I don't usually visit the same place twice, but three trips later, I would still happily go back to Barcelona.

I love absolutely every part of this amazing mediterranean city; from the crowded streets of the Gothic Quarter, to the open spaces of Park Guell. I love the fiercely independent catalan culture that reminds me so much of Panjab and the welcoming nature of the locals. In fact, it was a visit to a local Gurdwara where the Giani (Priest) told me the local community was very supportive of Sikhs within Barcelona.

I had a couple of short trips that were stag parties for my friends and a longer more extended stay where I attended a summer school at the Barcelona Graduate School of Economics. Each trip allowed me to see a different side to the city.

Out of all the places I have been to, this was perhaps the most difficult to whittle down to just 5 things I loved, but here are my 5 favourite things in Barcelona.

Spain is the number one destination for British tourists, and its not hard to see why. Sun, sea, sand, lively nightlife, a rich cultural history and cheap flights mean this country has a little something for everyone.

I have been to Spain a number of times over the past few years including trips to Madrid, Ibiza, Menorca, Valencia (x2) and Barcelona (x3). I have even spent a little time studying in the country and every time I go I experience something new and something different. Although, the one thing I have never experienced over there is rain.

It's difficult to condense my experiences into a small list, but here are the 10 things I loved most about Spain,.

City: Barcelona
University: Barcelona Graduate School of Economics
Airport Rating ****
Reception of locals *****

• Held the in the line at airport security to have my bags searched but it was relatively quick
• The locals were extremely friendly and unlike Madrid, no one really stares (too much)
• The university is incredibly well run, lecturers are engaging and it shattered my illusion that there was something special or unique about the British education system

I've always wanted to study abroad. Not only is it a different way of learning, but it also helps compare and contextualise the way you've been taught against the way others have been taught and this is important in an increasingly globalised workplace.

Now, I didn't study abroad for a whole degree, or even a one year course, but I did join a summer school in Barcelona to do a course in Economics that was (thankfully) paid for by my work and it gave me a little insight of how things are done on the continent and it proved to be a real eye opener.

Founded initially as a Roman Colony, Valencia has architecture dating back two thousand years with Roman, Arabic and Spanish influence all mixing to create a modern city with traditional roots and the third largest city in Spain.

Its the location of Valencia, coupled with its climate and recent growth that has seen it become a popular location for stag parties over the past couple of years. A city that offers experiences similar to nearby Barcelona for a fraction of the price is always going to be a popular choice. I made two different trips to the city over a 3 month period, staying in both the old town and by the beach and both experiences were quite different although tied together by the amazing City of Arts and Sciences

My mid twenties have coincided with a large number of my friends beginning to settle down and get married, and where there are weddings there are stag do's. Depending on the friend, and the friendship group, this can range from stag do's in English cities, European cities and further afield, however this post will concentrate on just trips to Europe.

The one thing that England and Panjab have in common is a big drinking culture but this post will not glorify drinking in any manner. I have seen the damage alcohol can do, especially in English and Panjabi families. The UK suffers from approximately 10,000 alcohol related deaths per year while Panjab has one of the highest per capita alcohol consumption rates in the world.

​There are certain things that straddle the line of good and bad, for me, alcohol is one of the most dangerous and addictive substances on the planet. That being said I spent 3 years working in a club during my university years and me giving a long winded lecture is a little hypocritical. I am a firm believer that you can have fun without drinking alcohol and this extends to stag do's too.

I don't really like going to the same city twice. There's a feeling about seeing something for the first time that is difficult to replicate. Barcelona, however, is one of a handful of cities I've visited on more than one occasion, and it never disappoints.

There are very few European cities that tick the box of having a nice beach as well as being a city break, Barcelona and Valencia are two of the best that I have been to, with Barcelona offering more of a 'big city' feel.

On the two occasions I have been to Barcelona, I have been with two different groups of friends, and had two different experiences. On both occasions I managed to have long strolls through various parts of the city to get a feel for the place.

Walking through the city centre, buildings designed by Antoni Gaudi really do stand out. Each building is very distinctive, but he's most famous piece of work is located firmly in the Gothic Quarter, the famous Sagrada Familia (Church of the Holy Family). In the middle of a large plaza, the Church is a large, imposing Gothic structure and definitely takes your breath away when you first see it. Construction began on the Church in 1882 but is still not completed, and won't be for at least another decade, a construction period of almost 150 years!

Madrid is a strange city in terms of large European cities. Unlike cities in the UK, Germany, Italy and France, and even another Spanish city like Barcelona, there is not  a large Sikh population in Madrid., this means when you walk around, you will find people looking at you. This is not all unfriendly, as I have found out during my travels, a lot of this is just curiosity. 

Madrid is a city with a lot of history, and every corner of the city seems to be teeming with historically important architecture or monuments, Some of the grandest buildings, including the parliament building and city hall are located by Plaza de Cibeles, with parts of the fountain being built in the late 18th century.