Barcelona, Spain (Point of interest)

Soaring above Plaça de la Seu square in Barrí Gòtic, attention-grabbing Barcelona Cathedral features smooth arches, skeletal spires and lofty towers. Inside the vaulted cloister awaits an oasis of palms and fountains. Take the lift for spectacul... Continue reading →

CaixaForum by Plaça Espanya square, is one of Barcelona's most exciting contemporary art spaces. Housed in an old modernista textile factory with a stylish modern walkway, courtyard and entrance, the gallery's three exhibition spaces display an ec... Continue reading →

It's an inescapable fact that the people of Barcelona love chocolate. Chocolaterias lurk temptingly all over the city but the Chocolate Museum in the Born district is the highlight. Exhibits include Snowy, Barcelona's famous albino gorilla, carved ... Continue reading →

Scintillating science is on the menu at the hands-on CosmoCaixa Barcelona. Study the stars in the 3D planetarium, explore rich Amazonian ecosystems in the Flooded Forest and trace the world's geological roots with the wall of ancient rocks.... Continue reading →

Gran Teatre del Liceu is a monument to Belle-Époque extravagance and one of the grandest theatres in the world. Centrally placed on Las Ramblas, this source of Catalan pride presents world-class theatre, concerts and opera in plush surroundings. ... Continue reading →

L'Auditori in Glòries is the newest of Barcelona's classical music bastions, designed by award-winning architect Rafael Moneo as a permanent home for the Orfeó Catala choral society and Barcelona's Symphony Orchestra. International names also mak... Continue reading →

La Pedrera is a gem in the heart of the Eixample district. Across the street from the popular Gaudí House, this large corner building by the Catalan master boasts the sculpture-filled Espai Gaudí terrace providing roof-top views of the city. Des... Continue reading →

La Sagrada Família in the Eixample district is a crazed, towering cathedral and lifetime obsession of Gaudí, a unique symbol of the Catalan capital and a work in progress. Climb up inside its fantastical, undulating spires to see Gaudí's Worksho... Continue reading →

Labyrinth Park, a playfully romantic park in Montbau, offers welcome respite from the urban bustle of Barcelona. Built in 1791, the grounds are situated on different levels with ornamented stairways and expansive gardens dotted with statues of Eros... Continue reading →

Cable cars trundle from Barcelona's harbour to leafy Montjuïc, home to the Miró Foundation and the Spanish Village. Travel on a second cable car to the 17th-century castle for impressive views, or swim in the open-air Olympic pool in summer.... Continue reading →

Palau de la Música in the Old Town is an extravagant example of Catalan modernisme with stained glass, mosaics and ornate lamps. There are guided tours of this recently renovated building but the best experience is a concert. The ornate building ... Continue reading →

Park Güell in the Gràcia district is Catalan architect Gaudí's modernist utopia. Lush, shady parkland overlooks the city and fantastical mosaic-covered, sculptural buildings are curiously inviting. In the scorching summer months this is one of t... Continue reading →

The Poble Espanyol is a village of architectural styles from all over Spain, purpose-built for Barcelona's 1929 Expo. Hire an audio guide to tour replicas of flower-decorated, whitewashed patios from Cordoba and an 11th-century gate from Ávila's c... Continue reading →

Rose windows and octagonal towers shape the Gothic Santa María del Mar Basilica in the heart of Barcelona's La Ribera district. Built to commemorate the conquest of Sardinia, the church's beauty lies in its simple contours and sense of space.... Continue reading →

The Magic Fountain of Montjuïc first spouted in 1929 during the Great Universal Exhibition and continues to delight Barcelona's visitors today. On certain days throughout the year, the fountain's colourfully illuminated jets dance to musical accom... Continue reading →

Always visible from the streets below, Tibidabo Amusement Park is certainly worth the climb. A creaking funicular delivers visitors to the top where a gloriously antiquated amusement park entices with rickety rides and an unbeatable view along the ... Continue reading →