj Chai Teteria

P. 355) HANNAH : The Magic Fountain

P. 1066) KIRSTEN : Caputxes

Top 14P. 123

7)KIRSTY : El Rabipelado

P. 1318) LARA :

Tresflores

P. 279)NADINE :

Grácia

P. 4010) RHIAN:Barcelona Zoo

P. 120 11) SEAN:

Bar Reset No.7

P. 4512) TAL : Montserrat

P. 9813)TANJA:

Camp Nou

P. 12814) TOM:

Nasty Mondays Apolo

Our favorite sweeties...

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Barcel-OH!-na...OdditiesBarcelonaWhen and how Barcelona developed is unclear. There are two legends about its formation: The first one says that it was built by Hercules around 1153 before Christmas, so 400 years before Rome was established. The second legend talks about Hannibal Barkas; it’s told that he captured the region during the third century before Christmas, and he built the city Barcino. The city name Barcelona was derived from his family name.

Gaudí- Antonio Gaudí was not the original architect of the Sagrada Familia. Although the church is classified as one of Gaudí’s masterpieces, the construction was started in 1882 by another architect - Francisco de Paula del Villar. He started with the construction of the crypt. In 1883 Gaudí took over the construction and radically changed the architectural style and the appearance of the Sagrada Familia after Villar was dropped from the project.

- On the 8th of June in 1926 Gaudí was killed by a tram. Rumour says that due to his scruffy clothes, several cabdrivers refused to drive him to a hospital because they thought that he was a homeless person. Someone brought him to the Hospital de la Santa Creu, a hospital for poor people. Nobody recognized the hurt artist until his friend Doménech Sugranyes finally found him there after three days. When Gaudi was offered a transfer to a more comfortable hospital, he declined saying, “My place is next to the poor people”. That same day he died of the grave injuries.

FEATURE The question is, was this was really Gaudí’s comment? Or is it just a legend?

Gaudí famously said, “My client isn’t in a hurry,” (referring to God) when asked how long it would take him to complete the Sagrada Familia.

Kylie- The video clip of Kylie Minogue’s song, Slow, was taped in 2003 in the swimming pool Bernat Picornell on Barcelona’s house on Montjuïc Mountain.

FC Barcelona- One man’s joy is another man’s sorrow! For FC Barcelona the changing of the Pope is definitely a symbol of luck. Every time there has been a changing of the Pope, the soccer club wins with a 4:0 score.

For the first time this phenomenon happened on the 26th of October, 1985 against their arch rival Real Madrid (the 28th of October Pope Johannes XXIII was elected), for the second time on 14th of October 1978 against UD Las Palmas (two days afterwards, Johannes Paul II was elected).

And last but not least, the 12th of March in 2013 the serial continued: Barcelona won 4:0 against AC Milan in the round of sixteen - after the reign of Benedikt XVI was in full swing.

“Money, money, money, must be funny in a rich man’s world...”

Not everyone aims to follow the low-budget way of life in Barcelona, as we tried to do!

This chart shows the average spend per person, per day of people from different countries.

(info from http://barcelona.de/de/barcelona-statistiken.html)

Lara Voelter

“Money, money, money, must be funny in a rich man’s world...”“Money, money, money, must be funny in a rich man’s world...”“Money, money, money, must be funny

Not everyone aims to follow the low-budget way of life in Barcelona, as we tried to do!

This chart shows the average spend per person, per day of people from different countries.

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Green places in Montjuïc

Montjuïc has much to offer and is a great option for the end of a vacation when penny-pinching becomes general practice! There are many opportunities for sightseeing if you are feeling energetic: the Montjuïc Cable Car, the Fundació Joan Miró, the grand Palau Nacional home to

the Museu Nacional d’art de Catalunya, the Olympic stadium and Montjuïc Castle are all great places to immerse yourself in Barcelona’s history and art.

Laribal Gardens: lose yourself in the history and tranquillity of this leafy part of the city.Address: Pg. de Santa Madrona, 2Metro: Parallel FunicularPrice: Various. Laribal Gardens free

Opening Times: Daily until duskWebsite: www.bcn.cat/aparcat/en/

Montjuïc has much to offer and is a great option for the end of a vacation when penny-pinching becomes general practice! There are many opportunities for sightseeing if you are feeling energetic: the Montjuïc Cable Car, the Fundació Joan Miró, the grand Palau Nacional home to

the Museu Nacional d’art de Catalunya, the Olympic stadium and Montjuïc Castle

FEATUREFEATURE However, for those eager to escape the hustle and bustle, the gardens dotted about Montjuïc provide a retreat away from the Catalan calor. Here you can sit back and relax with a book, enjoy a picnic or grab a beer in one of several cervezerias. And when you’re tired of all that loafing around, be sure to go for a stroll to soak up the breath-taking views of the city from the heights

of this hilly paradise.

The most famous garden of the barrio, the Jardi Botànic de

Barcelona, is located close to the castle and cable car, so may be best for retreating to for a few hours after morning sightseeing. Entrance is reasonably priced at 3.50€, but for a cheaper option visit Los Jardins Laribal, where the views are just as beautiful. Once partially belonging to wealthy lawyer Joseph Laribal, the gardens retain a sense of Eden-like forbiddenness where a gentle walk seems a little intrusive, as though entering a private garden without permission. The gardens are closest to the Funicular, which will take you from Parallel metro station to Avenue de Miramar. When you arrive, turn left on the main road towards Los Jardins Laribal.

At the gardens you can hide under the shade, inhaling the perfume of abundant bay trees and flowers. Spot the lazy pods hanging from wooden verandas and follow the trickle of water features down the steps towards Teatre Grec, where you can enjoy an ice-cold beer at the cervezaria which overlooks the cityscape. Don’t miss the 19th century picnic site and chic restaurant at the Font del Gat (the Cat’s Spring) or Teatre Grec’s open-air stage which is used as part of the Barcelona Festival (barcelonafestival.com) on summer evenings.

Ellie Catherine & Alice Owen

“soak up the breath-taking views of

the city from the heights of this hilly paradise....

• Other nearby gardens: Jardins de Mossèn Costa i Llobera, Jardins de Miramar

• Be aware that Los Jardins Laribals closes at dusk

• There are garden wardens in case you need any help

• Bring enough cash with you, as you may struggle to find a cash machine

so may be best for retreating to for a few hours after morning sightseeing. Entrance

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There are few places near the centre of Barcelona where the sound of nature is louder than that of urban life; Turo Parc is one of those places. Having been toe to toe with Barcelona’s tourists on the pavements and metro there is no better feeling than grass beneath your feet shared almost exclusively with a few locals and the rather tame sparrows. Judging by the brands of the nearby shops the park lies in a relatively well off part of the city so a bit of retail therapy is not out of the question after sun bathing in the park. What keeps this park so peaceful is its distance from any metro stops, but if you are willing to walk it is well worth it. Telling everyone about it is almost a shame, but sharing is caring. Thomas Seaman

Barcelona’s oldest park located to the north of the city out of reach of most tourists is home to an eclectic mix of landscaped gardens and architecture dating from 1792 onwards. A limit of 750 visitors per day has been in place to preserve the beauty of the park though it is extremely unlikely that you’ll be sharing it with even 50. The centre piece is an 820m long labyrinth however there are plenty of other hidden corners to be explored all around the park and romantic gardens. If you go on a Saturday the peace might be slightly interrupted by some stereotypically

over-the-top Spanish football commentary from the nearby pitches, though deeper into the park the birds and tinkling of streams take over. Take a picnic and get away from Barcelona’s broiling streets. At 2.23€ it’s a cheap day out.

Thomas Seaman

Inner City Bliss

Little House in the Country

Turo Parc

Parc del Laberint d’Horta

Address: Avda. de Pau Casals, 19Metro: L6 La Bonanova/Muntaner

Price: FreeOpening Times: Every day

Address: Passeig dels Castanyers, 1Metro: L3 Mundet

Price 2.23€Opening Times: 10 am - 7 pm everyday

Hosting a wide range of activities and attractive sights, the free Parc de la Ciutadella is highly recommended. With large open spaces and grand waterfalls, the park creates a calming oasis within the tightly-packed city of Barcelona. Whether you are sipping lemonade opposite the waterfall, or exploring the space by Segway, the park is bound to provide something that everyone can enjoy.

The highlight of the park, for me, was the lake just past the waterfall, where you could rent a rowing boat for 30 minutes. Regardless of your rowing ability, at the budget-friendly price of 6€ for two people, the activity provides a different and enjoyable view and exposes you to a variety of wildlife and foliage that adorn the shallow waters. You might even catch sight of a baby turtle paddling around the edge!

The waterfall, too, is very picturesque. Decorated with gold and white statues, it creates a luxurious ambience, yet does not cost a single euro to visit. Contrasted with this golden glow is rich vegetation which converts the waterfall into a paradisiac setting, which contributes to the park’s many photo-taking opportunities. However, if upon leaving the park you are still feeling in need of activity, the surrounding area is encapsulated by a string of culture; the zoo is helpfully signposted throughout the park, and Parlament de Catalunya is a short walk away, not forgetting the titanic Arc de Triomf that stands tall in front of the metro station.

Alice Owen

An Oasis in the City

Address: Pg. Picasso 21Metro: L1 Arc de Triomph

Opening Times: 8:30am - 10pmPrice: Free

Parc de la Ciutadella

FOOD• Spanish Sins• Caj Chai Teteria

• Relevant Bar

• Bernie‘s Diner

• Bodega La Plata

• Caputxes• Goliard• Txapela

HANDY PHRASESla comida – lunch

el desayuno - breakfast

la cena - dinner

el restaurante - restaurant

para llevar – to take away

para tomar aquí – to eat in

ensalada - saladpescado - fishcarne - meat

el café - coffeeagua - water

vegetariano - vegetarian