A lot goes into preparing for a trip to Barcelona; with the beach, the food, the arts, and the sports, you’ve got a lot to cover. You've got to be versatile. With your bags packed, ticket in hand, and  accommodations  set, you may think you’re ready, but not yet. Sit down, close your eyes, and mentally prepare for an unmatched sensory overload, you’re about to embark on a steroid-induced pleasure trip that will test the concept of sensation.

As you step off the plane, the first thing that hits your nose is the saltiness of the air... you’re on the beach. The outdoor tables and pans of paella advertised on the windows of every restaurant give a waft of aroma that can entice even the fullest stomach. Be careful when shopping in La Boqueria, the city’s top food market.  The maze of food vendors here will have your taste buds running wild while your eyes get lost in the sea of color.

There are sights here that you’ve never seen before. The only distraction from the semi-tropical, Mediterranean landscape is a population of stunning Spanish beauties who leave just enough (little more than a few threads) to the imagination. If you're looking for culture, just hit the streets. Gaudí started it all with his abstract designs from the trippy sandcastle, La Sagrada Familia to the mosaic masterpiece, Parc Guell. Today, the Catalan youth pick up where their predecessor left off, using all open spaces as their canvas. If you ask us, these graffiti-covered walls and closed storefronts offer some of the best portraits in the city.  Meanwhile, the energy overflows on to the sidewalk where break dances from around the globe compete for your attention and spareeuros. Of course, if you’re looking to tone it down a notch, there are always the classics like the Picasso Gallery or Museum of Contemporary Art.

Cleanse that palate and get ready for some outrageous tastes. The focus of Barcelona's food & dining scene has been to maximize the flavor and freshness of all that land and sea has to offer. The only salt on the table is either the remnants of the Mediterranean in your fish or the preserving rub on the jamon iberico... if it’s too much to handle, you can always cut it with some of the smoothest wines in Europe at half the price of the French or Italian versions. As if that weren’t enough, Barcelona is paving the way for innovative cooking techniques. It’s ground zero for the molecular gastronomy phenomenon that consistently challenges the world’s original thoughts of food as sustenance and art.

You won’t need great hearing to pick up on the beat of this city. Whether it’s the bass of European techno in the city's nightlife or a random guy playing Bob Marley with an accent, this city soundtrack is always set to play. Of course, Barca’s pulse is best felt on the street where the ambient noise is at max volume through all hours of the day and night.

Above all else, this city thrives on feeling and emotion. Relaxation is found in the warmth of the sun and softness of the sand or at the seat of a leisurely meal. Refreshment comes from a dip in the Mediterranean Sea and a pick-me-up is just around the corner in the form of a café con leche. You can feel the excitement hit with the rush of sweaty air when the door opens to Barcelona’s hottest club... and the best sports adrenaline rush around has got to be 120,000 fans cheering in the stands of Camp Nou when FC Barcelona scores the winning goal.