Skip to content

Best 20 things to do in Barcelona

  • by
cosas que hacer en barcelona

Are you looking for the 20 best things to do in Barcelona so that you never run out of plans in the Catalan capital? Well, you’re in luck because here we’ll show you all of them.

Few cities in the world have as many attractions as BarcelonaIt is a cosmopolitan city, has quality beaches, has a large port, has monuments of historical and artistic heritage, a mountain range within the city itself, etc.. That’s why making a list with only 20 things to do in Barcelona is not too easy.

Barcelona is a city city that never ends and that would deserve a list with hundreds of points, because even its inhabitants have not discovered all its charms and magical corners. But don’t worry, we don’t want to overwhelm you, that’s why in this article we have made a selection of the best things to do in Barcelona.

1. Start with a Free Tour of Barcelona

free tour barcelona

If you want to know the cool places of Barcelona and discover hidden corners, where legends and history come together to form the character so typical of the Catalans, a free tour is the best way to get to know them. Free Tour may be the most recommended plan for you. These are very enjoyable routes that will help you get to know the city and give you suggestions for the rest of your visit.

Best of all, they do not have a set price, but you will pay the amount you think your guide deserves. pay the amount you think your guide deserves, at the end of the tour. Without a doubt, this is one of the best things to do in Barcelona for the most curious travelers.

2. Visit the Cathedral of Barcelona

barrio gotico barcelona

The Cathedral of Barcelona is a 14th century building and one of the most beautiful temples in the city, after the Sagrada Familia, of course! Many of the locals who do not know what to do on the weekend in Barcelona, choose this as one of their recurring plans for its artistic, architectural and historical beauty.

Since a few years ago, the entrance fee is 7€, but if you enter during mass hours you can see it for free. The most beautiful part of the Cathedral is the cloister where you will be able to see 13 geese that live there and that have a lot of history.

If you want to know more about the mythical Cathedral of Barcelona, we recommend you to take a look at our private tour in which we make a walking tour of the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona and visit the Cathedral inside. Book it now, and get to know all that Barcelona’s Barri Gótic has to offer:

3. Sant Felip Neri Square

plaça felip neri - guerra civil barcelona

Make sure that one of your walks through Barcelona ends at the Sant Felip Neri SquareOne of the favorite places in Barcelona for its tranquility, its fountain and its history. You will reach it walking through the narrow streets of the Gothic Quarter and is located on the old medieval cemetery of Montjuïc del Bisbe.

If you look closely at the facade of the Church of Sant Felip Neri, which is located in the same square, you will be able to see the remains of bomb shrapnel which was launched by the national side during the Spanish Civil War and caused the death of 42 people, most of them children.

4. Stroll through the Gothic Quarter

tour por el barrio gotico

Strolling through the Gothic Quarter is one of the best things to do in Barcelona, as soon as you arrive. You will begin your tour of Barcelona in one of the most visited and well-known neighborhoods. It is located in the heart of the Ciutat Vella and here you will find some essential places to see on your trip.

5. Passeig de Gràcia

With a length of little more than one kilometer, walking along the Paseo de Passeig de Gràcia is one of the best things to do in Barcelona alone or in company. On your walk you will be able to contemplate some of the most emblematic places in the city, such as La Pedrera or Casa Batllóworks of the famous architect Antoni Gaudí.

In addition, if your pocket allows it, you can take advantage of the opportunity to do your shopping. But, keep in mind that in this street you will find some of the most important most luxurious stores in Barcelona and their items are exorbitantly priced. If you want to know more about the history of this place, we recommend our tour of Passeig de Gràcia in Barcelona. Click on the banner below to discover the route:

6. Get to know Las Ramblas

Strolling along Las Ramblas is always a party. This street has seen them of all colors and one of the best activities to do in Barcelona is to be able to identify the eras of its buildings, as there are buildings from all centuries. The walls closed the old Barcelona in this same street and later bourgeois and anarchists became the protagonists and enemies during long years of disputes.

Today, Las Ramblas has become one of the most popular tourist sites in Barcelona. tourist sites of Barcelona and is the perfect spot on the map if you want to get to know the multicultural diversity that characterizes this city.

7. Contemplate the city from the sea

mirador hotel W

We are about to introduce you to one of the most original places in Barcelona and that not everyone knows, will you keep the secret? It is the viewpoint next to the sea front of the W Hotel.in Nova Bocana. Here you can enjoy a 360º view of the sea and the coast of Barcelona.

From this place it has been recorded, for example, famous songs such as “Un beso de improviso” by Ana Mena and Rocco Hunt, where the Spanish artist performs the choreography in the surroundings of the mythical W Hotel.

8. The Carmel Bunkers

The Bunkers of Carmel is one of the favorite plans for the locals and one of the best things to do on a Sunday in Barcelona when everything is quiet and you have all the time in the world. The bunkers in the neighborhood of El Carmen are anti-aircraft batteries from which you can have a view of the 360º views of Barcelona. This is probably the most worthwhile viewpoint in the whole city.

It is located at an altitude of 260 meters above sea level, which will allow you to see a whole urban sprawl of millimetric streets and contemplate some buildings such as the Sagrada Familia. Take something to drink and wait for it to get dark, as this is one of the best points to see the sunset in Barcelona.

9. Parc Güell

visita guiada por el parc guell

We continue with our selection of the best things to do in Barcelona with one of the tourist places par excellence: Parc Güell. This is a beautiful garden that has incredible views, Gaudís most characteristic buildings, lots of nature, etc. To access the park you will have to pay, but the surrounding area is free and has some very nice walks.

Go with time because the views of the city from there are really hypnotic and we don’t want you to miss this wonder of Barcelona.

10. The Holy Family

We haven’t talked about the Holy Family? Let’s get to it!

This Modernist masterpiece is the emblem of the emblem of the city and one of the most beautiful places to visit in Barcelona. The construction of the temple designed by the architect Antoni Gaudí began in 1882, although the works have not yet been completed. It is very inspiring to contemplate the different facades and observe the attention that has been paid to every detail.

Both the interior and the exterior of the basilica, although it has many visitors, still preserves that magic that makes it unique. Each and every one of the elements that make up its design contain some religious symbolismSo if you do not want to miss any detail, it is best to hire a guided tour as we do from Willy’s Plan, with the tour of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. Find out here:

11. The Picasso Museum

pablo picasso - museo picasso

In the Gothic Quarter you will find the Picasso Museum, one of the best things to do one afternoon in Barcelona. This painter and sculptor from Malaga grew up and trained in Barcelona and he himself decided to open a museum dedicated to his work in this city.

Currently, it has more than 400 original works by the author and most of the paintings are part of the period of his youth, when the author was in Barcelona. A series of 58 paintings of the personal interpretation of Velázquez’s Meninas can be seen as an outstanding work.

If you are passionate about this theme, discover the Pablo Picasso tour below:

12. Climb the dome of Las Arenas

las arenas de barcelona

Since bullfighting was banned in Catalonia, the old bullring of old bullring of Las Arenas has become a shopping mall, but it has a secret that we want to highlight in our list of the best things to do in Barcelona. From its dome you will have a 360º view of Plaza España, Montjuic, the Eixample district, etc.

To go up, enter the mall and take the escalator or elevator up. There is an outdoor panoramic elevator to go up, but there is a fee. Many tourists do not know that you can climb for free from the inside and pay the fee.

13. La Barceloneta

la barceloneta

Barcelona has more than 4.5 kilometers of beaches and touring them all could be one of the best things to do in Barcelona and surroundings. These range from Sant Sebastià to Llevant. One of the best is that of La Barceloneta, an old fishing village established in this area from the seventeenth century.

It is worth strolling through its streets to discover some of the original houses of the neighborhood and stop for lunch at a recommended place. This is one of the best spots in the city to taste the best gastronomy in Barcelona.

14. Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau

tour hospital sant pau

The Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau was built between 1902 and 1930 and the architect was the modernist Lluís Domènech i Montaner. This complex is composed of several pavilions and gardens that occupy an entire city block. Currently, the northern part is dedicated to medicine, while the southern and central parts are a museum that can be visited.

During the visit, its arabesque touches and arabesque touches and its beautiful gardens. This is a place in Barcelona that you can not miss, so book your ticket online.

15. Boqueria Market

Mercat de la Boqueria

Although it can be complicated, due to the large number of people who visit the Boqueria Market every day, it is not always easy to find the Boqueria Marketinside you will be able to know the most authentic local gastronomy. Not only for its stalls with fresh ingredients, but there you will find different bars where you can try some of the most renowned tapas of the city.

In case you are staying in an apartment and you prepare your own food during the trip, do not hesitate to take the opportunity to take advantage of the opportunity to shop with the most exclusive and best quality products.

Find out more about this place with our tour of Barcelona’s markets:

16. The Temple of Augustus

Did you know that in the heart of Barcelona still stand the great columns of a Roman temple?ry columns of a Roman temple still stand in the center of Barcelona.? Many of the inhabitants of Barcelona pass by this place, since there are very few who know the secret.

If you are strolling through the Gothic Quarter, go to Calle Paradís number 10 and, inside the headquarters of the Centro Excursionista de Catalunya, you’ll find the Roman Temple of Augustus: 4 huge 9-meter columns that are one of the most valued relics of ancient Barcino.

17. The Mariposa Negra Cocktail Bar

Cocteleria mariposa negra

According to the ranking of the best bars in the world, La cocktail bar Mariposa Negra is in fifth position and is located in Barcelona. It is a cocktail bar located in the Born, founded by Luca Corradini, who in 2015 was one of the head bartenders at the American Bar Savoy in London, the oldest cocktail bar in England.

The bar is inspired by the novel by
Marina
by Carlos Ruiz Zafón, which is set in the city of Barcelona during the 1970s. In addition to preparing spectacular cocktails, Corradini also distills his own liqueurs and designs the glasses in which you drink them.

18. Horta Labyrinth

laberinto horta

If you like labyrinths, you must take advantage of this place, because it is worthwhile to approach this park, to get lost among the trees of its natural labyrinth. It is a very fun activity to do in a group and you will be inside for a long time going around and around to get out.

The Horta Labyrinth Park is the oldest garden in Barcelona and was formerly part of the Desvalls family estate (1794). In the park you will find a neoclassical garden from the 18th century and a Romanesque garden from the 19th century.

Discover this park from the inside, with our tour in the labyrinth park of Horta de Barcelona:

19. Pedralbes Monastery

monasterio pedralbes

One of the best things to do in Barcelona for free is to visit the Pedralbes Monasteryalthough you will only be able to access without paying on the first Sunday of the month. Even so, general admission is 5€ and it is one of the most beautiful buildings in the city. This visit is highly recommended for all fans of Gothic architecture.

20. Attend an FC Barcelona match at Camp Nou.

camp nou

We finish our selection of the best things to do in Barcelona with the Camp Nou. Camp Nou. FC Barcelona is a legendary soccer team and, moreover, perfectly represents the soul of the city. Under the slogan “Més que un club” (More than a club), the blaugrana demonstrate that they have a commitment to society that has surpassed such dark times as the Franco dictatorship.

Today, Barça is one of the biggest clubs in the world, Barça is one of the biggest clubs in the world. and the stadium that sees him play is up to the task. The atmosphere at matches at the Camp Nou is spectacular and can gather more than 100,000 spectators. This is an experience not to be missed during your visit to the Catalan capital!

Did you like our list of the 20 best things to do in Barcelona? Don’t be overwhelmed if you are short on time and can’t do them all. Simply choose the ones that have caught your attention and dedicate your vacation to get to know them in depth. Barcelona is a city to fall in love with, so we are sure you will come back!

Other routes that may also interest you...

Tags:
Abrir chat
Hola aventurero/a 👋
¿Tienes alguna pregunta/duda? ¡Contáctanos!