31 things TO SEE as well as perform in BARCELONA

Last updated: 9/13/21 | September 13th, 2021

In recent years, Barcelona has ended up being one of the most prominent destinations in Europe. While 5 million people phone call the city home, over 32 million travelers go to each as well as every year. (It is really one of the worst cities in the world for overtourism so go to in the off-season!)

Despite the crowds, I like visiting Barcelona. Every go to makes me autumn in like with it over as well as over again.

The city is the funding of the Catalonia region in Spain, an area that has been fighting for self-reliance for many years. In fact, Barcelonans think about themselves to be Catalonian — not Spanish.

Barcelona was established by the Romans as a colony called Barcino (be sure to go to the ruins beneath the city), however the very first human settlements in Barcelona really date back to Neolithic times. The city ended up being the economic as well as political center of the Western Mediterranean in the middle Ages as well as it still has incredible Gothic structures around the place. more recent design includes Gaudí’s work from the 19th as well as 20th centuries – it dots every district as well as adds a flamboyant appeal to the city.

Barcelona is likewise a foodie’s dream destination. From traditional dishes like tortilla, paella, jamón ibérico as well as patatas bravas, to Catalonian specialties such as pamtomaquet (Catalonian bread with tomato), esquiexada (salt cod) as well as bombas (fried potato balls), Barcelona is haven for foodies like me who like to eat our method around a new destination.

With tasty food, incredible history as well as architecture, perfect weather, as well as a vibrant nightlife, Barcelona is a city that can entertain anyone.

To assist you make the most of your next visit, right here are the very best things to see as well as perform in Barcelona. They will provide you a feel for the city, enable you to eat all the very best food, as well as get you away from the overbearing crowds!

1. Take a free walking tour

I like free walking tours. I believe they are the very best method to get to understand a new city as well as I always try to take one anytime I go somewhere new. You get to see the primary sights, satisfy other travelers, as well as chat with an professional regional guide who can share their insider tips as well as advice. just be sure to tip your guide at the end! My suggested walking tour business in Barcelona are:

New Europe

Free walking tours Barcelona

Free tours By Foot

For paid tour options, inspect out get Your Guide. They have tons of tours for each rate of interest as well as budget!

2. get lost in the Barri Gotic

Barcelona’s old Gothic Quarter (Barri Gotic) is my preferred part of town. It’s house to the oldest parts of the city, including the stays the Roman wall as well as a number of medieval buildings. It’s a community full of bars, clubs as well as restaurants now. While it is a bit touristy, to me, it’s likewise the most gorgeous area in the city with narrow, winding streets as well as historic buildings that make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time. spend a few hours getting lost in this district. You won’t regret it!

3. go to the museum of the history of Barcelona

I’ve visited a great deal of city museums over the years, however Barcelona has one of the very best there is. opened in 1943, the museum is house to over 4,000 square meters of Roman ruins (located below the museum) that you can walk through. There is likewise a free (and rather detailed) audio guide in addition to meticulous explanations of the exhibits. even if you’re not a history buff, you’ll get a great deal out of this museum. It provides a much much better sense of the city as well as its past (and the ruins truly are amazing!).

Plaça del Rei, +34 932 56 21 00, ajuntament.barcelona.cat/museuhistoria/ca. open Tuesday-Sunday from 10am-7pm (8pm on Sundays). inspect the website for additional details as not all the attractions are open every day. Admission is 7 EUR per person.

4. See the Grand royal palace

Built in the 14th century, the Palau Reial major was the house of Barcelona’s counts. found near the history museum, it later housed the Kings of Aragon (the rulers who presided over the region) from 1035 up until the 15th century (though most of the palace stays date to the 14th century). The palace is made up of three unique buildings which were all developed at different times (two of which are thought about gothic masterpieces). It includes a detailed history of the city as well as region as well as is stated that it’s where Christopher Columbus returned after his “discovery” voyage to North America.

The palace shares hours as well as admission costs with The museum of the history of Barcelona above.

5. admire Barcelona Cathedral

Work started on this Gothic cathedral in the 13th century as well as lasted over 150 years. hivatalosanunderstood as The Cathedral of the holy cross as well as Saint Eulalia, it was consecrated in 1339 as well as has two huge spires that stand over 53 meters (174ft) tall, vibrant discolored glass, as well as incredible wood carvings inside the elaborate as well as spacious primary chamber. work on the cathedral didn’t surface up until the 19th century when a regional businessman funded the majority of the staying costs for the present façade, which comply with original sketches from the 13th century.

If you do want to go inside (and you should), be sure to go to the upper terraces as you’ll get an incredible view of the city.

Placita de la Seu 3, +34 933 428 262, catedralbcn.org. open Monday-Saturday from 10:30am-6:30pm (until 5pm on Saturdays). The cathedral is closed to tourists on Sundays. For those looking to worship, the cathedral is open everyday from 8:30am-12:30pm as well as 5:45pm-7:30pm on weekdays (times vary somewhat at weekends). Admission is 9 EUR for tourists as well as free for worshipers.

6. roam Park Güell

Park Güell is a gorgeous as well as sprawling 45-acre garden complex designed by world-famous designer Antoni Gaudí. Dating to the early 1900s, it’s one of the many Gaudí works in the city available to the public. Today, it’s a world Heritage site as well as municipal garden that’s free to go into (you can gain access to most of the park for free, though the interior sections fee admission).

The focal point of the park is the primary terrace, which is surrounded by a long bench in the type of a sea serpent. The park is right near the famous La Sagrada Familia so it’s simple to go to both back-to-back. It’s a gorgeous as well as vibrant park however it likewise gets hectic so try to go early or on a weekday when the crowds are thinner.

Carrer d’Olot, parkguell.barcelona/en. open everyday from 8:30am-6pm. Admission for the interior section is 10 EUR per person. Guided tours are offered for 22 EUR. If you buy tickets, make sure you book them in advance as they offer out quickly.

7. See La Sagrada Família

La Sagrada Família is probably the most famous of Gaudí’s work — even though it’s still not completed (construction began in 1882 as well as is arranged to be completed in 2030). Gaudí was a devout Catholic as well as the church was his final project, one he spent the last 10 years of his life working on.

Like all of Gaudí’s work, the church (which was consecrated as a minor basilica in 2010) blends different themes as well as influences as well as is a mix of both Gothic as well as Art Nouveau styles.

While you can take in the church from the outside, I’d motivate you to check out the interior with an audio guide. It covers the entire history of the church as well as will provide you an insightful overview of this unique (and massive) project.

If you can, try to go to between mid-morning as well as late afternoon so you can see the sunlight cascade throughout all the discolored glass.

Plaça de la Sagrada Familia, +34 932 080 414, sagradafamilia.org. open everyday 9am-8pm. Admission is 26 EUR for a fundamental ticket with an audio guide as well as 27 EUR for a ticket with a guided tour. Tickets are only offered online. book in advance as they vanish quickly.

8. check out La Boquería

The Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boquería (La Boquería for short) is a public market near La Rambla. the market has been at this place for numerous years as well as is house to a delectable array of food stalls as well as restaurants.

Since it’s right off La Rambla it gets incredibly hectic so try to get there early. There’s a wide range of seafood, including fish, shrimp, octopus, as well as oysters, in addition to nuts, candy, wine, as well as tapas. It’s a inexpensive location to grab a snack as you check out the city.

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

9. go to Casa Batlló as well as Casa Milà

Casa Batlló is one of Gaudí’s more attractive creations. found in the Eixample district of Barcelona, he spent two years on this vibrant project. like much of his work, the style is heavily influenced by the Art Nouveau style. The facade was embellished with a mosaic made from damaged ceramic tiles that he collected from the trash of a close-by glass shop, which makes the building almost glow in the sunlight. The roof is arched as well as tiled as well as has been likened to the back of a dragon. It’s one of my preferred Gaudí buildings.

Just a couple hundred meters away from Casa Batlló is Casa Milà. understood as La Pedrera (“the stone Quarry”), this building has a facade of limestone (hence the nickname). developed from 1906-1910, Gaudí’s goal was to evoke the sense of a snowy mountain. He likewise organized for Casa Milà to be a spiritual sign (he was a devout Catholic) as well as included great deals of religious aspects in the design, such as an excerpt from the rosary prayer along the cornice. He likewise included statues of Mary, St. Michael, as well as St. Gabriel.

Casa Batlló: Passeig de Gràcia 43, +34 93 216 0306, casabatllo.es. open everyday from 9am-6:30pm. Admission is 35 EUR on the internet as well as 39 EUR at the door.

Casa Milà: Passeig de Gràcia 92, +34 93 214 2576, lapedrera.com. open everyday from 9am-6:30pm as well as 8:40pm-10pm. Admission is 24 EUR in advance as well as 27 EUR at the door (tickets include a free audio guide).

10. go to the Picasso Museum

This is the most comprehensive collection of Pablo Picasso’s works in the world. opened in 1963, the museum is house to over 4,000 works by Picasso. While I’m personally not a big fan of Picasso’s later work, it’s still fascinating to discover about his life as well as work as he was one of the most prominent artists of the 20th century. While his style is unique as well as not for everyone, the museum is nonetheless worth a visit. It’s incredible to see exactly how his art altered as well as evolved over the program of his life.

Carrer Montcada 15-23, +34 93 256 30 00, museupicasso.bcn.cat/en. open Tuesday-Sunday from 10am-8pm. Admission is 12 EUR per person, with free entry on Thursdays from 5pm-8pm as well as on the very first Sunday of the month.

11. Barcelona museum of contemporary Art (MACBA)

This museum has over 5,000 works dating from the mid-20th century onwards. The collection includes an extensive collection of pieces by Spanish artists such as Joan Miró as well as Pablo Picasso. There are likewise works by Americans Andy Warhol as well as Alexander Calder. Personally, I’m not a big fan of contemporary art however if you are, be sure to add this to your itinerary!

Plaça dels Àngels 1, +34 934 12 08 10, macba.cat/en. open Monday to Saturday from 10am-8pm, as well as Sundays/Public holidays from 10am-3pm (closed on Tuesdays except public holidays). Admission is 11 EUR which includes unlimited return gos to within a month of purchase. entry is free on Saturdays from 4pm-8pm.

12. Take a Day trip to Monserrat

To getaway the city for a day, head to Monserrat. It’s an hour away by train as well as the city is next to a mountain range. It makes for a fun getaway from Barcelona’s hectic metropolitan atmosphere. There are great deals of hiking tracks here, however if you don’t want to hike you can likewise take a cable vehicle as much as the peak to take in the view.

Be sure to go to the Santa Maria de Montserrat monastery to see the famous shrine of the Black Madonna. The monastery is developed into the mountain as well as the Black Madonna statue is stated to have been carved in Jerusalem during the early years of Christianity, though it most likely dates to the 12th century.

If you’re an art fan, go to the Art museum Of Montserrat. It has works by Monet, Dali, Picasso, as well as many other famous artists. Lastly, be sure to go to the regional market (it’s on the method to the monastery). It’s the perfect location to buy regional products like fresh produce, cheese, honey, as well as artisan crafts. as well as if you’re an adrenaline junkie, there is tons of rock climbing to be done right here also (either solo or with a hired guide).

Tickets for the hour-long journey expense around 24 EUR (round trip).

13. Take a stroll on La Rambla

This is the most prominent (and most crowded) street in the city. It’s lined with trees as well as gorgeous buildings as well as you’ll usually be able to discover great deals of locals busking right here too. The street grew to prominence during the middle Ages, as well as while it’s still the primary tourist hub in the city, I’d prevent buying or eating right here (everything is overpriced). That said, it’s nonetheless worth a stroll. The street is just over 1km long so it won’t take long to take in the sights, which include the Gran Teatre del Liceu (the opera house) as well as a mosaic by Joan Miró.

14. hit the Beach

If you’re looking to relax as well as enjoy Barcelona’s gorgeous weather, head to the beach. The city has a prominent beach that’s open year-round called Barceloneta. It’s long, wide, as well as the water is fantastic for swimming. There are likewise a great deal of great restaurants on the boardwalk. The beach is always hectic with both tourists as well as locals so walk further from the center to reach some quieter as well as cleaner sections. two areas I’d suggest are Sant Sebastià (in the south) as well as Somorrostro (in the north).

15. watch Some Flamenco

Flamenco is a traditional style of Spanish music as well as dance. It originated in Andalusia however there are lots of locations to see it in Barcelona. It’s a lively, expressive style understood for its intricate footwork as well as hand movements. If you’re looking to take in a show, Barcelona has a few inexpensive venues