SITGES International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia, 44th edition, is the number one fantasy film festival in the world and represents, at the same time, the cultural expression with the most media impact in Catalonia. With a solid experience, the Sitges Festival is a stimulating universe of encounters, exhibitions, presentations and screenings of fantasy films from all over the world.

Born in 1968 as the 1st International Week of Fantasy and Horror Movies, today the Festival is an essential rendezvous for movie lovers and audiences eager to come into contact with new tendencies and technologies applied to film and the audiovisual world.
This year it will be showing a total of 270 films, with a heavy emphasis on Catalan cinema and a core theme of artificial intelligence and a new target audience: families.

This year the festival's leitmotiv is artificial intelligence and the star film is Spielberg's production of that name, A.I. Artificial Intelligence, first released some ten years ago. But reflection on this issue will not be confined to the screening of that film because there is a cross-section programme based on it, an exhibition and debates.

Finally, to coincide with the festival the local rail service Rodalies Renfe have once again organised the Fantasy Train, a special train that will run from 6 to 16 October, leaving Sitges at 1.30 am, before the early morning sessions begin. If you stay in our backpacker hostel, you can go with Renfe train, line R2, the duration of the journey 54 minutes.Visit Sitges Film Festival.

This Sunday, 2 October, if you stay in the roof terrace of Barcelona Urbany see the Sky Festival to the seafront at Nova Mar Bella Beaches.  The Barcelona air show is a spectacular aerial acrobatics and a lot of activities for everyone.  These activities include a flight simulator and an exhibition of unmanned aircraft. Furthermore the festival will end with 5,000 kites being flown at the same time.

The air show celebrate 20th anniversary in the Mediterranean Sea, the most spectacular aerial acrobatics and a whole host of activities for everyone.

Barcelona is lucky and proud to host the oldest and largest air show in Spain. The goal of this change is to make the airshow a privileged showcase for the Barcelona aerospace industry.

The festival aims to give the public access to the world of aeronautics, a sector because it is a growing sector that boosts the knowledge industry and brings stability, because its projects are long term and because it creates a broad employment base".

Besides the air displays the festival is offering a host of activities for everyone on the ground. For example, you will be able to feel what an acrobatic flight is like in the Àguila (Eagle) Patrol flight simulator.

In addition there is the Associations Fair, which is devoted to promoting the sector and its professional opportunities, with the Barcelona Aeronautics & Space Association stand collecting CVs from people who are interested in the professional world of aeronautics.

How to get there from our Barcelona Hostel?  Take the line T4-Ciutadella/Vila Olímpica - Estacio de Sant Adrià of Tramvia at the station Ca l'Aranyó and after 5 stops you must get off at Forum Station on line 4.

Around 24 September, once again Barcelona will celebrate its Annual Festival. The last blast of summer before the autumn starts, La Mercè is the festival of festivals, where, in just a few days there are hundreds of activities. La Mercè is a showcase for Catalan traditions as well as a unique opportunity to see the top street performers in action and to enjoy some great concerts. Have you got a slot in your diary? Well, set aside the 22nd, 23rd, 24th and 25th September.

There’s no better time to discover Hostel in Barcelona than September, when the city reveals its most authentic side during its main festival. During this period, costumed figures wearing giant papier-mâché heads, known as nans, huge painted papier-mâché figures, known as gegants, and devils and beasts will take to the streets of Barcelona, and landmarks, such as the Parc de la Ciutadella and Montjuïc Castle, will become the focus of Mercè Street Performance (MAC).
During the festival, the city hosts a wide range of concerts, spanning dance to world music, as well as cutting-edge initiatives that are part of the BAM Festival.

For some years now, the Mercè Festival has combined tradition with a way of looking at the world that includes events dedicated to a guest city. This year, the guest city will be Saint Petersburg, Russia’s second city and one of the great European capitals of art, music and dance.

Come to Montjuïc Castle, which has become the circus venue for the festival, and you’ll see the funniest clowns, the most amazing magicians and the most skilled acrobats and jugglers, many of them from Saint Petersburg.

Performers from the Russian city will also be present, alongside many Catalan performers, in the Parc de la Ciutadella, one of the epicentres of the festival. If you go during the day and at night, you’ll see that the park has a double life and offers different types of events.
There’s no denying that a Mediterranean festival wouldn’t be a festival without fireworks and the smell of gunpowder. This is why, anyone who wants to discover the essence of Barcelona, mustn’t miss the correfoc, a colourful procession of devils and beasts featuring loud music and fireworks, which is part of the Catalan festive imagination.

Remember, don’t miss this A fireworks display set to music bids farewell to the La Mercè!!
As in previous years, a fireworks display set to music will bring the festivities to a close, with a fire spectacular at Avinguda de la Reina Maria Cristina, featuring songs that have shaped our lives.
The fireworks display will pay a final tribute to our co-patron saint with a music selection from Jordi Bonet, and his musicians from diverse origins.

Welcome to Hostel in Barcelona, welcome to La Mercè!

Here are six reasons why staying in Hostel in Barcelona is the best way to travel!

1. Meet new friends from around the world

It’s easy to meet Backpackers in hostels. If you stay in a dorm room, you can quickly get to know your roommates.

2. Barcelona Urbany Hostel is cheap

Hostel is one of the cheapest ways to travel. Depending on the season, you can find amazing deals on dormitory accommodation.

3. Barcelona Urbany Hostel has Free Wireless Internet

The hostel have wireless Internet. Free web access in lobby and rooms.

4. Barcelona Urbany Hostel has free breakfast

“All you can eat” buffet: cereals, bred, jams, juices, milk, coffee, tea...

5. Barcelona Urbany Hostel has Common Areas

On our third floor we have a large common room where all Barcelona Backpackers are welcome!  A wide area, with cable TV, Wi-Fi, cutting-edge internet technology, bar for the hotel guests, Nintendo Wii, Billiard and Dart games prepared. Among our facilities, the Hostel's common areas are spacious, clean, comfortable, and modern equipped with all the little details that will make you feel like at home.

6. A lot of Funny activities for all our guests and friends

At Barcelona Urbany Hostel we've scheduled funny activities for all our guests and friends: spanish lessons, sjoelbak competition, urbany travellers quizz, flamenco lessons, paella night, the mojito night  ...  take a look!

Because Barcelona Urbany is the funniest and most confortable Hostel in Barcelona. You will make new friends; you can share your time with other backpackers and guests and of course, enjoy our activities for free! Learn some spanish or dance flamenco, what about making a sangria? Or a Mojito?  -And try them, of course!- or play the special competition for video addicted: the table tennis Wiicompetition ...

Feel the Urbany Vibe, make new friends & have great fun with our activities!

On September 11, the Catalans have celebrated their National Day since 1980. Ciutadella Park plays host to the commemorative and festive events of Catalan National Day, starting at 11.30 am.

The institutional ceremony will be led by the President of the Generalitat [regional government] of Catalonia, Artur Mas, and the Speaker of the Catalan Parliament, Núria de Gispert. Beforehand, at 9 am, the President and his government will make the traditional offering of flowers at the Rafael Casanova monument, followed by the Speaker and other members of Parliament.

The highlight of this year's event will be the commemoration of various events involving Catalan figures and culture.

The institutional celebration at Ciutadella Park will be artistically directed by Joan Ollé and hosted by Ariadna Oltra. Parc de la Ciutadella is one of the biggest, traditional parks in the city. Both the Catalan Parliament building and Barcelona Zoo are located on its grounds. Part of its charms lies in its ornamental cascade and artificial lake, and children love it. You can take a boat out ontothe lake, play table tennis, or enjoy any of the other seasonal activities and events, such as dancing by the bandstand in the park. The park encourages you to stroll along its fountains, sculptures, and other interesting and attractive decorative features. It's the ideal good place for peace and tranquillity and enjoying nature right in the heart of the city!

Finally, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the legendary Catalan rock macroconcert held at Palau Sant Jordi, with Sau, Els Pets, Sopa de Cabra and Sangtraït, the accordianist Carles Belda will be offering a version mixing songs from all the groups, accompanied by Marc Serrats and Jordi Reixach.

How to reach the Ciutadella Park from our Hostel in Barcelona?

By Metro, you have the Clot / Aragó Station at a 5 minutes walking distance  from our Hostel in Barcelona: Take line 1 (Fondo / Hospital de Bellvitge) and get off at Arc de Triomf stop (3 stops). It will take you five minutes to get from our Hostel in Barcelona to the Arc de Triomf ....

The backpackers of Barcelona Urbany Hostel, the past Wednesday the 31st of August enjoyed the World's largest food fight: LA TOMATINA.

This year, the festival was totally crazy and wild! The guests of the Hostel in Barcelona were out of control and an unbelievably fun experience.

The aim of the day is simple...tonnes of tomatoes are pelted, thrown, tossed, chucked, propelled, catapulted, fired, launched, pegged & lobbed at friends, family, girlfriends, boyfriends, all the people you know plus the 39,000 others you don't!

So, even though the fiesta was not in Barcelona…is why Barcelona Urbany hostel organized a day trip to the tomatina´s town and took our guests there because the backpackers can not missed.

After this festival, Barcelona Urbany is so happy for the experience. Hostel in Barcelona would like to thank the backpackers of the hostel for the success of the Tomatina Festival in 2011. More than half of the hotel people came out to enjoy the Tomatina Festival. We hope that you enjoyed the Festival and found something special to take home with you... maybe a dirty t-shirt, tomato juice on the shoes or just an enjoyable day in Buñol with family and friends.

Barcelona Urbany thank you once again for your support of the Tomatina Festival!