23 things to see in Barcelona

The Sagrada Família, draws Barcelona's biggest crowds. Gaudi's unfinished masterpiece is one of the few UNESCO World Heritage buildings in the world still under construction - it's meant to be fully completed in 2026. It is however one of the prettiest building sites in the world. You're advised to book your tickets online to avoid the queues at busy times. You can get a general admission ticket - but its worth paying a little extra to go up one of the towers - the views are exceptional.

The views across Barcelona from the Park Güell  could be worth the admission price alone. Take a wander through the grounds (there's a few steep bits) and admire all the colourful mosaics along the way.The Palau Güell (1886-1890) was once one of the finest private homes in the world, and you can see Gaudi's innovative ideas about space and light here.

• The Cathedral Basilica of Barcelona took around 150 years to build. Around three million visitors go there each year - it's a splendid example of a typical Gothic and Baroque cathedral.
• The 14th century temple of Santa Maria del Mar is another exquisite building to visit. You can get guided visits of the Basilica, Crypt and terrace during the day - keep an eye out for the coloured keystones on the walls.
• Finally, the tranquil Monestir de Pedralbes gives you an insight into the life of nuns throughout the centuries, and is another Gothic great.They advise you to visit the monastery during the midday heat of the summer, as inside the church, monastery and gardens it is pleasantly cool.
  

• As you walk towards the sea down La Rambla, you'll come to the 60m tall monument to Christopher Columbus.Take the lift up to the top, and you'll have 360º views of Barcelona.
• At night the Torre Agbar comes into its own. The 142m tower's 4,500 glass panels are illuminated and constantly change their colours.
  

There's various ways of getting to the top of Montjuïc, so you can mix and match how you get up and down.You can take the Montjuïc funicular part of the way (your metro tickets are valid) and meet up with the cable car to go the rest of the way - it drops you off right outside the castle.The hill where Montjuïc Castle  now stands has been inhabited since pre-historic times, and the fortress was only built in the 17th century.Its parade ground terrace has a 360º viewing platform overlooking the city. Walk round the walls to see the port, the Mediterranean, the city coastline and the area of Baix Llobregat.

The Parc de la Ciutadella is only a short walk from the beach. Along with ornamental gardens, you'll find the Catalan Parliament building and Barcelona Zoo here too. At the zoo, look out for the Lady with the Umbrella statue at the entrance.If you want to go inside the Parlament de Catalunya, you'll have to visit on the first Friday of the month.

There's around 800 different types of cactus in this unusual hillside park in Montjuic which features plants and trees from tropical and desert climates.

One of the most iconic Olympic games sites of the 20th century is just a short walk from the castle.The Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium had originally been built in 1929, but the whole interior had to be overhauled when the city won the games.

• The Museu Picasso has 4,251 Pablo Picasso works in their permanent collection.
• You can also find out more about another artistic superstar, Miro, at the Fundació Joan Miró. Download their walking tour app to see the public works he bequeathed to the city where he was born.
• The Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC ) has an in-depth collection of Romanesque art and fine examples of Catalan modernism.
  

• More than 500 concerts take place every year at the Palau de la Música. It hosts some of the most prestigious names in classical music.The colourful Art Nouveau building is also a World Heritage Site - so if nothing else, it's worth seeing just for its decorative glory.
• The Gran Teatre del Liceu, known simply as “the Liceu" has been staging Opera's on La Rambla since 1847. You can buy tickets for a show or take a tour (one of them actually takes you backstage).
• The Teatre Nacional de Catalunya (TNC) was built to promote Catalan culture, and is their equivalent to the National Theatre in London.

See some big name artists at a festival

Barcelona's clubbing scene has developed over the years, and throughout the summer there are several major international festivals. Primavera Sound and Sónar are two of the biggest dance and electronic festivals - both usually take place in June.

Tapas is a culinary staple in Spain.Any bar worth its salt will serve tapas with your cervezas or Rioja, which is good if you're bar hopping around the city and don't fancy a sit down dinner. Cal Pep is a bit of an institution, so there's sometimes a queue, but Pep has more than 70 different dishes to taste if you have the time (He does close on Sundays however).It's standing room only at the family-run Quimet y Quimet - so do as the locals do and order a few dishes at the bar.

There are plenty of places to try some haute cuisine in Barcelona. As of 2016 the city had 27 Michelin stars awarded to 22 restaurants. 

• For stellar seafood try the two Michelin star Paco Pérez at Enoteca. He focuses on bringing the best out of local ingredients.
• The ultra-modern Restaurante Lasarte also has two stars and a changing seasonal menu. 
• If a foodie experience is top of your list, have a look at our top five gastronomic hotels in Barcelona. Book well in advance, as tables are highly sought after.

To get up close to the local produce, visit La Boqueria off Las Ramblas. This sprawling market is often heaving with tourists, locals and trade buyers - but negotiating round the maze of stalls is all part of the fun.You can pick up food to take away or eat at one of the stalls in the market.

The British equivalent of a Xampanyerias - a Catalan cava bar - would be an up-market cocktail-style place. But in Barcelona, these bars are very small and affordable, and the bubbly is something to drink with your tapas.There are plenty of walking tours that will take you to some of the more authentic cava and tapas bars.

If you fancy a day trip out of the city, the Parc Natural de de la Muntanya de Montserrat is the perfect spot marvel at the rock formations.The park also holds a special spiritual place in Catalan culture. The Monastery there attracts pilgrims to the Black Madonna at Montserrat statue.

You can see the Big Wheel at the Tibidabo Amusement Park from across the city, as this 100 year old amusement park is perched on the top of a hill with super views across Barcelona and beyond.

The Magic Fountain of Montjuïc (Font màgica de Montjuïc) entertains the night-time crowds with carefully-choreographed water shows accompanied by music.It plays a huge part in national holidays, including New Year's Eve, but you need to get there early.Check the website for times and days, as they are seasonal - however Friday and Saturday evenings are usually a good bet all-year-round

DID YOU KNOW?: The fountain's pipes move 2,610 litres per second while a show is going on, and it uses 4,760 light bulbs to illuminate the water.

While it doesn't put on a show, the monumental fountain in the Plaça d'Espanya, built in 1929 and designed by  Josep Maria Jujol, is a much photographed landmark.

Camp Nou has a 99,354 capacity and is the largest football ground in Spain. You can pick up tickets for the games from tourist information kiosks - the prices of course depend on how close you want to be to the action.If you don't want to see a game but still want to visit the vast Camp Nou stadium, then you can take the tour and visit the museum - they've got a vast trophy cabinet as well as a special area devoted to Lionel Messi.

This is how the city refers to a five kilometre route, which starts down at the harbour and winds itself uptown to the El Corte Inglés, past all the major shopping areas.If you've travelled by bus from the airport - chances are you've got off at the Plaça de Catalunya.It's surrounded by shops, including some of the major department stores.

Las Arenas at Plaça d'Espanya was once one of the city's most popular bullrings. The modernist facade has been kept, but the interior has been transformed in a shopping centre. Head to the top and you'll not just find great views but open air bars and restaurants.If you're after something in particular like local crafts, try Poble Espanyol, or Spanish Village (it's also got museums, art galleries and restaurants - and there's an entry fee).

We've got plenty of Barcelona hotels to choose from, whether you want to be in the heart of the action near Las Ramblas or in a quieter part of the city.