There are so many things to do in Barcelona it’s difficult for a tourist to find time to do them all, and had even greater difficulty deciding what to see and do, since they are all fantastic. It’s even a special experience spending the day in one of the city’s numerous parks, some of which also have museums and cultural centers. In addition to the standard entertainment venues and cultural aspects the city offers, there are numerous festivals that are celebrated throughout the year and they also attract many tourists who fill the Barcelona boutique hotels.

Whatever the reason for visiting Barcelona, and however one’s day may be filled, experiencing the nightlife and club scene is always a great way to wind down or even party all night. There are bars and clubs to suit all interests, personalities, persuasions, ages and genders. It’s difficult to get more diverse than that. 23 Robadors is well known to residents, and is considered to be a true find when tourists open its old doors on the rickety old street. It is an informal club with exposed brick walls and timber beams on the ceiling. It features light jazz on Wednesdays and Flamenco on Sundays.

Aire is a sexual orientation open bar. It is part of the gay disco chain venues known as Arena, though this bar is low key and there is a diverse mix of patrons. It is generally accepted to be a lesbian dance bar, though everyone is welcome and everyone comes. The Baja Beach Club is an intriguing and lively club, featuring go go dancers from both sexes. It blasts dance music and is considered to be a great place for meeting people. It overlooks the beach, which enhances its ambiance, and also attracts the beach crowd. Daguiri is an interesting bar, and generally full of travelers, whether they be general life travelers or tourists. It offers good food and a nice patio to enjoy a drink on a warm summer evening.

Much of the city of Barcelona shuts down during the summer months. However, at least one major cultural celebration event takes center stage in this beautiful coastal city. The Festival Grec is a multiple art genre event that includes theatre, dance and music. Performers even take to the streets and present impromptu scenes and monologues for visiting tourists and locals alike. Information for the festival should be available to out of town guests who are staying at one of the 5 star Barcelona hotels.

Montjuic is a large hill on the southwest edge of the city and over looks the splendor of the harbor. The Greek amphitheatre on Montjuic is one of the most well known venues of the festival. This is also the birthplace of the Festival Grec. In 1976 a group of passionate writers, directors and actors got together at the amphitheatre and staged some performances. Another major attraction on Montjuic is the Magic Fountain. The fountain is an amazing combination of light, music, water and motion. The first performance of the Fountain was in 1929 as part of the Great Universal Exhibition. It was designed by Carles Buigas. Other prominent venues for the festival include Teatre Nacional de Catalunya and L’Auditori.

Festival Grec, as it is commonly refereed to, takes place every summer and this year will feature performances from some of the top artists around the world. Among them are Joss Stone, Brian Wilson and Marianne Faithful. It attracts not only international stars but an international audience as well. The amphitheatre is located near Barcelona’s Olympic Stadium. The stadium was originally built in 1927 to host the 1929 Barcelona World’s Fair. It was rebuilt in 1986 to host the 1992 Olympics.