Alternative and artsy travel guidebooks are in and they’re here to replace your traditional run-of-the-mill ones that, let’s admit, are usually generic, bulky and boring.

One of my favorites was picked up while studying in Barcelona last summer by the title of “Le Cool Changed My Life: A Weird and Wonderful Guide to Barcelona“. Besides being simply gorgeous to look though because of its well-designed and quirky spreads, it’s about the size of your palm and shows you a different side of the city.

So if you really want to take advantage of the Spanish city and avoid the beaten track that most tourists will traverse (bye-bye fanny pack and long lines!), then definitely grab one of these guides and discover a different side of the city as shared by its hip locals.