For some, the word ‘travel’ invokes peaceful images of relaxation on a charming, sandy beach. For others, it means a chance to explore ancient architecture…
1 Comment
Support / Tip Ben
Author: Ben Holbrook
I set up this blog after moving to Barcelona and falling head over heels in love with Spain.
Follow me and get my insider travel tips on the best things to see and do across Spain and the rest of Europe, as well as my personal recommendations on where to eat, drink and be merry in all the right places!
Every August, the street parties of Barcelona’s Festa Major de Sants offer an authentic insight into modern-day life in the Catalan capital.
Leave a CommentDiscover the best things to do in Marseille and find out what makes this atypical French city so compelling – in just 2 days!
Leave a CommentThis little rural-house-cum-bar had been my beacon for the last three hours I’d been hiking and huffing my way through the rural landscapes of Piloña in Asturias, northern Spain. This wasn’t the greeting I’d anticipated.
Leave a CommentTaking over the space that once housed the fabled Roca MOO, Mr Porter is an atypical chop house and an equally indulgent space to meet…
Leave a CommentCradled by a series of lush mountain ranges, forests and valleys, Piloña is the perfect rural basecamp from which to explore the “Natural Paradise” of…
Leave a CommentWhether you’re in need of a post-fiesta brunch, an evening feast with friends or a place to meet for drinks, GiGi Von Tapas is the sort of place you’ll want filed away in your mental Roladex of Barcelona restaurants.
Leave a CommentFrom tips on where to eat in the city nicknamed “La Grassa” (The Fat One) to advice on what see between meals, this is your guide to the very best things to do in Bologna.
Leave a CommentWhether you’re visiting for a lazy weekend or an adventurous hiking/ski holiday in the nearby Dolomites, here are the best things to see and do in the Alpine oasis of Trento, Italy.
Leave a CommentWith small groups, friendly guides and an admirable approach to responsible tourism, Buena Vista Bike Tours in Barcelona is a prime example of how all tour companies should be run.
Leave a CommentEssential tips on what to see and do in the seductively archaic city of Naples, as well as a few pointers on exploring the nearby beauty spots.
Leave a CommentA journey round my apartment in Gijón, Asturias (northern Spain) – with video.
4 CommentsIf you like to travel slow, eat copious amounts of seafood and skip the crowds, a trip to Sète (from Barcelona or pretty much anywhere in France) really should be on your itinerary.
2 Comments… a more simple way of life in ‘Green Spain’.
2 CommentsApril 23rd in Barcelona is all about celebrating love, literature and Catalonia’s dragon-slaying patron saint. Here’s how and where to do it!
Leave a CommentA hotel I can confidently recommend to anyone looking for a little romance and luxury within walking distance of Barcelona’s best bits.
Leave a CommentWhen air travel is not only about getting somewhere, but about escaping everywhere.
Leave a CommentOne of the highlights of my time is Israel was bouncing around the dusty Negev Desert on Adam Sela’s four-wheel-drive tour.
Leave a CommentAs the largest of Spain’s blissful Balearic Islands, Mallorca is a distillation of all that makes Mediterranean life so alluring.
Leave a CommentI’ve always been something of an idealist. When I moved to Barcelona, it was all about living ‘the good life on the Mediterranean’. I was…
1 Comment‘Carnaval’ is to Spain as Halloween is to the US and UK. A chance to get dressed up as a monster or your favourite super…
Leave a CommentLittle glimpses of the daily grind. Magic in the mundane. The joy of outside perspective.
Leave a CommentWhen I think of Wales, I think of home. I think of my friends and family… my sunburned youth. Of endless days at the beach, chasing waves and girls. Summers spent in soggy tents and cars without air conditioning.
4 CommentsFaro is an incredible city with so much wonder, beauty, and culture to enjoy. But it’s often overlooked by tourists, many of whom travel to…
Leave a CommentLife in Asturias is less about sophisticated urban living and more about connecting with nature and the ‘Costa Verde’. To see why, all you need…
Leave a CommentMy guide to the very best things to do in Jordan – everything from Petra and Amman to the Dead Sea and Wadi Rum desert.
2 CommentsWhen I was a boy, before the days of the Internet, before I ever knew I would grow up to be a “travel blogger”, I…
Leave a CommentNuzzled away deep in the south of France, just outside the region of Provence and only 10 km from the Mediterranean Sea, Montpellier is undeniably one of the most charming cities in Europe.
6 CommentsDear friends, family and fellow drifters, I have some personal news that I wanted to share with you, a sort of quick life update…
54 CommentsFallen in love with Barcelona? Want to invest in something special to take home and remind you of your time in the Catalan capita? I’m…
Leave a CommentI’ve been back home in España for a week now and have loved getting stuck back into my writing and photography. I feel so lucky…
1 CommentOne day in Madrid – with a camera.
1 CommentFrom island escapes and city breaks in Spain, France and Italy to cultural crusades in Jordan, these are the places I recommend visiting in 2019 (based on my experiences in 2018).
Leave a CommentWondering where to go skiing/snowboarding in Switzerland? Fancy learning to ski in the Swiss Alps? Wengen could be the perfect place for you…
Leave a CommentI’ve been home in Wales for the last week or so, catching up with old friends and family. Drinking endless pints of Guinness and Gower…
Leave a CommentJust two hours away from Barcelona, or an hour from Tarragona, the Delta de l’Ebre natural park offers a rejuvenating escape for those times when you feel the urge to cut ties with the modern world and reconnect with Mother Nature.
Leave a CommentIf you’re looking at hip boutiques in the centre of Barcelona and want something a little bit more progressive, you’ll struggle to find anywhere that competes with this new trailblazer.
Leave a CommentMy personal and somewhat overly-sentimental guide to the best things to do in Seville.
11 CommentsJust a short stroll away from Gaudí’s emblematic Sagrada Familia, the Hospital de la Santa Creu i de Sant Pau is one of the most spectacular examples of Catalan modernism in Barcelona. A must for all architecture lovers.
1 CommentCommissioned by business magnate Manuel Vicens, Casa Vicens was the first house Antoni Gaudí ever designed and is credited for inspiring the Catalan Modernisme architectural movement.
Leave a CommentThe most essential things to do, see, eat and drink in the beautifully well-worn Portuguese metropolis of Porto.
1 CommentReady for a dose of Finnish history, culture and art? Here are some of the very best museums, art galleries and cultural centres in…
Leave a CommentJust arrived in Madrid? Then head straight to the handsome main square of Plaza Mayor! Hop from tapas bar to tapas bar, watch the street performers and take part in Madrid’s endless cultural events. You have arrived.
Leave a CommentTips on Formentera’s best beaches, restaurants, hotels and must-see landmarks – an essential one-day guide for people heading over on the ferry from Ibiza.
Leave a CommentHeld over four days every September, as summer turns to autumn, La Mercè celebrates Barcelona’s patron saint and is unquestionably the city’s largest and most…
1 CommentCelebrate Barcelona’s creative culinary community at All Those – one of Barcelona’s original pop-up foodie markets.
Leave a CommentMy favourite things to do in Galicia in northern Spain, from tips on exploring Santiago de Compostela to hunting out the region’s best vineyards, beaches, palaces and seafood restaurants.
Leave a CommentIt’s easy to feel powerless and disheartened in these infuriating moments, but remember that the law is on your side. And there are companies out there that exist purely to help you get the compensation you deserve.
3 CommentsThe secret’s out! The perfect beach town for family fun and romantic getaways – near Seville, Jerez and the the best of southern Spain.
11 CommentsBarcelona’s street parties are legendary but the Festa Major de Gràcia (held every August) is the biggest and the best. A photo journal.
1 CommentPhoto Journal: The anarchic ’diables’ (devils) of Catalunya and their explosive ‘correfocs’ (fire runs) are immensely important features of Catalan culture.
4 CommentsThere’s a reason why Dalí signed his work as ‘Gala Salvador Dalí’. Many reasons, in fact…
Leave a CommentThere are so many fascinating architectural designs and stories to uncover in Barcelona – Rafael Gómez-Moriana shares some of the very best on FLC’s Barcelona Architecture Tour.
Leave a CommentAn escape from the sticky July heat and maddening crowds of Barcelona.
2 CommentsEnjoy live jazz, Catalan cava and romantic city views from the rooftop of one of Antoni Gaudi’s most famous buildings.
Leave a CommentFrom dusty old bodegas where you can pour your plonk straight from the barrel to trendy wine bars specialising in natural and organic wines from the local vineyards of Catalonia – this is where to tip a few vinos back in Barcelona!
Leave a CommentThis is my guide to ‘the other Ibiza’, to the romantic, tranquilo, hippy side of the island, to what I’d like to think of as ‘the real Ibiza’. Based on my ridiculously romantic experience with my girlfriend Rosana.
7 CommentsA small selection of my personal favourite tapas bars in Barcelona – perfect at any time of day or night, and on any budget.
3 CommentsA visit to Barcelona’s 113-year-old Modelo prison, the site of some 1,000 executions, the most recent of which was in 1974.
1 CommentThis is my travel guide to the best things to do and see in Cantabria, northern Spain, with essential tips on where to eat, drink and sleep – in the capital city of Santander and beyond.
1 CommentJust me, my camera and a sense of total liberation. Seeking action, seeking shade… seeking everything and nothing in particular.
Leave a CommentSoulfully gratifying British and American pies (savoury and sweet) lovingly handmade on the premises and expertly paired with local craft brews.
Leave a CommentMy new travel book, ‘Barcelona Precincts’, is now available worldwide – online and at all good bookshops! “A curated guide to Barcelona’s best shops, eateries, bars and other hangouts.”
1 CommentI’ve written about Mano Rota before. So have a lot of people. It’s one of my favourite restaurants in Barcelona and their new vegetarian…
Leave a CommentMy essential tips on what to see, do and eat on your first trip to Barcelona, as well as essential advice on what NOT to do.
8 CommentsOne of Barcelona’s oldest and most important hotels located in the city centre. Its sumptuous Art Deco style, refined dining options and impressive rooftop terrace (with pool) make this one of the most romantic 4-star hotels in Barcelona.
Leave a CommentThe Omio (formerly GoEuro) app makes it possible to explore Spain and the rest of Europe with just a few swipes of your finger, saving you cash and travel time in the process. Vamos!
2 CommentsSpain’s third largest city is famous for its blissfully sunny climate, fragrant orange trees, soft-sand beaches, culture-packed old town and, of course, for being the birthplace of paella! Here’s how to experience the best of it in just 2 or 3 days!
3 CommentsHotel Medium Valencia is an extremely comfortable 4-star hotel located within walking distance of Valencia’s iconic City of Arts and Sciences and the historic old town – and cycling distance from the city beaches.
1 CommentWe’ve all seen it in the movies, now let’s see if it’s true… It’s easy to get carried away by the romance of Rome –…
2 CommentsFrom advice on the the best way to visit the Vatican City, Roman Forum and Colosseum to tips on where to eat & drink the best pizza, pasta, gelato, wine and coffee in Rome, these are what I believe to be the best things to see, do and eat in Rome. Andiamo!
6 CommentsHoused in a converted palazzo, this classic 4-star hotel is conveniently located in Rome’s Centro Storico (historic heart).
1 CommentNorthern Spain seems to have a way of drawing me back. For one reason or another I have visited this rugged “Green Coast” more than any other part of my adoptive home country.
Leave a CommentEl Born is my absolute favourite neighbourhood in Barcelona’s historic old town and Wanderbeak’s ‘Born to Eat’ food tour is the ultimate way to explore it – one mouthful at a time.
Leave a CommentI feel like I say this all the time, but I’ll say it again anyway – Sant Antoni is my favourite barrio in Barcelona.…
Leave a CommentThoughts, reflections and photographs from my life in Barcelona.
10 CommentsThe Torre Glòries skyscraper is one of Barcelona’s tallest and most iconic buildings – every bit as recognisable as the peaks of Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia. When…
Leave a CommentFrom sandy beach boardwalks and urban cycle lanes to pine-scented mountain bike trails and family-friendly parks, there truly is something for every type of rider in Barcelona. Here are my favourite routes.
5 CommentsFrom exotic paradise islands to 24-hour party cities, here are a few idyllic winter sun destinations to get your fix.
Leave a Comment2017. It’s been a hell of a year. Not just for me, but for all of us. But I’m choosing to focus on the…
4 CommentsAn obvious choice for travellers in search of the good life in Barcelona.
Leave a CommentMy favourite time to be in the Catalan capital…
Leave a CommentA funky 4-star design hotel right in the heart of Barcelona, near Las Ramblas and the best of the old town. A spectacular rooftop terrace seals the deal.
Leave a CommentBecause Barcelona is one of the jolliest places to be during the holiday season!
2 CommentsA few of my personal favourite French restaurants in Barcelona – here’s where to go when you’ve had your fill of Spanish tapas.
Leave a CommentI don’t usually spend my Sundays hanging around train stations, but Barcelona’s Sants Estacio is not your average train station. It’s located just at the…
Leave a CommentI’ve been living in Sants for a couple of years now and these are what I personally consider to be the best local restaurants and tapas bars.
Leave a CommentExplore the best photography spots in Barcelona and learn how to capture better images.
2 CommentsJust an hour away from Barcelona, Tarragona is a Medieval metropolis boasting 2,000 years of history, traditional tapas bars and beautiful beaches.
4 CommentsI was travelling through Santiago de Compostela recently and tried to capture the moments of pilgrims arriving at their final destination after hiking the Camino.
Continue ReadingPhoto Essay: A Pilgrim’s Arrival in Santiago de Compostela, Galicia (Northern Spain)
Leave a Comment Experience authentic flamenco (dance and music) in a 17th century Baroque palace.
Leave a CommentFrom market nibbles and bodega bites to avant-garde tapas and ‘surf & turf’ delights, the Barcelona Food Experiences tour is a delectable way to taste and understand Catalonia’s world-class cuisine.
Leave a CommentHalf an hour away from Barcelona lies one of the most romantic beach resorts in Europe. Day trip, anyone?
1 CommentInterview: Discover the best of Barcelona’s independent fashion scene with Marwa and Adela from Wandermoda shopping experiences.
Leave a CommentAnd it’s not just because of the eternal sunshine and blissful city beaches…
Leave a CommentAfter more blackouts and fuzzy mornings than I dare admit, this is my boozy guide to the very best cocktail bars in Barcelona.
2 CommentsThough she was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts, Sarah Gemba became wildly obsessed with the Spanish way of life at a young age and…
Leave a CommentI found some old photos the other day. They were the photos I took on my very first day in Barcelona…
Leave a CommentA must for avid footie fanatics coming to Barcelona.
Leave a CommentI’m still in shock, mortified by what’s happened. But this is still our Barcelona. This is still our city of peace, love and joy. A city…
Leave a CommentFour-star contemporary design within strolling distance of Barcelona city centre and Antoni Gaudí’s Modernist masterpieces.
Continue ReadingAlexandra Hotel (Eixample, Barcelona) ~ 4* Contemporary Design, Urban Sophistication
Leave a Comment 