Spain's Cosmopolitan City

Barcelona, situated between the mountains and the Mediterranean is probably the most cosmopolitan, modern and avant-garde city in Spain.

Barcelona is one of the oldest cities in Europe and has the perfect balance between tradition and modernity, offering a never ending list of things to do to for all sorts of travellers. Foodies’ tastebuds are bound to be satisfied with a great choice of family run tapas bars, and art lovers will fall for the patchwork of architectural styles, from gothic to modernism. This never-sleeping city also offers vibrant nightlife that both locals and tourists enjoy together.

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Explore the neighbourhoods

At the top of all the best things to see in Barcelona is the city itself, often likened to an open-air museum. Get lost in the ancient, labyrinthine Gothic Quarter, dating back to Roman times, stroll the seaside boardwalks of Vila Olimpica or wander the pedestrian thoroughfares of the elegant Eixample district, home to the famous Sagrada Famila basilica.

Each neighbourhood has its own gems: Eixample’s regal shopping avenue Passeig de Gracia is graced with Antoni Gaudi’s eccentric masterpieces Casa Mila and Casa Batllo. A walk around the iconic La Rambla leads visitors through medieval squares, the stately Barcelona Cathedral and the secret corners and artisan shops of El Born, Barcelona’s trendiest district.

No guide to Barcelona would be complete without a taste of local living: explore the boho-chic Gracia district, a once-independent village extending north toward the whimsical Parque Güell. Enjoy fresh seafood by the sea in the old fisherman’s Port Vell in Barceloneta, and see the artificial beaches and ultra-modern high-rises of the up-and-coming @22 district in Poblenou, the latest hipster haven, full of industrial galleries, vintage shops and retro eateries.

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