Lying on the northeast corner of Spain’s Iberian Mediterranean coast, Barcelona is known as the “Head and Hearth of Catalonia.”

It is known as widely for its fantastic foodie scene and wine bars as it is for its vaunted museum collections and the legendary architecture of Antoni Gaudí. The city is a marvel for the senses and is energetic, enigmatic and completely enthralling.

Over 1.6 million people live within Barcelona’s city limits, a number which inflates to almost 5 million when considering the greater metro area. Before leaving, be sure to walk along the iconic Las Ramblas pedestrian thoroughfare until you reach the fabled Gothic Quarter with its ancient labyrinthine streets tucking away tapas joints and dance clubs around every corner. Other must-see areas include Sagrada Família (where Gaudí’s renowned unfinished church lies), the old markets of El Clot, the artsy El Raval district, the splendorous Parc de Montjuïc and the beachside La Barceloneta neighborhood.