Being from what has been described to me as “a spot on England’s face” – that is to say, Wales – I felt a certain camaraderie with the Catalonians when a family with whom I was staying in Madrid belittled the autonomous community of Northern Spain. The language, the family explained, is “just a dialect” of Castilian Spanish, the people colder and less welcoming due to the cooler weather, and their desire for independence petty and arrogant. Naturally, I arrived in Barcelona, Spain’s second largest city, determined to disagree with the judgement of the demeaning madrileños.

From the airport, rather than the €45 taxi, take the Aerobus - €11 for a return which lasts for 9 days: bargain (the bus stops at Plaça Espanya, Gran Via, Plaça Universitat and Plaça Catalunya). Where to stay: Catalonia Portal de l’Angel is great, with its terrace pool and friendly bar staff. However, if you’re on a student budget, Hostal Operamblas is a cheaper, more basic option and its location just as good if you want to be right in the thick of it.

Where to wander: La Rambla. Please excuse the streams of tourists and countless souvenir shops; the side streets aren’t as tacky, I promise. Warning 1: I had absolutely no trouble but, with the vast number of tourists, this area is notorious for pick-pockets. As you wander down this buzzing street, take a left onto Carrer del Cardenal Casañas. Find a little poster shop whose attendant, the most beautiful man you have ever set eyes on, is standing outside, shades on, smoking in that cool oh-so-European way that makes you forget the dangers of tobacco. He’ll make you blush and giggle like a 14-year-old girl with his smooth “Eres muy guapa, ¿a que sí?”. Warning 2: you may end the holiday with more posters than you know what to do with.

Head down to the marina and watch the sunset before strolling to a bar for unas copitas. Where to have a drink: attached to the Museo de Cera, a more theatrical but less convincing Madame Tussauds, just off La Rambla is El Bosc de les fades, what will be your new favourite bar in the entire world. If the relaxed atmosphere, yummy empanadas (Spanish pastries) and scrummy cocktails aren’t already enough to enchant you, the magical forest décor and dreamlike background music will suddenly transport you to somewhere between The Shire and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Sit at a table that allows you to see people entering; the looks of delighted surprise as visitors first cast their eyes on this magic cave are adorable.

In the morning, find your way to Mercat de Sant Josep on La Rambla. An undercover market filled with beautifully-presented food stalls, it’s the perfect place to combat the fuzziness leftover from the previous night’s stream of cocktails. I recommend one of the many types of fruit smoothie (costing just €1.50!) and a fresh pastry.

Now fully recovered, spend the day visiting the not very original but truly unmissable tourist sites: Gaudí’s Parc Güell, La Pedrera and La Sagrada Família. It’s quite likely you’ll be waiting a while in the queue to enter Sagrada Família so pop in to one of the cafés surrounding the cathedral and buy some churros (more Spanish pastry) to nibble on.

With the genuinely incredible architecture, the beautiful people and the lively yet laid-back atmosphere, you’ll need to end the day with a tinto de verano (sangria with lemonade) as you lament your imminent departure.