Barcelona

Capital of the NE "autonomous region" of Catalonia, Barcelona sprawls 7¾ mls from N to S and 4½ mls from Mt Tibidabo in the W to the sea, with a population of 1½ million; like the rest of Catalonia, it is officially bilingual and fiercely proud of its Catalan language, although visitors speaking Spanish will have no communication problems. The liveliest and most cosmopolitan of Spanish cities, Barcelona has seen a rapid growth in tourist popularity in recent years - not surprising given its colour and vibrancy, its eclectic mix of old and modern, and the wealth of shopping opportunities and nightlife. At its heart lies the Old Town, comprising the Gothic Quarter (Barri Gotic), La Ribera and El Raval, although most of interest is found in the Gothic Quarter with its old palaces, churches and guild buildings, narrow streets and plethora of shops, bars and restaurants. Within the Old Town is bustling, colourful Las Ramblas, Barcelona's most famous thoroughfare, actually made up of 5 linked boulevards stretching from Plaça de Catalunya to the Columbus Monument by the Old Port (Port Vell). This area - as well as the sea front to the N - was transformed in the late 1980s in preparation for the Olympics, held here in 1992, when crumbling waterfront factories were replaced by the modern Olympic Village district. It is now one of the most "happening" areas, with tourists and locals alike descending to enjoy the parks, shops, restaurants and nightlife. W of the Old Town lies the Eixample district, laid out in grid pattern and dotted with delightful early 20th-century modernist buildings, including several fine examples of Gaudi's architectural skills. Moving beyond the centre, Montjuic - which rises above the city to the S - is a spacious, green area boasting a castle, museums, mock-Spanish "village" and stadium, and is accessible from the centre via bus, funicular or cable car. Barcelona is generally considered a safe city, but it has its seedier areas - particularly to the S of Las Ramblas - and visitors should keep a close eye on wallets, bags and cameras in crowded places.

All kinds of traveller, whether looking for culture and history or energetic nightlife. Especially suited to anyone interested in 20th-century architecture. Popular with an increasing number of young singles seeking out the street life and club scene. Strong business and conference market.

Over 200 hotels, mostly in the 3- and 4-star bracket, although cheaper accommodation is available. Wide range from luxury, business-orientated establishments to basic B&Bs. The city's popularity, especially since the arrival of low-cost airlines, has caused a steady increase in the price of all grades of accommodation.

The city beaches are not much used, with pollution and local industry doing little to add to their charms. Better options can be found a train ride away at Mataro and Sitges.

Something to suit all tastes and pockets. Top shopping areas include Placa de Catalunya, Passeig de Gracia (Eixample) and the Diagonal business area. A choice of shopping centres and department stores, including Maremagnum, a large shopping and leisure complex at the Old Port. Small, characterful shops in the Gothic Quarter and El Raval, with Las Ramblas and Portal de l'Angel the liveliest thoroughfares. Watch out for the "Shopping Line" signs which guide pedestrians around the prime shopping areas; for those too tired to walk, the "Tombus" plies a round-trip shopping route from Placa de Catalunya. Various markets including colourful food, flower and bird markets in Las Ramblas, Els Encants flea market in Placa de Glories (Mon, Wed, Fri and Sat) and an antiques market in the Gothic Quarter every Thurs.

Daytime: Old Town's 13th-century cathedral, church of Santa Maria del Mar, royal palace and colourful Las Ramblas with its flower-sellers and street entertainers; over 40 museums and art galleries, including Picasso and Miro museums, national gallery of Catalunya and a chocolate museum; Gaudi-designed constructions like La Pedrera (Casa Mila) apartment block, Parc Guell gardens and the magnificent, unfinished church of Sagrada Familia; Montjuic with its museums, gardens, stadium, castle and Poble Espanyol (Spanish Village); Mt Tibidabo amusement park, observatory and nearby Collserola Look-out Point; zoo; aquarium; well-equipped public sports centres; cycling; water sports, including canoeing, windsurfing, sailing and water-skiing; boat or catamaran rides. Lots of festivals year-round, including the Grec Summer Festival in July. Nightlife: very little lacking, as suits a cosmopolitan city; myriad bars (many with music), clubs and discos, the trendiest concentrated around the port and Olympic Village area; flamenco clubs; cinemas (several original language); theatre, opera, classical concerts and ballet; jazz venues; coloured musical fountain displays at Placa Espanya.

Full of restaurants of varying quality, with a good selection of upmarket options and a wealth of relatively cheap eateries - including tapas bars - but rather lacking in the mid-price range. Choice of Catalan or international cuisines (French, Italian, Japanese, Thai, Mexican and Chinese); usual fast-food outlets. Lots of alfresco dining in the Gothic Quarter to the N of Las Ramblas. Fish is a speciality, best around the port area. Wherever you dine, make it clear early on if you want a pause between courses or your meal will be over within 30 mins. Lunch is around 2pm; dinner starts from 9pm, with most restaurants serving until after midnight.

Plentiful, though road transport suffers from traffic jams. The Metro is modern and mostly air conditioned, with 4 colour-coded lines; there is, however, a fair amount of walking and stairs between lines. There are also good train (long distance and local commuter line) and bus services, with a regular bus service from the airport to the centre. Taxis are reasonably priced if you are in the centre and a good option to get around comfortably.

Half day: wine tasting around the Penedes region; Montserrat basilica and shrine. Full day: Dali museum at Figueres; historical town of Tarragona; Port Aventura theme park; nearby water parks; cruises along the coast; Costa Brava or Costa Dorada; seaside resort and Catalan village of Sitges; Pyrenees and Andorra (skiing in winter).

On the Mediterranean coast of NE Spain, S of the Costa Brava. 80 mls S of the border with France. 400 mls NE of the capital, Madrid. 8 mls NE of El Prat airport.

Occupying a flat coastal plain bounded by 2 mountains, Montjuic to the S and Tibidabo inland to the W.

Website: www.barcelonaturisme.com

Airport : Barcelona
Airport Code: BCN
Flight time from ther U.K.: 2 hrs