Situated in one of the most emblematic areas of Barcelona, within walking distance from the Montjuïc Fountains, Poble Espanyol reveals the essence of Spanish culture where history meets culture and leisure through a pleasant and quiet open-air walk. With the mission of representing the essence of life in the towns of Spain, Poble Espanyol boasts more than 100 full-scale architectural constructions, buildings, squares, and streets from various areas of the country spread out through its more than 40,000 m2 outdoor enclosure. Take a stroll around Poble Espanyol to discover a variety of restaurant offers with typical products of Spanish gastronomy, shops where you can buy local products, and audiovisual spaces representative of different peninsular areas. At the Fran Daurel Museum, you can admire works by great artists such as Miró, Picasso, Dalí, and many others under the same roof, plus a Sculpture Garden, a space where nature and art merge in one. Poble Espanyol is also synonymous with craftsmanship, sustainable, quality, local, and handmade art. Declared in 2003 as an Artisan Zone by the Generalitat of Catalonia, it is undoubtedly one of the best concentrations of crafts in Barcelona and the country, offering the possibility of buying or creating a unique, unrepeatable and personalised piece.

With its romantic grounds, Sofiero Palace makes for a popular destination. The grounds are perhaps best known for their unparalleled rhododendrons, with an incredible 5,000 bushes bursting into flower in the spring. The fairytale of Sofiero began in 1864, when Crown Prince Oskar and his wife Sophia had their summer residence built here. In 1905, Oskar — by now King Oskar ll — gave the palace to his grandson Prince Gustav Adolf and his bride Princess Margareta as a wedding present. This is when the gardens literally flourished. Princess Margareta was a keen and creative gardener, and it was she who first laid out the grounds that we can enjoy to this day. She arranged flower beds and gardens, had paving laid and wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty. Every summer, the Crown Prince couple travelled from Stockholm with their four young princes and Princess Ingrid, who eventually became Queen of Denmark. When Margareta died in 1920, Gustaf Adolf carried on the work in the garden, particularly with the rhododendrons. The palace was the summer residence of the Swedish royal family up until 1973, when it was given to the town of Helsingborg. This small palace, which lies like a jewel amid the extensive lawns, is home to a restaurant where the food is prepared by some of Sweden’s finest chefs. There’s also a café with views of the Öresund Sound and Denmark.

Shelby Farms Park is one of the largest urban parks in the country, covering 4,500 acres (about 1,820 hectares) of green space, lakes, and trails. Once a prison farm, it’s now a massive outdoor playground with everything from hiking and biking trails to paddleboarding and zip-lining. You might even spot a small herd of buffalo roaming the grounds. Designed with input from the team behind NYC’s High Line, it’s a go-to spot for outdoor lovers looking to escape the city for a bit.