Barcelona is such a breathtaking city. If you are planning to target European cities as a vacation spot, Catalonia's capital and Spain's second largest city should be on the top of your visit list. Here, you have numerous beautiful places to see and explore and you will have a lot of activities to engage in to make the trip worth your while.

During your stay in this beautiful city, don't miss out on visiting some of Antonio Gaudi's world famous creations like the Sagrada Familia Cathedral (Holy Family Cathedral) which is one of Gaudi's biggest buildings that is still unfinished even up to this day. The most popular park in Barcelona which is the Park G'ell is also one of his designs. It has been declared by UNESCO as a world heritage site. You can find here the famous dragon as well as unique monuments of unconventional shape and design. A spectacular view of the city can be seen from its terrace. The park is free for the public to visit and is open every day.

A visit to Picasso Museum at the center of the city will mystify and amaze you with some of Picasso's famous works. A must visit also is the Maritime Museum. An art enthusiast can find dozens of museums in Barcelona.

Try taking a walk through the lively street of La Rambla. You can make a stop at the second largest opera theatre called ?el Liceu.? This area is a popular place to dine, shop and most especially do some sightseeing.

If beaches are your thing, Barcelona has several to offer. Playa la Barcelona is just ten minutes away from central Barcelona. You could also opt for Sitges Beach which is outside the city.

For a visit to Gothic monuments, take a stopover at Barri Gotic (Gothic Quarter). This place is filled with squares of bars and cafes with a busy market at its heart. If you visit the square on a Sunday you will get a chance to see some dancers perform a traditional Catalonian Dance called sardana.

If you are looking for leisure time visit some of Barcelona's attraction parks like the one in Tibidabo or experience a three dimensional movie in IMAX Barcelona. If you have the extra time you can take a train for a one hour trip to an amusement park called Universal's Port Aventura in Tarragona, a city near Barcelona. Take a ride in their roller coaster or enjoy the different country themes (China, Mexico, Polynesia, Mediterranean, and the Far West) that the park is offering.

Barcelona is also home to Europe's largest aquarium. Enjoy the experience of seeing marine creatures, fishes, water flowers and animal invertebrates.

For a good night out, Barcelona has a lot of restaurants and bars. A nice dinner coupled with a glass of sparkling cava (local champagne) will prove to be a romantic evening. Try roaming through Port Vell where you will find Maremagnum Center for an array of shops, restaurants, caf's, pubs and bars. The Ribera, St. Gervasi and Gracia should also be considered.

When in Barcelona don't overlook taking a taste of their delectable Catalan cuisine. Try sampling the escudella, suquet de peix and their wide array of fish and seafood dishes. For dessert, try crema catalana (custard with a caramel crust) and mel i mat? (cottage cheese and honey).

If you haven't done your shopping check out Eixample for fashion shops and jewelry stores. The Pesseig de Gracia is also abounding with commercial galleries. You can also find two department stores with designer boutiques in the Diagonal area. In Placa de las Glories Catalanes is a flea market called Mercat de les Encants selling unique antiques and trinkets.

You will surely enjoy your Barcelona experience. Visit Barcelona!