Barcelona

The drive from Barcelona’s airport is more than a taxi ride; it’s a trip through history. You sweep in past the port and the gleaming Mediterranean. Ahead and to the right there are the futuristic shiny steel towers of the Vila Olimpica, a legacy of the 1992 Olympics. There’s a spectacular two-mile stretch of sandy beach where once there were grubby warehouses and shunting yards, while up to the left, along the city’s most famous street, Las Ramblas, lies the Old Town with, at its heart, the Gothic cathedral. But even though its construction started in 1298 the cathedral is young by Barcelona standards.

Today’s Catalonian Parliament building on the Placa de Sant Jaume stands on the site of what was once the Roman forum. Just round the corner, you can still see columns and stones dating from that period. There is plenty of history between the two extremes.

This is the city made famous once again by Gaudi and his “Modernisme” movement. There are plenty of opportunities to explore his work, not least in La Sagrada Familia, which has become a symbol of this city.

You can feel the buzz and the dynamism of the place. The outdoor tables of the cafes in the Gothic part of town are filled with beautifully-dressed customers enjoying the sunshine; a market is in full swing with stalls selling a potent mixture of priceless antiques and worthless junk; there are wonderfully-old-fashioned shops with window displays of spectacular hams, cheeses and bowls of juicy ripe olives. For another glimpse into the future, cross the bridge which links the main part of Barcelona to Maremagnum, the new shopping and entertainment complex, with its cinemas, bars, restaurants and nightclubs. This is a very late-night part of the city where the action doesn’t really start until about 11pm.

Getting there

There's a good selection of flights between the UK and Barcelona with British Airways, Spanish airline Iberia and no-frills carrier Easyjet all operating on the routes.

Hotels

For somewhere grand, if a touch conservative, you could do far worse than opt for the Hotel Ritz, on a pleasant tree-lined boulevard in the city centre, close to both the Gothic Quarter and the financial district. All the usual in-room luxuries, plus everything you need for a business of luxurious leisure trip.

If you like your hotels hip and happening choose the Grand Hotel Central on the Via Laietana, which started out as a bourgeois mini palace. It's a prime example of the perfect marriage of ancient and modern, which epitomises Barcelona. There's even an infinity pool up on the roof, just past the high-tech, state-of-the-art gym.

Restaurants

Barcelona is full of superb restaurants so you really will be spoiled for choice. For convenience, however, you could try the Diana restaurant, right in the Ritz Hotel, which has a great reputation for serving creative Mediterranean food. If you are entertaining, remember the Spanish often have dinner very late.

It is very difficult not to find a decent restaurant in Barcelona. A good starting point is the Old Town area near the city's most famous street, Las Ramblas. If you fancy getting out of town try the resort of  Sitges along the coast, full of chic bars and excellent restaurants and with an excellent nightlife scene.

Don't Miss

The opportunity to see some of the work of Gaudi and his "Modernisme" movement. Starting at the Sagrada Familia, perhaps Europe's least conventional church, which has become a symbol of the city.

Shop Stop

Cross the bridge which links the main part of Barcelona to Maremagnum, the fabulous new shopping and entertainment complex. Apart from some excellent shops there are no fewer than 12 cinemas, including an Imax, as well as countless bars, restaurants and nightclubs, so be prepared to make a night of it.

Relaxation

If you do tire of Barcelona, unlikely though this is, one option is to hit the beach at the resort of Sitges, a kind of city by the sea, where there's a great buzz, particularly in the summer months. If you prefer some peace and quiet head for one of the many quaint little villages to be found in the nearby countryside.