Book excerpt: Berlitz Pocket Guide Barcelona is a concise, full-colour travel guide that combines lively text with vivid photography to highlight the very best that this vibrant city has to offer. The Where To Go chapter details all the key sights, from the dazzling architecture of Gaud's Sagrada Famlia and the modernista buildings for which the city is famous, to the old Gothic Quarter, the Palau Nacional housing 1,000 years of Catalan art, and the attractive waterfront and beaches. Excursions to Montserrat, Sitges and the nearby Peneds wine region offer diverse day trip ideas. Handy maps on the cover help you get around with ease. To inspire you, the book offers a rundown of the Top 10 Attractions in Barcelona, followed by an itinerary for a Perfect Day in the city. The What to Do chapter is a snapshot of ways to spend your spare time, from browsing in markets and state-of-the-art interior design shops to sipping cocktails until the small hours, catching a fiesta and taking a cycling tour. You'll also be armed with background information, including a brief history of Barcelona and an Eating Out chapter covering its mouth-watering Catalan cuisine. There are carefully chosen listings of the best hotels and restaurants, and an A-Z to equip you with all the practical information you will need.