Barcelona Hotels

It can be difficult to find a hotel in Barcelona these days. This energetic cosmopolitan center has plenty to offer tourists, and they are coming in droves. So reserve your Barcelona hotel early and prepare to experience some of the best that Europe has to offer.

The most famous building in the city, the Sagrada Familia Cathedral, is still under construction. Begun in the late 18th century and not scheduled to be completed for another 50 years, the "Bible in Stone" is one of the most amazing - and controversial - buildings in the world. The depictions of the Nativity and the Passion are nothing short of works of art. The Glory Facade (as yet unbegun) promises to be the best of all.

The heart of Barcelona is not in her Museums (although the Museu Picasso should not be missed). Here the attraction is the city itself, not its relics or its history. Wander through the Gothic Quarter (Barri Gotic), a maze of 500 year old buildings lining the narrow streets. Walk the artistically inspired Gran Gracia nearby, or ramble along La Rambla. One of the main shopping and tourist arteries in Barcelona, you can find nearly everything for sale here. Stop at the bird market and the Palau de la Virreina. Make your way through the seedier district to Monument to Columbus. It will be a walk that you will never forget.

The waterfront offers to plenty to see. Make your way along the boardwalk, visit the maritime museums and take in the sites. More tranquility awaits at the Parc de la Ciutadella. With a zoo, the modern art museum and a Guadi fountain, it offers a chance to get away from the crowds. At the north entrance is a small version of the Arc de Triomphe.

There is no need to disappear with the sun in Barcelona. There is a wide choice of restaurants, dance clubs, concerts and cabarets to keep you entertained well into the wee hours of the morning. Many of the clubs are in the Eixample district, but you can probably find something to suit your taste in nearly any area of the city.