21 Best Things To Do in Barcelona

Barcelona is a colorful city, full of life and unique for its architecture, gastronomy and nightlife. Gothic and modernism go hand in hand to form the iconic aesthetics of this almost permanently sunlit city, making it a top tourist destination. Here's a list of the 21 best things to see and do in Barcelona:

The crown jewel of Spanish architecture and of course a must-see in Barcelona. Its impressive facades will leave you with your mouth open, and are just a taste of what you will see inside, which will give you the feeling of having been transported to a place out of this world.

Read my article on how to buy your tickets online for the Sagrada Familia, a must if you don't want to waste the day waiting in line. I also recommend going early or late, and whatever you do, avoid 10:00 am as that is the time of most of the guided tours in Barcelona. I leave you also this post with more information about the Sagrada Familia schedules.

The iconic space designed by Gaudí is the place to lose yourself with the views of Barcelona in the background, while discovering a whole series of plastic forms such as sculptures, benches and towers covered in the artist's signature tile mosaics. A guided tour of Park Güell will ensure that you won't miss any of Gaudí's architectural and sculptural wonders.

If you visit Park Güell in the afternoon, you can then go to watch the sunset at the Bunkers del Carmel, a viewpoint near the park that is very popular with locals. It will be helpful to read the posts about Park Güell prices and opening hours before your visit.

The most important building in Gaudí's oeuvre after the Sagrada Familia, for being a torrent of creativity from the foundations to its impressive rooftop.

Taking a guided tour of La Pedrera is a perfect complement to the rest of the architect's works in Barcelona and is a good starting point from which to begin exploring the Eixample neighborhood. You can visit and get to know the interior of La Pedrera at night, which is a highly recommended experience as there are fewer crowds and the rooftop is impressively illuminated.

Because of its location almost adjacent to La Pedrera, it is a visit that is included in many tourist itineraries. Although it is not a must-see attraction, it can be for you if you are passionate about Gaudi's architecture and want to discover all of his main buildings in the city of Barcelona.

Organize yourself to visit Casa Batlló after La Pedrera, as they are very close and you will get the most out of your visit. In fact, you can buy combined tickets for both monuments or take one of Gaudi's guided tours in Barcelona so you don't miss anything.

If you live for soccer and even more if you are FC Barcelona, do not miss the Camp Nou Experience where you can tour the stadium, access the pitch, the locker rooms and the press room, and also visit the club's museum, where you can remember the great moments of its history and enjoy a space dedicated to Leo Messi.

It is very important to check the stadium schedule and if it will be open to the public on the day you want to make your visit, because during match days you may not be able to enjoy the experience.

Taking a trip to Figueras and visiting the Dalí Museum is one of the most popular activities for visitors to Barcelona. The main attraction of the excursion is, of course, the Dalí Museum, designed by the artist himself in a former theater and the place where some of his works are exhibited along with interesting installations and a collection of jewelry created by the surrealist master.

And besides, Figueras has more than just the Dalí Museum. Take advantage of your trip to the city with other visits to points of interest such as the Toy Museum and the Fortress of San Ferran. Undoubtedly, one of the most recommended excursions to do from Barcelona.

If you are a fan of Game of Thrones, you will love visiting Girona from Barcelona. You will be able to see real places used as filming locations for the sixth season, such as the Arab Baths and the Pujada de Sant Domènech. You will feel like you are inside the city of Braavos and you can also take the opportunity to explore a beautiful city where medieval architecture still survives.

As night falls, the stairs of San Martin (in the Pujada de Sant Domènech) acquire a special lighting and become a very nice place to stay a while or take a picture.

It is very easy to get to Girona from Barcelona, here I explain how.

Barcelona's holy mountain is a place of pilgrimage for believers and atheists alike, for its impressive monastery on the heights from which you can enjoy spectacular views of the city. On a guided excursion to Montserrat you can go hiking, discover an art museum with works by leading Catalan artists and pay a visit to La Moreneta, a 12th century carving of the Virgin Mary.

My advice is to try to visit the Monastery of Montserrat during the week and from 12:30, as you can see La Moreneta and the choir of the Escolania live. If you go on your own check also our post about how to go to Montserrat from Barcelona.

The medieval heritage of the towns of Vic, Rupit, Pals and Calella de Palafrugell among others make a visit to the towns of the Costa Brava from Barcelona a very interesting excursion, where you can also enjoy the waters of the Mediterranean Sea while discovering the remains of walls, towers and other buildings from the Romanesque period.

By the way, Vic has one of the most beautiful medieval markets in Spain, and it is celebrated during the Constitution Bridge in December. If you are in Barcelona on that weekend, do not think twice before visiting the town.

If you like the plan, check out also the post Excursions to Costa Brava from Barcelona where you will find more ideas to spend a great day in nature and escape from the city for a while to disconnect.

Touring Barcelona on a Hop On Hop Off bus is the most comfortable way to enjoy the city without getting too tired. In addition, it is possible to combine the bus tour with a self-guided tour, which makes this experience one of the most interesting if you plan your tours and do not like the typical crowded tours for tourists.

A trick that few people know: you can use the tourist bus as a method of transportation during your trip to Barcelona, so you can get even more out of your ticket.

If you want to explore the best museums in Barcelona, you have many options such as the National Art Museum of Catalonia, the Picasso Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art of Barcelona (MACBA), the Joan Miró Foundation, the Antoni Tàpies Foundation or the Center of Contemporary Culture of Barcelona. All these museums are included in the Barcelona Museum Pass.

Depending on what you especially like, you can explore in detail the artistic work of some of the most prominent Catalan painters or if you are passionate about the art of Picasso discover his youth paintings, something not very common in most major museum collections.

If you are one of those who live the museum culture and do not want to miss 'the last cry' of the city, you have to visit the Moco Museum, recently opened. Here you will find works by such important artists as Andy Warhol, Banksy and Salvador Dalí.

You will pass through this central square of Barcelona during your tours, as it is the point of union between the historic center and the most modern part of the city. From it, main streets such as Paseo de Gracia or La Rambla depart.

Once you visit Plaza Cataluña it will be very easy to find your way around Barcelona, and around the square you can find several points of interest such as the Liceu Theater, the Boqueria Market, the Palace of Catalan Music, and several shopping malls.

If you want to discover all of Gaudí's main buildings and constructions in a single tour, I recommend taking a Gaudí works tour to visit the Sagrada Familia, La Pedrera and Casa Batlló in the company of an expert guide. If you are going to be in Barcelona for a short time or just want to enjoy the Gaudí experience in one cohesive tour, this is the tour for you.

Of course, there are many more Gaudí buildings and works in Barcelona that are not part of the typical tourist tours. I recommend visiting the Güell Pavilions, Casa Vicens, and Casa Calvet on your own.

Cycling through the streets of Barcelona is a real pleasure thanks to its flat streets and its orderly urban organization. Undoubtedly, one of the best ways to move around Barcelona. Therefore, on a bike tour you can see almost the entire city in just a few hours, and it is an alternative experience to the typical mass tours.

Other ways to get around Barcelona

In addition to the many bike tours in Barcelona that you can find in the city, you can not miss other very unique ways to know all its secret places: from boat rides, to segway tours through helicopter flights or the fabulous cable car of Barcelona.

Known by the locals as the San Jose Market, among its stalls you can find fresh produce, places to have a beer and enjoy the local gastronomy in its purest form.

To visit the Boqueria Market, it is best to go early in the morning. After the aperitif time (12:00), it is crowded and you may not enjoy a quiet experience tasting the local products. You may also be interested in one of the gastronomic tours in Barcelona.

In the heart of the historic center of the city, the Gothic Quarter is home to the impressive Barcelona Cathedral, Plaza Sant Jaume, the Jewish quarter and some major museums. It is one of the most beautiful areas of the city, so I recommend you to take a walk around and get lost in its narrow streets or take one of the guided tours of the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona.

The antique market in front of the Cathedral takes place every Thursday from 10:00 am, where you can find a much more genuine souvenir than in any store.

One of the most popular viewpoints to enjoy the sunset over Barcelona. You can walk or take the cable car up to Montjuïc Castle, and be amazed by the spectacle of the Magic Fountain in front of the National Art Museum of Catalonia. Definitely a good way to end a day of sightseeing around the city.

If you have time to spare, I recommend a day trip to Montjuïc and visit all its points of interest, including the Olympic Stadium, the CaixaForum, the Botanical Garden of Montjuïc, the Joan Miró Foundation, and of course the Castle.

Before the opening of Park Güell for public enjoyment, this was the big park where the locals went to hang out. It was designed with the Luxembourg Garden in Paris as a reference and was used as the site of the 1888 International Exposition, which was accessed through the Arc de Triomphe. Today, it is a great place to take a walk and rest from the hustle and bustle of the city.

To take a break from so much sightseeing, what better than going to the amusement park of the city and download some adrenaline or just take a walk and enjoy the best views of Barcelona from Tibidabo.

You can visit the Tibidabo Amusement Park without paying, which will give you access to the Panoramic Area to see the views of Barcelona (but you won't be able to go on any of the rides).

But if you are not afraid of vertigo and you are attracted by the strong sensations of amusement parks, the favorite park for those visiting Catalonia is Port Aventura. Fortunately, you can make an excursion to Port Aventura from Barcelona to make this experience unforgettable.

If you travel to Barcelona with children Port Aventura can not be missed, I would say that it is one of the top 10 excursions near Barcelona to go with children. There are attractions for all ages, but surely the 'Dragon Khan' will not resist you.

I leave you more information on how to get from Barcelona to Port Aventura and how to get tickets to Port Aventura.

Other plans with children that may interest you are visiting the Aquarium or the Barcelona Zoo. Be sure to read the posts where I tell you how to get tickets to the Aquarium and its prices. And also about the tickets for the zoo.

Finally, I propose an alternative to Barceloneta, Mar Bella beach. If you want to escape from the tourist and local crowds, garbage and street vendors, Mar Bella beach is a little quieter and less touristy, although it is still a city beach.

There is a general area, a nudist area and a LGTBQ area at Mar Bella beach, so depending on your preferences you can choose to wear a swimsuit or not.

Perhaps not many tourists know it, but Barcelona is one of the great capitals of flamenco in Spain along with Madrid and Andalusia. Barcelona is home to some of the most emblematic tablaos in the country where legendary flamenco artists such as Camarón de la Isla, Carmen Amaya, Tomatito or Farruco have performed.

Attending a flamenco show in Barcelona is the perfect ending to a memorable vacation in the city. It is also part of Spanish culture and folklore. That is why Unesco recognized it as Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2010.

If you want to spend an unforgettable night in Barcelona watching a live music and dance show, between clapping, guitars and good vibes, I recommend you immerse yourself in the magical atmosphere and the magic of the flamenco tablaos.

To learn more do not miss the post Flamenco Shows in Barcelona where you will find some of the best to see nowadays.

You already have it clear that you are going to travel to Barcelona soon and even more knowing all the plans that this wonderful city offers you. But if you are wondering what is the best time to go, I leave you some guides with the best things to do at different times of the year:

• 10 things to do in winter in Barcelona
• 10 things to do in summer in Barcelona
• 10 things to do in spring in Barcelona
• 10 things to do in autumn in Barcelona

Another option is to know the city at Christmas, a very special time when Barcelona also offers great plans.

In addition, our website has at your disposal a month by month guide to make the most of the city:

• 10 things to see and do in Barcelona in January
• 10 things to see and do in Barcelona in February
• 10 things to see and do in Barcelona in March
• 10 things to see and do in Barcelona in June
• 10 things to see and do in Barcelona in July
• 10 things to see and do in Barcelona in August
• 10 things to see and do in Barcelona in September
• 10 things to see and do in Barcelona in October
• 10 things to see and do in Barcelona in November
• 10 things to see and do in Barcelona in December

And if your doubt is how to fit the many attractions of Barcelona in your travel plan, be sure to read these posts:

• What to see and do in Barcelona in 1 day
• What to see and do in Barcelona in 2 days
• What to see and do in Barcelona in 3 days
• What to see and do in Barcelona in 4 days