So you only have a day or two in Barcelona and don't know what to see first? Read on and get an idea of how you can create the perfect day visiting some of the best sights and attractions this Spanish city has to offer.

The first thing to do is book yourself into a city centre apartment so it's simple and handy for getting around the various attractions. Start your morning off by heading to Paral•lel metro station and catching the funicular to the famous museum, Fundació Joan Miró. Here you can soak up the wonderful paintings, sketches and sculptures completed by the artist himself, with over 14,000 pieces displayed including paintings, sculptures, textiles, ceramics, graphic works and drawings from the 1920s all the way up to the '60s it'll keep you occupied for hours. There are also other works of art on show contributed by contemporary, leading artists including Max Ernst, Marcel Duchamp, Alexander Calder, and Julio González.

Once you've seen enough climb into the cable car and carry on up the hill to Castell de Montjuïc where it's claimed the very first stone was laid in 1640. For a long time the castle represented fear as political prisoners were thrown in here and subsequently tortured, however these days it's a military museum with a striking display of ancient weaponry and future plans to transform it into a peace museum. The views from up here are great as the port can be seen clearly below and the surrounding gardens are charming and particularly attractive and lush in the cooler months.

From the castle make your way back down to the gardens, if you don't have time for them all then at least take a jaunt around Jardins Joan Maragall. Named after the poet they are landscaped and well-maintained - amongst the flowers, shrubs and ponds silently stand sculpted statues created by Frederic Maris, Enric Monjo and Ernest Maragall. Also on site is the Albiniz Royal Mansion designed in the '30s by Juan Moya for the 1929 International Exposition and with paintings added at a later date by Salvador Dali. No-one on holiday in Barcelona should miss out on these cultural and absorbing attractions.

Very close by is the Palau Nacional with an excellent exhibit of Romanesque art, the museum features a series of spectacular frescoes dating from the 11th and 12th centuries which were repaired in a succession of galleries after being liberated from Catalan Pyrenean churches. Check out the Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection and the Cambó Bequest, where you'll see famous names of Rembrandt and Zurbarán amongst many others, and an assortment of works by Catalan artists ranging from the beginning of the 19th century up to the 1930s. By this point your feet are probably starting to ache, nearby are several places to sit with a cool drink or grab something to eat and catch your breath. If you are staying in the city centre then you can easily return to your apartment for a siesta before heading back out to see more of this amazing city.

Once you're refreshed take a stroll to the Poble Espanyol where you can discover the sculpture garden, a green open space with works in iron, marble and steel designed and sculpted by modern artists. The arts and crafts village is set in an open-air museum and a chance to see real artisans in their workshops making handmade items or still using traditional methods, amongst the crafts produced you can find ceramics, engraving, decorative painting, glass fusing, puppet-making, basket-weaving, musical instrument-making, and many more.

This is also a great place for families as everyone can get involved in a treasure hunt style game which is lots of fun, or watch the various shows, games and story-telling sessions held in the Village's streets and squares. There are no cars allowed and it is much quieter than being in the city center which makes it a pleasant area to sample Catalan cuisine, sit and talk, or enjoy live music in a place that oozes atmosphere.

From here you can walk back to your holiday apartments in Barcelona through the cobbled, historical city streets admiring the night scenes as you go. Barcelona is a place for all kinds of people and you will leave knowing you just have to return and see more.