Barcelona is known as one of the best places to play poker in Europe – and the Catalan capital frequently hosts some of the biggest tournaments on the continent. This August it’s time for EPT Barcelona, a giant festival featuring more than 60 different tournaments. The huge scale of the EPT Barcelona schedule – which combines the EPT with the national Estrellas Poker Tour – features events to suit budgets and bankrolls of all kinds. This makes it ideal for recreational players who want to combine playing poker with a great holiday in one of Europe’s most exciting cities.
EPT Barcelona is taking place from August 21 to September 3 at Casino de Barcelona in the buzzy resort area of Port Olimpic. Rooms are in high demand for EPT Barcelona so let MainEventTravel.com help you sort out your accommodation. You can also email us direct at info@maineventtravel.com if you’re interested in staying at the luxurious Arts Hotel or Sofitel Barcelona Skipper.
Last year’s event featured the biggest Main Event in EPT history with 2,294 entries so huge numbers are expected for next month’s edition. There are numerous tournaments with a €550 buy-in including the prestigious Estrellas Cup which runs August 25-26 along with several No Limit Hold’em tournaments and the two-day Women’s Event which starts on September 1.
MainEventTravel writer Mad Harper lived just outside Barcelona for more than a decade and has some great tourism recommendations for visitors:
Sagrada Familia – Gaudi’s unfinished architectural masterpiece (pictured above) is one place that you simply mustn’t miss when you visit the Catalan capital. This stunning church is the most prominent example of Catalan Modernism and exemplifies Gaudí’s philosophy that nature is the work of God. The soaring columns and extraordinary light are absolutely breath-taking. We strongly recommend you BOOK in advance, online, to visit the cathedral. This will give you a timed visiting slot and help you avoid long queues. Despite being unfinished – and under construction for nearly 140 years – the cathedral is one of the most visited monuments in Spain with millions heading there every year.
The Born area – our favourite area (pictured above) of Barcelona to hang out and explore is the Born area. Popular with locals, the Born is far enough off the beaten track to make every visitor feel they have discovered something new and wonderful. The Born is truly charming and also far less crowded than the neighbouring Gothic quarter. Take your time wandering down the narrow streets and the countless charming little plazas, before heading into one of the plentiful cafes, bars or restaurants. Quirky independent shops also abound in the Born so you can head home with something a bit more unusual than the usual tourist souvenirs on offer elsewhere in the city.
Parks – Barcelona is a leafy city, full of tree-lined boulevards and avenues. But if you fancy really stretching your legs and surrounding yourself with nature, then there are two lovely parks that we recommend. Parc de Ciutadella (pictured above) is close to the city centre, and right next to the Born area (see above). There’s a lot to see across its 17 hectares including the zoo, the lake and bandstand, beautiful monuments, historic waterfall, romantic English garden, the Hivernacle greenhouse and the Parliament of Catalunya. Dating back to 1888 when it hosted the World Fair, Ciutadella is the city’s largest park and very popular with locals.
Park Guell is another magnificent Gaudí creation (pictured above) and full of his exuberant sculptures, quirky architecture and 'trencadís’ designs. You’ll need to buy tickets to enter so don’t head up there without booking online first. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Park Guell is a truly magical place and one of the largest green spaces in Barcelona. Numerous Gaudi-designed structures decorate the park including the famous mosaic Dragon at the entrance, the Sala Hipòstila, the Gardens of Austria, and the Pòrtic de la Bugadera. Don’t miss the esplanade – a spectacular circular concourse surrounded by undulating benches in the form of a sea-serpent decorated with ‘trencadis’ broken tiles.
La Boqueria – Located just off Barcelona’s world-famous tree-lined La Rambla boulevard, La Boqueria is the city’s main food market (pictured above) and now a major tourist destination in its own right. First opened in 1836, there are more than 300 stalls selling everything from freshly fried fish to whole jamons, with local artisanal produce in abundance. This includes butifarra, a meaty cooked Catalan sausage rich in spices or turrón, a delicious, sweet nougat. The numerous bars and restaurants on-site also give you the chance to sample products direct from the market – enjoy!
Barceloneta - Barceloneta is another charming Barcelona neighbourhood located right on the water’s edge and close to Port Olimpic. Barceloneta (pictured above) was originally the maritime and workers’ neighbourhood and is now a major destination for foodies, drawn by the area’s excellent and varied cuisine. Understandably the best thing to get here is seafood – whether in the form of tiny tapas and pinchos or giant paellas. Don’t miss the chance to try fideua – a traditional paella-style dish that uses short spaghetti-like pasta instead of rice.
Camp Nou –Camp Nou, the largest stadium (pictured above) in Europe, is where Barcelona’s formidable football team has its home. When filled to capacity, it affords nearly 100,000 spectators the chance to watch FC Barcelona play live. And even if FC Barcelona aren’t playing while you’re in town, you could still get tickets for RCD Espanyol, another first-division team based at Camp Nou. It’s also worth visiting the stadium for the “experience tour.”. The trophy room alone is a staggering sight, and there’s also a two-floor museum, a multimedia zone and an extensive collection of Camp Nou memorabilia. You’ll get to see the visiting team’s dressing room and walk through the famous tunnel for a panoramic view from the pitch. Tour tickets available here- https://buy-tickets.fcbarcelona.com/campnouexperience/pack-tour.html.
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