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How to Plan the Perfect Visit to Barcelona in Any Season

The beautiful city of Barcelona is perfect for visiting any time of year.

Best Time to Go

Things to know, how to get around, best hotels, best restaurants, things to do, best shopping, neighborhoods to know, apps to download.

The name of this storied Catalan city, Barcelona, is almost as beautiful as the coastal metropolis itself. Nicknamed Ciudad Condol (once upon a time, the city was the seat of the Count of Barcelona) the destination sticks with anyone who wanders among the remarkable architecture and through the airy plaças. Nestled along the sparkling Mediterranean Sea in northeastern Spain, Barcelona is a colorful melting pot of culture, full of world-renowned cuisine, legendary art, music, and more. Book a trip to this sunny city and you'll spend your days exploring the dynamic barrios , wandering along the beach, strolling through verdant green spaces, and discovering gem after gem — some well known, like Park Güell or Camp Nou, and some hidden, like Santa Caterina.

The architecture alone is worth planning your trip around — from Gothic structures to Gaudí's modern wonders, design lovers could fill weeks exploring the stunning buildings, monuments, and sculptures throughout the city. Ultimately, Barcelona's unwavering energy and cultural elements result in a distinct immensity of spirit unlike any other destination. The temperate climate, too, makes the weather quite pleasant for most of the year.

When vacationing in a new place — especially an historic city — it's easy to get caught up in the I-must-see-everything-as-quickly-as-possible mentality. And while Barça has no shortage of things to see and do, the city imparts a distinct sense of relaxation on those who pass through. Be sure to reserve time to experience life like the locals do, enjoying leisurely lunches followed by siesta, vermuteria hopping on Sundays, and frequenting your neighborhood bar for tapas and wine with friends.

Central European Standard Time

Early summer or autumn are the best times to visit Barcelona, as late summer tends to get hot and humid. Book your trip in May, June, September, or October for the most idyllic weather — you'll encounter plenty of sun and nice temperatures for swimming and walking about the city's stunning streets, parks, and markets.

Barcelona is the capital and largest city of Catalonia, where both Spanish and Catalan are the predominant languages spoken. The city is a transportation hub and one of southwestern Europe's economic centers — also known as Spain's leading biotech city.

Meal times are all generally on the late side in Barcelona. Restaurants are typically open from 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. for lunch, and from 8:30 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. for dinner. Many stores close for lunchtime siesta (2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.), as well as on Sundays and public holidays.

Europe's largest stadium is Camp Nou in Barcelona with a capacity of over 99,000 occupants, and is home to FC Barcelona (one of the most supported fútbol teams in the world).

Metro: The Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB) is the main transport system in Barcelona, operating both the metro line and select bus routes. Riders can purchase tickets at metro stations across the city. Single tickets cost €2.40 or you can buy a T-Casual ticket for multi-trip use.

Trains: The main railway station in Barcelona is the Barcelona Sants. The FGC is a network of trains in Barcelona and the surrounding suburbs which connects the city to other towns in Catalonia. The Renfe is an international high-speed railway line that connects Spain and France, allowing travelers to get to cities like Paris, Marseille, and Madrid quickly.

Buses: The TMB operates all throughout the city and travelers can purchase tickets both at stops and on the bus, although you're only able to purchase single rides on the bus. There's also the Aerobús BCN , which connects Barcelona Airport with the city center.

Taxis: Typically affordable, accessible, and all over the city day and night.

Car service: While Uber operates throughout Spain, it is not currently available in Barcelona. Cabify is a favored alternative for ride sharing.

Address: Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 700, Barcelona 08010, Spain Phone: +34 93 545 80 70 Book Now

Casa Bonay's bread and butter is creating simple, sustainable spaces that impart a sense of local culture and community onto guests. With ample greenery and a simplistic, chic interior decor (made in partnership with local designers), this 19th-century house-turned-hotel's light and airy atmosphere matches that of the city itself. Be sure to grab tapas at the property's rooftop restaurant (open to the public) and sunbathe on the neighboring rooftop terrace, exclusive to guest use.

Cotton House Hotel (Eixample)

Address: Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 670, Barcelona 08010, Spain Phone: +34 934 505 045 Book Now

Cotton House Hotel, part of Marriott's Autograph Collection, is housed in the former headquarters of the Association of Cotton Manufacturers, giving the property's spaces a neoclassical foundation accented by soft, sophisticated designs. In addition to 83 comfortable rooms, the hotel features an elegant library, a restaurant and cocktail bar, a terrace, and a rooftop pool. Be sure to check out the property's unique spiral staircase, built in 1957 — it's the only one of its kind in Europe.

El Palauet Barcelona

Address: Passeig de Gracia, 113, Barcelona 08008, Spain Phone: +34 932 180 050 Book Now

These six luxurious suites (each two-bedroom) epitomize Spanish elegance in hotel form. Located centrally along the famous tourism and shopping hub of Passeig de Gracia, El Palauet is housed in Casa Bonaventura Ferrer, the iconic modernist building built by Pere Falqués i Urpí in 1906.

Address: La Rambla, 109, Barcelona 08001, Spain Phone: +34 935 529 552 Book Now

Located right along the tree-lined pedestrian stretch of La Rambla, as hinted in its name, Hotel 1898 has a long history. Originally the headquarters of General Philippines Tobacco Company, elements of the property's origins can be seen in the architecture and classical decor style. The comfortable rooms range from classic to deluxe, with two levels of beautifully-appointed suite options available.

Hotel Arts Barcelona (La Barceloneta)

Address: Marina 19-21, Barcelona 08005, Spain Phone: +34 932 211 000 Book Now

Come for the striking glass design and amazing views, and stay for the property's two-star Michelin restaurant and breathtaking pool. Hotel Arts Barcelona offers five-star accommodations (rooms, suites, and penthouses) in elevated, modern interiors high above the Mediterranean and the city — so the views are as superb as the service and luxury amenities. Designed by architect Bruce Graham, the exterior's steel-and-glass build is one of the most distinct modern buildings in the city.

Hotel Brummell (Poble Sec)

Address: Nou de la Rambla,174, Barcelona 08004, Spain Phone: +34 931 258 622 Book Now

A stone's throw from the legendary site Montjuïc, Hotel Brummell offers 20 comfortable rooms in the trendy Poble Sec neighborhood. Considered slightly off-the-beaten-path, this property is low-key and intimate with an imaginative, modern design, beautifully mirroring Barcelona's culture of cool. Features include a sunny terrace, an outdoor pool, an on-site sauna, and a restaurant and bar.

Hotel Neri (Gothic Quarter)

Address: Sant Sever Street, 5, Barcelona 08002, Spain Phone: +34 93 304 06 55 Book Now

This Relais & Châteaux property is located in two historic buildings — one of which is a restored 12th-century palace — in Barcelona's storied Gothic Quarter. The hotel's moody, chic atmosphere matches the neighborhood it calls home, and proximity to attractions like La Rambla and the Picasso Museum make it an ideal home for those exploring the city for the first time. The 22 hotels and suites feature luxury amenities, some featuring balconies and terraces, others with sweeping views or gilded murals.

Majestic Hotel & Spa Barcelona

Address: Passeig de Gracia 68 - 70, Barcelona 08007, Spain Phone: +34 934 881 717 Book Now

Located in the heart of the Passeig de Gracia, Majestic Hotel & Spa Barcelona is a Neo Classical icon dating back to 1918. Known for an exceptionally detail-oriented staff, the property epitomizes timeless elegance, with light and warm tones accenting the 271 rooms, suites, penthouses, and apartments. Guests will enjoy proximity to many attractions, including Gaudí's architecture, upscale shopping, myriad restaurants, and Gran Teatre del Liceu, and more.

Mandarin Oriental Barcelona

Address: Passeig de Gràcia, 38-40, Barcelona 08007, Spain Phone: +34 93 151 88 88 Book Now

This beloved hotel, situated on the bustling Passeig de Gràcia, is one of the city's most popular luxury hotels. Accommodations feature striking views of the property's immaculate gardens and the nearby Casa Batlló. Guests can expect five-star service, timeless room and suite design, and delicious meals at the hotel's Michelin-starred restaurant.

Mercer Hotel Barcelona (Gothic Quarter)

Address: Calle dels Lledó, 7, Barcelona 08002, Spain Phone: +34 933 107 480 Book Now

A stay at the Mercer Hotel is unlike any other in Barcelona, as the boutique property was built atop a wall of Barcino, the ancient Roman city, in what is now the Gothic Quarter. After a day of exploring the city, the elegant accommodations offer a refuge from the urban bustle, and travelers can look forward to lounging on the property's private terrace or taking a dip in the on-site plunge pool. Modern design enthusiasts and history buffs can anticipate medieval arches, 12th-century frescoes, 18th-century wooden ceilings, sleek furniture, and expressionist art by Agustí Puig.

W Barcelona (La Barceloneta)

Address: Plaça Rosa del Vents, 1, Final Passeig de Joan de Borbó, Barcelona 08039, Spain Phone: +34 932 95 28 00 Book Now

One of the most iconic buildings in the city, the W Hotel's distinct, curved silhouette sits right where the sand meets the sea. The interiors are just as modern and sleek as the exterior, which was designed by legendary architect Ricardo Bofill. Guests can expect panoramic views of the Mediterannean from each of the 473 five-star rooms and suites.

Bar Cañete (Seafood, Tapas)

Address: Carrer de la Unió, 17, 08001 Barcelona, Spain Phone: +34 932 703 458 Website

Don't be fooled by this restaurant's low-key exterior — the menu's seafood from local Catalan fish markets and seasonal produce yields some of the freshest tapas in the city. Reservations can be made by phone, required only for parties of 12 or more.

Caelis (Contemporary)

Address: Via Laietana, 49 (Hotel Ohla Barcelona), Barcelona 08003, Spain Phone: +34 935 101 205 Website

Chef Romain Fornell and his team serve up daring and inspired contemporary dishes on three different tasting menus at this Michelin-starred restaurant inside Hotel Ohla. Reservations are recommended (online or via phone), seating is indoors, and guests must adhere to a smart dress code.

Disfrutar (Contemporary)

Address: Carrer de Villarroel, 163, barcelona 08036, Spain Phone: +34 933 486 896 Website

This Eixample-based restaurant serves up creative Mediterranean cuisine in an intimate space, decorated with ceramics and light hues to honor the city — and was founded by the famous trio of chefs that used to helm El Bullu. Reservations are available online or via phone.

Dos Palillos (Tapas, fusion)

Address: Carrer d'Elisabets, 9, Barcelona 08001, Spain Phone: +34 93 304 05 13 Website

Based on Japanese, Chinese, and Southeast Asian cuisines, the fusion tapas at Dos Palillos are divine, so the tasting menu comes highly recommended (you'll want to make a reservation online or by phone). If you prefer to eat a la carte and try a cocktail, you can sit at the bar, no reservation required.

El Falafel de Shani (Falafel, Kosher, Vegan)

Address: La Rambla, 91 Mercat de la Boqueria, 133-134, 08011 Barcelona Phone: + 34 692 967 297 Website

It might be easy to miss this no-nonsense vegan and kosher falafel stand in La Boqueria, but it's worth seeking out — many consider it to be the best falafel in the city (and very affordable).

El Nacional (Iberian)

Address: Passeig de Gràcia, 24 bis 08007 Barcelona, Spain Phone: +(34) 93 518 50 53 Website

This spacious eatery has dynamic menu offerings that are just as impressive as the venue's eye-catching, glass-and-steel architecture. Guests can choose from four different cuisines or four different bars throughout the venue.

Llambar (Tapas)

Address: Carrer de la Fusina 5, 08003 Barcelona, Spain Phone: +34 933 19 62 50 Website

Nestled in El Born, Llambar's menu is meant to be shared, complete with signature cocktails, an extensive wine list, and artisanal Spanish tapas. Reservations (not required but recommended, since the atmospheric spot is so popular) can be made online or via phone.

Suculent (Tapas, Mediterranean)

Address: Rambla del Raval, 45, 08001 Barcelona, Spain Phone: +34 93 443 65 79 Website

Helmed by El Bulli alum Toni Romero, Suculent has become a trendy Raval staple, known for reliably delicious tapas and a lively atmosphere. The culinary team serves up classics and reinvented Spanish and Mediterannean dishes with an emphasis on flavorful broths and sauces.

Basilica of the Sagrada Familia

Address: Carrer Mallorca, 401 Barcelona 08013 Phone: +34 932 080 414 Website

Known worldwide as a symbol of the historic city, the Sagrada Familia is Gaudí's most celebrated work of art and architecture. Design and construction of the church began in 1882 and is ongoing to this day. It's recommended to book tickets online in advance to save time in lines when visiting.

Address: Carrer d'Arístides Maillol, 12, 08028 Barcelona, Spain Phone: +34 902 1899 00 Website

Barcelona is home to one of the most beloved futbol teams in the entire world: FC Barcelona. So it is only fitting that Camp Nou is one of the most magnificent sports stadiums in Europe, boasting a seating capacity of 99,354. Do your best to book tickets to a game (bookable via the stadium's website or TicketMaster).

Casa Batlló

Address: Passeig de Gràcia, 43, 08007 Barcelona, Spain Phone: +34 93 216 03 06 Website

With it's distinct marine-inspired façade, Gaudí's famous Casa Batlló (a UNESCO World Heritage site) looms high over Passeig de Gracia. It's one of Europe's best examples of modernist architecture and worth exploring inside and out.

Address: Passeig de Gràcia, 92, 08008 Barcelona, Spain Phone: +34 932 142 576 Website

Nicknamed "La Pedrera" (stone quarry), Casa Milà in Eixample was completed by Gaudí in 1912, and is known as his final civic work. It's striking appearance takes inspiration from nature, and was the famed architect's most advanced approach to a building.

Castell de Montjuïc

Address: Carretera de Montjuïc 66, 08038 Barcelona, Spain Phone: +34 932 564 440 Website

Many flock to the Montjuïc barrio to explore the 17th-century Castell de Montjuïc or to catch the Magic Fountain light show from the steps of the stately National Museum of Art. Pro tip: don't miss out on the lesser-known but equally striking Jardí Botànic , located on the hillside. The spacious, verdant gardens offer a tranquil outdoor oasis as well as lovely views of the city.

La Boqueria

Address: Rambla, 91, 08001 Barcelona, Spain Phone: +34 93 318 20 17 Website

Arguably the best open market in the word, La Boqueria is a European icon. Though it gets very crowded (especially between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m) it features incredibly fresh produce, meats, cheeses, sweets, cafes, bars, and more. Pro tip: bring your camera.

Mount Tibidabo

Gautier Houba/Travel + Leisure

Address: Tibidabo Square, 08035 Barcelona, Spain Website

Take the historic funicular up to Barcelona's highest peak, Mount Tibidabo, where in addition to a charming amusement park (the second-oldest in Europe) and Templo Expiatorio del Sagrado Corazón, you'll find panoramic views of the entire city, the Mediterranean, and surrounding mountains.

Palau de la Música Catalana

Address: Carrer Palau de la Música, 4-6, 08003 Barcelona, Spain Phone: +34 93 295 7200 Website

Designed by Lluis Domenech i Montaner and completed in 1908, Palau de la Música Catalana features one of the most opulent interiors in Spain. Make purchasing tickets for any musical performance a priority while in Barcelona so that you can experience the grande Palau in person.

Address: 08024 Barcelona, Spain Website

Named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984, this whimsical masterpiece created by Antoni Gaudí is one of the most iconic parks in the world. It's full of color, dynamic shapes, split ceramics, innovative architecture, and lush gardens — and overlooks a vast swath of the beautiful city.

Picasso Museum

Address: Carrer de Montcada, 15-23, 08003 Barcelona, Spain Phone: +34 93 256 30 00 Website

One of the primary art attractions in the whole city, the Picasso Museum helps viewers understand the formative years of Pablo Picasso. The permanent collection, made up of 4,251 works from a variety of time periods, helps to convey the artist's early career and special relationship with Barcelona.

Colette Barcelona (Jewelry)

Address: Carrer de les Panses 5, 08003-Barcelona, Spain Phone: +0034.93.170.81.23 Website

You'll find sweet, feminine jewelry at Colette Barcelona, a design house and showroom in El Born that does all the brand's designing, dyeing, mounting, and ironing locally. The pieces have a distinct style, as the jewelry is crafted with mixed materials and textiles.

El Corte Inglés Plaça Catalunya (Department store)

Address: Plaça de Catalunya, 14, Barcelona 08002, Spain Phone: +34 933 06 38 00 Website

This iconic and centrally-located department store at the edge of Plaça Catalunya has everything from clothing and cosmetics to homeware, local delicacies, electronics, and much more — including a food court and supermarket.

Entre Latas (Specialty food)

Address: Torrijos, 16, 08012 Barcelona, Spain Phone: +34 930 154 725 Website

This gourmet shop is the place to go for canned and preserved foods. Entre Latas carries everything from local delicacies to imported products — think specialty vermouth, rare spices, tinned fish, paté, and preserves. You can even create your own personalized gourmet pack.

Iriarte Iriarte​ (Handbags)

Address: Carrer dels Cotoners 12, 08003 Barcelona, Spain Phone: +34 933 198 175 Website

Anyone who adores handbags must visit Iriarte Iriarte. The brand uses traditional techniques and hand-dying to create stylish leather bags, handcrafted in Barcelona since 2009.

La Manual Alpargatera (Espadrilles)

Address: Carrer de Avinyó 7, 08002, Barcelona, Spain Phone: +34 933 01 01 72 Website

Since 1940, the design team at La Manual Alpargatera has produced sustainably-crafted, timeless espadrilles, entirely handmade in Barcelona. La Manual is a staple for locals and travelers — in fact, the brand's storefront design is so iconic that it's said a customer addressed a letter to the company using a drawing of the store (rather than the physical address), and it arrived via the post just fine.

Llibreria Altaïr (Books)

Address: Gran Via, 616, 08007 Barcelona, Spain Phone: +34 93 342 71 71 Website

This vast bookstore is one of the very best in the city, known for a specialization in books about travel, language, culture, and exploring the world. A meeting point and lively cultural space, you'll want to spend a good chunk of time exploring the many titles — and be sure to grab a bite at the store's sweet cafe, too.

Santa Eulalia (Designer fashion)

Address: Passeig de Gràcia, 93, Barcelona 08008, Spain Phone: +34 932 15 06 74 Website

Founded in 1843, this historic and design-forward clothing store features a myriad of high-end labels such as Tom Ford, Dior, Lanvin, and the like. It also boasts its own ready-to-wear collection for women and a bespoke shirt-making service for men.

Zara Flagship (Fashion)

Address: Passeig de Gràcia, 16, Barcelona 08007, Spain Phone: +34 933 18 76 75 Website

Spanish-based fashion empire Zara, a wardrobe staple for many across the globe, is housed in a stately flagship store flanked by columns on bustling Passeig de Gràcia. Pop inside to find the latest ready-to-wear, couture-inspired clothing, with styles for men, women, and children ranging from timeless to trendy and everywhere in between.

Eixample: Broad boulevards, courtyards, ample trees, and excellent shopping and dining options make Eixample a wonderful home base when visiting BCN. You'll find Gaudí's classics like Casa Battló, Casa Milà, and the Sagrada Familia in this neighborhood, alongside other great works of both traditional and modern architecture.

El Born: Like the neighboring Gothic Quarter, El Born is known for the narrow, meandering medieval streets, but it's slightly less busy. Here, travelers will discover especially good shopping (think stylish boutiques), artsy vibes, wonderful restaurants and bars, and close proximity to the beach.

El Raval: Located about a 10-minute walk from Plaça Catalunya, El Raval is a vibrant neighborhood known for its character, authentic restaurants and bars, and the impressive Museum of Contemporary Art . Two streets in particular, Carrer dels Tallers and Carrer de La Riera Baixa, are especially good for vintage and second-hand shopping. Those in search of an authentic taste of Barcelona life will enjoy exploring this barrio, but be mindful of your surroundings, as parts of Raval can be a bit shifty (avoid unlit alleys or walking alone at night).

Gothic Quarter: Known by locals as Barri Gòtic, this charming old town neighborhood is full of legendary Gothic architecture nestled along narrow, medieval-era streets. In addition to checking out the trendy restaurants, bars, and boutiques, see remains of the old Roman city at the Museu d'Història de Barcelona .

Gràcia: Vila de Gràcia is the epitome of authentic, leisurely life in Barcelona. The neighborhood is a bit quieter than its more centrally-located counterparts, and you'll find it's chock full of beautiful plaças, atmospheric restaurants and bars, eclectic galleries, and independent boutiques. You can easily spend all day in this uncrowded, village-like neighborhood.

La Barceloneta: Nestled right by the sea, La Barceloneta is an energetic and historic beachside neighborhood that offers more than a touristy stretch of sand if you know what to look for. Come for the seafood (ahem, paella ) and stay for the hopping bar scene.

Poble Sec: Bordering scenic Montjuïc, Poble Sec is one of the most lively neighborhoods in Barcelona, adored by locals and thus slightly less touristy. Boasting dozens of small bars, restaurants, and boutiques, this upbeat area has wonderful dancing and theater options, too.

True to the Mediterranean, Barcelona sees mild temperatures for the majority of the year. August is the city's hottest and most humid month, with temperatures averaging 77 °F, and January is the coldest month, with averages around 49 °F. Precipitation hovers around 25 inches annually, with October being the wettest month.

The following are average Fahrenheit lows and highs by month.

January 41 - 57 February 42 - 58 March 46 - 51 April 50 - 65 May 57 - 71 June 63 - 77 July 69 - 83 August 69 - 84 September 64 - 79 October 58 - 72 November 48 - 64 December 43 - 58

TMB: Maps and access to Barcelona's metro, buses, trains, and more. iOs | Android

Renfe Cercanias: Regional and country-wide train maps, tickets, timetables, and more. iOs | Android

Google Translate: Quick and downloadable language translation service. iOs | Android

Cool Things To Do In Barcelona

From classic attractions to unique and original experiences to spice up your trip.

Editor’s Choice

1. Park Guell (by Ebike)

5. Montserrat (& Wine)

6. Local Bike Tour

7. Create Your Own Cava

9. Paella Cooking Class

11. Flamenco & Tapas

12. Casa Mila by Night

16. Sea Kayaking

22. Dali & Girona Tour

33. Espadrilles Workshop

Are you a first-time visitor keen to hunt down Barcelona’s must-see attractions ? Or maybe you’re searching for an unforgettable experience to share with friends? Here are my most inspiring tips, on and off the beaten track . The highlight of your trip is waiting for you on this very page!

This article was last updated in February 2024. You can reach me on [email protected] .

Everyone’s heard of  the main attractions in town , like  La Sagrada Familia  and the  Picasso Museum , but what about some of the cool and different things to do in the capital of Catalonia?

In a city as magical and mysterious as Barcelona, there’s plenty to savour that goes beyond the ordinary… experiences that stay with you long after you’ve left

In a city as magical and mysterious as Barcelona, there’s plenty to savour that goes beyond the ordinary… experiences that stay with you long after you’ve left, and which will leave you with plenty of holiday snaps that go beyond the usual photo fodder of greasy paellas and overpriced jars of sangria on Las Ramblas .

From unique experiences, quirky museums and one-of-kind bars, to authentic local tours, secret gardens, nudist beaches, and unusual and thrilling activities, we’ve compiled a few of our favourite original and alternative ways to pass the time in Barcelona.

And to make this a complete list (you can plan your whole trip on this page!) we’ve also rounded up the must-see attractions for first time visitors, and included our advice on how best to experience them.

Fun Things to do in Barcelona

To make this list more manageable, and your trip easier to plan, we’ve divided this list into themes – starting with the unmissable attractions and ending with ideas on how to live life like a local .

In between, we highlight plenty of unique inspiration you won’t find on any other “best things to do” article.

36+ Things To Do By Theme

Part 1. Must See Attractions… with a Twist! Part 2. Authentic Tours Part 3. Magical Evenings Part 4. ‘Wow’ Experiences Part 5. Museums, Art & Culture Part 6. Delicious Food & Drink Part 7. Kids & Families Part 8. Going Local Part 9. Fun Group Activities

So without further ado, let’s get going…

I. Must See Attractions… With A Twist!

Let’s start with the classic attractions you absolutely MUST SEE on a first time visit to Barcelona. But of course, we like to be original, so let me share my local perspective on how I would visit these sights…

1. Park Guell (via electric bike?) 2. Sagrada Familia (with tower visit!) 3. Montjuic Cable Car 4. Camp Nou Experience (and challenge Robokeeper?) 5. Montserrat Abbey (plus organic wine tasting!)

1. Visit Park Guell…

BOOK PARK GUELL TICKETS

…With a Twist. Get There via E-bike!

Why faff around with the metro or tourist bus, when you could whizz up to Park Guell on an electric bicycle with Gaudi Bike Tours ? Their Gaudi Legacy includes Park Guell tickets and drinks on the rooftop of the 5-star hotel, and costs €69, or you could opt for their more affordable Gaudi UNESCO Highlights Tour that focuses on the architect’s mansions. Both tours call by Sagrada Familia…

2. See La Sagrada Familia…

BOOK SAGRADA FAMILIA TICKETS

…With a Twist. Climb a Tower!

If you can afford it, I’d strongly recommend upgrading your standard entry ticket to include visiting to one of the church towers, from which you’ll enjoy panoramic views over the whole of the city – whilst also getting up close to some of the incredible architectural details at the top of Gaudi’s basilica. There are two towers that are open to the public , and the option to book them pops up after you select the date of your visit. Otherwise, you could also book a guided tour .

THE BARCELONA PASS

BUY BARCELONA PASS

3. Ride the Cable Car to the Castle

RESERVE CABLE CAR TICKETS

4. The Camp Nou Experience

RESERVE BARCA IMMERSIVE TOUR

…With a Twist. Take on Robokeeper!

Think you’re pretty handy in front of goal? Then upgrade your standard Barça Immersive Tour ticket to include the Robokeeper Challenge For just €37, you get 6 chances to take a penalty against a robotic goalie… you can even a prize or two! Just look for this ticket upgrade option after selecting your dates on Get Your Guide .

5. Visit Montserrat Abbey & Mountain…

BOOK MONTSERRAT HALF DAY TOUR

…With a Twist. Add on Wine Tasting!

II. Authentic Tours

Now it’s time to go deeper. To discover, to learn and to experience Barcelona and its unique culture with the help of friendly and expert guides. Here’s our list of the most authentic tours in the city…

6. Local Bike Tour 7. Create Your Own Cava 8. Street Photography Tour 9. Paella Cooking Class 10. Free Walking Tour

6. Explore Barcelona by Bike!

STEEL DONKEY BIKE TOURS!

7.  Create Your Own Cava

BOTTLE YOUR OWN BUBBLY!

8. Learn Street Photography

BOOK A PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR!

9. Sign up for a Paella Cooking Class!

BOOK PAELLA COOKING CLASS

10. Take A (Free) Walking Tour

BOOK WALKING TOUR

III. Magical Evenings

Barcelona comes alive at night (full article here !), with flamenco shows, rooftop concerts, boat parties and VIP nightlife tours amongst your options for evening entertainment.

11. Flamenco & Tapas Evening 12. Casa Mila by Night 13. Awesome Boat Parties! 14. Sub-zero Ice Bar 15. VIP Nightlife Tour

11.  Eat Tapas… And Dance Flamenco!

BOOK FLAMENCO & TAPAS EVENING

12. Visit Gaudi’s Casa Mila by Night

CASA MILA BY NIGHT TICKETS

13. Party On The Mediterranean!

GET ON BOARD A BOAT PARTY!

14. Chill Out In A Sub-Zero Beach Bar

RESERVE ICE BARCELONA TICKETS

15. Experience The Legendary Nightlife

RESERVE NIGHTLIFE TOUR!

IV. Unforgettable Experiences

The Catalan capital has more than its fair share of extraordinary activities, magical moments and Instagram opportunities for travellers ready to spoil themselves…

16. Sea Kayaking 17. Sailing Trips 18. Helicopter Flight 19. Hot Air Balloon Flight 20. Ferrari Drive

16. Go Sea Kayaking on the Costa Brava

GO SEA KAYAKING!

17. Sail Away On An Ocean Breeze…

BEST SAILING TOURS

18. Take a Helicopter Flight!

TAKE A HELICOPTER FLIGHT!

19. Take a Hot Air Balloon Flight

BOOK HOT AIR BALLOON FLIGHT

20.  Cruise Around Town in a Ferrari

CRUISE IN A FERRARI!

V. Museums, Art & Culture

Barcelona isn’t all about beaches and tapas you know… here are some unmissable museums and other cultural attractions.

21. Picasso Museum 22. Dali Theatre Museum 23. The Gaudi Houses 24. Palau de la Musica 25. Moco Museum

21. Visit The Picasso Museum

PICASSO MUSEUM TOUR

22. Head to the Dali Theatre Museum

BOOK DALI MUSEUM + GIRONA TOUR

23. Dive Inside One (Or All) of Gaudi’s Mansions

BUY GAUDI HOUSES PASS

24. Explore El Palau de la Musica

BUY PALAU DE LA MUSICA TICKETS

25. Mosey Around the Moco Museum

BUY MOCO MUSEUM TICKETS

VI. Delicious Food & Drink!

Ok, we’ve already mentioned a few cooking and tasting tours, but you’re in Barcelona… a city where Spanish and Catalan traditions mix with the creative legacy of Ferran Adria’s ‘molecular cuisine’. Let’s delve in…

26. Vineyard Tours 27. Tapas Tours 28. Craft Beers

26. Visit the Local Vineyards

THE 11 BEST WINE TOURS

27. Take a Tapas Tour of El Born

BOOK TAPAS TOUR

28. Sneak off for a Crafty Beer

Like most of the world, Barcelona has experienced a craft beer revolution with scores of  boutique breweries, beer bars and festivals  appearing from nowhere to wet our whistles with delicious artisan ales. You’ll find great bars dotted all around the city, with a concentration of cool venues above Plaça Universitat in what is unofficially known as ‘the beer mile’. You can even  take a tour  of some of them in the company of a local expert and brewer.

VI. Keeping The Kids Entertained!

The dreaded ‘M’ word (museum!) needn’t be a drag when there’s a whole village to explore. Or planetariums to discover…

29. Barcelona Aquarium 30. Poble Espanyol (The Spanish Village) 31. Olympic Swimming Pool 32. Family Photoshoot

29. See Sharks at the Aquarium

30. The Whole of Spain in One Village

31. Go Swimming In An Olympic Pool

32. Book a Family Photoshoot

RESERVE A PHOTO SHOOT

VIII. Going Local

If you’re in town for longer, or just far too hip to see the mainstream sights, the following suggestions should keep you busy…

33. Espadrilles Workshop 34. Parc del Laberint 35. Skateboarding 36. Nudist Beaches 37. Learn Spanish 38. Vintage Shopping 39. Shadow of the Wind (Literary Tour)

33. Espadrilles Workshop

BOOK ESPADRILLES WORKSHOP

Barcelona Life readers get a special discount, when you check out!

34. Get Lost In A Labyrinth

35. Skateboard At MACBA

That’s right grandpa, Barcelona has been considered the skateboarding capital of the world for well over a decade now, and the hobby is all the rage with the Catalan cool kids who take their boards wherever they go. You can catch them practicing their tricks every evening on the Plaça del Angels by  MACBA , and soak up some of the alternative vibe with 1 euro beer from a friendly Pakistani vendor. If you want to join in check out FTC Barcelona Skate Shop just round the corner to pick up a board.

36.  Go To A Nudist Beach

37. Learn To Speak The Lingo

If you’re in town for longer than a few days you might want to consider signing up for an intensive Spanish course – in which case check out  our page on language schools in Barcelona . Speaking a foreign language is certainly an exhilarating experience, and at the same time it’s a great way to meet other students and make some new friends with whom to explore the city. If you don’t have time for that you can always check out our pages on Spanish  and  Catalan language tips .

38. Go Vintage Shopping

39. Chase The Shadow Of The Wind

IX. Group Activities

Whether you’re here for a hen do, stag weekend, wedding, team building event or birthday celebration, you can find plenty of ways to keep your crew entertained…

Embark On A Treasure Hunt

In this group activity (min. 8 players), you race against both the opposing teams, and the clock, as you navigate the winding streets of the  Barri Gotic and beyond in a bid to find the (proverbial) treasure in this interactive urban game. You’ll have to solve cryptic clues, consult your compass and move sharpish to claim the winner’s bottle of  Spanish champagne .

Challenge Yourself in an Escape Room

If you fancy yourself as a bit of a Sherlock Holmes, or even Indiana Jones, then pit your wits against the puzzles and challenges of  one of Barcelona’s great escape rooms . There are several companies operating in the city and each has one or more interactive games where you have to frantically search for keys, crack codes and solve conundrums to progress and eventually leave the room! Some of the storylines are a lot of fun, and if you’re looking for something different to do in a small group of friends this might just be perfect for you.

Shake Up Your Drinking Habits

LEARN HOW TO MIX!

Keep Reading…

Still not sure what to do in BCN? Are you crazy??? Try swinging by  our guide section  for the essential attractions and a break down of the best districts. Or read up on  our recommended tour providers  for more original (as well as tried and tested) activity ideas…

For a different take on things consult this nearly-as-awesome-as-ours  list by Time Out .

Related Reading

Entertainment Guide

Culture Guide

Tours & Trips

Shopping Guide

Spas & Wellness

Things To Do With Kids

Barcelona After Dark

About the Author

Duncan established Barcelona Life in 2009, whilst freelancing for the likes of Conde Nast, The Guardian, Easyjet Magazine, CNN Traveller and many more. From interviews with Ferran Adria to revealing the secrets of the city’s poetry brothels, he knows the city inside out… and shares all his best tips right here.

Dinyar H. Sidhva

Hi Duncan, My wife and I are in Barcelona for 3.5 days. Kindly, provide your valuable inputs on the following: 1) Once I book the Go All-inclusive Pass, is my booking at the attractions in Barcelona automatically confirmed? 2) Is the tourist bus transport available for only one of the days or for all days of the stay? 3) If you were my age (70+) would you recommend Montjuic or Montserrat, if you had to choose between the two? 4) I assume Montserrat would not be part of the All-inclusive Pass and if that is suggested by you, I would be better-off take the Explorer Pass instead of the All-inclusive Pass. Look forward to getting your suggestions. Thanks & Regards

Possibly you meant to comment on our Tourist Cards article, not our things to do one?

https://www.barcelona-life.com/barcelona-card-and-city-passes

But in any case, it doesn’t matter, I’ll be happy to help!

I just wrote to my contact as the pass company to get clarification on some of your points… what I can tell you now is the following:

1) For sure, after buying the All Inclusive Pass, you will need to then also need to select a specific time to visit La Sagrada Familia and Park Guell. I believe the same will be true of nearly all the main attractions, as they are all pretty busy these days.

2) This I need to check. From the wording of the website, I would say you only get to ride the bus on one day (not every day for the duration of your pass).

3) Difficult one… but I think you will find Montserrat more impressive overall though.

4) Montserrat is included in the All-Inclusive Pass. If you click on the link , then scroll to the bottom where it says “See all attractions” then you can reveal more options, including Montserrat.

The Montserrat option available with the All-Inclusive pass is just transport to and from Montserrat however, no guided tour. But if you’re happy to see the church by yourself that’s fine. There’s also the museum and chance to take the funicular up to the very top of the mountain range.

Hope that helps! Will try to get more clarification about the tourist bus for you soon.

Just to confirm the Tourist Bus is only for one day.

thanks for sharing such a nice information

Cool round-up of the city. The fun stuff is doing things and you’ve listed so many besides the usual touristy things. Great site.

I also enjoyed these fabulous things during my last journey and have a joyful time with my mates.

Nice activities !! I like it 🙂 I loved the Escape game and the Ice bar, all tested !

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Barcelona Itinerary: How to Spend Your Time in This Incredible City

Barcelona is one of the most popular destinations in Europe . It’s a lively city bursting at the seams with world-class food, wild clubs and bars, and tourists galore.

While its roots stretch back to the Roman Empire, it was during the Middle Ages that Barcelona really grew into the economic and political center of the Western Mediterranean.

As part of Catalonia (locals consider themselves Catalonian rather than Spanish), you’ll see signs written in Catalan and in Castilian Spanish, and most locals in the city speak both languages. The combination of Spanish and Catalan cultures and traditions here is part of what makes Barcelona the unique city that it is.

In recent years, the city has had to clamp down on “ overtourism ” as over 30 million people visit each year, putting significant strain on the locals and the environment. If you can, try to avoid the hectic summer months and book accommodation outside the city center.

But with so much to see and do in and around Barcelona, where do you begin? How many days do you need to visit?

This Barcelona itinerary highlights all the best things to see and do and can help you organize your visit so you can see it all!

Table of Contents

Day 1 : Barri Gotic, Barcelona History Museum, La Boqueria, & more

Day 2 : Park Güell, La Sagrada Familia, La Rambla, & more

Day 3 : Montjuïc Hill, Cooking Class, Harbor Cable Car, & more

Day 4 : Day Trip to Girona

Other Things to See and Do : Montserrat, Football, Bike Tour, & more

Barcelona Itinerary: Day 1

My recommended free walking tour companies in Barcelona are:

• Free Walking Tours Barcelona
• Free Tours By Foot

For paid tour options, check out this post as it lists all my favorites. You can also check out Get Your Guide as they have tons of tours for every interest and budget.

The area also has numerous attractions worth seeing:

Barcelona History Museum – Barcelona has one of the best city history museums I’ve ever visited. It includes 4,000 square meters (43,000 square feet) of Roman ruins beneath the museum that you can walk through. There is a free, detailed audio guide and meticulous explanations of the exhibits. If you do one thing in the city, make it this. I visit every time I’m in Barcelona. The ruins are just stunning. Admission is 7 EUR per person but free on Sundays after 3pm.

The Grand Royal Palace – The Palau Reial Major (near the history museum) is almost 700 years old and was the home of Barcelona’s counts and later the kings of Aragon. The palace offers visitors a very detailed history of the city and region through the centuries. Admission is 7 EUR (shared with the history museum above). It’s free on the first Sunday of the month and every Sunday after 3pm.

Chapel of Santa Àgata – This royal chapel was built in 1302 and is part of the Museum of the History of Barcelona. The most interesting thing inside is the beautiful altarpiece, made by Jaume Huguet, that was added in the 15th century. It contains beautiful paintings of religious symbols in the style of the Middle Ages. Admission is 7 EUR.

Barcelona Cathedral – Built between the late 13th to early 15th centuries, this is a classic Gothic cathedral with huge spires standing over 53 meters (174 feet) tall, colorful stained glass, and incredible wood carvings. Make sure you visit the upper terraces where you’ll get an incredible view of Barcelona. Admission is 14 EUR for tourists (free for worshippers).

Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art (MACBA) This museum has over 5,000 works, including an extensive collection of pieces by Spanish artists such as Joan Miró and Pablo Picasso. There are also works by Americans Andy Warhol and Alexander Calder (the latter being known for his innovative mobiles). While it’s not really my favorite style of art, if you love modern art, be sure to add this to your itinerary.

Plaça dels Àngels 1, +34 934 120 810, macba.cat/en. Open Wednesday to Saturday 10am-8pm and Sundays 10am-3pm (closed on Tuesdays). Admission is 10.80 EUR if purchased online and 12 EUR at the door. Entry is free on Saturdays from 4pm-8pm.

Rambla, 91, +34 934 132 303, boqueria.barcelona/home. Open Monday to Saturday 8am-8:30pm.

• Los Tarantos – This is Barcelona’s oldest flamenco venue. It’s a short show (just 30 minutes) so it’s a good place for an introduction to the art and won’t take up your entire night. Plaça Reial, 17, +34 933 041 210, tarantosbarcelona.com/en. Shows run at 6:30pm, 7:30pm, 8:30pm, and 9:30pm. Tickets start at 25 EUR.
• Tablao Flamenco Cordobes – This show is in a convenient location on Barcelona’s main walkway, but it’s pricey. La Rambla, 35, +34 933 175 711, ablaocordobes.es. Shows run twice each evening (check the website for times). Admission is 47 EUR (drink and show) or 83 EUR (dinner and show).

Barcelona Itinerary: Day 2

• Park Güell – Park Güell is a 45-acre garden complex designed and built between 1900 and 1914. It’s since been converted into a municipal garden and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tickets are 13 EUR .
• La Sagrada Família – This is arguably the most famous of Gaudí’s works (and one that seems to never be finished). The church has been under construction for over 100 years (the groundbreaking was in 1882 and is supposed to be done in 2030). Gaudí was a devout Catholic and spent the last 10 years of his life working on this project which is a combination of Gothic and Art Nouveau styles. Admission with an audio guide is 33.80 EUR — but it’s worth it!
• Casa Batlló – Casa Batlló is a building restored by Antoni Gaudí in the early 1900s. He spent two years on the project completely revamping the exterior, main floor, patio, and roof. Located in the Eixample district, it (like everything Gaudí designed) was heavily influenced by the Art Nouveau style. It’s one of my favorite Gaudí buildings. Admission is 25 EUR and includes an audio guide.
• Casa Milà – From 1906 to 1910, Gaudí worked on Casa Mila which is just a couple hundred meters away from Casa Batlló. It’s also known as “La Pedrera” (the Stone Quarry) as the building has a facade of limestone. The goal with this design was to evoke the sense of a snowy mountain. Gaudí, himself a Catholic and a devotee of the Virgin Mary, also planned for the Casa Milà to be a spiritual symbol. Skip-the-line tickets are 28 EUR.
• Palau Güell – Located off La Rambla, Palau Güell (Güell Palace) building doesn’t jump out at you like other Gaudí structures. Built from 1886-1888, it was designed for one of Gaudí’s patrons, Eusebi Güell. The home is centered around the main room used to entertain high-society guests.

For more information on Gaudí’s works as well as entrance fees, locations, and operating hours, check out my guide to Gaudí’s Barcelona .

Take a stroll on La Rambla This popular boulevard, with a broad but crowded walkway in the center, has many beautiful buildings along it, including the Gran Teatre del Liceu, the city’s opera house. Near the theater, you can also see a mosaic by famous artist Joan Miró. There are street performers galore here (they even have their own union), making it perfect for people-watching. While this street is ground zero for tourists in the city and gets swamped by crowds it’s worth a stroll down at least once (don’t eat at the restaurants here, they’re overpriced). Just keep an eye out for pickpockets.

Barcelona Itinerary: Day 3

Visit the Picasso Museum While I’m not a huge fan of most of Picasso’s later work, it’s still interesting to learn about the life and work of one of the most influential artists of the twentieth century. Opened in 1963 and home to over 4,000 pieces of art, it’s the most comprehensive collection of Pablo Picasso’s works in the world. In addition to his paintings, the museum also has drawings, ceramics, and engravings by Picasso.

Carrer Montcada 15-23, +34 932 563 000, museupicasso.bcn.cat/en. Open Tuesday-Sunday 10am-7pm. Admission is 12 EUR, with free entry on the first Sunday of the month.

Ride the harbor cable car The 1,450-meter-long (4,757-foot) harbor aerial tramway with red cars connects Barceloneta and Montjuïc Hill. The 10-minute trip offers incredible views of Barcelona. You’ll see the port and sea on one side and the city on the other. Also, at the top of the 78-meter (255-foot) Sant Sebastià tower in Barceloneta, there’s a restaurant accessible by an elevator. You can also hike one of the trails to the summit of Montjuïc Hill, which takes as little as 30 minutes.

Miramar station (Paseo Juan de Borbón) and San Sebastián Tower (Avda. de Miramar), +34 934 304 716, telefericodebarcelona.com/en. Open daily 11am-5:30pm (10:30am-8pm in the summer). Round-trip tickets cost 16 EUR .

Here are some highlights of Montjuïc:

Castell de Montjuïc – This old fortress features military displays and information on the history of the castle. Admission is 12 EUR (13 EUR including a guided tour). It’s free on Sundays after 3pm as well as on the first Sunday of the month.

Joan Miró Foundation – Joan Miró was one of Catalonia’s most famous artists. Many of the artist’s surrealist works (over 14,000 of them) are on display in this museum. Most were donated by Miró himself. There is also a contemporary art collection that was put together as a tribute to the artist in the years after his death. Admission is 9 EUR.

Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya – This art museum houses Catalonian art, particularly Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque works. The fountain out front has a spectacular free show that takes place on Thursday, Fridays, and Saturdays from 9pm-10pm (April 1-May 31 and September 1-October 31) and 8pm-9pm (November 1-March 31), and Wednesday-Sundays from 9:30pm-10:30pm (from June 1-August 30). Currently, the fountain is closed during the drought so be sure to check their website for information. Admission is 12 EUR (free on Saturdays from 3pm and on the first Sunday of the month).

Poble Espanyol (Spanish Village) – The Spanish Village was built in 1929 to resemble an actual traditional village with 117 buildings from different Spanish regions. There’s an Andalusian quarter, a section of the Camino, a monastery, and more. It’s a good family activity. Admission is 13.50 EUR in advance online (15 EUR same day online or from the ticket office).

The Olympic Ring – When Barcelona hosted the 1992 Olympic Games, all of the excitement centered around the Olympic Ring: the Olympic Stadium, Palau Sant Jordi, and the Olympic Esplanade. You can roam the entire space for free.

• Devour – ( devourtours.com , from 80 EUR).
• bcnKITCHEN – ( bcnkitchen.com , from 50 EUR)
• Barcelona Cooking – ( barcelonacooking.net , from 75 EUR)
• Just Royal Bcn – ( justroyalbcn.com , from 110 EUR).

Barcelona Itinerary: Day 4

They filmed Game of Thrones here too and Game of Thrones walking tours are available for 35 EUR if you’re a die-hard fan who wants some behind-the-scenes info.

Overall, there’s a lot of history and delicious food in the city. The train ride is about 80 minutes on the normal train while the high-speed train gets there in 38 minutes. Return tickets start at 20 EUR.  

Other Things to See and Do in Barcelona

Head to Montserrat – The Montserrat mountain range is just an hour outside of the city by train and makes for a great getaway from Barcelona’s urban atmosphere. Once there, pay a visit to the famous shrine of the Black Madonna at the Santa Maria de Montserrat monastery. This Benedictine monastery is built into the mountain and it is claimed that the Black Madonna here was carved in Jerusalem during the early years of Christianity, (it most likely actually dates to the 12th century). The Benedictine monastery and the valley of unique, rocky pillars make for some really awesome photography.

Monserrat also has an Art Museum with works by Monet, Dali, Picasso, and many other famous artists. And don’t miss the local market — it’s the perfect place to buy local products like fresh produce, cheese, honey, and artisan crafts and it’s easy to find (it’s on the way to the monastery).

Guided day tours to Montserrat start around 70 EUR per person.

Visit an old-school amusement park – Tibidabo Barcelona, built in 1899, is one of the oldest amusement parks in the world. On a tall mountain in the Serra de Collserola, it also offers an incredible view of Barcelona and the coastline in addition to the rides, games, and restaurants there. It’s open on the weekends, except in the winter. Tibidabo Square, +34 932 117 942, tibidabo.cat. Hours vary depending on the season. Check the website for details. Admission is 35 EUR.

Catch an outdoor film – If you’re in Barcelona in July or August, consider going up to Montjuïc Castle to catch an outdoor film on the lawn of the castle’s moat. Screenings take place everyday at 10:30pm and are preceded by live music. Tickets are 7.50 EUR.

If you can’t make those screenings, try Sant Sebastià beach in Barceloneta (showing movies on Thursdays and Sundays) or Cosmonits at CosmoCaixa outside the Science Museum (Thursdays in July/first week of August). The Cine al Aire Libre–l’Illa Diagonal also has movies at the Gardens of San Juan De Dios on Thursday evenings in July as well.

Watch a soccer match – The first “football” game I ever saw was in Barcelona. It was Espanyol versus Valencia. I still have the shirt I bought that day. Barcelona’s two teams are Espanyol and FC Barcelona and, if a match is going on, try to take in one. Locals are obsessed with the sport and you’ll make a lot of good friends at the game! If you can’t make a game, you can tour the stadium and the FCB (or Barça) Museum for 28 EUR.

Visit the aquarium – Perfect for a rainy day, the Barcelona Aquarium has more than 11,000 animals, showcasing species from a variety of underwater ecosystems. The walk-through tunnel is the best part. Moll d’Espanya del Port Vell, +34 932 217 474, aquariumbcn.com/en. Open daily 10am-8pm, depending on the season. Admission is 25 EUR.

Gaze at Barcelona’s free public art – Gaudí outdid himself with the huge fountain located in the Parc de la Ciutadella, a tribute to the god Neptune. I absolutely love the art and fountain here. Gaudí designed the famous fountain when he was an architecture student. There’s also a zoo in the park and some short walking paths. Take a bottle of wine, grab some ham, and have a picnic.

Other offbeat Gaudí works include the lampposts in Plaça Reial and Pla de Palau and the Miralles gate and wall on Passeig de Manuel Girona.

Barcelona native Joan Miró’s work is found throughout the town as well; you can see his famous “Woman and Bird” sculpture at Parc de Joan Miró. There are also Miró mosaics on La Rambla and at the airport.  

Where to Eat in Barcelona

For some excellent food, be sure to check out some of my favorite places to eat in Barcelona:

• Les Quinze Nits – Delicious food at a great price. It’s a bit touristy, but even the locals come here for the value. Avoid the long lines at dinner by going for lunch instead.
• Quimet & Quimet – Tasty tapas and sandwiches in a cozy setting. There are over 500 types of wine on the menu too!
• 1881 per Sagardi – Upscale seafood restaurant in La Barceloneta with a view.
• Paradiso – Chic cocktail bar with delicious small plates. They offer mixology classes too.
• Pinotxo Bar – Just inside the Boquería food market, this little stall is always packed and serves some of the most famous tapas in the area.
• Tapeo – Original dishes and an expansive wine menu in an intimate Gothic Quarter space.
• La Fonda – Good food with large portions. Its set menu will give you more than you can eat, and it features beautiful décor and a robust wine selection.
• Botafumeiro – One of the best seafood joints in the city. Expect high prices!
• Dry Martini – Fancy cocktail bar with a classy wooden interior and strong Mad Men vibes (though there’s no dress code so don’t need to dress up).
• Els 4Gats (The Four Cats) – This was one of Picasso’s favorite haunts and a popular hangout for artists in the early 1900s. Grab a drink and maybe some tapas (the patatas bravas are delicious!) and soak up the place’s history.

Barcelona has something for everyone. You could squeeze in the real highlights of Barcelona in two or three days, but taking four, five, or even six days for the above itinerary will give you enough time to gorge on Iberian ham, tapas, and sangria while not rushing around.

Get Your In-Depth Budget Guide to Europe!

My detailed 200+ page guidebook is made for budget travelers like you! It cuts out the fluff found in other guides and gets straight to the practical information you need to travel while in Europe. It has suggested itineraries, budgets, ways to save money, on and off the beaten path things to see and do, non-touristy restaurants, markets, bars, safety tips, and much more! Click here to learn more and get your copy today.

Book Your Trip to Barcelona: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Use Skyscanner to find a cheap flight. They are my favorite search engine because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the biggest inventory and best deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. My favorite places to stay are:

• St. Christopher’s Inn

For more hostel suggestions, this post has all my top hostels in Barcelona .

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

• SafetyWing (best for everyone)
• Insure My Trip (for those over 70)
• Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)

Looking for the Best Companies to Save Money With? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use to save money when I’m on the road. They will save you money when you travel too.

Need a Guide? Barcelona has some really interesting tours. My favorite company is Take Walks . This day tour company will give you inside access to attractions and places you can’t get elsewhere. Their guides rock too!

Want More Information on Barcelona? Be sure to visit our robust destination guide to Barcelona for even more planning tips!

Got a comment on this article? Join the conversation on Facebook , Instagram , or Twitter and share your thoughts!

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I recommend only products and companies I use and the income goes to keeping the site community supported and ad free.

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Barcelona   Travel Guide

17 Best Things to Do in Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona has some of the most unique and inspiring architecture in the world, so a small-group tour to get behind-the-scenes at the city's parks, museums and churches is a must-do. Kick off your stay with tours of Antoni Gaudí's whimsical

• All Things To Do
• 1-Day Itinerary
• 2-Day Itinerary
• 3-Day Itinerary

La Sagrada Família (Church of the Sacred Family) La Sagrada Família (Church of the Sacred Family)

U.S. News Insider Tip: Wander 20 minutes north to reach Hospital de Sant Pau. This elaborate, UNESCO-listed former hospital was the brainchild of architect Lluis Domènech i Montaner and is a beautiful example of Catalan art nouveau architecture. – Laura French

From 1883 up until his death in 1926, Catalan art nouveau master Antoni Gaudí devoted himself to the construction of La Sagrada Família , a towering, Gothic-style-with-a-twist church. But even then, he was unable to finish it; Gaudí was known for saying "My client (God) is not in a hurry."

Barri Gòtic (Gothic Quarter) Barri Gòtic (Gothic Quarter)

The Barri Gòtic, or Gothic Quarter, sits at the heart of the Ciutat Vella – the oldest part of Barcelona – and, considering its location next to the city center, is one of its liveliest neighborhoods. Here you'll find beautiful examples of Roman and Medieval-era architecture rubbing elbows with the many shops, restaurants, alfresco cafes, bars and clubs that line its narrow roads and picturesque plazas – and there are so many plazas to explore. Aside from Plaça de la Seu, which you'll no doubt end up in if you visit the Barcelona Cathedral , make sure you stop in the smaller Plaça Sant Felip Neri, which was bombed by Spanish dictator Francisco Franco during the Spanish Civil War (you can see scars from the attack on the church in the square). The palm tree-clad Plaça Reial is meanwhile much more energetic and usually buzzes until the wee hours of the morning. Another notable plaza is Plaça Sant Jaume, where the Catalan seat of government has been since the Middle Ages.

No matter where you end up in the Gothic Quarter, travelers say its Spanish splendor will leave you charmed long after you leave. Many enjoyed strolling its narrow alleys and admiring its atmospheric, back-in-time architecture, and several said it was the highlight of their stay. Some suggested taking part in a walking tour if you're interested in learning more about the history behind the neighborhood. 

Casa Batlló Casa Batlló

U.S. News Insider Tip: From spring through fall, Casa Batlló hosts "Magic Nights" – a series of open-air concerts on the dragon roof terrace, with romantic views of the city. Tickets start at 59 euros (around $62) and include entry to Casa Batlló and a drink. – Laura French

The details highlighted in Casa Batlló show famous Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí at his best. Of all the Gaudí apartments in Barcelona, this is probably the most recognized (it's also a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Sitting down the street from Casa Milà, Casa Batlló is known for its vibrant colors, intricate tile work and skeletal terraces. The unconventional façade is inspired by the legend of St. George, the patron saint of Catalonia, who is said to have slayed a dragon to save the king’s daughter. The roof depicts the dragon's scaly back, while the skeletal balconies and boney windows are said to represent the dragon's previous victims (the legend goes that someone would be sacrificed every day so the dragon wouldn't take the whole town).

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Park Güell Park Güell

U.S. News Insider Tip: For more sweeping city views and fewer tourists, grab a five-minute taxi or walk 20 minutes uphill to reach Bunkers del Carmel – a viewpoint popular with locals, especially at sunset, when the lighting over the city is spectacular. – Laura French

Antoni Gaudí's Park Güell is as whimsical as parks can get. The park was originally supposed to be a housing community for the rich, commissioned by Eusebi Güell. Güell hired Gaudí but the project eventually folded due to the land's incompatible building conditions. Gaudí continued on, modeling the park after gardens he had seen in England (Güell means English in Catalan) and building around the natural elements of the land instead of tearing them down.

Las Ramblas Las Ramblas free

U.S. News Insider Tip:  Keep your hands on your bags and keep an eye out for pickpockets on this notoriously busy thoroughfare. – Erin Evans, Managing Editor

This wide, tree-lined boulevard is one of the city's major tourist hubs – so much so that if you're visiting Barcelona, you're bound to end up here eventually. Las Ramblas is a pedestrian-friendly pathway situated right smack dab in the middle of the city, so expect it to be busy all hours of the day and night. During the day, you can peruse souvenir stands, watch buskers and street performers, pick up some local art from artists selling on the street, or sit down and enjoy a light snack at one of the many alfresco cafes found here. When the sun sets, head here to start your night out – many bars and clubs can be found in the surrounding area.

Barceloneta Beach Barceloneta Beach free

U.S. News Insider Tip: While Barceloneta is a must-see with its lively bars and restaurants, it can get crowded, so if you're looking for a quieter alternative, wander 20 minutes up the coast to Playa de Bogatell (it attracts more locals and fewer tourists). – Laura French

In between all the cultural and artistic attractions Barcelona has up its sleeves, it's easy to forget that the city is situated right along the brilliantly blue waters of the Mediterranean. The city's swathes of sand are broken up into several different beaches – among them Barceloneta and the quieter Nova Icària. Both are separated by the Port Olímpic harbor, easily recognized by the two seafront skyscrapers and giant golden fish sculpture by artist Frank Gehry.

Casa Milà (La Pedrera) Casa Milà (La Pedrera)

The nickname, La Pedrera (meaning "the Quarry"), is appropriate for Antoni Gaudí's stately, fortress-like Casa Milà. Bobbing around the corner of Passeig de Gràcia and Carrer de Provença , this eclectic Catalan-style art nouveau building rubs elbows with the more classic architecture usually found in its neighborhood, Eixample. It is known for its wavy stone façades and intricate carvings that can only be attributed to Gaudí's quirky style. Casa Milà was originally constructed as a home for the commissioners of the building (Pere Milà i Camps and his wife), who also requested the complex included apartments for rent. Casa Milà was not only Gaudí's last work on Passeig de Gracia ( Casa Batlló is just a few blocks south), but his last civil work as well. Since then, Casa Milà has been designated as a National Monument of Interest by the Spanish government and a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Today, La Pedrera is a cultural center managed by the Catalunya La Pedrera Foundation. Come here to admire the architecture: there are few single straight walls or right-angled corners in the entire building. Also head to the roof to get a good look at Gaudí's whimsical chimneys (many designed to look like guardian warriors in armor), then work your way down through the exhibits to learn more about Casa Milà and Gaudí himself.

Mercat de la Boqueria (Boqueria Market) Mercat de la Boqueria (Boqueria Market) free

Even if you're not keen on visiting the touristy Las Ramblas , it's worth making the trek to this tree-lined thoroughfare to reach the foodie heaven that is the Boqueria Market. This was Barcelona's oldest local market, having opened in 1840 – but its foodie history spans much earlier than that. The first food vendors were said to have been around as early as the 13th century, selling meat on the streets. The market you see today wasn't around back then; it took four years to construct, once Saint Joseph's convent left the area (hence the name of the market). 

Today, that tradition of hawking goodies lives on, and the covered marketplace treats visitors to the vibrant colors and enticing aromas of everything from fruit juices and wines to fresh fish, meats, produce and desserts. Make sure to grab Spanish specialties while you're there, including jamón ibérico, manchego cheese and salted cod (or bacalao ). Bars and restaurants can also be found in and around the market, so food options truly abound here. 

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Palau de la Musica Catalana (Palace of Catalan Music) Palau de la Musica Catalana (Palace of Catalan Music)

Barcelona's Palau de la Música Catalana is considered to be a masterpiece of Catalan art nouveau. Built by architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner, the palace earned the title of a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its striking architectural features. Outside, make sure to snap a few photos of the intricate mosaic pillars and the busts nestled atop some of them, which depict famous musicians, such as Bach and Beethoven. The interior of the palace is even more of an eyeful, complete with mosaic pillars and intricate sculpture work of its own, as well as stained glass windows and beautiful motifs of flowers spread throughout. And you won't be able to miss the massive stained-glass central skylight – it protrudes from the ceiling, treating the concert auditorium to plenty of natural light. Aesthetics aside, the Palace of Catalan Music is a hub for classical and choral music and of course, Catalan musical arts. It also acts as a concert venue for local, national and international acts.

Travelers agree with the experts: the Palau de la Musica Catalana is an architectural marvel. Visitors thoroughly enjoyed admiring the many intricate details found throughout the music venue, saying even if you can't get tickets to a show, it's worth a visit just to see its magnificence in person. Some weren't crazy about the admission price, but many enjoyed the guided tour, and those who did attend a show said the experience was quite magical. 

Museu Picasso (Picasso Museum) Museu Picasso (Picasso Museum)

U.S. News Insider Tip: You can visit for free on Thursday evenings (from 5 to 7 p.m.), all day on the first Sunday of the month and on special Open Door days; check here for details. – Laura French

When you feel like you've hit your Gaudí limit, head to the Picasso Museum ( Museu Picasso ) for a change of pace. While most people know Pablo Picasso for his distorted portraits, this museum displays his work on a timeline of sorts, allowing you to follow his progression from the more controlled works of his early years to the very whimsical paintings and sculptures from the end of his career. Make sure you dedicate plenty of time to Picasso: the museum itself holds around 5,000 pieces by him, including works from his famous Blue Period. The museum also explores the artist's lifelong relationship with Barcelona, explaining why he chose the city for his museum before he died. 

Montjuïc Castle Montjuïc Castle

If you have even the slightest interest in history, make sure to add Montjuïc Castle to your Barcelona itinerary – the stone structure is teeming with history dating all the way back to the 11th century. The castle started out as a single watchtower that was occupied by a sailor looking out for enemy ships. During the Revolt of Catalonia during the mid-1600s, the government decided to add walls surrounding the watch tower when the threat of invasion from Spanish King Philip IV's fleet became imminent. Montjuïc Castle ended up defending the city from many attacks moving forward, including those carried out during the War of the Spanish Succession. It also served as a prison during the War of the Pyrenees and was occupied by Napoleon's troops in the early 1800s.

Montjuïc continued to serve as a prison under multiple political leaderships over the course of the 18th and 19th centuries, including during the Spanish Civil War. Francisco Franco, Spain's dictator from 1939 to 1975, took over Montjuïc and it became an internment camp for Republican soldiers (Franco was part of the Nationalist party that overthrew the democratic Republic of Spain at the time). It was here that the President of the Catalan Government, Lluís Companys, was executed at Franco's orders. 

Catedral de Barcelona (Barcelona Cathedral) Catedral de Barcelona (Barcelona Cathedral)

Towering above the center of the Barri Gòtic district is Barcelona's principal cathedral. The Gothic cathedral's construction began in the late 13th century, though it wasn't completed until the mid-15th century. While you're here, take time to explore the numerous examples of artisanship that went into completing the cathedral – from its exterior details to the many gold furnishings within, including its elaborate baroque altarpieces, as well as the 140-plus statues of saints that call the cathedral home. While you're here, make sure to stroll over to the cloister, which features a verdant tropical garden. 

Recent travelers found the Catedral de Barcelona to be stunning both inside and out, commenting on the elaborate altarpieces, stained-glass windows and impressive statues. Many recommended a stroll through the cloisters to see its pond, home to several geese, and climbing to the roof of the cathedral to get an eyeful of the spire up close, as well as prime city views. Make sure to wear the proper attire; according to recent visitors, the dress code here is strict and knees and shoulders should be covered. Shawls are said to be for sale for those who need to cover up. 

Gràcia Gràcia free

U.S. News Insider Tip: Come in late August for the free Festa Major de Gràcia (Gràcia Festival). During the weeklong celebration, streets come alive with colorful lanterns and other creations, competing to be the best decorated; expect live music, food, parades and Catalan correfoc fire displays. – Laura French

If you've already seen the bucket list sites and want to escape the crowds, amble north of the city to explore the charming, bohemian streets of Gràcia. Once its own separate town, this elegant, colorful neighborhood has kept its independent village feel, with cobbled streets, lively plazas and laid-back cafes aplenty. At its heart is Calle Verdi, lined with trendy boutiques, vintage stores, bookshops and restaurants, and Plaça de la Virreina, where locals gather on outdoor cafe terraces in the shadows of the Church of Saint Joan. While you're here, pay a visit to the UNESCO-listed Casa Vicens – Gaudí's first home in Barcelona, now a museum – and the Mercat de la Llibertat, a large food market where stalls overflow with fresh produce between brick-and-iron architecture.

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Parc de la Ciutadella Parc de la Ciutadella free

U.S. News Insider Tip: A five-minute walk from the park will take you to El Born – one of the city's trendiest neighborhoods, with tapas bars, indie boutiques and bistros lining cobbled lanes. Head to the Bormuth tapas bar for great food in a lively atmosphere. – Laura French

Built in the late 19th century on the grounds of a former citadel, Parc de la Ciutadella is one of Barcelona's most popular green spaces. At its heart you'll find an elaborate fountain, surrounded by sculptures and designed by architect Josep Fontserè i Mestre – who asked Gaudí, then still at university, to help out (visitors might recognize Gaudí's iconic style in the winged dragons guarding the fountain).

Mount Tibidabo Mount Tibidabo free

The highest mountain in the Serra de Collserola range, pine-forested Mount Tibidabo peers over the city, crowned by its neo-Gothic basilica, the Temple Expiatori del Sagrat Cor (or Temple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus). Built in the early 20th century in the northwest of the city, this elaborate, Catalan art nouveau-style masterpiece can be seen from almost anywhere in Barcelona and is well worth a visit in itself – but it's the views over the city that really astound here. A lift and several steps take you up to the tower, where a viewing platform offers a full panorama of the skyline and sea below.

It's not just the church that lures visitors to the mountain, though; it's also home to Tibidabo Amusement Park, one of the oldest theme parks in the world and the oldest in Spain, with a carrousel, bumper cars, Ferris wheel and several other attractions drawing families. Hiking trails are on the doorstep too, with much of the area protected under the Parc Natural de Collserola – the largest green space in Barcelona and the city's green lung.

Mercat de Sant Antoni Mercat de Sant Antoni free

There are ample reasons to visit the impressive Boqueria Market , but if you're after a less-touristy alternative, put Mercat de Sant Antoni on your list too. Located in the up-and-coming Sant Antoni neighborhood, the market originally opened in 1882 in an art nouveau, wrought-iron and glass building; neglected, it closed in 2009, but reopened nine years later following an 80 million euro refurbishment. Today, the market is home to a whole range of fresh products, from Spanish cured meats to fresh cheeses, fruit and vegetables, which sit beneath its striking, original octagonal domed ceiling. You'll also find stalls selling clothes, shoes, homeware and more. And on Sundays, the surrounding streets (which have been semi-pedestrianized under one of the city's traffic-free "superblocks") turn into one of Europe's largest outdoor book fairs.

Beyond the market, there's plenty to explore in the area, too; its opening helped revamp the neighborhood, turning it into something of a foodie paradise with tapas bars, bodegas and restaurants on almost every corner.

Museo de la Ciencia CosmoCaixa Museo de la Ciencia CosmoCaixa

Whether you're coming with kids or just want to embrace your inner child, Barcelona's science museum is well worth a visit. Housed in a modernist glass-and-steel building, it's home to an array of interactive exhibits ranging from the "Flooded Forest" – an Amazonian-style glasshouse home to piranhas, crocodiles and exotic plant species – to "The Universe Gallery," which focuses on all things space, from the creation of the cosmos to evolution and the human brain. Families can get hands-on with different experiments, from creating sandstorms and tornadoes to learning how soundwaves are transmitted, and there are some impressive design features too – don't miss the Foucault pendulum, a heavy iron ball used to demonstrate the earth's rotation; and the spiral staircase, which winds around a towering Amazonian Acariquara tree.

Recent visitors were highly impressed by the CosmoCaixa and enjoyed the interactive exhibits, especially the Amazonian rainforest section. Several said it was the best science museum they'd been to, with state-of-the-art facilities and plenty to see, and many recommended spending a few hours here. Others were surprised at how reasonably priced it was. A few said there wasn't much for very young children, but for many it provided a welcome escape from the heat and an impressive alternative to the better-known Barcelona sites.

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10 Beautiful Barcelona Itinerary Ideas [Barcelona Travel Tips and Guide]

Are you planning a trip to Barcelona, Spain? Check out these 10 essential Barcelona itinerary ideas (plus Barcelona travel tips and guide)!

Danny Newman

I was blown away by Barcelona when I travelled there a few years ago.

It’s a vibrant, charming, and intoxicating Mediterranean city that’s an absolute must for any European adventure.

However, the sheer amount of things to do in Barcelona can make it hard to plan your itinerary! With limited time and endless attractions on offer, deciding what to do in Barcelona (and what not to do) can be tough.

Thankfully, Robert Baker (writing on behalf of Outside Pursuits) has stepped in to lend a hand!

Whether you’re planning a quick Barcelona 2 day itinerary, a week-long adventure, or a month-long epic, his Barcelona travel tips and suggestions in this post should come in handy.

Keep reading to discover 10 Barcelona itinerary ideas and travel tips to help you make the most of your trip. Enjoy!

Heads up, this post contains affiliate links.

The incomparable Sagrada Familia in Barcelona- just one of the amazing things you should include on your Barcelona itinerary.

With Roman ruins, a medieval city centre, and an amazing selection of modern art attractions, it’s no surprise Barcelona is such a popular tourist destination.

Read on for a selection of travel tips and itinerary ideas for your visit to Europe’s most beautiful city!

5 Handy Barcelona Travel Tips

Be sure to keep these Barcelona travel tips in mind when booking your trip and exploring the city.

1. Fly there for less.

Barcelona is a popular destination, so it is well served by budget airlines.

Don’t just book the first flight you see with your favourite airline. Visit flight comparison websites like Skyscanner and Kayak to ensure you get the best deal.

2. Take a free tour of the city centre.

Free Walking Tours Barcelona provides free walking tours of the well-preserved medieval centre with streets originally laid out by Romans over 2,000 years ago.

3. Enjoy great lunchtime meals for less.

Many cafés and restaurants in Barcelona offer a special fixed price deal called the menú del día that enables you to try the local specialties without spending a fortune.

Typically, these are 3-course meals for less than €15. Often restaurants don’t advertise the menú del día , so make sure you ask.

4. Visit museums for free or for less.

Barcelona has a great selection of museums.

If you plan your visit to coincide with the first Sunday of the month, many museums offer free admission on that day.

And if you want to visit all the museums, consider buying an inclusive Barcelona Pass to gain entry into 30 attractions and public transport.

5. Don’t restrict yourself to the city.

There are lots of wonderful attractions within a short drive from Barcelona that you won’t want to miss.

For example, more spiritually-minded tourists might enjoy a pilgrimage to Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey 30 miles northwest of Barcelona. Many tour companies based in Barcelona offer great day trips into the surrounding countryside.

5 Packing List Essentials for Your Barcelona Itinerary

Visiting Barcelona tourist hotspots or Barcelona off the beaten path destinations will be made made easier with the following travel gear:

1. A Secure Travel Bag

First off, you’ll need a convenient bag. Duffle bags are easy to use, but many tourists today opt for lightweight rolling luggage that’s convenient for traveling. Ensure your bag is lockable because the pickpockets in the Metro are extremely skilled.

This guide to the best backpacks for travelling Europe should help.

Top Pick: Matein Anti-Theft Travel Backpack

2. Bad Weather Protection

Most people visualize Barcelona as a perpetually sunny city.

In truth, spring and autumn both see a lot of rain. So, you’ll need a raincoat, umbrella, and a waterproof backpack for sightseeing during the rainy seasons.

Top Pick: EEZ-Y Compact Travel Umbrella

3. Travel Moneybelt

Barcelona is a densely populated place! With endless tourist hotspots and tightly-packed metros, there’s a lot of room for pickpockets.

Protect your valuables by wearing a travel moneybelt when you’re out sightseeing.

Tip Pick: Alpha Keeper RFID Moneybelt

4. Sun Protection!

When it’s not raining, it’s really sunny, so a hat and sunscreen are essential. Otherwise, you risk sunburn and all the pain/discomfort that creates- the last thing you want when exploring Barcelona!

Top Pick: Sun Bum Vegan Sunscreen

5. A Quality Camera

Barcelona has beautiful architecture that you’ll certainly want to photograph, so a good-quality camera is essential.

If you want to be in the photo, consider packing a selfie stick, too. However, note that selfie sticks have actually been banned at some local attractions, such as the Picasso Museum and Casa Amatller.

Check out this list of the best backpacking cameras for help choosing one!

Top Pick: Olympus OM-D EM-10 Mark 2 Mirrorless Camera

10 Essential Stops for Your Barcelona 2 Day Itinerary or Longer

Check out these 10 suggestions for things to do in Barcelona. Whether you’re planning a Barcelona 2 day itinerary or more, they’re sure to help you have a special time in the city.

1. Walk Down La Rambla

La Rambla is a pedestrianized street in the centre of Barcelona where you’ll find Boqueria Market, live performances, human statues, museums, and other attractions.

At the bottom of La Rambla, the 197-feet-high Columbus Monument offers fantastic views of the city. It’s one of the essential things to do in Barcelona in 2 days or more in the city.

2. Visit the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc

The Magic Fountain of Montjuïc is a musical fountain with half-hourly shows during the weekends and summer high season.

You may recall this fountain from the 1992 Summer Olympics when the song Barcelona by Freddie Mercury was played repeatedly.

3. Enjoy Artsy Family Fun a Park Guell

Gaudi’s famous Park Güell is a fabulous place to explore modern architecture and art within a broader natural setting. It’s a great place to take the whole family, and kids under 7 get in for free.

4. Celebrate Soccer at Barcelona FC Museum

Soccer fans should head to the Barcelona FC Museum for an insider’s view of the training and lifestyle of world-class footballers.

The museum includes multimedia installations, an audiovisual area, and access to the famous grounds, including the player’s tunnel and changing rooms.

5. Visit the Picasso Museum

If you’re interested in the life and works of Pablo Picasso, you’ll love The Picasso Museum.

The exhibits follow Picasso’s career from schoolwork to his final pieces.

It’s rare you’ll find an art museum that offers such a complete insight into the whole life of a public figure. It’s a great stop throughout the year, but one of the best things to do in Barcelona in winter!

6. Go to Barcelona Zoo

Nature lovers will enjoy a visit to world-class Barcelona Zoo.

The zoo offers an amazing behind-the-scenes tour and performing dolphins. There are many rare and endangered species, and the zoo is a great place to learn about ecology and animal welfare.

7. Visit the L’Aquarium Barcelona

If you enjoyed the zoo, you’ll love L’Aquarium Barcelona.

There are 450 aquatic species spread across 35 aquariums. Most visitors head straight for the shark tank, where an underwater tunnel enables you to come eye-to-eye with some of the scariest creatures in the world.

The aquarium offers a special overnight camping activity for kids called ‘Sleeping with Sharks’. It’s surely one of the best things to do in Barcelona at night!

8. Take Your Kids to Tibidabo Amusement Park.

Tibidabo Amusement Park is one of the world’s oldest amusement parks, so many of the rides and attractions are antiques.

The suspended airplane ride is one of the most iconic attractions in the city. Check out the historic automaton collection, some dating to the 19th century.

All told, the Tibidabo amusement would make one of the best things to do in Barcelona with kids.

9. Take the Montjuic Cable Car

Go for a ride in the Montjuïc Cable Car for scenic views across the city.

The cable car takes you from Montjuïc Park to Montjuïc Castle (more on this next!).

10. Visit Montjuic Castle

If you’re interested in history (and/or want romantic things to do in Barcelona), then head to the 17th-century Montjuïc Castle.

This magical place boasts breath-taking panoramic views of the city, and your kids will enjoy pretending to be princes and princesses atop the high battlements. Check out the armour museum inside too!

Time to Plan Your Barcelona Itinerary

This is just a list of 10 of the more popular attractions in Barcelona.

Don’t forget there are also Roman ruins, medieval buildings, and many more art museums. I didn’t even include the famous Sagrada Familia church designed by Gaudi, which is Barcelona’s most iconic landmark.

If a visit to Barcelona isn’t yet on your bucket list, it should be! Hopefully, the Barcelona itinerary ideas in this post will help you plan the trip.

The Hoptale Blog

Building a community of global travelers, one hop at a time

16 Top Things to Do in Barcelona: A Practical Guide for First Time Visitors

• First-Time Visitor Guides

Visiting Barcelona for the very first time? Well known for its Gothic churches, architectural  wonders, eclectic nightlife, and outstanding culinary scene, the capital of Catalonia and the second-largest city in Spain is a popular tourist destination. Whether you wish to admire the modernist landmarks designed by Gaudi , explore the city’s gorgeous seaside and mountain landscapes, or have a foodgasm at Basque-style tapas bars, there is plenty to look forward to when visiting this enchanting city. 

We have prepared this special Barcelona travel guide for first-time visitors. It provides useful tips from fellow travelers, opens your eyes to the most popular tourist attractions, and offers a selection of unique things to do in Barcelona as well.

What Is In This Guide

Best time to visit barcelona, barcelona itinerary ideas, travel tips for barcelona, 16 top attractions in barcelona, unique things to do in barcelona.

Blessed with a delightful Mediterranean climate, Barcelona is a year-round destination. The most popular time to visit the capital of Catalonia is in the summer, especially for beachgoers who wish to enjoy endless blue skies and chill on the beach. Winters in Barcelona are mild, which means you can explore tourist attractions without catching a cold. Late spring and early fall are also good times to visit Barcelona with pleasant weather and fewer crowds than in the summer.

As a start, let’s look at a few selected Barcelona trips from other Hoptale travelers. You will get a better idea of what this city is all about, what to do in Barcelona, and some inspiration for building your own Barcelona itinerary.

4 Days in Barcelona Family Trip

BARCELONA 🇪🇸

Montserrat Abbey | Cathedral of Barcelona | Casa Batllo | La Sagrada Familia | Casa Mila | Park Guell | Dalí Theatre-Museum | Arc de Triomf | …

4 Days in Barcelona Couple Trip

A Weekend in Barcelona

Montserrat Abbey | Cathedral of Barcelona | Casa Batllo | El Born | Mercado de La Boqueria | Park Guell | La Sagrada Familia | Ciutadella Park | La Rambla | …

7 Days in Barcelona Family Trip

La Sagrada Familia | Boqueria Market | Casa Mila | Aquarium Barcelona | Palau de la Música Catalana | Casa Batllo | Picasso Museum | Park Guell | …

2 Days in Barcelona with Friends

Barcelona, Spain

by gloria_v

La Sagrada Familia | Ciutadella Park | Cathedral of Barcelona | Mercado de La Boqueria | Barceloneta Beach | La Rambla | Port Olímpic | Park Guell | …

Here are some tips and tricks to help you settle in quickly on your first trip to Barcelona.

Covid-Related Travel Restrictions:

Getting in barcelona:, getting around barcelona:, official language in barcelona:, currency & money matters:, purchase tickets for attractions in advance:, save with the barcelona card:, tipping in barcelona:.

Barcelona offers something for every traveler, from gothic churches to modernist architecture, from quaint historic neighborhoods to mouth-watering seafood markets. We have prepared a list of top attractions in Barcelona based on the real trip experiences of Hoptale users. These top attractions should easily fill your itinerary for a 3-day or 4-day trip. There are certainly many more sites to see in Barcelona, but for your first trip, this is a good list to start without feeling overwhelmed. If you have more time to spend or are looking for more special things to do in Barcelona, we suggest you also check out the next section .

1. La Sagrada Familia

architectural site church / cathedral

Gaudí’s masterpiece in Barcelona, La Sagrada Familia is a gorgeous church that attracts over 3 million tourists each year. The construction of the iconic church started in 1882 and is projected to finish in 2026. The intricate exterior looks amazing and features 3 different facades: the Nativity facade, the Passion facade, and the Glory facade. The interior of this Catholic basilica is even more breathtaking.

Plan your visit in the late afternoon when the sunlight seeps through the stained glass on the west side. It’s a truly magical sight to see the tall chamber light up in vibrant rainbow colors. You can also take a tour to go up one of the finished towers and enjoy panoramic city views from the top.

Cost of visit : 20 Euro Estimated visit length : 1-2 hours

2. Park Guell

park / garden

Located on a hill on the outskirts of Gracia, Park Guell is a UNESCO-listed public park designed by Gaudi in the 1900s (including a museum dedicated to the architect, Gaudi House Museum). This enchanting place is well-known for its colorful mosaics, whimsical decorations, and ornamental paths. The park is largely free for public access except a small restricted section called the Monumental Zone . Most of Gaudi’s work is located in this zone so it’s definitely the most popular part of the park. The entry to the zone is limited to a maximum of 400 people every half an hour. It is highly recommended to book tickets for your desired entry time in advance.

Cost of visit : Free admission except the Monumental Zone ( 10 Euro ) and Gaudi House Museum (5.5 Euro) Estimated visit length : 2-3 hours

3. La Rambla

famous street shopping street

Dividing the old town into two parts, La Rambla is a tree-lined pedestrian street with expansive sidewalks. This famous promenade of Barcelona connects the Plaza de Catalunya in the city center with the Columbus Monument (Mirador de Colom) at Port Vell. As the heart of Barcelona’s social life, the nearly one-mile boulevard features numerous cafes, boutiques, florists, gelaterías, and restaurants. There are a few tourist attractions along La Rambla that are worth a stop: Mercado de La Boqueria (the next attraction on this list), Gran Teatre del Liceu, Plaça Reial, and Guell Palace.

Cost of visit : Free Estimated visit length : 2-3 hours

4. Mercado de La Boqueria

seafood market

Mercado de La Boqueria is the oldest market in Barcelona. Often referred to as La Boqueria, this 13th-century market is more than your average tourist attraction. Expect to see a colorful display of fresh fruits, veggies, and sweet pastries, as well as rows of casual in-house restaurants and bars where you can enjoy a light snack or even a full dinner. From fried baby squid to freshly grilled langoustine, this is the place to get your seafood craving fixed. Here are some of the most popular seafood bars/restaurants inside the market.

Cost of visit : Free Estimated visit length : 1-2 hours

5. Casa Batllo

architectural site

One of Antoni Gaudí’s most famous masterpieces, Casa Batllo is a stunning building located in the center of Barcelona. Famed for its beautiful façade, shards of stained glass, and whimsical rooftop, this jaw-dropping architectural wonder is a must-visit destination on your Barcelona trip.

Cost of visit : 25 Euro if booked online (29 Euro on site) Estimated visit length : 1 hour

6. Casa Mila (La Pedrera)

Located just a short walk from Casa Batlló, Casa Mila is another amazing modernist building designed by Gaudi. This UNESCO-listed building is blessed with contemporary innovations and stunning architectural design. An interesting fact is that the building’s chimney-like structures inspired George Lucas to design the stormtrooper helmets for the popular Star Wars movies.

Cost of visit : 24 Euro if booked online (27 Euro on site) Estimated visit length : 1 hour

7. Cathedral of Barcelona

church / cathedral

The seat of the Archbishop of Barcelona, Cathedral of Barcelona is a giant Gothic temple also known as Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia. The entire church is ornate with spires and towers looking up into the sky. The architecture inside is breathtaking and we recommend taking the elevator to the top, to enjoy magnificent views of the city.  If your visit is on a Thursday, don’t miss the antique market, Mercat Gotic , held from 10am to 8pm on the square in front of the cathedral.

Cost of visit : Free Estimated visit length : < 1 hour

8. Gothic Quarter

historic neighborhood

Barcelona has a few historic neighborhoods that you have to experience on foot. The Gothic Quarter, also known as Barri Gòtic, is one of those. With a delightful maze of narrow cobblestone streets and alleyways dotted with relics of ancient Roman buildings, little cafes with sidewalk terraces, and chic boutiques, this historic quarter is definitely worth exploring. Not to be missed is Plaça del Rei , a beautiful square that hosts outdoor concerts.

El Born is without a doubt the trendiest neighborhood in Barcelona. Located between Ciutadella Park and the Gothic Quarter, this vibrant neighborhood is well-known for its artistic edge. In addition to many great tapas bars, chic bistros, and nightlife options, you will find plenty of cultural attractions including the textile museum and the Picasso museum in this bohemian neighborhood in Barcelona.

10. Picasso Museum

Located in the heart of the quaint El Born neighborhood, Picasso Museum in Barcelona specializes in the very early and very late works of Picasso, especially sketches and paintings from the artist’s characterizing youth. Despite not having some of his more famous Cubist paintings, this museum is a great place to see what goes behind Picasso’s masterpieces. You will learn a fascinating part of his life as the artist actually lived in Barcelona for most of his life. One of the museum highlights is Las Meninas – a series of 58 paintings that Pablo Picasso painted in 1957 by performing a comprehensive analysis, reinterpreting and recreating several times the famous Las Meninas painting by Diego Velázquez .

Cost of visit : 12 Euro Estimated visit length : 1-2 hours

11. Ciutadella Park

Ciutadella Park is the largest green space within the old city. You won’t miss its impressive entrance, Arc de Triomf . It was built for the 1888 Universal Exhibition which was held in the park and has since become one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. Inside the park, you will find a serene boating lake, a stunning golden waterfall called Cascada Monumental, a zoo, and the Museum of Natural Science.  Other attractions at this 70-acre park include a sculpture honoring Catalans killed in World War I and the huge mammoth sculpture.

12. Port Olimpic

port / harbor marina

A popular leisure area in Barcelona, Port Olímpic is the gateway to the city’s best beaches (La Barceloneta, Playa de Bogatell, Platja de San Sebastian …).  It’s an ideal place to enjoy some watersports or dine at one of the best seafood restaurants in town. This marina was built for the Olympic sailing events and has a strong Mediterranean feel to it.

13. Plaza de Catalunya

plaza / square

A large square in the center of Barcelona, Plaza de Catalunya is a popular area to hang out for both the locals and the visitors. With many department stores and shopping centers around, this plaza is usually packed with crowds. Plaza de Catalunya is also a central transport hub of Barcelona and connects the old town ( Ciutat Vella ) with the Eixample district.

14. Palau de la Musica Catalana

theater / performance

Palau de la Musica Catalana is a 19th-century concert hall famed for its over-the-top ornate interior with glass-top ceilings. The exterior which features ornate columns and mosaic work also looks spectacular. What’s also interesting about Palau de la Musica Catalana is that it’s Europe’s only music hall that is illuminated entirely by natural light during daylight.

Cost of visit : 20 Euro Estimated visit length : < 1 hour

15. Temple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

religious site

No visit to Barcelona is complete without stopping by the Temple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Nestled on the top of Mount Tibidabo , this Roman Catholic Church and minor basilica is an iconic feature of the city’s skyline. What can I do there, you ask? Enjoy magnificent views of Barcelona and its surrounding countryside, snap an Instagram-worthy photo of the hilltop basilica with the giant statue of Jesus, or have fun at Spain’s oldest functioning amusement park, Tibidabo Amusement Park .

Cost of visit : Free (except a 4 Euro fee to take the elevator to the top platforms ) Estimated visit length : 2-3 hours

16. Castell de Montjuic

castle / palace

An old military fortress that dominates Montjuïc hill in Barcelona, Castell de Montjuic is a 17th-century castle that used to serve as a military base and even as a prison. Nowadays, it is a museum that you can visit while exploring the steep hill and park of Montjuïc. This cultural site often hosts concerts, seminars, and exhibitions. The views from the castle are simply amazing.

Cost of visit :  5 Euro Estimated visit length : 1-2 hours

Other than the popular tourist attractions, Barcelona also offers many experiences unique to Spanish and Catalonia culture. We have gathered a list of them here to help make your first Barcelona trip even more memorable.

Try Spanish Tapas with Sangria:

Catch a flamenco performance:, take a paella cooking lesson with the locals:, go on a gaudi tour:, enjoy sunset views from bunker del carmel:, open air cinema sant sebastià beach:, day trips from barcelona:.

Hope our Barcelona travel guide is helpful. Share with us any questions you might have below. When you return from your first trip, we would love to hear what are your favorite things to do in Barcelona!

By Dejan Badnjarevic | Cover photo by Daniel Corneschi on Unsplash

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Finding the Universe

Travel tales, photography and a dash of humor

3 Days in Barcelona: The Ultimate Barcelona Itinerary

Last updated: December 16, 2023 . Written by Laurence Norah - 83 Comments

Barcelona is one of Europe’s most popular cities for visitors, and one of our favourite cities too. There’s loads to see and do, from the incredible architecture of Anton Gaudí, through to museums, UNESCO world heritage sites, markets, delicious tapas – and even a beach.

As you might imagine, it is not hard to fill your time when visiting Barcelona, even with three full days to play with. We’ve visited multiple times, and are always coming across new sites and things to do.

You should be aware that Barcelona is a fairly big city, with a number of fairly distinct areas. It does have a good public transport system, but obviously you want to spend more of your time sightseeing and less of your time on a bus or metro.

With that in mind, I’ve put together what I think is a good overview of some of the city’s main sights that will help you spend 3 days in Barcelona, either as part of a long weekend, or a longer European itinerary like this .

I’ve ordered the sights for each day by a logical order of how you might want to visit them and also put those sights first that you should visit earlier in the day before the crowds arrive, where possible.

Barcelona is very popular with visitors, and especially in the summer months attractions can become very crowded, so booking ahead where possible and turning up early are the key to a frustration free trip.

You might also want to consider looking into the Go Barcelona Pass , Barcelona City Pass , or Barcelona Card for your visit. These offer free and discounted admission, as well as skip the line access, travel options and various other perks that might make your visit easier.

For each attraction, I’ve highlighted which pass is best, and there’s a section on passes for Barcelona towards the end of the post. Jess has also written a comprehensive review and guide to using the Go Barcelona Pass , as well as a comparison of the main discount passes available in Barcelona , which are both worth a read.

Of course, an itinerary like this should just be a starting point for your plans, and at the end I’ve also added some optional sights that you might want to add in. You could also extend this itinerary over some more days if you really want to take your time exploring Barcelona. If you have less time, take a look at our suggested 2 day Barcelona itinerary .

Now, let’s take a look at our idea of the perfect way to spend 3 days in Barcelona.

A 3 Day Barcelona Itinerary

Barcelona itinerary: day 1.

The first day of our exploration focuses on the city centre of Barcelona, and everything here is easily walkable. It covers some of the more famous works by Anton Gaudí , plus one of the city’s most famous streets.

Casa Batlló

One of the most famous of Gaudí’s houses in Barcelona, Casa Batlló is also one of the most popular, so we definitely recommend you put this at the beginning of your day.

Even from the outside this property is intriguing, with the famous balconies on the building’s façade, which are reminiscent of Venetian masks.

Inside, there’s a stunning spine-like staircase and organic-feeling rooms which you can explore at your leisure before emerging onto the incredible roof terrace which is shaped to represent a dragon – one of Gaudí’s favourite icons.

As already mentioned, this is a popular spot. You can skip the ticket line by booking your ticket online in advance on GetYourGuide here . We recommend GetYourGuide for individual tickets as they usually include free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance of your visit, which can be great if your plans change for any reason. Obviously you’ll want to check the cancellation policy of any ticket before booking though to be sure.

Casa Batlló is also included on the Go Barcelona Pass , giving you free entry to this, and many other attractions on the itinerary. It’s also included on the 3 Houses of Gaudi pass .

Alternatively, you can get discounted admission with a Barcelona Card if you buy your ticket on the door, or by booking in advance if you have a Barcelona City Pass.

Casa Milá , also known as La Pedrera, is a short walk from Casa Batlló, and is another of Gaudí’s houses in Barcelona – the last of his major civil works.

This one also has a famous façade, this time of undulating limestone, the stone-like look which earned it the nickname “La Pedrera”, which means the Quarry. This façade is self-supporting, freeing up the rest of the building from requiring load-bearing walls.

As soon as you enter the building, it will intrigue you. From the ground floor courtyard looking up there’s an incredible view of the inside of the building, with light pouring in from the roof to the interior apartments. As you go up the floors, you’ll explore some of the apartments that are open to the public, as well as the magnificent brick-ribbed loft space.

The highlight for many though is the roof terrace area, with its famous chimneys, skylights, and stairways. From here there are excellent views across the city, including to some of Gaudí’s other works, most notably the Sagrada Familia.

Casa Milá is also a popular stop for visitors. It’s a good place to use the Go Barcelona Pass, which has skip the line access to Casa Mila , meaning you don’t need to queue to get in here. It’s also included on the 3 Houses of Gaudi pass .

Again, you can get discounted admission with a Barcelona Card if you buy your ticket on the door, or by booking in advance when you buy your Barcelona City Pass. Alternatively, buy your tickets online in advance here .

Las Ramblas

Time for a spot of walking, and maybe all this sight-seeing has you hungry? Why not head past Plaça de Catalunya, and onto one of the city’s most famous streets for a stroll – Las Ramblas. Take a drink from the fountain at the northern end of the street, which will guarantee you’ll return to the city.

Then, head down the street for a spot of people watching and a wide range of outdoor dining options. Sure, they might not be the cheapest or most “authentic” options, but hey, you can get a pitcher of Sangria and watch the world go by, and what’s wrong with that?

La Boqueria

About half way down Las Ramblas you’ll come to La Boqueria, the city’s oldest and most famous market. This used to be just outside the old city wall, and has always been famous as the market that would have the items you couldn’t find elsewhere.

Today, the market is still popular with locals and visitors alike, and still has the reputation for having one of the widest choices of the city markets, with everything from meat and fish through to fruit, sweets and even food stalls.

It’s a good place to get a freshly squeezed fruit juice, to have a snack or just to admire the 19th century Modernista design, which is certainly worth the visit alone.

Mirador de Colom (Columbus Monument)

From Palau Güell, I suggest you continue your journey south along Las Ramblas until you get to the end, where you’ll be greeted by the sight of a large column, atop which sits a statue of Christopher Columbus, the famous Italian explorer largely responsible for opening up the Americas to European exploration.

This was a venture he achieved under the sponsorship of the Spanish monarchs at the time, and the statue commemorates his first voyage to the Americas.

Originally built for the Barcelona Universal Exposition in 1888, today the statue serves as both monument and tourist attraction, with the bonus that you can head up inside it for good views of the southern side of the city, including along the port and an excellent aerial view up Las Ramblas.

There’s an entry fee to the monument. Tickets can be bought in person. You get a discount if you have a Barcelona Card and if you book in advance if you have a Barcelona City Pass.

Las Golondrinas Boat Tour

At the end of Las Ramblas where you find the Columbus Monument is the marina area of Barcelona. So far the day has involved a fair bit of walking, so this might be a good opportunity to rest and let the scenery float by, perhaps accompanied by a coffee or something stronger.

From the port area, a number of operators offer boat tours of varying length which will give you a different perspective of Barcelona harbour.

We took the 90 minute boat tour with Las Golondrinas , which is included for free with the Go Barcelona Pass (discounted for holders of the Barcelona Card or Barcelona City Pass).

There are a number of operators though with different tour lengths and routes, depending on what you want to see.

Barcelona Aquarium or Catalonia History Museum

If a boat ride isn’t for you, or you want to keep exploring once the ride is finished, there are a couple of great options at this end of town.

Depending on your interests, you could visit the Barcelona Aquarium or the Catalonia History Museum (the former is free with the Go Barcelona Pass and both are discounted with the Barcelona Card & Barcelona City Pass).

Alternatively, you can buy tickets for the Aquarium here , and the history museum here .

We’ve been to both, the former is an excellent Aquarium and a good option for families. The Catalonia History Museum will take you through the full history of the region and its people, from prehistory right up to the modern day. It’s a fascinating insight into the region, and will keep you occupied for some time.

And that’s the end of a full first day in Barcelona! Time for an evening drink and some food, before we kick off our second day of our three day Barcelona itinerary.

Barcelona Itinerary: Day 2

Our second day in Barcelona will have you exploring the more north-eastern part of the city and visiting some of Barcelona’s highlights, starting with the famous:

Sagrada Familia

Without a doubt Gaudí’s masterpiece, this massive basilica was the work that Gaudí was labouring over when he tragically died. Construction started in 1882, although by the time of Gaudí’s death in 1926 it was still less than a quarter finished. At time of writing, it’s still not complete.

This doesn’t mean you can’t visit though. Despite this being an active construction zone, the majority of building is open to the public.

It’s another popular stop, so again we suggest you pencil this in as the first stop of the day – perhaps taking in sunrise from the park over the road, before heading in.

Entry is timed, and tickets sell out well in advance, so you will definitely want to buy your ticket online in advance and pick a time slot that suits you. You can do that on the official website here , as well as on Tiqets here and GetYourGuide here .

Note, the official website tends to have the lowest prices, but we suggest also checking out GetYourGuide as the majority of their tickets include the option to cancel up to 24 hours in advance of your visit, which can be worth a slightly higher price in our opinion.

Note that as of 2022, tickets for entry prior to the last two hours of opening are a little more expensive, but do include an audioguide, which is well worth it.

Again, as it gets later in the day the building gets more crowded, so we definitely recommend visiting earlier in the day if you can. There’s also the option to take a guided tour of the cathedral .

Holders of the Barcelona Card get a discount on tickets, however to our knowledge this can only be redeemed when purchasing tickets in person, not online.

A number of passes include entry to the Sagrada Familia. The Go Barcelona Pass includes a guided tour, which is an excellent option for learning more about what you are seeing. The Barcelona City Pass also includes the Sagrada Familia, and lets you book your entrance time online before you go.

Another option is the Gaudi bundle , which includes pre-booked timed entry to the Sagrada Familia and Parc Guell, as well as an audioguide that covers both attractions.

See more on discount passes in Barcelona in the section on saving money in Barcelona below. We also recommend reading our guide to visiting the Sagrada Familia , which has everything you need to know to plan your visit.

Recinte Modernista Sant Pau

A relatively new opening to Barcelona visitors, the Recinte Modernista Sant Pau is quickly becoming one of Barcelona’s more popular attractions.

Originally built as a hospital, this series of buildings is one of the finest examples of Art Nouveau architecture in Europe, and has been awarded UNESCO world heritage status alongside the Palau de la Musica Catalana in the Gothic Quarter.

You can explore this complex and go inside a number of the buildings. It’s just a stunningly beautiful place to walk around and experience, both inside and outside, and is only a 15 – 20 minute walk from the Sagrada Familia. Well worth doing.

Free to Go Barcelona Pass holders, discounted admission for Barcelona Card holders. You can also buy tickets online in advance here .

Gaudí Experience 4D

Next on our itinerary is a trip up towards Park Güell. On the way, we suggest you might want to pop into the Gaudí experience , an interactive exhibition that will take you through the life and works of the architect responsible for so many of Barcelona’s sights. There’s an overview of some of his most notable works, as well as a 4D cinema.

Free with the Go Barcelona Pass, or you can buy a ticket online in advance here .

Situated on the hills towards the north of the city, Park Güell is another of Gaudí’s works. This is a little bit different though, being as it is a large park area with a number of installations to explore and visit.

Originally planned as a housing development of upper class properties offering spectacular views, the vision of sixty homes was never realised, with only two actually completed.

However, many of the features envisioned by Gaudí for the public spaces were created, including the entrance houses, main terrace area, mosaic serpentine bench, and colonnaded footpaths.

There is also a house museum you can visit on site which was Gaudí’s home for the last twenty years of his life. This has a separate entry fee, but if you are interested in seeing how he lived, is worth the visit.

Park Güell used to be free to visit, but its overwhelming popularity led to a ticketing system being put in place.

This has timed entrances, helping to keep the park more pleasant for everyone to visit. You can visit parts of the park without a ticket, but the key attractions, known as the Monumental Zone, do require a ticket.

You will want to book tickets for Park Güell online in advance , which you can do on GetYourGuide here , or on the official site here . This is definitely recommended to be sure you are not disappointed or have to wait when you arrive. If you do this, be sure you arrive at the entry time specified on the ticket as otherwise you won’t be able to get in.

Holders of the Barcelona City Pass can also pre-book their timed entry to Parc Guell online, and entry is also included as part of this card. Holders of the Go Barcelona Pass can visit Parc Guell as part of a free guided tour.

If you don’t want to invest in one of these passes but still want to visit both Park Güell and the Sagrada Familia, you might consider a Gaudi bundle , which includes pre-booked timed entry to both attractions, as well as an audioguide that covers both attractions.

And that sums up our second day of exploration in Barcelona! It might seem that there’s not so much on this day, but the attractions will take you a while to visit, and you will have to factor in transit times between them, so we’d suggest not trying to add too much more to today in case you run out of time.

Barcelona Itinerary: Day 3

The third day on our Barcelona itinerary has us starting in the Gothic Quarter, and then heading up above the town to visit a castle and a number of Barcelona’s most popular museums, finishing off with a spectacular free sound and light display. But first, we start with the:

Chocolate Museum

What better way to start the day than with chocolate? And given that your entry ticket to Barcelona’s chocolate museum is actually a real bar of chocolate, you can’t fail to be happy when you visit.

When you do, you’ll learn all about the history of one of the world’s favourite treats, including how it came to be so popular in Europe, how it is made, and some of the culture that grew up around it. Barcelona was one of the major ports for chocolate to arrive into Europe, and it played a key role in the economy of the city.

Also fun are the many chocolate statues and displays made of chocolate. Definitely a fun way to start a full day of exploration in Barcelona!

This one is free for Barcelona Card holders, or you can buy your ticket online in advance here .

Gothic Quarter

From the Chocolate Museum you’re going to head deep into the warren of narrow streets that is the Gothic Quarter.

This is the oldest part of the city, and is where some of the highlights of Barcelona are tucked away. I’d definitely recommend having a paper map handy when you start to explore – the high buildings and narrow streets mean GPS signals can get easily confused.

Whilst wandering the Gothic Quarter is an experience of itself, there are a number of attractions within that you should check out. First of these, coming from the Chocolate Museum, is the excellent Picasso Museum , which celebrates the early part of the artists life and work, as well as housing some of his later work. A must for fans. You can book a guided tour of the museum here .

From here, you can also visit the UNESCO world heritage listed Palau de la Musica Catalana . You can book tickets for this online here , or buy them in person at the box office. If you have a Barcelona Card, it’s good for a 20% discount on the tour price, but only when purchasing tickets in person.

A good option is also to visit the Palau de la Musica for a performance. You can see all the upcoming performances and book tickets for them here .

Heading further west in the Gothic Quarter, you’ll find yourself at Barcelona’s massive gothic Cathedral. This is free to enter, and worth popping into.

Next to it is the Gaudí Exhibition Centre, the first museum entirely dedicated to the works of Anton Gaudí. You can learn all about the architect and his architecture through images, models, audio-visuals and documents, and it’s a fascinating journey through his work.

Montjuïc Hill Attractions

We’re now going to head up Montjuïc Hill, which has a number of attractions atop it. Depending on your interests and how much time you have, you will probably want to pick a few of these rather than try to rush around all of them.

Montjuïc Castle

First on my list is the large fortress atop the hill, Montjuïc Castle . This huge fortress has played a key role in the history of the city over the last few hundred years, serving as a Spanish control over the potentially unruly Catalan city, as well as a prison and execution centre.

Today the castle is open to visitors and you can wander the huge walls, take in the views across the city skyline, and think back to darker times. There’s an entry fee, although it’s free to visit on Sunday afternoons.

Poble Espanyol

If you’re interested in learning about the different regions of Spain, and in particular their architecture and food, then a visit to Poble Espanyol should be on your list.

This is a huge open air architectural museum, built in 1929, which consists of 117 full-size buildings representing fifteen different regions of Spain, many of which are replicas of actual buildings. It’s also home to local artists, restaurants and shops, and you can see everything from glass blowing to jewellery making.

Again, you could spend a few hours just wandering around here as there is a lot to see and do. It also regularly hosts concerts, gastronomic festivals and other events.

Free to holders of the Go Barcelona Pass, discounted admission for Barcelona Card & Barcelona City Pass holders. You can also book a ticket online in advance here .

Joan Miro Foundation

Fans of Barcelona-born Joan Miró will definitely want to stop in at the Joan Miró Foundation on Montjuïc Hill. Created by the artist himself with the aim of promoting the work of young experimental artists, the museum displays a large number of Miró’s creations, stretching throughout his career.

The purpose built building is also an impressive and logically laid out structure, that will guide you through the artist’s works. There’s also a library on site which is home to Miró’s book collection.

There’s an entry fee, Barcelona City Pass holders get discounted admission. You can also book a ticket online in advance here .

National Museum of Catalunya Art

An imposing building with a spectacular view over the city, the National Museum of Catalan Art (MNAC) is a must-visit for anyone with an interest in the art of the Catalonia region.

It has art of various styles from across the centuries, including an impressive collection of romanesque church paintings.

The building itself is also quite spectacular, in particular the Oval Hall, a massive event space which houses one of Europe’s largest organs. You can also take the lift to the top floor to wander on the roof, which offers excellent views of the city.

Magic Fountain

The last entry on our final day of our three day Barcelona itinerary is the Magic Fountain , which you can see from the steps in front of the National Museum of Catalan Art.

This fountains runs a spectacular sound and light show in the evenings which is a real treat to watch as the water displays synchronise with the sound and light.

Built in 1929 for the International Exhibition, and restored for the 1992 Barcelona Olympic games, this is definitely one you won’t want to miss. The schedule depends on the time of year – you can see it here .

Barcelona Itinerary: Extras

There’s a lot to see in Barcelona beyond the above, and I wanted to highlight a few of our favourite spots. If you have a bit more time in Barcelona, or simply want to swap a few things around in the itinerary, the below items should definitely be in your list.

Take a Walking tour or Segway tour

If you buy a Go Barcelona Pass, you’ll find it comes with free walking tours of Barcelona and a Segway tour of Barcelona . We took advantage of the free walking tour, and chose a three hour tour around the highlights of the Gothic Quarter and Las Ramblas.

This was an excellent way to learn a bit about the history of the city and see some of the main attractions with a local.

If you do a tour like this, we’d suggest scheduling it early on in your trip as it will help orientate you to the city – plus you can ask your guide for tips and advice on things like local restaurants, bars and nightlife.

See a later section of this guide for tips on walking tours in Barcelona we recommend.

Palau Güell

Just off Las Ramblas you’ll find the Palau Güell , one of the earlier works by Gaudí in the city, and one where you can see many of his architectural visions coming into focus.

This is strikingly obvious as soon as you see the building from the outside, with its hugely impressive twin front doors in Gaudí’s famous parabolic arch shape.

These were designed to be large enough to accommodate a horse drawn carriage, with one door being for entering the building, and the other for exiting.

Once inside you’ll have the opportunity to see many of the rooms inside, including the central hall and the bedrooms, and of course, the roof terrace. This latter place is a popular spot to see the sunset, depending on when you visit.

You can buy a ticket in advance here . It’s also included on the 3 Houses of Gaudi pass .

Fans of FC Barcelona will probably have a visit to Camp Nou right at the top of their list. This is the home of Barcelona’s hugely successful football team, and during the day you can take a tour of the stadium to get a behind the scenes look at everything from the VIP suites to the players locker rooms. You can even sit in the seats the coach sits in during the game!

There’s also a well laid out museum which takes you through the history of the club, its impact on the city, and some of its notable players and achievements. Jess and I actually really enjoyed this visit, despite neither of us being huge football fans.

If you do decide to visit, we definitely advise coming early as it gets very popular. You’ll also want to check match times as obviously you can’t take a tour when the stadium is in use. Although fans may want to also catch a game here.

Camp Nou is free for holders of the Go Barcelona Pass, and there is a small discount for holders of the Barcelona Card. You can also book tickets here .

Note – Camp Nou is undergoing major construction works so access to the stadium is limited until November 2024.

Parc de la Ciutadella

If you would like to visit a city centre park, a good option is the Citadel Park, or Parc de la Ciutadella, which isn’t too far from the Chocolate Museum.

Dating from the 19th century, and the earliest green space in the city, this 70-acre park has plenty of green space – perfect for a picnic, or to grab a breather from all your exploring.

Its best known feature is likely the large water feature, which was one of the earlier works in the city that Gaudí was involved with, although he wasn’t well known at the time and his involvement was fairly minimal.

It’s a grand construction, topped with giant golden horse drawn chariots, and is worth seeing. Entry is free.

Torre Bellesguard

A little way north of the city centre, Torre Bellesguard is a relatively recent addition to the works of Gaudí that you can visit in the city.

Built for a private owner between 1900 and 1909, the home is still occupied by a private owner, so only certain parts of the property can be visited, although this does include the spectacular attic and roof areas which were the highlights in my mind.

I would suggest that this is well worth doing – this is a much less popular attraction than many of the other Gaudí properties, and you will have a bit more room to breathe.

I particularly enjoyed visiting the roof terrace, which has spectacular views over the city, with the bonus that the whole roof is designed to look like a dragon.

Guided tours currently run on weekends, and there are also audio guided tours available. See times and languages on the official site here . You can book tickets (with optional tour) here .

Colonia Güell

Colonia Güell is 23 kilometres from the city centre of Barcelona, but can still be reached by public transport, so don’t let the distance put you off. It’s a purpose built 19th century industrial village, which you can explore with the help of an audioguide.

The village is definitely worth exploring, but the highlight of a visit to Colonia Güell is the church known as Gaudí’s Crypt. Whilst the final vision was never completed, this building was the place where Gaudí first incorporated all of his architectural innovations, and it serves very much as a blueprint for much of the Sagrada Familia.

The only part of the church to be completed was the crypt area, although this feels more like a church than a crypt, with a full nave, altar and pews. It’s a truly unique creation, and as it requires a bit more effort to get here than say the Sagrada Familia, is a lot less crowded – we actually had the whole Crypt to ourselves for large parts of our visit.

Entry is free with the Go Barcelona Pass , and you get the audioguide as part of your entry too. The Barcelona Card gives discounted admission. You can also book tickets online in advance here .

And that sums up our suggested itinerary for three days in Barcelona! As you can see, there’s a lot to see and do here, and you’ll have no trouble filling your time. Now, let’s take a look at some practicalities for your visit, as well as a map of this Barcelona itinerary.

3 Day Barcelona Itinerary Map

To help you visualise all the above, we have put together a map which you can see below or on Google Maps here . It also includes our recommended hotels.

3 Day Barcelona Itinerary Overview

• Day 1: Casa Batlló, Casa Milá, Las Ramblas, La Boqueria, Mirador de Colom, Las Golondrinas, Barcelona Aquarium
• Day 2: Sagrada Familia, Recinte Modernista Sant Pau, Gaudí Experience, Park Güell
• Day 3: Chocolate Museum, Gothic Quarter, Montjuïc Hill

How to Save Money on Your Barcelona Sight-Seeing

As you’ll have seen throughout this post, Barcelona has a number of options for saving money when visiting attractions in Barcelona.

The three main ones that we recommend visitors look at are the Go Barcelona Pass , the Barcelona City Pass , and the Barcelona Card .

These work a little differently, and depending on what you want to visit, you might find one works better for you than the other.

If you plan to visit everything on the main itinerary above, the Go Barcelona Pass is what we would recommend.

The combined price of the attractions which are included in the above Barcelona itinerary that are covered by the Go Barcelona Pass at time of writing is around €211, and a three-day pass is only €159 (as of April 2023).

Consider that it also includes the Barcelona Bus Turístic Hop on Hop off bus tour worth €30, plus a number of other attractions as well as a walking tour and bike tour, then we think the Go Barcelona Pass is excellent value for money and well worth considering for your Barcelona visit.

Read Jess’s full review and guide to using the Go Barcelona Pass to see if it makes sense for you.

If you don’t think you’ll visit enough attractions to make the Go Barcelona Pass worth it, then you might consider the Barcelona Card instead.

This is a cheaper option, and whilst it does offer free admission to a number of attractions, the majority of its benefit comes in the form of free public transport (including the airport train) and a range of discounts on popular attractions.

Another option if you just want to focus on the highlights, and then save on the other major attractions as you wish, is the Barcelona City Pass .

This pass includes both the Sagrada Familia and Parc Guell, and it lets you pre-book a timeslot for both of these, which is essential to a smooth queue free visit. It also includes a number of other features and attractions, including a hop on hop off bus ticket, and 10% off admission at the majority of the sites in this post.

So, which card to go for? Well, in the text above for each attraction I’ve made it clear where each card offers a benefit, so do take a look through and figure out which card might be best for you, and also check out the other features of the Barcelona City Pass , the Go Barcelona Pass and the Barcelona Card before making a decision, which may include discounted admissions, guide books, and so on.

Overall, if you’re planning on seeing everything in this guide, then the  Go Barcelona Pass will likely be the best option. If you are focusing primarily on specific highlights like the Sagrada Familia and Park Guell, the Barcelona City Pass  is a fantastic option.

Finally, if you’re just going to a few attractions and are more concerned with sorting out your transport and getting a bit of a discount, check out the Barcelona Card .

Note – in 2020 the Barcelona Pass rebranded as the Go Barcelona Pass which is now a virtual product only – there is no physical pass option. The products included are the same, but the name and branding changed. Our photos are of the older product, from when it was available as a physical pass.

Getting Around Barcelona

Barcelona is easy to get around, with an extensive bus, metro and light rail network. It’s also easily walkable for the most part, although you will likely want to take public transport for some of the slightly further out destinations.

If you are going to use public transport you have two options, depending on how much you want to travel.

First, you can buy individual tickets as you go. If you decide to do this, the most cost-effective way to do so is the ten ticket (T-Casual) card.  This is much cheaper than buying individual tickets and also lets you change transport options within an hour and fifteen minutes of starting your journey.

Note this was previously known as the T10 card. Unlike the T10 card though, this cannot be used by multiple travellers for the same journey – each traveller needs their own card.

The other option for public transport is the Hola BCN card, which gives unlimited access to the transport network in the city, and is available for durations from 48 hours to 120 hours. You can buy that online here .

There are a couple of other options for paying for your Barcelona transport.

First, if you purchase a Barcelona Card or a Barcelona Card Express , you get free travel on the metro, buses, trams and trains for the duration of the card. This includes the airport metro and train.

Second, if you purchase a Go Barcelona Pass  or Barcelona City Pass , these both come with one day access to the Hop On Hop Off Barcelona Bus Tour , which covers nearly every major tourist site in the city.

Alternatively, you can purchase 1 or 2 day hop on hop off bus tickets directly here .

If you’re arriving into Barcelona by air, you can take a taxi or train into the city centre. There’s also an airport bus service, which is what we normally use. You can buy tickets on the day, but we normally reserve ours in advance so as not to have to worry about it. You can buy tickets for the Barcelona aerobus here .

Walking Tours of Barcelona

We love taking walking tours when we visit a city. It’s a great way to learn a lot about its history, culture and people, as well as get tips on what to see and where to eat.

There are a number of walking tour companies offering tours in the city. If you pick up one of the aforementioned passes, some of these include a walking tour, so definitely take advantage of that.

Otherwise, we usually recommend walking tour company Take Walks . We’ve taken tours with them in cities around the world, and enjoy the small groups and knowledgeable guides. They offer a number of tours in Barcelona, some of which we’ve included below along with other suggestions.

• This excellent value 2-hour walking tour of Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter on GetYourGuide
• This 3 hour tour of the Gothic Quarter which includes tapas tasting. Included on the Go Barcelona Pass
• Complete Gaudí Tour : Interested in learning about Gaudi? This tour features some of the architects highlights, including Casa Batlló, Park Guell and the Sagrada Família. It even includes a Tower Climb of the latter. This is with Take Walks , one of our favourite walking tour companies.
• Barcelona Cooking Class : Want to learn how to cook some delicious Spanish cuisine? This Paella making party with a local chef includes a visit to Boqueria market and Sangria making!
• Skip the Line Express Sagrada Família Tour & Tickets – If you want a guided tour of the Sagrada Familia and are struggling to get official tickets, this is a great option
• If you prefer your tours to mix history with food, check out this 3.5 hour food walking tour of the Gothic Quarter which includes tapas tasting, drinks and dinner. This is another Take Walks tour.

Obviously, if you decide to take a walking tour you will need to tailor this itinerary to suit. We’d suggest doing it earlier in the trip so you can take full advantage of the tips your guide gives you.

Naturally, there are also many other walking tours to choose from. See this selection on GetYourGuide and these options on Viator for more ideas.

Day Trips from Barcelona

If you’re in Barcelona for longer, or would prefer to spend one of your days exploring the Catalonia region, then we have some fantastic day trip options for you to consider.

• A full day trip to Girona and Figueres – visiting Girona and Figueres is one of the more popular day trip options from Barcelona. Girona has spectacular old medieval streets to explore, Figueres was the birthplace of Dali, and it has a fantastic Dali museum.
• A luxury full day small-group tour from Barcelona which includes the Dali Museum, Girona, and lunch in Besalu
• A day tour to Montserrat – home to the Montserrat monastery, built at the top of the impressive Montserrat mountains. This is a wonderful place for hiking and epic photos. The full day tour includes wine tasting and lunch.
• A day tour of the medieval villages of Catalonia , which includes stunning Besalu as well as Rupit and Tavertet
• A full day small group tou r to Montserrat that includes early Entrance to Montserrat Monastery as well as a Gourmet Cava Tour and lunch
• A hot air balloon tour – this tour includes a hot air balloon ride, transfers and breakfast
• A full day tour of the Pyrenees – this includes a visit to the stunning Nuria Valley which can only be accessed on foot or by rack railway. In summer it’s the perfect place for hiking, and in winter it’s a haven for snow sports. You can also book a full day hiking trip if you prefer.
• Speaking of skiing, if you visit Spain in winter you can take a day trip from Barcelona and go skiing! See our detailed guide to how and where to go skiing in Spain here
• A full day tour of the Costa Brava coastline – the rugged Costa Brava coastline is home to stunning beaches, ruined Roman cities and dramatic coves. This tour will take you to some of the highlights.

Where to Stay in Barcelona

Barcelona has no shortage of choice when it comes to accommodation, and we’ve stayed at a number of different locations in the city in both apartments and hotels.

Our preferred option when booking accommodation is booking.com (see their Barcelona listings here ). They list everything from hotels to apartments to hostels, and we find they usually have the widest range at the most competitive prices.

To give you an idea of what’s available, here are some options we recommend:

• Hotel Barcelona Catedral – a 4* property in Barcelona in the heart of the Gothic Quarter. We’ve stayed here, and enjoyed the roof top pool and incredible central location.
• Hostel One Ramblas – a very well reviewed and very central hostel option
• The 8 Boutique B&B – a highly rated and well located bed and breakfast
• Duquesa de Cardona – a 4* property on the waterfront with a roof top bar
• Leonardo Hotel Barcelona Las Ramblas – part of the good value Leonardo chain, this 3* property is a few moments from Las Ramblas. We enjoyed our stay here, and the breakfast in particular was excellent.

Apartment rentals through sites like Plum Guide are also available. One thing to be aware of is that in Barcelona these need to be registered with the city. When they are registered they will be issued a license number. If you want to stay in an apartment rental in Barcelona, then we recommend picking one which has the license number on the listing.

If you would prefer to stay in an in apartment in Barcelona, then we recommend Plum Guide .

Plum Guide carefully curate their listings so their options tend to be of a very high quality whilst still being available at a range of price points. We’ve stayed at a number of their properties around the world, and you can see our  review of the Plum Guide here . See their listings for Barcelona here .

If you can’t find what you want from the above choices, or you want some new options to try out, we wrote a whole post on the  best alternatives to AirBnB  which you should check out!

Practicalities for Visiting Barcelona

Safety: We’ve not had any problems in Barcelona, although the city carries a reputation for petty crime, in particular pick pockets. These are known to frequent tourist areas, especially Las Ramblas and the metro system. We believe that most crime is opportunistic in nature, so if you take basic precautions and are aware of some common Barcelona scams , you should be fine.

Power: Electricity is of the 220v standard, with the 2 pin European style plug. Travellers from countries like the UK and the US will need an adapter, and US travellers need to check their equipment supports the 220v standard – it will be written clearly on the power adapter.

See more on travel adapters and how to choose one for your trip in our guide to the best travel adapters .

Currency: Barcelona is part of the Eurozone, so the main currency is the Euro. You can get these from ATM’s, banks and currency exchanges, although credit cards are of course widely accepted.

Internet: Internet access is widely available in the form of WiFi all around the city and in hotels and coffee shops, so you shouldn’t have any trouble getting online. You can also pick up local SIM cards if you have an unlocked phone. If you are travelling from the USA, consider a Google Fi package which lets you use your data overseas.

For more options on getting online when travelling, check out our guide to getting online when travelling to help you figure out the best options.

Water: The water in the taps is safe to drink, but tastes heavily chlorinated. If you don’t like the taste, bottled water is widely available.

Further Reading for your 3 Day Barcelona Trip

Well, that was a lot of content to help you plan your trip to Barcelona! Hopefully you find it useful. As well as the above, we have a number of other resources we’d like to recommend to help you out, both content we’ve written ourselves, and resources we’ve found online. Between this post and these resources, you should be able to put together the perfect trip!

• If you’re visiting for a shorter time period, here’s a suggested itinerary for one day in Barcelona as well as our 2 day Barcelona itinerary .
• Our guide to the best photography spots in Barcelona
• Jess’s comprehensive review and guide to using the Go Barcelona Pass
• A post comparing the three main discount passes available in Barcelona , to help you decide which one will save you the most money
• A guide to taking a day trip from Barcelona to Girona and Figueres
• A guide to the best locations for getting a great view of Barcelona
• Some of our favourite street art in Barcelona
• Want to see some of Gaudi’s creations? Check out our definitive guide to the best Gaudi sights in Barcelona
• Thinking of heading out of town? Check out our definitive guide to the Spanish Pyrenees , as well as our guides to things to do in Girona , and things to do in Besalu !
• The Lonely Planet Pocket Guide to Barcelona
• Rick Steve’s Barcelona Guide
• The official Barcelona Tourism webpage

And that sums up our idea of how to spend the perfect three days exploring Barcelona! We hope you found this itinerary useful. Are you planning a trip to Barcelona? What do you want to see when you do? Let us know in the comments below!

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Ranger Roberts says

4th September 2023 at 7:14 pm

How Do you know what dates and times are available to purchase The Barcelona city pass ?? Ive put in multiple combinations all showing availability but when I try to confirm itinerary I get “Tickets you have selected are no longer available. ” I’m looking around the 26-29th of Sep ..

I see where time slots are sold out for Sagrada Familia but not for for any other selection including HOHO Bus.. So I dont know what or how many selections to change and what may options are .. Please help .. I’m on the Tibet website .

Thank you .. Ranger Roberts

Laurence Norah says

6th September 2023 at 3:16 pm

Hi Ranger Roberts,

So I just checked the Barcelona Pass on the Tiqets website and it seemed to let me pick most combinations and times around the time you are visiting. So I am wondering if there was a glitch when you tried? Otherwise, I’d recommend reaching out to the Tiqets team via their website to ask for some assistance.

Apologies I can’t be of more assistance, but do have a great time in Barcelona!

27th February 2020 at 8:32 am

Hi Laurence,

I am planning a 3 day trip to Barcelona in the month of June and below is a schedule of attractions I have planned to cover in 3 days: Day 1 – Casa Batlló, Casa Milá, Las Ramblas, La Boqueria, Parc de la Ciutadella, Mirador de Colom, Las Golondrinas Boat Tour

Day 2 – Camp Nou Stadium tour, Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, Chocolate Museum, Gothic Quarter – Barcelona Walking Tour, Los Tarantos Flamenco Show

Day 3 – Cost Brave full-day tour

Also, I would be using public transport from the airport to the city and within the city for 3 days.

Can you please help me with which Card I should get? Barcelona Card (free public transport) or the Go Barcelona Card?

Also, if I choose the Barcelona Card – will I get a discount on tickets for below attractions : 1. Sagrada Familia 2. Parc Guell 3. Chocolate Museum 4. Camp Nou Stadium tour 5. Casa Batllo 6. Casa Mila etc.

27th February 2020 at 10:52 am

Sounds like a great trip! So, first, let’s look at the individual entry prices for each attraction (Feb 2020 prices):

Casa Batllo – €25 (online) Casa Mila – €24 (online) Las Ramblas – free La Boqueria – free Parc de la Ciutadella – free Mirador de Colom – €5.4 (online) Las Golondrinas Boat Tour – €15.50 Camp Nou – €26 (online) Sagrada Familia – €26 (online) (there is a €20 ticket, but this can only be used for the last two hours of opening) Park Guell – €10 (online) Chocolate Museum – €6 Gothic Quarter Barcelona Walking Tour – €18 Los Tarantos Flamenco Show – €17

So you are looking at €172.9 for attractions so far.

For transport to and from the airport, the Aerobus from the airport is €5.90 one way, and €10.2 return.

For transport around the city, you can either get a transport card, or buy individual tickets. A transport card for two days is €16.30. You can also buy a pack of 10 individual tickets for €11.35. I actually think this might work out better for you as you should be able to walk to most places, with the exception of Camp Nou and Parc Guell. However, some of the passes come with the Hop on Hop off bus, which stops at those locations.

We usually recommend three cards in Barcelona, the Barcelona City Pass , the Go Barcelona Pass and the Barcelona Card .

You can see our full comparison of all the Barcelona passes here .

Let’s look at your plan and see which card would be best value for you 🙂

The Barcelona City Pass. This includes entry to the Sagrada Familia and Parc Guell, as well as a one-way airport transfer. There’s also a 1 day Hop on Hop off bus. Then you get 20% off a number of attractions, including most of the attractions you plan to visit, which also includes 20% off a Costa Brava day tour. The price is €88.

I added up the price of the pass overall once you take into account what is included and the discounts, and you’d end up paying €202.9. So on the face of it, not a great discount for what you want to see. However, it does include the airport bus one way (€5.9), and a one day HOHO bus, (€25). However, probably not the best fit for you still.

The Go Barcelona Pass. This includes many attractions you want to see, with the exception of Mirador de Colom, Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, Chocolate Museum and Los Tarantos. The pass costs €99.99 for two days. I added up the cost of the pass plus the tickets you have to buy, and it comes to €164.39 – so this is definitely a saving. Consider it also has the HOHO bus and lots of other attractions that you might consider visiting, and this is definitely an option to consider I think.

The Barcelona Card. This primarily features museums for free, and then has discounts on other attractions. It also includes a transport pass. The pass costs €41.4, which is quite low. However, you have to pay full price for Camp Nou, Sagrada Familia and some other attractions. I did the math, and based on your plan, the total with the card, attractions and discounted attractions is €184.8.

So far, I would say the best option is the 2 day Barcelona Card. You would have to pay for your own transport to and from the airport. However, you can then use the HOHO bus for your second day. I would suggest planning your day by looking at the route of the HOHO bus as it goes one way around the city. That said, as the timings might be quite tight on that day, taking public transport might be best as it will likely be faster!

I hope this all helps with your planning 🙂

arlene says

25th October 2019 at 3:29 pm

i printed it thru the icon its 89 pages long!big print a lot of wasted space and paper

25th October 2019 at 4:25 pm

Thanks for the feedback. This is a new feature on the website so it is useful to have this feedback. I have adjusted the font size for the printable page – can you let me know how many pages it shows now for you? It seems to be different for different people, but hopefully this has fixed it. No need to print it again of course.

Marcy Lane says

19th October 2019 at 8:23 am

Where can I find the print button. I don’t see it. We are going to Lisbon first with my husband and I and are meeting our daughter and her young family. Is this kid friendly? Where can I find the print button? I don’t see it? This is fabulous! Do you have itinerary for Lisbon too?

19th October 2019 at 8:26 am

There should be a print button in the social sharing icons that float down the side of the post (on desktop) and are at the bottom of the post (on desktop and mobile). It’s a blue icon, just after the e-mail envelope (second icon along). Let me know if you don’t see it, and what you see there instead, as we’ve only just implemented this and so it might not be displaying properly everywhere. If you don’t see it, if you could let me know what browser you are using.

For Lisbon, we haven’t visited yet so we don’t have an itinerary unfortunately.

For Barcelona – this itinerary is kid friendly, although it will depend on the kid and their stamina for sight seeing! So you might want to cut it down a bit to make it more manageable depending on their age and interests 🙂

Have a great trip!

19th October 2019 at 8:44 pm

The message said to sign up for the newsletter to get the itininery which I did. I haven’t gotten a confirmation that I signed up so I can get the itinerary. thanks

19th October 2019 at 9:09 pm

Thanks for coming back to me. I can see you have signed up and still need to confirm. If you could check your spam/trash folders as sometimes the confirmation e-mails go there. If it’s not there, and you haven’t received it by tomorrow, let me know and I can confirm you manually,

19th October 2019 at 9:17 pm

It’s not in my spam. I just looked. Can you send me the itinerary to my email address? Would that work? [email protected]

19th October 2019 at 9:26 pm

I’ve manually approved your request and so you should be able to access the print page now. If you put in your e-mail address it should work.

I’ve raised this as an issue with our e-mail provider as you should definitely have received our e-mail!

Let me know if you have any more problems 🙂

TONY FEEHAN says

27th September 2019 at 7:48 am

Hi, I have never been to Barcelona, I travel in a couple of days for a 4 night stay with my wife, apart from going to the Camp Nou and the beach, I didnt really think there was too much there but you guide has changed my mind, a brilliant blog, really looking forward to going now, thanks you both, Tony Feehan

27th September 2019 at 7:02 pm

Thanks very much Tony – have a great time in Barcelona 😀 Do let us know how you enjoy it!

23rd September 2019 at 7:59 am

Thank you Laurence (and Jess). I’m from the US, currently in Paris with my family, and taking off to Barcelona later today to get away from everyone. Original plan was to camp out in a hotel and get some work done in peace (us, Americans, and our stupid deadlines), but after reading your article it looks like I’ll be paying attention to more than the laptop screen. I’m only going for a day or two, but your extensive guide will be indispensable to making the most out of the short trip. Cheers!

23rd September 2019 at 9:55 am

Our pleasure! You definitely won’t be short of a thing or two to do in Barcelona 😉 Even if you only manage to see a few sights in between working, it will be worth it 😀 Have a great time, and good luck with the deadline!

Nick Wells says

20th September 2019 at 4:05 pm

Hi, A great post with the most amazing and insightful advice. My wife and i are taking our daughter in October for 3 days and we will certainly utilise your travel advice – thanks. Quick question we appreciate that Barcelona has multiple options re accommodation and we have based on price and availability got reduced the list to 4 hotels. Have you stayed in any,c an you give advice re location etc Leonardo Hotel Las Rambals (£376) Room Mate Carla (£398) H10 Universitat (476) Royal Ramblas (£446) Many Thanks ..

20th September 2019 at 4:09 pm

Thanks for your comment 🙂 We have stayed at the Leonardo Hotel on Las Ramblas and thought it was nice. The street was relatively quiet (it’s a block or so back from Las Ramblas itself), and the breakfast was very comprehensive if you opt for that option. Location wise it was within walking distance to most of the highlights, otherwise very close to a metro stop for the other sights.

We’ve not stayed at the others so can’t comment specifically on those 🙂

19th September 2019 at 6:02 pm

Thank you so much for sharing such a wonderful detailed itinerary plan. This really helps. We are planning our first trip to Barcelona in mid November. Is it a good time to visit Barcelona? How about weather.. Will it be pleasant or very cold in November. Appreciate your inputs.

19th September 2019 at 7:13 pm

Thanks very much, it’s my pleasure. November it will definitely be a bit cooler in Barcelona, although not too cold – probably between 10C in the evening and as high as 20C in the day time. So pretty perfect for sightseeing in my opinion. If you are unlucky and it is windy, then it might feel cooler. So you would want to pack some warmer clothes, but overall it should be pleasant 🙂

Christopher Gladney says

12th September 2019 at 4:59 pm

Hi, this is extremely helpful! Similar to Rome, is there a Google Maps to accompany this itinerary?

14th September 2019 at 5:05 pm

Hi Christopher!

A great point! I have added the map now 🙂

Marie Michelle Aurélus says

12th September 2019 at 3:11 pm

Thank you for taking the time to put together such useful and comprehensive information on the website. I am from Haiti and i will be traveling tomorrow to Lisbon and Barcelona . I am lucky to come across this article the day prior to my departure I can’t wait to visit the historic and beautiful sites you have recommended.

Thank you and kindest regards

Marie Michelle

13th September 2019 at 8:36 pm

Our pleasure Marie – have a fantastic trip!

7th September 2019 at 6:22 pm

This article was so helpful, we are going next May for three days before our cruise and it sorted out a lot of things. A friend told me about a wine and concert they did on the roof of a building have you ever heard of one?

8th September 2019 at 10:25 am

Delighted to be able to help 🙂 We’ve not actually heard or done one of these, was your friend able to give you any more details? Was it a performance venue or something arranged at a hotel?

24th June 2019 at 4:06 pm

Your site is so helpful! Thank you.

Do you know if the magic fountain is on during the day? I know it would be without lights and music. I’m just wondering if it runs or they turn it off during the day. I can’t imagine that fighting all the crowds at night would be a pleasant experience while traveling with two teenagers, but we’d love to see it on our way down from the castle.

25th June 2019 at 1:25 am

Our pleasure! So, the Magic fountain sound and light show only runs in the evenings, you can see the schedule here: https://www.barcelona.cat/en/what-to-do-in-bcn/magic-fountain/magic-fountains-show-times

However, parts of the fountain do run in the daytime I believe, although not with the choreographed sound and light. I would urge you to see it at night if you can though, it’s quite spectacular, and it’s a big space so there is room for lots of people 🙂

27th June 2019 at 3:55 pm

Thank you, Laurence.

I’ve been looking for a good, casual restaurant for paella in Barcelona. Do you have any recommendations? We also took you up on your recommendation and booked a balloon ride with Vols de Coloms. We’re staying in Santa Pau before and after the balloon and are looking for a casual but good local restaurant between Olat, Santa Pau and Besalu and are are traveling with two teenage boys. We will have a car as well. Do you have any recommendations?

Thanks again for your help!

27th June 2019 at 7:36 pm

We don’t have any paella recommendations for Barcelona – the dish is actually from Valencia, so whilst it is of course available in Barcelona, it’s not a local specialty. For tapas though we can recommend La Alcoba Azul which is excellent.

For Santa Pau, we have dined at Cal Sastre which is also fantastic 🙂 We can recommend reading our specific regional guide for more ideas: https://independenttravelcats.com/la-garrotxa-travel-guide-volcanic-catalonia-spain/

27th June 2019 at 7:48 pm

Thank you. Great news about Cal Sastre since that is where we are staying.

And, thanks for the information about the paella. That helps me to understand why I am having trouble finding a place. Have you heard of Bar Mut or Casa Lolea in Barcelona? I’m going to add La Alcoba Azul to our plans. Thank you!!!!

27th June 2019 at 7:52 pm

Oh, you’ll have a wonderful time there. It’s so picturesque and peaceful 🙂 I have to be honest, I have not heard of either of those locations. That doesn’t mean much though, there are thousands of restaurants in Barcelona. We usually just go by recent reviews on Google Maps to find someplace!

Catherine says

20th June 2019 at 10:52 pm

Hello!! What a great blog you have! I am looking for recommendations regarding best part of the city to stay in order to take in most, if not all, of the items on your 3 day Barcelona itinerary. Looking for a 4* or better hotel. Another possibility would be an Airbnb property to rent. Saw one available in Eixample – would this be a good location option? Also, what are recommendations regarding the Salvador Dali Museum? Many thanks!

23rd June 2019 at 12:02 am

Hi Katherine!

Thank you very much! So there are lots of hotels in the city that meet your criteria. The one we stayed at most recently which has a great location is Hotel Barcelona Catedral , which is right in the gothic quarter and perfect for getting to everything. The Eixample is a good area as well.

For the Salvador Dali museum, the easiest way is to take a tour that goes from Barcelona, such as this one: A full day trip to Girona and Figueres . That will get you to and from the museum, plus you’ll have some time to explore Girona which is also lovely.

Have a great trip – let me know if you have any more questions!

Larry Krantz says

4th June 2019 at 5:12 pm

Just came across your 3 Days in Barcelona on the internet while planning for our trip in October. What a wonderful, comprehensive itinerary. We are thinking of starting our stay by taking a city tour bus around the City to get a quick overall taste, and then following your itinerary. Any recommendations for the bus tour? We’ll be going on to Morocco so any thoughts on our getting there? Thanks very much.

4th June 2019 at 5:42 pm

Hi Larry – thanks very much!

So we’ve only taken the official bus tour, which is included in the Barcelona Pass. It’s the Hop on Hop off bus tour which goes around the majority of the sights, and has an audioguide in a variety of languages. So that would be the one I recommend. If you aren’t getting a Barcelona Pass, or one of the other passes which includes a bus tour, then you can buy an individual ticket for that here .

From Barcelona, there are direct flights to Marrakesh if that’s where you are heading. The easiest way is going to be to fly. We usually use Kiwi to check flights as it’s one of the few comparison tools that includes most of the budget airlines. Just be sure to add any bags to get the true price 🙂

Let me know if you have any more questions, and have a great trip!

ferdie syfu says

31st May 2019 at 2:19 pm

I have read your thorough blog on a three day stay in Barcelona. It will be our first time traveling to barcelona , me and my wife and both 50 years old. we will be coming from Madrid by train and staying for 3 nights in June. i heard the weather is not cold this time of the year. are the three days enough or shall we stay for a fourth? thank you likewise for accommodation recommendations, as we have not planned this trip yet, we are still looking, we normally travel by train or by bus to get around, so we would normally choose a lace close to stations.

31st May 2019 at 4:07 pm

So there is a lot to see in Barcelona! We’ve visited many times and always find more to do. So you will certainly have plenty of options if you decide to stay a fourth day 🙂

For accommodation, there’s a great metro in Barcelona and it shouldn’t be hard to find a stop close to a hotel as there are lots of stops. So that shouldn’t be hard.

15th May 2019 at 2:55 pm

What a great itinerary! We will be visiting Barcelona for 4 days in January. Is the boat tour offered in January?

16th May 2019 at 11:32 am

Yes it is, although I believe it only goes once a day rather than multiple times a day, so you will want to check the timetable so as to be sure not to miss it. You can see that here .

Jocelyn S says

6th April 2019 at 6:11 am

Hi there, great article. Any tips for a family of 11 adults and 1 toddler (3yrs old), 1 adult can’t walk for long distances or time..maybe an hour at most. Any suggestions on where to stay for a big group?

Thanks ahead of time.

6th April 2019 at 12:19 pm

Hi Jocelyn!

So my tip would be to take advantage of the Hop on Hop off bus, as that will get you to all the sights in the city and minimise walking time. Alternatively, the Barcelona metro system is also very good and goes to most locations on this itinerary.

For accommodation, I’ve not travelled in large group. However, I would suggest looking for a multi-room apartment which will likely be the most cost effective option as otherwise you will have to pay for a lot of individual hotel rooms.

For example, this search on booking.com is set up to just show apartments that will take up to 11 adults. You will have to adjust the dates of course, but there are a variety of options, and the prices are very reasonable if you calculate it per person (you should be able to get a central apartment for between $30 and $60 per person per night, depending on when you visit I think).

Robin N Hall says

3rd April 2019 at 11:40 pm

Thank you so very much for such a comprehensive site on what to do, when and how much. I really appreciate all the time you have saved us. We will be attending a family wedding in London in September and then thought we’d fly to Barcelona for a 3 day visit and we will likely follow your itinerary to the T. Thank you again!

4th April 2019 at 11:56 am

Our pleasure Robin – thanks very much for taking the time to let us know you found the content useful. It’s why we write it, and it’s lovely to hear feedback. Have a wonderful trip – we’d love to hear how it went!

19th March 2019 at 11:54 am

Hi Great site and itinerary – as a relative neanderthal IT etc do you have this a printable version – thanks Steve

20th March 2019 at 12:49 pm

So this isn’t an option we currently have on the site. We know that most browsers do have a print function, so that would likely be the easiest option for now.

17th October 2019 at 6:43 pm

I appreciate this might be a bit late for your trip, but for others reading and in case you use our site in the future for other trips, we’ve now added a print button on all our posts 🙂

Happy travels!

Carol L says

21st February 2019 at 4:30 am

Weather in mid May, based on what I can tell from reading it seems dresses and pants and short sleeves for day time with jacket at night—-is that correct based on your experience? Also any recommendation for local place to see Flamenco dancing?

21st February 2019 at 8:51 am

That sounds about right – the nights tend to cool down a bit. It might also be quite warm in May (climate is so hard to predict), so you may want shorts or lighter, shorter skirts.

For Flamenco, there are a lot of options. Tablao de Carmen and Palau Dalmases Flamenco are both very highly rated, although we haven’t attended either. However I would definitely check out online reviews and go for the best reviewed options 🙂

13th February 2019 at 4:35 pm

Thanks for your Itinerary for major tourist cities and I found it very usefully when I planed my trip to Paris last summer.. I basically followed your itinerary daily, used Paris Pass and had wonderful time.

This year I plan to visit London and Barcelona and plan to follow your itinerary of both cities.. Does this Barcelona itinerary comes with a google map like other cities?

13th February 2019 at 7:06 pm

I’m delighted that you have found our content useful for your trips! You are right, this post is missing a map. I will add one in the next few days – sorry about that!

16th February 2019 at 2:56 am

Hi Laurence, We will arrive Barcelona for a 12 nights cruise trip in end of May and stay behind for 3 days after disembark. Can I ask what sort of pass are suitable for us as we have 6 hours on first day then boarding on the cruise at evening. After 12 nights of the cruise, we will stay behind of 3 days in Barcelona. This is our first time visit and I don’t know what pass and travel card are suitable. I am not quite sure how to work out the 3-day Barcelona Pass plus Travelcard because if we activate on the first day then it seems not worth for a pass. Please advise for any better idea.

17th February 2019 at 4:38 pm

It definitely depends on which attractions you want to visit in Barcelona. My suggestion would be to get the three day Barcelona Pass for your three days, but not to activate it on your first day. Instead, I would suggest maybe visiting the Sagrada Familia on your first day as that is not included on the Barcelona Pass. Then you can see the other sites when you come back from your cruise. You also might not need the travel card – public transport is very cheap in Barcelona, and you can take the metro to most locations for around a euro a ride if you buy a 10 journey travel card (which can be used for multiple people). I do however urge you to see what attractions the pass covers before deciding. To help out, we have a guide to all our favourite Barcelona Passes here:

https://independenttravelcats.com/barcelona-discount-passes-barcelona-card-vs-barcelona-pass-vs-barcelona-museum-pass/

I hope this helps – let me know if you have any other questions!

18th February 2019 at 8:04 am

Hi Laurence, Thank you so much for your suggestion and it helps us to make the decision.

Cheers, Anita

18th February 2019 at 8:15 am

My pleasure Anita – have a great trip!

26th January 2019 at 2:48 pm

We will be in Barcelona in March and was wondering what were your top choices for restuarants and food. We will also be visiting Lisbon and Paris during this trip and we are all about food experiences any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

26th January 2019 at 3:12 pm

So we don’t currently have a guide to where to eat in Barcelona as we tend to just pick the places with good deals and good recent reviews on Google Maps. However, we do have a guide for Paris which you might find useful:

https://independenttravelcats.com/paris-lunch-splurges-saving-money-on-michelin-starred-restaurants/

We’ve not visited Lisbon yet, so can’t help there I’m afraid!

have a great trip, and let us know if you have any more questions 🙂

Fabiana says

12th January 2019 at 2:00 pm

I’m so thankful for this!!! Very very helpful and great readingg! ✵✵ ✵Greetings from Brazil✵

12th January 2019 at 4:08 pm

My pleasure – I hope you have a wonderful trip and do let us know if you have any questions!

Tony Snellgrove says

13th November 2018 at 5:44 am

great site guys, well done, very helpful, we will be using your suggestions.

13th November 2018 at 3:32 pm

Thanks very much Tony!

11th November 2018 at 7:47 pm

Very comprehensive itinerary! My husband and I will be heading to Barcelona in a couple of weeks, also with a 3 day stay, and I think the plan so far will be to follow your itinerary to the T 🙂 I think we will be purchasing the Barcelona Pass. Just wondering at which point and how did you incorporate the hop on hop off bus that was included in the Barcelona pass into the trip?

11th November 2018 at 7:56 pm

Hi Emily! My suggestion for your trip is to use the HOHO bus for Day 2, as it’s an easy way to get from the city center to the Sagrada Familia and then on to Parc Guell (you would just have to walk to the Recinte from Sagrada Familia, which is not too far). You can then take it back from Parc Guell – it take a nice route around the city at this section, and you will see a few things from the bus that you might not otherwise have seen 🙂

Have a great trip, and let us know how it goes!

GBrown says

8th November 2018 at 2:43 am

I would like to plan a 3-day trip during the week of December 17-23 to some place warm and sunny. What places do you recommend in South or Central America? Thanks,

8th November 2018 at 8:12 pm

That’s quite a big part of the world! To be honest, we have only visited Costa Rica and Ecuador, so don’t have extensive knowledge of that area. Costa Rica would be a good option, as would much of the Carribean, but you’ll want to check the weather of course. Otherwise, you might also consider Thailand or Sri Lanka 🙂

Hope this helps!

Bob Lee says

11th September 2018 at 12:34 pm

Hi do you do any itinerary for other cities in Spain eg Madrid?

11th September 2018 at 12:49 pm

Hey Bob! We don’t have itineraries for the other cities as yet as we’ve not visited them, however it’s on the to-do list, so stay tuned 🙂

Kevi Jackson says

9th June 2018 at 5:49 pm

I want to confirm what sights are free with the Barcelona card, but cannot find the information online. The Barcelona card website lists the Picasso museum, but not some of the others we want to see. Are you able to reserve times for visits via the Barcelona card rather than each individual sight? (Namely the Chocolate Museum and the Monument Zone of Park Guell). Also what does ICOM stand for? TIA!

11th June 2018 at 11:38 pm

The full list of museums and attractions included are here: http://bcnshop.barcelonaturisme.com/imgfiles/ecv/card/BarcelonaCard2018.pdf

Unfortunately, there’s no one card that covers everything in Barcelona, so you have to figure out which one suits you best. For the Chocolate Museum you don’t need to reserve in advance. The only sights that require advance reservations to secure a spot are Parc Guell and the Sagrada Familia. You can book tickets for those directly online. The only city card we currently know of that lets you book those tickets in advance is the Barcelona City Pass ( https://travelcats.barcelona.ticketbar.eu/en/discount-cards/barcelona-city-pass-/ ) – we’re in the process of reviewing this and will be adding it to this post soon, but you might find it meets your needs. Once you get that you can book your time slots directly for those two attractions.

Hope this helps! I’m not sure what ICOM stands for, where did you see that?

7th June 2018 at 6:36 am

Wow this has been so wonderfully described and sorted out so many things for me. Extremely helpful artice

8th June 2018 at 10:30 am

Thanks very much Komal 🙂

2nd June 2018 at 6:29 am

This looks very useful …you kept things to the point and clear .

2nd June 2018 at 1:57 pm

Thanks Vijay

Rista Hansen says

13th May 2018 at 2:27 pm

Hi We are from Windhoek Namibia and our first time ever to visit Barcelona. We are flying to London and onwards by train to Barcelona,then Paris. The information is very useful and exciting. Any train recommendation? Regards Rista Hansen

13th May 2018 at 9:26 pm

Thanks very much! I have to say that in my mind it makes more sense to go to Paris before Barcelona, just because of geography, but i assume you have a reason for going in that order. If you want to take a train, there’s an overnight train from Paris to Barcelona, which is a great option for not wasting a day of travel. So you can take the eurostar from London to Paris, and then the overnight train to and from Paris / Barcelona. That would be my suggestion 🙂

Rorita Gattinger says

6th April 2018 at 9:07 pm

Thank you so much for putting this informative and comprehensive list together. It sure saved us a lot of time and research. We will be going soon and look forward to visiting the many sites you suggested.

Kind regards,

7th April 2018 at 10:42 am

Our pleasure Rorita – have a wonderful trip! Do check back in and let us know how it went 😀

Mireen says

30th March 2018 at 3:07 am

Hello Laurence Norah, My husband and daughter are planning a trip to Barcelona in the summer. These tips are indeed very helpful. We can definitely maximize our 3 day plan trip to Barcelona. We also wanted to see Madrid – do you have any prior blog post? If we have a few more days to spare any 3rd best city after the 2? I heard Toledo is great – or neighboring country. We have a total of 12 days. Any feedback will be highly appreciated. Thanks so much!

30th March 2018 at 10:39 am

I’m pleased that you found the post useful. I haven’t been to Madrid yet but it’s on my list! I would say that it really depends on where you want to go and what you want to see. If you wanted to stay local to Barcelona, then the town of Girona is really beautiful, and easy to get to by train. There’s also Lisbon in Portugal, which I have not visited but many friends say it is lovely. If you wanted to go further afield, there’s an overnight train service that links Barcelona with Paris too!

Have a lovely trip

Mireen Q. Delos Santos says

16th June 2018 at 2:20 am

Sorry – I didn’t see your reply. We will be on our way to our Spain adventure in about 3 weeks. Yes, we did include Lisbon in our itinerary. We were fortunate to see Paris last summer so we wanted to concentrate on Spain and enjoy it without rushing. So far we have Barcelona, Madrid, Toledo and Seville and a side trip to Lisbon.

Appreciate all your tips! Thanks so much!

16th June 2018 at 10:18 pm

My pleasure Mireen, and no worries. Have a great trip!

Kyle and Briana says

24th February 2018 at 6:51 pm

This is a good comprehensive itinerary. If we return we will check out some of the places we didn’t get to but gosh there is so much to do in Barcelona! We could spend quite a bit of time there, especially with all the possible day trips you could do outside the city as well. Here is what we did. We originally had 2 full days there, then our flight got moved so we had three so we thought okay more time in BCN! (It was supposed to be in Marrakech). But then we got pick-pocketed and day three was mostly the police station. We didn’t get the Barcelona pass but think we would have had we been staying a little longer or maybe if we thought we had a full three days from the start. We also didn’t love the tap water – it tastes like it does here in our apartment in California now! haha but we use a water filter to help

24th February 2018 at 7:02 pm

Thanks very much 🙂 There is loads to do in Barcelona you are right – we have visited a number of times and will be returning shortly, and we’re always finding more to do every time! Sorry to hear you got pickpocketed, I’ve heard really bad things about the city in the regard, but we’ve been ok so far. The water is also definitely and acquired taste!

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50+ Helpful Barcelona Travel Tips & Tricks: Must-Knows Before You Visit Barcelona!

Last Updated: June 23, 2021

*FYI - this post may contain affiliate links, which means we earn a commission at no extra cost to you if you purchase from them. Also, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Check out our Privacy Policy and Disclosure. for more info.

Despite being one of the most visited destinations in the world, I still find it’s often the case that articles featuring Barcelona travel tips omit a crucial detail about this spectacular city…

That it is hilariously easy to screw up here.

I’m talking tourist traps left and right, pickpockets front and back, and so many overwhelming activity options that you’ll wish you could just chug vermouth and nap forever.

But here’s the thing: Barcelona (when done properly) can truly be a life-changing, or at least waistline-changing, experience.

So, if you want to ensure that you visit Barcelona properly, let me help.

Below you’ll find my top Barcelona travel tips, meticulously collected over trial and error from my four visits.

… Enjoy!

Save these Barcelona travel tips for later!

You’ll be very glad you did.

Barcelona Travel Planning Tips

Let’s start with some planning-related Barcelona tips to help you with flights, booking hotels in Barcelona, choosing dates, the best times to visit Barcelona, etc.

Learn the tricks for getting cheap flights TO Barcelona

If you haven’t booked your flights to Barcelona yet, be sure to check out my guide on  how to get the cheapest flights to Europe . I promise it’ll save you hundreds of dollars on your flight!

Avoid visiting Barcelona in peak season

If your Barcelona visit is planned for July or August, well… *hands you oxygen mask and a bag for tears*

Just kidding! Kinda.

The truth is, Barcelona is probably one of the most visited cities in Europe, and while I’ve never visited in peak-peak season, I’ve seen enough human mobs during my January and May visits to imagine just how frightening it is with massive crowds, sweltering heat and every unpleasant thing about travel squished together in one photogenic  moderniste package.

I would strongly advise if you hate crowds as much as I do to visit in the off-season (January – March).

I recently went in January and was greeted with pleasant temperatures, blue skies,  sunshine, and of course, a fraction of the crowds one might encounter in July or August.

Still prepare for crowds in the off-season

However, just to cover my butt and confusingly backtrack, I should say that just because Barcelona is quieter in the off-season, doesn’t mean it’s a magical ghost town either.

In fact, I still found main spots like La Boqueria, Las Ramblas and Placa Catalunya to be teeming with tourists in January…

BUT there were significantly less crowds at most paid attractions, and ticket availability was generous even on the day-of, which can’t be said for the peak season, when it’s advised you book every activity in advance.

So, if you fancy a bit more spontaneity during your Barcelona visit, be sure to time your Barcelona trip for the off-season.

Book your hotel well in advance

Barcelona is one of the busiest tourist cities in the world, which means the best hotels (and most affordable ones) book up quickly, especially during peak season.

So, book early!

I know that committing to a hotel early can feel scary, but if you use  Booking.com , you can find hundreds of hotels that offer free reservations and free cancellations up until a certain point.

This means you can get some peace of mind without putting down any deposits or committing to a hard date until much later.

Here are some of the places I’ve stayed in Barcelona and can recommend:

• Budget: This fun hostel
• Mid-range: This clean and central hotel
• Unique: This cool yet affordable hotel or this one

Know the difference between the European hotel star system vs North America

If you’re currently looking for accommodation in Barcelona: here’s another tip – look at reviews rather than star rating alone.

In North America, the star rating system for hotels usually means 5* = opulent luxury and 1* = you may lose your kidneys.

This is not the case in Europe. With European hotels, instead of stars matching quality on a scale of 1-5, the stars actually correspond to a checklist of amenities/requirements.

SO, you can find some wonderful 2* properties that are just smaller and lacking amenities like a spa or pool, while also finding mediocre 4 or 5* properties that have earned that rating simply due to amenities like fitness centers and valets.

Learn more about the criteria for star ratings here.

Make sure you have travel insurance

As you’ve probably heard countless times, travel insurance is an important must for every trip… but this is especially true in touristy cities like Barcelona, where there are pickpockets everywhere.

Trust me, the peace of mind you get with insurance is worth the cost, especially for dreamy bucket list destinations like this!

Click here to check rates with WorldNomads.

Download helpful apps before you go

There are plenty of apps you can download that will make your time in Barcelona 100x easier.

I’ve previously written a full list of the  best travel apps for Europe  so be sure to check that out, but here are some especially good options for Barcelona:

• Google Translate:  A must for translating signs/menus on the go. Download Spanish to be used offline if you can
• The Fork:  Great for making restaurant reservations

Consider adding other Catalonian destinations to your itinerary

Barcelona is an amazing city, but I can also highly recommend Tarragona , Girona, and Montserrat.

If you have extra time during your trip, planning at least a day trip to one of these spots is a must!

Barcelona Metro Tips & General Tricks For Transport/Getting Around

Getting around Barcelona can be really daunting for a first-time visitor, so here are all my best Barcelona tips related to getting around:

Buy a T-10 Ticket for public transportation

While public transportation in Barcelona isn’t too expensive compared to other major European cities, buying single tickets over and over is not only a hassle, it can add up quickly.

Instead of constantly getting single tickets then, the best ticket you can get as a tourist in my opinion is a T-10 ticket which gets you ten trips for only 10.20.

Doing some not-so-complicated math, this evens out to about 1 euro per trip which is half the price of a single ticket, with the happy bonus that you don’t need to constantly buy new tickets every time.

If you’re looking for the best value transport ticket in Barcelona, this is it!

Avoid taxis if you can in Barcelona

On a similar note, I would avoid taking too many taxis. This is because Barcelona is a delightfully walkable city marred with hilariously bad traffic.

Given that the city’s public transportation system is so clean, safe and cheap, I wouldn’t advise trying to take a taxi anywhere. Instead, just use public transport, or your good old fashioned legs.

Use the Aerobus Express to get to/from the airport

If you are travelling light (e.g. you can easily carry your bags), then the most affordable and convenient way to get to/from the airport in Barcelona is by far the Aerobus Express. You can easily book/compare options on Omio or through their official site.

This option costs only 5.90 each way, and is quick and convenient. This is the option I pick every time I go to Barcelona.

Book an airport transfer for minimal stress

That said, if you are travelling with a lot of bags, a big group, or as a family, then booking an airport transfer might be wise.

For the least stressful option, consider booking a  Welcome Pickups transfer,  which is a set price, includes an English speaking driver who monitors your flight arrival time, and offers free cancellations up until 24 hours before.

This saves you the hassle of trying to get a taxi/navigate the language barriers to do so… while of course helping you avoid getting scammed too!

Easily rent a bike

While you can of course book a bike tour in Barcelona like  this one,  there’s a super simple way to rent a bike in Barcelona whenever you need one – through an app called  Donkey Republic, which allows bike-sharing across the city.

You simply pick up a bike when you see one, use it, then drop it off at one of many docking points around the city.

Click here for a guide on how to use it.

Easily rent a scooter

For a transport option that’s even more fun, Barcelona also has many companies that offer e-scooter rentals that are activated through an app.

Here is a guide on how to use them.

Barcelona Tips For Attractions

Odds are, if you’re visiting Barcelona, sightseeing til you drop s part of the plan. So, here are some of my best Barcelona travel tips related to sightseeing, attractions and itinerary planning.

Book Barcelona attractions in advance

If it has always been your dream since birth to drool over the Sagrada Familia, explore the whimsical Pedrera, or skip and twirl your way through Parc Guell, book it.

Book it now. Build yourself a time machine and book it last week. I’m not joking.

The last thing you want during your Barcelona trip (besides a sugary sangria hangover) is to wait too long for tickets then realize that there are none left, or worse yet, rot in a line-up for 1.4 million years just to catch a glimpse your Gaudi of choice.

When in Barcelona, time is money, so be smart and get your tickets well in advance. Here are some helpful links where you can get skip the line tickets:

• Sagrada Familia: Get fast-track tickets here
• Camp Nou Experience: Get fast-track tickets here
• La Pedrera: Get skip-the-line tickets here
• Palau de la Música: Get a self-guided tour ticket here
• Casa Vicens: Get skip-the-line-tickets here

Take advantage of Barcelona’s many combo cards and tourist passes

One of the best things about visiting Barcelona is the amount of amazing attractions and touristic offerings that are around to dazzle and impress.

That said, hopping from attraction to attraction does add up quickly in Barcelona, which means your future will involve plenty of emptying your wallet while crying.

So here’s another money-saving Barcelona tip for you: buy a combo card or tourist pass which gives you entry to multiple attractions for a single price!

Here are some Barcelona sightseeing passes you might be interested in :

• Articket: entry to six of Barcelona’s top art museums for only €30; valid for 3 months
• Barcelona iVenture card: allows you bundle 3 or 5 of Barcelona’s top attractions for steep savings (or there’s an unlimited option too!)
• Barcelona Express Card: 2 days of unlimited public transport for €20 plus a lot of discounts/savings on Barcelona’s top attractions
• Barcelona Pass Modernista: 7 days’ skip-the-line access to 15 of the most famous Moderniste works in Barcelona for steep savings

Avoid overstuffing your itinerary

Barcelona is one of those cities where you’ll inevitably run around like a headless chicken, attempting to fit an entire guidebook’s worth of fun into a whopping 48 hours.

And while that might sound like a good idea at first, it’s a delicious recipe for almost dying.

Trust me, Barcelona is a city with attractions for days. I mean, I tried to summarize the highlights of things to do in Barcelona and STILL ended up with a (mildly terrifying) 79 activities.

So, remember: people can live in Barcelona for an entire lifetime and still not discover everything that the city has to offer, so as a tourist, don’t expect that you’ll be able to cover everything in a few days.

Rather than break your legs trying to fit every single must-see, select a few that are non-negotiable for you, and instead pencil in extra time to relax and soak in all the wonderful vibes that Barcelona has to offer.

Trust me, that’s when you fall slowly but surely in love.

Wake up EARLY

The morning hours are the best time to explore Barcelona. Yes, I’m talking sunrise-early if you really want to make the most of the city’s “empty hours”.

Barcelona is hands down one of the busiest cities in the world when it comes to tourism, and waking up early is pretty much the only way to experience it without tons of crowds.

My pro Barcelona tip for avoiding crowds? Pick the #1 attraction you’re most excited for, and plan to see it as soon as it opens, with some sunrise explorations beforehand.

Enjoy ALL the free Barcelona viewpoints

Barcelona is a stunning city with plenty of incredible vantage points… many of which are free!

Here are some you should make sure you don’t miss.

The Bunkers del Carmel: To me, the best view in the city. A bit of work to reach but absolutely magical at sunset. Read my guide on how to visit the Bunkers del Carmel in Barcelona for more.

Las Arenas de Barcelona: A bullring-turned-shopping mall that is now home to a free 360 degree viewing platform overlooking Plaça d’Espanya. Access is free via escalator, while the elevator is 1 euro.

El Corte Inglés: A popular Barcelona shopping center, with an epic view over Plaça de Catalunya from its top floor.

Tibidabo: The highest viewpoint in Barcelona, with the bonus of having an amusement park on site!

Seek out beaches beyond Barceloneta

Barcelona is known as a beach destination, and while the city has plenty of beaches to visit, most tourists flock to crowded Barceloneta and inevitably leave feeling disappointed.

So, if you’re craving some fun in the sun, look beyond Barceloneta and  click here for a great guide to the different beaches around the city.

Do NOT scour the streets of Barcelona for bullfights and flamenco

Looking around Barcelona for bullfights and flamenco is like pillaging Seattle in search of the best New York Style pizza… you could do it, but it’s definitely not the best use of your time.

As mentioned above, Catalonia is rather different from the rest of Spain, and most attempts to fulfill Spanish stereotypes are created to indulge tourist fantasy more than anything else.

For instance, while you may be able to find flamenco performances in Barcelona, this is conventionally more an ‘Andalucia’ thing, and isn’t a Catalan tradition at all.

And as for bullfighting, you should know that bull fights have been outlawed entirely in Catalonia. SO, instead of looking for flamenco and the like, try seeking out more Catalonian traditions instead, like attending a local street festival.

Make time to visit other Barcelona neighbourhoods

Last but not least, I implore you to avoid the key mistake of missing Barcelona’s many diverse neighbourhoods!

After all, Barcelona is more than a tourist hotspot, it’s home to 1.6 million locals who enjoy the city just as much as visitors do, so one of the best things you can do is try to see a more local side to the city, and uncover your own hidden gems along the way.

If you’d like a nudge in the right direction, these are two great neighbourhoods I love:

El Born (AKA La Ribera): Located a stone’s throw from the beach, I love El Born because it is packed with amazing cafes and restaurants, as well as interesting sights like The Santa Maria Basilica and the El Born Cultural Centre. My top tip? Grab yourself a mascarpone croissant from Pastisseria Hofmann and marvel at how you’ve lived this long without it.

Gracia:  Largely hailed as the most authentically Catalonian piece of Barcelona left thanks to a huge population of native Catalonians, Gracia is Barcelona’s hipster hood, teeming with independent boutiques and (organic) grocery stores. You’ll also find plenty of dreamy attractions here including top sights like Park Güell and Casa Vincens.

Safety Tips For Barcelona

Like in many busy European cities, petty crime can be an issue in Barcelona, from pickpocketing scams to fake police officers. Here are some tips for staying safe in Barcelona.

Learn how to avoid pickpockets in Barcelona

Of all the complaints and tourist mistakes I’ve heard about Barcelona, getting duped by pickpockets and scammers is like the ultimate  Barcelona rite of passage.

Make no mistake, pickpockets in Barcelona are PROFESSIONALS that often work in teams all around the city, certainly in tourist hotspots like Las Ramblas and busy hubs like Metro stations.

I’ve already written a full guide on how to avoid pickpockets in Europe , but below are two basic rules of thumb to follow to avoid robbery when you visit Barcelona…

Do NOT bring valuables to the beach

One very important Barcelona tip all visitors should remember is to NEVER bring your valuables with you to the beach, because petty thieves in Barcelona loooove the beach.

When possible, take turns with your travel companions watching belongings, or maybe invest in a beach safe or a waterproof case to bring with you swimming.

Never have your valuables out in the open

The last thing you want is to make yourself into a shiny walking target.

When in Barcelona, remember to not walk around with your phone in your hand, and definitely don’t leave your phone somewhere snatchable, like on a table while dining out, in your pocket on public transport, etc.

Know Barcelona’s emergency numbers

In North America, 911 is the go-to when you have any kind of emergency.

If you face an emergency in Barcelona, there’s a few options for numbers you can call:

Police, ambulance, fire brigade : 112 Police : 091 Local Police : 092 Fire brigade : 080 Accident / Ambulance : 061

English-speaking police officers: +34 932 903 000 (police headquarters), Via Laietana 43

Have a plan in case of a worst case scenario

This isn’t just a good Barcelona travel tip, but a good tip for travelling anywhere – make a plan for the worst case scenario.

Imagine your bags get stolen in Barcelona with your passports and all your cash/cards – what would be your backup plan? What would you do if you lost your phone?

Having a plan in place can minimize stress in the event that anything does happen, and having that peace of mind is very important for any vacation!

Food And Drink Tips For Barcelona

Eating and drinking well is a quintessential part of any Barcelona trip. Here are some Barcelona travel tips related to food and drink!

Avoid tourist trap restaurants (especially on Las Ramblas)

Barcelona is an incredible city with amazing food culture – both traditional and international.

That’s why one of the saddest mistakes you can make in Barcelona is getting caught at a tourist trap restaurant and even more depressingly, paying extortionate amounts for a terrible meal.

The area where this often happens is Barcelona’s (in)famous main drag: Las Ramblas.

Over the years, it has become a commonly accepted rule of thumb that those terrace restaurants along Las Ramblas do nothing but heat up frozen paella.

So, if you’re trying to avoid these establishments, a good sign of imminent tourist trappage = aggressive stock photos, or English words being thrown around in large blocky letters.

Instead of munching on mediocre tourist trap food, I would recommend booking a food tour or getting local tips and searching up restaurant reviews online before you go.

Expect to eat dinner later

If you’re accustomed to eating dinner before 9pm, then know that you’ll probably have to adjust slightly to adapt to typical Barcelona dinner times, which usually begin around 8:30pm or often later. 

Of course, you will still be able to find restaurants open earlier than that, but most locals won’t be eating much earlier than 8:30pm.

Try the “Menu del día”

Many restaurants in Barcelona will offer a “Menu del día” or “Combo of the Day” at lunch time which is typically a set menu that includes your starter, main course, dessert and drink for one low price.

This is a great way to sample local cuisine at a more affordable price, and of course get a great meal for less.

Shop at local markets

Barcelona’s food markets are legendary, and are great places to grab tasty and fresh local fare for an affordable price.

La Boqueria is of course world-famous, but I prefer the Mercato Santa Catarina for a quieter experience.

Consider a food tour

For foodies looking to get a great overview of Catalan cuisine, I can highly recommend doing a food tour while you’re in Barcelona.

I personally did a food tour with Devour Barcelona and had an amazing time.

Not only do you get to sample tons of great local cuisine, you also get a lot of insider local knowledge and context around the region’s most famous foods… and yes, there’s much more to the food scene here than paella (which is actually from Valencia).

Take a cooking class

The only thing better than sampling local cuisine is learning how to make it yourself! How’s that for a delicious souvenir?

Hands down, if you love food, one of the best things to do in Barcelona is taking a cooking class.

Here are some options:

• This market tour + paella cooking experience
• This grandma’s cooking class

Get a croissant from Pastisseria Hofmann

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: this is one of my top Barcelona tips as far as food is concerned…

GO TO PASTISSERIA HOFMANN. Just do it.

The mascarpone croissant from here is still probably the best croissant I’ve ever had in my life – yes, even better than the dozens I’ve eaten in Paris. Make sure you try one – they’re award winning for a reason!

Don’t drink the weird mojitos they sell at Barceloneta Beach

Specifically, I’m referring to the ones being sold by random guys who approach you on the beach. They are painfully gross and watered down. Avoid at all costs!

Barcelona Etiquette & Culture Tips

Wondering how not to be rude in Barcelona? Here are some important must-knows related to Barcelona etiquette to keep in mind before you visit.

Learn some basic Spanish (or Catalan) in advance

Let’s face it: we English speaking tourists usually have it pretty easy when we travel. After all, most of the time, English is widely spoken and understood, so we get to smugly glide on by without worrying about being heard or understood.

Unfortunately, things are a little different in Barcelona.

While you can get by with English, a basic command of Spanish or Catalan is tremendously helpful (and more polite!), especially when you’re at smaller establishments like little cafes, restaurants or supermarkets.

I found myself on numerous occasions relying on my broken Spanish to get by, so my tip is this: at the very least, know your numbers and practice your best pointing 😉

Remember that Barcelona is in Catalonia

While Barcelona is indeed a city in Spain, many visitors forget that it belongs to the state of Catalonia, which is culturally unique from many other parts of Spain, and therefore confusingly different from the Spanish stereotypes and cliches you may have in your head.

In fact, many Catalonians will not refer to themselves as Spanish, and there’s even a pretty heavy separatist movement as well, but that’s another story for another time.

So, don’t forget that Barcelona is in Catalonia, and be ready for plenty of cultural surprises that defy conventional Spanish stereotypes.

Don’t overtip

North Americans like me might feel pressured by habit to tip the same amount that’s expected at home,… but here’s some nice news for your wallet: tipping isn’t really expected in Barcelona.

In fact, even 5% is considered generous for exceptional service. While I’m sure most of the time, tips are appreciated, most locals don’t at all, so there isn’t the expectation that you need to.

Packing Tips For Barcelona

What should you wear in Barcelona? And what shouldn’t you wear? What important things should you definitely pack for your Barcelona trip? Here are my best Barcelona travel tips related to packing.

Bring comfy shoes

Barcelona is a stunning city made for walking, with droolworthy landmarks and sights around every corner.

And so, while you might be tempted to pack the cutest shoes in your wardrobe for your Barcelona trip, I’d suggest packing only practical shoes that you can walk a whole day in. Your feet will thank you later.

Bring a theft-proof bag

Unfortunately, pickpocketing and petty theft is common in Barcelona, particularly with tourists as easy targets.

For peace of mind, you should definitely look into buying theft proof bags  like this one , which is slash-proof and also has an abundance of hidden pockets to keep your belongings safe.

Bring bags with hidden pockets or a money belt

If you don’t want to buy an entirely new bag for your trip, that’s understandable, but you should still take a few measures to “theft-proof” your own bags.

A few ideas would be to pick only bags that have an additional layer of security (e.g. a zippered compartment inside the bag, or in the back where it’s inaccessible to grabby hands), or to simply wear a  money belt  or hidden passport scarf  like this one.

Make sure you have a universal adapter

Power sockets in Barcelona have two round holes and if you’re visiting from overseas, odds are you’ll need an adapter for your plugs to fit.

I’d strongly recommend buying a universal adapter  like this one  if you don’t have one already.

It’s cheap, can be re-used for every trip, and covers you in all situations. Definitely some of the best money I’ve ever spent!

DIY your own travel sized toiletries

This is a very basic  packing tip  I always recommend, but it’s very easy these days to buy small reusable bottles that you can fill with your own toiletries of choice.

This allows you to bring your favourite products with you, and saves needless one-use toiletries from ending up in the landfill.

Need help picking the right one?  Read my guide to  reusable toiletry bottles  for more info.

Have a re-usable bag handy

You can’t go wrong with a tote bag or two, and I always like to keep one in each purse when I travel.

You never know when you’ll need an extra bag, whether to haul goodies back from La Boqueria or simply carrying whatever souvenirs you’ve gotten that day, so remember to pack some just in case!

Bring protective wraps

If you’re travelling with an expensive camera, or anything else fragile, I highly recommend  these amazing protective wraps.

I bought mine a few years ago and use them every trip. They’re padded velcro wraps that you can use to protect…. pretty much anything! So handy and they don’t take up too much space.

Alternatively, you can also look into product-specific protectors, like  these awesome wine protectors  to ensure your precious cargo doesn’t break in transit.

Final Barcelona Travel Tips

Okay, last but not least, here are some miscellaneous Barcelona trip tips that will help ensue your trip to Barcelona is as magical as you always dreamed!

Know how to find free WiFi

WiFi for tourists is a big deal – I get it! Luckily, there’s a lot of free hotspots scattered around Barcelona.

Here are some Barcelona tips for always finding free WiFi:

• Head to (or outside) a McDonalds or Starbucks – they always have WiFI
• Download an app like Wifi Map which will help you find hotspots
• Look on FourSquare, where people will often share the password of protected hotspots in the tips section

Keep receipts for a VAT refund

If you come from outside the EU and plan to do a lot of shopping, you may qualify for a VAT tax refund when you leave Barcelona. This can amount to huge amounts depending on what you buy!

Here’s more info on how to claim your VAT refund before you leave Barcelona.

Use Instagram, Pinterest and Blogs to research more offbeat Barcelona activities

Guidebooks and Google are great, but if you really want to find Barcelona hidden gems that are specific to your interests, be sure to dig deeper!

Psst: I’ve done some of the digging for you in this epic list of things to do in Barcelona.

From local blogs and Instagram accounts to the official tourism board website, there are a lot of great free resources available to help you find unique places to go that are more off the beaten path.

Need more guidance? You might find my guide on  How to Find Cool Stuff to Do Near You  helpful for this.

Use Google Maps to save spots you want to see

Another excellent Barcelona travel tip I have for you is to take advantage of Google Maps for more than just navigation.

One of my favourite  travel hacks  is using Google Maps for saving cool places.

Long story short, I star every location I deem interesting on Google Maps (I do this by pressing the Save button when I search up that spot), which gives me a visual map of all the cool cafes, street art murals, attractions, restaurants, etc. that I’ve saved during my research.

I love doing this because I’ll often end up in new areas during my explorations, and I can just look at my map to see if anything interesting I read about happens to be nearby. Saves a lot of planning!

Do you have any other Barcelona travel Tips to add?

Let me know in the comments! I hope you enjoyed this guide to visiting Barcelona. Safe travels!

My Go-To Travel Favourites:

🧳 Eagle Creek: My favourite packing cubes

💳 Wise: For FREE travel friendly credit cards

🍯 Airalo: My go-to eSIM

🏨 Booking.com: For searching hotels

📷 Sony A7IV: My (amazing) camera

✈️ Google Flights : For finding flight deals

🌎 WorldNomads: For travel insurance

🎉 GetYourGuide: For booking activities

1 thought on “50+ Helpful Barcelona Travel Tips & Tricks: Must-Knows Before You Visit Barcelona!”

At La Boqueria they sell awesome combinations of blended fruit drinks. Our tip is to walk past the stalls at the front of the market and head to the second and third rows of stalls. You’ll find the same drinks, except they’re quite a bit cheaper than the stalls at the front of the market.

Barcelona’s La Boqueria should perhaps come with a health warning because there’s so much to-die-for food & treats wherever you look!

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4 Days in Barcelona: Planning An Amazing Barcelona Itinerary

Planning a trip to Barcelona and not sure where to start? In this guide to planning your Barcelona itinerary, we’re going to give you all the information we think you need to plan an incredible trip to the capital of Catalonia. The detailed itinerary is written for 4 days in Barcelona – which we think is the right amount of time to spend in the city – but below the main itinerary we have some ideas for how to adapt it for different time periods (1, 2, and 3 days, or more!).

We’ll also cover important logistics, like where to stay and how to get around, so that you have everything you need to plan your visit to Barcelona.

Barcelona was our first stop on our latest foray into Spain, and we spent a full week in the city, exploring different neighborhoods, eating and drinking our way through the city, and walking A LOT. Barcelona has a lot of the things we look for in a city – it’s super walkable, full of great food and drinks, forward-thinking and diverse, and has some amazing history behind it.

In this 4 day Barcelona itinerary, you’ll get one level below the surface of Barcelona to learn what really makes it a special city (spoiler: it’s not Las Ramblas or the beach). Along the way, you’ll visit one of the most spectacular churches in Europe, learn how to make a Spanish specialty, and connect with locals to get a fresh perspective on the city they call home.

Sound good to you? Let’s get into it!

P.S.: Planning a trip to Spain? We have a detailed Spain itinerary plus guides to Madrid , Granada , and Seville to help you plan an amazing trip!

Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post, like hotel links, are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, we make a little bit of money if you click through and book. That being said, we would never recommend something to you that we don’t stand behind 100%.

How Many Days Do You Need in Barcelona?

Barcelona is a huge, fascinating city, but it’s not exactly filled with landmark tourist attractions like Paris or Rome. It’s much more similar to a city like Lisbon in that it has a few major tourist attractions, but the best part about it is exploring different neighborhoods and, of course, eating and drinking. 

All that being said, we think you need at least 3 days in Barcelona itself, plus a day for an awesome day trip to Girona that takes you deeper into Catalonia and the distinct culture that has thrived here for thousands of years.

In other words, we think 4 days in Barcelona is the right amount of time to experience Barcelona without feeling too rushed, and to fit in that day trip. It’s also not too much time in Barcelona – you’re going to find your days are still full, and you’re going to leave with a list of things you want to do next time you’re in the capital of Catalonia. 

If you have more time or less time to spend in Barcelona, don’t worry – we have an entire section for you below the main itinerary with how we’d recommend spending one, two, three, and five or more days in Barcelona. 

However much time in Barcelona, you’ll be able to use this detailed guide to planning your Barcelona itinerary to organize your trip, figure out the best things to do and see, and plan an incredible trip. 

4 Days in Barcelona: How to Plan the Perfect 4 Day Barcelona Itinerary

Right, now that we’ve covered some basics, let’s get into exactly what to do in Barcelona in 4 days. 

The first thing you should know going into this particular itinerary is that it’s focused much more on experiences than checking off every single tourist attraction in Barcelona. 

Sure, there are a bunch of Gaudí sites to see in Barcelona, but with just four days, do you really need to see them all? Probably not. Instead, focus on one or two that are worthwhile, and save the rest for next time. The same goes for both churches and markets, both of which there are plenty of in Barcelona. 

To illustrate the point above, there are two Gaudí sites in Barcelona that you’ll find on every other itinerary, but we purposely excluded because it’s just too much! Those two are Casa Milà and Casa Batlló, which are in the “with more time” section below, but not in the main itinerary. 

The 4 Day Barcelona Itinerary: An Overview

In general, the Barcelona itinerary that you’ll find below is structured with one major sight per day – like the Sagrada Familia, for example – with time for exploring a particular neighborhood and eating and drinking your way through the city on either side of that main attraction. Speaking as people who have made the mistake of doing multiple major attractions in a single day, we think you’ll enjoy yourself much more this way (we know we do). 

Here’s a high-level overview of the day-by-day itinerary. 

• Day 1 : Exploring the Gothic Quarter & A Walking Tour
• Day 2 : La Sagrada Familia & Barceloneta
• Day 3 : Take a Day Trip to Girona (Our Favorite!)
• Day 4 : Parc Güell & Learning to Make Paella

We don’t want to be too prescriptive – obviously, you could do a day trip on the fourth day in Barcelona instead of the third if it works better for your particular schedule.

Day 1: Exploring the Gothic Quarter & An Introductory Walking Tour

On your first morning, it makes sense to spend your time exploring the Gothic Quarter, home of the original city of Barcino that was founded by the Romans 2,000 years ago, before taking a walking tour with a local guide to get your bearings in the city and learn a few things along the way. Finish with a guided tapas tour where you’ll not only try some delicious food, but also get the context behind it, which we always find fascinating. 

The Gothic Quarter: La Boqueria Market and Las Ramblas

Start your morning out in the Gothic Quarter, the oldest part of the city and the place where the original city of Barcino was founded by the Romans two millennia ago as a trading post on the Iberian Peninsula. 

Despite being the main tourist attraction in Barcelona, there is still something romantic about the dark, narrow alleys of the Gothic Quarter, which make the huge city of Barcelona feel small and quiet in the way that they insulate you from everything going on outside that particular street. 

Today, it’s the most-visited part of the city, and Las Ramblas – the famous thoroughfare running from Plaça de Catalunya down to the water –  is bustling, loud, and wild at almost all hours of the day (though, not in the early morning!). Theoretically, it’s lovely with its tree-lined pedestrian lined with flower vendors, but in reality it’s pretty unbearable at most hours. 

Start your day off right – with some great coffee at Satan’s Coffee Corner , which is just a few blocks off of Las Ramblas. Take the metro (or walk) to Plaça de Catalunya and wander south before veering off to the left to head to get some coffee. Satan’s is one of the original specialty coffee shops in the city, and they bring in roasters from all over Europe and serve their beans as filter coffee or espresso-based drinks like a latte.

After you’re caffeinated, head back out to Las Ramblas and make your way to Mercado de La Boqueria , the most famous (and, therefore, most visited) of Barcelona’s markets. It is packed with tourists, yes, but we think it’s still well worth visiting, especially early in the morning before it’s wall-to-wall with people oooohing and aaahhing over the fresh produce, cured meats, and fish (among many, many other things). 

It’s a great place to pick up souvenirs, snacks for later (like meat and cheese), or fresh fruit and juice for breakfast, which is what we opted for. Get a container of sliced mango and some fresh papaya juice and take some time to wander the hundreds of stalls. 

Continue all the way down Las Ramblas – 1.2 km or so – to the Christopher Columbus Statue (who is somehow revered for making a huge mistake for thinking that the Americas were India, among other things) that marks the end of the street. Congratulations, you walked Las Ramblas from start to finish. Now, we’d recommend spending the entirety of the rest of your time away from Las Ramblas exploring Barcelona a little more deeply, only returning to cross the main thoroughfare en route to a different spot. 

An Introductory Walking Tour

We always like to do a walking tour on our first day in a new city for a couple of reasons. One, it allows us to connect with a local right off the bat, who can give us tips and tricks on things like the language, local customs, and most importantly, what and where to eat and drink! 

We avoid the free tours now because we’ve found that the guides are just never as good as the ones you pay for… which makes total sense. It’s worth the slight investment on our part to have a local expert giving us the real deal, rather than a college student who memorized a script and is working for tips. 

We did this walking tour , and our guide Miguel gave us a fantastic introduction to the city of Barcelona. It was funny, engaging, disgusting at times, and overall a really fun way to get oriented in a new city. It’s only two hours long, which is great because our attention span is, sadly, roughly two hours or so. 

Other options include this bike tour of Barcelona (it DOES NOT include entrance to the Sagrada Familia, just admiring from the outside) or this nighttime tour of the Old Town . 

An Evening Food Tour 

Round out your first day in Barcelona with an evening tapas tour with Devour Food Tours, one of the OG food tour companies in Spain. It was founded in 2012 to help support struggling local restaurants during the recession, and has become a Europe-wide food tour empire since. 

Their tours, unfortunately, are not safe for people with Celiac Disease (that’s me!), otherwise we would have done one ourselves. But that doesn’t mean you can’t!

They may seem expensive, but you’re basically getting a history tour and food tour all in one. Come hungry, because you make a bunch of stops along the way at some of the most historic establishments in the city, and your local guide will tell you rich stories that will help you contextualize what you’re eating and get a couple of levels deeper than “wow, these patatas bravas are tasty.”

It’s a three and a half hour tour, and it includes the equivalent of a full dinner plus drinks. Click here to check prices, reviews, and availability . 

Day 2: La Sagrada Familia & Barceloneta

Spend your morning at La Sagrada Familia, the most impressive church in the world (in our opinion, anyway), then spend the afternoon in Barceloneta. 

La Sagrada Familia

Look, we spent three full months in Europe, exploring Portugal and Italy over two months before arriving for just over a month in Spain and let me tell you, we saw a lot of churches. 

La Sagrada Familia is easily the most impressive, and it’s because of the details. It is abundantly clear how much thought and care was given to every single last detail of this architectural marvel. The contrast between the two facades – which you’ll learn about in the handy audioguide (more on that in a second) is fascinating, as is the entire structure. 

While there are bigger churches and more ornate churches out there, this is the pinnacle for us. 

It’s still under construction after being started in 1882 (Gaudí actually didn’t join the project until a year later, in 1883 though, which I didn’t know). Gaudí died in 1926, but left a detailed plan and sketch of his vision for future architects to bring to life. However, there was a slight hiccup in the 1930’s when, during the Spanish Civil War, people broke into the crypt and destroyed his plans, which took more than 10 years to rebuild. 

Hence, the Sagrada Familia is still under construction, due to be completed in 2026, the 100 year anniversary of Gaudí’s death. However, one of our guides in Barcelona mentioned that he’d expect that date to be delayed. Just because. 

We’d highly recommend going either early in the morning or late in the afternoon, when the light streams through the amazing stained glass windows and creates a pretty marvelous light show inside the basilica. 

How to Visit the Sagrada Familia

First of all, if you’re in Barcelona in peak season (read: summer), you need to book your tickets for the Sagrada Familia well in advance. They will sell out, and you’ll be left with a couple of options in that case that are going to be more expensive. We’ll get to those in a second.

You have two main options here – visit independently, or as part of a guided tour.  

To get tickets on your own, you’ll need to go to the official website and hit the big red button that says “TICKETS”. 

At the time of writing, tickets are 26 Euros a person (includes entry and the audioguide, which is phenomenal). For 27 Euros, you can do a guided tour with a live guide in place of the audio guide. Those are the only two options through the official site at the time of writing in late 2021. 

You will then have to choose a specific day and entry time for your tickets, which will depend on your particular schedule. Do it as early as possible if you can!

Pro-tip : Make sure to bring headphones with you and download the audioguide on your phone in advance to listen to it as you go!

What if tickets are sold out? If tickets are sold out through the official website, you have two options. Check on Get Your Guide to see if they have Skip-the-Line tickets available, or join a guided t our of the Basilica . 

If you’re interested in a guided tour of the Basilica , we’d recommend going with Take Walks , one of our favorite tour companies in Europe. We’ve done multiple tours with them (read about our awesome Colosseum tour in Rome ) and the guides are some of the best around. They have a specific 90 minute Sagrada Familia Tour , and a more comprehensive Gaudí Tour that visits La Sagrada Familia along with Casa Batlló, Casa Mila, and Park Güell over the course of five hours. 

An Afternoon in Barceloneta

After your Sagrada Familia experience, make your way south to the waterfront to Barceloneta for lunch and a history lesson that should last most of the afternoon. When you’re in the heart of Eixample or the Gothic Quarter, it’s easy to forget that Barcelona is actually a seaside city.

Barceloneta is a neighborhood in the Ciutat Vella (Old Town) in Barcelona that has the most accessible beach in the city. Though, honestly, it’s not that great, and that’s not why you’re here. 

Barceloneta Beach, located in a former fishing district, is one of the city’s oldest and best-loved beaches. The whole waterfront area was remodeled way back in 1992 for the Barcelona Olympics, and today, this long strip of sand is a firm favorite with both tourists and locals alike.

Barceloneta Beach may not have the architecture or urban chic of the inner city, but it’s still a great spot for an afternoon stroll, and an excellent place to grab an ice cream and indulge in a little people watching.

Instead of the beach, though, you’re really here for the food, the market, and the Catalan History Museum, which is an eye-opening experience for those of us who haven’t really learned all that much about Catalonia. 

Museu d’Història de Catalunya

Start your exploration of Barceloneta with the Museu d’Història de Catalunya , which was our favorite museum in Barcelona because it covers a subject that we didn’t really know all that much about prior to visiting. 

The great thing about this museum is that it’s both cheap, at just 4 Euros per person, and has many of the signs in English. Bring your headphones because there’s also a handy audio guide that you can use the museum’s wifi to listen to as you browse, but it’s not totally necessary since most of the signage has an English translation. 

It’s worth spending between one and two hours here exploring the two floors of the museum. You’ll have to check your backpacks and you’ll need a 1 Euro coin to do so, but we learned (thanks to the friendly man at the front desk!) that the coin you put in to lock the door will be returned to you at the end, and it’s just a deposit to make sure you don’t run away with the key (for some reason?). 

More information on the museum, including current hours and ticket prices, on their official website . 

Barceloneta Market

After the museum, make your way over to the Barceloneta Market. It’s significantly less touristy than La Boqueria, but still somehow packed to the gills with a mixture of locals and tourists. It’s best in the morning through lunchtime, and the market closes for the day at 2:00 pm. You can either find a place to eat here, pick up some picnic materials and head to the nearby beach, or simply wander the stalls and admire the bounty of fresh produce, fish, and meat before heading out for lunch nearby. 

Tapas for Lunch

For lunch, you have two options nearby that are on every list of the best food experiences in Barcelona (and our local guide actually recommended without us even asking about them). 

First is Perikete , a no-frills tapas bar with outdoor seating and big hunks of meat hanging from the ceiling. Order tapas – we like the fried padron peppers and patatas bravas – and wash it down with a cheap glass of vermouth, cava, or a beer. 

Second, just around the corner, is Can Paixano , a cava bar where locals and tourists alike eat shoulder-to-shoulder in the tiny space. There’s always a line for lunch, but it moves fast. For lunch, you can choose from a range of tapas and bocadillos, which are basically little sandwiches. And, of course, cava. Regular cava. Nice cava. Pink cava. All the cava, please! (note: no gluten free options for food here, sadly – if you need to eat gluten free, make sure to read our guide to gluten free Barcelona !). 

Pro-tip: If the server isn’t paying attention to you after your first glass of cava, it’s because you need to order more food to go with it (thanks to Miguel, our walking tour guide, for the tip!). 

An Evening in El Born

After your leisurely afternoon in Barceloneta, spend the evening in nearby El Born, known for its food scene and great nightlife. 

Here are some things to do in El Born and nearby, in no particular order: 

• Get coffee at Nomad Coffee Lab (my personal pick for the best coffee in Barcelona, particularly this location) or Hidden Coffee Roasters , some of the best specialty coffee in Barcelona. 
• Explore Ciutadella Park and walk out to the Arco de Triomf (every European city has one!). 
• Make a detour into the Gothic Quarter for the best tea we’ve ever had at Salterio . No joke. The Yogi Tea is incredible, and the family running the place is super friendly and welcoming. Caj Chai and La Masala Cafe are close seconds, though, and both are nearby. 
• Visit the Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar after 5:00 pm, when the interior of the church is free! We’d recommend going inside this church over the Barcelona Cathedral.
• There are an endless number of bars and restaurants to choose from – we liked Flax & Kale Passage for vegetarian, internationally-inspired food (the Malaysian Curry is great!). 

If you’re up for an after-dinner drink , here are a couple of spots you might enjoy in El Born: 

• El Diset : A classic cocktail bar that also serves IPAs and European lagers. Laid back, effortlessly chic and offering a selection of tasty tapas if you arrive earlier in the evening.
• Paradiso : This bar feels like the beginning of a spy movie. You’ll begin your visit in an unassuming Pastrami bar, before opening a refrigerator door (yes, really), to reveal the entrance to a super cool speakeasy with expert mixologists and world famous cocktails.
• El Xampanyet : Less hipster and more traditional, this tavern style bar is a local favorite, with all the hallmarks of a Catalan tapas bar: stand up socializing on tiled floors, barrels stacked behind the bar and a steady supply of snacks throughout the evening.

Day 3: Take a Day Trip to Girona (Our Favorite!)

We’d highly, highly recommend a day trip to Girona to dive deeper into Catalonia. It was the day trip we chose to take from Barcelona, and we really, really enjoyed it. It’s a gorgeous town at the convergence of multiple rivers about 100km northeast of Barcelona. So beautiful, in fact, that Game of Thrones filmed several major scenes in Season 6 in Girona!

We have an entire guide dedicated to planning a day trip to Girona from Barcelona, which you should read for more details. Otherwise, here are the highlights. 

Getting to Girona

Take the high-speed AVE train from Barcelona-Sants to Girona, which takes just 40 minutes each way. Book tickets either directly through Renfe , or through Omio for a slightly more user-friendly experience (that comes with a small service fee).

We recommend the 7:05 am train if you can stomach it, which will get you there with plenty of time to do some exploring before meeting up with the best walking tour we did in Spain. Then, catch a train home AFTER 6:00 pm – the siesta is real in Girona, which means everything closes from 2:00 to 5:00 pm or so. A later train will give you time to make it to some of the places you miss during the siesta time. 

What to Do in Girona

Again, see our entire guide to one day in Girona for many, many more details, but here is the gist of how we’d spend a day in Girona (and, essentially, how we did it ourselves). 

• Arrive early and walk the city walls before it gets packed. You can get up onto the walls from the Jardins de la Francesa behind the massive cathedral ( here on Google Maps), and they continue alllll the way around back to right around Plaça de Catalunya (though you can get off the walls at several points between those two spots). Don’t miss climbing up into at least one of the towers along the way for great views of the city and cathedral!
• Head down to Espresso Mafia for the best coffee in Girona and a pastry or two, or over to their sister cafe La Fabrica if you’re in the mood for a more hearty brunch. 
• Join our favorite walking tour in Spain at 10:30 am. And the best part is, you have two options! We loved the history-focused walking tour we did with Raquel, whose knowledge about Girona and Catalonia as a whole was impressive, and it’s the one we’d recommend for most people. However, they also do a Game of Thrones Tour , which fans of the TV show (minus the last season of course, which was hot garbage) will appreciate because it takes you to places in the city where they filmed pieces of Season 6. 
• After the tour, grab lunch somewhere in the old town (ask your guide for a recommendation!). 
• During the siesta, where the entire city basically shuts down for a few hours in the afternoon, hit the informative Jewish History Museum , which covers the history of the Jewish population in Girona, which shaped the city prior to being expelled in 1492, and then the Girona Cathedral , which is home to an impressive cloister, a huge nave (with no arches in the middle, which is unique) and the Tapestry of Creation from the 11th (ish) Century. 
• Afterwards, spend the rest of your time wandering the old town and stopping into any place that catches your eye before catching your train home!

Day 4: Parc Güell & Learning to Make Paella

On your last day, check out Park Güell in the morning, then do a cooking class centered around paella before ending your trip to Barcelona in Gràcia, our favorite neighborhood in Barcelona. 

Spend your morning relaxing, grabbing coffee and breakfast, and preparing yourself for an action packed afternoon and evening. 

Learn How to Cook Paella in a Gorgeous Garden

We personally did this cooking class , and it was a highlight of our entire trip to Spain.

Did you know paella is a) traditionally a lunchtime dish and b) not from Barcelona, but from Valencia, which is further south down the coast of Spain? In fact, paella from Valencia NEVER has any kind of seafood in it, which is generally what I thought of when picturing paella before this cooking class. 

We frankly didn’t really know a whole lot about paella other than “it’s rice, and it’s from Spain” before doing this cooking class with Clara, who grew up in Barcelona and whose family still lives in the house behind the fabulous garden you’ll make the paella in. 

This class is usually at lunch (except on Fridays) and it’s a lovely afternoon spent cooking a couple of different types of paella, meeting both Clara and like-minded travelers, and eating tapas, paella, and drinking Spanish wine in a gorgeous setting.  

The class lasts three hours, and we’d recommend not getting too drunk off of wine to make it to your next stop, which is one of the main attractions in Barcelona. 

Click here to check prices, reviews, and availability of the paella class we did.

An Afternoon in Park Güell

The main attraction of the day is absolutely Park Güell, a park that was built by Gaudí in the early 20th Century and has a very distinct modernist design and architecture that has led to it being named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

This place is not exactly off the beaten path. It’s usually packed with tourists from all over the world at all hours, which means you’re going to need to book tickets well in advance. Basically, as soon as you know the dates for your Barcelona trip, see if there are tickets available. 

This is the official site where you can buy tickets. There is an English version available, which makes it easier. 

Like the Sagrada Familia, you’ll need to choose an exact entry time when you book your tickets. If you do the paella class beforehand, I’d do 4:00 pm to be safe. 

I repeat: BUY TICKETS IN ADVANCE if you are coming in peak season. Trust us. Tickets become available three months in advance . You can also buy skip the line tickets here .  

An Evening in Gràcia

After a couple of hours at the park, head down into the neighborhood of Gràcia, which sprawls down the hill below the park. It’s our favorite area in Barcelona, and it has an impressive array of food and drinks and a more local vibe than most of the more central parts of Barcelona. 

Never have I ever seen more dogs out for their morning and evening walks in Barcelona than in this part of town!

Here are some places that we think you should check out, though you really can’t go wrong just wandering the neighborhood, choosing a plaza and grabbing a table, and watching the world go by. 

Las Vermudas is the place to go to learn about Spanish vermut, a fortified wine that you might know as “vermouth”. They won best Vermuteria in Barcelona in 2020, and we showed up on a weeknight and it was packed. We knew exactly nothing about vermouth prior to coming here, and over the course of a couple of hours, the friendly servers and bartenders gave us a crash course in vermouth in Spain, which is sweeter and more aromatic than those from places like France and Italy (which are more common, at least in the US). 

For great wine, head to Viblioteca , who has a nice array of wines to go with Spanish cured meats cheeses. Or to Bodega Bonavista , which is more of a wine store, but also does tastings and wines by the glass. 

For Venezuelan arepas (and cachapas!) and cocktails, go to Rabipelao Gràcia . 

The options in Gràcia are endless! You’ll see why we fell in love with this part of Barcelona as you’re walking down a well-lit street buzzing with a combination of locals and tourists mingling and starting their nights. 

What to Do With More Time in Barcelona

With one extra day in Barcelona, you basically have a choice between staying in the city, and tackling another day trip. 

If you’re about done with Gaudí sights and museums, then consider doing a day trip to Montserrat , a mountain range just northwest of the city with some cool hikes and religious sites. We considered this trip, but opted to spend some more time in Barcelona itself after our Girona day trip, which we loved. You can either do it yourself independently (here’s a guide we liked) or join a guided tour , depending on whether you want to deal with the logistics and if it fits in your budget. 

If you’re up for more cultural sites in Barcelona, dive deeper into the city itself and do some combination of the Picasso Museum , exploring the hill of Montjuïc and its castle, gardens,and magic fountain, or heading up to Tibidabo to check out the Tibidabo Amusement Park and some nice views over Barcelona. 

What to Do With Less Time in Barcelona

If you have less time in Barcelona, here’s how we’d organize your time to make the most of it. You won’t be able to see everything, but you can certainly see some of the highlights. 

3 Days in Barcelona

As much as we hate to say it, cut the day trip to Girona and follow the rest of the Barcelona itinerary as written above. We loved Girona, but think it’s a better use of time to get deeper into Barcelona and the rich culture within its city limits. Girona can be saved for next time you make it to Catalonia!

2 Days in Barcelona

With two days, we’d consolidate the itinerary above by doing a morning in the Gothic Quarter , the sights in Barceloneta , and either the Walking Tour OR the Food Tour on the first Day, then doing La Sagrada Familia , the Paella Class , and Park Guell on an action-packed second day. 

One Day in Barcelona

With only one day in Barcelona, you’re going to be really, really short on time. We’d do the Sagrada Familia first, which is our top sight to see in Barcelona, and then explore the Gothic Quarter with an evening Food Tour to round out the day. 

Where to Stay in Barcelona

We think there are a bunch of possible answers to the question “where should I stay in Barcelona?” The truth is, it depends on what you’re looking for. 

Which is why we’ve written an entire guide to the best places to stay in Barcelona , with a detailed breakdown of strengths and weaknesses of each neighborhood. 

However, you’re here for the short version, so here it goes. 

Here are three neighborhoods that stand out to us as nice home bases for exploring Barcelona. 

PS: Whatever you do, DO NOT STAY ON LAS RAMBLAS . It’s a giant tourist trap, and you will end up paying more than your room is worth for the privilege of it being super loud all day and night. 

Gràcia: The Coolest Part of Barcelona

This is the part of the city that we fell in love with, and we stayed here for the first half of our latest trip to Barcelona. It used to be its own city before the expansion of Barcelona swallowed it up, and still retains some of the distinctly independent vibes that it once had. 

It’s less central – and therefore, less full of tourists at all hours – than most of the more central neighborhoods. But it’s still really, really well connected to the rest of the city via the metro (two lines run through this area), and we had no problem getting from place to place while we were staying in Gràcia .

We stayed at Casa Gràcia , which we had a love-hate relationship with. The idea – a hostel with private rooms, dorms, and apartments and plenty of common spaces – is great! However, the rooms were deeply in need of an update (and a deep clean). We were disappointed because it has so much potential! 

L’Eixample: Central and Well Connected

We spent the second half of our latest trip to Barcelona in this central neighborhood , which is significantly more modern than the Ciutat Vella because of the fact that it was built well after the old town as a way to connect ever-expanding Barcelona with the smaller towns (like Gràcia) outside the old city walls. 

It’s more of a grid, with wide boulevards and a distinctly Parisian feeling to it (I’m sure Barcelonians love hearing that), which is a stark contrast to the old, windy alleys of the Gothic Quarter and El Born. 

Still, it’s a nice place to stay precisely because it’s so central, and it has some things to do and see that make it a place to visit in its own right. Like Passieg de Gràcia and some excellent food and drink spots nearby. 

El Born: For Foodies and Nightlife

El Born is the eastern end of the Ciutat Vella – Barcelona’s original walled city – and it’s by far our favorite part of the downtown core of Barcelona. While the Gothic Quarter is nice, it’s evident that it’s completely geared towards tourists. 

Now, all of the Ciutat Vella is geared towards tourists in some way or another, but El Born feels like it is less-so. At least to us. 

The food scene and, in particular, the bars and pubs, in El Born are the best in the city, which means it’s loud, boisterous, and probably not the best choice for families looking to get some sleep (or, for that matter, us). 

Which is why we’ve written an entire guide to the best places to stay in Barcelona , with a detailed breakdown of strengths and weaknesses of each neighborhood. 

Getting Around Barcelona

With limited time, we’d DEFINITELY recommend taking advantage of Barcelona’s wide-reaching and efficient metro system , which is one of the better ones in Europe. Sure, you can absolutely walk around Barcelona since it’s flat until you get up towards Park Güell, but you’ll end up walking for 30 minutes to get between places on this itinerary. 

It’s a beautiful city, don’t get us wrong, but we think you’ll appreciate the efficiency that comes with zipping around on the metro, covering that ground in eight minutes instead of 28. The bus system is pretty good too, although the schedules posted weren’t quite accurate in our experience (which isn’t surprising, just something to note). 

You can either buy tickets individually at 2.40 Euros a pop (which is expensive), as a group of 10 tickets (for one person) for 11.35 Euros, or you can get an Hola Card, which is their unlimited transport card for tourists, for 48-120 hours (in increments of 24 hours). 

Tickets can be bought at the TMB (the metro system company) machines at most metro stations. 

We went with the Hola Card , and recommend that you do too, especially if you’re arriving in Barcelona via the airport, which is included in the price (and costs 5.15 Euros one-way). You can get a discount if you buy it online in advance, and use a code to redeem it at the machines when you arrive. 

Prices and ticket types might have changed, so make sure to check the official TMB website for the most up to date information. 

Getting To Barcelona

If you’re planning a flight to Barcelona, there are a couple of important considerations to keep in mind before you book your trip. 

Barcelona only has one main airport.

Budget airlines would have you believe that Girona Airport and Reus Airport are actually “Barcelona Girona” and “Barcelona Reus”. 

In reality, these airports are around 75 miles (120km) away from Barcelona, on the outskirts of two completely separate cities. It’s possible to find extremely cheap flights to these provincial airports, but much of the savings will be cancelled out by the 1.5 hour trip to the center of Barcelona. 

The Better Option: Fly into El Prat (BCN).

Barcelona’s real international airport is officially known as “Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport”, or simply “El Prat” or “BCN”, for short. 

The vast majority of long-haul international flights land here, and you can also connect to main European hubs like London, Frankfurt and Paris. 

How to Get into the City from the Airport

Once you’ve landed at El Prat, avoid an expensive taxi fare and take advantage of the excellent public transportation links into the city.

The best option is the metro – line L9 sud , which takes roughly 30 minutes (and departs every 7 minutes) costing 5.15 Euros each way. It’s covered by the Hola Card, Barcelona’s unlimited public transit card for tourists, which you can buy in advance (for a 10% discount) and pick up at the departure station near Terminal 2. 

Airport buses (Aerobús) run directly to the very central Plaça Catalunya every 15 minutes. The journey takes 40 minutes and only costs around 10 Euros for a return ticket (valid for 15 days) or 5.90 Euros for a one-way ticket, if this is a jumping-off point for a broader Spain itinerary . IMPORTANT NOTE: This bus is NOT covered by the Hola Card!

The Best Time to Visit Barcelona

Barcelona is a beautiful city all year round, but there are a couple of considerations to keep in mind.

If you can swing it, avoid the height of summer.

From mid-July and through to the end of August, Barcelona’s locals leave the city in droves. And who could blame them? The streets are absolutely jam-packed with tourists, and the sweltering, humid weather can make for an oppressive and claustrophobic atmosphere.

Plus, that means lots of businesses are closed in August, when the locals head out on vacation to recharge for another year of tourists.  

In my view, late spring (May and June) and early fall (September and October) are the best times for visiting Barcelona. The temperatures are much more manageable than the summer, and there’s less chance of heavy rain and strong winds than the early spring or winter.

We were in Barcelona in early November on this latest trip, and it was a lovely time to be in the city (though it’s a bit colder than we expected, so bring a jacket in the late fall and winter!). 

Let Us Help You Plan Your Amazing Trip to Spain!

We’ve got plenty of other detailed guides for our favorite places in Spain – from Barcelona, to Madrid and Andalusia – that we wrote to help you plan an incredible trip.

P.S.: If the link isn’t there, it means we’re still working on it and the guide will be up shortly. It takes a lot of time and effort to put together these detailed guides! Bear with us.

• Two Weeks in Spain: How to Plan an Amazing 14 Day Spain Itinerary
• 4 Days in Barcelona: How to Plan the Perfect Barcelona Itinerary
• Where to Stay in Barcelona: A Complete Guide to 5 Great Areas
• Gluten Free Barcelona: A Complete Guide for Celiacs
• Exactly How to Take an Amazing Day Trip to Girona From Barcelona
• 2 Days in Madrid: A Complete Guide to Planning Your Madrid Itinerary
• Where to Stay in Madrid: A Complete Guide to 5 Great Areas
• Gluten Free Madrid: A Complete Guide for Celiacs (Restaurants + Bakeries)
• Taking A Day Trip to Toledo From Madrid: A Complete Guide
• 2 Days in Granada: A Complete Guide to the Best Things to Do in Granada
• 2 Days in Seville: A Complete Guide to Planning a Seville Itinerary

Matt is the founder and main writer behind Wheatless Wanderlust, which he started back in 2018 as a way to share his gluten free travel guides with his fellow Celiac travelers.

Since then, Matt and his wife Alysha have visited 18 national parks, spent three months in Europe and six weeks in Colombia, and have explored every corner of the Pacific Northwest, which is where Matt grew up.

He writes super detailed guides to the places they visit, bringing together personal experience and historical context to help YOU plan an amazing trip.

Hi which hotels would you recommend for me and my 20 year son. It’s our first time visiting Spain and Barcelona. We are going to stay in Barcelona 5-6 days and i was thinking if we should break our stay in two places. Please give some good affordable/ boutique/ midrange hotel suggestions.

Hey there Necla! Exciting that you’ve got so much time in Barcelona! We have an entire guide dedicated to helping you figure out where to stay, including hotel recommendations. You can find that here:

https://wheatlesswanderlust.com/where-to-stay-barcelona-best-places/

Let us know if you have any specific questions and we’re more than happy to help.

Cheers, Matt & Alysha

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Traveling to Barcelona for the First Time: 19 Tips & Tricks

By Author Jurga

Posted on Last updated: January 15, 2024

Traveling to Barcelona for the first time and not sure where to start and what to expect? This article covers all the essential Barcelona travel tips that will help you make the most of your trip.

Planning your first visit to Barcelona, Spain, might be overwhelming. There are so many questions… How much time do you need in Barcelona? When to visit and how to avoid the crowds? Where to stay and what to see? Any local tips and habits to be aware of? Or how to see the best that Barcelona has to offer in a limited time and without breaking the bank?…

To help you plan your first trip to Barcelona, we selected some of the best tips for visiting the city. This no-nonsense practical guide will not only help you plan your trip, but will also show you how to make the best of your time and budget. Find out!

Top 5 Experiences in Barcelona:

• Sagrada Familia .
• Park Güell .
• Montjuïc Cable Car .
• Barcelona Pass .
• Casa Batlló .

Here are our essential Barcelona travel tips:

1. Research & Book in Advance

One of the biggest mistakes you can make when visiting Barcelona for the first time is not to plan your trip in advance. So congratulations – because you are reading this, you already have a head start compared to other visitors!

Whether it’s flights, accommodations, or tickets for the main Barcelona attractions – booking in advance means that you have more choices and much better prices . It also means less wasted time queuing and more relaxing time sightseeing and enjoying this fabulous city. After all, you want to make the most of your time in Barcelona and not spend all your precious time standing in lines.

Also, doing your research in advance means that you will avoid disappointment to find that the places you want to visit are closed or tickets sold out . Below are some examples that illustrate what I mean.

For example, we really wanted to see the dancing fountain of Barcelona, the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc , and were told that it dances every night. However, it’s not the case. Furthermore, since we were traveling in the low season, it was actually only dancing three times a week.

Because we arrived on a Saturday and left before the next weekend, we only had one chance to see the fountains during our visit – on the first evening in the city. So despite an early flight and a very long day, we decided to go. If we hadn’t done the research -assuming that we could just see it any night- we would have definitely missed it.

We also researched whether it was a good idea to visit Montserrat Monastery on Sunday. It turns out that it’s the busiest day of the week. So we booked a tour for Monday instead…

I also heard from some of our readers that they couldn’t visit the famous Barcelona market Mercado de La Boqueria because they didn’t realize that it was closed on Sundays. By the way, all indoor markets in Barcelona are closed on Sundays.

Another reader told us that they couldn’t visit Park Güell because they didn’t buy tickets in advance and no walk-ins were possible… (Btw, Park Güell is one of the most-visited Barcelona attractions and you really have to book your tickets in advance!).

Good to know: Tickets for the most popular Barcelona attractions often sell out up to 2-3 weeks in advance. This is especially the case in high season. Plus, most entry tickets are now timed, so you need to see what’s possible and how to fit it all into your itinerary. Further below, you will find more details and tips, but if you get the Barcelona Pass , you will have the option to pre-book a timeslot for your skip-the-line entry to all the main sights.

By doing your research in advance, you can also compare prices, reviews, and itineraries for the best tours in Barcelona… This brings us to the next point.

READ ALSO: Top Sights & Attractions in Barcelona

2. Save Time & Money When Visiting Barcelona’s Main Landmarks

Visiting Barcelona for the first time also means visiting all the main landmarks and attractions. Of course, you will want to see the famous La Sagrada Familia and the other iconic Gaudi buildings and architecture! Just make sure that you are well prepared so that you don’t waste hours and days standing in lines.

TIP: If you want to make the most of your time in Barcelona, consider skip-the-line tickets for ALL the main landmarks and the most popular tourist attractions. We also recommend booking guided tours for the Sagrada Familia and the main Gaudi buildings – that way you’ll get a much better understanding of all the symbolism and stories behind the architecture.

You can find Barcelona tours and skip-the-line tickets on GetYourGuide and also on Tiqets . More information – further below.

Skip the Line Tickets

Some of the most popular attractions in Barcelona like Casa Mila, Casa Batllo, Park Güell, or La Sagrada Familia can have extremely long waiting times. Buying your tickets in advance is essential when visiting these places in any season!

Here you can get skip-the-line tickets for Casa Batllo , Casa Mila , Park Güell , and – the most popular of them all – La Sagrada Familia .

PRO TIP: With this Barcelona Pass , you can immediately reserve timed-entry tickets for the most popular sights, including the towers of La Sagrada Familia (regular tickets don’t include tower access!). This is a digital pass, so you will get tickets per email (= very simple to book and use).

TIP: If you didn’t think of buying the tickets in advance and they are sold out, try booking a guided tour instead. Guided tours prebook tickets and make it possible to visit the main landmarks even if the tickets are sold out. I recommend visiting Gaudi’s buildings and especially La Sagrada Familia with a tour anyway. Read on to learn why!

Guided Tours

Even when we visited in the low season, all the Gaudi buildings in Barcelona were incredibly busy. Often, it wasn’t even clear where to go even if you had already pre-booked your tickets…

That’s why we chose to visit all the Gaudi buildings on a tour. Here you can read more about our experience with the Gaudi tour (we chose this amazing tour that covers all the main Gaudi landmarks in a day).

We visited Barcelona with our three kids who, obviously, have no patience when it comes to long queues. Taking a tour meant that we could relax while the guide took care of everything. We just followed the guide and never had to wait anywhere longer than 10 minutes.

I can’t imagine how different our experience would have been if we had to figure out where exactly to go and wait in endless lines everywhere. We wouldn’t have been able to see half as much, not even to mention our sanity having to deal with bored kids…

Furthermore, having a local guide who explained what, where, and why, enabled us to appreciate what we were seeing. We never knew there were so many symbols and stories behind all the tiny details in Gaudi’s buildings! Gaudi was a real genius and we would have never gotten to know any of that if we had visited his buildings on our own.

Free Museums

Most Barcelona museums have specific days or hours when you can visit them free of charge. In general, you can expect most museums to be free on the first Sunday of the month. But there are also additional times when you can enter free of charge.

For example, the Picasso Museum is free to visit on the first Sunday of the month and also on Thursday evenings. Barcelona Cathedral (not to be confused with Sagrada Familia) is free to visit between 8.30 AM and 12.30 PM and in the evenings from 5.45 PM to 7.30 PM (hours vary a bit per day and on some days are a bit longer, but the hours indicated here apply daily).

Museum of the History of Barcelona (MUHBA Plaça del Rei) is free on the first Sunday of the month and in the late afternoon on other Sundays.

These are just a few examples – there are so many museums and other attractions in Barcelona. So do your research for the places you want to see and, if possible, time your visit accordingly.

City Cards & Package Deals

If you are planning to visit several of the main Barcelona attractions on your own, you may want to look into getting one of the city cards that offer discounts and free entrances to certain attractions and also public transport tickets.

There is also a museum card that gives access to 6 of the most popular museums in Barcelona. So do your research and see if and which card makes sense for you, depending on your interests.

TIP: If you find the choice overwhelming, we recommend this Barcelona Pass . This is the best pass for Barcelona’s top sights including Park Güell & Sagrada Familia. If you also want to visit the towers of the Sagrada Familia (recommended), then this all-in pass is the best option for you. In case you wonder, there is a lift to get to the top of the towers.

Good to know: These passes not only save you money but make it really easy to book fast-track tickets to the most popular attractions in one place. Furthermore, the tickets are digital so you don’t have to waste your time once you get there!

3. Avoid High Season, Bank Holidays, and School Breaks

As one of the most-visited cities in Europe, Barcelona is always busy . Still, there is a huge difference between visiting Barcelona in the high season (June-August), in the shoulder season (April-May and September-October + New Year), or in the low season when there are fewer international travelers and hardly any cruise ships in town.

Because we travel with kids, however, we can only travel during school breaks. For years, we have been postponing a trip to Barcelona for that reason. However, we decided that it was high time to see this iconic city and chose the first week of November (autumn break) for our trip.

We were pleasantly surprised. It was still busy at the main attractions in the city, but it never really felt too crowded or overwhelming AND we had quite a few amazing places almost to ourselves.

Needless to say that this greatly influenced our experience and we loved Barcelona so much more than I ever expected. Based on all the horror stories about the crowds, we were really fearing the worst. But what we found was a really pleasant city that gave us plenty of opportunities to enjoy the sights without having to brush elbows with thousands of strangers.

Furthermore, the weather in early November was fabulous with plenty of sunshine and temperatures that were warm enough to wear a t-shirt during the day.

So if you can, visit Barcelona in the shoulder season or in the low season. It will be so much more enjoyable!

READ ALSO: Best Time to Visit Europe

4. Stay in the City Center

Another very important thing to take into account when traveling to Barcelona is where to stay .

While it’s often tempting to choose cheaper accommodation further away from the city center, we have learned the hard way that it’s not the best idea. Yes, it can save you some money, but it will cost you time and comfort. It’s so easy if you can just walk to a nice restaurant for dinner from your hotel or sleep longer in the morning knowing that your tour starts right around the corner and not on the other side of town…

So if you are visiting Barcelona for the first time and want to make the most of your short trip, stay in the city center! Also, stay somewhat close to a metro station – that way you can always get to the other parts of town quicker.

We recommend staying in the area close to Plaça de Catalunya . It’s a perfect location for sightseeing and you can easily walk to most attractions in the old town or to the nicest Gaudi buildings… There are also plenty of shops and restaurants nearby, and most tours and excursions start in this area.

Here are our hand-picked recommendations with an excellent location near Plaça de Catalunya for all budgets:

• If you are looking for a really nice place to stay in the heart of Barcelona, check out Ohla Barcelona , a fabulous 5* hotel with a rooftop pool and bar.
• Some of the best mid-range 4* hotels are Acta Atrium Palace and  Exe Plaza Catalunya .
• If you are on a l ower budget , check out these popular and highly-rated options with excellent locations: Hotel Lloret Ramblas (the best-rated and most popular budget hotel in the center) or  Hostal Boqueria (a very good, simple hotel on a low budget).

Where we stayed: We stayed at the Acta Splendid Hotel.  The location couldn’t be better and the price/quality was unbeatable for this area.

TIP: Using the map below, you can compare hotels and short-term rental accommodations in central Barcelona (Plaça de Catalunya area).

Simply insert your travel dates and group size, and you’ll see the best deals for your stay. Check it out!

5. Explore the Gothic Quarter

One of the most beautiful parts of Barcelona is the old Gothic Quarter (Barri Gòtic). No visit to the city would be complete without exploring this fascinating area.

While the district gets its name thanks to the 13-15th century Gothic buildings, it’s actually the oldest part of Barcelona with archeological finds dating to Roman times.

The main landmarks here are the Cathedral of Barcelona (The Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia), Plaça del Rei , and the underground Roman city that is part of the earlier mentioned Museum of the History of Barcelona (MUHBA). But the real charm of the Gothic Quarter is its fascinating maze of streets and historic buildings.

TIP: This part of town can get really busy. The best time to visit is as early in the morning as possible, or in the low season.

6. Use Barcelona Metro

Barcelona is a big city and its attractions are scattered throughout. So no matter where you stay, eventually, you’ll find yourself in need of a transfer. By far the easiest and the fastest way to get around the city is by taking the metro . And, if you avoid peak times, the metro is surprisingly quiet.

There are all kinds of multi-day and multi-journey tickets available for Barcelona metro and public transport, so choose one that best suits your needs. When we traveled, we got a 10-journey card that could be used by multiple people at the same time. Names and conditions of these cards change often, and you can find the best up-to-date information on the official website .

If you’re just taking the metro (so not a bus and other public transport options), you can easily get ticket cards at any metro station as well. There are ticket machines and everything is well-explained, also in English. Credit cards are accepted.

TIP: You can also take a metro to the airport , but it takes very long (it took us over 1.5 hrs to get to the city center). Alternatively, there are airport shuttle buses that run frequently, cost about the same as the metro ticket, and take much less time. On our way back to the airport, we took a taxi and it was surprisingly affordable. You can find more information about Barcelona airport transport here .

7. Wear Comfortable Shoes

Just as with any city trip, traveling to Barcelona means that you’ll be walking a lot. Make sure that you wear comfortable walking shoes!

Take my word for it, wrong footwear can ruin your entire vacation. Get lightweight sneakers or slip-on shoes for your Barcelona trip. I wear and recommend shoes in this style ; they are light and comfy – ideal for city trips.

TIP: If you don’t like walking too much, consider taking a hop-on hop-off bus instead.

8. Adjust Your Dining Schedule

You may have heard this before – Spanish people have very different habits when it comes to dining times. The main meal of the day is lunch and it usually starts at around 2 – 2.30 PM. Most restaurants will not open for dinner before 8 – 9 PM.

We were a bit worried about late dinner times because we traveled to Barcelona with kids, but it worked out quite well. Since it’s such a touristy place, there are quite some restaurants that have adapted their opening times and it was usually possible to find a place to eat at 7.30-8 PM.

We were told that the best local restaurants don’t open before 8.30-9 PM, but we found plenty of good restaurants that do.

That being said, you won’t easily find a good local restaurant open for dinner before 7 – 7.30 PM.

9. Try Tapas

No visit to Barcelona would be complete without tapas . In case you don’t know what tapas are, this is just a popular Spanish word for small snacks. Like appetizers in the US or antipasti in Italy. Basically, tapas are just small-sized portions of food – from seafood, meat, to all kinds of vegetables or potatoes ( patatas bravas ).

Everywhere you go, you’ll see tapas on the menu. It’s a great way to try a big variety of Spanish food without having to order an entire dish not knowing whether you’ll like it. It’s ideal if you are traveling with a bigger family or a group of friends because you can order a big variety of tapas and everyone will easily find something they like.

Some restaurants have set tapas menus which are a real lifesaver if you are feeling overwhelmed. After a couple of tapas meals, you’ll get more familiar with the concept, and ordering tapas will actually be fun.

Good to know: Tapas are EVERYWHERE in Barcelona, but they are not the only option (luckily). If you stay in Barcelona longer, it’s quite likely that you’ll eventually get tired of tapas. No worries – there are plenty of restaurants serving traditional Spanish food, seafood, paellas, but also a big variety of international cuisines. After five days in Barcelona, our kids didn’t want to see or hear of any more tapas, so we found a really nice pasta restaurant that the whole family loved.

TIP: If you want to try some of the best local dishes, consider joining a food tour as well! Food tours are our favorite thing to do when visiting any city! Check out this highly-rated tapas & wine tour . Another popular choice is this paella cooking experience + Boqueria market visit .

10. Tipping in Barcelona

Generally speaking, tipping is not that common in Europe, and so also not in Spain. However, American habits quickly find their way here too and it’s now more and more common to tip. That being said, it’s never really expected, let alone obligatory.

In Barcelona, you do not have to tip and locals usually don’t tip or just round up the bill. If you find the restaurant service exceptionally good, you can tip 5-10%. It’s not common to tip at a bar. Taxi bills are usually just rounded up. For bellboys – a euro or two is enough.

Many people tip tour guides, but it’s really your call how much. In Europe, we usually tip 20 EUR for a day tour that we take as a family of 5. If you are alone or traveling as a couple, 5-10 EUR is acceptable, but most Europeans don’t even do that.

11. It’s OK to Haggle

If you are planning to buy any souvenirs from street vendors, at the markets, or at the tourist shops in town, you should know that haggling is completely acceptable. Very often, you’ll see that no prices are advertised and in such cases, you definitely have to haggle or you’ll be overpaying up to twice the price, if not more.

It’s also very common that the same souvenirs will cost twice as much close to the most popular tourist landmarks, compared to some lesser-visited places. However, it’s not always the case.

My best advice is not to buy souvenirs immediately. Take your time, ask for prices, and get a better idea of what’s acceptable before buying anything.

12. Know That Things Are Laid Back

Barcelona is a very laid-back place. You’ll notice it in many ways. Depending on where you’re from and what you’re used to, things might seem a bit too relaxed, or maybe just normal…

The best way to enjoy your time in Barcelona is just go with the flow. Don’t get upset if it takes a bit longer for a waiter to take your order, or if the shops are closed for siesta a bit longer than advertised…

Good thing is that Barcelona is also much more casual in terms of clothing than, for example, Madrid. There is no need for fancy clothing and even at dinner at some nicer restaurants we dined at, most people were quite casually dressed. That being said, when in doubt, I’m always in favor of overdressing.

13. Beware of Pickpockets

Just as in any other big city or popular tourist destination, Barcelona has a problem with pickpockets. These guys are real professionals and it’s not uncommon that they manage to distract attention and even rob a big group of people at the same time.

So take precautions and don’t carry too much money or any other unnecessary valuables around. Also, make sure that you have good travel insurance! Be careful at the most popular tourist places, such as La Rambla or around La Sagrada Familia, and also when using public transport.

An anti-theft backpack might be a good idea too. Or – if you have a regular backpack – wear it in front of you and not on your back. Also, it’s really not a good idea to store your wallet or your smartphone in your jeans pocket.

14. Don’t Try to See Everything

Barcelona is a huge city and there is so much to see and do ! But… there’s no way to see everything in just a couple of days. So plan your itinerary well! If you don’t know where to start, check out our tips on how to spend 1 day in Barcelona and also an itinerary for 2 days in Barcelona .

I recommend choosing a couple of must-see places each day or maybe one specific area, and not try to do it all at once. You’ll enjoy the city much more if you also leave some time for a relaxing lunch at a nice café or some unexpected discoveries.

When it comes to visiting Barcelona, remember that less is more!

I know that it’s very tempting to try and see as many landmarks as you possibly can, but you’ll just get tired and frustrated. Take your time to sample some local specialties at the market, turn into a little picturesque alley and see where it leads, or explore some lesser-known places that don’t involve standing in line for hours… This brings us to the next tip…

15. Get off the Beaten Path

Barcelona is so much more than its most famous landmarks , La Rambla, Gothic Quarter, Barceloneta beach, or Gaudi architecture… There are so many other amazing places that are worth visiting just as much, yet are overlooked by most first-time visitors.

Some of our favorite moments in Barcelona were visiting the lesser-known and less-visited places . And while it’s not easy to find any truly ‘hidden’ gems, even just getting a bit off the main tourist routes will show you a very different side of Barcelona.

One of our favorite places in Barcelona was the beautiful Sant Pau Art Nouveau Site , which we had practically to ourselves. While it is not completely unknown, it was completely deserted when we visited it in the low season… And so worth a visit!

We particularly enjoyed the Port Vell and La Barceloneta – an old fishermen’s quarter with narrow streets and local restaurants. And yes, there is a really busy area in this part of town as well – with a seaside promenade, fancy yachts, and tourist restaurants. But if you take the time to explore deeper, you find a totally different place, just a few blocks away…

The same counts for the El Born and La Ribera areas which are like a labyrinth of narrow streets and passageways – so fun to just get lost and explore this area without a map.

We also went to a more local Poublenou area and explored Gracia , L’Eixample , and Montjuïc on foot. We visited some little-known sights and some really nice markets that had many more locals than tourists (Mercado de La Boqueria is really not the only market worth seeing in Barcelona)…

Each and every area has something special and unique. Behind the busier streets and popular areas, there are always lesser-visited gems just waiting to be discovered.

Even if you just see a few of these more local areas, it will make your trip to Barcelona so much more memorable.

16. Attend a Performance at Palau de la Música Catalana

If you want to experience something really special in Barcelona, try to get tickets for a performance at Palau de la Música Catalana . This stunning music hall is a real masterpiece and worth visiting in itself, but it’s even more special if you can attend a concert here.

They organize various concerts every evening and also during the day on the weekends. From classical music and dance to the most modern musical performances and traditional Flamenco dances – there are always plenty of choices to suit any interest. Most of the time, tickets are available just a few days in advance (or even on the day itself), so check the program and go. It will be totally worth it!

Good to know: You can also just visit the music hall itself. Self-guided and guided tours are available throughout the day and take less than an hour. Here you can get tickets for your visit .

17. Escape the Hustle of the City for a Day

Visiting a busy city like Barcelona can leave you exhausted, especially if you are not used to the crowds or if the summer heat becomes too much for you.

While most tourists head to Barceloneta beach , you’ll hardly find any locals there. The better beaches (nicer and also less crowded) can be found a bit further away. Try Playa de Bogatell if you don’t want to go too far. Or – outside of town – Platja de Castelldefels in the south or Platja de Badalona in the north of Barcelona.

The most popular day trip outside of the city is visiting Montserrat Monastery . Because it’s located in the mountains, the temperatures are usually cooler there too. We also took this day trip and here you can read all about our Montserrat tour .

These are just a few examples of places to visit outside the city. There are many more beautiful areas that you can visit on a day trip from Barcelona! Here are a few other popular options:

• Catamaran Sailing Tours (1.5-2 hrs)
• Kayaking & snorkeling (half a day)
• Hot air balloon flights (half a day)
• Vineyards near the city (half a day)
• Girona and Costa Brava (full day)
• Girona, Figueres and Dalí Museum (full day)
• 3 Countries in a Day (full day)

So if you are staying in town for more than 2-3 days, I suggest you take at least one day trip to see more of the surroundings or just to escape the crowds. As a minimum, rent a bike and drive along the beach – there is a beautiful waterfront promenade with bike paths that bring you to the quieter beaches and districts of Barcelona.

18. Stay Clear of Politics and Protests

Political protests in Catalonia are not uncommon. There were huge protests and even riots in Barcelona just a few days before our trip, and there were also some violent protests in the city while we were there.

But, in general, these protests don’t really influence your travel experience much (unless they block an airport, which happened once a few years ago).

My best advice is to just stay clear of any political protests. If you see any demonstrations, just walk around or take another street. Barcelona is a big city and the chances that you’ll find yourself amidst the protesters are really not that high.

19. Don’t Forget Little Important Details

Here are some  more practical tips  to consider when traveling to Barcelona for the first time:

• You can  pay  by credit card pretty much everywhere, but it’s always useful to have some cash as well. Spain uses the EURO .
• If you don’t have a credit card with a chip and a 4-digit pin , check out this selection of  the best American credit cards for travel and get one – you’ll need a car with a pin everywhere in Europe. I recommend choosing  a card with no foreign transaction fees .
• While you can easily get around using English , it’s always useful to learn a couple of words of Spanish or Catalan. Hola (hello) and gracias (thank you) go a long way.
• Barcelona has a pretty good network of free WiFi with hundreds of access points throughout the city. Hotels and some restaurants also usually offer free wifi.
• Download an offline map of Barcelona using apps like Google Maps or Maps.me. It’s so much easier than a paper map and you can always easily find your way around.
• Make sure to pack a travel adapter . Spain uses  European plugs .
• Remember that many shops and markets are closed on Sunday . However, most museums and other attractions remain open. We chose to do a Gaudi tour on a Sunday and it worked out great.
• Pack comfortable shoes and clothing suitable for the season. It can get really warm in Barcelona and sun protection is an absolute must in summer. Don’t forget your sun hat !
• Make a copy of your travel documents and send it to yourself by email (or save it in the cloud). As with any international trip, make sure that you have good travel insurance .

So, these are some of the most important practical tips that you should know when traveling to Barcelona for the first time.

Below, you can also find some frequently asked questions for your first visit to Barcelona. Take a look!

Barcelona Travel FAQs

The best time to visit Barcelona are the shoulder months between March and May and also from September to October. The weather is best for sightseeing and it’s not as busy as in the summer.

While you can see the main landmarks of Barcelona in one or two days, we recommend at least 3-4 days for your first trip to Barcelona. This will allow you to explore the city at a more relaxed pace, visit Gaudi buildings and a few museums, and maybe even take a tour to Montserrat.

Barcelona is a very popular destination, so it’s best to book your accommodation and the tours that you absolutely want to do in advance. Make sure to book skip-the-line tickets for the most popular landmarks such as La Sagrada Familia!

Yes, Barcelona is a safe destination. However, just like in any other big European city, you should be careful with pickpockets and common travel scams. If you are not sure about visiting certain areas at night, ask your hotel for advice.

We recommend staying in the area close to Plaça de Catalunya . The location is perfect for sightseeing and you can easily walk to the most popular attractions in the city center. There are also plenty of shops and restaurants nearby. Most tours also start in this area.

Do you have any questions or maybe want to share your experience when visiting Barcelona? Don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!

More tips for your trip to Spain:

• Best Things to Do in Barcelona
• Barcelona 1 Day Itinerary
• How to See the Best of Barcelona in 2 Days
• Complete Guide to Visiting Montserrat
• Montserrat Tour Review
• Best Barcelona Gaudi Tour
• 1 Day in Seville
• 2 Days in Seville
• Flamenco in Seville
• One Day in Madrid: What to See & Itinerary
• Madrid to Toledo Day Trip

READ ALSO: Spain Bucket List: Top Places & Experiences

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More travel inspiration for European cities:

If you are visiting other European cities and are looking for in-depth information for your trip, take a look at some of our city guides:

• Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Antwerp, Belgium
• Bern, Switzerland
• Bologna, Italy
• Brasov, Romania
• Brussels, Belgium
• Bruges, Belgium
• Bucharest, Romania
• Colmar, France
• Edinburgh, UK
• Florence, Italy
• Funchal, Madeira, Portugal
• Geneva, Switzerland
• Krakow, Poland
• Lisbon, Portugal
• Liverpool, UK
• Lucerne, Switzerland
• Manchester, UK
• Milan, Italy
• Naples, Italy
• Paris, France
• Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal
• Ravenna, Italy
• Reykjavik, Iceland
• Rome, Italy
• Salzburg, Austria
• Siena, Italy
• Sintra, Portugal
• Venice, Italy
• Verona, Italy
• Read also our tips for traveling to Europe .

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Tuesday 13th of June 2023

Hi Jurga! I love your blog and I'm planning to visit Barcelona in October. Did the Acta Splendid charge you a resort fee in addition to the price of the room & tax?.....Elaine

Wednesday 14th of June 2023

Hi Elaine, I don't remember hotel charging us any special fees. When you book on Booking.com, it's always very clearly shown what's included. Usually, for most places, they already include the city tax in the price, or show you how much it will be. For Acta Splendid, if I try just random dates, I see that it shows me in the booking window that 10% VAT and City tax are included in the price. What sometimes happens is that you first get charged just for the room and then have to pay the taxes at the property separately. But the total price you see on Booking is usually the total of what you'll pay in the end (unless clearly stated otherwise). That's a big difference vs. booking with hotels directly. Most hotels don't show taxes in their price at first and then add it to your bill later. This way, you might think that you are paying less but, often, it's quite the opposite. Just one more reason why we always use Booking.com for all our accommodation bookings. Hope this helps. Have a great trip!

• Things to do

Explore > Destinations > Barcelona > Barcelona Vacation Ideas for Planning an Itinerary

Barcelona Vacation Ideas for Planning an Itinerary

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[/video-title][video-blue-header] Barcelona should be at the top of every traveler’s bucket list. Spain’s second-largest city sits on the Iberian coast, just a three-hour drive south from the French border and a short stroll from the sparkling Mediterranean Sea.

Ideas of places to Visit in Barcelona

When many travelers think of Barcelona they think of architect Antoni Gaudí and his as-yet-unfinished masterpiece, La Sagrada Familia. But beneath the shadows of Gaudí’s spires, you’ll find endless things to do in Barcelona.

From its UNESCO World Heritage sites to its staggering array of galleries and museums, from the never-ending parade of La Rambla to its miles of sunlit beaches, we’ve put together a list of Barcelona’s best places to visit to help you get the most from your trip.

Plaça de Catalunya (Catalonia Square)

(1:15 in the video) Start your Barcelona itinerary with a visit to Catalonia Square, a popular meeting point where Ciutat Vella (the old city) and the Eixample district (the new city) converge. Cool off by the fountains and snap a few “day one in Barcelona” selfies surrounded by the statues, mosaics and flocks of pigeons, before you set off to explore the city’s many attractions. As well as being the city’s heart, Catalonia Square also marks the beginning of two of Barcelona’s most important avenues: La Rambla and Passeig de Gràcia.

(1:35 in the video) Follow the scent of the sea breeze down one of the world’s most popular boulevards, La Rambla. A leisurely stroll here is at the top of most travelers’ itineraries whether on a day trip to Barcelona or vacationing for a week.

In the Middle Ages, La Rambla was little more than a muddy stream; today this avenue is lined with some of Barcelona’s finest buildings and cultural institutions. But before you become too mesmerized by all the sights, sounds and scents of La Rambla, beware, the crowds here make the avenue a magnet for some of Europe’s most skilled pickpockets too.

Passeig de Gràcia

(1:53 in the video) For some take-home treasures from your trip, walk along Barcelona’s most stylish and upmarket shopping avenue, Passeig de Gràcia, which passes through the Eixample district. Eixample is a great area for sightseeing as it’s home to some of Barcelona’s finest architectural treasures, including the Block of Discord, a collection of four of the city’s most celebrated buildings.

Barrio Gòtico (Gothic Quarter)

(2:30 in the video) After exploring some of Barcelona’s most popular avenues, plan a visit to Barrio Gòtico and lose yourself in the side streets and medieval lanes. Known throughout Roman times as Barcino, the Old Town is another great area to stay in Barcelona. Set aside at least one or two days of your itinerary to wander this delightful labyrinth, home to Catalan-gothic churches such as Barcelona Cathedral and Saint Mary of the Sea. Barrio Gòtico is also filled with cafés and tapas bars which provide great refuge from the midday sun in summer.

(3:27 in the video) If you love the sea, include a trip to Port Vell in your Barcelona itinerary. Start at the Mirador de Colom, the towering monument to Christopher Columbus, who landed here after his incredible voyage to the New World. Visitors here like to spend time soaking up the sun and watching the boats bob in the shadows of the superyachts, which often moor here.

Maritime Museum

(3:50 in the video) Just beneath the Columbus monument is the Maritime Museum. Housed in the medieval dockyards, this is the perfect addition to a history-lover’s itinerary. Here, visitors can learn about Barcelona’s proud seafaring and trading past when it ruled the Mediterranean waves.

Museum of the History of Catalonia

(4:05 in the video) While in Port Vell, history buffs will also want to visit the Museum of the History of Catalonia. Plan to spend an hour or two exploring the old general stores, a fascinating portal into the daily lives and aspirations of Catalans throughout the centuries.

Palace of Catalan Music

(4:44 in the video) Continue your journey into Catalan culture with a trip to the Palace of Catalan Music. Allow at least an hour to take in the incredible modernista-style interiors of this concert hall, or better still, time the visit to take in a performance in one of the world’s most beautiful music venues.

La Boqueria

(5:01 in the video) When planning a trip, don’t forget that Barcelona is also a symphony for the taste buds. Every visitor should allow for at least one visit to La Boqueria, while foodies will want to return every single day during their vacation! Situated just off La Rambla in the Ciudad Vieja district, the market is the perfect spot to sample culinary delights and specialties from all over Catalonia. Explore the colorful market stalls, or head to the back and take a seat at one of the tapas bars.

Art Museums

(5:47 in the video) Art lovers will find endless things to do. Follow Picasso’s artistic journey through the halls of the Picasso Museum . Across the road is the European Museum of Modern Art (MEAM), which celebrates 20th- and 21st-century figurative art.

When planning an art tour of Barcelona, a visit to the National Art Museum of Catalonia is a must. After enjoying the sights of Plaça d’Espanya, climb the steps to the National Palace, which houses a collection spanning centuries of Catalan art, from early Romanesque murals to modern art.

(6:20 in the video) Those looking for picture-perfect views of Barcelona will want to add a visit to Montjuïc to their itinerary. Montjuïc offers incredible views across the city, as well as plenty of quiet green spaces where visitors can take a break from the busy streets below. For the best views of all, take a ride on the Montjuïc cable car to Montjuïc Castle, which has watched over the city since the 1600s.

(7:09 in the video) Looking for vacation ideas close to the water? Barcelona is one of Europe’s top beach cities, so pack your swimsuit and include plenty of “beach time” in your itinerary. The city averages over 300 days of sunshine a year, so be sure to soak up the Spanish vibes and Mediterranean sun on Barceloneta Beach and Bogatell Beach , two of Barcelona’s most popular beaches.

Sant Pau Hospital

(7:51 in the video) A Barcelona sightseeing tour should include the city’s show-stealing modernista and art nouveau architecture. No one wants to visit hospital while on vacation, but Barcelona’s historic Sant Pau Hospital is certainly an exception. Designed by the visionary Catalan architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner, this vast hospital complex and its herb-scented grounds was designed to lift the spirits of the sick with its incredible beauty.

Casa Vicens

(8:33 in the video) Barcelona’s skyline was shaped by some of the world’s greatest architects, but it is the work of Antoni Gaudí that fills most visitors’ itineraries. Of the nine UNESCO World Heritage sites in Barcelona, Gaudí is responsible for seven of them. Plan a visit to Casa Vicens, the very first residence designed by Gaudi.

Palau Güell

(9:02 in the video) The next stop on every Gaudí trip planner should be Palau Güell, where Gaudí continued to develop his unique architectural style. Just a few steps from La Rambla, this 19th-century mansion, with its tree-like basement pillars and fanciful chimney pots, was just a taste of the wonders Gaudí would go on to create.

Casa Batlló

(9:19 in the video) If only in Barcelona for a day trip or weekend away, Casa Batlló is the one Gaudí residence not to be missed. One hundred years after completion, Gaudí’s masterpiece still stops passers-by on Passeig de Gràcia in their tracks, for there is no other building on Earth quite like this. Known affectionately as the House of Bones, Casa Batlló seems to be entirely devoid of straight lines. Climb each incredible floor to the “ribcage” loft, before finally emerging onto the roof designed to evoke the back of a dragon.

(10:04 in the video) Trust us, once you’ve experienced just a little Gaudí you won’t want to stop, so include as many Gaudí attractions into your itinerary as you can. Continue your sightseeing journey just around the corner at Casa Milà, the final private residence he designed. The rooftop holds a special place in the hearts of Stars Wars fans, for it was Casa Milà’s strange chimneypots that gave a young George Lucas the inspiration for Darth Vader and his Stormtroopers.

(10:44 in the video) Antoni Gaudí’s creativity knew no bounds and for him, landscape design was a natural playground for his genius. Make room in your itinerary for a couple of hours to explore Park Güell, one of Barcelona’s must-see attractions. In peak tourist season it’s a good idea to pre-pay the admission fee if you’re keen on visiting Park Güell’s famous Salamander sculpture and the Terrace; otherwise, the rest of the park is free. For some of the best views of Barcelona, head to Park Güell’s southwest corner and climb the stairs to Turó del Calvari. From here, gaze across Barcelona’s rooftops to the spires of Gaudí’s greatest work, La Sagrada Familia.

La Sagrada Familia

(11:06 in the video) Even though we’ve left Gaudí’s soaring masterpiece until last, La Sagrada Familia should be the number one attraction on every Barcelona itinerary. Though it won’t be completed for at least another decade, over 4 million visitors to Barcelona line up each year to experience a cathedral that looks like something created from a dream. After having your breath taken away by the light-dappled, forest-like interior, head down into Casa Museu Gaudí to see the incredible scale models Gaudí devised to explore and prove his innovative design concepts. La Sagrada Familia is one of Europe’s most popular attractions, so it’s highly advisable to book all tickets online, especially the tours for the towers. A Barcelona vacation itinerary is simply incomplete without visiting La Sagrada Familia.

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Need more Barcelona vacation ideas?

We hope you enjoyed these ideas for getting the most from your next Barcelona vacation. If you need more inspiration before you book your flights and accommodation, check out our Barcelona images . Our wider photo gallery is also available for our world travelers and soon-to-be!

And remember, why limit yourself to just one destination? We also have hundreds of other Vacation Travel Guide videos from all around the world; so be sure to subscribe to Expedia’s YouTube channel today.

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Ultimate Guide to Barcelona Solo Travel (2024)

UPDATED 3/15/24

Traveling solo can be a liberating experience and it doesn’t get much more freeing than soaking up the sultry Mediterranean vibes of Barcelona. If you’re looking to explore this vibrant city on your own, then you’ve come to the right place.

From riding the metro like a local to enjoying leisurely walks through culinary hotspots, find out how you can travel Barcelona with ease this ultimate , one-stop-shop Guide to Barcelona Solo Travel.

Compiled from my first-hand, solo travel to Barcelona, this guide has all things Barcelona travel tips with bonus budget travel tips, eco-travel tips, and more throughout.

When done, you’ll not only be confident to plan your solo trip to Barcelona, Spain, but book it as well. Let’s get you to Barcelona.

This Barcelona Travel Guide is intentionally written for the solo traveler, the first time Barcelona traveler, and/or older traveler (I am over 50 and have been solo traveling FOREVER) in mind. Yet, anyone can use this travel guide it to plan and book Barcelona travel.

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This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience. For products, the goal is to first provide direct links to eco-friendly, ethical, and sustainable companies, and then to those same type (i.e., Climate Pledge Friendly Certification ), of brands that use Amazon, if possible. Therefore, you may see multiple links for one option. Should you make a purchase through any link, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. See my Disclaimers & Disclosures and Privacy Policy for more information.

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If you need more Spain travel tips to supplement your Barcelona travel planning, consult my ultimate Spain Solo Travel Guide full of tips on culture, entry requirements, currency, tipping, using electronics, safety, and a lot more to plan solo travel in Spain.

Large, historical, and happening, finding the right things to do alone in Barcelona, Spain for your trip could seem overwhelming. I’ve got you covered. Here’s my fabulous Barcelona 3 day Itinerary perfect for first-time Barcelona solo trip to help you get planning your solo travel in Spain. Better yet, get the instant download of the Ultimate Barcelona 3 Day PDF .

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Barcelona is the capital of the Catalunya (Catalonia region) and Spain’s 2 nd largest city.

Located on the Mediterranean Sea, Barcelona has 4.2 km of sandy beaches, it makes it one of the best beach destinations in Europe .

Barcelona also boasts 66 museums, FC Barcelona and 11 other football (soccer) clubs, two official languages (Catalan and Spanish), has over 1.6 million residents and attracts 7.5 million visitors a year (at the time of this writing).

Barcelona is home to amazing cuisine, architecture, including Roman, and art.

Famous people from Barcelona include Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, Antoni Gaudí, Pau Gasol, Gerard Piqué, Arantxa” Sánchez Vicario, José Carreras, and Daniel Brühl, to name a few.

Barcelona also hosts two UNESCO World Heritage sites:  the Palau de la Música Catalana and Hospital de Sant Pau , and the collective works of Antoni Gaudí , all of which are huge tourists draws.

Barcelona Weather & Costs

Barcelona temperatures average from high 50°s F to 70° F, with warmest weather in the summer months of July and August. These are also Barcelona’s most humid months, when locals tend to leave but tourists pour in and drive up prices.

The fall shoulder season months of September and October are Barcelona’s rainiest. Consider bringing an eco-friendly travel umbrella if you go during these months.

December through February are the coldest months but offer fewer tourists and may be the cheapest time to visit Barcelona.

My latest solo travel Barcelona was in early October. It was cloudy with very little rain. The days and nights were still warm, and there weren’t many tourists. 

You may prefer May or June for your Barcelona visit instead. Daylight hours are long, the weather is warm, there are still fewer tourists than in the height of summer, and there are plenty of things to do in Barcelona, including festivals like Sonar in June.

I would recommend visiting Barcelona in the shoulder season months of May, June, September or October.

Barcelona Events

When planning a trip to Barcelona, I suggest checking Barcelona’s festivals and holidays calendar to help determine when is the best time for your solo travel in Barcelona .

All prices reflected at time of writing.

Flying into Barcelona

The closest airport serving Barcelona is the Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport (BCN), aka Barcelona Airport.

Barcelona Airport is serviced by most major and European airlines. International and domestic flights arrive at Terminal 1. Low cost carriers arrive at Terminal 2.

The Barcelona Airport is 15 km south of Barcelona city center. If you do not have access to an airport shuttle from your hotel, there are several other transportation options from the Barcelona Airport to Barcelona city center.

You could get a Barcelona Airport rental car , (but have to deal with city center parking), hire a private one-way or round-trip airport transfer , a luxury airport transfer , or rideshare or taxi (including Uber, Bolt and Lyft), which may cost €25 to €30.

The following eco-friendly transportation options, however, will save you money if you are traveling Barcelona on a budget.

Reserve Early to Get a Cheap Flight to Barcelona

Eco travel tips.

Skyscanner  provides a ‘Greener flights’ filter highlighting flights that emit less CO2. Additionally, you can purchase carbon offsets  through your airline  to lower your carbon footprint.

Barcelona Airport Train

The RENFE train leaves the Aeropuerto station every 30 minutes. The train takes approximately 25 minutes to reach the Passeig de Gràcia station. There you switch to a metro for the Plaça Catalunya station, which should be within walking distance to your hotel or hostel. Train tickets are approximately €5.

Barcelona Airport Metro

The orange L9 metro line leaves Barcelona Airport every 7 minutes from both the Aeroport T1 and Aeroport T2 metro stations. The metro takes approximately 35 minutes to arrive at Plaça Catalunya station, but with transfers required. Tickets cost approximately €5.

Barcelona Airport Shuttle

The  Aerobus  service is an express bus service direct to the city center. The A1 bus leaves Terminal 1 and the A2 bus leaves Terminal 2. Both depart eery 5 to 10 minutes. You arrive at the Plaça de Catalunya bus stop at the El Corte Inglés department store in about 30 minutes for €5.90.

Barcelona Airport Bus

The TMB airport bus (no. 46) also leaves from Aeroport T1 and Aeroport T2. With several stops, this bus takes longer to reach the city center, but one-way tickets are only €2.40.

The Barcelona Card

Purchasing the Barcelona Card (aka the Barcelona Pass) is a great option for airport to city center transportation plus attractions.

The Barcelona Card covers 25 museums and attractions in Barcelona, including 50% off admission to attractions like Gaudi’s Casa Milà and Casa Batlló, skip the line entrance, free public transportation, and can be bought for 3, 4 or 5 days in Barcelona.

Get your Barcelona Card in advance , exchange your voucher at one of the designated locations and times, and then zip from the Barcelona airport to the city center.

Bus or Train to Barcelona

Barcelona receives many trains and buses daily, which are quick, inexpensive, and eco-friendly ways to reach Barcelona.

Buses usually arrive at the Barcelona Estació de Sants or Estació de Nord. Trains arrive at one of the two main stations, Estació de Sants or Estació de França, depending on your departure point.

For example, on my last trip to Spain, I traveled from Pamplona to Barcelona by train with the train arriving at the Barcelona Sants station.

You can take a metro from any of these stations to Plaça de Catalunya.

Trainline Provides Cheap Train and Bus Tickets to Barcelona

For flights only 2 to 3 hours in duration to and from Barcelona, take the train or bus instead. It could also save time and money, and the scenery is much prettier.

When hiring a rideshare, choose the  Bolt Green  or  Uber Green  options, or use  Carpoolworld , to support the use of electric cars and carpooling for cleaner transportation in Spain.

More Eco Travel Tips & Ideas

• 25 Must-Have & Eco-Friendly Solo Beach Trip Essentials
• 15 Eco Long-haul Flight Essentials for Solo Travel
• Top 10 Eco-Friendly Carry On Luggage
• 10 Best Eco-Friendly Personal Item Bags for Flying
• 10 Top Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Swimwear Brands
• 10 Easy Ways to Be an Eco-Friendly Traveler

Barcelona by Metro or Bus

Barcelona is a large city and some top sights can be quite a distance from each other. Taking the Barcelona metro is highly recommended to cover a lot of ground in a short period of time.

The Barcelona metro is extremely easy to use. Tickets can be purchased in each station. There are 12 metro lines which include access to the public buses.

One way tickets within a zone are less than €3 each way. If you need assistance, just ask a booth attendant. Many speak English and happy to answer your questions.

Another way to see more of what’s in Barcelona in a short period of time is the Barcelona Hop On Hop Off bus . Tours like these are ideal for large cities like Barcelona.

This bus is very popular in Barcelona because it covers 2 to 3 different routes around Barcelona encompassing all of the top Barcelona sights and attractions.

Buy your 24-hour or 48-hour bus ticket in advance to save time during peak season. Buses depart centrally from Plaça de Catalunya.

Avoid taking a taxi or Uber to explore Barcelona. Instead, see Barcelona by public transportation, a Hop-on Hop-off bus , foot, bike or electric scooter .

The Barcelona Card & More

Remember the Barcelona Card ? Keep this in mind for way to get access to public transportation for 48 hours or more with access to 25+ Barcelona attractions.

Buying the Hola Barcelona Public Transport Travel Card is another option to get free, unlimited access to Barcelona transportation in the city and suburbs. The Hola Barcelona card can be purchased for increments of 48, 72, 96, or 120-hours.

Barcelona Transportation Options for 2 Days or More

Is barcelona walkable.

Although extensive, a large portion of the Barcelona city center is flat, which makes Barcelona optimal for walking.

Many must sees in Barcelona can be accessed by foot, however, especially if you stay within the Old City. To save time on your Barcelona itinerary, walk Barcelona by neighborhoods.

If you want to learn more about Barcelona or its incredible food and wine, consider a historic walking tour or food walking tour of Barcelona . There are private and group tours available. Again, group tours do provide that additional chance to meet others when traveling Barcelona alone.

Best Barcelona Group Walking Tours

Best barcelona private walking tours, barcelona by bike or scooter.

Barcelona is also ideal for biking and scooters due to the designated paths. You’ll see many bike and e-bike rental stands, and e-scooters, throughout Barcelona. Consider renting a bike for a quicker way to zip through Barcelona like a local.

Barcelona Travel Tip

Always look both ways when crossing streets, even if you think the street is ‘one way’. Bicyclists and scooter riders really move and can seem to come out of nowhere. Be aware of your surroundings.

Save Time and Book Your Barcelona Bike in Advance

Want to ride around Barcelona, but not alone? Barcelona has e-scooter , segway , and bike or e-bike tours , too. These tours are eco-friendly and a great way to learn more about Barcelona and meet new people while traveling alone in Barcelona. At any age.

Top Barcelona Biking Tours and More

Barcelona by water.

The Barcelona coastline also provide for scenic boat rides that can be done inexpensively. Explore Barcelona cruises to get a different view of Barcelona day or night.

Top Barcelona Cruises

Barcelona’s crime rate is considered moderate. It is safe to walk alone during the day but be more aware walking at night.

As a solo female traveler in Barcelona, I practiced general precautions and stayed within well-lit and populated streets at night. As such, I never felt unsafe in Barcelona as solo traveler.

During high tourist season, in crowded areas or on crowded public transportation, ensure to keep your belongings safe and securely on you with no open pockets or carrying cash or valuables in your pockets.

If you normally feel uncomfortable being out solo at night, you may want to visit Barcelona when the daylight hours are longest so you have more time to explore Barcelona.

Solo Travel Tips

Have WhatsApp on your mobile device(s). Many smaller establishments and activity/tourism offices use this as a method of communication making it easier to make inquiries or booking and learn, or notify, of any scheduling changes.

Get the T-Mobile International Plan or something similar in price and features. I no longer work on WiFi only on international travel. I’ll use it when it’s there, but having access to roaming when needed for GPS and Google Maps is a game changer.

More Solo Travel Tips & Ideas

• How to Plan Your First Solo Trip:  Step 1
• How to Choose Your First Solo Trip Destination
• How to Create a Solo Travel Budget
• How To Save Money for Solo Travel
• Top 10 Tips on How to Do a Solo Beach Trip
• 10 Must Know Planning Tips for First-Time International Travel

I’m not one to tell someone else how to pack, but there definitely some solo travel essentials I would recommend taking on your solo trip to Barcelona, like the following.

This list of travel essentials combined can make your Barcelona travel easier and more memorable while being friendlier to the environment.

Ciutat Vella (“Old City”) holds the oldest neighborhoods in Barcelona .

The Old City is nestled between the l’Eixample neighborhood (south of the Grand Via de les Corts Catalanes) and Mediterranean Sea, and between the Poble Nou and Sant Antoni neighborhoods.

This district is comprised of the El Raval, Barri Gotic, La Ribera, El Born, Port Vell, and La Barceloneta neighborhoods.

In such a large city, it is more convenient to be closest not only to the top Barcelona attractions accessible by foot, but also accessible by the Barcelona metro and bus stops, including the Hop-on Hop-off bus .

The Old City, specifically within the El Raval and Barri Gotic neighborhoods, is the Barcelona district in which to reserve your Barcelona accommodation , especially for first time travel to Barcelona alone, as indicated on the map below.

Of course, you can stay outside this section of the Barcelona city center, but it may just add time and more transportation costs to this Barcelona solo travel itinerary, depending on what you ultimately see and do in Barcelona.

Barcelona Hotels and More

There are multiple Barcelona city centre hotels and hostels across all budget types. Going in the off season, or booking well in advance, will get you the best Barcelona prices on any type of accommodation.

Consider booking at a property that either is eco-friendly or sustainable rated , or at least employs these methods into their business.

Barcelona Hotels

For location, price, breakfast, amenities (including free-cancellation), eco-friendly and sustainable operations, and customer reviews and ratings, here are my Barcelona hotel recommendations for solo travel (i.e., where I would stay):

• Hotel Turin
• Arc La Rambla
• Exe Ramblas Boquería
• Petit Palace Boqueria Garden
• Hotel Sant Agustí
• Hotel Cantón
• H10 Raco del Pi
• Aparthotel Arai 4* Superior

I believe Hotel Turin is in the best place for solo female travel in Barcelona, including being walkable to the beach, La Rambla, and Barcelona nightlife and dining. Plus, Hotel Turin is a Travel Sustainable rated hotel at a good price ( book well in advance ) with friendly staff, fabulous breakfast buffet. I enjoyed my stay at Hotel Turin in Barcelona and would recommend staying there.

In addition to Booking.com’s Barcelona city center Travel Sustainable properties , Green Globe and Green Key Global also have eco-friendly certified lodging options.

Reserve Early for the Best Price in Barcelona Accommodations

Barcelona hostels.

Hostels in Barcelona city center are an option for solo travel in Barcelona on a budget. Using the same conditions above, and the ability to get a private room, here are my recommendations for best Barcelona hostel for solo travellers:

• Pars Teatro Hostel
• Alternative Creative Youth Hostel Barcelona

Find the Best Deal on Barcelona Hostel Private Rooms

Budget travel tips.

There are Barcelona hostels that could start from around €20-30/night, depending on what amenities and location you want. Note, these are usually a bed in a dorm room. A private room in a Barcelona city center hostel could cost the same, if not more, than a budget hotel.

What would a Barcelona Solo Travel Guide be without listing the best things to do in Barcelona?

Start with these must sees in Barcelona video. This taste of solo travel in Barcelona will have you booking your flight to Barcelona .

Ways to Do Barcelona MUST DOs

There are simply too many Barcelona attractions to list in this Barcelona travel guide alone.

However, here are some more top things to see and do in Barcelona to try to pack into your Barcelona travel itinerary. Some may be free, but for those that aren’t, don’t forget the Barcelona Card – it covers many of these.

If you want to know how to see most of them on your first time travel, use my Best 3 Days in Barcelona Itinerary . If you have 4 days in Barcelona, even better.

Churches & Cathedrals

• Basílica de la Sagrada Familia
• Basílica de Santa Maria del Mar
• Catedral de Barcelona (Barcelona Cathedral)

Barcelona Travel Tips

You cannot buy a La Sagrada Familia ticket on location. You must buy your La Sagrada Familia ticket in advance online , with a set entrance day and time.

If you do not do a tour you can download the official audio tour app in advance for a free.

Architectural Buildings & Historic Sites

• Casa Batlló
• Casa Amatller
• The Palau (Palace of Catalan Music)
• Casa Milà – La Pedrera
• Camp Nou (tours not available until November 2024)
• Casa Vicens
• Palau Güell
• Castell de Montjuïc (Montjuïc Castle)

Barcelona Landmarks, Points of Interest & Monuments

• Las Ramblas
• Rambla de Catalunya
• Plaça de Catalunya
• Rambla del Mar
• Mercat de la Boqueria
• The Magic Fountain
• Passeig de Gracia
• Plaça d’Espanya
• Plaça Reial
• The Placa del Rei
• Mirador de Colom (Columbus Monument)

Museums & Aquariums

• Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC)
• Museu Picasso (Picasso Museum)
• Parc de Montjuic
• Fundació Joan Miró (Joan Miró Foundation)
• Museu d’Historia de Barcelona (MUHBA)
• L’Aquarium de Barcelona (Barcelona Aquarium)
• Museo Diocesà de Barcelona (Diocesan Museum)

Best Barcelona Museum and Aquarium Ticket Options

Parks, gardens & beaches.

• Parc de la Ciutadella
• Parque del Laberint d’Horta
• Platja de la Barceloneta (Barceloneta Beach)

More Solo Beach Travel

• 25 Must-Have Solo Beach Trip Essentials
• Top Tips on How to Do a Solo Beach Trip
• Best 3 Days in Split Croatia Itinerary
• Belize Solo Travel: 7 Things to Know Before You Go
• Best of Zakynthos Greece in 3 Days Itinerary

Barcelona Food & Entertainment

Barcelona has some of the top cuisine in Spain. From fine dining to fresh seafood to tapas and sangria, you can find whatever you want to sample in any of the many Barcelona neighborhoods. Here are the ’10 best’ restaurant ideas in the notable neighborhoods to get you started:

• Restaurants in Barri Gotic
• Restaurants in La Barceloneta
• Restaurants in El Born / La Ribera
• Restaurants in Barri de Gracia
• Restaurants in Port Vell
• La Ramblas Restaurants
• Rambla de Catalunya Restaurants

La Rambla is popular for restaurants and bars that line the streets or are slightly off La Rambla.

The Gothic Quarter and El Born are also popular for bars, cafes, and tapas and Barcelona nightlife. More nightlife, and popular with students is Placa del Sol in the Barri de Gracia.

You can’t go wrong hanging out at La Boqueria for fresh food and drinks.

Best Barcelona Food Tours and More

Avoid using single-use plastics when dining, shopping and on food tours in Split to reduce trash and your carbon footprint by bringing your own reusable collapsible travel bags , collapsible water bottle , recycled plastic water bottle carry sling , and bamboo travel utensils so you’re prepared to travel with the planet in mind.

I always travel with the above items. Light weight and taking up very little space in my carry-on bags , I love the convenience and peace of mind these inexpensive, eco-friendly products provide.

Top Barcelona Nightlife and Flamenco

If you have time or want to explore more of the Spanish coastline, I suggest taking a day trip from Barcelona, or two. There are multiple, top Spanish travel destinations all within an hour or two from Barcelona.

Best Day Trips from Barcelona

Here is a summary of the best booking sites I recommend you bookmark and use to successfully book your travel to Barcelona, Spain. I use just about all of these for most travel locations. I even gave you my suggested Barcelona hotel .

These booking sites give you multiple travel options and awesome travel deals for all travel budgets. They will certainly help get a jump on your trip to Barcelona.

For the best travel deals, always book early .

• Cheap Flights to Barcelona
• Best Barcelona City Center Hotels
• Best Barcelona City Center Hostels
• My Barcelona Hotel Pick
• Barcelona Train Tickets
• Barcelona Bus Tickets
• Barcelona Airport Car Rentals

Don’t forget to check out Barcelona ecotourism ideas and use my Spain Travel Guide complete your Barcelona travel planning and booking.

Now that you know you are fully prepared to explore Barcelona, would you like an itinerary idea to get you going? Check out my Best of Barcelona 3 Day Itinerary perfect for first time solo travel to Barcelona.

Better yet, why not save a tone of time planning and download the Barcelona 3 Day Itinerary and Guide PDF instantly? A solo female traveler of 28 years, you know I traveled Barcelona solo. This Barcelona Itinerary is from my actual, tried and true self-created and traveled Barcelona itinerary, not AI-generated with stock photos, so you know it’s an itinerary you can trust.

Whether you’re a solo traveler, older traveler, or budget traveler, this B arcelona 3 Day Itinerary and Guide PDF is a steal . Formatted for sleek use on all devices, it has clickable links to all of the below , taking out all of the guesswork for your Barcelona visit:

• Arrival transportation methods,
• Barcelona Airport transportation to the city center,
• Local transportation methods, including the Hop On Hop Off bus, walking and e-bike tours,
• City center accommodations recommendations (including budget stays),
• What to eat and where to eat dining suggestions,
• Dining apps,
• City, historical and food walking tours,
• The Barcelona Card,
• Top things to do and attractions you’ll be doing in Barcelona in three days with clickable walking maps for easily getting around Barcelona each day,
• CORR Travel Spain and Barcelona Travel Guides,
• Barcelona events and holiday schedule, and
• Eco-travel and ecotourism resources.

Have one more day in Barcelona? Get the same great Barcelona Travel Guide with 4 Days in Barcelona Itinerary PDF .

Let Me Hear From You

I would love to hear if my ultimate Guide to Barcelona Solo Travel was helpful in planning your solo travel in Spain. Post me your thoughts or questions in the Comments section below. Thank you!

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2 thoughts on “the ultimate guide to barcelona solo travel 2024”.

Hey there! I just finished reading your Barcelona solo travel guide, and I wanted to drop you a comment to let you know how much I enjoyed it. Your guide is an absolute gem for solo travelers looking to explore Barcelona and have an unforgettable experience.

I appreciate how you addressed the unique aspects of solo travel and provided practical tips for navigating the city on one’s own. From safety advice to recommendations for meeting fellow travelers, your guide offers invaluable insights for solo adventurers.

Your itinerary suggestions for exploring the city are fantastic. I love how you highlighted the must-see attractions like La Sagrada Familia and Park Güell, while also suggesting off-the-beaten-path spots that offer a more authentic experience. The inclusion of lesser-known neighborhoods like Sant Antoni and El Raval is a great way for solo travelers to discover hidden gems and connect with the local culture.

I also want to commend you on the solo-friendly activities you recommended, such as joining a walking tour or taking a cooking class. These suggestions not only provide opportunities for solo travelers to meet like-minded individuals but also allow them to immerse themselves in Barcelona’s rich history and culinary scene.

Moreover, your tips on solo dining and enjoying the city’s nightlife solo are incredibly helpful. From trying tapas at local bars to experiencing the vibrant music and dance scene, you’ve provided solo travelers with a wealth of options for embracing Barcelona’s social atmosphere.

Thank you for sharing your expertise and insights on solo travel in Barcelona. Your guide is a valuable resource that will undoubtedly inspire and empower solo adventurers to embark on their own memorable journey. Keep up the fantastic work, and I’m excited to read more of your travel guides and recommendations in the future! Learn more: https://tourstravelfinder.com/tour_destination/barcelona/

Thank you. I will make a note to check out your tours at my first availability, but in the meantime, I’ll also leave your link here for my readers to see them as well. – Gwen

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20 Barcelona travel tips & hacks | First-timers in Barcelona

Things to do in Barcelona Barcelona Travel Guide Barcelona Travel Tips

There are many reasons to keep Barcelona in your bucket list. The Catalonian capital is one of the best places to bask in the Iberian sun. The nightlife at Barcelona is glorious and the architecture is bound to take your breath away. Barcelona is also home to some of the most friendly people in Europe. However, that doesn’t mean that the city is free of vices that afflict all popular tourist spots in the world. There are numerous tourist traps waiting to bait inexperienced travelers. If there is a language barrier, you are even more susceptible to end up with bitter experience, just like many other visitors. This is why we have compiled an exhaustive list of tips, tricks, and warnings that are certain to come in handy when you visit Barcelona. Read on to know our curation of Barcelona Travel Tips along with insider tips on saving money on food, transport and other quick hacks!

Barcelona Essentials

Starting with the essentials, here's what you must know before getting to Barcelona. Make sure you pack the right travel adapters. Also, brush up your Spanish maybe!

Language Spanish

Time zone GMT+2

Country Code +34

Socket Type F

Currency Euros €

Best Time To Visit Barcelona

April to July or September to November

Barcelona is blessed with a temperate climate, owing to the proximity to the sea. As such, Barcelona sees a steady flow of tourists during the entire year. So if you want to visit Barcelona during a quiet time of the year, April to July and September to November is your best bet. These are the shoulder seasons for tourism in Barcelona. A number of festivals and concerts take place in the city during this time, and the lower footfall means you can enjoy the beauty of Barcelona in peace.

Barcelona Travel Tips 101 - A First Timer's Holy Grail

Below are the tips and hacks you're here for. Read on and thank me later!

#1 Beware of pickpockets in the city

Starting with the obvious, Barcelona is an immensely popular destination. No matter where you go in the city, you are bound to encounter some crowd. And this very crowd fosters pickpockets. So secure your money before leaving your room.

#2 Order Vermouth and Cava at the bar

You might immediately feel the need to order a sangria when you step inside a Barcelona bar, but you would be better off ordering a caramel and cinnamon infused vermouth. If you want to go fancier, order a cava, the staple white wine of Catalonia.

#3 La Barceloneta Beach should be Plan Z

You would hear a major section of Barcelona tourists say that La Barceloneta beach is a must visit. However, the sheer volume of visitors to that beach renders it completely saturated. Visit the relatively less popular ones, like San Sebastiá, Bogatell, Nova Icária, Sant Miquel, and Mar Bella.

#4 Plan to attend one of the many Barcelona festivals

Yes, coming to Barcelona during a festival might drop you into a sea of people, but at some point, you have to stop and think why do so many people attend these celebrations? Come to Barcelona around August-September and experience the festive side of Catalonia.

#5 Attend a concert at Palau de Musica Catalana

If you're a seasoned traveler, you might have been to many UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Palau de Musica Catalana is another heritage site. There is a reason that UNESCO felt this venue deserved the title, and you must attend a concert here to find it out for yourself. If you don't want to shell out for a concert, you can take the economically priced Palau de Musica tour and get a preview of the grandeur.

#6 Las Ramblas = Tourist Traps

Las Ramblas attracts a huge chunk of the tourist population in Barcelona. As a result, it is also the most famous hunting ground for tourist trappers. Starting from mass produced and low-quality street food to overpriced dance bars, Las Ramblas has plenty of dark tricks up its sleeve.

#7 Revel in the street art of Barcelona

The artistic inclination of Barcelona is extraordinary. Apart from breathtaking architecture, the city also features some of the best street arts in Europe. Worth the mention are the Peix at Carrer de Ramon and El Gato del Raval at Rambla del Raval.

#8 For the best panoramas, hike to Bunkers del Carmel

If you don’t mind a hike, you could climb to Bunkers del Carmel. This is a point from where the entire city of Barcelona is visible with the sea in the backdrop. The bunker was once used for defense purposes due to its strategic position.

#9 Get lost in the Gothic Quarters

The city of Barcelona is fairly urban. If at any point you wish to visit a place away from the commercial polish, the Gothic Quarter is where you should go. With its history, walking around this neighborhood will surely take you back in time. Keep the maps away and take a wrong turn. You'll be pleasantly surprised. Check out this interesting Gothic Quarter walking tour that acquaints you with the secrets of the street and Cathedral of the Sea

#10 Have a drink with the legends at Bar Marsella

Barcelona has been a cultural melting pot for quite a while. Numerous icons from various fields of art were known to frequent Barcelona. Bar Marsella is a long-standing institution in the city and was visited by the likes of Salvador Dali and Ernest Hemingway. Visiting this bar might get you close to these respected figures in history.

#11 You get the best souvenirs from flea markets

Undoubtedly, flea markets are the best place to discover gems and take them home for a reasonable price. Visit the Els Encants Vells flea market to buy paintings, jewelry, cutlery, and other articles at a very low price. Perfect for souvenir shopping.

#12 Gorge on some quintessential Spanish Tapas

Tapas are small portions of food which you are meant to get as an accompaniment with the drinks. However, in Barcelona, you can buy these small plates of food which come in an extraordinarily wide variety. You may even try tapas and drinks tours if you want.

39 Things To Do In Spain’s Wonder City

#13 go on a gaudi trail.

Many of Antoni Gaudi’s buildings are now ticketed and come with a full tour. However, Gaudi doesn’t just display his magic in the interior of the building. You can walk around the neighborhood appreciating the exterior of the likes of Casa Batllo and Casa Mila for free. However, if you have the money ( and interest ), you should most definitely step inside his buildings. They are magical!

Read more about Gaudi's best works and taking a Gaudi Trail by yourself .

#14 If you had to visit one of Gaudi's wonders, let it be Park Guell

One place we do recommend for an in-depth visit is Antoni Gaudi’s Park Guell. Despite being located a bit far from the city center, Park Guell is worth the trip as it packs a lot of Gaudi’s works in the limited area. Moreover, you can pack a picnic if you want and make a day of your visit.

Discounted Park Guell Tickets

#15 There's no leaving Barcelona without some Flamenco

Small bars around Barcelona provide some of the best entertainment in the city. If you wish to experience Flamenco, skip the ones advertised at Las Ramblas and retire to a bar that where you can see this beautiful dance form unfold. Here are a few tips you'd like to know before heading for a flamenco show in Barcelona

Tickets to best Flamenco shows in Barcelona right now

#16 Arrive early at the nightclubs

Barcelona sleeps famously late. So arriving at nightclubs at around 11:30 can be considered early. What this does is it frees you from the exorbitant entry fee as the night rolls on. Arriving early and staying in can be a good way to save some money.

#17 Respect the political scenario of Barcelona

Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia, the richest part of Spain. The financial discrepancy and cultural difference have, over the years, caused a rift between Catalonia and the Spanish government. Refrain from making offensive comments on the scenario as it is bound to get you in trouble.

#18 Football fans cannot miss Camp Nou

Home to FC Barcelona, Camp Nou has recently been renovated and is swankier than ever. By visiting the Camp Nou, you are not just walking into a mere football stadium, you are stepping into and experiencing history. Also, Camp Nou is the largest football stadium in Europe and second largest in the world, in terms of capacity. Gotta see it! Read all about taking a Camp Nou Tour .

Discounted Camp Nou Tickets

#19 A day trip to Montserrat can be refreshing

The Montserrat mountain is a mere 50 km from Barcelona, Spain, and is thronged by tourists all year. Relax in the peaceful atmosphere of the monastery, pray to the Black Madonna, hike up to the top of the mountain and watch the sunrise, view artistic masterpieces at the museum and listen in bliss to the famous boy choir in the Basilica - the possibilities are endless here. Here's what you must know before taking a day trip from Barcelona to Montserrat .

#20 If you're traveling with kids, hit up the Zoo or Aquarium

Not too many people know about the Barcelona Aquarium and Barcelona Zoo , but both these attractions are a great place to keep your kids entertained. And, if you're an animal lover, you'll love them too. Spend a day with exotic breeds you may never have seen before and make memories for a lifetime.

Tips For Saving Money On Transportation In Barcelona

Book flights in advance.

Barcelona is a hot tourist destination. Flights in and out of the city are always in high demand. In order to not blow half your savings on flight tickets, make your bookings in advance. This will also help expedite the planning process.

Walk to attractions around the city

The city of Barcelona is quite delightful. It has aesthetically pleasing architecture and friendly people. If you have to travel a short distance from one attraction to another, take a walk. You will be able to see the city from close proximity as well.

Take the train from the airport terminal 2

Reach terminal 2 after landing at the Barcelona airport and take the RENFE train to Passeig de Gracia. You can then take a metro from there to the city. This a significantly cheap alternative to travel into the city.

Grab hold of the Barcelona Pass

The Barcelona Pass allows you to reap the benefits of big savings on both time and money, with or without a handy travel card, giving you unlimited access to the city's reliable public transport. Your attractions and travel needs are sorted with this one pass in hand. Check it out here .

Avoid cabs if you can help it

There are numerous modes of transport available in Barcelona. Cabs are, by far, the priciest of the lot. Try to leave for your destination so that you don’t have to hurriedly look for a cab at the last moment.

Tips For Saving Money On Eating In Barcelona

Eat street food at the gothic quarters.

The Gothic Quarters of Barcelona go back centuries. It is drenched in history. As you familiarize yourself with the history of this locality, try the delectable street food from the hawkers. The one item that you absolutely cannot miss is the churro con chocolate.

Discover local cuisine at Barcelona’s neighborhoods

Local neighborhoods of Barcelona aren’t just famous for the mind-blowing architecture. The lanes of Poble Sec and Sants are lined with small but proficient restaurants and cafes. Instead of throwing money at the stalls at popular tourist spots, opt for the authentic dishes here.

Tip around 10% at restaurants

While it is not a stringent rule, a tip of about 10% is standard in Barcelona. So even if you are habituated to pay more than that in your country, remember that 10% is just enough.

Try the set menus for lunch

Menu of the day or menu del dia is probably the best and the cheapest way to explore the local cuisine in Barcelona. Several cafes and restaurants in the city offer a set lunch menu for as little as 15 euros. It includes a main, a dessert, and complimentary drinks.

Drink outdoors instead of bars and restaurants

This one is quite obvious. Restaurants charge steep service charges to bring your drink to your table. Bars also charge an entry fee late at night. Instead, grab a bottle of your favorite liquor from the shop and drink outdoors. It saves money and multiplies the fun.

More Tips To Save Money In Barcelona

• Visit museums for free : In Barcelona, the entry fee of many museums is waived on the first Sunday of every month. Given that these museums are the best places to discover the history and culture of Catalonia and Spain, you should not pass on this terrific opportunity.
• Book tickets in advance and online : In this day and age, online tickets are available for virtually every attraction. If you are heading to Barcelona, you should book online tickets in advance for as many attractions as possible. Not only will you save time, but you may also score lucrative discounts.
• Haggle hard when shopping : Haggling is a skill and you can use it to your advantage when shopping in the streets of Barcelona. There are numerous outdoor markets in Barcelona that are perfect for shopping for souvenirs. If you haggle, you can buy twice as much for the same amount of money.
• Rent apartments and airbnbs instead of hotels : Hotels come with a certain level of luxury. However, if you want to divert more of your kitty towards exploring the gems of Barcelona, you should opt for an apartment or airbnb instead. You can save money on food by cooking for yourself in the kitchen. Hostels in Barcelona are great too and most of them have free food or even kitchens.
• Visit during the shoulder season : The low seasons see a significant decline in the number of tourists. As such, it is not uncommon for hotels and motels to slash their rates significantly in order to attract more tourists. Low season in Barcelona is between January and March.

Top 10 Things To Do in Barcelona

I'm sure you have your itinerary all sorted, but here are my top 10 favourites in Barcelona. If any of these are missing from your itinerary, make sure you squeeze them in! There are a few recommended tours for each attraction, so if you haven't grabbed tickets as yet, now would be a great time.

1 Sagrada Familia

Barcelona is home to some of the world's most renowned architects and a treasure trove of stunning architectural marvels. Sagrada Familia, a Barcelona landmark designed by legendary architect Antoni Gaudí, is not one you can afford to miss. Any trip to the Catalan region would be incomplete without a visit to Europe's largest unfinished church.

2 Park Guell

The Park Guell is a representation of Gaudi's vision for English garden cities, located on an area of 18 hectares. This park, which was designed using natural elements as inspiration, features beautiful walkways, vast gardens and intricate sculptures.

3 Casa Mila

Casa Milà is a magnificent structure in its own right. What makes the building's history remarkable is that it changed hands several times and was on the verge of collapse before being restored. The rooms of the facility were used as apartments and workplaces. Gaudi utilized a variety of natural materials for the outside, while the interiors were brightly colored.

Camp Nou is Europe's largest football stadium, as well as the world's fourth-largest in terms of capacity. At a time, this enormous arena can accommodate up to 99,354 spectators! This magnificent edifice is an important landmark in football history; why not? After all, it is home to one of the most decorated and successful clubs in the world, FC Barcelona.

5 Flamenco Show

Flamenco is a passionate dance that is characterized by quick beats, hand clapping, finger snapping, and guitar playing. The performance is highly evocative and entertaining to watch. Watching a Flamenco show in Barcelona is something you absolutely must, must do.

6 PortAventura World

PortAventura World, located on the coast of rural Spain, is a family-friendly theme park with an excellent variety of on-site hotels, bars, and restaurants. It's packed with nerve-racking rides for all age groups and includes a wonderful range of on-site accommodations, bars, and restaurants to immerse yourself in.

7 Palau De La Musica

Palau de la Música Catalana, the spectacularly ornate concert hall located in the lovely Sant Pere sector of Barcelona, is one of the most beautiful buildings in all of Spain. This UNESCO World Heritage Site, which was designated as such because it is a symbol of their past and heritage, is a testament to Catalan culture and architecture.

8 Poble Espanyol

Poble Espanyol, which means "Spanish Village" in Catalan, is a beautiful blend of Spanish architecture and tradition located on Montjuic Hill's slopes. Poble Espanyol Barcelona is the ideal location to acquire a large mouthful of Catalan cultural sangria without having to travel across Spain.

9 Tibidabo Amusement Park

Tibidabo Amusement Park is one of the world's oldest open-air amusement parks, located in Barcelona on the Collserola Ridge. The park is named for its location on Tibidabo, which is the tallest peak in the Collserola range.

10 Gran Teatre del Liceu

The Gran Teatre del Liceu, often known as simply the Liceu, is a beautiful mix of 19th and 21st-century architecture. This theatre has withstood Spain's most tumultuous eras and evolved into the jewel of Catalan culture despite its age.

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What should i avoid in barcelona.

• Picking fights or getting too drunk in public
• Failing to observe basic safety precautions
• Walking around alone at night in unsafe neighborhoods
• Disrespecting local customs and traditions

What is the best time of year to visit Barcelona?

The best time to visit Barcelona is between the months of April and October. The weather is usually mild and sunny during these months, making it ideal for exploring the city. Keep in mind that peak season is from June to August, so you may want to avoid traveling during these times if you want to avoid large crowds.

What do I need to know before going to Barcelona?

• The city is large and spread out, so you will need to use public transportation or walk in order to get around
• Be prepared for pickpockets, as they are common in crowded areas
• Make sure to try some of the local cuisine, such as paella and sangria
• If you want to visit popular tourist attractions, such as the Sagrada Familia, it is best to purchase tickets in advance

Is Barcelona expensive?

Barcelona can be expensive, especially during peak season. However, there are ways to save money while in the city. For example, you can eat at cheaper restaurants, use public transportation instead of taxis, and stay in a less expensive hotel. Additionally, there are many free attractions that you can visit, such as the parks and museums.

Is Barcelona safe to walk at night?

Barcelona is generally safe to walk around at night, but there are certain areas that you should avoid. It is best to stay in well-lit and populated areas, and to avoid walking alone in unfamiliar neighborhoods. If you do need to walk alone at night, be sure to take precautions such as carrying a pepper spray or keeping your phone close.

Why does Barcelona smell like sewer?

In some areas, the sewers are old and not well maintained, which can cause odors to seep up into the streets. Additionally, during hot weather, the sewers can release methane gas, which can also cause a foul smell. If you notice a strong smell of sewer while in Barcelona, it is best to avoid the area and move to a different part of the city.

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Lakshmi Menon

Born to parents bit by the wander bug, Lakshmi calls her love for travel "hereditary and habitual". Perpetually ensconced with a book in her hand and a mug of coffee in the other, she has been to over 15 countries in her 23 years of existence and is currently saving miles and money for her solo trip to Iceland. Always hustling towards the least trodden path, she has encountered some wonderful people during her escapades and if you ever meet her, she won't stop gushing about them.

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Unforgettable Tourist Attractions in Barcelona: Must-See Spots

Tourist Attractions in Barcelona: Barcelona, a vibrant city on the coast of Spain, is home to a plethora of unforgettable tourist attractions and must-see spots . Whether you’re a history buff, an art enthusiast, or a food lover, Barcelona has something to offer everyone. From architectural marvels like the iconic Sagrada Familia to the bustling streets of Las Ramblas , this city is a treasure trove of experiences waiting to be discovered.

Table of Contents

Sagrada familia: barcelona’s iconic landmark, park güell: gaudí’s artistic masterpiece, camp nou stadium: a soccer lover’s paradise, casa batlló: gaudí’s architectural gem, picasso museum: a journey through the artist’s life, las ramblas: barcelona’s bustling street, montjuïc: a mountain of attractions, palau de la música catalana: a concert hall of beauty, mercat de la boqueria: a food lover’s paradise, hospital de sant pau: a hidden gem, more attractions and experiences in barcelona.

Whether you’re planning a short city break or a longer vacation, be sure to include these must-see spots on your Barcelona itinerary. Get ready to immerse yourself in the vibrant Catalan culture, indulge in delicious cuisine, and marvel at the architectural wonders that define this unique city.

Key Takeaways: Tourist Attractions in Barcelona

• Barcelona offers a wide range of tourist attractions and must-see spots for all interests.
• From the iconic Sagrada Familia to the vibrant Las Ramblas , there is something for everyone in Barcelona.
• Don’t miss the opportunity to explore Barcelona’s architectural gems, such as Park Güell and Casa Batlló .
• Experience the passion of FC Barcelona at Camp Nou Stadium and immerse yourself in the world of football .
• Indulge in the vibrant food scene at Mercat de la Boqueria and discover the flavors of Catalan cuisine.

The Sagrada Familia is undoubtedly one of the most awe-inspiring attractions in Barcelona. Designed by the renowned architect Antoni Gaudí , this masterpiece has become a symbol of the city and a must-see landmark for visitors from around the world. Its unique design and breathtaking beauty make it an architectural wonder like no other.

Construction on the Sagrada Familia began in 1882 and continues to this day, making it an ongoing work of art . Gaudí poured his heart and soul into the project, incorporating intricate details, fantastical sculptures, and stunning stained glass windows that fill the interior with a magical play of light.

“The Sagrada Familia is the most extraordinary interpretation of Gothic architecture since the Middle Ages.” – Salvador Dalí

Visitors to the Sagrada Familia can explore the basilica’s interior, where they will be greeted by a mesmerizing kaleidoscope of colors and shapes. The columns, shaped like giant trees, branch out at the top to support the elaborate vaulted ceiling, creating a sense of being in a magical forest.

Don’t miss the opportunity to climb one of the towers for a panoramic view of Barcelona. From up high, you can appreciate the intricate details of the facades and get a bird’s-eye view of the city’s skyline. Be sure to book your tickets in advance to avoid long queues and make the most of your visit to this must-see landmark .

Table: Quick Facts about the Sagrada Familia

Park Güell is a must-visit attraction in Barcelona, showcasing the artistic genius of Antoni Gaudí . This enchanting park is a true masterpiece of architecture and design, attracting visitors from around the world. Its unique blend of nature and artistic elements makes it a captivating experience for all.

One of the highlights of Park Güell is the famous Mosaic Benches . These vibrant, colorful benches adorned with mosaic tiles are a visual treat for visitors. They provide the perfect spot to relax and take in the stunning surroundings while enjoying panoramic views of the city.

“Park Güell is a testament to Gaudí’s creativity and his ability to seamlessly integrate architecture and nature. The combination of mosaic art, curving forms, and organic elements creates a truly magical atmosphere.” – Art enthusiast and visitor to Park Güell

The Essence of Gaudí’s Style

Gaudí’s distinctive architectural style is on full display at Park Güell. From the iconic entrance staircase to the whimsical gingerbread-like houses, every detail reflects his innovative vision. The park was originally intended as a residential development, but it was later converted into a public park, allowing everyone to appreciate Gaudí’s genius.

A visit to Park Güell isn’t complete without exploring the iconic structures, such as the Hypostyle Room with its impressive stone columns and the famous Dragon Stairway. The combination of nature-inspired elements and vibrant colors creates a surreal and dreamlike ambiance throughout the park.

Planning Your Visit

To ensure a smooth visit to Park Güell, it’s recommended to book timed-entry tickets in advance. This will help you avoid long queues, especially during peak tourist seasons. The park has a limited number of visitors allowed per hour, so it’s essential to plan accordingly.

Be sure to wear comfortable shoes as there are uphill walks within the park. Don’t forget your camera to capture the beauty of the surroundings, and take your time to explore the various paths and hidden corners of this enchanting place.

Welcome to Camp Nou Stadium , the ultimate destination for soccer lovers. As the home stadium of FC Barcelona , one of the most renowned football clubs in the world, Camp Nou offers an unparalleled experience for fans and enthusiasts alike. Whether you’re a die-hard supporter of the team or simply passionate about the sport, a visit to Camp Nou is a must during your time in Barcelona.

Immerse yourself in the rich history and vibrant atmosphere of this iconic stadium. Take a guided tour to explore the different areas, including the dressing rooms, press room, and the pitch itself. Learn about the club’s illustrious past, its legendary players, and the triumphs that have made FC Barcelona a global powerhouse in the world of football .

Camp Nou Stadium also hosts thrilling matches, allowing you to witness the electrifying energy of a live football game. Join thousands of passionate fans as they cheer on their beloved team and create an unforgettable atmosphere. Whether you’re lucky enough to catch a La Liga match or a UEFA Champions League clash, the experience is bound to leave you in awe.

Exploring the Camp Nou Experience

The Camp Nou Experience ticket not only grants you access to the stadium and its facilities but also includes a visit to the FC Barcelona Museum. Delve into the club’s history through interactive exhibits, trophies, and memorabilia, showcasing the legacy of this iconic institution.

Additionally, don’t miss the opportunity to visit the FC Barcelona Official Store, located within the stadium. Here, you can browse and purchase official merchandise, from jerseys and scarves to collectibles and accessories, allowing you to take home a piece of the FC Barcelona spirit.

A Mecca for Football Enthusiasts

Camp Nou Stadium is a true pilgrimage site for football enthusiasts from around the world. Step into the shoes of your favorite players, witness the magic of the game unfold before your eyes, and immerse yourself in the passion that fills the air. The stadium’s capacity of over 99,000 spectators ensures an incredible atmosphere, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

So, whether you’re a devoted FC Barcelona fan, a lover of the beautiful game, or simply looking to experience the energy of a world-class stadium, a visit to Camp Nou is an absolute must during your time in Barcelona. Prepare to be captivated by the magic of football and discover why Camp Nou Stadium truly is a soccer lover’s paradise.

Casa Batlló is a masterpiece of Catalan Modernism , designed by the renowned architect Antoni Gaudí . This iconic building showcases Gaudí’s innovative and artistic approach to architecture, making it a must-visit attraction in Barcelona. The unique facade of Casa Batlló , resembling the scales of a dragon, immediately captures the attention of visitors.

Step inside this architectural gem and immerse yourself in a world of stunning details, vibrant colors, and intricate mosaics. Every corner of Casa Batlló showcases Gaudí’s attention to detail and his ability to blend functionality with artistic expression. From the sinuous curves of the staircases to the whimsical shapes of the windows, every element contributes to the overall harmonious design.

The rooftop terrace of Casa Batlló offers panoramic views of Barcelona, providing a unique perspective of the city. Here, you’ll find Gaudí’s signature chimneys, resembling fantastical creatures, along with a beautifully tiled dragon sculpture. It’s the perfect spot to admire the cityscape while appreciating Gaudí’s genius.

The Magic of Gaudí’s Design

Gaudí’s design philosophy is evident in every aspect of Casa Batlló. Inspired by the organic forms of nature, he incorporated elements such as flowing lines, colorful tiles, and undulating surfaces. The play of light and shadow that filters through the windows and illuminates the interior spaces creates a mesmerizing effect.

“Gaudí’s architectural vision and attention to detail make Casa Batlló a true marvel. The house is a testament to his ability to transform functional spaces into works of art.” – Architecture enthusiast

During your visit to Casa Batlló, take the time to explore each room and appreciate the craftsmanship that went into its creation. From the elegant Noble Floor to the unique loft space, every area has a story to tell and offers a glimpse into Gaudí’s creative genius.

No visit to Barcelona is complete without experiencing the wonder of Casa Batlló. Immerse yourself in the beauty of Gaudí’s architectural vision and let the enchanting design transport you to another world.

The Picasso Museum in Barcelona is a treasure trove of artistic masterpieces by the legendary painter Pablo Picasso . With over 4,000 works on display, the museum offers a comprehensive journey through the artist’s life and career. From his early years as a prodigious young talent to his groundbreaking innovations in art, the museum showcases the evolution of Picasso’s unique style and artistic vision.

As you wander through the museum’s galleries, you’ll have the opportunity to admire Picasso’s diverse range of artistic techniques. From his iconic Blue and Rose periods to his groundbreaking Cubist works, each painting tells a story and offers a glimpse into the artist’s inner world. The museum also houses an extensive collection of Picasso’s drawings, sculptures, and ceramics, providing a holistic view of his artistic output.

Highlights of the Picasso Museum

• Las Meninas: Picasso’s reinterpretation of Velázquez’s masterpiece
• Guernica: One of Picasso’s most famous and powerful works, depicting the horrors of war
• Self-Portraits: A collection of intimate self-portraits that offer insight into Picasso’s self-reflection

“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” – Pablo Picasso

Visiting the Picasso Museum is not only an opportunity to admire the genius of one of the greatest artists of the 20th century but also a chance to dive deep into the rich cultural heritage of Barcelona. The museum is located in the heart of the city’s vibrant Gothic Quarter, surrounded by charming narrow streets and historic buildings. So take your time, explore the galleries, and let Picasso’s art inspire and captivate you.

Las Ramblas is one of the most famous and vibrant streets in Barcelona, attracting both locals and tourists alike. Stretching for 1.2 kilometers, this bustling promenade is a hub of activity, offering a unique blend of culture, entertainment, and shopping.

As you stroll along Las Ramblas, you’ll encounter a variety of street performers showcasing their talents. From musicians and dancers to living statues and acrobats, these artists add a touch of magic to the street. Take a moment to appreciate their performances and don’t forget to show your appreciation by leaving a tip.

In addition to the street performers , Las Ramblas is also home to a plethora of shops and stalls selling a wide range of souvenirs . Browse through the colorful displays of local crafts, clothing, and traditional Catalan products. Whether you’re looking for a unique memento of your trip or a gift for a loved one, you’re sure to find something special along this bustling street.

Table: Popular Souvenirs to Buy on Las Ramblas

After exploring the shops and enjoying the performances, take a break at one of the many cafes and restaurants along Las Ramblas. Savor traditional Spanish dishes, sip on a refreshing sangria, or indulge in some tasty tapas. This street offers a true taste of Barcelona’s culinary delights.

Las Ramblas is not only a street; it’s an experience. Immerse yourself in the energy and vibrancy of Barcelona as you wander along this iconic promenade. From the street performers to the souvenirs , Las Ramblas showcases the heart and soul of this incredible city.

Montjuïc is a mountain in Barcelona that offers a wide range of attractions and experiences for visitors. From historic landmarks to breathtaking natural beauty, Montjuïc has something for everyone. One of the most famous attractions on Montjuïc is the Magic Fountain . This mesmerizing spectacle of water, light, and music is a must-see for visitors of all ages. As the water dances to the rhythm of the music, it creates a truly enchanting atmosphere that will leave you in awe.

Another highlight of Montjuïc is the Palau Nacional , which houses the National Art Museum of Catalonia. This stunning building showcases a vast collection of Catalan art, ranging from Romanesque and Gothic to Renaissance and Modernist styles. The museum offers a fascinating journey through the history and culture of Catalonia, with works by renowned artists such as Picasso and Dalí.

Exploring Montjuïc is a treat for nature lovers as well. The mountain is home to beautiful gardens, including the Montjuïc Gardens and the Laribal Gardens. These green spaces offer a peaceful retreat from the bustling city below, with their lush vegetation, charming paths, and panoramic views of Barcelona. Take a leisurely stroll through the gardens and immerse yourself in the tranquility of nature.

Table: Highlights of Montjuïc

Montjuïc truly offers a mountain of attractions to discover. Whether you’re interested in art, history, nature, or simply enjoying breathtaking views, a visit to Montjuïc is a must during your time in Barcelona.

Discover the wonders of Montjuïc, where history, art, and nature come together in harmony. From the magical performances of the Magic Fountain to the artistic masterpieces at the Palau Nacional, Montjuïc offers a captivating journey for all who visit. Soak in the beauty of the mountain’s gardens, take in panoramic views of Barcelona, and let Montjuïc leave a lasting impression on your Barcelona experience.

The Palau de la Música Catalana is a mesmerizing concert hall that showcases the beauty of Catalan Modernism architecture. Located in the heart of Barcelona, this iconic venue has become a symbol of the city’s cultural heritage. Designed by architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner, the Palau de la Música Catalana is renowned for its stunning stained glass windows, intricate mosaics, and ornate sculptures.

Step inside this architectural marvel and be transported to a world of enchantment. The concert hall’s main auditorium is a visual delight, with its grand organ, majestic columns, and intricate floral motifs. The natural light that filters through the stained glass ceiling creates a magical ambiance, adding to the overall sensory experience.

“The Palau de la Música Catalana is not only a concert hall but also a true work of art. Its architectural beauty and acoustics make every performance a memorable event.” – Renowned pianist, Maria Garcia

Attending a concert at the Palau de la Música Catalana is an unforgettable experience. The impeccable acoustics of the hall enhance the performances, allowing every note to resonate with clarity and richness. From classical music to contemporary compositions, the diverse program offers something for every music lover.

Elevating Catalan Modernism

The Palau de la Música Catalana stands as a testament to the Catalan Modernism movement, which emerged in the late 19th century as a response to the dominant architectural styles of the time. Characterized by its organic forms, rich ornamentation, and incorporation of natural elements, Catalan Modernism sought to create a unique identity for Catalonia.

With its intricate details and innovative design, the Palau de la Música Catalana exemplifies the essence of Catalan Modernism. The fusion of light, color, and form creates a harmonious space that celebrates the artistic and cultural heritage of Barcelona.

In conclusion, the Palau de la Música Catalana is more than just a concert hall ; it is a masterpiece of Catalan Modernism. From its architectural grandeur to its captivating performances, this iconic venue provides an immersive experience that celebrates the beauty of music and art. Whether you’re a music enthusiast or simply appreciate exquisite architecture, a visit to the Palau de la Música Catalana is a must when exploring Barcelona.

I had the pleasure of exploring the Mercat de la Boqueria during my visit to Barcelona, and it truly is a food lover’s paradise. Located on Las Ramblas, this bustling market is a feast for the senses, with vibrant colors, enticing aromas, and a wide array of fresh produce and local delicacies.

As I walked through the market, I couldn’t help but be captivated by the variety of stalls offering everything from seasonal fruits and vegetables to artisanal cheeses, olives, and charcuterie. The selection of seafood was particularly impressive, with an assortment of fresh fish, shellfish, and octopus that looked absolutely mouthwatering.

One of the highlights of my visit was sampling the traditional Catalan flavors available at the market. From paella and tapas to churros and horchata, there was no shortage of delicious treats to try. I made sure to indulge in some jamón ibérico, a type of cured ham that is renowned for its rich flavor and melt-in-your-mouth texture.

I was amazed by the vibrant atmosphere and the passion that the vendors had for their craft. They were more than happy to share their knowledge and stories, making my experience at the Mercat de la Boqueria even more memorable.

If you’re looking to bring home some edible souvenirs, the Mercat de la Boqueria is the perfect place to stock up. Whether it’s a bottle of local wine, a jar of authentic Spanish olive oil, or a selection of spices and herbs, you’ll find plenty of options to choose from.

Visiting the Mercat de la Boqueria was a truly unique and delightful experience. It’s a place where you can immerse yourself in the culinary traditions of Barcelona and get a taste of the vibrant local culture. If you’re a food lover like me, make sure to add this market to your list of must-see spots in Barcelona.

Table: A Selection of Catalan Delicacies

Indulge in these Catalan delicacies and let your taste buds take a journey through the flavors of Barcelona.

If you’re looking to discover Barcelona’s hidden architectural treasures, a visit to the Hospital de Sant Pau is a must. Tucked away from the bustling tourist crowds, this modernist marvel is a true gem waiting to be explored.

Designed by renowned architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner, the Hospital de Sant Pau is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that showcases the beauty and innovation of Catalan modernism. From the moment you step foot onto the grounds, you’ll be captivated by its stunning architecture and intricate details.

The hospital complex consists of several buildings and pavilions, each adorned with vibrant tile work, colorful mosaics, and intricate sculptures. As you wander through the corridors and gardens, you’ll be transported to a bygone era of artistic brilliance.

The Architecture of Hospital de Sant Pau

One of the highlights of the Hospital de Sant Pau is its unique use of natural light and open spaces. The grand domed ceilings and expansive courtyards create a sense of tranquility and serenity, making it the perfect place for reflection and contemplation.

Don’t miss the opportunity to visit the underground tunnels that connect the different buildings, providing a glimpse into the history and functionality of the hospital. These tunnels are not only functional but also beautifully designed, featuring elegant arches and intricate tile work.

Whether you’re an architecture enthusiast or simply appreciate beauty in all its forms, a visit to the Hospital de Sant Pau is a truly enriching experience. Take your time to explore the grounds, soak in the atmosphere, and marvel at the architectural wonders that await you.

While Barcelona is famous for its iconic landmarks, there is much more to explore in this vibrant city. From world-class museums to breathtaking mountaintop views, Barcelona offers a wide range of attractions and experiences that cater to every taste.

For art enthusiasts, Barcelona boasts an impressive array of museums. Visit the renowned Picasso Museum and immerse yourself in the works of the legendary painter. Marvel at the masterpieces that showcase Picasso’s artistic evolution and gain a deeper understanding of his creative journey.

For breathtaking panoramic views of Barcelona, head to Tibidabo Mountain . Take a ride on the historic funicular and reach the summit, where you’ll be rewarded with stunning vistas of the city below. Explore the mountain’s amusement park, visit the Sagrat Cor Church, and create unforgettable memories.

To experience the passion and energy of Spanish culture, don’t miss the opportunity to attend a flamenco show. Witness the mesmerizing dance, the soul-stirring music, and the raw emotions that make flamenco a truly unique and captivating art form. Let the rhythm and intensity of the performance transport you to the heart of Spanish tradition.

Q: What are some must-see tourist attractions in Barcelona?

A: Some must-see tourist attractions in Barcelona include the Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, Camp Nou Stadium, Casa Batlló, Picasso Museum, Las Ramblas, Montjuïc, Palau de la Música Catalana, Mercat de la Boqueria, and Hospital de Sant Pau.

Q: Which famous landmark in Barcelona should I visit?

A: The most famous landmark in Barcelona is the Sagrada Familia, an iconic cathedral designed by architect Antoni Gaudí. It is a must-see attraction known for its unique design and stunning stained glass windows.

Q: What is the best way to explore Park Güell?

A: To explore Park Güell, it is recommended to book timed-entry tickets in advance as the park has a limited number of visitors allowed per hour. This will ensure you have a designated time to enter and explore the colorful mosaic benches and unique architecture.

Q: Why should I visit Camp Nou Stadium?

A: Camp Nou Stadium is a must-visit attraction for soccer fans. As the home of FC Barcelona, one of the most successful football clubs in the world, it offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of football. Take a tour of the stadium, visit the dressing rooms, and soak in the atmosphere of this iconic stadium.

Q: What makes Casa Batlló special?

A: Casa Batlló is a masterpiece of Catalan Modernism designed by Antoni Gaudí. Its unique facade resembling the scales of a dragon and stunning interior details showcase Gaudí’s artistic genius. Explore this architectural gem to admire the intricate mosaics and learn about Gaudí’s innovative design techniques.

Q: What can I expect at the Picasso Museum in Barcelona?

A: The Picasso Museum houses over 4,000 works of art by the famous painter Pablo Picasso . It provides a comprehensive display of Picasso’s artistic evolution, showcasing his early works to his later masterpieces. This museum offers a unique insight into the life and career of this legendary artist.

Q: Why should I visit Las Ramblas?

A: Las Ramblas is one of Barcelona’s busiest streets known for its lively atmosphere and street performers. Take a leisurely stroll along this vibrant promenade, lined with flower stalls, plane trees, and bustling cafes. It’s the perfect place to people-watch, shop for souvenirs, and soak in the energy of Barcelona’s city life.

Q: What attractions can I find on Montjuïc?

A: Montjuïc offers a plethora of attractions, including the Palau Nacional , the magic fountain of Font Magica, the Olympic Stadium, and beautiful Montjuïc gardens. Take a cable car ride for panoramic views of the city and immerse yourself in the beauty of this mountain in Barcelona.

Q: Why should I visit the Palau de la Música Catalana?

A: The Palau de la Música Catalana is an exquisite concert hall known for its stunning Catalan Modernism architecture. Join a guided tour to admire the intricate stained glass windows, colorful mosaics, and sculptures that adorn this historic building. Don’t miss the chance to attend a concert and experience the acoustics in this unique venue.

Q: What can I find at Mercat de la Boqueria?

A: Mercat de la Boqueria is a vibrant food market located on Las Ramblas. Explore the colorful stalls filled with fresh produce, spices, and local delicacies. Taste your way through the market, sample traditional Catalan flavors , and immerse yourself in the lively atmosphere of this food lover’s paradise.

Q: What makes the Hospital de Sant Pau a hidden gem?

A: The Hospital de Sant Pau is a prime example of Catalan Modernist architecture and a hidden gem in Barcelona. Explore the beautiful buildings and pavilions of this former hospital, admire the intricate details, and stunning architecture. Visit this less touristy spot to experience the beauty of Barcelona’s architectural heritage.

Q: Are there any other attractions and experiences in Barcelona?

A: Yes, Barcelona has plenty to offer beyond the must-see landmarks. Discover more museums such as the Picasso Museum and the Museum of Catalan Art. Explore Tibidabo Mountain for panoramic views of Barcelona. Immerse yourself in the passion of flamenco with a live show. Barcelona has endless possibilities for exploration and enjoyment.

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7  Day Custom Tour

Dynamic pricing from  $2,179

Sandy beaches and mesmerizing cobbled roads greet you as you arrive in beautiful Barcelona. Here, you will uncover the city's rich history in the Gothic Quarter and admire the whimsical designs of Antoni Gaudi at Sagrada Familia and Park Guell. You will work up an appetite as you peruse the vibrant fruits and vegetables of Mercado de la Boqueria before joining an internationally acclaimed chef as you learn to cook authentic paella. Break away from lively metropolitan life as you relax on the shimmering beaches of Costa Brava and climb to new heights in the Montserrat mountain range. On this immaculate, 7-day excursion, you will witness some of the most iconic landmarks that Spain has to offer in addition to spending the week in complete luxury.

8  Day Custom Tour

Dynamic pricing from  $2,491

Mopeds whiz around the busy Placa de Catalunya as shoppers gather along Las Ramblas boulevard in Barcelona. Meanwhile, in Valencia, beachgoers dig their toes into the soft, sandy beaches and indulge in a rich, seaside feast of freshly cooked paella. In Madrid, visitors gather at the Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol before feasting on tapas and dancing the night away in the trendy neighborhood of Malasana. Take the whole family on an unforgettable trip to Spain's metropolitan areas to experience the very best of sightseeing, adventure, and culinary delights.

Centuries of history, and the dazzling promises of the future. Wide and bustling streets lined with dreamlike buildings and exclusive boutiques, and the inspiring beauty of a black Madonna. The smell of the sea, the sound of hymns, and the taste of freshly caught seafood. From the metropolis of Barcelona to marvelous Montserrat, this is the very best of enchanting Catalonia.

13  Day Custom Tour

Dynamic pricing from  $4,051

Luxuriate in the highlights of Spain by using Barcelona and Madrid to explore many of the country’s ultimate highlights. Think Gaudi’s architecture, seaside bliss, medieval cities, dazzling palaces, iconic art, and Catalan vineyards. Seven nights in Barcelona are followed by five in Madrid as your trip handcrafted for taking it slow and easy in Spain. Including Modernist and ancient Barcelona, Penedes, Sitges, Figueres, Toledo, Salamanca, Madrid, your getaway to Spain will be one that you will never forget.

10  Day Custom Tour

Dynamic pricing from  $6,995

Follow the Michelin Starred restaurants across Western Europe for an unforgettable journey through Spain and Portugal. Restaurateurs gain inspiration from the local tastes and culinary traditions to create meals comparable to works of art and shape unimaginable flavor profiles. The radiant culture of Barcelona brings a different aesthetic than the modernist lifestyle of Madrid, while the historical desire for discovery has influenced the now traditional spices of Lisbon and promises of port structure the gastronomic mastery of Porto. From the royal palaces to the Gothic plazas, a Knights Templar monastery to gilded church naves, indulge in culture and cuisine during your customizable Spain and Portugal itinerary.

Dynamic pricing from  $2,270

Barcelona is a city that is known for its intrigue and beauty. The scent of fresh paella emanates from massive cast-iron skillets, and rainbow-colored hues pour out from produce markets in the city center. Downtown, energy bursts as pedestrians hurry along cobbled streets past ancient fortresses, ornate cathedrals, and stoic palaces. During this exciting, 7-day excursion through Barcelona, you will experience the invigorating fervor of city life and bask in the charming villages that are tucked into the Spanish countryside.

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