The best tourist attractions in Barcelona

After you have explored the Ramblas and the Gothic Quarter, on the other side you have the Born. The most popular reason to be in El Born is to visit the Picasso museum, but there is not much more to see than that. The narrow streets are as interesting as those of Barri Gotic and there are some excellent wine bars around the Basilica of Santa Maria.

Montjuic is the great hill (or is it a mountain?) That looms over Barcelona from the south-west. The national art gallery is there, as well as the Olympic stadium and the Joan Miró Foundation. You have to arrive by cable car, funicular or on foot.

El Raval was fourth sordid of Barcelona in the past years - but the city has done everything possible to clean it and now has got a lot of places to show off. The music stores in the Carrer dels Tallers, the Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona and some excellent restaurants await you.

Gracia was an independent town until it was connected to Barcelona by the development of the Eixample of the 19th century. Now, these two areas are very different from each other and are relatively free of tourists. Walking from Plaza Catalunya, first you have the middle class Eixample neighborhood. Large buildings, wide avenues and lots of modernist architecture. Then everything closes and you are in Gracia, with its small streets and interesting squares. This is the most Spanish of the neighborhoods and is an essential stop for a visitor to Barcelona.

Then there is the even bigger mountain in the north of the city. The views from here are impressive. There are also some rides for the kids and an interesting church to see. In addition, you can walk or cylce in Caserola Park.

Montserrat is an impressive irregular mountain about half an hour outside of Barcelona. There is a famous monastery here and some hiking trails.

The Dalí museum in Figueres is a pain to get to - it's more than two hours away from Barcelona (and there's not much else there to see - that's the museum, and that's it). But it's really worth it. The museum itself is a work of art and the Dali works on display are amazing.

The Barri Gòtic is the most famous district of Barcelona. Its narrow streets charm all visitors to the city. My favorites are the streets between Plaça Reial and the promenade.

Las Ramblas is the most famous street in Barcelona. Take a look at the street artists, take a look at the interesting architecture, watch a show, or stop for a beer and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere.

Visit La Sagrada Familia and the Hospital de Sant Pau Two of the best places of interest in Barcelona are only five minutes away on foot from each other. Most visitors to the Sagrada Familia go directly to the metro station of the same name. But the tourist more knowledge instead directs to the Hospital de Sant Pau at the stop of Sant Pau Dos de Maig. This fully functioning hospital is based on the modernist design that Barcelona is so famous for. Once you've seen the hospital, walk down Gaudí Avenue to see the Sagrada Familia, Gaudí's famous unfinished basilica.