WHAT TO EAT, SEE AND DO WHEN VISITING THE FORMULA 1 ARAMCO GRAN PREMIO DE ESPAÑA 2025
DESTINATION:
Barcelona
A favourite with the F1 fraternity due to its close proximity to the vibrant city of Barcelona with its heady mix of good weather, beaches, Catalan culture and gothic architecture, it is also unsurprisingly a popular destination with F1 fans looking to turn their trip to the Grand Prix into an extended Spanish holiday.
For former F1 driver Pedro de la Rosa – currently Aston Martin's Team Ambassador – who grew up in Barcelona, it’s “the city that never sleeps.”
He adds: “Barcelona is a young city, full of action, full of culture. You can enjoy the sea and good weather, but you can also drive for one hour and be skiing in the Pyrenees – no one gets bored in Barcelona!”
Even though tapas aren’t native to the Catalan capital, Barcelona has fully embraced these small sharing plates and absorbed them into its gastronomic scene. The word ‘tapa’, meaning ‘lid’, originates from a time when the dishes had to be covered with one to protect them from the flies that inhabited the dive bars where they were traditionally served.
These days tapas culture in the city has evolved into a sophisticated culinary movement with chefs applying their talents as equally to these bite-sized morsels as they do their full-size creations.
"You can enjoy the sea and good weather, but you can also drive for one hour and be skiing in the Pyrenees – no one gets bored in Barcelona!”
Pedro de la Rosa
It’s not hard to see why this city is a popular choice for F1 teams and fans alike
Barcelona is well served with all of the familiar big name hotels in the city centre, while for those wanting beach holiday vibes there is plenty of resort accommodation to choose from where you can feel the sand between your toes.
For more of a small town atmosphere in the city, head to the Gracia area – arguably one of the most authentic neighbourhoods in Barcelona – where smaller boutique hotels and self-catering apartments make it a good choice for those wishing to fully immerse themselves in this diverse and vibrant enclave of the city.
Without a doubt the city of Barcelona is synonymous with the work of renowned Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi, and his distinctive architectural stamp on the city is clearly visible everywhere, from arguably his most famous work, the unfinished, majestically gothic Sagrada Familia, to the lanterns which grace Placa Reial (Royal Square) which were in fact Gaudi’s very first works in Barcelona.
With an entrance off the most iconic street in Barcelona, La Rambla, it’s the perfect place to stop off after a morning of sightseeing and sample some of the local delicacies from one of the many bars and restaurants within the market, or perhaps pick up a few treats and head to Park Guell for a picnic.
De la Rosa suggests the legacy of the Barcelona Olympics as a must see. “Visitors should also visit the Olympic Stadium and Montjuic’s surroundings, mainly because they will recognise the old Montjuic Circuit where the Spanish GP was held in the 60s and 70s,” he says, adding “I can’t avoid doing a lap with my road car every time I’m there!”
Accessible by funicular railway and cable car, Montjuic boasts many other attractions including botanical gardens, a mock Spanish village which was built for the 1929 International Fair and remains as a living museum of Spanish culture, and Montjuic Castle from which there are impressive views of the port below.
FUN FACT
While Antoni Gaudi was undoubtedly a remarkable and talented architect, shaping much of the Barcelona you see today, he was not without controversy. During the building of La Pedrera, the house commissioned by prominent Barcelona couple Pere Mila and Roser Segimon, Gaudi took a fluid approach to budgets and building regulations with many of the building’s features deemed illegal by a building inspector. Eventually the building was signed off after a 100,000 pesetas fine was paid by Milas to legalise the structure, resulting in an argument and subsequent court case over Gaudi’s fees. Gaudi won the case and Milas and Segimon were forced to mortgage the Gaudi masterpiece to pay the architect. Gaudi promptly donated the compensation to a convent of nuns.
There is so much to see and experience in Barcelona, whether you’re a city loving culture vulture or a more laidback beach bum preferring a relaxed vibe, and it’s not hard to see why this city is a popular choice for F1 teams and fans alike.
But De la Rosa also believes there’s an extra element that makes his city so special. “It’s a combination of its mild climate, its great architecture and its people. The people that live in Barcelona, the ‘Barceloneses’, are very genuine. We can be a bit shy, but when you have a Barcelones as a friend, you have a friend forever.”
