Barcelona might be one of Spain’s most touristy places but there truly is a reason for that. The city blends stunning architecture with incredible food, lazy days on the Med with vibrant bars and music, inviting all types of visitors to explore its iconic sights. I’ve been able to visit twice, the first for a long weekend and the second for a whole week, yet there are still plenty of places to uncover, coffees to taste and lots of reasons to return. However, this guide covers all of the most important things that you must do on a trip to this buzzing, captivating and somewhat eccentric city on Spain’s Mediterranean Coast.
A couple of notes on visiting Barcelona:
🚨 Because of its popularity as a tourist destination, Barcelona is prone to scams and pickpockets. Pickpockets in particular seem to be worse here than anywhere else I’ve been so stay vigilant, especially on public transport and in busy streets and squares like La Rambla & Plaça Reial.
🎵 Barcelona can be quite a party city, particularly over the summer when there are a number of festivals here as well. The Gothic Quarter, around La Rambla and Plaça del Sol in Gracia are noisier than other areas. On the flip side, if you’re visiting as a party tourist please be respectful. There are people that live here and other tourists who don’t want to be woken up by your slamming and singing in the early hours!
1. Sagrada Família
Even though this list is not in any particular order it would be very difficult to begin any list about what to do in Barcelona without the Sagrada Família. It’s not only one of the most famous and important buildings in Spain but I think it’s fair to say that this is true of the whole world. The Sagrada is Gaudí’s iconic masterpiece which has taken 144 long years to complete, finally being finished literally in the last few weeks as I’m writing this in June 2026. The original architect was Francisco de Paula del Villar who had planned for the architecture to be traditional Gothic revival. Instead, after a disagreement with the original patron, Josep Maria Bocabella Gaudí took over the design. Gaudí truly made the Sagrada his own combining elements of Gothic, Catalan Modernisme (the regional variation of Art Nouveau) and more nautral elements to create this place of worship of epic proportions.
The Sagrada Família is truly like no other temple, cathedral or church around the world and you simply must see it on your trip to Barcelona. Tickets tend to sell out in advance so if it’s on your bucket list to go inside, make sure to book your tickets as soon as you know what date you’ll be there. At the time of writing (14th June) tickets on the Sagrada website are sold out until July… so don’t be disappointed and make sure you prebook. In particular, if you want to go up one of the towers, these sell out long in advance as well. If you don’t manage to book tickets and miss going inside this masterpiece, admire the exterior and the incredible craftmanship of the Nativity & Passion facades. To the north east of the cathedral, there’s a little park with a pond which is the most iconic view.
Tragically, Gaudí died after being hit by a tram in 1926, having dedicated the last twelve to fourteen years of his life to the Sagrada, even sleeping in his workshop for some of the remaining months. On June 10th 2026, the Jesus Christ tower (the tallest of the eighteen towers) was blessed by Pope Leo XIV after its recent completion.
🍸 for a cocktail with a view, head to Azimuth Rooftop Bar at the Barcelona Almanac hotel (middle pic above)
2. Parc Güell
Barcelona is full of surprises and quirky corners in the way it combines so many different aesthetics. Antoni Gaudí is the man behind so many of the most iconic places in the city and Parc Güell is a whimisical corner to spend a couple of hours. Again, this is another place that you really want to book in advance to secure your visit and additionally your ideal time slot. Do note that the opening hours change through the seasons.
Parc Güell forms part of the Gaudí UNESCO World Heritage Site and is located on the side of Turó del Carmel hill which means some epic views over Barcelona as you make your way through the site. There’s so much to see here and you do want to ensure you leave yourself enough time to enjoy the park and not rush through. The park feels like walking through a dreamland where the colourful, broken mosaic tiles (using the trencadís technique) glitter and sparkle on The Serpentine Bench and The Dragon Stairway. The Hypostyle Room features 86 columns which reach up like tree trunks to the dimpled roof above to create an otherworldly, underground effect.
You’ll spot a couple of houses around Parc Güell including the dusty pink castle like building which was Gaudí’s house for twenty years and today is the Gaudí House Museum. The gorgeous story book houses at the front entrance to the park which look like they would fit right into Hansel & Gretel’s fairytale, are the Porter & Caretaker’s Lodges. They were built as part of the original plan for Gaudí’s Parc Güell as his English inspired ‘Garden City’ residential project. A popular photo is to appear at one of the window frames!
3. Ciutadella Park
Exploring Barcelona can be hot and urban heavy work so a break in the large green oasis that is Ciutadella Park is a must for your trip. It comprises a vast area of Barcelona on the edge of the Old City (Ciutat Vella) and is easily accessible from various areas of the city. There’s plenty of shady and / or grassy areas to relax with friends or a book for a little while to escape the busy streets of the Gothic Quarter and the Eixample District. The most iconic location in the park is the captivating statue and fountain which surrounds the lake in the park. You can hire a boat to enjoy a leisurely row around the waters. Just watch out for the turtles!
4. Gothic Quarter & Plaças
Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter is a fascinating warren of narrow, historic streets and alleyways that burst onto grand plazas. This lively part of the city was built on top of the Roman streets of Barcino. Most of which is hidden away underground but there are some ruins at today’s street level including Roman Walls and The Temple of Augustus. You can delve deeper into the ruins and more of Barcelona’s history at the Barcelona History Museum on Plaza del Rei.
I’ve enjoyed walking these tiny streets to just see what interesting places, restaurants and terraces you can find. But you do need to be careful of pickpockets because it is narrow and crowded. Whilst not narrow, Plaza Real is crowded and I know of people who have had trouble here. Plaza Real is, however, very pretty with the soaring palm trees and beautiful porticoed buildings.
Look out for the Pont del Bisbe on Carrer del Bisbe, a beautiful bridge which connects two government buildings. The Gothic Quarter comes even more alive in the evening and during the night as the labyrinth of streets hides plenty of eclectic, speakeasy and indie bars and clubs. The vibes are generally more intimate and you’ll find all sorts of music and tastes on offer from Irish pubs to jazz bars, flamenco spots to underground techno sounds.
5. La Rambla & Mercat de la Boqueria
La Rambla is Barcelona’s most famous street and is a tree lined boulevard which stretches its way from Plaça de Catalunya to the Christopher Columbus monument and separates El Raval from the Gothic Quarter. As the day wears on the buzz of La Rambla begins to increase and never really fully becomes quiet as the party goers stumble their way back home at the same time that the early risers are heading out to get their morning coffee or newspaper. Look down to spot the Joan Miro mosaic near Font Pla de la Boqueria and look up to spot the dragon of Casa Bruno Cuadros.
I would recommend that on La Rambla you keep your belongings close and that you avoid eating here. It’s a touristy place so you’re likely to have average meals at much higher than average prices! The exception being the Boqueria market which has an entrance from La Rambla. The market has hundreds of food stalls selling fresh fruit, vegetables, fish, meat, bread and more. If you want to purchase bits and pieces for a picnic, grab a fresh juice or simply just soak up the atmospere, it’s well worth a wander.
6. Beach & Boat
Sometimes it’s hard to choose between a city and a beach break but in Barcelona you can have both in one go – excellent! The city has more than 4.5km of golden sands to enjoy although the most popular is Barceloneta Beach as it is the closest to the Gothic Quarter. Barceloneta can be noisy, rowdy and extremely busy but easy to get drinks and quick to reach. Of course it depends on what it is you’re after! Bogatell beach is more popular with locals and a little further out so generally a more peaceful option. Take the yellow line to Llacuna metro. I would recommend being very aware of your belongings at the beach in Barcelona and always leaving someone behind when going into the water. At Barceloneta in particular, you’re also quite likely to be hassled by people selling everything from beer to massages to bikinis and henna tattoos.
On my most recent visit to Barcelona, I hired a private boat with five friends. It was perfect to have a couple of hours out on the water! The link is here if you want to book the same one. Although there are plenty of other options as well!
7. Palau de la Música Catalana
The Palau de la Música Catalana may be my favourite location in Barcelona. It’s still a little bit of a hidden gem compared to some of the other key Barcelona things to do. What makes it so amazing is the absolute beauty that you’ll find when you walk inside and that when you’re visiting in the day you’ll get to hear a little music playing which is so spectacular to hear in such an incredibly gorgeous setting. Entering the main auditorium really took my breath away with the level of detail, warmth of the sculptures and vibrant splash of colour of the roof and chandelier lighting.
The Palau was designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner and built over three years. It is said to be the most representative building of the Catalan modernisme style so it’s a must visit if you want to understand more of the intricate design elements that make up this type of architecture. A stunning feature of the Palau is the more than two thousand flowers that have been elaborately developed and painstakingly created to bring the natural into the manmade.
8. Food Tour
If you’ve read many of other my other city guides then you’ll probably know that I absolutely love a food tour! This is such a great way to get to know about a city’s classic dishes and their history and is a particularly good option at the start of your trip. This way you get to know a bit more about the local cuisine, what you want to try again, what to avoid (!) and of course ask your guide for recommendations for the rest of your trip. The food tour that I booked involved a secret spot as well as learning how to make sangria and leaving unbelievably full and very well fed – the perfect way to finish.
I booked this one on Get Your Guide here. I can absolutely recommend the one I joined but there are plenty of other options as well!
9. Passeig de Gràcia & Gaudí Houses
Passeig de Gràcia is Barcelona’s equivalent to London’s Oxford Street or Paris’ Champs-Élysées. So think a wide open street filled with designer brands and stunning architecture. Two of Gaudí’s iconic houses are on this street as well as some other incredible buildings to look out for. I’m also in the process of writing a separate post dedicated to beautiful Barcelona buildings so make sure to subscribe to learn about more!
Casa Batlló is hard to miss with its watercolour like painted facade, unorthodox windows and colourful dragon tiled roof. Oh and also all of the people you’ll see standing outside with cameras looking up, that’s a bit of a giveaway too! Gaudí was commisioned by Josep Batlló in the early 1900s to renovate the original building. The Casa is a gorgeous example of Modernisme, Catalan’s version of the Art Nouveau style with elements that reflect nature. Soft and loose shapes and lines lead to a symbiosis between the natural and the urban. Inside, light and openness feed the style and continue the theme.
Now, whilst I loved visiting this house because it really is remarkable to see what this iconic building looks like from the inside and it really is just as remarkable and fanciful as you’d expect (even the furniture), it is hectic. Casa Battló is so popular that I think realistically whatever time you book your ticket (in peak season especially) it will always be full. It was difficult to truly appreciate the details and the imagination that must have gone into the creation of such a building when you’re shuffling between rooms with people’s elbows, arms and bags digging you in the back. It’s not to say you should simply admire it from the front but just to manage your expectations from a visit.
Slightly further up Passeig de Gràcia, you’ll spot Gaudí’s other famous house on this avenue. Casa Milà (also known as La Pedrera) looks more like an apartment block complex except its exterior looks a lot like sand waves on the beach as they undulate towards the sea front. My favourite parts of this house are the exquisite courtyards (both Butterfly and Flower) and the rooftop with its fabulous view of the city. The courtyards undulate and pulse with colour whilst the rooftop appears to be guarded by its chimneys which are cleverly disguised as various shapes and turrets. La Pedrera seemed to be a bit of a quieter visit than Casa Batlló.
Whilst not on Passeig de Gràcia, Casa Vicens is another Gaudí house which you might want to explore. It’s special because it’s a little less well known than his other houses and it was his first masterpiece. It is a different style to the other Gaudí locations in Barcelona as he was testing out various styles. Whilst there are some elements of what would become Modernisme, it is a mix of cultural design elements from Moorish, Orientalist and Neo-Mudéjar. The exterior of Casa Vicens does seem as though it might fit in well in Seville or perhaps even Morocco. When you step inside, it’s another explosion of colour and clash of designs that will blow your mind!
10. Barcelona Cathedral
Barcelona Cathedral is the centre piece of the Gothic Quarter and its imposing Gothic Structure towers over Plaça del Rei. While the Sagrada Família is all about soft lines incorporating nature and natural motifs into its design, the Cathedral is a majestic example of the soaring, strict lines, towers and details of the Gothic style. It’s a beautiful building both inside and out and booking a ticket to visit the interior must be on your Barcelona list.
Inside, the soaring lines turn to vaulted ceilings and seemingly never ending columns. The size of the cathedral is vast and there seem to be so much to take when you first walk inside. Don’t miss going up to the rooftop to see some of the features of the towers up close and for a view over the Gothic Quarter. On your way out, spot the famous 13 white geese in the peaceful cloister which are an unusual site in a cathedral! St Eulalia is the patron saint of the cathedral and was martyred at the age of 13. The 13 geese represent her age, a rather horrible story yet such a poetic way to remember her.
11. Tapas & Sangria
When in Barcelona… it’s not a trip to Spain without plenty of sangria and platefuls of tapas. There’s something so refreshing about an ice cold glass of sangria, whether red, white or sparkling, especially when you’ve been getting the kms into your trainers whilst discovering the city. You could also order a tinto de verano instead of sangria which consists of just red wine plus lemon soda and is a cheaper alternative to sangria but just as restorative 😉
Paired with a tableful of tapas, this is the perfect way to enjoy lunch or dinner in Barcelona. Tapas is a typical way to enjoy small sharing plates of food in Spain. You must taste some of the general Spanish favourites as well as some that are especially associated with Barcelona. My personal tapas winners are patatas bravas (crispy potato served with spicy and garlic aiolis) as well as Croquetas (Croq & Roll Croqueteria is dedicated to these tasty bitesized treats). La Bomba is a typical Barcelona tapa to try, as is Pan con Tomate. I’m getting hungry just thinking about all of these 🤤
12. Montjuïc Viewpoint
Montjuïc is a 173m hill that rises up above Barcelona in the southwestern corner of the city. You can hike it if you’d like but is most easily and quickly accessible via the funicular and then cable car that lead up to the castle on the top of the hill. The views across the city and also across the harbour are exceptional and a great spot to come for golden hour or to watch the sun set. You can find the Fundació Joan Miró on Montjuïc as well which is a gallery dedicated to the Catalan artist, most well known for his surrealist art style.
At the bottonm of Montjuïc is the Magic Fountain which has two displays each evening where the water of the fountain dances to light shows and music. It’s quite fun and particularly breathtaking for younger travellers!
13. La Plata
I discovered La Plata on my food tour but I’ve given it a separate spot on this list of amazing things to do in Barcelona because I went back again! La Plata has been serving the same four tapas since 1945 so you know they’ve absolutely perfected every single one. Their fried anchovies, served in a paper cone are the most accoladed and have been awarded Taste Atlas’ best restaurant in Barcelona to eat them and second in the world. That’s quite something. Order your wine (‘red, white or rosé’) in a porrón which is a wine pitcher with a spout designed for sharing. The inside is intimate so you’ll probably be in the street and I can’t tell you how much fun it is with a little group! You’ll be laughing too hard to drink as much of the wine as you’d like!
14. Coffee & Brunch
First to be pinned on my Google Maps after a new trip has been booked are all of the coffee shops and brunch spots I want to test out. Only issue is that there are usually more pins than available coffee ‘slots’ so then it’s time to make the decision of which ones to prioritise (yes, first world problems I know!). Barcelona has a newly thriving coffee scene with plenty of speciality coffee shops and roasters to choose from although they combine expertise with a typically laidback Barcelona vibe. I particularly enjoyed Blackbird Coffee and Departure Coffee located near The Sagrada and in the Gothic Quarter respectively. Tàber Cafè is a relaxed brunch spot in Eixample with massive pancake stacks.
15. Day trip to Montserrat
There is so much to do in Barcelona that you should only consider a day trip if you’re here for longer than a few days because you can so easily fill them up with all that city itself has to offer, especially if you’re enjoy a slower exploration. However, if you have the time or if you’ve visited before then Montserrat is a great day trip option (it’s around 75-90 minute drive from Barcelona depending on traffic). Montserrat refers to both the mountain range as well as the 11th century Benedictine monastery that hugs the cliffs of the mountain so tightly it almost looks as though it was built into the jagged side. Walk around to the Creu de Sant Miquel observation deck for a spectacular vantage point.
You can find a number of different day trip options with Get Your Guide, below, depending on what you want to include in your day trip. We joined a tour which involved lunch and wine tasting. The Penedes wine region of Catalonia sits beneath the rugged Montserrat mountains and is famous for its white grapes which produce cava.
For more epic adventures in Spain check out my other posts:
Cat x