City Spotlight
Look up, Barcelona
Gaudí’s legacy reaches new heights
By Ilona Kauremszky
Leave it to Barcelona, where art, architecture and audacious imagination collide, to make 2026 a year worth looking up. Spain’s FIFA World Cup victory this summer adds another reason to celebrate, but the bigger cultural fête is the “Year of Gaudí,” marking a century since the death of Antoni Gaudí, the Catalan architect whose fantastical fingerprints have shaped the city. To boot, the milestone coincides with Barcelona’s designation as World Capital of Architecture 2026.
Holy Heights
The frequent flier club realizes bespoke service is the ticket for the time-starved traveller who dreads FOMO (fear of missing out). NUBA Insider Spain (nuba.com/en), a new partner with luxury network Virtuoso Travel, crafts thoughtful, VIP-style itineraries that skip the main queues to Sagrada Familia, whisking you inside the world’s tallest church. Led by a knowledgeable NUBA insider guide, whose passion for Gaudí rises as high as the newly completed glass-and-ceramic cross that crowns the Tower of Jesus Christ, the experience reveals countless highlights. See the basilica where Pope Leo XIV presided over Mass and blessed the newly completed tower on June 10, 2026, exactly 100 years after Gaudí’s death.
A Dragon’s-Eye View
Before the city flicks its switch, visit Casa Batlló in the early hours. This residential jewel situated on one of the ritziest tree-lined thoroughfares swings open its doors before the public with private tours of the Gaudí-designed residence created for textile industrialist, Josep Batlló between 1904 and 1906. NUBA Insider arranges the private tour to otherwise off-limit parts to view a recreated apartment with period furnishings that includes the architectural plan signed by Gaudí. Complete the visit with a refined breakfast in a renovated bedroom on the third floor overlooking the Passeig de Gràcia.
The casa morphs into a spectacle by night that’s capped off on the rooftop with an evening performance from local musicians. Feel Barcelona’s sultry atmosphere over a glass or two of Cava. Before your exit, Casa Batlló shifts into a lively light and sound show in the lower level. A new local travel operator Esenzia Travels (esenziatravels.com) is available for curated experiences.
Almanac Barcelona: Sleeps and Eats
Double your pleasure at this MICHELIN-keyed boutique hotel. A portable Cava and water bar greets guests, while diners gather at Virens for elevated green haute cuisine. The breakfast buffet is known for locally sourced, seasonal ingredients that are truly unrivalled. Not only will the well-heeled address dazzle, just steps from Passeig de Gràcia with Spanish labels Zara and Mango, but its rooftop ambiance will leave you breathless. A private pool framed by greenery and minimal loungers for guests only, give the ‘I have arrived’ vibe. This lofty perch boasts a panorama so vivid you’ll want to linger longer for the magical moments of Barcelona, with the Sagrada Familia in full view and the city life pulsing beneath your feet.
Why Go Now?
It’s the “Year of Gaudí.” As the special tribute anniversary of Gaudí’s death a century ago winds down, Barcelona enters a cooler season where temperatures are comfortable.
