7 things you MUST do in Barcelona in 2021
Chené Koscielny
South African journalist
Living in Barcelona just go a lot more exciting. As life returns to some sort of normal, there are more opportunities and things to do in Barcelona for internationals than ever.
If you call the city home or think of moving to Barcelona – here are 7 things to do in Barcelona this year.
(By the way – if you live in Barcelona – you have until the 30th of May to give your opinion about life in the city in The International Talent Monitor – a biennial survey used to make the city even more attractive to internationals: Have your say – complete the 2021 survey )
1. Start a business
If you’re an entrepreneur or thinking of becoming one – there are few better places in the world to create a startup.
Barcelona ranks 3rd, only behind Berlin and London, as the favorite European city for entrepreneurs to found a startup, according to the Startup Heatmap Europe report.
As a one of the top startup cities and ecosystems, Barcelona is the ideal place to find funding, calls from accelerators and employees.
2. Discover the hottest tech trends and boost your connectivity
If you’re into technology – this is your chance to gain insights into cutting edge technology and trends and to hobnob with the who’s who in this sector. The MWC (Mobile World Congress) Barcelona – the world’s most influential exhibition for the connectivity industry takes place from the 28th of June till the 1st of July 2021. Get your tickets now. Learn more about the speakers and themes at MWC 2021.
3. Try out the new funicular at Tibidabo
One of Barcelona’s most popular attractions, Tibidabo, reopened to the public in May 2021 after months of being closed due to the pandemic. The mountaintop amusement park (the oldest in Spain and 3rd oldest in Europe) celebrates its 120th birthday this year! It has a brand new main attraction: a bigger and faster funicular which replaces the old one and takes passengers from Plaza Doctor Andrea to the entrance of the park on the mountain. Named la Cuca de Llum, (firefly), it has the capacity to transport around 300 people at a time – although this will initially be less due to COVID restrictions. The huge windows offer panoramic views over the surrounding mountain landscape.
COVID safety measures include the wearing of masks, hand gel stations, and timed entrances – so, buy your tickets in advance.
4. Enjoy a decent cup of coffee!
Coffee culture is alive and well in Barcelona – and it is the best city in Spain for coffee drinking according to The European Index CafeSelecta 2019, occupying the 18th place in Europe. This index compares 89 major cities in 32 European countries through the analysis of several factors: price of coffee, quality and quantity of coffee shops and more.
5. Find a new job in Barcelona
Barcelona is ranked among the 25 most competitive cities in the world, according to the Global Power City Index 2021, which places it one position higher than two years ago. The city stands out by its good position as a technological, scientific, cultural and creative hub. What this means is that the city’s economy is in a good position to recover from the economic impact caused by the pandemic and that there are sure to be more work opportunities in the future.
6. Enjoy a new Gaudí-inspired immersive experience
One of Barcelona’s top cultural attractions –Casa Batlló –one of the buildings created by Antonio Gaudí in Passeig de Gracia offers a new immersive experience which adds 2,000 square meters to the visit. It has two new halls: the Gaudí Dôme, with a dome of more than a thousand screens, 21 audio channels and a mapping, and the Gaudí Cube, a six-sided LED cube featuring a Gaudi-inspired work by digital artist Refik Anadol.
7. Eat, sing, dance your heart out at a festival!
Let’s start with OríGenes, the new gastronomic festival that offers an innovative gastronomic experience, whilst also raises awareness about the importance of responsible consumption and production. It will be held between June 11 and 13 at the Palauet Teià.
The popular Cruïlla Music Festival – headlining popular Spanish artists – maintains its summer edition in July 2021 at the Fórum and will again organise the so-called XXS format, released last year during the pandemic. The 50 XXS Cruïlla concerts will take place in spaces such as the Estadi Olímpic, the Antiga Fàbrica Damm or the Disseny Hub Barcelona.
There are many more exciting things to do in Barcelona – making it one of the best cities for expats in the world.
If you live in Barcelona – you have until 30th of May to complete the INTERNATIONAL TALENT MONITOR – a survey asking internationals for their opinions about life in the city. The results of the survey are used to lobby for positive changes.
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