July 12 is a big day for any affiliate marketer: it is the day when one of the most anticipated conferences is to unroll. Affiliate World Europe takes place in Fira de Barcelona and lasts two days, but if you're planning to jump on the plane to attend this outstanding, magnificent, first-rate show, reconsider the option: we strongly recommend coming in advance and staying in the city for a few days to feel the spirit of the country. After all, this is the month when Barcelona hosts the most mind-blowing parties and brightest festivals, and you sure as hell want to visit the affiliate marketing meetups scheduled for mid-July.
Hop on to see the review summarizing the best experiences affiliates can get!
First-Time Experiences
There are tons of sights to see, even if you're crossing a street on the outskirts of the city, but the real gem is Old Barcelona, the concentration of refined architecture, souvenir stores, delicious food, and atmospheric bars.
Sagrada Família
The Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família, shortened as the Sagrada Família, is the main symbol of Barcelona and the largest unfinished Roman Catholic church in the world. This is undoubtedly a must-see for all visitors.
You can buy tickets to the Sagrada Família at the box office (yes, you'll have to wait in the queue for a couple of hours, but the experience's worth it!) or book it online on the official website (the prices starting from €26).
Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família. Photo by Basílica de la Sagrada Família
Gothic Quarter
This is the place where you can find trendy bars, clubs, souvenir shops, and restaurants offering local cuisine with an average bill of €50 per person. The narrow streets of the Gothic Quarter are swarming with legends and history, so you should definitely check them out.
Once you're hungry, grab a snack on La Rambla, a tree-lined pedestrian street in the heart of Barcelona. Then, satiated and happy, head towards Passeig de Gràcia to drop in at a fashion boutique. If your soul is asking for some art, move toward Plaça del Pi: at the weekend, you can attend the local fair and buy something to remember the city by.
La Catedral de la Santa Cruz y Santa Eulalia in the Gothic Quarter. Photo by Serentripidy
La Boqueria
Even if you have no time to waste, stop here just for half an hour to get acquainted with the oldest food market in Europe.
Mercat de la Boqueria offers a wide selection of traditional Catalan delicacies you're welcome to taste. Let yourself immerse in the local food culture, enjoying candy, fresh and frozen fruits, cheeses, the renowned Jamón ibérico, and many other dishes described in books.
The market opens at 7 am, but you'd better start your food journey at approximately 9 am. The nearest metro station is Liceu.
La Boqueria. Photo by Traveliciousteacher
Bunkers del Carmel
This is one of the best viewpoints in Barcelona. Discover the highest and widest panoramic view of the entire city day and night. The Carmel bunkers are located at the top of Turó de la Rovira in the Carmel neighborhood with a height of 262 meters. The entrance is free.
Bunkers del Carmel Viewpoint. Photo by Elperiodico.com
Erotic Museum of Barcelona
It's all in the name: the museum is dedicated to all things erotic, unraveling the history of the phenomenon from ancient times to the present day.
Take a closer look at the works of Kilmt and Rembrandt, peep at the unique erotic comics, examine the copies of the famous Kama Sutra, and pore over the artifacts from different countries, cultures, and continents.
\Erotic Museum of Barcelona. Photo by Eroticmuseumbarcelona
Barcelona at Night
Barcelona is the capital of trendy clubs and atmospheric bars scattered throughout the city. Of course, all of them have a magical aura about them, but since we're exploring the center of the city, let's focus on the attractions located near the beaches and Old Barcelona.
Moog
MOOG is a famous Barcelona club located in the Gothic Quarter, a stone's throw from La Rambla. MOOG has two dance floors (on the first and second floors) and a bar counter. If you're a techno connoisseur, this place will definitely fit the bill!
The playlist sample can be found on their website.
By the way, this club is small and fills up quickly, so come early to get the right mood!
Address: Carrer de l'Arc del Teatre, 3
Working hours: 00:00 — 05:00
CDLC Club
CDLC is one of the city's most glamorous beach clubs. There is a dance floor, a terrace, a bar, a restaurant with sea views, private tables, and a recreation area. CDLC is famous for its pleasant atmosphere and good service, but keep in mind that the prices are well above average.
Address: Barceloneta, Passeig Maritim, 32
Working hours: 12:00 — 05:00
Shôko
Shôko is a well-known nightclub just a few steps away from the CDLC Club. Here you can get a delicious dinner and order exclusive cocktails. This is a beautiful atmospheric club close to the beach. Entrance before 1 am is free; if you come later, you'll have to pay €15 per person.
Address: Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta, 36
Working hours: 23.00 — 05:00
La Confiteria
La Confiteria is one of the oldest bars in the city. Here you can enjoy a wide selection of classic and exotic cocktails, impeccable service, high-quality jazz music, and subdued lighting. See? There's always an alternative to loud club parties!
Address: Carrer de Sant Pau 128
Working hours: 19:00 — 02:00
33|45
33|45 is a perfect place to meet your fellow affiliates and friends. They serve the best guacamole and nachos in town and offer good beers and superior wines. The music program and the names of the invited DJs can be found on the official page on Facebook.
Address: Carrer de Joaquín Costa, 4
Working hours: 13:00 — 02:00 (Sunday is a day off).
If these options aren't to your liking, feel free to check out the article by João from Mobidea: he's prepared an essential guide with info on top-notch and unique restaurants in Barcelona:
Traditional Spanish Cuisine. TOP 5 Spanish Dishes You Should Try
There's no such thing as badly-cooked food in Spain, so you shouldn't be afraid of culinary experiments: just order whatever your eye falls on and savor the dish and the aftertaste it leaves on the tongue.
Still, there are a few delicacies we'd like to bring up — just in case you feel at a loss and don't know where to look first.
Paella. Strictly speaking, paella is rice cooked in broth with fish, vegetables, chicken, and saffron. When you order this dish at a cafe, make sure you are hungry enough to devour this dollop: normally, the portions are so large that they can feed at least two people at once.
Jamón. This Spanish delicacy has an established reputation. There are two kinds of the dish, but try to find jamón ibérico: it is made from Iberian pigs that are only fed with acorns.
Arròs negre. Black rice with squid, fish, mussels, tomatoes, and cuttlefish ink. It is usually served with aioli sauce.
Crema Catalana. This is a famous Catalan dessert. It is made from milk, egg yolks, and caramelized sugar.
Tapas. Tapas can make your lunch better. It is made from literally anything: meat, seafood, cheeses, dried fruits, and vegetables. Tapas can be found anywhere at any time of day: they are often served for free when you order wine or beer in bars.
Speaking of drinks, you should give sangria a taste. This is a popular Spanish alcoholic drink based on wine. People add fruits, berries, and sparkling water to the drink, sometimes spicing things up with brandy.
If you need a helping hand in choosing the right wine for the occasion, you can find all the necessary details in an exciting material by Roman Seet:
City Events
July is the month of festivals. You don't need a ticket to attend them, so why not see what's happening around you?
July 5–8, Cruilla Barcelona 2023
A huge festival dedicated to eclectic rock, blues, and reggae. If you're a connoisseur of any of the genres, it's your chance to plunge into the unique atmosphere of rock. In 2023 Cruilla Barcelona will feature The Offspring, Placebo, Alt J, Franz Ferdinand, Sigur Ros, Antonia Font, and other music celebrities.
July 11–14, Festa Major de Raval
Major de Raval is one of the brightest street festivals in Barcelona. During the Major de Raval celebrations, the streets of the Raval district are teeming with small shops, street food and drinks, live music and dancing.
Fiesta spirit is guaranteed!
July 21–23, BEACH Feeling Kizomba Festival 2023
Are you into dancing? If so, wait till July 23 and take part in the first kizomba festival. Participate in various workshops, enticing dancing sessions, communication with the like-minded, and the final party by the pool.
Address: Don Angel Hotel, Santa Susanna
Entrance: €110 (hotel room included).
Every day, Boat Parties
Summers in Barcelona are the best, but not for the obvious reasons. The thing is that people arrange small parties on the water: cruises on yachts and boats include dinner, barbecue, light alcohol, silent discos, and swimming in the sea. If you're already curious, you can book your ride on Getyourguide.ru. The prices start from €60.
AW Barcelona Events
Meetups and other meeting sessions are not a novelty for AW Barcelona, so you should stay in the loop if you want to gain in-depth experience. Check out the dates before booking your tickets: some events start at the same time as the conference.
July 11, TikTok Meetup & Affiliate World - Barcelona
TikTok Meetup and AW are organizing a meeting that has already become traditional. The speakers will discuss the latest TikTok trends and updates, sharing vital information on paid and organic traffic, business scaling, content creation, and new AI solutions. If you work with TikTok, Reels, and YouTube Shorts, this event is a must-have.
Time: 13:00 — 18:00
Venue: Plaça d'Espanya, 6-8, 08014 Barcelona
Entrance: by registration
July 11, ClickBid MeetUp
There's so much on the program we don't know where to start.
Primarily, the event will focus on performance marketing, lead generation, and the latest e-commerce trends. This is a perfect opportunity to get to know industry leaders while having a good time.
The meeting takes place on a beautiful terrace Sky Bar Plaza Catalunya, which offers comfort, panoramic views, welcome drinks, and renowned tapas.
Time: 18:00 — 22:00
Venue: Iberostar Hotel Selection Paseo de Gracia, Barcelona.
Entrance: by ticket (€199,90).
July 12, Discussion Session by Conversion Club, AW 2023
Conversion Club arranges a professional meeting for all affiliates eager to discuss Facebook and Google advertising.
Time: 17:00 — 21:00
Venue: Catalonia Barcelona Plaza Pl. d'Espanya, 8, 08014 Barcelona
Entrance: by registration
July 12, Affiliate After Hours
The official Affiliate World Europe party will accommodate approximately 1400 conference guests, but the number of seats is limited, so to participate, you'll have to either stand in a live queue or book a VIP table.
Affiliate World Hours promises to invite the most famous Barcelona DJs, but their names have not yet been revealed: what a party without a mystery, huh?
Come over for a sea of cocktails and new acquaintances!
Time: 20:00 — 00:00
Venue: Opium Barcelona
Entrance: live queue. AW Europe participants only.
July 12, Barcelona Super Affiliates Dinner
Now, high time for the traditional dinner organized by Affiliate Business Club! All AW Europe attendees are welcome, but the number of seats, as always, is limited. But fear not: you can confirm your participation in advance and make a reservation.
Time: с 20:00 до 23:00
Venue: revealed after registration
Entrance: by registration
July 13, Search Arbitrage Meetup Barcelona 2023
The Optimizer arranges a meeting for affiliates big and small: it doesn't matter whether you have enough experience in the sphere or not, you still can attend!
Case studies, discussions of search strategies and other aspects of affiliate marketing are to be presented, so be sure to pay a visit. Did you know that Nadeem Kuttab and Alon Biderman will hold their talks there, too? Now you do.
Time: 12:00 — 14:00
Venue: Pl. d'Espanya, 8, 08014 Barcelona
Entrance: by registration
July 13, Affiliate Meet-up Barcelona
This is an exciting opportunity to share opinions on the latest trends and marketing strategies while working with Meta. The list of reports has not yet been disclosed, but we can be sure there's going to be something refreshing and exhilarating for both bold professionals and shy beginners taking first faltering steps in the industry.
The meetup is sponsored by AW Barcelona itself, so it would be a shame to miss such an event, no doubt perfectly orchestrated and finely calibrated.
Time: 18:00 — 22:00
Venue: Ocana bar, Barcelona
Entrance: by registration
July 13, Affiliate Drinks Meetup by Conversion Club, AW Barcelona 2023
Drinks Meetup от Conversion Club is one of the most anticipated events of the summer. It will gather influential affiliates, entrepreneurs and team leaders eager to discuss the vital topics of the modern transformations in the industry. While the organizers are pledging to provide comfortable conditions for networking, it's hard to define what we can expect: the details of the upcoming meeting are not to be revealed just yet.
Time: starting at 19:00
Venue: L'Estació Espai Gastronòmic, Barcelona
Entrance: by registration
July 13, Affiliate Networking Series Barcelona
That's where you can meet representatives of distinguished affiliate teams and companies and listen to the report delivered by Eldar Smailov, performance advertising manager.
The official part of the event will be finalized by a networking dinner with a refined tasting menu. Welcome drinks, live music, and entertainment are also included!
Time: to be revealed
Venue: to be revealed
Entrance: by registration
Wrapping Up
July is justly considered to be the brightest and busiest month in Barcelona, as this is the time of festivals, parties, meetups, and various affiliate hangouts. Stay here for a week to feel the rhythm of the city and enjoy the bubbly atmosphere filled with genuine cheer, join the dancing spree, have fun, and find new people.
However, if you are really strapped for time and cannot visit every sight mentioned in our improvised guidebook, go directly to the Gothic Quarter. Spend the night at La Confiteria or Shôko, try tapas and sangria, and relish the moment.
