Renting a bike is the fastest way to discover a city to see all attractions and unknown treasures in the open air! Barcelona has become cycle-friendly with many cycle paths, making it easy to ride through the city.

But why rent an ordinary bike, when you can see Barcelona from a beach cruiser? Beach cruisers are bikes with big balloon tires, have an upright seating posture, a single-speed drive train and a straightforward steel construction. At ‘Cruising Bike Barcelona’ you can choose from 40 different models, ensuring you ride on a special bike: a pink bike with blue flowers or a sturdy black bike with hot flames; there is a variety to choose from.

You can rent a bike for a day, week, or however long you want during your holiday. Riding on a beach cruiser is very easy and you don’t feel tired after a long cycle because of the comfortable saddle on the beach cruiser.

Do you prefer a tour with a guide through the city?

You can also choose to have a cycle-tour. The guides love sharing everything they know with others. You can choose wherever you want to go (if you have any preferences) and the guide shows you the best sites of Barcelona. See all the highlights from Barcelona and you will fall in love with the city! The guides speak English, Spanish, French, German, and Dutch.

This annual run takes place every December and is sure to be an unforgettable experience. Participants, dressed in fancy dress, run an 8km obstacle course around Montjuic castle consisting of mud pits, tires, and more. For the children of the family, there’s also the Mini Buff Epic Run. This will truly be an unforgettable experience that is fun for the whole family!

16/12/2012- FC Barcelona v Atletico Madrid

If you’re a football fan and are in Barcelona this Sunday, you cannot miss this mouth-watering fixture between two of Spain’s best sides at the Camp Nou. Barça, currently sitting at the top of La Liga, are flying with Messi recently breaking the record for goals scored in a calendar year. But, they will have a test on their hands as Atletí are in fine form with one of the world’s best strikers, Radamel Falcao.

21/12/2012- Nutcracker Ballet Barcelona

The Crown of Russian Ballet of Moscow are in town to perform Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece, “The Nutcracker,” at the Teatre Coliseum on Gran Via. Don’t miss your opportunity to see this timeless classic and really get into the Christmas spirit!

22/12/2012- Festival de Valsos i Danses

On Saturday, you have the chance to properly get into the Christmas spirit by seeing Orquestra Simfònica del Vallès’ annual performance of the Festival de Valsos i Danses at the stunningly beautiful Palau de la Musica concert hall.

22/12/2012- Mark Ronson & Brodinski

If you like to dance, then get down to Razzmatazz on Saturday night for some beats by world famous DJs, Mark Ronson and Brodinski. You’ll be able to dance the night away in one of the city’s most celebrated nightspots. Dance music fans will not want to miss this one!

After checking out these exciting upcoming events, be sure to check out the gorgeous flats/homes available from our friends at Friendly Rentals!

Alba Granados

Alba Granados is one of the best steakhouses in Barcelona. The restaurant serves high quality steak, fish and wine at reasonable prices.  What make the place even more special are the outstanding service and an elegant atmosphere. Those who want to have a romantic dinner with their partner can sit outside on the balcony and enjoy the food.

7 Portes

7 Portes is one of the oldest and most prestigious restaurants in Barcelona.  The restaurant name means “seven doors” and it does indeed have seven doors underneath charming arches, typical for this kind of portside building. The restaurant serves a wide variety of regional dishes including daily paellas, fresh herring with onions and wide array of fresh fish.

Da Greco

Da Greco is one of the best Italian restaurants in Barcelona. It is slightly hidden away and mysterious but at the same time very elegant. The food is delicious but what makes it so special is the fact that everyone can share their food because each dish comes with a smaller portion for your friends to try!  Furthermore, for this kind of food and service the prices are very reasonable, which has contributed to the restaurant’s huge success.

Royo y Negro

Those who like Japanese and Mediterranean cuisine should definitely go to Royo y Negro. The interior design of the restaurant is very stylish and the food is really delicious. You can choose from a wide variety of dishes from sushi to different kinds of pasta and steaks. The restaurant is also a favourite visited of Barcelona footballers and celebrities.

Cerveceria Catalana

If you’re looking for delicious tapas and don’t want to spend too much money, Cerveceria Catalana is the place for you. The restaurant belongs to the same family as the famous Ciudad Condal and it serves a wide variety of tapas, wine and beer. The place is always crowded expect to wait for a table but the food is definitely worth it!

Anti-karaoke in Barcelona

What to do on the very hated Monday? Gather your friends and go to Anti-Karaoke in Sala Apolo in Barcelona. This well known party is described as a fusion between a rock concert, a Broadway musical and a crazy house party, and has become very famous in the Barcelona nightlife scene. So if you like to sing, especially rock songs, it´s something you don´t want to miss out on! There will be an animated live audience of around 300 people cheering you on. And it has been a great success because this is already the 7^th year Anti-Karaoke is hosted in Sala Apolo. A ticket is only 8 euros and it includes a drink. Go to the website to buy your ticket.

Freestyle Motocross show

Are you a big fan of those guys on motorcycles doing amazing and crazy tricks? Then you should go to the Freestyle Masters MX in Barcelona on the 18^th of November. It´s a freestyle Motocross show hosted at Palau Sant Jordi arena at the Montjuic hill. Some of the world´s best freestyle Motocross riders will perform in the show with some incredible stunts and tricks. If you are familiar with the Motocross scene, names like Dany Torres, Adam Jones, Tom Páges, ´Taka´ Higashino and Rémi Bizouard will make you extremely happy. For more information about this event go to the official website.

If you want to buy the tickets immediately go to this website.

The Magic Platters concert in Barcelona

The Platters were one of the most successful vocal groups of the early rock and roll period. They were formed in Los Angeles in 1953 and had 40 charting singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart between 1955 and 1967. So this concert will definitely take you back to the good old times in the 60´s! Songs like Only You, My Girl, The Great Pretender and Smoke Gets in Your Eyes will bring back the good memories. And a very nice extra feature is that they are playing in the beautiful Palau de la Música Catalana. For more information and tickets check the ticket website.

Wines & Girls: Wine tasting and Open Bar 4 Women

Who doesn´t like wine and a good conversation. This event on the 15^th of November at Paladar d´estruc brings the perfect combination of wine, women, talking and tastings all together. The tasting lesson will start around 8 pm and will last for about 30 minutes. There will be an explanation about cava, white wine, red wine and Damm beer. If you arrive after the start, just simply join in. After the tasting lesson there´s an open bar and you can drink as much as you want, and you can network and have some good conversations. To buy your ticket and more information got the official website. You can find this bar at 4 Carrer d’Estruc.

The zoo is divided into several different areas. The El Palmeral area (palm grove) home to

the macaws, parakeets and macaws. In the aviary area there are several different tropical birds from all over the world, while in the “Land of Dragons” you might get the chance to see the Komando dragon. In the Aquarama you can get to see commona bottlenose dolphins and dolphin shows, which are very entertaining especially for kids. Pequenos primates (small primates) is a house for snob-noses monkey, talapoin, siamang and patas monkey.

Visitors also have the opportunity to see reptiles and amphibians from all over the planet. Most of the animals are very well exposed, so that visitors can get very close to them and they get the impression that they can almost touch them, which makes the experience even more fun.

In addition the zoo offers many other attractions and activities for families with children to ensure a great day out. There are many restaurants; visitors can use electric cars, the tourist train, the picnic area and there is a play park for kids. The Zoo also organizes “Mornings in the Zoo” offering  kids the chance to learn about different animals that lives in the zoo. They might even have the opportunity to meet the zoo vet ad learn how dophins are trained.

Prices

Adults: €17;

Children: €10,20

For information on prices check the zoo website

Location

Parc de la Ciutadella s/n

Barcelona (Barcelona)

1. Barcelona Jazz Festival 2012

Running throughout November, the Barcelona Jazz Festival hosts some of the best jazz performers in the world in venues across the city. Musicians include Milow, Sonny Rollins and Chick Corea. For more information, visit the website to see the full programme of events and book tickets.

2. Mini Kitesurf Tour, November 1st-4th at Castelldefels

For most of us, it’s a bit too chilly to get in the November water. But head to Castelldefels this weekend for something of a spectacle, as the Mini Kitesurf Tour arrives in Barcelona. The tour shows off the world’s most impressive professional kiteboarders  in locations all over Europe. For more information on the daily programme and how to get there, visit the website.

3. The Walkmen at Sala Bikini, Wednesday 7th November

On Wednesday, top New York based indie band The Walkmen perform at Sala Bikini. Formed in 2000, they’ve produced 7 albums and achieved chart success all over the world. Tickets are €22 and can be bought here.

4. Movember 2012

Gentlemen, it’s time to put away your razors for the month. Movember 2012, where men across the world are sponsored to grow a moustache all for the worthy cause of male cancers, has just started. It’s gaining a fast-growing following, including big celebrity names. Start a just-giving webpage and get all your sponsorship online, as well as keeping your sponsors updated with the progress of your ‘tash! For more information, check out the Spanish site here.

Wintry days require a cosy hang-out, and we think we’ve found the perfect spot. Caelum, on Calle Palla, is nestled in the heart of the Gotico district and could have been made for wiling away chilly afternoons. A café rather than a restaurant, the menu offers a wide selection of teas and coffees, as well as wines and international beers, but their biggest attraction is no doubt their impressive range of sweet treats. The warm, charming interior and a hot cup of tea make the ideal remedy for cold hands after an afternoon of autumn shopping. Check the menu out here.

If it’s too cold to sit outside and enjoy some tapas on a restaurant terrace why not learn how to make it yourself? Cook and Taste, on Carrer Paradis, offer half day cooking classes for €65 which include a tour of the famous Boqueria market, a lesson in cooking a traditional Spanish meal and the opportunity to sit down and enjoy it afterwards with a few glasses of wine. Whether you fancy yourself as a bit of a chef or can hardly boil an egg, the classes are great fun for cooks of all proficiencies. You can read more about it and sign up here.

Rainy days offer the perfect opportunity to visit Barcelona’s Picasso Museum, on Carrer de Montcada. The museum is home to nearly 4,000 pieces of Picasso’s work, many from his early years as an artist, and also reveals much about his close relationship with the city of Barcelona. Bound to impress both aficionados and art-novices alike, the museum is also located in Born, one of Barcelona’s most picturesque neighbourhoods. To find out more, have a look at the website.

It’s fair to say that Barcelona is the ideal city break destination, regardless of the season. Plan your trip now and have a look at the wide range of stylish apartments in fantastic locations that Casamona Holidays has to offer, just like this one.

Festival In-Edit in Barcelona

If you are a big fan of music and you like good documentaries, you should definitely visit the In-Edit Beefeater Festival. It’s a Music Documentary Festival in Barcelona that starts Thursday the 25^th of October and will last till Sunday the 4^th of November. This great festival is all about good music documentaries made by music fans, for music fans. It’s already the 10^th anniversary of the Beefeater Festival and it has brought the best music documentaries to Barcelona. The documentaries will be shown in the cinema Aribau Club, Aribau Multicines and some other venues. For more information about the documentaries, tickets and more, visit the official website from the In-Edit Beefeater Festival.

Scissor Sisters in Barcelona!

To the joy of many fans, the Scissor Sisters are coming to Barcelona! They will be performing in the big club Razzmatazz. Their music is fun and can mostly be described as upbeat dance pop, poprock, glamrock and elecetroclash. There most successful song ‘I don’t feel like dancin’, was popular in Europe and actually makes you want to dance! Sometimes their music sounds like it took a trip to the 80’s. So from old to young everyone can enjoy their fun music and dance to the groovy beats. This Monday is your chance to see this great band. Tickets are only 28,50 euros and still available.  For more information about tickets check the website.

Celebrate Halloween in Barcelona!

Although Halloween is not a Spanish nor a Catalan tradition, it’s has been embraced in Barcelona and is celebrated in a big way. All over the city there are Halloween fancy dress parties featuring scary things like ghosts, witches and zombies. Some kids also do the well known trick or treating rounds, which are called ‘Truco o Trato’ in Spanish. A nice event to attend on this day is the ‘Ruta de Altares’, the Alter Route. It’s a recent Mexican tradition during Halloween in Barcelona and started a few years ago. Around 30 altars are dedicated to the memory of the departed and all the altars heave different themes. You can find them in 30 bars, associations, shops and galleries in Barcelona.  For more information about the route you can visit the official website. Also there will be Halloween parties in clubs like Opium Mar, Shoko and Apollo. For information about these parties, you should visit the website of the clubs for more information.

Todos los Santos – All Saints Day Barcelona

The 1st of November, the day after Halloween is a public holiday in Spain. ‘Tots Sants’ in Catalan and ‘Todos los Santos’ in Spanish stands for All Saints Day. In Spain it’s a tradition to go to church services in honor of Catholic saints. Also to visit family graves and to place flowers, lay wreaths and light candles. During the Halloween weekend the cemeteries of Barcelona have longer opening hours and there are special flower stalls at the gate. On All Saints Day in Catalunya there is the Catalan tradition of La Castanyada (chestnut time). With this tradition you eat ‘castanyes’ (roasted chestnut), ‘moniatos  (sweet potatoes), ‘panellets’ (cakes) and you drink a sweet wine called muscatel. You can find these street corner stalls from October to February all over Barcelona.

Without exception, the owner of Somorrostro goes everyday to ‘La Lonja’ at around 5 to come and choose his evening menu and relax. There are only a few dishes everyday, and the menu changes everyday depending on what the owner finds when he gets there.

The restaurant is small and hidden from the tourist areas, so it’s the perfect place to go if you are looking for a quiet and the ideal place to have a delicious dinner.  There is a great wine list and some delicious looking puddings. The kitchen is open plan so you can watch the chef preparing and making the food.

You will have to make a reservation beforehand if  you want a table – 93 225 0010 as it is small, or visit the website here.

Before visiting Barcelona, be sure to check out Casamona Holidays’ range of exclusive apartments in the most convenient locations of Barcelona, such as this one.

What makes La Roca worth visiting?

Visitors can find all different kinds of shops, from exclusive brands like Versace, Loewe and Burberry to streetwear brands like Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren and Maje. There are also Catalan designers, like Custo Barcelona, Desigual and Lupo. Most of the collections in La Roca are from last season. However, customers can find there amazing pieces in many different sizes. La Roca is also known for its great service, comparable that of exclusive stores on Paseo de Gracia.

How you can get there?

The easiest way to get to La Roca Village from Barcelona is by taking a direct bus from C/Casp 34. Buses depart 5 times each day.

PRICES:

Adult:

- €12 round trip; €7 one way

Children (aged from 3 to 12):

- €5 round trip; €3 one way

Accomodation in Barcelona

If you are looking for nice, bright apartment in Barcelona don’t hesitate to contact Casamona, who will offer you a perfect place to stay. Here you can see one of our flats.