TripAdvisor has published its list of the top ten cities of 2011, based on the feedback of travellers who have used their site. You can see the full list here.

It came as no surprise to us here in Feelathomeinbarcelona to see Barcelona in the Top Ten at number 9. Barcelona’s rich tapestry of culture, history, architecture, museums, fine restaurants, tapas, bars and beaches makes the city a magnet to tourists.

Other choices in the Top Ten were Cape Town (1), Sydney (2) and Rio de Janeiro (5). As you will notice, these are all also beach cities, making 4 of the cities appearing in the Top Ten beach cities. It would seem that the combination of a cosmopolitan city – be it a historical city such as Barcelona or a more modern city such as Sydney – with sea and sand, is what a majority of tourists appreciate.

Find out more about Barcelona’s rich cultural offering and its beaches in our guide. If you think you would enjoy staying in a city by the sea with a great variety of culture and activities then why not book a beach apartment in Barcelona?