Having lived in BCN for seven good years, i will need to focus on a few insider tips: 1. Go to Sarria: a former village now enclosed in upper Barcelona. Beautiful, relaxed, few tourists and great bars/restaurants including Bar Tomas, famed for its Patatas Bravas (and little else) 2. For nightlife amongst the locals (and not just the tourists and expats hanging around the old town) go to the area around Maria Cubi and Santalo 3. For a lovely walk overlooking my favourite town take a hike op the hills and walk on the Carretera de les Aigues (busy with locals on Sundays, but always bring your own water) or go for a longer walk in the Parc de Colserola straddling the hills 4. My favourite restaurants: Agua, Barceloneta, Ciudad Condal, La Polpa ... and sooooo many more 5. Summer festival: Grec