Whatever your purpose for visiting the city - its Mediterranean climate, cultural diversity or seaside location - Barcelona continues to prove to be one of the UK's favourite European city breaks. With plenty of cultural and sporting attractions, your city break can be tailored to be both a romantic break and football highlight.
A city of culture, Barcelona contains UNESCO World Heritage sites, including Gaudi's still unfinished cathedral Sagrada Familia. Other sights high on the tourist itinerary include exploring the city itself with its own distinct quarters and character; and not to mention the unique Parc Guell, with its fantastic views of the city found amongst fabulous Gaudi architecture.
The city is also home to FC Barcelona, one of the most supported football teams on the planet. For many football fans, regardless of their home team affiliations, a trip to the Camp Nou in Barcelona has to be made at some point in one's life. Here you can watch some of the most talented footballers entertain in one of the world's finest football arenas.
Barcelona Football Club has been in existence since 1899. Its current home - the Camp Nou - was opened in 1957; and with a capacity of just below 99,000, FC Barcelona have become one of the most successful and recognised clubs in European Football. As such, devoted football fans alike have an opportunity to embark on the Camp Nou tour, which includes a detailed tour of the stadium and a visit to the club museum to inspect the trophies at close hand.
Of course, balancing a 'football experience' with a romantic city break maybe a challenge in theory, but given that there is much to see and do in Barcelona, it is certainly one challenge worth attempting.
Therefore, once you've absorbed the atmosphere of Camp Nou and watched the legends play; take a walk along the seafront to the main beach in Barceloneta. What's more, you can sample a Spanish dish or cocktail in one of the eateries in the area before buying your loved one a gift from one of the many hip shops in the Born and Raval areas of the city. Indeed, why settle for a sporting break or romantic break when Barcelona can offer you two trips in one?
In fact, whilst planning such a trip may sound ambitious, it does not have to be as difficult as it perhaps seems; especially considering flights to Barcelona from UK airports are relatively easy to find. In addition, there are plenty of choices for hotels in Barcelona, so visitors should encounter little difficulty in choosing a place to stay.
Therefore, whether you have a sports trip, romantic getaway, or a combination of both in mind, the city of Barcelona will not disappoint.