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Traveling with Atlas Obscura amid COVID-19 How We’re Adapting Our Trips Destination Requirements (via Embassy Pages)Join us for behind-the-scenes perspectives and special access to stunning sights and hidden wonders in this Mediterranean capital city. During a week of new and unusual experiences, you’ll be intrigued, entranced, and surprised at every step. Wandering through Barcelona’s historic streets and cobblestone squares, we’ll discover marvelous locations such as a Baroque anatomical amphitheater, a former Masonic Temple, and a subterranean bomb shelter. We’ll celebrate this festive season with shows inspired by Barcelona's golden age of classical music and cabaret, and don our best outfits for a private Carnival-inspired Gala inside a Belle Époque atelier. Whether it will be your first time in Barcelona or your fifth, this adventure is an extraordinary opportunity to fully immerse yourself in one of the most diverse and breathtaking cities in Europe.
Arrive in Barcelona and settle into our hotel, a 19th-century building located near Plaça Catalunya. We’ll meet at 6 p.m. for a proper welcome, then set out before dinner for a short tour exploring the myths and mysteries of ancient Barcelona. We’ll walk into the medieval district towards Santa Maria del Pi Church, home to some of Barcelona's most enigmatic passages of history, from ghost stories and the legacy of the Inquisition to alchemy and occult sciences. Along the way, we’ll see Sant Just i Pastor, rumored to be the oldest church in the city. We’ll end our stroll with dinner at Els Quatre Gats, a local favorite founded in 1897 that once played host to famous artists such as Gaudí and Picasso throughout Catalonia’s modernist period. Here, we’ll raise our glasses to celebrate the beginning of an exciting week ahead.
Hotel Barcelona Granvia or similar, Barcelona
Welcome Dinner
We’ll begin the day with a visit to the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, housed within the grandiose Palau Nacional. Exploring the museum vaults, we’ll unveil the secrets of the National Palace itself, home to Romanesque paintings, Gothic and Renaissance sculptures, and Baroque and Romantic masterpieces. Among the most impressive private rooms (back above ground) is the Josep Lluís Sert Gallery, with original paintings from Victor Sasson’s Art Déco mansion in London. Relax and enjoy lunch at the restaurant Oleum, located in the former throne room of Spanish king Alfonso XIII and boasting the best panoramic views of Barcelona. In the afternoon, we’ll rediscover Barcelona's great International Exposition of 1929 held atop Montjuïc, a mountain revered as magical since antiquity. From here, the evening is yours to relax, wander, and dine on your own.
Hotel Barcelona Granvia or similar, Barcelona
Breakfast, Lunch
Today we’ll venture into the Raval district, where we’ll visit aristocratic palaces and former medical institutions. Our first stop will be the splendid private club at the Liceu Theater, a 19th-century art nouveau treasure. We’ll then visit the Rococo anatomical amphitheater—one of the most well preserved in the world—located at the Royal College of Surgeons. We’ll hear about the decadent Belle Époque era in Raval and the frightening story of Enriqueta Martí, a serial killer said to be the “vampire of Raval.” For lunch, we’ll settle in at Fonda Espanya, a restaurant located in a fabulous hotel built by the prominent architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner, who also designed the Palau de la Música Catalana and the Hospital de Sant Pau. In the afternoon, we’ll dive into Barcelona’s sin city: “Barri Xino,” frequented in the 1930s by writers such as Jean Genet and Georges Bataille. Tracing the route of their adventures, we’ll pass through a neighborhood defined by its scandalous brothels, cabarets, and clubs. Our day tops off at the tango bar Tinta Roja, where we’ll enjoy a cocktail and a tribute to the golden age of spectacle in Barcelona: a performance by one of Barcelona’s best in the contemporary cabaret scene.
Hotel Barcelona Granvia or similar, Barcelona
This morning, we’ll kick off the day with a visit to the beautiful Biblioteca Pública Arús, a former masonic temple that remains incredibly well preserved. We’ll have a light lunch of traditional Catalan cuisine at Can Culleretes, the oldest active restaurant in the city, dating back to 1786. Then we’ll continue to Palau Güell, an astonishing aristocratic residence built by Antoni Gaudí for his patron, Eusebi Güell. Güell, one of the richest men in Spain, commissioned the world-famous Park Güell, replete with its iconic mosaics. After some downtime at the hotel, we’ll regroup this evening for a delicious dinner at Hotel 1898.
Hotel Barcelona Granvia or similar, Barcelona
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning, we’ll begin in the former village of Sant Gervasi with an unusual tour through the splendor and decadence of bourgeois Barcelona. We’ll meander along Tibidabo Avenue and visit the palace that hosted the Soviet embassy in 1936, learning in detail about Soviet intervention in the Spanish Civil War. We’ll trace the path of aristocratic residences, such as Casa Rocamora, a historic 19th-century mansion with one of the most impressive private collections in the city. For lunch, we’ll settle into the restaurant Asador de Aranda, then continue with a visit the Almirall Library. Known for its masonic architecture, it is now a private residence. Here, we’ll enjoy a relaxed and romantic evening, with a glass of cava and a classical music concert. The private piano performance will feature the music of famous composers who lived close to Tibidabo, such as Richard Strauss and Enrique Granados. Sit back and soak in the music within this serene historic space.
Hotel Barcelona Granvia or similar, Barcelona
Breakfast, Lunch
Today we’ll explore the history of science and medicine with a visit inside the Sant Pau i la Santa Creu complex. The Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau (Hospital of the Holy Cross and Saint Paul), now a World Heritage Site, is an extraordinary example of Catalan neogothic architecture, home to spectacular sculptures and mosaics. Afterwards, we'll visit the civil war shelter from 1936 at Plaza del Diamant. For lunch, we’ll drop into the restaurant Da Greco, which has a variety of delicious pastas and seafoods. The restaurant is located in Gràcia. An independent village until 1897, it’s well known today for being one of the biggest cultural centers in the city. Take some time to rest or wander on your own, since this evening we have our exciting final soirée. We'll gather back together at Oleguer Junyent's workshop, an extraordinary Belle Époque atelier. Venture into the private art studio of a Catalan genius who devoted his life to painting, writing, collecting, and stage design. In addition to Oleguer's paintings, sculptures, models, and various other works, the workshop contains one of the most complete collections of automata in the city. Here in this unique atelier, we’ll pay tribute to Barcelona’s most memorable Carnival nights with a private dinner, the best wines, and opera and mentalism performances inspired by the Masquerades from the Belle Époque.
Hotel Barcelona Granvia or similar, Barcelona
Breakfast, Lunch, Light Dinner
This morning, we bid farewell to new friends and our wonderful guides. Depart for flights or trains home, or onto your next destination. Until the next adventure!
Breakfast
The listed price of this trip is per person based on double occupancy.
You’re in good company. Solo travelers typically make up about half of our small groups. With curiosity at the center of our experiences, there’s a natural camaraderie that develops over the course of a trip. We have two options for you:
Shared Room (subject to the latest Covid-19 guidelines): You'll be matched with another solo traveler of the same gender.
Private Room: Have your own room, subject to availability, for a supplemental cost of $485 ($570 for May & Oct 2022 departures). After booking your trip, please request a private room when you fill out your traveler information form and we’ll add the option to your booking and final balance.
Travelers should be comfortable staying on their feet for long stretches at a time and walking up to six miles over the course of a day. We'll be out and about most of each day, with time to rest at lunch and dinner, both of which take place on the later side in Barcelona.
You should plan to arrive in Barcelona by 3 p.m. on Day 1 and depart anytime on Day 7.
If you are booking on the October 2022 departure, consider adding on some time in Catalonia on our Ancient Tradition and Avant-Garde Winemaking trip!
Most dietary restrictions can be accommodated, though in most cases ingredients can't be substituted or omitted from particular dishes. If you have a severe allergy, please contact us to find out if this is the right trip for you.
In addition to contributing to local economies, your trip helps preserve the region's artistic and cultural heritage—specifically surrounding stage arts in Barcelona. We'll visit museums actively restoring medieval artifacts, eat at historic restaurants that source locally ("Can Culleretes" also contributes to the preservation of historical businesses in the city), and collaborate with local artists from Barcelona's cabaret, classical dance, and magic scenes. In addition, our participation in private gala supports local families and encourages them to protect and preserve their private collections.
Visa requirements for Spain vary depending on traveler citizenship. Please check requirements for travel to Spain and any countries passed through in transit. A passport is required for international travel. We recommend your passport expire at least six months after your return home.