Barcelona

Transformed by the 1992 Olympic Summer Games, in the last twenty years Barcelona has gone on to become one of Europe's most popular tourist destinations and year after year Spain's second biggest city appears on top ten lists in the travel press for its fantastic lifestyle, culture, nightlife and all round desirability (often eclipsing the Spanish capital of Madrid, much to Madrilenos chagrin) - but more on that later!

Part of the immense restructuring of the city that took place for the '92 Games was the creation of a long, open stretch of golden beaches (previously there was nowhere for residents to dip their toes in the Mediterranean) and a sparkling new marina - the Port Olimpic. Indeed many of Barcelona's most fashionable visitors arrive to the Catalan capital by boat, either cruising into the Olympic marina or sailing in via super or luxury yacht Barcelona's Port Vell (Old Harbour). With several harbours in the city itself, and several more dotted in nearby towns and up the Costa Brava, the Catalan capital is a fantastic base for a sailing holiday with companies offering everything from skippered and bareboat yacht charters, day sailing trips, luxury cruises and sailing courses and lessons.

Apart from the wide availability of boats, Barcelona has several other major benefits for those considering a vacation on the sea. First of all the city is served not only by its own international airport, with hundreds of flights arriving from all over Europe and beyond, but also by nearby Reus and Girona airport (many Ryanair flights land at these two!), meaning it's much easier and cost-effective to reach than many other popular sailing destinations. The second, also to do with geography, is that from Barcelona you can easily explore the Costa Brava by boat, cruise down the Costa Dorada, or even head out across the Mediterranean to Spain's beautiful Balearic Islands of Ibiza, Majorca and Minorca. The third of course, is that the Catalan capital is such a great place to visit...

...with the miraculous architectural marvels of Antoni Gaudi to admire, the narrow alleyways of the ancient Gothic Quarter to explore, some of the world's best restaurants to call in on and the non-stop nightlife to check out, Barcelona warrants plenty of time spent on dry land. It seems there's always something going on, whether it be big name music acts rocking the Olympic Stadium, top DJs spinning at the nightclubs, street parties, cultural festivals or of course an important match at the Camp Nou, home to the legendary Barcelona Football Club, the city is action-packed and exciting almost without rival. And with so many great towns, attractions and islands within sailing distance it's the perfect place to charter a yacht and get sailing!

Barcelona Travel Info

Barcelona Life Travel Guide
BCN Travel & Tours

Barcelona Yacht Charter Companies

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