Catalonia: the ideal destination for long weekend fun

Why not take advantage of a long weekend to party with friends or family, enjoy the beach and get scared on thrill rides? It’s all possible just a stone’s throw from France! In this article, I’d like to share with you my experience and tips for discovering Catalonia, from Barcelona to Tarragona, via Portaventura.

Why the short-stay idea?

All thanks to my 18-year-old stepson, who had the idea of going to Spain with his best friends to party and have fun in the Portaventura park. With a driver’s license in hand and the age of majority, Barcelona and its nightclubs and Portaventura are attractive and accessible destinations for young adults.

Since no one was really motivated to plan the trip, he dropped the idea. But his father decided to surprise him by organizing the trip for him as a birthday present.

Here we are, looking at the good deals and long weekends available for the group of friends. First of all, you need to know that Portaventura opens every year at the beginning of April. For 2019, we had to leave after April 6 and wait for the school vacations so that the teens could all be available. Also, if you want to go during these periods, make sure you don’t go during Holy Week! A lot of Spaniards are on vacation, so prices are going up.

I think May and June can be very interesting too, as the nights are even milder!

How to get there

It all depends on where you’re coming from 🙂 Personally, I live near Nantes, so if you’re coming from another region, you’ll have to adapt that, of course!

If you’re going away with several people, we recommend renting a minibus! There are many advantages to this mode of transport:

• You can send up to 9 people and cut costs
• You’ll be more independent when it comes to getting around Catalonia
• If there are several drivers, possibility of rotating to avoid fatigue
• Luggage space
• Carpooling possible to share costs

For this trip, Hertz was the most competitive rental company, but don’t hesitate to shop around. You’ll pay around 315 euros for a 5-day rental. Add another 60 euros for another driver.

Also allow for freeway tolls (145 euros) and full tanks of petrol (90 euros x 3 full tanks = 270 euros).

Where to stay?

When you’re in a group, the best thing to do in Catalonia is to think about campsites. Located by the sea, they are a very interesting economic alternative. And if you’re planning to do some sightseeing (Barcelona, Tarragona, Portaventura…), their location in the middle of everything is perfect.

After some research, our choice fell on the Torre de la Mora campsite. An hour from Barcelona and 25 minutes from Portaventura, this very clean campsite with heated communal sanitary facilities (a joy!!) offered a wide range of gîtes and unusual tents for atypical nights.

For teenagers, we booked a gîte for 6 people (60 euros per night, i.e. 240 euros for 4 nights).

As for us, we decided to try a night in a “forest tent” (32 euros per night, i.e. 128 euros for 4 nights). This was a first for us, as we love the natural way of life. Admittedly, the tent is rudimentary, with toilets and showers in communal areas, but what a joy to hear the sound of the sea at bedtime! 🙂

If you’re going away in May or June and want to save on the price of overnight stays, you can also plan to take tents with you! Pitches are available and inevitably cheaper than the accommodation offered by the campsite.

Good to know: the campsite swimming pool opened on April 19, so if you want to take advantage of it, remember to leave after that date. You’ll also need to pay tourist tax.

What to visit

The Costa Dorada is the coastal area to the south of Catalonia. Its capital is Tarragona. Together with the provinces of Lleida, Barcelona and Girona, it forms Catalonia, one of Spain’s 17 autonomous regions.

The landscape of the Costa Daurada is highly varied: beach, countryside and mountains. There are nature reserves of great beauty: to the south, the Delta de Èbre Nature Park and the Tortosa-Besseit Ports National Reserve; to the west, the Montagnes de Prades, vast wooded areas where you can still find picturesque little villages living in harmony with their natural surroundings. The most interesting city from a cultural point of view is Tarragona, because of its history. It’s also one of the liveliest cities.

The coastline is now home to real towns, formerly small fishing villages, which have grown up to offer a wide range of services and attractions. They have become authentic tourist capitals. Famous beaches all over Spain are long and made of fine sand, as golden and clear as seawater.

As two days were devoted to the journey, we had 3 days to wander around and enjoy the coast. Here’s the program for our stay:

• Day 1: Departure for Spain
• Day 2: Barcelona sightseeing and clubbing for teens
• Day 3: sleep in and discover Tarragona in the afternoon
• Day 4: Day trip to Portaventura
• Day 5: Return to Nantes

Barcelona : a must-see

Sunshine, energy, dreamy architecture, sea views: this city has it all!

As one day may seem a short time to visit everything, here’s a suggestion for a walk to see the must-sees 🙂

• Park in Parking Viajeros. This convenient low-cost parking lot is located right in the heart of Barcelona. For 8 euros a day, your vehicle will be supervised and you can then walk 5 minutes to the metro. How convenient is that?
• Stroll along Las Ramblas

Las Ramblas is to Barcelona what the Champs-Élysées is to Paris. It’s a great place to stroll, with a host of street performers dressed up in all kinds of costumes and make-up. You’ll also find street vendors and beautiful cobblestone streets. For fashionistas and shopping fans, a visit to the Spanish chain Zara is a must, with its huge store on the corner of the starting point of Las Ramblas, Plaça Catalunya.

• Have lunch at the local Boqueria market

Halfway along the route, in one of the streets parallel to Las Ramblas, you’ll come across a beautiful covered market: the Boqueria market, full of mouth-watering fruit and vegetable stalls! Tapas and fresh fruit juices to take away: you’ll find everything you need for a picnic break at a very reasonable price 🙂(caution: closed on Sundays).

• Admire the works of Gaudi

Head for the Gracia district to admire some of the famous Catalan architect’s work.

Antoni Gaudí, born in 1852 and died in 1926, was responsible for many of Barcelona’s monuments, several of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Gifted with uncommon intuition and creative ability, Gaudí conceived his buildings in a holistic manner, from structural issues to functional and decorative aspects. He studied his creations down to the smallest detail, integrating into the architecture a whole range of crafts whose techniques he himself mastered to perfection: ceramics, glassware, ironwork, carpentry and so on. In this way, he introduced new techniques in the treatment of materials, such as his famous trencadis, made from broken pieces of ceramic.

In this part of town, you can discover three villas:

– La Casa Mila

Casa Mila, also known as La Pedrera, was created in the early 20th century. The building’s forms are very modern for the time, as they are not straight but undulate like waves. The mix of materials is also unusual for the time, which led to several alterations after its construction. The villa and its roof can be visited.

Building address: Provença, 261-265

– La Casa Vicens

Casa Vicens is Gaudi’s first major work. It can be seen from the outside, but cannot be visited. The villa is made up of straight lines and rounded shapes. Tiles form a stunning, colorful mosaic, giving it a unique style!

Building address: Carreró de les Carolines, 20

– Casa Batllo

Casa Batllo is a large, modern villa that is closer in style to Casa Mila than Vasa Vicens. The work has very few straight lines, and its curves flow like seaweed floating in water. Every element is carefully crafted. The staircase railings, the roofs, the window surrounds… This is something on the verge of the surreal.

Building address: Passeig de Gràcia, 43

After admiring these shop windows, head uptown towards the famous Parc Güell, one of Gaudi’s major achievements in the heights of the Catalan capital.

This park is one of the most beautiful in Spain. Here you’ll find magnificent structures such as a Salamander fountain and a large bench. Gaudi’s ambition was to turn Parc Güell into a veritable village, but he was unable to complete his work, which remains unfinished… like the Sagrada Familia 🙂

Please note: access to some parts of the park is subject to a charge (notably the bench – 10 euros).

Finally, before admiring the sunset on Barcelona’s beach, it’s impossible not to stop for a selfie in front of the Sagrada Familia .

La Sagrada Familia is THE monument to see in Barcelona. With almost 3 million visitors every year, Gaudí’s masterpiece, classified as a world heritage site by Unesco, surpasses the Alhambra in Granada and the Prado Museum in Madrid. Today, it is the most visited monument in Spain. Not due to be completed until 2026, it hides many secrets and mysteries behind its walls. If you want to visit, you’ll want to get there early, if only to be able to take a photo without having to dodge a crowd of enraged tourists. There is an entrance fee of between €13 and €15, but it’s especially crowded. If you’re short of time, a selfie is all you need to admire the building 🙂

• In the late afternoon, watch the sun set over Barcelona beach.

What better way to regain your strength than to take another break and enjoy the sunset on the fine sands of a beach?

There are many beaches in Barcelona. The most fun and accessible are the beaches of Barceloneta and Mar Bella, with their many beach bars!

For those who have already visited Barcelona and for whom all these visits are already known: I propose here two favourites: equally pleasant alternatives, especially for lovers of street art or shooting locations 🙂

– The Poblenou district: the vast El Poblenou district features tapas bars and trendy cafés along the Rambla de Poblenou boulevard, as well as restored factories housing new technology companies and design fairs. Around the Plaça des Gloires Catalanes are the Els Encants flea market, the futuristic Barcelona Design Museum and the Tour Glòries skyscraper, designed by architect Jean Nouvel. Ice-cream vendors set up shop on Bogatell beach, which attracts volleyball players.

If you’re a fan of urban art and like to explore the corners where a city’s best graffiti can be found, this is an ideal destination.

So, on the advice of a friend, we headed for the carrer de l’agricultura to admire these works of art, which are just sublime from my point of view 🙂

Round off your discovery of contemporary art at Fabienne’s Artevista art gallery in Passatje del Crédit.

An intimate passageway leads you to this landmark created by a Frenchwoman, which exhibits works of art by young artists like the ones I fell in love with! Me Lata. A couple who practice “ephemeral art, eternal love”. Their work, which you can find all over the city if you take the time to observe the alleyways, is made from recycled cans, tins and spray paint cans. Their fundamental principle is based on positivism. Considered activists, messengers, romantics and even artists, this artistic couple began to express their love for each other. Today, with some 500 urban art interventions in Barcelona, Mallorca and Badalona, these messages go further. Today, they see themselves as urban warriors trying to change the world. Their mission is to illuminate and humanize the hearts and cold, gray streets of cities.

Do you like it? I love these poetic artists 🙂 #happy

– My second and final favorite change from Parc Guell is Parc de la Ciutadella.

Very relaxing, people eat, play music, juggle, sleep, sail and tap dance! There are gentlemen who make giant bubbles to catch, and a very nice place for photo shoots 🙂 Two greenhouses in the park, one in glass and iron designed by Josep Amargós (1884), the second in brick and wood created by Josep Fontseré (1883). Both are now abandoned.

Tarragona : the little extra

If, like us, you have a total of five days’ travel time, Tarragona is a great little town to visit in an afternoon.

A surprising city where you can discover :

• a Roman amphitheatre overlooking the Mediterranean : this was the venue for events such as gladiatorial combat.

• the Balcó del Mediterrani (“Balcony of the Mediterranean”) and the Rambla Nova: at the end of the rambla nova is a splendid belvedere overlooking the sea and the beach. Tarragona’s main alley (over 150 years old) is a pleasant place to stroll afterwards, with the largest number of modern stores on either side, integrated into an architectural space unique for its buildings and history.

• the cathedral (12th-14th c.): built at the highest point of the city, on the site of the Roman temple dedicated to the emperor.

In the evening, you can admire theTarragona aqueduct (also known as the Aqueduc de les Ferreres or Devil’s Bridge). Access is through a wooded park to the right of the road to Valls. Its two rows of stone arches span a valley. You can walk down to the foot of the bridge to stand back and admire this little copy of the Pont du Gard.

Thrills and spills at Portaventura World

As great thrill-seekers as we are, it was with great pleasure that we rediscovered Portaventura. Especially since the first time, there was no Ferrari Land 🙂

The famous Spanish resort is made up of a water park and 2 theme parks. Having tested the American parks, Disneyland, Parc Astérix and Europa-Park, I have to admit that this park is by far my favorite! In terms of value for money and thrills for young and old alike, I think it’s the ideal place to relax and get away from it all, while enjoying the Mediterranean climate!

Presentation of the different parks and tips for a successful day 🙂

Port Aventura Park is packed with thrills and spills, endless rides for the kids, great entertainment and, for thrill-seekers, an impressive roller coaster. It’s also a change of scenery through five universes: Mexico, China, the Far West, Polynesia and the Mediterranean. Children will love the imaginary land of 1 Sesame Street, home to the park’s mascot characters: Elmo, Ernie and their friends.

Even though it was my second time in this park, I didn’t see the time go by and was once again thrilled by the thrill rides.

We started the morning in the world of the Wild West with an attraction I really like: Stampida . It’s a wooden roller coaster. You have a choice of red or blue carriages. This one-kilometer ride of ups and downs will take your breath away as you travel at 70 km/h. I advise you to try out both colors, as the sensations are so different!

After that, it’s off to China for my favorite attractions: Dragon Khan and Shambhala.

Each one offers completely different but breathtaking sensations.

Dragon Khan starts with a great descent, followed by 8 loops, which you will complete in 69 seconds, reaching a maximum speed of 110 km/h!

No loops at Shambhala, but hang on for dear life! This roller coaster is the tallest and longest drop in PortAventura Park, and is classified as a hypercoaster, characterized by its imposing size and height. Its five camelbacks (elevations during the ride) will give you the sensation of having lost contact with your seat, or even of flying! Very addictive 🙂

After these emotions (each time two or three times in a row :)), we head back to the wild west to refresh ourselves with the Silver River Flume, a ride on the water aboard a cut tree trunk.

We then head for the park entrance to enter Ferrari Land.

Before that, we can’t miss the park’s most famous attraction: Furious Baco.

This incredible catapult accelerates from 0 to 135 km/h in just 3 seconds. It has become Europe’s fastest roller coaster. It’s truly one of the most adrenalin-inducing rides around. Its 850-metre ride emphasizes power, speed and acceleration. Beware, the attraction is aging and not very head-friendly. I love it, but it gave me a headache.

Ferrari Land is the new kid on the block. A theme park unique in Europe, where you and your family can enjoy an exciting experience and discover all the secrets of the legendary Italian brand and its creator, Enzo Ferrari. I’d heard different things about this one, so I was delighted to be able to make up my own mind, and believe me, you won’t be disappointed!

Admittedly, there are very few attractions, which makes it complementary to the first park BUT, frankly, with RED FORCE, they’ve really hit the nail on the head!

Quite simply, it’s my best memory of the day. As a speed enthusiast, I was blown away by this F1-like acceleration of 180 km/h in 5 seconds, with the raging noise of a Ferrari engine propelling us 112 meters into the air, and with a vertiiiiiigggggggiiiiinnnnneeeeeeeeeuuuuuusssseeee descent. The highlight of the ride? Be in the front row with your transparent goggles to avoid getting anything in your eyes!

After visiting the attraction dozens of times, we decided to try the Cavallino restaurant. And we weren’t disappointed. Pizza and pasta at a very fair price/quality ratio for an amusement park.

After a little siesta, we head for two other attractions: Flying Dreams, which looks a lot like “l’extraordinaire voyage” at Futuroscope, and Racing Legend, which is reminiscent of “la vienne dynamique” at the same park 🙂

Once again, a wonderful surprise and a great time!

Around closing time at Ferrari Land (5.00 pm), we returned to Portaventura Park until 8.00 pm to take in the last attractions.

Please note that I’m deliberately not talking about the Tour or free-fall attractions because they’re not my cup of tea. I don’t like the sensation of them at all (my heart goes up to the back of my throat :)) Now I’m sure the strongest of you will love them, because here again, Disneyland’s Tower of Terror is child’s play next door 🙂

Last but not least, Portaventura Carible Aquatic Park is the ideal place to cool off when temperatures rise, especially in summer. Completely renovated in 2013, the Port Aventura Aquatic Park awaits visitors eager for coolness and exotic adventure. In a tropical setting covering an area of 50,000 m², young and old alike can enjoy the slides, torrents, rivers, wave pools or simply stretch out on a deckchair on the beach. Once again, there’s something for everyone, from children’s slides to those for adults offering vertiginous slopes! I’ve never had the chance to try this one out yet, but I think it must be really fun.

Tips for an unforgettable day

• Tip 1: buy your tickets online. You’ll find offers that save you a few euros on entrance tickets. Ferrari Land can only be combined with Portaventura Park. Count 55 € for one day / 2 parks.
• Tip 2: for thrill-seekers spending just one day in the park, consider buying the express bracelets offered by the park. Nothing like Disney, and a real time-saver. How does it work?

For €34, the Express Max ticket gives you quick access to each attraction (Shambhala, Furius Baco, Dragon Khan, Templo del Fuego, Tutuki Splash, Stampida, Angkor, Silver River Flume, El Diablo – Tren de la Mina, Grand Canyon Rapids). For an extra 5 euros (€39), with the Express Max GOLD ticket, you’ll have the chance to ride once to the front of each of the three main attractions: Shambhala, Furius Baco, Dragon Khan. There’s also a fast-pass system for Ferrari Land, which costs 22 euros (in addition to the classic ticket).

• Last tip: be sure to do the attractions where you’re wet in the middle of the day, as it’s easier to dry off in the evening if you don’t have a change of clothes.

Well folks, I hope this article has inspired you to come and spend a fun-filled, sangria-filled short break in Spain 🙂 If you have any further questions, or would like to know more about Barcelona, please don’t hesitate to ask me, I’d be delighted to answer them!

See you soon for more trips.