Barcelona might not be Spain's capital, but in tourist numbers it's definitely the country's leading city destination. This modern, cosmopolitan city has it all - beautiful architecture, good food, spacious parks and an exciting nightlife. Famous architect Antoni Gaudi designed many of the landmarks in the city, most notably the Sagrada Familia and Park Guell, and visitors in summer will appreciate that the city is close to several public beaches.
Things to Do
La Rambla is the centre of Barcelona, a long pedestrian boulevard lined with restaurants, stalls and street performers. At the bottom is Port Vell, one of the more upmarket parts of the marina where you can find Barcelona Aquarium and many impressive yachts. At the other end of town is the Sagrada Familia, the city's famous unfinished cathedral, and from here it's only a short metro ride to the fairytale land of Park Guell.
Food and Drink
Tapas is an essential part of the Catalan dining experience, so order plenty of dishes and try everything! Some of the most popular dishes are patatas bravas, croquettes,Spanish omelette and fried squid. For dessert, try Crema Catalana - a twist on crème brûlée in which the custard filling is flavoured with cinnamon and lemon - or order gelato from one of the many hole-in-the-wall ice cream shops.
