Barcelona – a jewel in the Spanish Crown

Barcelona's cosmopolitan culture means late dinners, and then some late night drinks in one of the cities hidden bars – if you can find them behind their closed doors on backstreets – or one of its many squares.

Top five things to do in Barcelona

The Sagrada Família
Designed by Gaudi this magnificent cathedral dominates the city. Started in 1882 it is still being worked on now. Organic in style, it looks like something that has grown naturally out of the ground, but look a little closer and the extraordinary detail becomes apparent. This could be part of the Gaudi trail but is so special, it deserves to stand alone.

The Ramblas
Popular with tourists and locals alike, this bustling street has (expensive) restaurants and bars, street theatre, stalls and, thanks to increased tourism, a bit of a problem with pick pockets. Despite being the tourist centre of the city it is well worth a visit.
 
Museo Picasso
One of the most popular museums in Barcelona, it holds a permanent collection of the painter’s works as well as featuring temporary exhibitions. Housed in five medieval palaces, the building is worth a visit even if you’re not a fan of the man’s squwiff point of view.
 
Montjuic Hill
The Montjuic Hill is the site of many interesting attractions. The Palau Nacional D’art de Catalunya is the perfect place for an introduction to the region's art. Poble Espanyol is a village-cum-museum built in the late 20s which features craft demonstrations. There’s a load to see and one day isn’t really long enough.

The Gaudi Trail
With numerous sites across the city designed by this visionary architect you could easily give over a few days to seeing his work. Parc Guell in Gracia is a park the like of which you have never seen before. Go to one of several Gaudi houses to see what the inside of buildings could look like if we just put the effort in. 

Where to stay in Barcelona
Anywhere around the metro station 'Jaime' is a good location. Close to the ‘Barri Gotic’ and El Born, its good transport links make getting to the city’s other major sights a doddle. There are also lots of bars and tapas nearby. Avoid staying on Via Laetana itself as it can be very noisy; try and find somewhere on one of the pedestrian streets a few blocks back; be aware though that Barcelona is a noisy city and just about anywhere you will stay will be loud either in the evening or morning. Alternatively, Eixample is close to many sights: Gaudi houses, Sagrada Familia and many other famous buildings. It’s a large area though so check out where the establishment is before you book.

Where to eat and drink in Barcelona
If you can afford it Las Ramblas offers some nice places, but if you are on more of a budget, explore small back streets around Plaza Catalunya for a cheap bite. Tapas can make a light snack leaving room for something later on, or a good meal for a fair price. Dress reasonably smartly for dinner, the locals do. The Borne area is crowded with restaurants and is one of the best spots for nightlife.

How to get around Barcelona
The metro system is your best bet. There are loads of tickets to choose from: single journey (uneconomical), 10-journey, day tickets, mutiple day tickets etc. They all allow you to use the metro and the buses, but not the cable car to Montjuic. You can buy them online or at metro stations.
 
The best time to visit Barcelona
June is an excellent time to visit. With ‘Dia de Sant Joan’ and ‘Festival of el Grec’ the streets come alive with fireworks, bonfires, concerts and dancing in the street. Alternatively, in August the district of Gracia hits the streets and stages popular festivals to celebrate the Feast of the Assumption. September 24th sees Barcelona’s patron saint ‘The Lady Of Mercy’ celebrated and for four days the city is filled with parades of giants, cagrossos (fatheads), human towers, fireworks and more dancing. May to September enjoys the best weather with hot clear days and temperatures usually in the 30s. While the winter months are cooler (around 12 ˚C) there is little rain and frequent good weather – it does rain sometimes though so be prepared!

Article by RealBuzz