Both 888poker LIVE and the PokerStars European Poker Tour will be making marquee stops at Casino Barcelona in the coming months. The seaside Spanish city is one of the most popular destinations in the poker world, and for good reason. When we poker players travel, sometimes we tend to get a little single-minded and take for granted the history, culture, and beauty just outside the doors of the poker room. In this article, I want to encourage you to explore beyond those boundaries, and offer some professional travel advice on just a few of the amazing sights found in and around the beautiful Mediterranean city of Barcelona.
Barcelona is very much like New York City, or any other large metropolitan city: you’re not going to see it all in a span of two weeks (even if your time was solely dedicated to sightseeing). Below I have hand-picked a list of the top things to do while in the city, from an array of different categories. Before diving into your specific interests, I would suggest taking a ride on the Hop-on/Hop-off bus. This is an excellent way to orient yourself with a new destination, and even as a travel professional myself, it’s something I always do in every new city. Once you have acquainted yourself with the layout of Barcelona, you can really start exploring all the unique traits found within and around the Catalonian capital.
Barcelona Culture
The cornerstone of the cultural experience in Barcelona is Sagrada Familia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is designed in the Gothic style by Gaudi, and is the largest unfinished Catholic Church in the world. You can’t Google Barcelona without it coming up first! For those that would like to experience more of Antonio Gaudi’s art, you might visit Park Guell or Casa Batllo. If your taste is more modern or contemporary, you would probably prefer a trip to the Picasso or Miro Museums. Remember to check the websites to find out if you need to pre-purchase tickets or if they require timed entrances. With smaller museums, this is often the case.
The truest cultural experience to be had in the city would be a visit to the Gothic Quarter. This is where the past meets present, and within the Gothic Quarter you will also find the Jewish Quarter. The architecture is a mixture of centuries old buildings standing right beside recently built structures, and the Sinagoga Major, located in the Jewish Quarter, is one of the oldest Synagogues in Europe. This area shows the culture of the modern, working Catalonian. There are local shops, street artisans, and cafes, and at night it is brought to life with bars and clubs.

The Las Ramblas pedestrian thoroughfare in the heart of Barcelona
Barcelona for Foodies
Take the time to savor the local wine and cuisine of the region. There are no shortages of wine and tapas tours found online. You can easily book any number. However, as someone who tends to stay off the beaten path myself, I usually take things a step further. I build my own food tour. Instead of going with commercially recommended stops from restaurants and bars that have paid for a spot on a tour, I ask locals once I arrive. I get away from my hotel, and when I’m in shops like those you’ll find in the Gothic Quarter, I ask about their favorite Tapas bar. I find out where the workers that are assisting me in retail or restaurants are going when their shifts are through. I’ll take their suggestions, and visit two or three different bars or restaurants, and try the dishes they recommend.
For those of you looking for a more refined experience, Barcelona boasts 31 Michelin Starred restaurants, three of which are rated Three Stars. If you’re having trouble deciding, try Lasarte at the Monument Hotel located in the heart of town. Not only is the food amazing, but the ambience and scenery is an added bonus!
Barcelona: The Great Outdoors
For those who love to hit the beaches, Barceloneta Beach is mere steps from the casino. So take a break in between poker tournaments or decompress after playing in a cash game by relaxing in the sand. I love the water, but I hate the sand, so there are great sailing excursions available throughout the day. After sitting at the poker tables for hours at a time, why not rent a bike or take a bike tour to work out some of the stiffness? It will definitely beat hitting the indoor gym at your hotel!
Barcelona Day Trips
If you have the opportunity, get out of the city for a full day, or even overnight. There are plenty of gorgeous towns within an hour or two drive of the city, or you could even take the ferry to Mallorca. Figueres is most notably home to the Dali Museum. It is an hour train ride from Barcelona, located on the Costa Brava. Montserrat is about an hour and a half north of the city, and is home to a beautiful Benedictine Monastery at the top of a mountain. You can visit the church, and then finish your trip with a vineyard tour and wine tasting.
Another option would be a beach day on Mallorca. The ferry journey to and from is about 3.5 hours, but the views are breathtaking. If you don’t want to spend the full day on the beach there, rent an ATV or buggy and explore the island. These are just a few of the numerous places within a short distance of Barcelona.
Despacito: There’s No Rush in Spain
If you’ve flown halfway around the world to get to Spain, I strongly suggest that you don’t just restrict your stay to just Barcelona! There are several options for you to enjoy if you choose to extend your poker trip, but I would most likely recommend heading to Madrid for a few days. The bullet train will get you there in about two and a half hours, non-stop. Besides the insane cash games the Spanish capital offers, you will find many similarities in the two cities, but also, you will see that Madrid really exceeds Barcelona in art, history, and nightlife. A few places not to be missed are the Royal Palace, the Prado Museum, and Almudena Cathedral. I would recommend leaving yourself at least three additional days for touring.
While I realize there’s no way you can experience even half of what I’m recommending, I hope this gives you a foundation to begin your exploration. Barcelona is such an amazing city, and it truly would be a shame to limit yourself to only experiencing great poker while you’re there!
Need help in booking your Barcelona poker vacation? Reach out to me for assistance via email or visit My Travel Envy.