The big Barcelona places guide

Gaudí's unfinished masterpiece, the world-famous church still rising after more than 140 years

Vaulted stone paths Gaudí built inspired by nature, quiet shady corners away from the crowds

The legendary entrance gate with Gaudí's two gingerbread pavilions, the starting point for the monumental zone

Gaudí's dragon house with its bone-and-scale facade, one of the city's most striking modernist experiences

Gaudí's wavy stone quarry with its iconic rooftop chimney warriors, especially magical on the night visit

The palace the young Gaudí built for his patron, a hall with a starlit dome and a wild mosaic-chimney roof

The first house Gaudí ever designed, a stunning green-and-white ceramic mosaic that opened to the public only in 2017

The fabled keeper's house at the park entrance, now a small visitor point explaining how the project was born

Gaudí's laboratory where he tested the arches of the Sagrada Família, a World Heritage site outside the city

Gaudí's forgotten castle on the ruins of a royal palace, without the Sagrada Família queues

The world-famous lizard on the staircase, the park's symbol and the photo everyone comes for

A wrought-iron gate shaped like a mythological dragon that Gaudí made for the Güell estate, one of his early and surprising works

A forest of 86 Doric columns supporting the terrace above, with spectacular mosaic medallions in the ceiling

The winding bench clad in colourful trencadís mosaic, with an open view across all of Barcelona to the sea

A sharp triangular stone winery Gaudí designed with his assistant Berenguer above Garraf beach, now a restaurant

Gaudí's restrained and surprising building that won Barcelona's best building award in 1900

A hidden fountain the young Gaudí designed, forgotten for decades in the Pedralbes gardens

An impressive red-brick arch built for the 1888 World's Fair, at the head of a wide, lively promenade

The Gothic cathedral of the old quarter, with a mysterious cloister, 13 white geese and a rooftop view over the city

A 17th-century fortress on the hilltop with a panoramic view of the port, city and sea

A thousand-year-old Benedictine monastery clinging to a cliff at 700 metres, Catalonia's most important spiritual site

The cathedral of the sea from the famous novel, a Catalan Gothic beauty built by the port's own labourers

The stadium of the 1992 Olympics that transformed Barcelona, now Barça's temporary home

A fortified 12th-century stone bridge with a gate tower in the middle, the photogenic entrance to the medieval town

The only fortified town to survive on the Catalan coast, 12th-century walls and towers right above the beach

90 dramatic steps up to the nave of the world's widest Gothic church, also known from Game of Thrones filming

Remains of the anti-aircraft batteries and the shanty quarter on the Bunkers summit, a fascinating story of 20th-century Barcelona

The church with the golden Christ statue seen from all over the city, with a lift to Barcelona's highest viewpoint

The city through which the Greeks and Romans entered the Iberian Peninsula, mosaics and columns right on the shoreline

Spain's most famous avenue, a kilometre and a half of street theatre from Plaça Catalunya to the sea

A mighty 9th-century fortress on a hill, now a Parador hotel with a tower and a striking Romanesque church

A Gothic basilica with one of Europe's largest rose windows, and a bell tower with an excellent view

A Benedictine monastery with one of Europe's most beautiful Romanesque cloisters, 144 hand-carved column capitals

The last bullfighting ring that operated in Barcelona, a striking Mudejar-style building with mosaic domes

A Gothic monastery from 1327 with Europe's most beautiful three-storey courtyard, a pocket of calm out of time

The fountain that legend says brings anyone who drinks from it back to Barcelona, and a celebration spot for Barça fans

Three giant chimneys of an old power station, free graffiti walls and a lively skatepark

Europe's largest 18th-century fortress above Figueres, a huge star with moats you can even tour by jeep

A 12th-century Romanesque bathhouse in Moorish style, a beautiful columned dome above the cooling pool

A lavish modernist palace by Domenech i Montaner at the entrance to Gràcia, now a luxury hotel with a jazz bar

A 10th-century fortress on a hill above the town, beautifully restored and overlooking the whole Llobregat delta

The church on the rock above the sea, the famous postcard of Sitges and especially lovely at sunset

Barcelona's most photographed neo-Gothic bridge, strung across a narrow lane between two old palaces

Four 2,000-year-old Roman columns hidden in an inner courtyard, an ancient and completely free surprise

The church with the truncated spire that dominates Girona's skyline, with Roman sarcophagi inside

Barcelona's oldest church, a thousand-year-old Romanesque gem with a small and lovely cloister

Barcelona's historic prison, closed in 2017, a chilling free tour of the original wings and cells

A Civil War tunnel shelter the residents dug themselves, a chilling and fascinating guided tour

A complex of three churches from the 4th to 12th centuries with rare early frescoes, a site unique in Europe

A monumental hillside cemetery with striking sculptures and the grave of Joan Miró

A dreamlike monastery on the hillside above Gràcia, monumental steps and a view almost no tourist knows

The cave where tradition says the Madonna was found, reached by a hanging path with sculptures by Gaudí and his peers

The village's historic church, a neoclassical facade and the heart of the community for centuries

An impressive basilica on a spacious neighbourhood square, a pleasant starting point for the climb to Tibidabo

A neoclassical cemetery from 1775 with the chilling Kiss of Death statue, with free guided tours too

The best-preserved medieval corner in the city, where the Catholic Monarchs received Columbus on his return from America

The 12th-century Black Madonna in the Montserrat basilica, millions of pilgrims climb up to touch the orb in her hand

The church overlooking Plaça de la Virreina, a quiet neo-Romanesque interior away from the tourist queues

A historic fountain known from every Catalan folk song, with a pleasant bistro beside it in the leafy gardens

A beautifully restored medieval stone town on a hill, a Romanesque tower and a view over the rice fields

White lanes with grand indiano mansions built by the rich who returned from Cuba, boutiques and galleries

A grand 19th-century university building with quiet courtyards and a hidden botanical garden, open and free

A whole modernist workers' village built by the industrialist Güell, houses, a school and buildings by Gaudí's students

A 10th-century hilltop stone village with a swaying rope bridge over the river, one of Catalonia's most beautiful villages

A kilometre walk along Carolingian walls with watchtowers over the rooftops and out to the Pyrenees

A hilltop town with a ruined castle at its peak, Cuban indiano houses and the gateway to the area's best beaches

A fortified village carved into the rock with a natural moat, one of Catalonia's best preserved, romantic restaurants in stone courtyards

A tiny ancient stone village by the archaeological site, one lovely square, a church and restaurants facing the shore

A port town with a thousand-year-old Benedictine monastery and the Porta Ferrada gate, host to a veteran music festival

The museum Dalí built for himself in a burnt-out theatre in Figueres, eggs on the roof, a rain car and his tomb in the crypt

One of Europe's best science museums: a real Amazonian rainforest, a planetarium and hundreds of experiments

The world's largest collection of the young Picasso, across five Gothic palaces on beautiful Carrer Montcada

The world's finest collection of Romanesque murals inside a grand national palace from 1929

A culture centre inside a spectacular modernist textile factory, world-class exhibitions and cheap entry

The painter's house assembled from fishermen's huts in a hidden cove, kept exactly as he left it, book ahead

The contemporary art museum in Richard Meier's gleaming white building, and the plaza in front, Europe's skateboarding capital

A bright white museum Miró founded himself, with hundreds of works and a sculpture roof with a view

The Gothic royal shipyards from the 13th century, huge halls with a full replica of a gilded warship

Catalan fashion, furniture and graphics in the striking building facing the Glòries tower, free entry on the first Sunday afternoon

The pink house where Gaudí lived for nearly 20 years, with original furniture he designed and his personal belongings

A journey through Catalan history in a historic port warehouse, with a roof terrace and a free view over the marina

Walk underground through a whole Roman city, ancient Barcino, with streets, laundries and wineries

An impressive private collection of ancient Egypt with mummies and sarcophagi, great for a rainy day or pharaoh-loving kids

Treasures from Catalonia's Phoenician, Greek and Roman eras, including finds from Empúries

An interactive museum about the '92 Olympics that reinvented Barcelona, opposite the stadium

The home of painter Santiago Rusiñol who turned Sitges into an artists' colony, with two El Greco paintings facing the sea

A museum to the great Catalan artist in a modernist building, with a cloud sculpture and a tiled chair on the roof

Gaudí furniture, sculpture and glass from the modernist era in one place, the perfect complement to a tour of the houses

A surprising collection in the heart of the mountain with Caravaggio, El Greco, Monet and Picasso, and an ancient Near East wing

The village house where the national poet Verdaguer died, a small free museum at the gates of Collserola park

The world's largest modernist hospital complex, spectacular pavilions and gardens without the Sagrada Família crowds

What many call the world's most spectacular concert hall, the peak of modernism with a breathtaking stained-glass dome

A village built from 117 replicas of beautiful corners from all over Spain, with artisan workshops and restaurants

The iconic sports and concert arena from the Olympics, where all the big stars play in the city

A spectacular 1876 iron market above which a whole city from 1700 was uncovered, Catalonia's most important memory site

Barcelona's historic opera house from 1847, a lavish golden hall that rose again from two fires

Smart themed exhibitions on cities, cinema and culture in an old almshouse with an impressive covered courtyard

The huge grounds of the Primavera Sound festival, a giant solar panel and a terraced sea-bathing area without sand

The Catalan Broadway: an avenue of historic theatres and musicals like the Apolo and the Victòria

The quality cinema beloved by Barcelonans, films in the original language in historic halls from 1902

The house of spikes that looks like a fairytale castle, six pointed spires in the middle of Avinguda Diagonal

Casa Batlló's terraced neighbour, a chocolatier's palace with a Dutch facade and a historic chocolate tasting

The minimalist 1929 masterpiece that changed modern architecture: glass, marble and water

Rebecca Horn's tower of four glass cubes in memory of the old beach shacks, the photographed symbol of Barceloneta

The Bonastruc ça Porta complex named after Nachmanides of Girona, with gravestones, inscriptions and the community's story

A dreamlike palace on the Sitges waterfront with a golden hall and balconies, tours and summer concerts

The historic theatre from which independent Catalan theatre grew, plays in an intimate atmosphere

A white arched palace inspired by Gaudí that was a textile factory, the modernist gem of the city of Terrassa

The house with two completely different facades, waves of colour and wooden galleries inspired by Gaudí, a little-known gem

One of Europe's oldest synagogues, from the 13th century, restored and brought back to life in the heart of the old Call quarter

A modernist palace by Puig i Cadafalch with a richly carved Gothic facade, near the Casa de les Punxes

Frank Gehry's giant fish sculpture of golden metal mesh, glinting in the sun above the Port Olímpic promenade

A warm modernist villa of wood and brick that was nearly demolished, now a neighbourhood culture centre with free entry

The most ornate corner of the Block of Discord, Domènech i Montaner's floral modernism at its best

Tiny theatre on Carrer de l'Encarnació in Gràcia

The medieval Call quarter's alleys, one of Europe's most important communities until the 1391 expulsion, with explanatory signs

A ceramic-decorated modernist building at the foot of Avinguda del Tibidabo, lovely to photograph on the way to the tram

A Greek-inspired amphitheatre inside a rose garden, the summer stage of the prestigious Grec festival

A collection of 37 surrealist gold jewels Dalí designed, including the ruby-studded heart that really beats

One of Europe's oldest boys' choirs, singing in the basilica almost every midday and worth timing your visit for

A 12th-century Romanesque mikveh discovered in 1964, one of Europe's oldest and best preserved, beside the synagogue remains

The old village's main street: veteran shops, patisseries and the feel of a small Catalan town

The capital of Penedès wine with an excellent wine museum and the castells human-tower tradition, tastings on every corner

The alleys of the Jewish community that thrived here until the 15th century, with signs telling its story

One of Europe's best-preserved old Jewish quarters, stone alleys where the community lived for some 600 years until the expulsion

A white fishing village at the tip of the peninsula, the refuge of Dalí, Picasso and Duchamp, still bohemian and beautiful

The central square where everything begins, the meeting point between the old city and the Eixample and the transport hub

The city's main train station, the departure point for high-speed trains to Madrid and the coastal cities

The village square of Poble-sec with neighbourhood cafes, the quiet heart of the district

Catalonia's political square since Roman times, facing Barcelona city hall and the Catalan government palace

Poblenou's beloved local avenue, vermouth at noon, ice cream in the evening and almost no tourists

A huge medieval arcaded square, one of Catalonia's oldest markets on Tuesdays and Saturdays and the capital of cured sausage

A quiet village square with the saint's statue, one of the best-preserved corners of old Sarrià

The quiet, moving square in the Gothic Quarter, with Civil War bomb scars on the church walls

Barcelona's beautiful palm-tree square, with lamps the young Gaudí designed, bars and jazz into the night

El Raval's local avenue with Botero's fat cat sculpture, terraces and a genuinely multicultural feel

A hidden private lane with colourful houses and gardens, one of the Eixample's romantic and little-known corners

The green local avenue rising from the Arc de Triomf, Barcelona's brunch capital with shaded playgrounds

Gràcia's liveliest square, filling with locals, beer and guitars every evening

Gràcia's historic clock-tower square, ringed with cafes and chairs in the sun

The most photogenic square in the neighbourhood, village-like and calm facing the Sant Joan church facade

The square immortalised in the world-famous Catalan novel, with a Civil War underground shelter beneath it

A beloved neighbourhood square at the start of Carrer Verdi, perfect for a vermouth stop between sights

A small square with a bronze statue of the architect who lost to Cerdà in planning Barcelona, and neighbourhood restaurants

An authentic local square at the edge of Gràcia with a children's playground and old-school bars around it

The city's largest square with the two Venetian towers, the grand gateway to Montjuïc

The former village's main square with a church, a farmers' market and cafes in the shade of trees

A neoclassical arcaded square on the Onyar riverbank, the centre of Girona's evening dining and vermouth

A 60-metre column with Columbus at the top and a lift to a 360-degree view of the port and La Rambla

A ride in glass cabins from the park up to the castle with a shifting view over the city and sea

The old harbour turned polished marina of superyachts, with Lichtenstein's colourful head sculpture

A vintage red 1931 cable car crossing the harbour from the Sant Sebastià tower to Montjuïc, a wild view on the way

A red iron bridge built by the Eiffel company in 1877, two years before the Paris tower, the city's photo spot

A 360-degree view from the 30th floor of the colourful bullet tower, with Tomás Saraceno's hanging cloud work

Barcelona's best viewpoint from Civil War anti-aircraft batteries, a fenced site that closes in the evening, so check the hours first

A terraced viewing garden above the harbour with artistic paving, the pretty photo spot on the way to the castle

A working observatory from 1904 with evening tours through the antique telescope and dinners under the stars in summer

A lighthouse on a 165-metre cliff above Llafranc, a huge view, a restaurant and a 15th-century watchtower

The high point of Park Güell with a 360-degree view, especially magical at sunset

The Olympic diving pool hanging above the city, one of Barcelona's most photographed spots, open in summer

A section of well-kept coastal path around the exclusive S'Agaró villa neighbourhood, coves and viewpoints at every turn

Norman Foster's communications tower with a glass viewpoint 560 metres above the sea

The steps in front of the National Palace are the locals' favourite sunset spot, with the whole city at your feet

Spain's steepest funicular climbs from the monastery to the upper viewpoint trails, a view to the Pyrenees

A former bullring turned mall with a round rooftop viewpoint facing Plaça d'Espanya

A wide promenade from Barceloneta to the Port Olímpic, the running and cycling route locals love

A diagonal pedestrian walk linking the Sagrada Família to Sant Pau, two World Heritage sites in one line of sight

A historic 1930 yellow funicular that leaps from the valley station to the monastery in five steep minutes

Yellow and red facades reflected in the river, Girona's famous picture from the bridges

A hillside funicular on a normal metro ticket up to the summit neighbourhood, the cheap way to the mountain views

A wavy wooden bridge continuing La Rambla into the sea, opening to let boats pass and perfect at sunset

A village-like summit neighbourhood with old villas, view balconies and a mountain feel beside the city

A long palm promenade along the beaches, modernist villas and fish restaurants on the water

Barcelona's central park with a monumental waterfall Gaudí helped design, a boating lake and picnic lawns

Barcelona's huge green lung: walking and cycling trails in a real Mediterranean forest

The city's oldest garden with a real cypress maze from 1791, a romantic corner most visitors miss

One of Europe's most beautiful botanical gardens, 4,000 species on a Blanes clifftop and a photographed viewpoint pavilion over the bay

Wetlands with bird hides, storks, flamingos and wild horses, flat trails that reach the beach

A park on an old factory site with a boating lake, lighting towers and a giant dragon sculpture to climb

Italian-style gardens hanging on a cliff above the sea at Lloret de Mar, cypresses, statues and steps down to the turquoise

The former royal palace gardens: lawns, cypresses, ponds and hidden Gaudí corners

A romantic, well-kept garden in the heart of the upscale district, a small lake and statues among old trees

A modern hillside garden with Mediterranean plants from five continents and open views

A working salt mountain quarried for some two thousand years, a helmeted tour through glittering coloured salt tunnels

A surrealist park designed by Jean Nouvel, bougainvillea, sunken seating and slides between walls

A clifftop botanical garden around a castle built by exiled Russian nobles, with a summer music festival by the sea

A quiet beachfront park with the neighbourhood's beautiful modernist water tower, a green moment by the sand

Enric Miralles' futuristic park with winding tubes, lakes and unusual play equipment for kids

A roughly hundred-metre waterfall at the end of a short trail from Rupit, spectacular after rainy days

One of Europe's largest cactus gardens, on a sea-facing slope with dozens of giant species

Terraced gardens with waterfalls, pergolas and Alhambra-inspired steps, a romantic and quiet corner

Catalonia's largest natural lake, a cycling loop around it, rowing boats and the '92 Olympic rowing course

A romantic garden of an old estate with a small lake, peacocks and quiet shady corners

A classic hidden estate garden at the foot of Avinguda del Tibidabo, fountains and reading nooks among old trees

A neighbourhood park with Miró's giant colourful Woman and Bird sculpture, a green stop by Plaça d'Espanya

Spain's easternmost point, a lunar landscape of wind-sculpted rocks that fired Dalí's imagination

A neighbourhood garden with a maze of cypress avenues and modern sculptures, beside Villa Amèlia

A park with 10,000 rose bushes from hundreds of varieties, at spectacular peak bloom in spring

Montserrat's highest peak at 1,236 metres, a trail among rounded crags with a view over all Catalonia

A marine reserve of seven islands off the coast, one of the Mediterranean's best diving and snorkelling sites

A green hill near the Bunkers with quiet walking trails and viewpoints without a single tourist

Well-kept gardens in the heart of the park with the classic photo spot of the pavilions against the city

A flat panoramic 10-kilometre trail along the hillside, the whole city at your feet the whole way

An easy shaded trail from the monastery among sculptures and ceramic panels, fine for kids and prams

The historic coastal watch path along the Costa Brava, whose famous Calella-to-Llafranc stretch is short, stunning and perfect at sunset

The city's most famous and liveliest beach, an easy walk from the old town with a buzzing promenade and restaurants

A cove with a row of photographed green-and-white bathing huts, small, photogenic and calm even in August

The old, wide beach at the southern end of Barceloneta, by the sail-shaped hotel and with a more local crowd

The beach beloved by young Poblenou, calmer than the centre and with good chiringuitos on the sand

17 sandy beaches along the town, shallow water and blue flags, 40 minutes by train from Barcelona

Five kilometres of wide shallow sand 20 minutes from the city, great for families and water sports

The main beach of the young, lively resort town, a kilometre and a half of sand and clear water with every service

A young, liberal beach with a designated nudist stretch, and a watersports base renting kayaks and paddleboards

The beach stretch by the casino and hotels, named after the fishermen's shanty quarter that once stood here

A golden bay at the foot of the walls, one of the Costa Brava's famous views, which Chagall called the blue paradise

The calm, family beach by the Port Olímpic, easy with kids and with volleyball courts

One of the Mediterranean's clearest-water beaches, a golden sandy cove with a Parador hotel on the cliff above

Barcelona's last beach before the Fòrum, spacious and quiet, and dog-friendly in part

A relatively remote, quiet beach on the city strip, dunes, lawns and far fewer tourists

The Costa Brava's perfect fishing village, boats on the sand, white arches and fish restaurants

An elegant, tranquil bay with a short promenade and a small marina, a favourite of Spanish families for generations

The quietest cove among the Palafrugell coastal villages, pines running down to the water and restaurants on the beach

A turquoise pebble cove with a row of white houses with green shutters, small and perfect

A family beach town with a long shallow beach facing the Medes Islands, a base for glass-bottom boats and water sports

A Spanish food hall with grilled meats, seafood and tapas in dedicated spaces

A Columbus-themed restaurant serving paella and sangria

A bar, about 190 m from Casa Milà, La Pedrera

Barcelona's crowded, beloved tapas institution, worth the queue for the montaditos and the prawns

An old-world restaurant with checkered floors and wood beams

A spacious, popular tapas bar with eclectic furnishings

A whimsical bar with an artificial forest and eclectic decor, local and global eats

A jungle-themed restaurant offering dry-aged meat

A neighbourhood brunch spot serving eggs and pancakes

A traditional dining room with a raw fish counter

A restaurant-bar in the Raval, about 40 m from Granja Viader

A brunch restaurant with vegetarian, vegan and fish dishes in the Raval, about 130 m from Forn Mistral

A tapas restaurant on Carrer Ample in the Gothic Quarter, about 80 m from +34 Bar

A packed, standing-only local cava bar, a glass of bubbly and a grilled sandwich for a few euros

A beachfront rice house on Bogatell beach run by the Escribà pastry family, recommended for paella and arròs negre facing the sea

Barcelona's famous seafood restaurant since 1975, where Spain's royals eat crab

A tapas restaurant in the Gothic Quarter, about 90 m from Colom Restaurant

A seafood restaurant on the fishermen's wharf, about 290 m from L'Aquàrium de Barcelona

A light-filled restaurant with terrace tables specialising in paella

The modernist cafe where Picasso held his first exhibition, a fully preserved 1900 atmosphere

Classic dishes such as seafood paella and duck cannelloni

A restaurant on Carrer Salins in Empuriabrava, about 3.7km from the Aiguamolls reserve

An expensive, highly rated Japanese sushi restaurant

A bistro in the Gothic Quarter, about 80 m from +34 Bar

A narrow, legendary beer bar at the entrance to Barceloneta, its foie gras sirloin became a tapa famous across the city

The institution that many say has served Barcelona's best patatas bravas since the 1950s

A restaurant on Passeig del Born, about 50 m from El Born Cultural Centre

A restaurant on Carrer de la Cera in the Raval, about 40 m from Big Bang Bar

Barcelona's oldest restaurant, serving traditional Catalan cooking in the same spot since 1786

A family cava bar from 1929 by the Picasso Museum, legendary anchovies and bubbly wine from the barrel in a loud atmosphere

Some of the city's best tapas without the crazy prices, perfect croquettes and a black squid dish you have to try

One of the port's veteran seafood restaurants, wine barrels at the door, grilled sardines and a rich paella

A Spanish restaurant on Carrer Baixada d'Alba in Sant Cugat, about 170m from the monastery

The family den where the bomba was invented, a spicy potato ball, open only until midday

Catalan home-style dishes in a down-to-earth spot with a bar and football team photos

A tiny legendary tapas bar from 1914 with bottle-lined walls and montaditos that are a culinary must

A petite counter serving traditional churros with dipping chocolate

A restaurant on Pujada des Pianc, roughly 260m from the centre of Cadaqués

A bar and grill on Passeig Lluís Maria Vidal, about a kilometre from Banyoles lake

The neighbourhood bar on the way to the Bunkers, cheap sandwiches and coffee before the climb to the viewpoint

A fusion restaurant on Carrer del Vidre in the Gothic Quarter, about 20 m from Colom Restaurant

A Spanish restaurant, about 210 m from Parc de Joan Miró

A tapas and vermouth bar on Plaça Comercial in El Born, about 100 m from El Born Cultural Centre

A tapas bar on Carrer de Montcada, about 10 m from El Xampanyet

A Mediterranean restaurant inside Santa Caterina market

An American restaurant at Passeig Marítim 209 in Castelldefels, about 1.6km from Castelldefels beach

A Mediterranean restaurant in the day-trip area

The Roca brothers' three-Michelin-star restaurant, twice the world's best, book months ahead

Classic tapas in a chef's version by Carles Abellán, the truffle bikini became a local legend

A restaurant in Les Corts, about 420 m from L'Illa Diagonal

A Basque pintxos tavern on Placeta de Montcada, about 30 m from El Xampanyet

A restaurant on Passeig Darder in Banyoles, about 1.5km from the lake

A veteran 1940 bodega on Rambla de Catalunya, vermouth from the barrel, jamón and patatas bravas without the pose

An 1870 chocolate institution where the Cacaolat cocoa drink was invented, a swiss with a mountain of cream not to be missed

A Spanish restaurant on Carrer de Montcada, about 10 m from El Xampanyet

A restaurant at Passeig Marítim 45 in Castelldefels, about 390m from the beach

A restaurant on Carrer de Manso, about 150 m from Mercat de Sant Antoni

A bar in Poble-sec, about 160 m from Pa Serra

A Spanish restaurant at Plaça de l'Estació 1 in Vic, about 400m west of the market square

The restaurant crowned number one in the world, three Michelin stars and a tasting experience booked months ahead

A sandwich shop on Carrer de la Mercè in the Gothic Quarter, about 70 m from +34 Bar

Tiny minimalist diner in El Born that brought the smash cheeseburger to Barcelona and draws queues, on Time Out Barcelona's burger list

A lively family tapas house in Poble-sec below Montjuïc, filled mostly with locals; Galician-style octopus, bravas and the playfully named house plates

A seafood restaurant, about 130 m from L'Estel Ferit

A Mediterranean restaurant on Carrer de Pau Claris in Besalú, about 730m from the fortified bridge

A restaurant on Passeig de Sant Antoni, about 260 m from Syra Coffee Sants

A Mediterranean restaurant on Carrer Sant Andreu de la Palomera in Blanes, about 1.1km from the Marimurtra botanical garden

A counter tapas restaurant on Plaça de les Olles, about 100 m from Passeig del Born

A Mediterranean restaurant at Passeig Marítim 280 in Castelldefels, about 2km from Castelldefels beach

A fusion restaurant in Sants, about 410 m from Estació de Barcelona Sants

A restaurant on Carrer de la Fusina in El Born, about 100 m from El Born Cultural Centre

A Mediterranean restaurant on Riera de Sant Vicenç, some 180m from the centre of Cadaqués

A Spanish restaurant on Carrer de Tamarit, about 130 m from Bar Rosa Barcelona

A veteran bodega with wooden barrels on the wall, house vermouth and simple tapas at neighbourhood prices

A restaurant at Passeig Marítim 74 in Castelldefels, about 150m from the beach

A bar and grill on Carrer del Tamariu in Empuriabrava, about 4.2km from the Aiguamolls reserve

A Mediterranean restaurant on the Costa Brava

Barcelona's famous patisserie dynasty, croissants and cakes that are works of art since 1906

A restaurant on Carrer de Déu i Mata, about 310 m from L'Illa Diagonal

A grill house in El Born, about 160 m from Museu de la Xocolata

A restaurant on Carrer Osona in El Prat Roig, about 2.7km from Banyoles lake

A restaurant on Carrer de les Ramelleres in the Raval, about 100 m from Dalston Coffee

A gastrobar on Carrer de Riego, about 150 m from Syra Coffee Sants

A French restaurant, about 340 m from L'Illa Diagonal

A burger restaurant at Avinguda de Platja d'Aro 220, about a kilometre from the S'Agaró coastal path

A paella and seafood institution from 1903 by the port, walls covered with photos of artists and famous diners

Fine dining with contemporary takes on Catalan cuisine in a minimalist stone-walled space

An elegant Parisian-style tapas bar with gourmet products and excellent wines, a favourite of local chefs

A family institution from 1922 on the corner of Plaça de la Revolució, vermouth from the barrel in a real Catalan atmosphere

A restaurant on Plaça de Catalunya in Banyoles, about 900m from the lake

An eating house since 1904 at the top of Avinguda del Tibidabo, where the Tramvia Blau ends, with a covered terrace over the city; coca with escalivada and anchovies

A Mediterranean restaurant on Carrer dels Pescadors in Tossa de Mar, about 160m from the Vila Vella

A Barceloneta neighbourhood bar open since 1908, with house vermouth from the barrel that Time Out counts among the city's classics

Creative chef-level tapas at fair prices, on the way down from Park Güell to Gràcia

A cava house founded in 1551 in a Puig i Cadafalch modernist building, a little-train tour through the wine tunnels

A restaurant on Carrer del Bruc, about 140 m from Onis Coffee

A restaurant at Passeig Pau Casals 35 in Blanes, about 800m from the Marimurtra botanical garden

A restaurant at Carrer del Portal 26 in Tossa de Mar, about 160m from the Vila Vella

A Lebanese restaurant in El Raval, about 160 m from MACBA

A restaurant on Carrer de les Flors in Cardona, about 380m from the castle

A Mediterranean restaurant in the day-trip belt outside Barcelona

Small bars on the sand from Barceloneta to Mar Bella, a mojito with your feet in the sand and tapas facing the waves

Late-night Eixample bar with burgers of aged Galician beef, given five stars by Time Out and on its Barcelona burger list

A corner bar in the Eixample Esquerre that joined the 50 Best Discovery list in 2026

A restaurant at Passeig Molinet 5 in L'Estartit, about 1.5km from the beach

A Spanish restaurant on Plaça de l'Oli in Vilafranca del Penedès, about 230m from the town centre

Former elBulli chef's Asian tapas bar in El Raval with a Michelin star, where tasting menus are served only at the counter around the open kitchen and must be booked ahead

A bar-restaurant inside Sant Antoni market

A restaurant on Plaça Cap de la Vila in Sitges, about 280m from the church of Sant Bartomeu

A Mediterranean restaurant in the Girona area

A restaurant in the town of Terrassa

A tiny, beloved vermouth bar that brought the Catalan vermouth hour back into fashion, with their own preserves

A Spanish restaurant in the village of Ullastret

A cosy, charming restaurant serving creative dishes from locally sourced ingredients

A restaurant on Carrer de Loreto, about 500 m from Turó Park

At Carrer del Portal 28 in Tossa de Mar, a restaurant sitting about 160m from the Vila Vella

A Mediterranean restaurant at Carrer del Casal 26 in Vilafranca del Penedès, about 360m from the town centre

Gràcia's young, in-demand vermouth bar, house vermouth with fine tinned seafood

A restaurant on Avinguda Santa Coloma in Santa Coloma de Cervelló, about 920m from the Gaudí crypt

A bar and grill on the Cap de Creus road, about 450m from the Dalí house at Portlligat

A restaurant at Plaça de l'Estació 2 in Vic, about 410m from the market square

A Cuban restaurant on Carrer de Figueres in Castelló d'Empúries, about 4.1km from the Aiguamolls reserve

A restaurant on Carrer de Rafael Llopart in Sitges, about 170m from the Cau Ferrat museum

One of the city's most talked-about tapas bars, excellent papitas sandwiches and a wall of fan signatures

A Catalan cuisine restaurant in Poblenou from Leo Chechelnitzky, the chef behind Malparit, set in an old house on Carrer de Pujades

A Japanese restaurant on Carrer d'en Copons in the Gothic Quarter, about 70 m from Xurreria Laietana

A restaurant on Carrer d'Europa in Sitges, about 440m from the town beaches

A Mediterranean restaurant on Carrer Pou de la Vila in Tossa de Mar, about 190m from Platja Gran

The world-famous cava winery right by the train station, a lively tour of the huge cellars with tastings

A restaurant on Plaça del Dr. Pont in Cadaqués, roughly 220m from the town centre

A restaurant in the Edificio Girasol on the Empuriabrava seafront, about 3.7km from the Aiguamolls reserve

The one real sit-down restaurant on the mountain, in 16th-century stables on the monastery square under a stone vault; Catalan cooking from Montserrat produce, with mel i mató to finish

A vegan restaurant on Carrer Ermita in Sant Cugat, about 1.25km from the monastery

A grill restaurant at Bruguers near Besalú, about 2.9km from the fortified bridge

A vegetarian restaurant on Carrer de Sant Antoni Abat in the Raval, about 150 m from Sant Antoni market

A restaurant at El Coll de Pruit, about 4.5km from the village of Rupit

A family restaurant since 1961 on the north edge of Figueres, the cradle of modern Catalan cooking; the hors d'oeuvres trolley and the famous cheese trolley

A Mediterranean restaurant in the day-trip belt outside Barcelona

Spain's famous family winery offers vineyard tours by little train and guided tastings near Vilafranca

A Mediterranean restaurant at Passeig Pau Casals 61 in Blanes, about 600m from the Marimurtra botanical garden

A Mediterranean restaurant on Passeig Cortils i Vieta in Blanes, about a kilometre from the Marimurtra botanical garden

A restaurant on Avinguda Jesús Serra Santamans, about 1.4km from Llafranc beach

A restaurant at Carrer de la Fruita 12 in Vilafranca del Penedès, about 170m from the town centre

A restaurant at Carrer dels Escasany 15 in Cardona, about 260m from the castle

At Passeig Molinet 7 in L'Estartit, a restaurant about 1.5km from the beach

A bar and grill on Carrer del Pla de Balenyà in Vic, about 210m from the market square

A Lebanese restaurant, about 140 m from La Cova Fumada

A restaurant on Carrer de Fígols, about 660 m from Velvet Room BCN

A restaurant on Carrer de Sant Joan de Fàbregues near Rupit, about 790m from the Sallent waterfall

A restaurant on Carrer Abat Safont in Besalú, about 150m from the Jewish quarter

At Raval de la Font 6 in Vilafranca del Penedès, a restaurant about 360m from the town centre

Barcelona's chocolate boutique with creative flavours and a thick hot chocolate rated among the city's best

A restaurant on Plaça des Portitxó, about 140m from the centre of Cadaqués

A restaurant on Avinguda del Rastrillo in Cardona, about 200m from the castle

A restaurant on Carrer del Pintor Tapiró, about 270 m from Palau Blaugrana

A restaurant on Carrer de Pere IV, about 270 m from Razzmatazz

A restaurant at Carretera de Roda 30 in Vic, about 640m east of the market square

A restaurant on Carrer Bonaire in Sitges, about 340m from the church of Sant Bartomeu

A restaurant on Carrer de Santiago Rusiñol in Sitges, about 150m from Palau Maricel

A restaurant on Carrer de Melcior de Palau, about 500 m from Estació de Barcelona Sants

A bar and grill at Passeig Marítim 20 in L'Estartit, about 1.25km from the beach

An Eixample restaurant blending Chinese cooking with Catalan produce, singled out by Spanish food critics among the year's standout openings

A legendary 1886 patisserie founded by the poet Puig, chocolates and cakes that are a Barcelona institution

Barcelona's pintxos street: dozens of bars with bites on the counter from one to two euros

An independent Eixample restaurant near the Ninot market from chef Oliver Peña and sommelier Cristina Losada, which Ara called the best food news of the year in the city

Chef Artur Martínez's restaurant on Carrer de Còrsega in the Eixample, opened in 2026 and serving a reworked take on Catalan cooking

A takeaway food spot on Carrer de la Verge Maria in Blanes, about 900m from the Marimurtra botanical garden

Barcelona's traditional chocolate lane, historic granjas of churros in hot chocolate and art galleries

Two bars seating sixteen in all in the Eixample, moved from the Boqueria, with tasting menus pairing Catalan produce and Asian technique, a Repsol Sun and a weeks-long waiting list

An Argentinian restaurant, about 330 m from Plaça de Sant Vicenç de Sarrià

Twelve diners around one counter in La Bonanova, a single evening sitting with robata grill dishes, and bookings released on the first of the month gone within hours

The Eixample's lovely culinary street, a half-pedestrian green stretch with a row of sought-after restaurants and terraces

A restaurant on the C-1410 road near Cardona, about 790m from the castle

A restaurant on Avinguda de Platja d'Aro in S'Agaró, about 840m from the coastal path

Restaurant on Carrer de la Fraternitat in Gràcia, opened in 2026, that brings listening-bar culture to the table with a hi-fi system and vinyl playing through the meal

The Roca brothers' gelateria from the three world-famous chefs, wild ice creams at a stand that looks like a dream

Spain's cava capital, more than 80 sparkling wineries around one small, sweet town

Breakfast spot on Avinguda de la Riera de Cassoles, in northern Gràcia

Long-standing bakery on Ronda de Sant Antoni, at the edge of El Raval

Brunch spot on Plaça de la Vila de Madrid, in the Gothic Quarter

Coffee and brunch spot on Carrer del Rosselló, in central Eixample

A brunch restaurant on Passatge Madoz, about 60 m from Plaça Reial

A breakfast and brunch spot on Carrer del Pintor Fortuny in the Raval, about 60 m from Arze

Brunch spot on Carrer d'Aragó, near the Sagrada Família

A café and cake shop on Carrer de la Palla, about 70 m from Plaça de Sant Felip Neri

A brunch spot, about 290 m from L'Estel Ferit

Coffee and brunch on Carrer de Girona, in the Dreta de l'Eixample

A café and brunch spot on Passatge de la Pau in the Gothic Quarter, about 100 m from El Bosc de les Fades

An ice cream shop on Pla de Palau, about 90 m from Santa Maria del Mar

A brunch spot in Poblenou, about 300 m from Madame George

Specialty coffee bar on Carrer del Consell de Cent, in central Eixample

Cafe on Carrer dels Carders, in El Born

Bakery on Carrer de Milà i Fontanals, in Gràcia

A pastry shop on Plaça de l'Àngel, about 50 m from the Barcelona History Museum

A coffee shop and roastery on Carrer de l'Argenteria, about 80 m from Bistrot by Lady Babka

Chocolate patisserie on Carrer de les Ramelleres, between El Raval and La Rambla

Roastery and coffee bar on Carrer de les Ramelleres, in the old city

Cafe on Carrer de Venus, in the heart of Gràcia

A brunch spot on Passeig de Joan de Borbó, about 140 m from Mercat de la Barceloneta

Bistro and brunch on Carrer d'Elkano, in Poble Sec

Roastery and coffee bar on Carrer de Neptú, in Gràcia

Brunch spot on Carrer de Viladomat, in Sant Antoni

Cafe on Carrer d'En Mònec, in Sant Pere near El Born

Pastry shop on Carrer d'Aragó, in the Eixample

Pastry shop on Carrer de Verdi in Gràcia that won Spain's best butter croissant award in October 2026

Specialty coffee bar on Carrer de Roger de Llúria, in the Eixample

A coffee shop and bakery on Rambla del Poblenou, about 230 m from Madame George

Patisserie and baking school on Carrer de Viladomat

A cafe on Carrer de Meer, about 160 m from L'Estel Ferit

Breakfast spot on Carrer de Blasco de Garay, in Poble-sec

A coffee shop on Carrer de Ramon Turró, about 130 m from La Nau

A brunch cafe on Gran Via, about 320 m from CaixaForum Barcelona

Bakery on Carrer Gran de Gràcia, the main street of Gràcia

Bistro and bakery on Carrer de l'Argenteria, in El Born

Italian bakery on Carrer de Milans, in the Gothic Quarter

Bakery on Carrer de Radas, in Poble Sec below Montjuïc

Cafe on Baixada de Caçador, in the Gothic Quarter lanes

A brunch spot on Carrer de Lleida, about 180 m from Pa Serra

Bakery on Carrer de l'Olivera, in Poble Sec

Specialty coffee window on Carrer de Sants

Specialty coffee bar on Carrer Gran de Gràcia

Brunch spot on Carrer d'Olzinelles, in Sants

Cafe and gallery on Carrer d'Avinyó, in the Gothic Quarter

A coffee roastery and cafe, about 320 m from Santa Maria de la Bonanova

Bakery on Carrer de Palaudàries, near Paral·lel

Coffee and brunch in Passatge de Nogués, in Gràcia

Specialty coffee bar on Carrer de Berlín, near Josep Tarradellas

Bakery on Passeig de Sant Joan, in the Eixample

Cafe on Carrer del Forn, in Sants

Specialty coffee bar on Carrer de Sant Pere Més Baix

Specialty coffee bar on Carrer d'Olzinelles, in Sants

Brunch, tapas and drinks, about 580 m from Santa Maria de la Bonanova

Specialty coffee bar on Carrer de Floridablanca, in the Eixample

Specialty coffee bar on Carrer d'Aragó, in the Eixample

The city's largest club, five rooms in a Poblenou industrial building, with live gigs alongside dance floors

The marina built for the 1992 Olympics and recently renovated, chef restaurants, sailing schools and bars on the water

A bar on the Tibidabo cliff with a huge glass wall, a cocktail facing the city's million lights

A bar and restaurant on Plaça Reial, about 40 m from the centre of the square

Night club on Carrer Nou de la Rambla, in the Poble Sec district

A nightclub on the main avenue of Lloret de Mar, about 670 metres from the beach

A small bar in the old Jewish quarter, about 40 m from El Call

Craft beer hall on Carrer d'Aragó, steps from Passeig de Gràcia

A cocktail bar on Carrer de Paris in the Eixample, about 410 metres from Carrer d'Enric Granados. An evening that opens with a drink rather than a dance floor.

A nightclub in El Raval, about 120 metres from Palau Guell and close to the lower end of La Rambla. Its rating is polarised, which is typical of dance clubs.

A bar and grill in Poblenou, about 180 metres from Madame George, for an evening where the drinking and the eating happen in one place.

A concert hall in Salt, the town adjoining Girona, about 4 km from the centre of Girona. A live show for an evening outside the old quarter.

Cocktail bar at the southern end of Carrer de Casanova, in the Eixample

A nightclub on the same Lloret de Mar avenue, one of the run of clubs that work there through the summer

Rooftop bar on Passeig de Gràcia, about 200 metres from Casa Milà

A wine bar on Carrer de la Princesa in El Born, about 90 m from Bar del Pla

A nightclub on a side street in Lloret de Mar, about 450 metres from the beach

Brewpub on Carrer de Ramon Turró in Poblenou

Small vermouth bar at the corner of Carrer de Manso, in Sant Antoni

A cocktail bar on a side street in El Raval, about 210 metres from Palau Guell.

The cocktail bar at No. 16 on The World's 50 Best Bars 2026, hiding Esencia, a 14-seat room with a multi-course cocktail tasting menu booked weeks ahead

Small live music club on Carrer d'En Robador, in the heart of El Raval

A bar at Carrer dels Ferrers 78 in Vilafranca del Penedès, about 330m from the town centre

Brewpub on Passeig de Calvell, about 400 metres from Bogatell beach

Bar on Carrer d'En Botella, in El Raval behind La Rambla

A bar in El Raval, about 190 metres from Palau Guell, on the same short street that runs down towards the port.

A beach kiosk on Bogatell itself, about 160 metres from the water, open through the beach season

An evening pub on Carrer d'Aribau in the Eixample, about 220 metres from La Pastisseria.

Gràcia's lavish gin and tonic bar, dozens of gins and cocktails on another level

A bar on Carrer de Balmes in the Eixample, about 160 metres from Cerveseria Catalana.

A bodega and bar in Poble Sec, about 150 metres from Refugi 307 and about 270 metres from Sala Apolo.

A pub in Sitges, about 200 metres from Vivero Beach Club and close to the shoreline.

Cocktail bar on Carrer de Calàbria, in the Sant Antoni district

Vermouth bar on Carrer de Joan Blanques in Gràcia

A wine bar on Carrer d'Aribau in the Eixample, about 290 metres from Yuzu gastrobar.

Craft beer bar on Carrer de Llull, in northern Poblenou

Bar on Avinguda del Marquès de l'Argentera, opposite França railway station

A shisha and cocktail lounge in El Raval, about 140 metres from Palau Guell.

Brewery taproom on Carrer de Sepúlveda, in the Sant Antoni district

A cocktail bar about 200 metres from the big beach of Tossa de Mar

A small lounge bar in Poblenou, records on the turntable and cocktails

A bar and restaurant on the Platja d'Aro seafront, about 270 metres from the town centre

Cocktail bar on Carrer de Viladomat, between Sant Antoni and Avinguda del Paral·lel

A concert hall and rehearsal space in Poblenou, about 410 metres from the Poblenou cemetery and about 620 metres from Razzmatazz.

A cocktail bar in Poble Sec, about 160 metres from Quimet i Quimet.

A nightclub about 560 metres from the Arc de Triomf, on the edge of El Born and Poblenou

Bar on Carrer de Bac de Roda, in eastern Poblenou

A rooftop bar in the Eixample, 130 metres from Casa Milà, looking over the modernista roofs

A dance club in Gracia, about 280 metres from Placa Rovira i Trias.

A bar on Carrer de Villarroel in the Eixample, about 190 metres from Yuzu gastrobar.

Gràcia's legendary indie club, intimate live shows that launched big Catalan bands

Cocktail bar further up Carrer de Manso, in the Sant Antoni district

Bar on Carrer de Martínez de la Rosa, in southern Gràcia

Cocktail bar with a shisha lounge on Carrer de l'Avenir, in Sant Gervasi

A bar and restaurant on Aiguadolç beach, by the Sitges marina

Bar on Carrer de l'Aviació, in the Les Corts district

Gastrobar and craft beer spot on Carrer de Casanova, in the western Eixample

A beach lounge in Platja d'Aro, about a kilometre from the town centre

A rooftop bar on Gran Via, 150 metres from Casa Calvet

Cocktail bar on Carrer de Lincoln, about 100 metres from Plaça de Lesseps

A Poblenou cocktail bar building its drinks around ferments and botanicals, fairly new and talked about in the local press

Cocktail bar on Passatge de Josep Llovera, in the Sant Gervasi district

A small cocktail bar in the old town of Tossa de Mar, 120 metres from the old well

Cocktail bar on Carrer de Muntaner, up in Sant Gervasi

Shisha and cocktail lounge on Carrer del Rector Ubach, west of Carrer de Muntaner

A rooftop bar in central Girona, about 200 metres from Plaça de la Independència

Cocktail bar on Carrer de Floridablanca, about 300 metres from the Sant Antoni market

A hotel rooftop bar on the seafront avenue, looking out to the sea and Gehry's golden fish

Brewpub on Passatge de Ratés, at the western edge of Poblenou

El Born's lively avenue, once a jousting arena for knights and today bars and tapas until late

Small pub at the southern end of Carrer d'En Robador, in El Raval

Cocktail bar on Carrer de la Mercè, in the Gothic Quarter near the port

A beach club on the sand at Castelldefels, about 20 km from Barcelona, sunbeds and a meal facing the sea

A chiringuito on Nova Icària beach, 170 metres from the sand, drinks and Mediterranean food on the promenade

A beach club on the Castelldefels seafront, a restaurant with its feet in the sand and sunbeds facing the sea

A long-standing beach club at the western end of Sitges, a terrace above the sea that carries on into the evening

A beach club in the Port Fòrum marina, about 460 metres from Parc del Fòrum, at the northern end of the city beaches

A beach club on Llorell bay at Tossa de Mar, above a cove ringed with pines

A beach club with a pool at the northern end of the seafront, by Diagonal Mar

A beach bar on Platja de l'Estanyol in Sitges, about 510 metres from the main beaches

Europe's most famous food market, fresh fruit, jamón, seafood and colourful juices right off La Rambla

A 1900 bullring turned round mall, with a free 360-degree rooftop viewpoint facing Plaça d'Espanya

A huge mall within walking distance of the beach, Spanish and international chains and a restaurant terrace with a sea view

An upscale mall in an iconic building on Avinguda Diagonal, Spanish brands and a fine food hall

A mall on the water in the heart of the port, one of the few in the city open on Sundays and holidays too

The impressive restored iron market of Sant Antoni, and on Sundays a book and collectors' market around the whole building

An authentic neighbourhood market with a wavy colourful ceramic roof, less touristy than the Boqueria and with excellent stalls

An authentic 1913 neighbourhood market without tourists, family stalls and locals' prices

The club's big official megastore, shirts printed on the spot and gear you won't find anywhere else

A real neighbourhood market with an 1888 iron facade and its well-known flower stalls

One of Europe's oldest flea markets under a giant mirror roof, bargains, vintage and auctions dating from the 14th century

Barcelona's luxury avenue, top brands, paving Gaudí designed and his two famous houses on the same street

A historic iron market near Plaça d'Espanya with family stalls and a real neighbourhood feel

A small, authentic neighbourhood market of the fishermen's quarter, fresh fish stalls and an excellent tapas bar inside

A covered 1888 modernist market in the heart of Gràcia, fruit, cheese and fish stalls without the Boqueria's prices

An old factory complex wrapped in greenery in Poblenou, design studios and a festive weekend market once a month

A small, high-quality 1911 neighbourhood market in a modernist building, gourmet stalls without the tourist bustle

Gràcia's big neighbourhood market, a great place to buy local snacks and eat at the tapas stalls

La Rambla's quiet sister, an elegant promenade with cafe terraces, boutiques and amusing animal sculptures

Gràcia's coolest street, independent boutiques, gelaterias and design shops without the big chains

Gràcia's main shopping street, vintage shops and clothes by local designers

The beach town with a long shopping street open on Sundays too and a big city beach, sea and shopping together

Europe's largest stadium, Barça's home, back in action after its huge renovation

A free evening show of water, light and music considered one of the most spectacular in Europe

An 80-metre underwater shark tunnel and thousands of fish, one of the largest Mediterranean aquariums in Europe

A historic amusement park from 1901 on the mountaintop, vintage rides above a view of the whole city

A veteran zoo inside Ciutadella park with dolphins, monkeys and a petting corner, a perfect break from the sights

Catalonia's most-visited museum: Champions League trophies, a Messi corner and an immersive experience

A walk to the end of the breakwater to the sail-shaped W Hotel, a cocktail with a view at the bar on the 26th floor

The renovated, stylish funicular that climbs to the Tibidabo summit, an experience in itself

The natural history museum in Herzog and de Meuron's blue triangular building, whale skeletons and glowing minerals

Chocolate sculptures of the Sagrada Família and familiar figures, the entry ticket is a chocolate bar, a hit with kids

A seafront casino open until morning, roulette, poker and tournaments, entry with passport only

A Barcelona-based operator running full-day sailing, kayaking and snorkelling trips along the Costa Brava

Barça's basketball and hockey arena, a fiery atmosphere at prices far more accessible than football

A neighbourhood park with a huge paddling pool in summer and a hanging Chillida sculpture, perfect with kids

A forest park with a miniature steam train for children, pony rides and trails among the pines

A flamenco tablao in the Eixample with live company performances of dance, guitar and song

A giant playground on an old amusement-park site with slides, musical instruments and picnic corners

A green rack railway that climbs from the town of Monistrol to the monastery in a quarter hour of dramatic scenery

A cooking school in the heart of the old city whose workshops focus on making paella and the technique behind it

Kayak and paddleboard hire and windsurf lessons at fair city prices on Mar Bella beach

The fast, cheap way up the mountain: a funicular from the Paral·lel metro station on a normal ticket

A magical Eixample inner courtyard with an 1870 water tower, which becomes a children's paddling pool in summer