Barcelona is the capital and most populous city of Catalonia and the second largest city in Spain. Barcelona is a major economic centre with one of Europe's principal Mediterranean ports, and Barcelona International Airport is the second largest in Spain.

Barrie Gňtic It's a maze of interconnecting dark streets linking with squares, and there are plenty of cafés and bars especially around Place de Sent Jaume where you'll find some cheap accommodation. The Cathedral is the main sight along with the the Adjustment and the Palau de la GeneralitaLa Sagrada Família. The magnificent spires of the unfinished cathedral are the most stunning of attractions on Barcelona's skyline. La Pedrera La Pedrera is another of Gaudi's masterpieces which is also called Casa Mila. It was built between 1905 and 1910 in the upmarket Gracia district serving as an apartment and an office block. The interior is fascinating as you step back a century into the home of the Milŕ family.Montjuďc Montjuďc is the hill which overlooks Barcelona from the southwest and is home to the Olympic Stadium which was used in the 1992 Olympic Games. It also has some excellent art galleries including the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya and the Fundació Joan Miró.

The best shopping areas in central Barcelona are Passeig de Gracia and the streets to its southwest, including the Bulevard Rosa arcade just north of Carrer d'Arago, and Barri Gotic streets such as Carrer de la Portaferrissa, Carrer de la Boqueria, Carrer del Call, Carrer de la Llibreteria and Carrer de Ferran, and around Placa de Sant Josep Oriol. Department-store bargain-hunters should note that the winter sales officially start on or around 10 January and their summer equivalents on or around 5 July. The big department stores (such as El Corte Ingles) and shopping complexes (such as El Triangle) tend to open from 9am or 10am through to 9pm or 10pm at night, Monday to Saturday. Smaller shops often close for a few hours at lunchtime.

The cuisine of Barcelona presents the characteristics of the traditional Mediterranean cuisine, in other words, it abounds in vegetables, fish and meats, all cooked with olive oil of the best quality. Barcelona is famous for its fabulous bars and restaurants. If you want some fresh seafood the area of Barceloneta with its small streets near Barcelona's beach is the place to go. The Barrí Gothic (Gothic Area) in the centre of the city offers a wide range of good restaurants of every kind, and to sample traditional Spanish cuisine away from tourist places try the restaurants in the Example district. Pork is the most popular meat in Barcelona with traditional recipes including, Jamón (leg of ham cured and then hung to dry), longanissa, and chorizo. Other recommended local specialties include tortilla de patatas, caldereta de langouste, lacon con grelos, fabada, bacalao al pull-in, marmitako, escalibada, paella, gazpacho manchego, pescaito Frito and dorado a la sal.

August is generally hot (sometimes peaking around 34°C, 95F) and humid. The weather in October and November is still pleasant but starting to get a little cooler (21°C down to 15°C, 69 to 59F). From November to February the temperatures are cooler, averaging around 12°C or 53F.

The currency in Spain is the Euro. Credit cards are widely accepted, and you can withdraw cash from most ATMs in the city with a small charge.