The enchanting city of Barcelona is a visual delight, and has an atmosphere that combines elegance and sophistication with provincial charm. In exploring its streets you'll discover medieval romance in its Gothic quarter and the awe-inspiring delights of the fantastic and sometimes outrageous Art Nouveau architecture of Gaudi and his contemporaries.

The funicular up to Tibidabo, or the cable car up Montjuic, both offer breathtaking views over this city. Its skyline is perhaps most famous for Antoni Gaudi's masterwork, the still incomplete church of the Sagrada Familia, as well as the city's huge Gothic cathedral. The artistic legacy of Barcelona is one of the city's most appealing offerings, with museums containing extensive collections of the works of Miro and Picasso.

Barcelona is also a shopping mecca, with the city's flair for style reflected in its numerous boutiques and markets, open late into the afternoons. As the sun sets, and the city's many bars and restaurants open, the night truly comes alive. Dinner is served at any time between nine o'clock and midnight, and the festivities around the bars and nightclubs carry on well into the early hours of the morning.

Barcelona is the commercial centre of the popular holiday region known as the Costa Brava, the northernmost Mediterranean seafront in Spain, as well as the Costa Dorada to the south. The coast is dotted with popular resort towns, many retaining their age-old charm, which can be easily reached from the city.

La Rambla

Address: Barcelona

Picasso Museum

Address: 15-23 Montcada Street Barcelona

Admission: EUR6 for main exhibition - extra for special showings. Free days on 11 February, 18 May and 24 September Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 8pm

Telephone: 932 563 000

Guell Park

Address: Barcelona

Admission: Free, but guided tours are available Open daily from 10am to 7pm (closing times may vary depending on the season)

La Sagrada Família

Address: 401 Calle Mallorca Barcelona

Admission: EUR12.50; free for children under 10 years. Concessions available. Daily from 9am to 6pm (October to March), 9am to 8pm (April to September), 9am to 2pm (25 and 26 December to 6 January).

Telephone: +34 932 073 031

Montjuic

Address: Barcelona

Tibidabo

Address: Barcelona

Admission: Open from 12pm to 6pm except in February. Tibidabo is usually only open on Saturdays and Sundays but there are extended trading hours and days during summer.

Montserrat

Address: Barcelona

Admission: Entry to the monastery is free, but the funicular ride to the Holy Grotto is EUR6

Tossa de Mar

Address: Barcelona

La Pedrera (Casa Milà)

Address: 92 Paseo de Gràcia Barcelona

Admission: EUR10 (adults), EUR6 (concessions) Daily from 10am to 8pm. Closed 1 January, 25 and 26 December

Telephone: +34 902 400 973

Barri Gòtic

Address: Barcelona

FC Barcelona Museum and Stadium

Address: Avenida Arístides Maillol Barcelona

Admission: Museum visit and Camp Nou Tour: EUR19 (adults), EUR15,50 (children). Concessions available Open from Monday to Saturday from 10am to 6.30pm (till 8pm from 6 April to 4 October). Open on Sundays and public holidays from 10am to 2.30pm. Tours not available on days of league and Champions league matches, but the museum is still open until 3pm.

Telephone: +34 934 96 36 00

Joan Miró Foundation

Address: Parc de Montjuïc Barcelona

Admission: EUR9 (adults), EUR6 (concessions) Open Tuesday to Saturday from 9am to 7pm (open till 8pm from July to September), Sunday from 10am to 2.30pm. Closed on Mondays

Telephone: +34 934 439 470

Beaches

Address: Barcelona

Museum of Contemporary Art

Address: 1 Plaça dels Angels Barcelona

Admission: EUR7.50 (adults), EUR6 (concessions) 11am to 7.30pm weekdays, 10am to 8pm Saturdays, 10am to 3pm Sundays and holidays. Closed Tuesdays, Christmas and New Years day. Extended opening hours in summer

Telephone: 934 120 810

Parc de La Ciutadella

Address: Avenida del Marques de l'Argentera Barcelona

Barcelona Aquarium

Address: Moll d'Espanya del Port Vell Barcelona

Admission: EUR17,75 (adults); EUR12,75 (children). Concessions available Open Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 9pm; Weekends and public holidays from 9.30am to 9.30pm; in June and September until 9.30pm, and in July and August until 11pm.

Telephone: +34 93 221 7474

Montjuïc Castle (Castell de Montjuïc)

Address: Barcelona

Admission: Free Open daily from 10am to 7pm. Closed on Mondays

Telephone: 93 329 86 13

Poble Espanyol

Address: Barcelona

Admission: EUR9.50 (adults); EUR5.60 (children); Concessions available. Treasure hunt: EUR5.50 and children must be accompanied by an adult Open Monday from 9am to 8pm, Tuesday to Thursday from 9am to 2am, Fridays from 9am to 3am, Saturdays from 9am to 4am, and Sunday from 9am to 8pm

Telephone: 93 508 6300

Parque Natural de Bardenas Reales

Address: Barcelona

Telephone: +34 948 820 020

El Raval

Address: Barcelona

Figueres

Address: Barcelona

Carnival

Where: ,Barcelona

When: 3 - 13 March 2012

Barcelona Summer Festival

Where: Various locations around the city,Barcelona

When: June to August 2012 TBA

European Balloon Festival

Where: The town of Igualada, located about 31 miles (50km) inland from Barcelona,Barcelona

When: July 2012 TBA

St John's Eve (Sant Joan)

Where: ,Barcelona

When: 23 June 2012

Festival of La Mercè

Where: Various squares and open places around the city,Barcelona

When: 24 September 2012

Spanish F1 Grand Prix

Where: Catalunya,Barcelona

When: 13 May 2012

Primavera Sound Festival

Where: Parc del Fòrum,Barcelona

When: 26 - 28 May 2011

Botafumeiro

Address: El Gran de Gràcia 81 Barcelona

Food Type: Spanish

Agut

Address: Gignàs 16, Ciutat Vella (Gothic Quarter) Barcelona

Food Type: Local

Can Majó

Address: Almirall Aixada 23, Barceloneta Barcelona

Food Type: Spanish

Oviso

Address: 5 Calle de Arai, Placa George Orwell Barcelona

Food Type: Local

Rubi

Address: Calle Banys Vells, 6 bis Barcelona

Food Type: Modern Eclectic

Viena

Address: La Rambla del Estudis 115 Barcelona

Food Type: Local

Can Ravell

Address: Carrer Aragó 313 Barcelona

Food Type: International

Amaltea

Address: Diputació 164 (esquina Villarreal) Barcelona

Food Type: Vegetarian

Comerç 24

Address: Carrer Comerç 24 Barcelona

Food Type: Local

Quimet & Quimet

Address: C/Poeta Cabanas 25 Barcelona

Food Type: Local

Paco Meralgo

Address: c/ Muntaner 171 (chaflan Corsega) Barcelona

Food Type: Tapas

ABAC

Address: Av. Tibidabo 1 Barcelona

Food Type: Spanish