Barcelona is very much a city that entices and intrigues. Traditional and contemporary, overtly flamboyant but yet mysterious, with secrets waiting to be discovered down every hidden cobblestone alley. And, while there are Gaudí’s iconic architectural landmarks as well as the Miró and Picasso museums to be ticked off, the Catalan capital offers plenty more. Venture off La Rambla, the main thoroughfare, and explore the edgier, trendy neighbourhoods of El Raval and El Born. Ringed by jagged mountains, with the balmy Mediterranean Sea lapping the city’s beaches, Barcelona is also the perfect place to catch the last rays of summer. Who says you can’t have your tapas and eat it?!

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WHAT STARS WILL I SEE?

It’s not just us mere mortals who fall victim to Barcelona’s seductive charms, so do the stars. Scarlett Johansson fell in love with the city when filming Vicky Cristina Barcelona alongside Penélope Cruz, while Justin Bieber took part in a training session with the city’s football team when he was in town recently for a concert. One of the Barcelona players, Gerard Piqué, is currently dating hip-shaking superstar Shakira. The football team, Shakira, Paris Hilton and Eva Mendes have all stayed at the W Barcelona. Shakira also shot the video for her song Loca on the beach promenade in front of the hotel.

WHERE SHOULD I STAY?

Refined and sophisticated, the Mandarin Oriental  – loved by Britney Spears and Leonardo DiCaprio – is one of Barcelona’s classiest haunts. This new hotel has a discreet entrance on the designer store-lined Passeig de Gràcia and faces Casa Batlló, a whimsically designed house by Gaudí. With just 98 rooms, it has an intimate feel without sacrificing the levels of luxury you’d expect from a five-star hotel. Housed in a former bank, some of the original features have been retained such as the safety deposit boxes that form a dramatic backdrop for the Banker’s Bar.

Serious foodies will love the imaginative creations at Moments, run by talented  female chef Carme Ruscalleda.

In OK!’s bedroom we loved the Oriental touches and heavenly Aromatherapy Associates potions. We also enjoyed a lazy morning by the rooftop dipping pool admiring the views of the sparkling sea and the Sagrada Família.

WHERE CAN I SHOP?

Window-shop the designer stores (Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana and Gucci) along Passeig de Gràcia and Avinguda Diagonal. For on-trend designs and shoe and handbag shops with a more modest price tag, head to the Barri Gotic (Gothic Quarter), while you’ll find vintage gear in El Raval. Carrer d’Avinyó, a narrow street close to La Rambla, is also lined with one-off boutiques. For High Street labels such as Zara and Mango, make your way to Avinguda del Portal de l’Àngel, plus Zincon is a huge design emporium worth a visit.

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HOW CAN I RELAX?

Take the short metro ride down to the all-modern Olympic Port, where you can hang out at one of the beaches. The nearby quaint old fisherman’s quarter of Barceloneta also has a popular beach. Keen to avoid the crowds, OK! laid a towel down on Playa de la Nova Mar Bella, at the far end of the coast. There are lots of beachside bars – our favourite was the Ibiza-esque El Chiringuito, with its chill-out music and cocktails on tap.

If a beach trip doesn’t leave you chilled, then a massage at the Mandarin Oriental’s spa will. After unwinding in the candlelit relaxation area – all dark slate walls and chain-metal drapes – OK! enjoyed a blissful Oriental Essence massage. The uplifting blend of ginger, frankincense and mandarin essential oils worked wonders after a hard day pounding the streets.

WHERE SHOULD I EAT?

Whether you’re after gastronomic fare or traditional cuisine, Barcelona is a foodie haven. Start with bite-sized tapas at one of the many family run bars (try to get a counter seat at Cal Pep) in Barri Gotic. OK! visited Ciudad Condal, close to Plaça de Catalunya, where waiters in crisp white jackets served spicy potatoes and chicken and ham croquettes. For an innovative take on tapas, dine at Comerç 24 (tempura with soy sauce foam and foie gras ice cream), while Cinc Sentits is a Heston Blumenthal-style culinary affair. Fish aficionados should make a beeline for Mariscco, on Calle Corcega, while Eixample has a nice alfresco terrace where OK! enjoyed lobster paella. Down by the Olympic Port, OK! enjoyed mouth-watering Asian dishes fused with touches of the Med at Shoko. Stop by during the day for palm reading and acupuncture on the terrace.

WHERE CAN I DRINK?

Sip cocktails with the beautiful crowd at the swanky W Barcelona, a modern sail-shaped hotel located at the far end of Nova Bocana beach. After a delicious dinner of coconut-crusted prawns and wild sea bass, OK! ventured up to the Eclipse bar on the 26th floor. As we tasted the signature cocktail – a sweet blend of watermelon and sugar cane syrup – OK! checked out the heaving dancefloor and admired the city’s twinkling lights. El Born, with its trendy bars and warehouse clubs, is a popular party hotspot.

WHAT ARE THE MUST-SEE SIGHTS?

Kick off with the iconic Sagrada Famìlia, Antoni Gaudí’s fantastical Gothic cathedral, with its twirling turrets and animal sculptures. It’s still far from completion – despite work starting more than 100 years ago! Admire more of Gaudí’s eclectic work at Park Güell, where you can also visit his former home-turned-museum. His unique mosaic artworks scatter the lush hillsides like something out of Alice In Wonderland. The city views are also worth the trek. Another great place for city vistas is Montjuic, where you’ll also find the Miró Foundation.

Stroll down La Rambla – Barcelona’s busiest and most famous street. The one-mile pedestrianised tree-lined boulevard is lined with flower stalls, alfresco cafés and street entertainers. Just beware of pick-pockets. Off the main drag, venture down the maze of narrow side streets and be rewarded with quiet leafy squares such as the Plaça Reial. OK! discovered more hidden gems – palaces and secret courtyards – on a guided walking tour of the historic Barri Gotic. Tours leave daily from outside the tourist office on Plaça de St Jaume.

Come nightfall, make a beeline for Plaça d’Espanya for Barcelona’s version of the Bellagio fountains set against an elegant backdrop of the National Art Museum of Catalonia. OK! sat mesmerised as the synchronised jets soared skywards in a blaze of colour and music.

HOW DO I GET THERE?

Kuoni (01306 747008; www.kuoni.co.uk) offers a three-night package, including breakfast, flights with BA (www.ba.com) from London Heathrow, airport lounge access on departure and private hotel transfers, staying in a deluxe room at the Mandarin Oriental Barcelona (www.mandarinoriental.com/barcelona) from £780pp based on two sharing. Prices based on a November 2011 departure.

A stay at W Barcelona (00800 325 25252; www.whotels.com/barcelona) starts from £280 per double room per night.