Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain (after Madrid) and is situated in Northern Spain, cradled in the North Eastern Mediterranean Coast. The mix of compelling architecture, sunny climate, fabulous food and the fact that a 4.2km stretch of beach is just a short walk from the city centre, make Barcelona a perfect destination for a European city break.

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Barcelona Park Guell

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Barcelona Port

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Barcelona skyline

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Barcelona City

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Barcelona Gaudi Apartments

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Barcelona Gothic Quarter

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Barcelona La Sagrada Familia

Description

Barcelona underwent a massive regeneration before the 1992 Olympic Games and is the ideal place to explore on foot or on one of the many tourist buses that you can hop on and off at various sightseeing spots. Particular highlights of this city are the incredible examples of Gaudi architecture dotted all around the city including Gaudi’s most famous La Sagrada Familia, a huge basilica which is still under construction. If you only have time to visit one attraction in the city, then make it this!

The perfect place to get a feel for this vibrant city is to take a stroll down Las Ramblas, a pedestrianised street in the heart of the city which leads down to the beach and is lined with hotels, shops and often filled with street entertainers and buskers.

A benefit of Barcelona’s beachside location is its exquisite seafood, fresh from the Mediterranean Sea. The bars and nightlife are, as is typical of Spain, lively and fun and don’t often get going until at least 11pm so make sure you take full advantage of the siesta whilst in Barcelona!

With all the trappings of a major European city plus its beach-side location, you can’t really go wrong with Barcelona.