Travel

Barcelona is one of Europe’s most popular city-breaks. With bustling markets, shops, eateries and bars, a myriad of museums, and the eccentric constructs of world-famous Modernist Antoni Gaudi dominating the skyline, there are no shortages of quality sights.

If you do tire of the city, you can easily decamp to the nearby coast or mountains. Get your bearings on the city’s most famous parade, La Rambla. Take in the market stalls, street artists and tapas bars before making your way to the scenic Barri Gotic, home to the city’s main cathedral as well as many other beautiful churches.
Gaudi’s most famous work, and a must-see in Barcelona, is the Sagrada Familia Catholic basilica – still under construction. There are several other examples of his artistry on display as you stroll around – his lavish garden complex, Park Guell, in the suburbs, is particularly worth a visit. There’s plenty for art lovers too, with museums dedicated to the works of Picasso and Miro.
The lively but pretty coastal town of Sitges on the Costa Daurada, south of Barcelona, is a hugely popular haven from the city. Surrounded by Barcelona’s green belt, the Parc del Garraf, and boasting 17 sandy beaches, it’s sometimes referred to as the St Tropez of Spain. To the north of Barcelona, the Costa Brava still retains many unspoilt small towns, and best discovered by car. You can even take in some culture at the Dali Museum in Figueras.
Inland, the spectacularly-located monastery at Montserrat is easily accessible by rail, while you can sample the breathtaking beauty of the Pyrenees mountains by taking a train to the picturesque area of Vall de Nuria.