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Phoenix-like, the Liceu has risen from the ashes of two devastating fires since its inauguration in 1847. Now one of the greatest opera houses in Europe, it has an innovative programme and is famed for performances by home-grown talent, including one of the “three tenors” José Carreras, as well as Montserrat Caballé.

The star of the Olympic buildings, this stadium is normally home to Barcelona’s basketball team (Activities in Barcelona). It doubles up as the city’s main arena for macro-concerts, which have included Madonna and U2. (Palau Sant Jordi).

The most magical and enigmatic of all Barcelona’s venues, this open-air amphitheatre, set in thick, verdant forest, makes an incredible setting for ballet, music or theatre. Only used for shows during the summer arts Festival del Grec, the gardens are open all year to visitors. (Teatre Grec).

Domenèch i Montaner’s epic Modernista gem regularly serves up the best in jazz and classical music. It has lost some of its prestige to the Auditori, but it still hosts the annual guitar festival and attracts many visiting world music artists. (Palau de la Música Catalana).

A shiny newcomer located near the Teatre Nacional, this large auditorium is home to the Orquestra Simfònica de Barcelona. Acoustics and visibility are excellent and, in addition to classical music, it hosts regular jazz concerts.

This small, intimate venue is one of the longest surviving clubs for alternative and lesser-known jazz and blues troupes. Free entrance if you buy a drink. (Clubs & Music Venues).

This is the venue of choice for performance theatre groups, such as La Fura dels Baus and Comediants, whose incredible mixture of circus and drama is easily accessible to non-Catalan speakers.

An old dance hall, with velvet covered balconies and panelled bars, this place has reinvented itself as one of the city’s leading nightclubs. It attracts the latest in live techno and dance music.

Another reformed dance hall, La Paloma competes with Club Apolo for the latest rising stars in pop and dance music. It still has traditional tea dances with live orchestras, but this is strictly ballroom: two step, waltz, salsa, rumba and lots of cha cha cha.

This cosmopolitan club offers three very different spaces: the Mirrors Lounge with chic house music, the Bad Room with electronic sessions, and the Red Room, the perfect space for flirting.