What is that brings us to Barcelona and keeps us coming back? The beaches, the mountains, the attractions, the weather, the people, the food.. maybe it's a bit of everything..?
 Barcelona is a city for all the seasons and times of life. For the young it’s a party cocktail. The recipe is two measures of big city – a constant noisy fun buzz of dancing, meeting, talking, hugging, kissing, laughing.
Add two measures beach resort – warm sunshine, endless beaches, tanned skin, beach bars, slender palm trees and daily dose of cure-all siesta.
Top it off with one good measure of historic past and vibrant culture. It's a an intoxicating concoction for a young traveller.
For the older visitors you use most of the same ingredients, but with a subtle change to arrive at a slower and smoother feelgood version that includes a extra dash of time. The time needed to linger over good food and wine, to take a closer look at that Gaudi fellow, and to stroll around doing "we got lost" shopping in those side street shops in the Gothic quarter, that you will never find again.
In both cocktails there is something in the mix that is addictive. You want more of Barcelona. The city makes you come back. People say that they fall in love with certain cities, but in the case of Barcelona, it’s more like becoming fast friends.
Once you have made friends with Barcelona, what's more natural that dropping in to see an old friend from time to time? You don't need a reason. Nothing planned. No particular thing to do or see. It's just nice to be here again. You feel at home. A part of Barcelona. Just relax and enjoy.
So what attracts so many people to Barcelona in the first place? Perhap they they were told of this amazing city that is considered one the the top 20 cities in the world to live in. About the variety and diversity of life in Barcelona and Catalonia.
There is an abundance of life and activity here. So many things one can do. None of it is perhaps the best in the world, yet you will not find very many places that have as much as Barcelona does and at such a high level.
For example. Maybe we don’t have the best beaches in the world, but we have very good ones.
Maybe don’t have the best skiing in the world, but it’s 2 hours from the city and there are 12 very good resorts! Maybe don’t have the best food in the world, but we have a lot of very good food and several Michelin star restaurants.
Maybe we don’t have the best sailing waters in the world.. but the coast line is long and the sailing is very good. Or the best golf courses? Same story. Maybe our tourist attractions are not the tallest towers and biggest pyramids, but our tourist attractions are very good too.
In fact maybe we don’t have the best of anything in the world, but tell me? Where else in the world can you find so much, at such a high standard and in one location? Where else can you find a big city with the all charm of the old world mixed with all the adventure of the new.
Beaches, golf course, mountain sports and ski resorts all within 2 hours of each other. Islands and neighbouring countries to visit just 2 hours away. Los Angeles you might say. Yes indeed. One of the few cities in the world that can compare, and yet Barcelona also has a few thousand years of history on top of it all!
And to be fair to old Barcelona, we do have some world class things. The world class museums of Dali and Picasso and Miro, a world class football team and let’s not forget the seven structures in the UNESCO heritage site list that are designed by our world class Catalan architect Anton Gaudi.
Both residents and visitors enjoy the mild climate in the winter and hot long summers, safe streets (with the exception of the pickpocket plague on the Rambla) and an excellent and cheap public transport system. To sum up this introduction to Barcelona.
This city does not really have a slogan, because we don’t really need to advertise to get people to come here. But if Barcelona ever need to make a slogan it would probably be something like “Barcelona for always”
Visit our top tourist attractions listings to see what Barcelona has to offer visitors.
Click on the links below
 Photo galleries of Barcelona
Top tourist attractions in Barcelona
All about Antoni Gaudi
Museums in Barcelona
Festivals, concerts and events in Barcelona
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