La Rambla is probably the most famous street in Barcelona. In the middle ages, the area flooded when it rained, but as most of the year it remained dry it became a popular place for outdoor markets and hanging out.

Starting from the Old Port (Port Vell) you'll see the Columbus statue and you'll be in the very beginning of the street. In this first part in the weekends there is an artisan crafts market. You can also visit here the Wax Museum and the Maritime Museum.

A bit further up start the outdoor cafes, but I don't recommend seating there unless you want to be ripped off: they'll charge you a lot of money for just average quality: you are paying for the great location. Have a look at Plaça Reial (a nice porched plaza with palm trees and fountains), and visit Palau Guell: an early work of the architect Antoni Gaudi.

In the middle section stands the Liceu, our opera house. Not far, look under your feet to find a colorful mosaic by the surrealist artist Joan Miró. The Bruno Quadres building with its Asian decoration is worth a picture aswell. After passing it, you'll be crossing the Flower Market.

To your left hand side you'll see the famous Boqueria food market - probably one of the best in the whole world! It's best visiting Tuesday to Saturday in the mornings and early afternoon.

Further up there is little left of the formers Birds Market, now transformed into unauthentic souvenir stalls. But before reaching the end, have a look at the Canaletes fountain (easy to miss, as it looks like a streetlamp!). If you drink its water, the legend says you'll come back to Barcelona again!

La Rambla finishes in Plaça Catalunya, the heart of the City. You'll have covered a bit more than half a mile, enjoy the city heartbeat and probably taken a few pictures of the mimes and other performers (remember to give them a coin, please!).

But pay attention as pickpockets like acting in this street, and don't participate in street gambling either: it's a scam!

During a chauffeured tour (depending on your timing and itinerary), you might be able to have a ride along La Rambla. Instead, usually walking tours of the Old Town or the City Center will only cover the upper section of it.

The Hill of Montjuïc is the southern limit of Barcelona and it's one of the city's green lungs and largest leisure area.

You can access it from Plaça Espanya (the 1929 Area) or Miramar (seaside road from the Old Port). During a chauffeured tour you'll be ideally entering it from one side and leaving from the other, so you can cover the whole area. If you are visiting on your own, you can also take the Funicular from Paral·lel station (L3 on the subway) or the Port cablecar ("Aeri") from the Barceloneta beach.

Here are its main sites:

• 1929 World Fair: Plaça Espanya with its magnificent Fountain and the former Las Arenas bullfightring (now a shopping mall), Fira de Barcelona pavilions, Magic Fountain, Caixaforum (an old factory, now an art center), Mies van der Rohe pavilion, MNAC museum and Spanish Village.
• 1992 Olympics: Faculty of Physical Education, Picornell swimming pools, Calatrava tower, Sant Jordi stadium, Olympic Stadium, Olympic museum.
• City Views: There are many great vantage points in Montjuïc. On a chauffeured tour you'll be probably taken to one of them, depending on your interests, itinerary and timing. If you are on your own, you are free to choose your favorite. Some of the most famous are: Miramar, Mirador de l'Alcalde, Castell de Monjuic (there is actually a cablecar with amazing views that takes you tot the Castle aswell!).
• Museums: A large amount of them concentrate in this area! During a private tour you might be able to visit one of them, depending on what you've agreed with your tourguide. Some of the best are: MNAC (the Catalan National Museum, with Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque collections in the street level and art from the late 1700s until early 20th century in the upper level: takes a whole morning to visit), Miró Foundation, Archaeology museum.
• Parks and Gardens: Unless you have specifically requested to visit one of them, you are not likely to stop there during a private tour, but you'll be seeing them from the car/bus. The best are: Jardí Botànic (Mediterranean flora), Mossèn Costa i Llovera (cacti and palm trees), Mossèn Cinto Verdaguer (bulbs and tulips).