A Day-Long Cultural Interlude in Barcelona

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Full of culture, history and art everywhere you look, Barcelona makes a wonderful day-long city break for those looking to immerse themselves in its charm.

By: Lukas Johannes

Barcelona is an ideal destination for a day-long city break. Although you could probably spend weeks exploring it in depth if you wanted to, visiting the city’s best bits in just one day is surprisingly doable. If you are fascinated by the cultural, artistic, historical background of the places you visit, Barcelona is like a dream come true.

With plenty of wonderful highlights spread throughout, it can be difficult to make up your mind when figuring out an itinerary for your daytrip. That is why I have put together some of my favourite destinations – from buildings to parks to promenades – so that you can get going without wasting any time.

Las Ramblas

No visit to Barcelona is complete without a leisurely stroll down the Ramblas. A vibrant boulevard that travels through the city’s heart, it is surrounded by lovely buildings and it is full of stalls selling traditional artefacts, like hand-held fans, human statues, and plenty of locals pottering about. Moreover, just off the Ramblas, you can find La Boqueria – the city’s best food market – where you can see (and smell!) first-hand some amazing local produce, as well as have a mouth-watering snack while you sit on a bench and people-watch.

Barri Gòtic

This striking neighbourhood will make you step back in time. With some breath-taking, wonderfully-preserved buildings, Barcelona’s Gothic quarter is quaint, bustling borough filled with cobbled streets, narrow almost-secret passages, and historical structures dating back to medieval times.

Furthermore, if you want to get to know the area’s history better, you can step into the Museu d’Historia de la Ciutat, in the Plaça del Rei, and immerse yourself in Barcelona’s past. Once you come out understanding the city better, you can head to the Plaça Reial and the Catedral de la Santa Creu i Santa Eulàlia. The latter is actually perfect if you’re seeking refuge from a hot summer’s day, as you are welcome to sit down on the pews and cool down whilst admiring your surroundings.

Gaudí’s Creations

You can’t truly know Barcelona without having visited the impressive works left behind by Antoni Gaudí. The Passeig de Gracia holds two of Gaudí’s outstanding houses – the Casa Batlló and the Casa Milà – the former famous for its amazing roof terrace (with a dragon on it!) and the latter better known for its wavy façade and wrought-iron balconies.

Finally, head to the Sagrada Familia, Gaudí’s as-of-yet unfinished masterpiece. It is a must-see for all art lovers and history enthusiasts as, whether they love it or despise it, it represents something truly unique about the man, the time, and the city in which this cathedral was built. The council aims to have it finished by 2026, the centenary of Gaudí’s death.

Fundació Joan Miró

A wonderful final stop before saying goodbye to this beautiful city, this museum celebrates the life and works of the artist Joan Miró. Barcelona-born Miró was a prolific painter, sculptor, and ceramicist that belonged to the Surrealist movement, but dabbled in cubism and magical realism too. His Foundation has over 200 paintings and 150 sculptures on display, as well as an impressive 5000 drawings. Additionally, in line with Miró’s desires, the Foundation’s Espai 13 is a space dedicated to exhibiting contemporary art by young, experimental artists.

How to Get from Lloret de Mar to Barcelona

The drive between Lloret de Mar and Barcelona is very quick and easy. A taxi can have you there in just over an hourFree Web Content, during which you can enjoy the lovely views of the Mediterranean Sea from the car windows.


Lukas Johannes is a driver for Shuttle Direct, the number one provider of shared and private airport transfers all over Europe and northern Africa. If you’re looking for an affordable transfer from Lloret de Mar to Barcelona, Lukas and his colleagues can make sure that you and your luggage get to and from the airport swiftly and safely.

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History and Tranquillity in Lloret de Mar's Santa Clotilde Gardens

Flickr Creative Commons / Richard Clifford

By Desiree Michels

Drenched in history and bursting with hidden gems, Lloret de Mar has so much just waiting to be discovered, particularly if you are looking for something a little bit different. For anyone just arrived and looking to explore some of the more out-of-the-way places, the Santa Clotilde Gardens are the perfect place to start.

The Gardens in Brief

Sitting proud on a breezy cliff top, the gardens offer some fabulous views over the coastline – ideal if photography is a passion, or even if it isn’t! Perfectly manicured hedges cut into wonderful shapes line the slopes, and the stunning green staircase is set off beautifully by the sculptured marble mermaids that decorate its edges.

Blessed with refreshing breezes, the gardens are the ideal spot to escape to in the afternoons when you crave tranquillity and respite from the beach.

A Little History

Inspired by the Noucentista movement in Catalonia, the gardens were designed in 1919 by Nicolau Rubió i Tudurí, who also worked on the famous Gardens in Barcelona. Epitomising the gardens of the Italian Renaissance, Rubió combined a sense of rigidity with a refined grace to bring his concept to life.

This project was a chance for the young Rubió to branch out and express his own creativity. He put aside the Spanish-Arabic influence to which he had been exposed when he worked on the Montjuïc gardens with his teacher, Forestier, and instead set out to incorporate the spirit of the Italian Renaissance, which he did beautifully in his inclusion of fountains, sculptures and ponds. Every aspect of the gardens is a fine example of the way the artist synthesised his artistic prowess with nature’s powerful aesthetic, and today the gardens stand justly independent of their surroundings.

As you explore you will be guided by the symmetry and definitive pathways that culminate in ornamental features. Terraces and interlocking walkways shape the gardens and add to its romantic intention. For anyone with a desire to spend some time relaxing and appreciating a different side to Lloret de Mar, this place is perfect.

Where

The Santa Clotilde Gardens are located on Paratge de Santa Clotilde, 17310, Lloret de Mar.

When

From April to October the gardens are open from Monday to Sunday between 10am and 8pm. From November to January they close at 5pm, and from February to March they close at 6pm.

Cost

The gardens costs €5 per adult and €2.50 for any concessions, such as pensioners, students, and disabled people.

How to Get Back to Barcelona

Lloret de Mar is the ideal getaway for a relaxing break and, as it is only just over an hour’s drive from Lloret de Mar to Barcelona Airport, it is very convenient. Pre-book with Shuttle Direct and either I or one of my colleagues will be on hand to collect you from your hotel to drive you from Lloret de Mar to Barcelona Airport for your return trip. Our team is professional, helpful, and are always on hand to help with your bags at either end of the journey. Book with us, and you are guaranteed a stress-free, fixed-price transfer.