Catalan National Art Museum (MNAC)

Where to go and what to see in Barcelona – a 3-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer Dana Facaros.

Spain’s cultural heart has unforgettable architecture, a pioneering arts scene, creative cuisine and nightlife that buzzes till dawn.

Luminous museum of modern and contemporary art, housing the world’s top collection of works by Joan Miro. Set in a striking rationalist-style building, designed by Josep Lluis Sert.

Gleaming white museum housing a cutting-edge collection of international and Catalan contemporary art.

This vibrant market is a Barcelona institution, packed with almost a thousand stalls selling fresh produce or dine-in tapas.

The former home of the Batllo family, Gaudí’s shimmering, colour-drenched townhouse is a Modernista masterpiece.

Just above Placa Espanya, the fountain (another relic of the 1929 International Exhibition) explodes into a fabulous aquatic ballet of colour, music and light (Summer: Friday-Sunday 9.30-11pm. Winter: 7-9pm).

A fun, interactive museum covering the history of the sport and the Olympics (especially Barcelona’s in 1992).

Take to the top of the Montjuic hill for spectacular city views (there’s also a stop for Montjuic Castle). Go in the other direction over the port to the San Sebastian tower.

Barcelona’s seafaring past comes to life in this venue set in the city’s 14th-century shipyards, starring a life-size model of Don Juan’s flagship at Lepanto.