December is one of those months in which the magic of friendship and love between those you love most intensifies. For some it can be a stressful time, but for others it’s the time they look forward to most. But what is clear is that the fundamental pillar of these dates are get together’s, family and affection. Barcelona is one of those cosmopolitan cities in which Christmas and New Year’s Eve has a special meaning. At Well and Come, our boutique hotel in Barcelona, we want to give you some hints and tips about what to do and where to go to celebrate Christmas and New Year’s Eve in the Condal City.

What to do at Christmas, by our boutique hotel in Barcelona

Christmas is a popular holiday across the globe. It’s the final stretch of the year filled with fulfilled resolutions or maybe some unanswered questions. But what you will always find is your family and friends by your side. One of the main Christmas symbols is the nativity scene. Every year in the centre of Barcelona one scene is put under the spotlight. The plaza de Sant Jaume welcomes this representation every year due to its originality. This year a manger has been designed which includes twelve characters who come together around a table featuring a Christmas dinner but from the perspective of a child. This way, each and every one of the characters in the manger are easily identified.

The Singing of the Sibil·la is a hymn portrayed by a female character dressed in a historic dress and with a sword in her hand which announces the Apocalypse. This representation dates back to the Middle Ages and the Catedral de Barcelona hosts the oldest musical version (15^th century) on the Iberian Peninsula. After the performance of this emotional hymn, it’s time for the traditional Misa del Gallo, a special mass which is another classic part of Christmas amongst Church attendees.

Another big even in Barcelona during Christmas is the Fira de Santa Llúcia. This heart-warming artisanal fair is held in front of the Catedral de Barcelona and offers all types of Christmas decorations, such as figurines and classic items from Barcelonan Christmas culture such as the Tió de Nadal (Christmas Uncle), zambombas, lights, moss and figures from the manger.

What to do on New Year’s Eve, by our boutique hotel in Barcelona

On the last day of the year butterflies start to build and everyone eagerly awaits to get together and celebrate. Barcelona, much like the rest of Spain, has its own traditions and rituals which make it stand out across Europe. The most unique and important aspect is the way in which the New Year is welcomed: the Spanish eat 12 grapes during the first 12 seconds of the New Year. That is to say: one grape for every chime of the bells. The most important squares in each municipality welcome thousands of participants in this tradition, which is broadcasted across all televisions in Spain so that families can eat their grapes all together. Another interesting aspect is that the Spanish always wear red underwear because, according to the tradition, it gives good luck for the upcoming year for those wearing it. But without a doubt, the most respected tradition is welcoming in the New Year amongst your family or friends.

If you’re one of those people who like to enter in to the New Year out of the house, the main squares in each municipality are a great place to go. However there is a place in Barcelona where all of this is multiplied by ten. The Fuente de Montjuïc every year hosts a show of lights and colours. Tonnes of pyrotechnics ignite the celebrations welcoming the New Year with music, Castellers (human towers) and giants with the objective of converting this spectacle into a touristic magnet in the city. In 2019 it is expected that there will be more than 80,000 people who will attend which in compared to last year will be a great increase. You can’t miss it!

Reserve your room at our boutique hotel in Barcelona

Have you now got an idea of how you are going to celebrate Christmas and New Year’s Eve this year? Without a doubt this is a great way to combine the culture and customs of Barcelona. At Well and Come, our boutique hotel in Barcelona, we want to offer the highest quality and comfortable accommodation during these dates. This is why, we advise reserving a room in our hotel and head in to the New Year in style. Welcome 2019 with us!

You don’t need to be a rocket scientist, nor to live in Spain, to know that Sitges has been one of the most important international film festivals for the last fifty years. Quentin Tarantino, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Jodie Foster, Paul Verhoeven, Ralph Fiennes, George A. Romero, Cameron Diaz and Viggo Mortensen are some of the stars which have attended the world’s first fantasy film festival. At Well and Come, boutique hotel in Barcelona, we want to tell you about what happens at this festival and why it is a good idea to stay with us during these dates.

A horror festival with more than 50 years of international recognition

The first edition of the Sitges festival was in 1968 and titled as the 1^st International Week of Fantasy and Horror Films. Since then it has been the star of a cultural event with the most media resonance in Cataluña. During this annual macro convention, various cinema lovers come together, such as cinemagoers, the industry professionals and those who want to know the latest technological and artistic trends from the big screen. The 51^st edition will be held from the 4^th to the 14^th of October in the screening areas of Auditori Melià Sitges Cinema Retiro, Cinema Prado, Brigadoon and Sala Tramuntana which are in the area of Sitges, on the Mediterranean coast, 38 km south of the provincial capital, Barcelona, the city which hosts our boutique hotel.

Nicolas Cage and Ed Harris at the Sitges Film Festival

One of the most well-known and well recognised celebrities of contemporary cinema will be at Sitges 2018. Nicolas Cage will attend this year’s edition to receive a Great Honorific Prize and to present Mandy, the Panos Cosmatos’ thriller in which he plays the lead role. Also, the well-known actor and veteran, Ed Harris, known for films such as The Hours, Pollock, The Truman Show and Apollo 13, will also receive a Great Honorific Prize.

Recommended by our boutique hotel in Barcelona: a night of zombies

This year’s edition will also face an invasion: zombies will come out at night looking for brains to feed on. Making the most of the general themes of the screenings at the Sitges Festival, on Saturday the 6^th of October some 350 people will be given a complete make over for free during the day so that they are ready to head out around Sitges dressed as zombies. The tour will end with a concert by the Motorzombies. A completely terrifying experience.

How to get to Sitges from our boutique hotel in Barcelona

There are many ways to get to Sitges from the city of Barcelona. If you are planning to travel by day, it’s most likely that you will want to travel by train or by bus, which are the most cost effective and quickest options. Also, it is good to know that once the normal bus timetable ends there will be a special night bus which will be running between 00:55-05:51.

Reserve your room at our boutique hotel in Barcelona

Make the most of these dates to visit Barcelona. You will discover a city open to a world of culture, cosmopolitan and unforgettable. Our boutique hotel in Barcelona, Well and Come, offers a relaxing and special stay so that you can rest between the goings on of the Sitges festival. We have an exclusive rooftop with views of the city and the upmost comfort in our rooms. Also, the hotel has available excellent transport services, whether it be a train or bus. Reserve your room on our website and enjoy up to 50% off breakfasts and packs!

Barcelona’s offering of research and development has made it a point of interest for international organisations with the aim of celebrating within it its conferences and events. This year it is the 20th edition of the main international conference for research in the economic field: the International Conference of Business, Economy and Finances, (ICBEFR). The Condal will be a destination for researchers and academics who will present their projects in front of thousands of guests. If you are looking for a place to stay that is tranquil and has all of the amenities, Well and Come, boutique hotel in Barcelona, offers a stay like no other in a privileged location.

What is the ICBEFR?

The International Conference for Business, Economics and Finance (known as ICBEFR) has as an objective to unite academics, researchers and renowned scientists with the end goal of exchanging and sharing their experiences and conclusions in the fields of business research, economy and finance. It also serves as a platform for these researchers to present and analyse innovations, trends and current worries on a first level interdisciplinary platform. The days are intense and worthwhile, all of the guests reach the end of the day being very tired and drained. That is why, at Well and Come, boutique hotel in Barcelona, we guarantee a relaxation experience like no other on our rooftop with views of the Tibidabo or with a glass of something in one of our rooms.

An opportunity to share knowledge

The ICBEFR Barcelona 2018 is framed by a conglomeration of conferences organised by the International Conference of Investigation, a federated international organisation which is dedicated to bringing together a number of important academic events which put forward the exhibition of investigative projects. The events of the conference take place one after another depending on the number and the duration of the presentations. An experience like no other to share knowledge and show findings. The ICBEFR 2018 is also associated with the very special magazine Special Journal Issue on Business, Economics and Finance Research. During the day various high impact text articles are selected for this very special edition. All of those who will be presenting will have the opportunity to be considered for this marvellous sharing opportunity.

End or begin your day at our boutique hotel in Barcelona

Well and Come, boutique hotel in Barcelona, strongly supports the investigation and the sharing of knowledge. That is why, we believe that events such as the ICBEFR enhance the international perception of Barcelona and make this city a place of interest. This is why we offer a first class stay. Our boutique hotel in Barcelona leads with a professional service that only multiplies your experience in the city. We want to encourage all those who will be attending to the conference to either end their day or start it off right at our boutique hotel in Barcelona. We have an exclusive rooftop with views of the city and maximum comfort in our rooms. Also, the hotel offers an excellent network of transport, whether it be on the metro or by taxi. Reserve your room now online and enjoy up to 50% off on packs and breakfasts!

Barcelona is one of those cities that leave everyone wanting more. Cosmopolitan, multicultural, open to the world and with a gastronomic offering, its culture and hospitality make it worthy to be one of the best cities in the world. Amongst its octagonal buildings you will find the modernism of Gaudí, the history of the Catedral del Mar and the breeze of the Barceloneta. Although it may seem a lie, with the right attitude and enthusiasm it is possible to ambitiously see the city in only one day. That’s why, you have to be full of energy before the expedition and you have to recharge afterwards, of course. There a very few places where you can do this better, at Well and Come the 4 star Boutique Hotel which was created at the start of 2016 in the centre of Barcelona is where you will find it all: elegant décor, exclusive customer service, every last detail taken care of and a privileged location. Would you like to spend a whole day covering Barcelona?

Start the day strong

Starting the day strong is important. The starting point is clear: the exclusive breakfast area at Hotel Well and Come. Those who get up early can make the most the day and enjoy the unmistakable smell of freshly baked bread which is served alongside our continental breakfast, which starts at 7:30 (8 am on weekends).

Once we have departed through the stunning entrance at Well and Come, we head towards the Passeig de Sant Joan and we begin to stretch our legs ready for a long day. Following the route and without getting lost, we arrive in less than ten minutes at one of the most critically acclaimed monuments on planet earth: the Sagrada Familia. Gaudí’s masterpiece and the centre of the Condal City. As the sun rises, you observe the details and secrets that this monumental construction hides in an intelligently awakening and activating manner.

Modern Barcelona

After discovering the grandeur of the Sagrada Familia, we can get the first metro of the day and head to the Plaza Catalunya, the epicentre of our adventure. Once there, we head to the Paseo de Gràcia to observe another modern attraction. On this walk even the street lights are modern! Along the journey we find ourselves at four main destinations: la Casa Lleó i Morera, la Casa Amatller, la Casa Batlló and the famous Pedrera. Obligatory photo and contemplation opportunities. Making the most of our walk through the area, we can stop and have lunch in one of the many hidden gems located to the sides of the walk. For when we start to get a little peckish and the continental breakfast has worn off.

Returning to Plaza Catalunya, we continue our trail through La Rambla, one of the most visited streets in the city, we will find an endless amount of streets which you could spend days and days exploring. On this occasion, we head to the Mercat de la Boqueria, where we can enjoy one of the most emblematic establishments of the city where you can also savour a refreshing fruit juice which will give us the vitamin boost we need to carry on.

The gothic district of Barcelona and its magical streets

After beginning to understand how Barcelona works and appreciate everything that makes it unique, we head away from La Rambla via the calle de Ferran to enter in to the gothic district, where you will find attractions such as the Plaza San Jaime, Barcelona cathedral and the churches of Santa Maria del Pi or Sant Felip Neri. If you have time, its worthwhile roaming its streets, as they have a distinctively unique charm about them.

If we cross through the gothic district we will see the sea. And also Barceloneta is also one of the most iconic spots in Barcelona. Its district and its beach are ideal places to be this time of year, in which the sun starts to shine and the sea breeze helps to settle the temperature. Ending one part of the day sat on the sea’s edge is a comforting and motivating way to tackle the final stretch of a magical day.

End the day at your boutique hotel

The sun is now not radiating so much heat and it’s time to head back to where we started our trip. We catch the metro at the Barceloneta stop and return to the Verdaguer stop in order to find calle Girona. At Hotel Well and Come they will be waiting for you with a cocktail on the exclusive rooftop. It’s the time to relax, freshen up and chat about the goings on of that day whilst taking a look at the photos from the day. The service and comfort offered make recovering from those kilometres travelled much easier. Whilst in the room, which has wooden flooring and LED A+ lighting, creates a warm and welcoming atmosphere, we can say goodbye to one of those days that you won’t forget as the years go by. Don’t hesitate any longer, you can reserve your room directly on our website!

One of the most magical days in Barcelona is, without a doubt, the Dia de Sant Jordi. This celebration is held on the 23^rd of April and all of the Catalonian cities fill with stalls selling flowers and books and hundreds of people stroll through. The Catalonian capital is the most spectacular given that many emblematic buildings are specially decorated for this day. In the district on which our Boutique Hotel in Barcelona is located within, l’Eixample, a great number of activities take place, making it a complete must to visit the Casa Batlló.

Discover the legend of Sant Jordi at your Boutique Hotel in Barcelona

Before going any further, we want to tell you about why we gift flowers and books on this day. The famous legend explains that a long time ago, in the era of dragons and knights, a wicked and ferocious dragon descended upon a small Catalonian town and terrified all of its inhabitants with its fiery breath. The inhabitants, scared and tired of its havoc and rampage, decided to calm it down by feeding it one person a day which they would choose with a draw, whether they be nobles or peasants. Unluckily, the daughter of the king was chosen as the first sacrifice and had to abandon her home and head to the dragons lair. When the beastly dragon came to eat her, a knight named Sant Jordi appeared wearing shining armour and came in galloping on a white horse and stuck his sword in to the creature. From the dragons blood emerged the most beautiful roses that had ever been seen, and Sant Jordi, plucked a flower and offered it to the princess. To honour the courage of the knight and to show his love toward the women that surrounded him, began the tradition that men give women flowers on this very special day.

It’s likely that you will be asking yourself why books are gifted if they don’t appear in any part of the legend. The reason is that by pure chance on the 23^rd of April 1616 two global literary icons died, yes we are referring to Miguel de Cervantes and William Shakespeare. To honour this unusual coincidence, Unesco declared this day in 1995 as World Book Day.

What to do on Sant Jordi nearby to your Boutique Hotel in Barcelona

Now that you have found out about this tradition, it’s time for you to take part. Sant Jordi is not a bank holiday, you will find all of the shops and restaurants open as normal. However, you can’t forget that it will still feel like a festival, all of the streets will be filled with stalls and flowers. The most famous image of this festivity is in Las Ramblas, but it is important to know that all the neighbourhoods will be carrying out events dedicated to Sant Jordi. As we said at the start, the Casa Batlló, designed by Gaudí, is specially decorated for the occasion. The mysterious work of the Catalonian artist is already pretty spectacular, but on this day it comes to life. Well and Come is located only a 12 minute walk away, we cannot recommend enough visiting this spot.

Near to our boutique hotel in Barcelona there are a great number of events related to Sant Jordi, which you can fully enjoy on this day without having to travel too far. On Barcelona’s town hall website (Ayuntamiento de Barcelona) you will find all of the nearby events to your accommodation. If you will be travelling with your partner, gifting them a rose and a book is essential, and if you’re looking for more places to visit, we can recommend the 10 most romantic places near to Well and Come. And to end the evening, we want to recommend having a cocktail on the Rooftop whilst enjoying the night skyline of Barcelona.

Make the most of booking directly with our Boutique Hotel in Barcelona

If you want to live the magic of the day of Sant Jordí from the centre of Barcelona, our small Boutique Hotel in Barcelona is the best option to stay at due to its streets filled with traders and flower stands. If you want to make the most of our exclusive services all you have to do is reserve directly on our Boutique Hotels website. And once you have made the reservation, all that’s left to do is enjoy a care free stay.