Formula One's Must-See Races.(Motorsports)

Spanish Grand Prix, May 14, Barcelona, Spain

In a recent survey Barcelona was identified as the most popular tourist destination in Europe, and there is no question it is a super-cool city. In a New York sort of way, the locals do not regard themselves as Spanish. Rather they are Catalunyans, and Barcelona is indeed more cosmopolitan than any other city in Spain.

Since Fernando Alonso's F1 arrival, Spain has gone nuts about the sport. Barcelona's modern racetrack is about half an hour outside the city, and while there are hotels in the vicinity it would be a shame to miss the pleasures on offer in Barcelona itself.

Every kind of hotel is available. At the ritzy end there is Avenida Palace (tel. 34-93-301-9600), where the Beatles stayed for their one and only Barcelona concert in June 1965, or the uber-cool Hotel Arts (tel. 34-93-221-1000), where all the race teams stay (good luck getting in). Rather less pricey is Hotel Continental Barcelona (tel. 34-93-445-7657).

For dining try the Jean Luc Figueras (tel. 34-93-415-2877) or the Sant Pau restaurant (tel. 34-93-760-0662).

Monaco Grand Prix, May 28, Monte Carlo, Monaco

Inevitably, when you think of Formula One you think of the Monaco Grand Prix, far and away the most glamorous motor race on earth. The principality gets cramped at race time, but the setting is glorious and you are within curtseying distance of the on-track action.