What you should know before booking a hen do in Barcelona?
Constantly in demand with visitors, thanks to its warm Mediterranean weather and countless selection of bars, clubs, and restaurants, Barcelona really does have something for everyone. As such, it’s no surprise that it’s also hugely popular with brides to be, looking to take their girl squad away for the hen party to end all hen parties.
Labelled one of the most popular hen do destinations in Europe, Barcelona has no shortage of appeal. But with so much to do, it can be hard to work out how to get the most out of your last weekend of freedom. For starters, you should book early, and try to avoid the peak summer months—as hen party organisers Maximise point out, “while the temperatures are higher…so are the prices”. So if you want to make the most of your hen do in Barcelona, stick to spring or autumn. As for planning the rest of your trip, read on to discover how to make the most of your hen do!
Where to stay
If you’re planning to have a hen party in Barcelona, it would make sense to stay where the action is, but obviously, this comes at a price. Hotels on Las Ramblas—one of the city’s most famous bustling streets—can get expensive, and the constant bustle of city life might make it a little harder for you and the girls to sleep off your inevitable hangovers.
However, if you want a little bit of Barcelona’s buzz without being kept up all night, find somewhere to stay in the Barri Gòtic or El Raval, two areas of the city just a stone’s throw away from Las Ramblas. Both are packed with great places to eat, drink and party, and their winding streets make it far easier to find somewhere to stay that’s a little off the beaten track.
That said, you may want to make the most of the city’s beautiful beaches, in which case, Barceloneta is your best bet. The neighbourhood gives you easy access to the coast and all the seafood you could eat.
Where to drink
As we said earlier, Las Ramblas is probably a little too rowdy to book a hotel. However, that does make it the ideal place to do the majority of your hen weekend partying! If you’re looking for somewhere classy to kick off proceedings before you really let your hair down, why not make a pilgrimage to Barcelona’s longest-standing cocktail bar, Boadas. In an untouched art deco setting, you can toast the bride to be in your finest get-up and prime yourselves for a night on the town. For a slightly less upmarket way to start your evening, head to the glorious Betty Ford’s in El Raval, which serves beer and cocktails, alongside what are said to be the best burgers in Barcelona.
And when it comes to nightlife, no Barcelona hen do would be complete without a trip to Sala Razzmatazz, a legendary five-room nightclub that’s open every night of the week. Offering a wide range of genres across its spaces, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to finding something to dance to. Just be sure your phones are charged when you arrive, as Razzmatazz is so cavernous, it’s easy to get lost—and not just in the music!
Best hen do activities
We’ve already covered some of the basics of a Barcelona hen party, from drinking on Las Ramblas to hitting the beach at Barceloneta to top up your tans. But if you want a break from the chaos, why not book a session for you and your hens at one of Barcelona’s legendary spas, to add some sorely needed rest and relaxation to your trip.
But since you’re in the country’s cultural capital, you might also want to try some decidedly Spanish activities, from a flamenco dance class to a paella making class. And speaking of food, no trip to Barcelona is complete without making the most of its legendary tapas, the perfect accompaniment to any bar visit. If you want to get into the Catalan spirit, try Bar del Pla—one of the most popular tapas restaurants with locals—but you’ll be hard-pressed to find anywhere that doesn’t serve Spain’s most beloved bar snacks.