One of the most favourite and famous city break destinations in the whole of Europe, many people who spend a long weekend or just a few days in the city regularly return home wishing they had booked rather longer in a Barcelona resort to go on experiencing and enjoying all that the city has to offer.

Barcelona is home to some of the most famous tourist attractions in the whole of Europe, not least the stunning and memorable Cathedral de la Sagrada Familia designed by Antoni Gaudi and the famous Las Ramblas walking and socialising street, but there are some lesser known attractions in Barcelona which make the city more than well worth an extended stay for the intrepid traveller.

• El Barrio Gotico – literally in English ‘the Gothic Neighbourhood', this is the real old and unspoiled Barcelona, a bit more off the beaten track than most tourists and visitors to the city would tend to venture. It is their loss that they don't however since this walk and exploration gives the tourist a fantastic insight into what Barcelona looked like before buildings began being made from steel and glass. Tiny alleyways and narrow streets give way to beautiful open plazas and squares and there is still much evidence of Barcelona's Roman occupation to be seen. A real gem of a trip, this is a great way to spend a day.

• The Park Guell – Another of Antoni's Gaudi's famous gifts to the city of Barcelona, The Park Guell is well-known to local Barcelonans but not necessarily to tourists and visitors to the city. The Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Gaudi's famous curvy and snake-like designs are everywhere, from the winding balustrades decked out in mosaic tiles to the massive Sala Hipostila with its incredible 86 6-metre tall Greek columns.

• FC Barcelona Stadium Visit – On the subject of Barcelona's amazing and inspiring designs and architecture, no visit to the city is complete without a look ats and ideally a tour of one of the most famous football stadiums on the planet. ‘Mes que un Club' is the motto of FC Barcelona, ‘More than a Club', and one visit to the team's stadium gives you a glimpse why – FC Barcelona is more of a way of life for its followers. The stadium is a stunning edifice which on a match day holds almost 120,000 supporters and is a cauldron of atmosphere, flares and noise. If you are lucky your Barcelona hotel will be able to help you source match tickets to take in a game featuring the leading players like Messi, Xavi, Iniesta and Alves. A must for any sports fan.

Port Vell – As the name suggests this is Barcelona's harbour, located next to the Columbus Monument and a pleasant ending to a long stroll along Las Ramblas. Port Vell today is not the old port of the old days where ships docked and traded, nowadays the area offers the visitor a bustling leisure and entertainment centre which offers restaurants, bars and shopping outlets. An evening out here can take in a bit of shopping, a great meal and even a boat tour around the bay in one of the available ‘Golondrinas' to round off a fun night before heading home.