This destination blends city break with beach holiday (Image: Getty)
If you want to escape to somewhere sunny, but are saving your annual leave for later in the year, then a day trip or overnight break can be a good compromise.
Whether you leave early and come back late, or stay the night and leave the next morning, you may be amazed how much you can pack into 24 hours, and it’s a good way to sample a city and decide whether you’d like to visit for longer in future.
Sunny Barcelona was crowned the best 24-hour holiday destination by Mozio, and with flights from the UK taking as little as two hours, it’s perfect for a short break. Barcelona International Airport is also close to the city centre. You can simply take a train from the airport directly to Barcelona Sants railway station, then take the metro to wherever the mood takes you.
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Barcelona is just over two hours from the UK (Image: Getty)
Barcelona’s airport is served by a number of UK budget airlines, and you can find fares from as little as £17 one-way with Ryanair which can work out cheaper than taking a train for a staycation.
Once you’ve landed and headed to the heart of Barcelona, there’s plenty to do. Tree-lined La Rambla is a good starting point, as so many of the city’s tourist attractions are found in this area. There’s lots of shopping, cafes, and street performances, giving it a lively atmosphere during the day.
La Rambla is at the heart of the city (Image: Getty)
Follow the street down to Rambla De Mar where you’ll find the Christopher Columbus Monument and the Barcelona Maritime Museum which holds a lifesize replica of a historic galleon. It has interactive exhibitions about Barcelona’s medieval docks, which you can see for yourself by strolling along the promenade outside.
About a 20-minute walk away is Barceloneta Beach, one of the city’s most popular sandy spots. It gets busy during the summer months, but it’s a long beach with plenty of space to stretch out. Barceloneta is a charming neighbourhood to visit. It’s a maze of narrow streets where you’ll find tapas bars and seafood restaurants, lively markets, and lots of independent shops waiting to be discovered.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a trip to Barcelona without seeing the Basílica de la Sagrada Família. 2026 is set to be a big year for this iconic church, marking the 100-year anniversary of Antoni Gaudí’s death, as well as the completion of the structural parts of the building. While it’s not expected to be fully finished until 2034, as of October 2025 it became the world’s tallest church, and it’s absolutely spectacular to see up close.
Visit Mercat de la Boqueria to try local cuisine (Image: Getty)
Nearby, Mercat de la Boqueria is the perfect place to stop for lunch and try lots of local cuisine under one roof. It’s a food market that mostly sells fresh produce, but also has lots of stalls where you can perch on a bar stool and enjoy tapas, fresh seafood, or some local jamon.
And of course, there are endless dining options to be found down Barcelona’s streets. Treat yourself to an authentic Catalan Fideuà, Barcelona’s answer to paella. Fideuà are short, thin noodles that resemble rice, but are actually a type of pasta, making them perfect for seafood dishes. Finish off with a glass of local Cava. Many varieties of this bubby are made just a short distance from the city. Salud!
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