Barcelona Two Nights

Your weekend, day by day

1. 2

   Day 2

   

   Beach & pool party

   From about 13:00 · 2 hours

   If the group picks the beach party, it fills the afternoon: reserved beds or terrace space, with a bar and a DJ. Swim shorts, sun cream and a towel, plus something smarter if the group is going out after dark.

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   Barcelona's beach club season runs from about mid-April to mid-October, daily in July and August with other dates on request. The pool party format starts at 4:30pm sharp and runs around five hours into the evening; the daytime alternative is a reserved lounger from 11am to 4pm with pool access, showers and a couple of drinks. The venue is confirmed after booking. For something more active, a coordinator runs two hours of beach games such as volleyball and frisbee on the city beach, with starts from 10am. Everything is 18-plus. Pack swimwear, sun cream and something to change into for the evening.

   You are given a set of beds or a section of the terrace for the day, with waiter service and a DJ playing from the afternoon into the evening. Some clubs include a drinks package or a bottle on the table, and some only include the entry and the beds.

   It is a long, slow afternoon rather than an event with a start and a finish, which suits a group that wants somewhere to be rather than something to do.

   Bring swim shorts, sun cream and a towel if the club does not supply one. Most have a dress code after dark, so pack something to change into.

2. 3

   Day 3

   

   Add-on

   Treasure hunt & city quest

   From about 11:00 · 2 hours

   Departure day. If the group picks the treasure hunt instead, teams work round the centre with clues and photo challenges, finishing in a pub. Allow time for the transfer back to El Prat.

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   Barcelona offers three versions. The hosted hunt is a two-and-a-half-hour mission round the city centre in teams, with cryptic questions and tasks along the way, for groups of 10 to 35. The self-run smartphone game starts whenever you choose and sends teams between GPS points and bars for pub trivia. The food version is the most local of the three: a 90-minute guided route with blindfold tastings, sangria pong and a quiz, finishing with a tapas meal. Wear comfortable shoes for the hosted hunt, and in July and August start early or late to stay out of the midday heat.

   Each team gets a route, a set of clues and a list of photo or video challenges, either on paper or through an app. You work your way round the city centre, collecting points, and everyone meets at a pub at the end where the scores are read out.

   It runs two to three hours on foot and it covers a fair distance, though at your own pace. Most of the scoring comes from the challenges rather than the clues, so the daft teams tend to win.

   Comfortable shoes, a charged phone and a jacket. It goes ahead in the rain.