Gothic Quarter and La Boqueria, Barcelona

The heart of old Barcelona, a maze of narrow medieval streets and squares around the Gothic cathedral, with Roman walls, the Plaça del Rei and hidden courtyards. Just off the Rambla, La Boqueria is the city's great covered food market, with stalls of fruit, ham, seafood and tapas bars where you can eat at the counter.

Go to the market in the morning, and avoid it on Sundays when it's closed. Watch out for pickpockets on the Rambla. The El Born district next door has the beautiful Santa Maria del Mar church and the Picasso Museum.