The buildings, especially the work of the eccentric genius Gaudí, will blow you away. The art, with significant collections by Picasso and Miró, will make you clammy all over. The people, with their exuberance, their creative spirit, their persistent egalitarianism, will fascinate you.
BARCELONA
● When To Go
The combination of tourists and business travellers visiting Barcelona means
hotels are busy for most of the year. Spring and early summer is the best
time to be in the city. The weather is usually pleasant, the number of
tourists manageable and the city humming. High summer (mid-July to late
August) is asphyxiating - many locals get the hell out and leave it to the
guiris (foreigners). September isn't bad; the city recovers its
normal rhythms, the heat eases and tourist numbers drop, but the weather can
be dodgy. For real rain, hang about in October. Winter isn't
especially distressing, but you will want a room with heating.