With its proud beauty, delicious food, and rich cultural history, it's no wonder that Barcelona is such a popular tourist destination. It is the second largest city in Spain and home to dozens of museums, libraries, and other historical sites, as well as a burgeoning film industry and a variety of shops and restaurants. The two major languages in Barcelona are Spanish and Catalan, although many residents also speak English (even so, make sure to bring along a translation guide). During Barcelona's 2000 years of existence, this city has proven itself to be friendly to foreigners and receptive to their influences. This is evidenced in the many different styles of architecture that can be found around Barcelona, from towering Roman structures to sweeping Neoclassical buildings. There are also plenty gorgeous examples of modern architecture, including many prominent structures envisioned by a new generation of innovative designers.



Despite Europe's pricey reputation, there's no need to spend a ton of money to stay in Barcelona. One of the city's top hotels-Hotel Diagonal (205 Venida Diagonal)-isn't just a gorgeous piece of modern architecture, but also amazingly affordable (less than $200 per night for a double room). Barcelona architect Juli Capella designed this stylish hotel, which attracts locals and tourists alike with its hip amenities. Each of the hotel's 240 rooms has a slightly different design, thus removing the cookie-cutter feeling that away-from-home accommodations can have. The high-ceilinged dining room of the hotel's signature restaurant dishes up the best in Basque and Catalan cuisine. Among the other amenities are a laid-back caf where guests can help themselves to a buffet breakfast, a piano bar that caters to a cool, young crowd, an outdoor pool for cooling off, and a solarium that provides a marvelous view of the city. Hotel Diagonal even offers its guests special deals, such as the "Cultural Barcelona" package, which provides discounted room rates along with tickets to hot tourist destinations.

Barcelona's Mediterranean location makes its weather wonderfully mild virtually all year long, but the summer can be sweltering. Along with the heat comes the busy tourist season, so you might want to avoid visiting until the fall. This is when the city's temperature is the most pleasant for sight-seeing (ranging from the upper 60s to the lower 70s), and you won't have to compete with crowds everywhere you go. Hotel rates are more reasonable during this time of year, and many local shops and restaurants also offer discounts.

Tourists have many options when it comes to places to visit. You might not be able to fit all your desired destinations into one trip, but there are a couple of cultural hot spots that you definitely don't want to miss. The Museo Picasso and the Fundacion Joan Miro are world-class art museums dedicated to showcasing the lives and works of two of Barcelona's most well-known citizens. Barcelona is also known for its terrific food, and one of the best places to sample its local cuisine is the Mercat de la Boqueria (located on La Rambla). This food market has been called the best in all of Spain by Travel + Leisure magazine and features a wide variety of high-quality dishes from skilled chefs. When it comes to shopping, head to Fira de Nautumismo (in Placa Reial), one of the region's top street markets. There you'll find collectibles and crafts handmade by local artisans, which make perfect gifts for your friends and family back home (or for yourself).