Life for most of us is taken up with domestic obligations, and there's little time for a vacation, or money is tight making it increasingly complicated to indulge in new adventures. For many, taking a long holiday is unthinkable which is why mini city breaks are catching on as an increasingly popular way to travel.

In Spain alone you have the options of Madrid or Malaga, whilst the Catalan capital of Barcelona maintains an intriguingly diverse view unlike any other Spanish city.

Barcelona has an abundance of artists and sculptors and their influence can be seen all over the city, this is a destination far superior to other European cities for its fascinating architecture and museums. The Pablo Picasso and Joan Miro museums alone will take more than a few days to fully appreciate. Find out more about the chronicle of the city and its Roman roots, or visit the Placa del Rei right in the centre of this historical site to learn about it.

In 1883 the building of the Sagrada Família Cathedral was started and Gaudi worked on its creation and design until his untimely death in 1926, the project is still being worked on and projections for completion are estimated for 2030. The Catholic faith is important in Spain and this is expressed in the impressive cathedral with its eighteen bell towers, three facades and a set of columns devoted to Christian cities and countries.

Serious fans of architecture, whether historical or modern, will be impressed with the many famous buildings and monuments around the city, and should check out the World Architecture Festival held in November where revolutionary architects showcase their groundbreaking designs in the hope of winning Building of the Year Award whilst mingling with top representatives from 65 countries to share opinions on stimulating designs.

Located at the base of the highest building in Spain, the Hotel Arts and the Mapfre Tower at Port Olympica, is The Golden Fish, a creation by the modern architect of our time Frank O. Gehry and marking the place where the two tall famous landmarks stand.

City expansion is strictly monitored in Barcelona so as to preserve its history and the focus is on redevelopment rather than new development. This enables the city to keep its unique character.

The Spanish and Catalonians like to keep late hours which results in empty night clubs until around 1am or even later! And there are heaps of late bars that remain open until the metro starts operating again at 5am, although not dance clubs you can choose to wind down or party on depending on your mood at the time. If you're in a club and it's about to close but you don't want to call it a night, then these are the bars to look out for as there's not much between the two apart from prices and opening times.

Barcelona also has an established Erasmus bar scene where you can make new friends quickly and party in designated venues. There is a predominantly distinct house scene, reflected in the number of clubs that keep that vibe alive all week. If you want to avoid the Euro trash techno scene there's also rock and Latin clubs with samba which is popular.

A short break need not be to a city however, if you prefer something quieter then there are plenty of other choices open to you giving the opportunity to de-stress, rejuvenate and be refreshed. A few days spent at the seaside or in the country with a last minute getaway could be all you need for a new lease of life.

Once at your destination hotels and serviced apartments offering weekday promotions and discounted prices are not hard to find. Barcelona is one particular city which has seen an influx of visitors looking for a few days away as it's a fashionable choice for those seeking thrills and a great place to visit.