"Barcelona is the city I've returned to most — and the one I get asked about more than any other. I've been there with a toddler, with my partner, and solo, and it's different every time. The architecture hits harder once you understand the story behind it, the food scene gets better the further you wander from Las Ramblas, and the city rewards those who slow down and look up."

"This itinerary is built the way I'd plan a trip for a close friend: front-load the bookings you absolutely cannot skip, leave genuine space for wandering, and protect the mornings — they're the best time to be anywhere in this city. I've also included Montserrat, because I think skipping it is one of the most common mistakes first-time visitors make."