Barcelona Tours

Barcelona is a city with such a variety of different attractions, trying to isolate just ten for you to make sure you don't miss during your time here is quite a task.

However, I'm fully confident that if you make sure you include the following in your itinerary, you'll have a really good idea of what makes Barcelona one of Europe's most visited destinations.

Ideally, find yourself a good apartment - usually better value than sterile hotel rooms and offering much more freedom - and work your way through this selection.

First off is Parc Güell, Antoni Gaudí's wonderful, memorable mix of the natural and crazily artificial. Even if you know Gaudí's work, I guarantee you'll be surprised. From the moment you pass the mosaic dragon at the entrance, you'll see twisted stone columns, multi-coloured seat, paths winding sympathetically through enchanting gardens and structures that will almost literally take your breath away. With stunning views over Barcelona, this is a magical place.

Make your way back via Gaudí's unfinished masterpiece, Barcelona's most recognisable building, La Sagrada Familia. Sometimes mistakenly referred to as Barcelona's cathedral, Gaudí became completely obsessed with the church and devoted the whole of the latter part of his life to it. The weirdly shaped nearby holy mountain of Montserrat helped inspire the twisted towers but this is a place that simply has to be seen to be fully believed.

Equally as important to the Catalan people is the Champions' League winning football team. Take the stadium tour, visit the museum - watch a game if you can - and appreciate why FC Barcelona is so much 'more than a club'.

Obviously you'll want to wander down Las Ramblas - you couldn't possibly come here without doing that. It's a long walk - connecting Plaça Catalunya with the sea near the Columbus Monument - but it's always fascinating, no matter how many times you do it.

Before you wander down to the sea, though, my fifth destination is in Plaça Catalunya itself - El Corte Inglés. Long recognised as Spain's major store, I'm not just including this so that shopaholics can have some therapy. No, go up to the restaurant at the top and sit near the window; the views are sensational.

The Aquàrium, at the port, is Europe's finest, with a sensational glass tunnel walkway that transports you through miles of underwater wonders. It has justifiably become one of the city's greatest visitor attractions.

Slightly older, and very different, is Barcelona's favourite park, Ciutadella; a lovely place to wander around, containing museums, sculptures, fountains, the fabulous zoo, Barcelona's Arc de Triomf - so many things. You could easily spend a day here.

My number eight is the Picasso Museum. With more than three and a half thousand original works, the museum needs all of the space it can take by being housed in what were once five separate palaces deep in the Gothic Quarter of the city.

The Poble Espanyol, Spanish Village, up on Montjuȉc, is a 'must see' - craft displays and activities during the day and trendy clubs at night.

In fact Montjuic itself, overlooking the city, port and Mediterranean, is the location of some of Barcelona's best attractions - galleries, museums, the Olympic Stadium and others - that it's worth being my number ten hot spot in its own right.

Barcelona Tours give you the chance to visit the most important touristic attractions of the city.

Get Ready Rentals has a wide complete selection of high quality Barcelona holiday rentals, that sure will match your accommodation requirements.