The Ramblas
Barcelona's famous tree-lined street, the Ramblas is lively day and night with street performers and stalls and shops selling everything from jewelry to tropical fish. La Ruta del Modernismo Gaudí's incredible flight of fantasy, the still-unfinished Sagrada Familia church is an inspirational start to an exploration of Barcelona's "modernista" architecture.

Montjuïc
Spend a day in the gardens, museums and amusement park on the mountain of Montjuïc, taking in art from Romanesque to Miró, and Spain's architectural history in the Poble Espagnol.

The Port
The newly cleaned up beaches of Port Vell or Port Olímpic are a great place to sun bathe before sampling the paella from one of the sea-view restaurants.

Museu Picasso
The Museu Picasso holds one of the most important collections of the great man's art in the world - muse over paintings from his famous Blue Period in the setting of a beautiful medieval palace.

La Seu Cathedral
Situated in the heart of the old town, the Seu Cathedral is one of the great Gothic buildings in Spain, whose soaring interior and rich altar pieces easily live up to the grandeur of its facade.

Tibidabo
The views from the top of Mount Tibidabo, which forms the northwestern limit of the city, are superb. On clear days you can see not only the whole of Barcelona, but across to Montserrat and the Pyrenees, and out to sea as far as Mallorca.

Parc de la Ciutadella
A short step from the old town, the Ciutadella park offers a refreshing break from the streets. It encompasses a lake, the city zoo, Gaudí's monumental fountain and the Museu d'Art Modern.

La Boqueira
The bustling Boqueria food market is the largest in the city, assaulting the senses with its noise and smells. If it makes you hungry, there are some great snack bars at the back.

Passeig de Gràcia and Rambla de Cataluny
These smart boulevards, leading off from the Plaça de Catalunya, are a great place to spend your pesetas in a series of swanky stores, in between admiring the architecture and relaxing in open-air cafés.