Sun-kissed and lapped by the Mediterranean, Barcelona is packed with cultural treasures, from lamp-lit medieval lanes to glittering Gaudi masterpieces. By nightfall the city is a whirl of buzzing restaurants and tapas bars.

Regis St Louis first fell in love with Barcelona and Catalonia on a grand journey across Iberia in the late 1990s. Since then he has returned frequently, learning Spanish and a smattering of Catalan, and delving into the rich cultural history of this endlessly fascinating city. Favourite memories from his most recent trip include lingering over long seafood lunches with friends in Barceloneta, exploring hidden corners of La Zona Alta, catching evening concerts in the Ciutat Vella and feasting on perhaps the last calçots of the season. Regis is also the author of Discover Barcelona, and he has contributed to Spain, Portugal and dozens of other Lonely Planet titles. He lives in Brooklyn, New York. Regis also wrote the majority of the Plan Your Trip chapters, the Understand Barcelona and Survival Guide sections, and co-wrote the Sleeping chapter. Anna Kaminski's love affair with Spain began with a Spanish course in Santander in 2001. and has continued unabated in spite of a severe bout of salmonella, prompting her to return to these shores time and time again. Having adopted Barcelona as her current home, she has particularly enjoyed exploring the incredibly diverse surrounding area, wandering the same landscapes as her favourite artist, Salvador Dali, and widening her culinary horizons (not to mention her waistline) by sampling some of the best food in the country. Vesna Maric is originally from Bosnia-Herzegovina ; her love of all things Spanish started when she met her partner, Rafael, 10 years ago. She has since learned the language, explored the country and fallen in love with Barcelona over and over again, returning any time she has a chance. She loves the city's beaches, incredible food markets, architecture, great nightlife and fantastic Catalan cuisine. Vesna also wrote the What's New, With Kids, Entertainment and Shopping chapters and co-wrote the Sleeping chapter.