The coastal city of Barcelona is a heady strip of Mediterranean flavour along the sun-drenched east coast. It offers a great mix of city and beach that makes it perfect for a best-of-both-worlds holiday; if you like relaxing on the sand, but they need culture, Barcelona keeps things amicable. During the morning you can wander the streets of the city, hitting the shops of the Passeig de Gracia, watching the street performers of Las Ramblas and keeping your eyes peeled for Gaudi’s otherworldly architecture.