Here in post-daylight-saving-time New York, it’s a good time to dream about a beach vacation. Let’s go to Barcelona, Spain’s second-biggest city, and visit its medieval buildings, lie on its beaches, walk through its surprisingly straight-gridded streets.
The city is dotted with sculpture and architecture by Antoni Gaudí, but after the famous church of the Sagrada Família, which ones are most important to see? And what do people overlook while they’re rushing from Gaudí to Gaudí? What are the best parks, museums, cafés, and public art?
What’s underrated? What places in the city deserve more visitors? What are the best alternatives to tourist traps or other overrated spots? What’s the weirdest thing you like in the area, what would freak out all but the most adventurous or discerning?
How should a visitor approach the city? How can they get along with the locals? What are the important local traditions, behaviors, and laws? How do you describe the vibe to an outsider? Which clichés are true or false?
What’s it like long-term? Residents, what do you love and hate about the city? How do you hack daily life there? What’s a good hole-in-the-wall for locals? What took you years to learn? Where do you go when you want to get out of town?
How has the city changed in recent years? What old advice no longer applies here, and what new advice does?
Lastly, we have one rule for people who don’t like a city: offer an alternative.
Leave your tips in the comments below, and we’ll highlight the best ones. (Read some other comments to make sure yours is unique.) Then come back Thursday for a new post full of highlights.