The Formula One race in Barcelona is three days of top action that takes place every year at the Montmelo Circuit de Catalunya, just one hour North of Barcelona. The best F1 drivers in the world compete in one of the most important races on the F1 calendar. Pit lanes visits are on Thursday, May 10th, 2013.

 

How to arrive to the F1 in Montmeló

Looking for accommodation?

If you’re looking for a cheap, centric accommodation, we have the perfect option for you! Be Mar, Be Sound or Be Ramblas, the three hostels from Be Hostels, located in the city centre with very cheap prices and lots of freebies with the check-in. We wait you and your friends! Keep Travelling… keep Smiling!

Book your room from 15€ Now!

• Sant Sebastià ( The Best location )
• Barceloneta ( Great Atmosphere )
• Nova Icària ( The Restaurants )
• Bogatell ( The Quiet )
• Mar Bella ( The Beauty )

Important things to know

• Cleanliness

There are, of course, more pristine beaches along the quieter parts of the Catalonian coastline than Barcelona’s beaches. However, the city’s beaches are also kept nice and clean, and local authorities make a huge effort to make this the rule. Almost all the beaches here have been given the EU Blue Flag, which is awarded to beaches with high environmental standards and water quality.

 

• Safety

Barcelona’s city beaches have calm waters and there are no dangerous currents close to the shore. But, as is true any time you’re swimming in the sea, you need to take precautions. Look out for the coloured flags put up on the beaches which indicate the swimming conditions of the day:
- Green flag – you can swim with no danger.
- Yellow flag – caution should be taken when swimming.
- Red flag (rare in Barcelona) – refrain from swimming.

 

• Facilities

All of Barcelona’s beaches have the essential facilities, and most of them have more than just the basics. However their availability will depend on the time of year. Some facilities are only available during high season, which usually runs from the middle of April until September.

Sant Sebastià ( The Best location )

If you want a beach close to city center’s action, this is the perfect spot for you. Sant Sebastià is the most southern beach you will find along Barcelona’s 4.5km stretch of coastline, and is one of the closest to the centre of the city. Given its handy location, it’s a popular destination for beach goers, particularly tourists, and often gets very crowded when the weather gets warm. Many locals also chose to lay out their towels here, and the boardwalk behind it is where many traditional swimming and water sport clubs are located.

The Sant Sebastià beach in Barcelona also provides assistance for people with reduced mobility, so that they too can enter and leave the water and enjoy their time on the beach to the fullest.

Barceloneta ( Great Atmosphere )

This is probably the most well-known and popular beach in Barcelona. It’s easy to get to from the city centre and is one of the oldest beaches in the city. Just like Sant Sebastià, it’s a great place to go if you want many of the city´s attractions close by. There are also loads of activities available right on the beach, so you’re guaranteed an exciting time.
For any water sports enthusiasts, you’ll find a few shops close by where you can rent out surfing equipment or hire a bike.

One of the most important amenities at the Barceloneta is the ‘Centre de la Platja’, which provides information on the beaches, assistance to visitors, and organises educational activities about sport, culture and sustainability on the seafront. It also hosts thematic exhibitions about Barcelona’s coastline.

Nova Icària ( The Restaurants )

On the other side of the Port Olympic lies the beach of Nova Icària. It’s a popular place for families, giving it a very different atmosphere than the neighbouring Barceloneta beach. It does still get busy during the warmer months, but the calmer atmosphere makes it better suited to those of you who want to relax.
The Nova Icària Beach is rightly considered to be a very peaceful beach, and is a popular choice for families and groups of friends.

Lying very close to the Port Olímpic, it is surrounded by a great variety of restaurants and bars, as well as the most comprehensive range of facilities for sports and other activities on the entire city coastline.

Bogatell ( Peace and Quiet )

This pretty beach is more tranquil than the ones closer to the center, although it does take a bit more of an effort to get to. On the upside, The Port Olympic is within easy reach and there are some particularly good restaurants on the raised promenade which runs alongside the sand. All in all, it’s a happy ‘in- between’ when compared with the livelier and quieter beaches of the city.
The Bogatell Beach is particularly popular with the older generations. Together with the Platja de la Nova Icària, it is one of the finest beaches the city inherited from the Olympic Games.

Mar Bella ( The Beautiful Sea )

Mar Bella was created during the period when the city’s coastline was re-developed for the 1992 Olympic Games. It also has a nudist area.
The name of this beach (‘beautiful sea’) describes it perfectly. Green gardens with benches for picnicing are the backdrop of a beach which has some of the best sand you will find in Barcelona.

In July and August, a beach library alsp opens there, making it an ideal place to unwind. 
And for those of you who can’t sit still, Mar Bella is the starting point of a 1.5km running path which goes all the way to the end of the Nova Icària beach.

How to arrive to the beaches

Looking for accommodation?

If you’re looking for a cheap, centric accommodation, we have the perfect option for you! Be Mar, Be Sound or Be Ramblas, the three hostels from Be Hostels, located in the city centre with very cheap prices and lots of freebies with the check-in. We wait you and your friends! Keep Travelling… keep Smiling!

Book your room from 15€ Now!

The venue and participating sports

• Venue Estadi Olímpic de Montjuïc

The most spectacular competitions in the motor world will be held at the Montjuic Olympic Stadium. At the Rally, Enduro X and Moto X Freestyle events, the world’s best athletes will offer a unique show without precedence, driving circuits which will be changed every day according to the requirements of the competition.

• Palau Sant Jordi

An incredible mega ramp, 100 meters long and 24 meters high, will be the first thing fans going to the Palau Sant Jordi will see. Skateboard and BMX Fresstyle Big Air will share the stage, while particpating in this test of Speed and Style that combines speed with jumps and the Step Up and Best Whip competitions as well. Without a doubt, one of the most exciting competitions to see with your own eyes.

• Piscina Municipal

The venue with some of the best views of Barcelona will be the set for the Skateboard and BMX Freestyle Vert competitions. The classic half-pipe will allow spectators to see some of the best athletes in the world as they fly through the air with Barcelona as the backdrop to the scene: an image made famous during the Barcelona Olympic Games in 1992. Vert competitions will take place on Thursday the 16th and Friday the 17th.

• And much more…

When and how much?

• From 16th to 19th May 2013
• Tickets from just 15€! 2013

How to arrive to the X-Games

Looking for accommodation?

If you’re looking for a cheap, centric accommodation, we have the perfect option for you! Be Mar, Be Sound or Be Ramblas, the three hostels from Be Hostels, located in the city centre with very cheap prices and lots of freebies with the check-in. We wait you and your friends! Keep Travelling… keep Smiling!

Book your room from 15€ Now!

Life is short! Come to Barcelona and enjoy The Primavera Sound Music Festival! #music #barcelona #festival

If you decide to come to this festival, believe us, this is an experience you’ll never forget. The best city with the best weather and the best music all-in-one! Here are some artists you will find playing at Primavera Sound
 

How to arrive to Parc del Fórum

Looking for accommodation?

If you’re looking for a cheap, centric accommodation, we have the perfect option for you! Be Mar, Be Sound or Be Ramblas, the three hostels from Be Hostels, located in the city centre with very cheap prices and lots of freebies with the check-in. We wait you and your friends! Keep Travelling… keep Smiling!

Book your room from 15€ Now!

 Plus, another special event is taking part on that same day: it’s the day of the book in Catalunya, which fits perfectly with the lovely Sant Jordi tradition.

But what exactly is Sant Jordi?

Well.. the legend says that, in the city of Montblanc, there lived a dragon who tormented the population. By vote, it was decided that the King’s daughter was going to be sacrificed to the dragon. Out of the blue, Sant Jordi, a true knight, appeared and killed the dragon with his sword and so saved the princess. Roses blossomed from the blood of the dragon, and the King wished to marry his daughter to Sant Jordi. But Sant Jordi declined, saying that he wasn’t worth the princess’ hand.  It is from this legend that the tradition of offering roses to the woman one loves has grown.

On the 23rd of April 1616, both Miguel de Cervantes and William Shakespeare died. It is in their honor that ‘the day of book’ is celebrated on this day. Since 1964, the 23rd of April has been declared the day of the book in spanish speaking countries and, more recently in 1995, Unesco has made the day of the book a worldwide celebration. The tradition of offering books on this day comes from history.

And what is a tradition if it a party doesn’t come along with it?

Sant Jordi is so much more than the offering of books and roses. It is also the unofficial Catalan day for celebrating love by couples who don’t want to accept the foreign imposition of Saint Valentines onto their culture. A special part of this day is that bookstores from around the city mount stands on the streets, so that everyone can find the book they are looking for. These book stands are surrounded by flower sellers and other merchants, all out on the streets of Barcelona. The typical color for the rose is red, but you can also find lots of other colors like blue and purple roses on this day. Whatever it takes to make the women you love feel special. Flowers are also given to mothers, grandmothers and sisters.

The spot by excellence to obeserve and celebrate this tradition of Sant Jordi are along the different Ramblas in Barcelona, which are filled with people enjoying the good weather that spring brings us and looking for that special book all day long.

Come live this day with us and enjoy your stay in Barcelona with us at Be Hostels!

When

• 23 of April

Where

• Ramblas of Barcelona

How Much?

• Free event

Hostel Barcelona | Be Hostels

There will be “casetas”, little houses where you can taste typical food such as “pescado frito” (fried fish), set up all over the forum. You can also dance and sing the traditional “Sevillanas” of Andalucia to get you in the spirit of this joyous celebration of Spainsh culture and folklore. There will be women everywhere dressed and dancing in their “traje de flamenco”- flamenco dresses- accompanied by their men dressed in “traje de corto”- typical suits.

You may wonder why this fair is also celebrated in Barcelona- so far and different from Andalucia. The reason is simple! In 1971 some migrants to Barcelona from Andalucia started to recreate and celebrate this fair in their new home, Catalonia. This tradition has grown to become what it is today. Now it is the second most important Fair in Spain during the spring period.

The April fair in Barcelona is open for around a week. Getting there is easy by bus or metro with a journey time of 20 minutes from the centre of Barcelona. On certain days, the BCN metro has extended opening hours and there are extra buses from Plaza Catalunya to the Feria de Abril grounds at Parc del Forum.

A major difference between the Barcelona and Seville events is that the casetas in Barcelona are completely open to the public, whereas in Sevilla they are private. In the casetas, food and drink are served, and people either dance on dance floors or are entertained by musical performances, usually flamenco dancers and singers.

It’s the vibe at this event that really makes it special. It’s a real family affair and, like most social events in Spain, you’ll find several generations strutting their stuff together on the dance floor.

Price

• Admission is free to the feria area and to all casetas.

Location

• Parc del Forum in Diagonal Mar

Be Hostels wants to invite you to one of the most special events in Barcelona. Sevillanas and tapas during all the day!

Hostel Barcelona | Be Hostels

The location of Be Hostel Zaragoza is optimal to facilitate your city sightseeing, in the historic center, near Plaza del Pilar. But there’s more than just the location. In the basement you can enjoy theater plays, shows, concerts and much more for free. The hostel is established in a 15th century renaissance palace richly decorated and updated for the comfort of our guests with all the necessary services and the right staff.

Top 5 things to do near Be Zaragoza

• Our very own Boveda historic bar and concert cellar
• Goya Paintings
• Local “Tapas”
• The “Plata Cabaret”
• Architecture from the ancient to the old to the modern

Boveda historic bar and concert cellar

Zaragoza holds an important significance in Spanish contemporary music and was the breeding ground cultural icons such as the Heroes del Silencio and Violadores del Verso.

There are plenty of concert venues scattered all over town, but none of them come close to the atmosphere and historic character felt in the bar located in our hostel’s basement.

At our downstairs bar, we have weekly Sunday night jazz jam sessions, topped off with concerts on the other nights of the week, and tango ‘milongas’, to name a few of the activities we host there.  Check out all the events, videos of past performances, and live streaming on the website labovedazgz.com  Surely the #1 way to wind down after a long day exploring the sights and sounds of Zaragoza is a drink at our bar, before deciding whether or not to continue to party some more in the city center.

Goya Paintings

Francisco de Goya, court painter for the Spanish royal family, was born in 1746 in Fuendetodos, about 45 km outside of Zaragoza.  He studied and lived most of his life in Zaragoza and became one of the most important painters of his era. The artistic evolution of the Old Masters to Modern Art is said to have been influenced by his work.

Some of his most personal works can be admired in Zaragoza:

• the “Camón Aznar Museum” houses all his controversial series of engravings (the “Desastres de la Guerra” stand out).
• the “Basilica del Pilar” exhibits his amazing frescos.
• the ”Museo de Zaragoza” shows some valuable portraits of noblemen and members of the Spanish royal family that Goya painted when he worked at the service of the King.

All these places have free entrance and are within walking distance of our hostel.

Local “Tapas”

Less than a 5 minute walk from our doorstep, you can ‘lose yourself’ in the ‘Tubo’ area of Zaragoza, with tons of popular and exquisite tapas bars lined up next to each other.  Famous Aragonese dishes like ‘migas’ and ‘ternasco’ twisted into delicious small plates for your tasting and delight.  Whether you choose to go for quintessential Spanish dishes like tortilla, patés or jamón, or you want to be wowed by local adaptations of croquetas, sushi or Lebanese pastries, there’s really no way to go wrong while wandering around the ‘Tubo’ in Zaragoza,

The “Plata Cabaret”

Enjoy this cheeky spectacle in an authentic Spanish variety show. The authentic ‘cafe cantante’ first opened its doors in the roaring twenties, then went through an entire life cycle much like us mortals. It went through a stage as a house of as ill repute during it’s teens, and then became more of a traditional cabaret with parodies and dance recitals in it’s grown-up stage.  The curtains were closed in 1992, but only for an intermission as it turns out, because it re-opened reinvigorated in 2008 with none other than Bigas Luna (director of ‘Jamón, jamón’ ) as it’s artistic director.

El Plata has burlesque show cases. The first evening showing is free or can be combined with a dinner for those who are in for the treat.  At 1 in the morning they perform a ‘best of ‘, and after that the space is gradually transformed into a very popular nightclub.

Architecture from the ancient to the old to the modern

Zaragoza has an interesting mix of different architecture styles, all within grasp of our centrally located hostel.  Head out to the city center and you will soon cross the remnants of the Roman settlers who named the city after their emperor Caesar August: fortified walls, the (now underground) forum where they traded their goods, and even a Roman theater.

Turn onto a different street and you will come across the Mudejar towers. Then walk a couple blocks further and it’s all neo-classic and renaissance architecture around the Plaza del Pilar or the square that remembers the people’s battle of ‘Los Sitios’.

Head the other way and you will find an oasis of tranquility in the 2008 World Expo area, with modern architectural marvels such as the Bridge Pavilion, the Water Tower and Millennium Bridge, which stands out from all the pavilions, along with sculptures and botanical gardens.

If you fancy comics, this is the fair for you. The International Comic Fair will be held in Barcelona from April 11th to the 14^th, 2013. This is a well-known comic festival in Europe and is also one of the biggest of its kind.

Many comics or fans of comics are coming to Barcelona to attend this fair. It will be attended by important comic writers, including Jeff Smith, Tanino Liberatore and Gilbert Shelton. It will show important comics and interesting artwork.

There are different activities available like conferences, workshops, presentations of popular comics, music concerts and the best comics!

Location

• Fira Barcelona ( Av. Reina Maria Cristina ) Building Number 8. You will find a big image about it.

We recommend the use of public transportation. There are several options:

The Fira Montjuïc Exhibition Centre is the main exhibition center in Barcelona. It is operated by the FIRA BCN company. The Montjuic Fira location is where many of the biggest Barcelona trade fairs and exhibitions are located. The Fira Montjuic Exhibition Center in Barcelona is in the centre of Barcelona, next to Plaça d’Espanya. It is about 30 minutes from Barcelona International Airport and 10 minutes from Plaza Catalunya in the very centre of Barcelona by car or taxi. By metro, it is 4 stations from Plaza Catalunya. There are many facilities near The Fira Montjuic, including many top hotels, a new shopping mall called Las Arenas, and many attractions. The Fira Montjuic is also the location for the Barcelona Congress Centre ( Palau de Congressos de Barcelona), which is on Avda. Reina Maria Cristina.

How to arrive:

• Underground: L1 and L3 (Espanya stop)
• Train: Espanya and Sants stops, the last one connected through underground or a 15 minutes walk
• Bicing: There are a number of points to park your bike around the fair. You can also find all theses bicing stations: 081, 093, 094, 095, 096, 097 i 420 al voltant
• Buses: Check TMB (www.tmb.cat)

Comic Freaks, this is the show you were waiting! The sun, and the comics will be waiting you this April in Barcelona. And if you choose Be Hostels, you can sleep cheap near to the show!

Hostel Barcelona | Be Hostels

The Barcelona Beer Festival is a great place to go and try as many craft beers from Europe to America as you can! This Beer Festival has a great selection of select beer from all over the world, and is one of the Barcelona Events. To see the list of beers that will be featured at the Festival, check the Barcelona Beer Festival Website beer list.

BBF 2013, which takes place at the great location of the Cúpula Las Arenas at Plaza España, has been designed with dilligence, might and imagination.

Location

• Dome las Arenas. Top floor of the mall “Las Arenas” in Plaza España. Best entrance: Diputació street (direct escalators to the dome)

The Festival edits a booklet printed in paper so that you don’t miss out on any details while you are ther. The booklet is 88 pages in full colour that explains how the festival works, as well as gives articles on the world of craft beer, reviews for all the beers presented at the fairm, and profiles on pubs and stores where craft beer is taken care of every day.

The festival works with glass and currency of its own, which will be available at the different selling points within the Dome. Drinks will only be served in glasses from the festival and the only accepted currency will be the one purchased at the festival. The entrance is free of charge, but to be able to taste the beers you’ve got to buy the glasses and chips (money) special to the festival. Not all beers will cost the same amount of chips. That will depend on the production costs for each beer.

There’ll be 3 kinds of packs:

• Initial Pack: Glass + booklet + 7 chips, all for 10€
• Pack 2: 5 chips for 5€
• Pack 3: 10 chips for 10€

The facilities are suitable for wheelchair entry (access through exterior elevator in Espanya square)

We recommend the use of public transportation. There are several options:

How to arrive:

• Underground: L1 and L3 (Espanya stop)
• Train: Espanya and Sants stops, the last one connected through underground or a 15 minutes walk
• Bicing: There are a number of points to park your bike around Las Arenas. You can also find all theses bicing stations: 081, 093, 094, 095, 096, 097 i 420 al voltant
• Buses: Check TMB (www.tmb.cat)

If you like beer, and you should, this is your festival! Remember that with us, Be Hostels, you will have the best and cheapest accommodation in barcelona.

Hostel Barcelona | Be Hostels

Spain, being a Catholic country, has few religious traditions as important as Semana Santa or ‘Holy Week’. Easter is a huge event in the religious calendar and holy week sees high-profile processions take place in towns and cities throughout the country.

Barcelona is a modern and cosmopolitan city and the Easter celebrations are not quite on the same scale as those of other Spanish cities like Seville. However Catholic traditions are still an important part of the city’s cultural fabric and if you spend Easter weekend in Barcelona, there will certainly be a lot going on.

When?

The week begins on Palm Sunday, March 24th, when a procession traditionally takes place around the cathedral with people holding palms. A week of religious ceremonies follows, ending on Easter Sunday.

The week is just as pleasant for non-Christian visitors and Barcelona looks beautiful during the celebrations. At this time of year, the sun starts its return to the city and chocolate and cake shop windows are filled with every sculpture imaginable made of chocolate – everything from Messi and Barça, to the Sagrada Familia!

What to do?

• Watch an Easter procession

Probably the most significant event in Barcelona during Semana Santa is Palm Sunday. A procession takes place in the Ciutat Vella known as La Burreta commemorating the arrival of Jesus in Bethlehem on a donkey. You’ll find palm stalls throughout the centre of Barcelona selling the distinctive bleached palm fronds carried by the devout.
This is just the start of a week of religious parades including Nuestra Señora de las Angustias, ‘Our Lady of Anguish’ and Nuestro Padre Jesús del Gran Poder. These are followed by María Santísima de la Esperanza Macarena, ‘Our almighty Lord Jesus and the blessed Mary of hope’, on Good Friday. Both of these processions take place in the Gótico and Las Ramblas, just around the corner from BeHostels Sound, Mar and Ramblas, so keep an eye out if you’re around the city centre.

• Enjoy a “Mona de Pàscua”

Easter Monday is “el día de la mona de Pascua.” In Catalonia making the cake called the “Mona de Pascua” is an important culinary Easter tradition. These cakes are called “Monas” in Spanish and “Mones” in Catalan. Around 600,000 mona cakes are sold in Barcelona at Easter. Chocolate shops also make chocolate “monas” which you can see on display in their windows. The origins of the word “mona” aren’t clear, but it is thought that the word comes from Morocco where “mona” means “gift”, or from the latin word “muna” of the same meaning. The mona tradition, which dates back to the 15th century, is that the “mona” is a gift that a godfather (or godmother) bakes for their god-children at Easter.

Another great place to see and buy Monas de Pascua is the “Museu de la Xocolata”, the Barcelona Chocolate museum in the Born area of Barcelona’s old city center.

Shops are closed on Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday. Maundy/Holy Thursday is not a holiday. Museums and other attractions will be open over the holidays. Since Monday is a bank holiday the usual rest day of Museums is omitted and they are open.

Hostel Barcelona | Be Hostels