CATALAN CAPITAL

Combining culture, coastline and fine cuisine, Barcelona makes the perfect weekend getaway

- LAURA MULLEY

If you're after some inspiration for your next city break, Barcelona surely ticks all the boxes: sun, sea, history and culture, along with everything you expect from a modern city - and all just a couple of hours' flight from the UK. With so much to see and do, but limited time, we asked locals and regular visitors for their top recommendations - and discovered the perfect way to spend a weekend in the Catalonian capital.

STAY IN STYLE

We stayed at the recently renovated Grand Hotel Central, a historic building dating back to 1926, now serving as an elegant five-star hotel that celebrates its artistic and literary history.

As its name suggests, it’s well-located between the city’s Gothic Quarter with its enticing independent shops and restaurants, and the Born area, where you'll find pretty streets strewn with fairy lights.

The front door (opened for you by friendly doormen) leads into a grand foyer lined with artwork, and a central wrought-iron elevator to take you between floors. Don’t miss taking a peek inside the beautiful little wood-panelled library on the eighth floor, largely untouched since its creation.

The bedrooms strike the perfect balance between modern and characterful, and the locally made chocolates on your pillow each night and a guide to key Barcelonians’ favourite hotspots are a nice touch.