Famous for the Spanish weather, Gaudi’s creations and an incredible football team, Barcelona has a lot to offer and plenty to explore. As well as sun, sea and sand, you can enjoy magnificent architecture, spectacular nature and the beautiful Catalan culture. The stunning Spanish city and capital of Catalonia is one of the world’s must-visit cities with incomparable beauty and unforgettable buildings. Whether you travel as a couple, backpacker or a family, there is something for everyone and to suit every budget.
Wander through Las Ramblas
Las Ramblas is a tree-lined pedestrian street in the heart of Barcelona and often the first stop for tourists. The famous street is jam-packed with shops, restaurants and cafes whilst offering a Parisian vibe and showcasing an abundance of street performers. The street joins the sea to the city centre travelling from the Maremagnum shopping centre at Port Vell to Placa Catalunya, a popular meeting spot with a magnificent central fountain.
Hours: 24/7
Price: Free
Visit La Sagrada Familia
The city of Barcelona is well-known as the home of many of Gaudi’s creations. La Sagrada Familia is the most famous of his incredible architecture and is recognised as a symbol of Barcelona across the world. Whilst this masterpiece remains unfinished, it is a work of art and the most iconic building in the city. With fantasy elements combined with religious motifs, Gaudi’s work is of a beautiful, unique design. The intricate carvings, flashes of colour and magnificent pillars make La Sagrada Familia a wonder to see.
Hours: Weekends 9am-3pm
Price: €20 adults and under 11’s free
Venture to Port Aventura
Located only an hour from Barcelona, in the popular tourist destination of Costa Dorada, Port Aventura World is Europe’s second most popular theme park only losing to Disneyland Paris. Home to Port Aventura Park, Ferrariland and Caribe Aquatic Park, Port Aventura World features iconic characters including Woody Woodpecker, The Smurfs and Sesame Street characters. The parks offer fun for everyone with everything from family-friendly rides to big, thrill-seeking drops.
Hours: Opening times vary throughout the year
Price: Packages from €25 per day
Sample some tapas or Catalan cuisine
Tapas is an iconic cuisine within Spain and is the perfect way to sample numerous dishes due to the signature small servings. A variety of tapas dishes can be combined to create a full meal or a small selection can be the perfect accompaniment to a round of drinks or as a light snack. Meanwhile, the area offers incredible Catalan cuisine with seafood making up a good percentage of Catalonian dishes due to the area’s coastal location. The city has a wealth of experimental gastronomic chefs offering an abundance of incredible places to eat.
Hours: Varies by establishment
Price: Varies by establishment
View Casa Batllo
Known as ‘The House of Bones’, Casa Batllo is another of Gaudi’s Modernista masterpieces. Using Mother Nature as his muse, Gaudi created Casa Batllo with a skeletal design and shark jaw balconies whilst elements of fantasy play into the architecture with the roof representing the spine of a dragon. Casa Batllo is a private house, once home to the aristocratic Batllo family and remains to this day one of Gaudi’s most striking works of art.
Hours: Daily 9am-9pm
Price: From €9
Relax on a city beach
Due to the city’s coastal location, Barcelona offers a wealth of beaches on the doorstep of the city. Barceloneta Beach is the most popular on the city’s seafront and whilst the beach can be busy, it is a great place to enjoy people-watching, watersports or sunbathing. The beach is also frequented by people selling cold beers, fresh fruit and even relaxing massages to complement a chilled beach day.
Hours: 24/7
Price: Free
Browse La Boqueria
Located on the popular Las Ramblas, La Boqueria is the city’s most bustling marketplace. Selling everything from fresh fruit to black eels, La Boqueria offers an abundance of fresh produce to haggle over. The perimeter of the marketplace is heavily frequented by tourists and you will find the centre of the market will offer you the best deals.
Hours: Monday to Saturday 8am-8:30pm
Price: Free entry
Tour Camp Nou
The home of the world-famous Barcelona FC, Camp Nou has been the home ground over the years to world-class players including Maradona, Ronaldo and Messi. As the largest stadium in Europe with a seating capacity of 99,000, Camp Nou is a mammoth to explore. As well as the opportunity to attend a match, the Camp Nou Experience combines a stadium tour with a visit to the FC Barcelona museum. The experience is 1.5/2 hours with the opportunity to visit the changing rooms, players tunnel and commentary box as well as the trophy room and Messi area in the museum.
Hours: Tour times vary
Price: From €26
Enjoy the view from Park Guell
Just a few metro stops away from the city centre, Park Guell offers magnificent panoramic views over the city of Barcelona. Known as the world’s most beautiful park, Park Guell is another of Gaudi’s fabulous creations, designed as a tranquil retreat away from the city centre. The park is set on a hill and features grand viewing platforms, sweeping steps and beautifully landscaped gardens. The colourful mosaics and intricate reptile carvings make the park a memorable one to visit.
Hours: Daily 9:30am-7:30pm
Price: Some areas free, other areas have an additional admission charge of €10.
Explore Barcelona City Museum
Officially named Museu d ‘Història de la Ciutat, Barcelona City Museum is located in the Gothic District and showcases the history of city dating since the Romans. The museum is home to the largest Roman excavation outside of Rome as the Palau Padellas, a Gothic palace, was brought in stone by stone to the museum. The museum also features ancient ceramics, excavated objects and the extensive history of Barcelona.
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 10am-8pm
Price: €7 adults and €5 children
Witness the Magic Fountain
Designed in 1929 for the Universal Exhibition, Barcelona’s Magic Fountain was restored in 1992 and performs nighttime displays every half hour at weekends. The fountains showcase a spectacular performance of light, music and water. The fountain bubbles and bursts in a stunning 20-minute display at the base of the Montjuic mountain which in the Summer months is the perfect location to view a sunset with a dramatic spectacle.
Hours: Weekend evenings in the Summer months every half hour
Price: Free
Navigate Montjuic
Montjuic is a beautiful, forested mountain in the heart of Barcelona with a wealth of things to explore. A cable car will take you from the city up to the mountain to explore the many attractions the mountain has to offer. From the cursed castle to the National Museum of Catalan Art, Montjuic is a cultural hub and home to a number of beautiful buildings. Montjuic also features Poble Espanyol, a mock Spanish village offering shops, restaurants and bars whilst the botanical gardens are delightful to explore.
Hours: Vary by establishment
Price: Vary by establishment
Peruse the Picasso Museum
In 1895, Pablo Picasso moved to Barcelona and the Picasso Museum in Barcelona celebrates one the greatest artists of the 20th century. The museum showcases over 3500 pieces of his artistic creations from the early years to the abstract art he is famous for. The archives offer an incredible insight into the evolution of Picasso as an artist as well as his time in Barcelona. The museum is one of the city’s most popular attractions welcoming over one million visitors annually.
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 10am-7pm
Price: Free late Thursday afternoons and first Sunday of the month. Other days/times from €12
Enjoy the sangria
Sangria is an alcoholic beverage which originated in Spain and Portugal, a punch-style drink consisting of red wine and fruit. Under EU regulations, only these two Iberian countries can label their products as ‘sangria’ although neighbouring regions produce similar recipes. Sangria is widely available across Spain including Barcelona and can be found in every restaurant and bar across the city. Sangria is a delicious, refreshing beverage to share with friends on a warm, Summer day and must be tried whilst in the city.
Hours: Establishment opening times vary
Price: Varies by establishment
Admire Casa Mila
The vast private residence of Casa Mila is the second most-famous creation of Gaudi’s after La Sagrada Familia. This biomorphic mansion is one of the seven UNESCO listed works by Gaudi in Barcelona and its rocky facade is very recognisable. Admission includes visiting the La Pedrera apartment, two beautiful internal courtyards and rooftop access to view the surreal Gaudi chimneys as well as breathtaking views over the city.
Hours: Monday to Friday 10am-6pm and weekends 10am-2pm
Price: Tickets from €24
Try flamenco
The popular song and dance of Flamenco is a complex art form popular across Spain and is beautifully performed across the country. Barcelona offers a wealth of flamenco classes to participate in and study the stunning artistry whilst an abundance of flamenco shows are performed nightly across the city. Palacio del Flamenco is in an elegant 1920’s theatre showcasing high-level performances of the dance and is a popular venue in the city offering an unforgettable performance.
Hours: Vary by class/venue
Price: Vary by class/venue
Play at Tibidabo
Alongside Montjuic, Tibidabo is another spectacular hill in Barcelona overlooking the city. Tibidabo is popularly frequented for the amusement park at the peak which can be reached by a tram and a funicular which will take you to the top. The charming theme park is popular with both adults and children and offers a whimsical feel due to the 1880’s design.
Hours: Opening times vary
Price: €28.50 adults and €10.30 children
Get lost in Horta Labyrinth Park
Horta’s Labyrinth Park is one of Barcelona’s best-kept secrets and is a hidden gem which is delightful to explore. The gardens were designed by an Italian engineer in 1792 and offer romantic gardens, a beautiful waterfall and an intricate maze. The neo-classical style labyrinth features a variety of statues representing Greek Kings and Gods and offers plenty of wrong turns and dead ends. The park is beautiful for a relaxing exploration whilst the labyrinth offers a wealth of fun to get lost in.
Hours: Daily from 10am. Closing times vary through the year.
Price: Free on Wednesday’s and Sunday’s. €2.17 on other days.
With so much to do and endless things to see, it’s clear to see why Barcelona is one of the world’s most-visited cities. Alongside the magnificent architecture and incredible nature, the Catalonian capital offers a wealth of urban beaches, delicious food and unique experiences. Everyone from art lovers to football fans will find something to enjoy in the city with options for every walk of life. Barcelona is unique and wonderful, a city that must be visited.
