Hannah Pennell

It’s hard to imagine a better city break location than Barcelona: the restaurant scene is among the best in the world, the architecture is magnificent, the nightlife is buzzing and the museums and attractions are fascinating. Oh, and it just so happens to be perched right on the med, meaning you can even head to one of the city’s many beaches for a dip. With so much to see, it can be hard to pick a base for your trip. Do you opt for the medieval charm of the Gothic Quarter, with its winding alleyways and architectural marvels, the emerging art scene of formerly industrial neighbourhood Poblenou, or the glamour of the affluent Dreta de l'Eixample, where you’ll be surrounded by some of the city’s greatest examples of modernisme architecture? To help, we’ve put together the essential guide to where to stay in Barcelona, breaking it down neighbourhood by neighbourhood so you can find where suits you best. RECOMMENDED: 🎟️ The best things to do in Barcelona🍸 The best rooftop bars in Barcelona🏨 The best hotels in Barcelona☕️ The best cafés in Barcelona🌳 The best parks and gardens in Barcelona This guide was written by the editorial team at Time Out Barcelona. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

Planning a sunny getaway? You're in the right place. The largest of the Balearic Islands, Mallorca has been one of Spain’s most popular holiday destinations for decades. Which is good news for you, because you know you can trust it for a good time. Whatever you're seeking out, you'll find it here. Want a luxury, adults-only hotel overlooking the Med? Done. Prefer a historical building with a spa included? No problem. Has to be family-friendly? Easy. It's somewhere you won't mind splashing the cash on a little. So go ahead and scroll through our top pick of the best hotels in Mallorca. RECOMMENDED:🏖️ Keep yourself busy with our guide to things to do in Mallorca😎 Looking for more inspiration in the archipelago? Discover the best of Ibiza🐚 Travel further afield with this guide to the city of Valencia Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every hotel featured below, we've based our list on top reviews and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

Make no doubt about it: Barcelona is the best. And hey, we won’t judge you if you never, ever want to leave. But it’s good to have options, right? So in the case of transparency, we thought we’d let you know that there are tons of beautiful cities across Catalonia, all reachable as a single day trip from its capital. Oh, and we’ve narrowed it down to the top five.  Down the coast are Sitges and Tarragona, two towns overflowing with history, beaches and good food; to the north lies the sacred mountain of Montserrat; and in the north-east you’ll find Girona and Cadaqués. The former is a prosperous town full of ancient remains (and one of the world’s best restaurants); the latter, once home to Salvador Dalí, is a fishing village rich with beauty and art. Whichever you choose, here are the best day trips from Barcelona.  RECOMMENDED:🏖️ The best beaches in Barcelona🥘 The best restaurants in Barcelona📍 The best things to do in Barcelona⛪ The best attractions in Barcelona This article was written by the editorial team at Time Out Barcelona. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Quite apart from the endless array of brilliant things to do, restaurants and attractions within the city itself, Madrid is also an excellent base for exploring the rest of Spain – thanks in no small part to its location at the heart of the country. High-speed train connections will whisk you off to all the day trips from Madrid listed here, while coach and car rental services are also available for cheaper or more flexible travel alternatives. To the north are Segovia and Burgos, each brimming with striking architecture from times past and mouthwatering local specialities. In the east you’ll find Cuenca, renowned for its Hanging Houses and blessed with unforgettable natural beauty. Heading south, there’s Toledo and Córdoba, two cities that cling proudly to their fascinating, rich multicultural pasts. With marvels ranging from Roman remains to marzipan treats, centuries-old religious buildings to natural stone sculptures, you’ll no doubt want to stay in Madrid much, much longer – if only to make the most of the surrounding scenery. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best things to do in Madrid

Nowadays most of us are simply incapable of living without internet access; without the ability to send WhatsApps, complain on Twitter and Instagram images about what's going on around us. And, paradoxically, it can still be difficult to find bars with free WiFi in some places, including Girona. After a lot of research and coffees, however, we've managed to put together this list. Bars where you can send mails, tweets and photos without worrying about your mobile bill at the end of the month. And if you find somewhere else not on the list, don't forget to add it in the comments section below! 

Girona is, probably, one of the cities in Spain with the most inviting cafés per square metre. These are places ideal for taking a break from it all, and enjoying a quality cup of coffee or tea. The list is pretty long but below you'll find some of the best ones in the city, as well as a couple worth going out of town for. 

When you're in the mood for catching a film on a screen bigger than your laptop, head to these Barcelona cinemas where you can see movies as they were meant to be seen – larger than life and in their original language. When you're looking at film listings, check that the feature is shown in 'V.O.' ('versión original'), unless of course you want to practise your Spanish or Catalan with a movie that has been dubbed... See you at the pictures!

Whether you're calling Barcelona home for now or you're on holiday, it's always great to take some time out with a good book. Maybe you prefer reading in your native English, or you're improving your English skills. Either way, in these Barcelona bookshops that have sections of books in English or are completely dedicated to serving the English-reading community in town, you can pick up a classic or a bestseller, a brand-new or second-hand novel, guidebook or non-fiction, reading material for kids and more.