Spend your week in Barcelona and nearby Girona or along Costa Brava beaches like Tossa de Mar or Sitges.

BCN is like a Mediterranean version of Paris, without Parisian attitude. It's a very humane yet urbane city with a wonderful sense of style and creativity. It has great culture, beautiful architecture, fantastic food (Catalonian cuisine, French, Japanese, etc.), an active nightlife, and great shopping.

If you spend 4 days in BCN you can:
1. Stroll La Rambla;
2. See Sagrada Familia;
3. See Gaudi's La Pedrera aka Casa Mila and walk along the Modernisme Route (2002 is the International Year of Gaudi);
4. Tour the Bari Gotic (Gothic Quarter);
5. See the Picasso Museum;
6. Visit one of the many parks like Parc Guell or Parc de la Ciutadella;
7. Sit in a cafe and people watch on the Passeig de Gracia or Rambla de Catalunya;
8. Visit the waterfront areas of Barceloneta and the Port Olimpic;
9. Shop along Passeig de Gracia or on the Diagonal; and
10. Eat and drink at some fantastic restaurants, cafes & bars/bodgeas and party at clubs like Otto Zutz, Le Kasbah and Boadas.

You can also take a day trip to Girona and can then spend 2 days relaxing on the beach in Tossa de Mar, Blanes or Sitges.

Spending a week in Catalunya will give you a reason to return to Spain...to see Madrid.