Due to domestic commitments, busy work agendas or financial constraints, it’s becoming progressively difficult for us to leave our usual routines behind and take a break away. To be able to have an affordable holiday more people are choosing short city breaks to experience something new.

Barcelona is not only a contemporary and fashionable city it is also one with an attitude in every respect, down to the magnetism of its famous artists and scholars where they have influenced and bonded with the city in the form of its art and architecture.

Barcelona houses many great artists and sculptors and they are instrumental in contributing to its dominance over other cities in the variety of architecture or museums available. You’ll find both Pablo Picasso and Antoni Tapies displaying their work in dedicated museums, it would take you a long time to get around seeing everything and it’s just not possible in only one visit. The mountain of Montjuic best known for hosting the 1992 Olympics has plenty to offer as well as a natural beauty and distinctive rocky outlines, check out the Magic Fountain, the National Art Museum of Catalonia and lots more. The streets heading towards the city used to be the circuit for the famed Formula One racing competition which hosted the Spanish Grand Prix, and close by you can explore the wonderful Botanical Garden of Barcelona.

Seldom has a person become as synonymous with a city as Gaudi has with Barcelona, and this is visibly obvious by his masterpieces that dominate the city. Anybody who has visited any of his creations will concede that Antoni Gaudi is the best Catalan architect there ever was. You’ll find his work all over the city, from the amazing Parc Guell with its exquisite sculptures and mosaic patterns to the stunning work of art shown in the form of Casa Batllo, a building that looks like it is made from skulls, and the bones in fact act as supporting pillars. Barcelona is widely celebrated for its innovation planning in accessible public spaces; hence there are many spacious areas to take walks around such as the beaches and parks. Two of the best are Guell Park and the Park de la Ciudadella in Ciutat Vella which is famous for the zoo and the museum.

In addition to architecture, Barcelona is also notable for its art of partying at night, where there is a variety of bars and pubs covering virtually every theme, flavour and budget. The Barri Gothic and Las Ramblas are the most popular areas to go out in as they are located in the heart of the city and have a lively ambiance that appeals to tourists as well as locals. There are many cool places to discover that are fashionable with the locals but embraces foreigners as well. These clubs will getting packed after 1am and may start to close at 5, some at 6 or 7am, but don’t fret as you can continue partying as there is always an eager crew handing out flyers for even later clubs which stay open until the afternoon. Sleep at your hotel or apartment for a few hours and soon it is time to start all over again! If you want to taste some of the local culture then there are always the local pubs to try, sure to be packed with elderly folks playing cards and there will be no loud music or drunken louts to deal with.

Life is short and it doesn’t hurt to break out of the norm at times and be somewhere else on weekends. A well connected network of regional airlines and travel agents mean it’s inexpensive to add new adventures into your life, be spontaneous or book a few days away as a surprise for someone. If short trips are more within your means instead of saving for a year for a 14 day holiday, why not break the mould and visit different countries instead? Rental apartments in Barcelona arrive in various forms, from a basic studio room to those with fully spec kitchens and a bath or shower. By default holiday apartments offer clean bedsheets and towels, fridge, oven, kettle, crockery, cable television and high speed internet access. Barcelona provides a wide variety of unique lodging types and it pays to do your research beforehand to see what is there.