Barcelona city breaks are a welcome alternative to the traditional bore-and-burn seaside resort holiday.  Barcelona has in fact seven beaches, so it’s not as if you need to forgo the ‘traditional’ pastimes enjoyed by Brits on holiday.  However, whether it is for a short break - a long weekend – or a fortnight away, the unique culture of the city of Barcelona offers plenty of welcome diversions from naked sun worship.

The most popular tourist attraction in Barcelona is the Sagrada Familia.  The brainchild of the flamboyant Catalan artist Gaudi, the Sagrada Familia is a Christian temple that has been under construction since 1882 – with work ongoing to this day!  One of the reasons that construction is taking so long is the nature of the design; the building is a highly original work of art in progress – nothing is standard about the construction.  Attributed by some with the Marmite credentials – you’ll love it or hate – the Sagrada Familia is an undisputed must-see when you visit Barcelona.

It’s not all high culture in Barcelona; the second most popular tourist destination is L’Aquarium de Barcelona, situated in the Barcelona Port area.  The Barcelona Aquarium is great if you have kids along with you on your Barcelona city break, and allows access the sea floor through an 80m long viewing tunnel.

Poble Espanyol (Spanish Village) is an outdoor architectural museum situated on the Montjuic mountain in Barcelona.  The concept behind the Poble Espanyol was to represent the architectural styles of the whole of Spain in one place, and as such this village is like taking a cross country tour of the Iberian peninsula in one day. Additionally, there is a popular Flamenco show regularly performed that is a good introduction to the culture of Flamenco.

Football fans across the world will be aware of the Camp Nou, the massive stadium of FC Barcelona that sits 98,787 people, making it the largest stadium in Europe. Regular access to the Camp Nou is possible for visitors, and even those who are not football fans often enjoy these tours.

The proximity to the coast means that the seafood on offer in Barcelona is excellent, and so when you are not sunning yourself on the beach, or visiting the attractions during your stay, you are sure to be well fed.  The nightlife in Barcelona is vibrant, with a good choice of bars and clubs in which to party.  Caution is advised when navigating the popular and busy tourist area of Barri Gotic, as there are organised gangs of pickpockets operating; so be careful and don’t leave cameras or bags unattended.  As long as you keep your wits about you, however, you’re practically guaranteed to have a great time.  Barcelona city breaks are possible though a variety of tour operators; a quick look at Monarch’s website will show up some cheap flights to Barcelona.