Planning a Hen Weekend in Barcelona
Barcelona is the best hen destination, with something to suit every bridal party. I have a particular soft spot for the city as I used to live there. Spring is the ideal time to visit if you are getting married in the summer - the weather is already beautiful but the city still feels quiet.
My bridesmaids planned the perfect dreamy long-weekend getaway full of surprises before my wedding in 2019, and I’m often asked for tips and ideas by other brides planning their own. I find big group trips quite overwhelming, so these are tips that would work well for 4-10 people - with nary a penis straw in sight (keeping it classy San Diego).
For tips on where to eat, drink and play, see my ultimate guide to Barcelona:
Notes from Les Bridesmaids:
“Julia's gorgeous hen-do was to be a tasteful, joyful and relaxed girl's trip to Barcelona, Spain, in springtime. Vamos! We scrolled through each of our social media conversations with Julia and picked out any links and ideas she'd sent us of activities and places to eat in Barcelona over the years. These tips formed the basis of our itinerary; a beautiful blend of Spanish wine tasting, flower crown making in the hills behind Barcelona, a very British homemade afternoon tea, cocktails on rooftops and a couple of late night tapas excursions.
Surprising her with the details of the itinerary when we arrived in Barcelona melted away the pressure that can come with planning a hen-do and left room for only excitement-filled anticipation, roaring laughter and anecdotes to reminisce about for years to come.” - Daniella
“I arrived earlier than the other hens, so I had the fun job of setting up the apartment! My suitcase was full of balloons and banners so after checking into the Airbnb I was able to nip into the city centre to buy a little home canister of helium. This was also a great opportunity to purchase some nibbles, bubbles and breakfast delights!” - Tara
“Planning my sister’s hen do was a really lovely experience. We all know my sister inside out, and Barcelona is her favourite city (having lived there in the past) so the whole time we were on the same wavelength when planning. I wanted to make sure we had a good balance of activities, partying but also some chilled time to relax and sightsee. I can’t recommend Barcelona enough for a hen weekend, it had the perfect balance of everything we wanted.” - Hannah
Where to Stay
My favourite neighbourhood is the Eixample (ideally as close to Plaza Catalunya as possible and as near to Passeo de Gracia on either side.
From here you can easily stroll through the old town / down into the Borne, another one of my favourite areas, and beyond to the Port and Barceloneta. It has easy Metro access to the whole city and the airport bus conveniently drops off + picks up here.
Casa Bonay is like a home-from-home, with the world’s nicest staff! I also love the serene artsy elegance of the Pulitzer, but in general for a hen weekend I’d always go for an apartment or Airbnb!
A Note on Airbnbs in BCN: Soo many gorgeous buildings fall pray to rowdy hens and stags, leaving the locals with booming walls and a grudge. Don’t be those people, sweet friends. ♥️
Some of the Beautiful Things We Did..
Flower Crown Making with Gang and the Wool
The girls organised a spectacular workshop with Gang & The Wool, who specialise in floral styling, botanical set design and creative direction (see their insta for a glimpse of the beauty they create).
Their HQ is located in the Collserola national park just outside the city, with an ethereal outdoor workshop space and famous greenhouse that has appeared in many editorial campaigns.
We arrived to the sound of birdsong and crickets in the valley and spent a perfect morning making majestic flower crowns under blue skies. The whole experience was the epitome of joy, with the most impressive grazing platters and cava.
a surprise Afternoon Tea
We also enjoyed an indulgent feast by Rooftop Tea Barcelona. Angela Carroll is Barcelona’s undisputed queen of Afternoon Tea style baking & experiences. She started offering beautiful homemade afternoon teas on her rooftop terrace back in 2014, training as a professional pastry chef.
For a tiny group like ours, Angela created the most delicious afternoon tea especially for us and delivered it to our apartment, which the girls had secretly set up with paper plates and decorations from home (I think their luggage might have been 80% straws, plates, balloons and accoutrements like this flat pack cake stand)! ♥️
(Table set up Inspo from a second family hen weekend that my lovely mum planned with my Granny Mae and sister back in Scotland - too pretty not to include)!
Wine Tasting WItH Blend & Bottled
We spent the afternoon having a Spanish wine experience with Claartje at Blend and Bottled, who took us on a tasting journey through the country’s wines. Alas Barcelona lovers she is now based on the Caribbean island of Curaçao but I found Salut Wine Studio in the Born - which looks amazing!
If you have your own car, Llopart vineyard offers one of the best winery tours I’ve ever done, culminating in a cava tasting (we organised a big group tour a few days after our wedding). If not, I’ve heard great things about this experience.
More Beautiful Things To Do
A Very Special Picnic
Picnic! Picnic! Barcelona make up lovely thoughtful baskets with everything you need to dine al fresco, and deliver to strategic spots across the city. They can also create custom picnic set-ups for special occasions.
Straws n Berries create the most beautiful catered picnic set ups with lots of personal touches either at the beach or in Ciutadella Park. They offer all kinds of unique experiences, from a floating picnic to a treasure hunt picnic and even an indoor “spa picnic” complete with beauty treatments.
Creative Workshops
There are soo many creative studios and workshops happening in the city, like making your own custom espadrilles with Handmade Barcelona (pretty much the coolest thing ever) or a dreamy cooking masterclass with The Paella Club.
BCN Clay Studio is a ceramic and jewellery studio offering workshops and classes and Arte Bar host fun guided painting and wine sessions. I used to go to these beautiful Life Drawing sessions under a frescoed ceiling in a historic Catalan palace (note this is definitely not “wink wink nudge nudge” life drawing - the group are super lovely and mellow but they do take it seriously).
Straws n Berries organise bottomless jewellery making workshops with Emilie Claiborne of Borne Design. Basically any fun activity you can think of is covered in Barcelona - from a cocktail masterclass at Collage Bar to making paella in a secret garden and even touring the city by skateboard!
Retreat vibes
The sauna with possibly the best view in the world!
One of the MOST impressive spas in the city is at Hotel Les Arts - if you have a small group and a comfy budget, I can’t recommend it enough (that sauna!!). Located right at the top of the Hotel Arts, on the 43rd floor no less, the hotel’s spa enjoys incredible views of the beach and the treatments are heaven.
Aire Ancient Baths are located in an atmospheric 17th century warehouse next to El Born Market. They offer a whole range of massages and thermal baths in a deeply relaxing candlelit setting.
I’ve also heard nothing but good things about beauty bar and nail salon MUSA in the Eixample, who offer different treatments in a really sweet setting.
Vitamin SEa
Depending on the time of year (it was a little cool in April for any sea-faring action), there are soo many wonderful boat trips like this one.
Excursions Barcelona offer a full day trip from Barcelona up the Costa Brava for watersports, beach picnics and other lovely things. A super chilled beach picnic or yoga on the beach with Barcelona Beach House or Sunrise & Sunset Beach Yoga would also be magnifique.
La Vie en Rose
The perfect drink to accompany your Barcelona Hen Weekend! Born Rose was designed in Barcelona to enjoy special moments on terraces, at the beach and with friends. It comes in handy cans and they do beautiful gift boxes that you can order directly to your apartment.
Use my referral link for €10 off your first order (not sponsored but this gives me a €10 credit to use too! Mochas Gracias xoxo)
Shop My Barcelona Hen Weekend Edit
For more tips on where to eat, drink and play read my full guide to Barcelona here.
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