Maybe you’re the type of traveler who likes to frequent fine art museums, take in beautiful architecture while wandering the city and dabble in some amazing food. You may like to head out to the beach or take a day-long excursion to a picturesque setting outside of the city, but you thrive on city life.

The capital of Catalonia is made for your travel style. Barcelona achieves a balance between a modern city with giant skyscrapers and traditional cities with beautiful churches, markets filled with fresh food and inviting beaches.

Here are some of the must see places to put in ink on your itinerary:

Religious Buildings

Fruit Juice at the Mercat

La Sagrada Familia – This is one traditional tourist spot that is probably worth fighting through the crowds to get a good glimpse. Designed by Antoni Gaudi, who spent over 40 years of his life – dedicating the last 15 entirely – on this project, this magnificent church isn’t even scheduled to be completed until 2026 – 100 years after Gaudi will have died. No words can accurately describe this behemoth, only photos.

Camp Nou – When the official motto of the local football (soccer) team is “More than a Club,” you can see why their stadium could be considered a religious building. Unlike American sports teams, FC Barcelona is owned by the people, not by a company or single millionaire. Plus, the team is pretty darn good claiming the Copa del Rey crown, the La Liga title and the Champions League in 2009.

Shopping

Mercantic – This gigantic indoor and outdoor flea market is the place to go to find local goods. Be prepared to ship items home or pack beautiful, but fragile, porcelain that you pick-up from the local dealer’s tables. You’ll also find artists at work, inspiring architectural salvage and fresh local food at the bar.

Mercat de la Boqueria – Formerly an open air market, Mercat de la Boqueria is now enclosed and considered one of the best food markets in Europe. From fresh poultry and fish to fruit and wine, you can put together a great picnic in just a few short minutes walking around the massive stalls of beautiful, beautiful food.

Museums

Miro Museum – The Picasso Museum is great, but likely to be packed to the brim with tourists. If you want to have the time and space to appreciate the art you’re checking out, head over to the Miro Museum. Miro’s surrealist art is a favorite among Catalans. From sculptures to paintings, The Miro Museum is definitely worth adding to your list of must see spots.

Museu de la Xocolata – The Museum of Chocolate covers chocolate from the cacao pod to the shelf and beyond. With exhibits on the history of chocolate and the processing of how the beans become the bars you see on store shelves, this is the place to be for chocolate loves. There are also weekly workshops on various chocolate topics including how to make a chocolate figure, the history of chocolate and the story of Xocoatl.

Daytrips

Dalí Theatre and Museum – Located outside of Barcelona in Figueres, the Dali Theatre was actually created by Dali himself around his hometown’s theater. It is home to the largest collection of Dali artwork and even the building itself, with large eggs perched on the edge of the building, is a piece of art.

Montserrat – A giant mountain located just outside of Barcelona with some of the craziest natural rock formations you will ever see. The summit of the mountain is a Benedictine abbey, which according to myth is the location of the Holy Grail.

Once you get to Barcelona, make sure to pick-up a copy of BCN Week, the alternative weekly paper for Barcelona. Kelly Doyle-Mace, one of the runner-ups for the World Traveler Internship, scored an internship there through her runner-up prize with University of Dreams. The paper has the latest information on what the locals are doing in Barcelona, from music to clubs and special events.

Photo Credit: BK59 on Flickr