Original holidays in Barcelona

Modern and modernist. Cosmopolitan and a dedicated follower of fashion. That’s Barcelona, a city that proudly conserves its cultural heritage and is now continuously lauded. To pick just one example, Freddy Mercury, as if he was in love, gifted this line to the city: “Barcelona, such a beautiful horizon, like a jewel in the sun. Por ti seré gaviota de tu bella mar [I will be the seagull to your beautiful sea]”.

Today, the ‘Ciudad Condal’ (City of Counts) is the destination for tourists from Spain and all over the world who come looking for sun, sea, urban delights, history and a never-ending list of activities. Plunge into the world of Guadí, wander through the Barrio Gótico (Gothic Quarter), climb Montjuic, or look out over the city from the towers of the iconic Sagrada Familía… These are just some of the things you can’t miss if you visit Barcelona.

But the Catalan capital also offers you the opportunity to take the plunge and try something completely new, things you’ll struggle to find elsewhere. So here are few ‘challenges’ for you. Do you fancy playing golf at sea? Taking a helicopter ride over Barcelona to a vineyard? Or learning about dolphins up close?

Play golf at sea, Barcelona

Don’t look for the hole. Or the green. This form of golf is as different as it is exclusive. A game of golf out at sea.

* Barcelona’s coast. / Photo: spain.info

On board the classic ship the Southern Cross, a schooner built in 1960 and formerly property of the British Royal Family, you can enjoy the surroundings of the Costa de Barcelona, as well as a ‘Championship’, hitting environmentally friendly golf balls, and sampling a delicious gourmet snack with fine cava.

Four unforgettable hours of sailing, admiring the skyline of Barcelona and hitting balls over the horizon.

Hole in one!

Helicopter trip to a vineyard in the Penedès region

For the most radical, exclusive tourist comes Heliwine Penedès. An experience designed for lovers of fine wine: those for whom smell, texture and temperature are fundamental when it comes to tasting.

Fly over Catalonia’s most beautiful rural landscapes in a route that take you south, to Penedès, where some of Catalonia’s finest wines are crafted. At the Can Ràfols dels Caus vineyard you’ll try some of their best wines in a unique tasting session that will let you discover the cellar’s true quality.

* Heliwine Penedès. / Photo: spain.info

And there’s more, you can take a horse ride round the vineyard and enjoy a gourmet picnic. True luxury!

Learn to study dolphins and whales

After a land-based introductory course on monitoring techniques, you’ll spend three days at sea on a sailing ship in search of the sounds and signs that provide evidence of the presence of cetaceans. It’s a nine day course, in English, where you’ll learn to use the tools for identifying whales and dolphins, as well as monitoring techniques such as photo-identification, use of the hydrophobe and the interpretation of marine acoustic signals.

* Dolphin off the Barcelona coast. / Photo: spain.info

The ocean is a world as undiscovered as it is rich in species – explore what lies beyond the shoreline.

You’ll discover the cetaceans that live in Catalan waters, such as bottlenose dolphins and fin whales. It’s an unforgettable natural experience, one in which you’ll lose yourself over the horizon as you explore the Mediterranean.

Cowboy for a day in Barcelona

Something you never imagined… if you’re wild about the world of cowboys, Western films, gunfights, horses and can-can dancers, then head to Sant Miquel del Fai, just 45 minutes from Barcelona. Far from the bustle of the capital, you can change your cap for a 10-gallon Stetson, your suit for a neckerchief and your belt for holsters. You’ll feel like a true cowboy!

* Cowboys in Barcelona: / Photo: webarcelona.com

You’ll get to spend six hours just like a real cowboy from the west of the USA or the north of Mexico – travelling on a horse-drawn cart and putting the cattle out to pasture, just like in Texas or Chihuahua.

At the end of the day you’ll get to enjoy a traditional barbecue. Dig in, partner!

Hotels in Barcelona

The Vincci hotel chain has three hotels in Barcelona, so no matter which you choose, your stay will be perfect. Three totally different hotels, catering to every taste, but which all share comfort, perfect location and exquisite attention to detail.

Hotel Vincci Bit 4* Barcelona

With art and design as its hallmark, we give you the hotel Vincci Bit 4*. A unique establishment that won’t leave you indifferent. It’s passageways, rooms and even its hidden corners are covered with designs by artists and illustrators of national and international renown, such as the photographer Mathias Martín, Maine-based artist Matthew W. Moore, Italian illustrator Lorenzo Petrantoni and Japanese artist Yoshi Sislay. A splash of colour to make your stay fun and above all different.

* Men’s restroom at the hotel Vincci Bit 4* Barcelona.

On the eighth floor, on the rooftop of this charming Barcelona hotel, you can enjoy an open-air swimming pool. Pure luxury in the city centre.

Hotel Gala 4* Barcelona

Over a hundred years ago this was a stately mansion and the central staircase, along with the main façade and the hydraulic floors, have been preserved as protected heritage. Today it’s a hotel dedicated to artist Salvador Dalí’s greatest obsession: his wife Gala, hence the huge murals of the couple you’ll see in the main hall.

* Main hall, hotel Vincci Gala 4* Barcelona.

The hotel Vincci Gala 4* Barcelona is a unique, welcoming hotel, located a few minutes from Las Ramblas, La Boquería and the Plaza de Cataluña

The charm of the hotel abounds, extending to the outdoor terrace. Its coquettish style and atmosphere makes it the perfect place for a summertime drink. And it’s proof perfect that in the centre of Barcelona you can still escape and unwind.

Hotel Vincci Marítimo 4* Barcelona

Of the three hotels we have in Barcelona this is the closest to the sea, located just a few yards from the ‘Mar Bella’ beach and the ‘Diagonal del Mar’ shopping centre. It’s an avant-garde hotel, with incredible natural light thanks to the glass façade that allows the sunlight to pour freely in, illuminating the interior.

Worth highlighting at the hotel Vincci Marítimo 4* Barcelona are the Japanese Garden, a place where oriental philosophy tempts you to relax; the Jardí de Mar restaurant and the Ikebana Lounge Bar.

* Japanese garden at the Barcelona Vincci Marítimo 4*.