Europe travel guide

Novelist's look at Barcelona

In the Sunday Telegraph's travel section, novelist Sebastian Fitzek describes 'His Kind of Town - Barcelona'. A regular visitor, he suggests hotels, bars, restaurants, shops and top sights in the Catalan city which will interest anyone heading to Barcelona for a city break.

First, where to stay? Sebastian opts for an expensive hotel by the beach, the Hotel Arts Barcelona, with doubles from £276. But he adds: "If you'd actually prefer to be in the Old Town, I suggest the Hotel Advance (Calle de Sepulveda 180). The design is wonderful and it's close to the Ramblas and Plaça Catalunya." Doubles are from £150.

Top sights start with The Mercat de la Boqueria, the glorious main market, to buy lunch while a visit to one of the spires of the Sagrada Familia is recommended for first-time visitors, but not at weekends because it's too crowded.

Meeting friends for a drink would be at Carrer de Joaquin Costa 56 in El Ravel or at the Dostrece, Calle Carme near the Ramblas. For a meal, the experimental but expensive Cinc Sentits in Eixample is his top choice. For the less experimental, he suggests Can Solé at San Carlees 4 which, he says, offers superb Catalan tapas and dishes.

This article was written for TravelSavvy Europe by Bob Cartwright. If you know of an interesting European travel related news story, please get in contact.