The recent temperature drops around the country have had Brits dreaming about the arrival of the summer season. But with flights as cheap as £20 this summer, travellers can start planning a cheap getaway right now.
Barcelona, known as the cosmopolitan capital of Spain’s Catalonia region, is famous for its art, architecture, food and beaches. For Brits seeking sun, Barcelona is ideal with highs of 30C, cooling down ever so slightly at the end of August. If you don’t mind risking the summer crowds, there could be big savings on travel costs to the popular tourist destination.
The city is approximately just a two-hour flight away from the UK and budget airlines like Wizz Air are currently offering late August flights for £20 from London Luton. Other airlines like Ryanair are offering £31 flights from other London airports and Bristol while flying from locations like Manchester is slightly more pricy, with flights listed from £44 each way.
Home to the works of prominent figures like Antoni Gaudí, Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí, Barcelona offers a range of history for visitors to discover. Some sites are also available to visit for free – between 31 March and 27 September, visitors can enter the Picasso museum for free, from 7pm to 9pm, provided they book at least four days in advance. Other free perks include walking through the iconic Parc de la Ciutadella and watching the sunset from the Bunkers del Carmel.
Other must-see sites include the Sagrada Familia and Antoni Gaudí’s Park Güell and Casa Batlló. Although Barcelona offers the exciting hustle and bustle of a city, its beaches offer a space for slower-paced days too, with around ten distinct beaches, each offering different services with a range of sports bars and restaurants.
Food is also a highlight in Spain’s second-biggest city. From a variety of markets to tiny tapas bars, the choices are endless. Traditional dishes include Catalan-style paella, made with fresh seafood, rabbit, or botifarra sausage, and Crema Catalana, which is considered to be the Spanish answer to the crème brûlée.
Barcelona is also renowned for its nightlife. The best areas to find trendy bars include Eixample, Zona Alta and Passeig Marítim de La Barceloneta. For a unique experience visit Steam City Cocktail Bar which, with a retro-futuristic twist, brings your drinks to you via its miniature train system, or have a drink at Bosc De Les Fades Café, surrounded by its stunning, storybook décor.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
