Take a Break from Malta and Head to Barcelona, Spain!
Malta, I love you... But I need some Barcelona time just now!
I love Malta; the culture, the people and the slower pace of life. But every now and again I miss the buzz of a big city. Barcelona is the perfect place for embracing the hustle and bustle of a larger place, but still retains that relaxed Mediterranean style. Barcelona is packed full of things to see and do and that can be intimidating if you’re planning a two day city break, but don’t worry! Two days is still enough time to bite off a big piece of Barcelona.
Grab a flight with First Choice and spend the weekend soaking in the city by heading to the Born district where you can stroll through the famous squares and do a bit of shopping – Born is renowned for its numerous boutiques. When you’re finished, sit down to a dinner of delicious seafood and a few cocktails by the portside in Barceloneta.
Though I don’t recommend trying to fit everything into two days, do try and get in some of the larger sights such as Gaudi’s awe-inspiring masterpiece, Sagrada Família. If that wets your whistle for the work of Gaudí, why not wander down to Park Güell—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—where you can see more displays of Gaudí’s imagination and brilliance.
Do some touring of the Grácia barrio, where you can grab some local food and get a sense of the older Barcelona lying underneath the modernist art explosion. Barcelona’s nightlife is extensive and varied; head down to Calle de Joaquín Costa to dance the night away. Be warned: Spaniards are known to stay up late, so make sure when you hit the town you don’t have a morning flight!
But Spain isn’t only Barcelona. You can venture south to the Canary Islands located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa. From here you can enjoy the subtropical climate and warm waters, but more than that these islands have been formed by volcanic rock, so you can see the famous black sand beaches, dramatic scenery all while enjoying Spanish hospitality.
For the adventurous, there are flights from Barcelona to the Balearic Islands and there are more to these islands than their party reputation. Each island boasts golden hill towns, olive groves and limestone peaks that look out onto azure waters, so whether you want to dance the night away or just relax and enjoy the scenery, these islands cater to all tastes.
Lastly, it’s hard not to be tempted by a break to Andalucia and its historic showpiece city, Cádiz. At almost 4000 years old, Cadíz is generally thought of as one of the oldest inhabited settlements in Europe. If you visit Cadíz you will be exposed to its narrow streets, crenelated sea walls, ancient forts and beautiful churches. If you need to entertain the kids, there is an Aquapolis water park that has rides and pools for a fun day out. If you’re after more natural beauties, why not take a drive down to Punta Entinas-Sabinar, which is a 15km stretch of protected Andalusian coastline.
Images by Konsantinos Dafalias and ST33VO, used under the Creative Commons license.
