Barcelona

Barcelona is the choice for architecture lovers and anyone who wants a beach with their city. Gaudí's Sagrada Família reached its full height of 172.5 meters when its central Tower of Jesus Christ was completed in February 2026, making it the tallest church in the world, and his houses and Park Güell fill out another day on their own. Catalan food, from market counters to vermouth bars, gives the city an identity apart from the rest of Spain. Madrid has the stronger art museums in the Prado and the Reina Sofía, and a later, more local night scene. Barcelona's drawback is crowds: book the Sagrada Família ahead and wander Gràcia or Poblenou to escape them.