Magical Couples Getaway to Barcelona

Wind will ruffle the sails as you cruise along the Catalan coastline and out of the harbor and onto the Mediterranean. Quickly, you will leave the city bustle behind. Soon, it will be just the two of you, a bottle of Cava (Spanish sparkling wine), and some very discreet staff guiding the boat. You can drop an anchor along a cliff as you will be hidden from the world. You can cruise alongside a golden beach and feel the sultry allure of Spain. You will then dine on a picnic and open another bottle as you mostly cruise on the wind without the drowning of a motor. Returning to Port Vell, you will have another intimate experience this evening with reservations at Tintoreria Dontell. The restaurant is disguised as a launderette, and its name suggests both intimacy and what you must do next.

Elegant lanes will set the scene as you wander through Barri Gotic, which is the oldest part of the city. Hand in hand you will go, turning past Gothic churches, Roman remains, fortress-like walls, and small wine bodegas. This will be a brilliant place to get lost, as it has a perfect romantic setting for wandering without a map. Sometimes the lanes open out, and you are on La Ramblas where you can visit La Boqueria market for a smoothie and some culinary treats. This Barcelona neighborhood will be a particularly good one to explore without a guide. You may get lost, and that will be part of the fun, especially when there are so many little plazas and restaurants to discover.

For lunch, you will be in the kitchen for a private, Spanish cooking class. Paella and tapas may not originate from Barcelona, but they are famous dishes that you need to try. You will throw around vegetables, slice slithers of jamon, simmer rice with seafood, and create artisanal plates to share. It will be a hands-on workshop that is designed to be fun. The class will culminate on a rooftop terrace where you uncork a bottle of Catalan wine and feast on the plates before you.

You will be treated with more food today and what a setting you will have to enjoy it all! A driver will take you to a secret little spot that is located high above the city, where you can gaze down upon cathedral spires and out towards the Mediterranean. A luxury hamper will greet you upon your arrival and show you all of the culinary treasures, from bread and meats to vegetable delicacies and sweet treats. Many couples that are visiting Barcelona tend to opt for one of the city’s famous brunches. You will have far more privacy and space with a picnic, and the food will be just as good. There will be no need to arrange anything, so hop in the vehicle, travel across the city, and trust in a setting that only the locals know.

It would not be a tour of Barcelona without exploring the famous architecture. Gasps will interrupt the silence in La Sagrada Familia, which is a cavernous cathedral with a nave that is illuminated by a rainbow of sunlight. Strange lines and unusual figures will cover the facade as you find a cathedral that is over a century in the making and is now on the cusp of completion. Gaudi’s earlier works were residential with Casa Batllo and Casa Mila creating amorous settings for loved ones. In particular, the strange chimneys on Casa Mila’s terrace make for a stunning impression of Barcelona. You can continue your privately guided architectural exploration in Recinte Modernista Sant Pau, which is a lavish hospital that’s now been opened up the public.

A hospital may not seem like the best place for a romantic tour, but Barcelona likes to do things differently, which is something that is also showcased by its tapas. With a private culinary guide, you will spend an evening in El Born, hopping between small tapas bars and sampling the complete variety of Catalan treats. The guide not only knows where to go but exactly what to order. Each bar has a specialty, and there will usually be a wine pairing to go with it, meaning it is always recommended to explore El Born with local guidance. A rather busy day will come to an end with more wine, more tapas, and a feeling that some evenings can live on forever.

Champagne is the most iconic staple of romantic drinks. Sparkling wine does not only come from one small region in France. They use a similar production method in Penedes, and the results are called Cava. While you can grab a bottle of Champagne anywhere in the world, there will be nothing that can compare to popping a Cava cork at the vineyard where the wine was made. You will visit Penedes on a private tour today, starting at a vineyard that is usually closed to the public. Different bottles will be opened by the cellar master as you compare vintages from the nutty to the crisp and fruity.

The rest of the tour will be focused around Sant Sadurni, which is a village at the heart of Penedes wine production. Vineyards will cascade in all directions, and you will visit two, getting a little giddy from all the bubbles as afternoon sun will paint a gorgeous scene. Lunch will be included and will continue your exploration of Catalan flavors, which will be a series of dainty dishes that are ideal for a languid afternoon that is full of drinking sparkling wine. You will return to Barcelona late in the afternoon, and there will be nothing like a private swimming pool to greet you at the hotel.

Drifting on the wind, you will go, cruising high above Catalonia in a hot air balloon. Like always, this will be a private tour, and the plains will stretch out below as you soar past the mountains and above the city. From up here, you can glimpse La Sagrada Familia and Montjuic; however, it will be blue of the Mediterranean that takes over. A peaceful ride will be followed by a free afternoon in Barcelona. As you create your own city story, you will find it to be backtracked by street music. Guitarists will play outside of the churches and in the parks. Down by the beach, you will hear buskers working their magic, and there will be somewhat of a serenade wherever you go in Barcelona.

Today will be left free, so you can plan the day to your choosing. After a week in Barcelona, you may have some favorite bars or cafes along with neighborhoods you want to see for a second time. Barceloneta is the main city beach, which is a lively hangout from midday onwards. Bogatell is quieter and better if you want to plan a whole day on the sand. Of course, you can also just hang around the hotel. Your five-star residence will open onto a private terrace with a private swimming pool, so there will be no need to get all salty in the Mediterranean when you want to take a dip.

This afternoon you will travel to Montserrat, taking a cable car up a rocky mountain to a historical monastery with stunning sunset views. This mountain will be more romantic after dark. Few people will remain, and silence will extend as the sky unfolds and its nighttime brilliance is uninterrupted by city neon. You can explore the nighttime space on a guided sky observation, including a Catalan dinner that is high on a mountain. You will be warm and comfy beneath the stars, and it is rare that an evening here does not feature at least a dozen shooting stars.

Ten days is a perfect amount of time for couples in Barcelona. You can really take your time, take in all the highlights, and enjoy plenty of privacy. With less time, it can feel like you are continuous with a guide or that you are missing out on something essential. Like yesterday, this day will be left free. There will always be a new cafe to try, gallery or museum to visit, or another Modernist landmark to insert into your journey. You will head to the beach, go for brunch, stroll around Montjuic, or lounge around your private pool and recollect what has happened so far.

Guitarists will serenade both of you this evening. Their harmonic notes will drift through Palau de la Musica Catalana, which is perhaps the finest art nouveau building of all. You can tour the music hall in one day, appreciating how light shimmers through the stained glass and colors envelop the stage. To experience the building, you will need to be at a show, listening to live music in a surreal setting. A Spanish guitar concert will be a fitting finale to your romantic journey through Barcelona, as it will be a crescendo of Catalan beauty that will have you wandering peacefully off into the night.

After breakfast, you will be transported to the airport for your outbound flight.