DK Travel : Barcelona

With warm, crystal-clear waters lapping its sandy shores and mountains nuzzling up to its northern edge, this glittering jewel in the Mediterranean is blessed with desirable geographical genes. From the buoyant, revamped port area to the atmospheric medieval streets of the Barri Gòtic and the beautiful Modernista buildings of the Eixample, Barcelona has it all. A host of treasure-filled museums, architectural wonders, lively beaches and enchanting squares provide the icing on the cake.

Parc Natural del Cadí-Moixeró

Covered in a carpet of conifers and oaks, this mountain range has surprisingly lush vegetation. Several peaks are over 2,000 m (6,560 ft) high.
Parc Natural del Montseny

Forming Catalonia’s most accessible natural park, these woodland hills are well-equipped for walkers and mountain bikers, with a huge network of trails. Climb the well-signposted and popular Turó de l’Home, which is the highest peak.
Parc Natural dels Aiguamolls de l’Empordà

This nature reserve hides bird-watching towers. Those in the Laguna de Vilalt and La Bassa de Gall Mari allow bird-lovers to observe herons, moorhens and other bird species nesting in spring.
Parc Zoològic

The zoo has an enormous adventure playground where children can run wild. There are also dolphin and whale shows in one of the aquariums. Other activities for children include guided tours and workshops. The “farm” area has goats and rabbits that younger children can stroke. See Parc Zoològic.
Park Laberint

When i first went there on this wonderful saturday morning, i couldn't believe that i would find myself in the most amazing park i have ever been.

It really is stunning, the laberint was quite confusing; there were young just married couples letting take pictures of them, and it really was more like a fairy tale forest were you would like to picturice that day.

While being in the park, i honestly didn't think that the big city was so close to me, it was so quiet, only birds were singing.
Passeig de Gràcia

Barcelona’s grand avenue of lavish Modernista buildings is fittingly home to the city’s premier fashion and design stores. From the international big league (Chanel, Hermès, Swatch) to Spain’s heavy hitters (Loewe, Zara, Mango; (Shopping Tips), it’s all here. And topping the interior design list is the perennially popular Vinçon Design Shops. Side streets reveal more sublime shopping, notably Carrer Consell de Cent, which is dotted with art galleries, and carrers Mallorca, València and Roselló.
Patates Braves

This traditional tapas favourite consists of fried potatoes topped with a spicy sauce. Equally tasty are patates heaped with alioli (garlic mayonnaise).
Pavelló Mies van der Rohe

You might wonder exactly what this box-like pavilion of stone, marble, onyx and glass is doing bang in the middle of Montjuïc’s monumental architecture. Years ahead of its time, this surprisingly rationalist gem represents Germany’s contribution to the 1929 Exhibition. Built by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (1886– 1969), the elegant pavilion was soon demolished, only to be reconstructed in 1986. Inside, the elegant sculpture Morning by Georg Kolbe (1877–1947) is reflected in a small lake.
Peix

Frank Gehry’s huge shimmering fish sculpture (1992).
Pernil Serrà

Cured ham is a Spanish obsession. The best, and most expensive, is Andalucia’s speciality, Jabugo.