Business trip to Barcelona: make time for some city sightseeing!
Extend your trip and make the most of the artistic wonders and local delights that this cultural and colourful city has to offer.
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Want to find out more about Barcelona? Take a look at our city guide.
As the capital of art nouveau and the birth place of Gaudi's masterpieces, Barcelona is renowned for its cultural wealth, beaches and wild night-life. But Barcelona is also a booming economic hub that is easy to reach with an international airport and a railway network that connects the city to the rest of Europe. Take some time out to relax and extend your stay to enjoy all that the city has to offer.
Business: everything you need to know
- Spanish business culture relies partly on strong, personal connections. Investing time to build a real relationship with your Spanish colleagues is not a waste of time, on the contrary.
- Are you there to negotiate the terms of a contract? Learn to be patient! Spaniards take great pleasure in taking their time to make a decision. Remain on hand to answer their questions, and whatever you do, don't hurry them.
- Get ready for a long day of work ahead of you. Timing and the structure of the day are quite different in Spain, especially in Barcelona. Lunch can easily take two hours, while an average working day can finish at 8pm or any time after, which would not be considered unusual.
How to fill your mornings:
- Get your day off to a good start with a typical local delight, a 'pan tumaca'; a slice of toasted bread topped with fresh, grated tomatoes, olive oil and 'jamón serrano'. You can find this little ray of sunshine anywhere!
- Want to stretch your legs a little? Head for Las Ramblas, the wide avenue, where the whole of Barcelona comes to life: wander through the San José market, la Boqueria, or have a look at the Joan Miro pavement mosaic in the middle of the street. Continuing all the way to the end of Las Ramblas, you will see a statue of Christopher Columbus and the old port, where a footbridge takes you to a shopping and leisure centre, the Maremagnum. Spanish designer shops and the Barcelona Aquarium await you!
- More interested in the city's historical attractions? The two neighbourhoods of El Born and El Gotico have managed to preserve a little something of traditional Barcelona. Their narrow, cobbled streets are full of surprises. The north of the city is home to the Gracia neighbourhood, the perfect place to linger for a coffee on the Plaça de la Villa de Gracia.
- Lastly, consider booking a ticket to visit the Sagrada Familia in the morning; this cathedral has become an absolute must-see attraction in Barcelona.
Where to go when business is done:
- Still not had chance to see all of Gaudi's masterpieces? Have you always wanted to pay a visit to the Casa Batllo or the Casa Pedrera? The night-time ticket is your best option, promising an enchanting and, more importantly, much less crowded experience.
- As you wander along the Paseo de Gracia, you are sure to spot other art déco buildings and numerous luxury boutiques open in the evening.
- Fancy more of a relaxed stroll? Enjoy a walk through the Park Güell , which stays open until 9pm in the summer.
- Looking for a place to stop by for a drink after a long day's work? What about a bar that specialises in cocktails? : The Dry Martini or the Bobby Gin are the perfect places to unwind.
- A bite to eat? El Nacional is home to the best that Spain has to offer, brought together in four restaurants. Want something more like tapas? You'll find a tapas bar on every corner, but we recommend heading to Bastaix in the Ribera neighbourhood.
Want to find out more about Barcelona? Take a look at our city guide.
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