Mathieu Quintart

The Spanish are well-known for their child-friendly attitude and Barcelona is no exception. The city has a great range of entertainment venues and activities to keep children occupied and happy. From parks and beaches to theatre, fiestas and theme parks you are guaranteed to find something your child will like and return home with happy memories of the family holiday.

If you are visiting Barcelona as a family then it can be expensive to find suitable accommodation for the whole family. Hotels are convenient as many can be found in the heart of the city so you do not have to walk too far to the sights, however for accommodation that is easy on the pocket and offers space and privacy, how about renting a serviced apartment for your holiday? There are a wide range of serviced apartments in the center of Barcelona that can be rented for long or short term stays, and fit a wide array of budgets.

Barcelona is a dynamic city and well-known for its architecture, both modern and historical. Just take a quick look at its cityscape and the diversity it offers, starting with the most famous of all, Sagrada Familia and Casa Batlo by Antoni Gaudi. Barcelona Cathedral, Barcelona Pavilion building by Mies van der Rohe, the Agbar Tower by Jean Nouvel and Barcelona Pavilion by Mies van der Rohe are just a few of the stunning architectural designs, take a visit to the city yourself and give your visual senses a feast.

Travelling to any city you need to have enough finances to ensure you have a good time and can see and do all the things you want, as who knows when you will return? Money for taxi or the metro, entrance fees to museums and art galleries, shopping and souvenirs. Eating out and trying local dishes is just part of experiencing a different culture but can cut into a large part of your budget if you are not too careful.

A well kept secret in Barcelona is the fact that the locals are partial to chocolate. If you have a sweet tooth too, then forget the Picasso Museum, Barcelona Cathedral or Parc de Montjuic and take a visit to The Chocolate Museum. Your mouth will soon be watering as you smell the delicious creations and set eyes upon the mountains of chocolate and sweet sculptures.

The Sagrada Familia is the most popular tourist attraction in Barcelona and the number of visitors to this unique monument amounts to over 2,000,000 a year. Venerated by the World of Architecture as one of the most imaginative and ambitious contemporary buildings, it has been a work in progress since 1882 and is not expected to be completed for at least another 25 years.

Barcelona is a city that conjures up images of stunning architecture, shopping, nightlife and art. As well as a history that can be explored in its cobbled streets, monuments and museums its also a popular destination known for a cosmopolitan lifestyle and modern outlook. Young people are attracted here for the clubbing and shopping whilst others flock here for the art galleries, culture, and stunning architectural designs.

Barcelona has a variety of accommodations, from polished, newly-built hotels to contemporary designs and classic styles, grandeur and lavish luxury - hotels with rooftop pools, stunning views, nightclubs, fitness centers, spas and internationally acclaimed chefs. Barcelona has experienced a luxury hotel boom in the past 3 years, and the choice of 4 and 5 star hotels in the city centre and surrounding areas can offer accommodation to the most discerning visitor.

There are a few options available for getting around the city of Barcelona, one of the main methods is to catch the tourist bus that travels in a circuitous route around the city passing all the best sights and giving you the chance to get on and off whenever you see something that strikes you as interesting. Known as the Hop on, Hop off City Tour bus this double decker bus is a great way to travel, there's no waiting around as you'd have to if you joined a tour group.

Art and architecture go hand in hand in a city like Barcelona and both are two very good reasons why this is a destination worth visiting. If you like the idea of a cultural weekend exploring museums, art galleries and being stunned by some spectacular architecture then Barcelona is the place to do it. The Picasso Museum is the most visited in the city where you can see major masterpieces, simple sketches from the early years, and various exhibitions that change regularly.