Set sail for Barcelona this autumn to witness the world’s most prestigious sailing competition and the best of Catalan culture
The world’s best sailing teams will gather in Barcelona this fall for the 37th America’s Cup. From August 22 to October 27, 2024, the Spanish seaside will host a series of qualifying races. It all leads up to the final series starting on October 12.
You can arrive in style at the America’s Cup by chartering a private jet. Global Air Charters regularly flies to Barcelona-El Prat Airport (LEBL). It’s a popular spot for Americans to begin their extended summer holidays, perhaps en route to Bilbao and San Sebastian. We’ve also touched down there to deliver racing fans to the Spanish Grand Prix.
Contact our flight coordinators to secure your airframe. Our fleet of ultra-long-range airframes will put Barcelona within non-stop range.
The America’s Cup is a thrilling spectacle of sailing excellence. Here’s how to make the most of it:
Five Star Stays
We think the W Barcelona is ideal for America’s Cup spectators. It’s a well-known figure on the landscape, with its iconic sail-shaped structure rising from the seaside. The hotel sits at the end of the famous Barceloneta boardwalk, home to the city’s best beaches.
On the opposite end of the boardwalk, you’ll find the Hotel Arts Barcelona. This five-star hotel in the Ritz-Carlton portfolio offers sweeping panoramic views of the city and seaside. It has several elegant restaurants on site, including the two-Michelin-starred Enoteca Paco Pérez.
How to Watch the Racing
These two hotels are a perfect home base because they’re right near the best views of the action. If you can snag a room with an ocean view on the higher floors, you can watch the race from your bed.
Elsewhere on the ground, the Plaça de la Rosa dels Vents is the spot to watch teams going in and out of the port. The beaches of Sant Miguel, Barceloneta, and Somorrostro are also good vantage points when the racing is on.
For a VIP experience, check in to the AC37 Club. Housed at the Port Olimpic Marina, the club offers big-screen race viewing and an all-inclusive food and drinks package. For the most immersive racing experience, consider chartering a boat to get close to the action on the water.
The Taste of Spain
After a day on the water, you’ll want to relax with a few glasses of wine and Barcelona’s best bites. Pintxos is the name of the game in Spain, and the best tapas bar in Barcelona is Quimet & Quimet. Get a glass of the house red vermouth and let their servers take you on a multi-bite whirlwind.
Spain is famous for its cadre of modernist chefs pushing the boundaries of avant-garde cuisine. For a showstopping dinner, we think Lasarte offers a good introduction. You’ll get inventive plating and fabulous design with a menu that hews to a more straightforward seasonality and sense of place. It’s earned three Michelin stars for dishes like roasted virrey fish with clams pil-pil.
While You’re There
If you’re in Barcelona from September 20–24, you’ll no doubt be swept up in the La Mercè Festival. It’s Barcelona’s largest annual festival, featuring parades, fireworks, and concerts.
The Barcelona Jazz Festival starts on October 6 and runs into November. This concert series attracts top jazz musicians from around the world.
And just in case you haven’t already had your fill of tapas, plan to attend Mercat de Mercats from October 18-20. This food fair takes over the Plaça de Catalunya for three days of sampling and cooking demonstrations.
America’s Cup 2024
Contact our flight coordinators today to reserve your Gulfstream airframe to Barcelona. We can arrange ground transportation and other accommodations to make your arrival easy.
