Barcelona city and football guide

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• Barcelona: the city
• FC Barcelona: a fan's guide
• FC Espanyol: a fan's guide 
• On your way: Getting there and around
• If you do one thing: attractions 
• Essentials: Where to stay, eat and drink
• Picture this: Barcelona gallery
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Barcelona: the city

Carlsberg don't make perfect city breaks. But if they did they would be the best city breaks in the world - it would probably look something like Barcelona.

There are bigger, grander, posher cities in Europe. It may not share the profile of a London, New York or Paris. But I've yet to find a place that packs so much into such a small space.

Attractions galore. Something for you whethere you're sports mad, a culture vulture or just like sitting  a Spanish street watching the world go by. It's great for a weekend but you can spend a week here, no problem.

Throw in a world standard football team and the most famous half-built cathedral in the world, and you surely can't go far wrong.

But perhaps the the real magic of Barcelona is that you it's a city you can wander and endlessly discover. The Ramblas, the long straight bustling tourist thoroughfare stretching down to the harbour, may well be where your holiday begins - but Barcelona is far more than just those bird sellers, actors and endless street bars.

It is a people's city, a working class city. Madrid oozes class and sopstication but Barca is all grit and pride. Scrape below the tourist hype  and you'll find a slice of real urban Spain.

The more you explore it, the more you will enjoy it. 


Suggested itineries

When you're on a weekend break and you have a football match to fit in time is precious. You don't want to waste your time trekking from one part of the city to another and back again.

The late announcement of Spanish kick off times, a week before the games, means you will probably have to book a Saturday and Sunday night stay.

Here's a few suggestions:

Arriving Saturday, home Monday, Nou Camp game Sunday

Saturday: Take in The Ramblas, check out the harbour
Sunday: Morning in Parc de Montjuic, visit the Olympic Stadium
Afternoon at Sagrada Familia, evening at the game - then back to the Ramblas

Arriving Saturday, home Monday, Nou Camp game Saturday

Saturday: Take in The Ramblas, then head to the Nou Camp - then back to the Ramblas
Sunday: Beat the crowds to Sagrada Familia, lunch at the harbour . Then take in the aquarium, or head out to  Parc de Montjuic and visit the Olympic Stadium

Extra time on Monday - tour the Nou Camp, head to Parc Guell, or take in the beach.