Nightlife Barcelona Guide

Barcelona is a late night city. The combination of Spanish culture (dinner ends at midnight), a large population of students and young people and a lot of tourists looking for a good time makes for an abundance of Barcelona nightlife. From jazz to techno to gay clubs, Barcelona has something at every hour for every person.

The most popular tourist areas are also the most popular nightclub spots. The Gothic neighborhood (Barri Gòtic) and Las Ramblas are host to many nightclubs playing top 40 hits. These places are especially popular with young European tourists. While there are many tourist traps in this area, there are some nice spots too. Try the "Bosque de los Fades" (Fairy Forrest) near the wax museum for a quieter night but remember - beware of pickpockets.

The Maremagnum is a mall/promenade filled with fun shops and nightclubs. During the daytime, take a stroll and do some shopping with the family in this, the largest mall in Barcelona. This wooden boardwalk along the harbor turns wild with nightfall, and offers every type of entertainment, most notably live salsa music and dancing. In the summertime, many dance floors move outside and many revelers end up in the water.

In addition to attractions for young tourists to old locals, there are many options for gay partiers, especially in the L'Example neighborhood in the city center. Though the aforementioned neighborhoods are popular at night, there are things to do throughout the city and on every night of the week. Your best bet is to ask some locals where they like to party, or simply take a stroll from your restaurant or hotel.