VISITING

Parc de Montjüic s/n

Open: 24 hours. Admission: Free. Metro: Parallel, L2 / L3, then take the funicular; Espanya—L1 / L3, then walk up or take a bus

La Sagrada Familia

Gaudi’s unfinished cathedral is one of the most famous sites in Barcelona and a landmark of modernist architecture. The cathedral is open for tours, and has a projected completion date beyond 2026. Be sure to visit each side of the cathedral’s façade, as each is vastly different from the next. Tours are also available, including a lift ride to the cathedral spires.

Mallorca 401, Tel. 93 207 3031, www.sagradafamilia.org

Open: Mar-Sept 9am-8pm daily and Oct-Feb 9am-6pm. Admission: general - €12; reductions - €10-11 ; free for under-10s, disabled visitors + 1 companion; spire lift - €2.50; audioguides - €4. Metro: Sagrada Familia—L2 or L5

Parque Cervantes

The Avinguda Diagonal is basically a motorway running through the city. However, horticultural fans should brave the concrete highway, the modern office blocks and university students present on the north-east section of the road (or just hop on the metro) to visit the Parque de Cervantes, Barcelona's shrine to the rose. If you happen to be here at the start of May each year, the park is a great destination for the three-day Rose Festival held in the park, when blooms of all shapes, sizes, colours and fragrances are planted. But, it's still worth a journey any time between spring and early autumn, when some 10,000 roses (made up of 2,000 different species and varieties) can be enjoyed by visitors—in May and June, there can be up to 150,000 blooms open, filling the five hectares of the park with fabulous colour and floral scents.

Open: 10am to sunset. Metro: Zona Universitaria—L3

Please note, dogs are not allowed in the park

Parque Güell

A veritable fairy-tale, Gaudí’s park is a blend of curving paths and Alice in Wonderland-like sculptures tucked amongst the gardens. Views of Barcelona from the park terrace are breathtaking, as are the mosaic tiles that cover the benches there. Gaudí lived in a house on the property that has been turned into a museum, which is open to visitors for €4. Street musicians and various performers provide frequent entertainment.

Olot, Tel. 93 219 3811

Open: 10am-sunset daily. Admission: Free. Metro: Lesseps—L3

Tibidabo

Northwest of the city centre, Tibidabo rises above 532 metres high and is a mecca for tourists looking for a weekend or evening away from the throngs of the city. Transportation may sound complicated (see below), but is simple and easily navigated, and worth the effort: restaurants, a funfair, and a ritzy bar for evening tipplers await.

From Plaça de Catalunya, take the FGC train to Avinguda del Tibidabo station, and then the Blue Tram or Tramvia Blau (€2.80 one-way; €4.30 return; buy tickets on board) to the midway point where you'll find restaurants and bars. From there, a funicular (€4) will take you up to the funfair.

Funfair prices: Entrance is €25 for adults and €9 for children bewteen 90 and 120cm; for those smaller than 90cm, it's free