Multifaceted Barcelona

There aren't many cities which combine as much to do and see as Barcelona. There's the spectacular cathedral, an Olympic village, a harbour, old quarter and a beach backed by tapas bars.

Plan your visit around a festival

There are special events going on throughout the year. The 6th of January see the most important Christmas event in Spain - celebrating the Three Wise Men the festival is called Dia de los Reyes. In February there's a celebration just before Lent called Carnival with parades, costumes and dancing. There's a huge street party in August called Gràcia, and September 11th is Catalonia's Independence Day when special events are held all around the region.

The city is a great destination all year round, but the peak time to visit is spring and summer when the weather is at its best.

Barcelona is heaven for foodies

The people of Barcelona flavour their dishes with plenty of herbs, garlic and onion. A local favourite is Pan Tomaca con Jamón Serrano which is bread flavoured with garlic, olive oil and tomato with thinly-sliced Serrano ham layered on top. For dessert try Crema Catalana which is similar to cream brûlée.

Handy things to know about Barcelona

Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia and the official languages are Catalan and Spanish. The time zone is 1 hour ahead of the UK. When it comes to drinking and eating out, prices tend to be cheaper than London with a beer costing roughly 5EUR.

Getting from El Prat Airport is easy on Aerobus A1 and A2 which costs about 6EUR. You can get around the city itself using taxis, trams, Metro or buses. There's a Barcelona card available which includes unlimited public transport and discounts on entry attractions. Accommodation costs are approximately 100EUR a night for a hotel and you can get a hostel for 15EUR.