DK Travel : Barcelona

With warm, crystal-clear waters lapping its sandy shores and mountains nuzzling up to its northern edge, this glittering jewel in the Mediterranean is blessed with desirable geographical genes. From the buoyant, revamped port area to the atmospheric medieval streets of the Barri Gòtic and the beautiful Modernista buildings of the Eixample, Barcelona has it all. A host of treasure-filled museums, architectural wonders, lively beaches and enchanting squares provide the icing on the cake.

BD Ediciones de Diseño

Superb design shop in Modernista Casa Tomàs, selling the best in Catalan furniture. Worth a visit to see the exhibition furniture by the likes of Gaudí and Dalí.
Beach Volleyball

On weekend mornings year-round you can pick up a volleyball game at Platja de la Nova Icària. It is best to go with enough people to form a team, but you are usually welcome to join in an ongoing game.
Beaches

The beach in front of the Hotel Calípolis in Sitges’ centre is a gay magnet, as is the nudist one on the way to the town of Vilanova.
Beaches

In summer, gay men gather for some sun, fun and plenty of posing in front of the Club de Natació Barcelona on Barceloneta beach near Plaça del Mar.
Beaches

Fancy a splash in the Mediterranean? Trot down to the end of La Rambla, wander along the palm tree-lined Moll de la Fusta, down restaurant-packed Passeig Joan de Borbó, et voilà , the sea beckons. Over four km (2.5 miles) of blue flag beaches stretch north from Barceloneta to Port Olímpic and beyond. Facilities are top-notch, including showers, deck chairs, beach volleyball courts and lifeguards. Convenience, however, means crowds, so finding a spot among the masses of oiled bodies can be a challenge, particularly in the summer.
Begur & Around

The elegant hilltop town of Begur, with its ruined 14th-century castle, looks down on the nature reserve of Aiguamolla and some of the prettiest coves on the Costa Brava. The town’s population quadruples in summer as visitors make this their base for exploring nearby beaches and small, isolated coves. Many of the area’s beaches stage jazz concerts throughout the summer. This is perhaps the best stretch of coastline in Catalonia.
Bikini

Opening from midnight onwards, this huge venue has three spaces, which offer dance and Latin music and a cocktail lounge. Regular live music includes some of the best up-and-coming acts in Europe.
Biosca & Botey

Exceptionally elegant shop selling all kinds of lamps, from Art-Nouveau mushrooms to ultra-modern steel shades.
Blues Cafè

The walls at this dusky, atmospheric café-bar are plastered with black-and-white photos of John Lee Hooker and Leadbelly, among others. The music, electric or acoustic, is always the blues.
Boadas Cocktail Bar

This smooth little cocktail bar, founded in 1933, continues to mix the meanest martinis in town for an elbow-to-elbow crowd.