Oh, the endless things to do in Barcelona, Spain! Barcelona is one of my favorite destinations at any time of year. This is so because the relaxed, hospitable nature of the Catalonian people usually stays with me long after I leave. Barcelonans are proud of their city’s amazing sights and architecture and visitors are treated warmly. So what does this vibrant city offer travelers and backpackers?

Arguably, one of the best things to do in Barcelona is to see Gaudi architecture. After that, you can taste the best that the Barcelona food scene has to offer and hit up Barcelona’s lovely beaches. For all shopping junkies out there, Barcelona has Passeig de Gracia and Portal del Angel – two main shopping hotspots.

Use my Barcelona travel guide to make sure you don’t miss any of the best things to do in Barcelona!

Best Things To Do in Barcelona Spain

Barcelona At a Glance

In my opinion, walking is a great way to see Barcelona because many attractions are within walking distance from each other. You can get your bearings by starting at the Placa de Catalunya and several of the city’ center’s attractions can be easily reached on foot from there. It is a large open square where you can take in the fountains and ornate statues and even feed the pigeons. The metro station is called Catalunya and you can pick up a free street map at the nearby tourist information office.

From the square, it is easy to find Barcelona’s most famous street La Rambla. It is a tree-lined Pedestrian Avenue with souvenir stalls, flower sellers, pavement cafes, bars, and street entertainers of all kinds. It is very pleasant to wander the 1.2 kilometers of La Rambla, watch the locals and tourists, and soak up the ambience. At the end of the street, Christopher Columbus gazes out to the sea on top of his 60-meter column.

Top Things To Do in Barcelona

Palau de la Música Catalana

If you retrace your steps halfway back and take a narrow road to the right you can admire the elaborate facade of the Palau de la Musica Catalana – a remarkable concert hall. Despite the cramped surroundings, the outside of the building is magnificent with overhanging sculptures of famous composers together with mosaics and stained glass.

The Art is directly above you and I suffered from a stiff neck getting the photographs needed to do it justice! There are two ways of visiting the Palau de la Música Catalana. You can either join one of the excellent hour-long day tours (purchase a ticket online at least two days in advance). Or (this is the one I prefer) attend a concert here during the September to June concert season.

Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia

Continue along the narrow lane and consult your map to find colossal Barcelona Cathedral. The lane opens to another extensive square and you are sure to be awestruck by the size and magnificence of the structure.

Often mistaken for Antoni Gaudi‘s Sagrada Familia, the 13th century Barcelona Cathedral, in the Barri Gótic neighborhood, was built on the foundations of an ancient basilica dating to the 4th century. Like many other churches across Europe, it’s believed to be on the site of an ancient Roman Temple. It took over 600 years to build the Cathedral while some final touches have been made as recently as the late-19th and early-20th centuries.

You can happily spend hours in the nave and crypt of the Cathedral but I would very much recommend climbing the steps to the rooftop. From this vantage point, you can enjoy great views over the labyrinthine lanes of Old Barcelona.

In front of the Cathedral is a square where street performers operate. On the day I visited a very talented jazz group performed, followed by a classical guitarist who played his instrument with immense skill.

Take a Hop-On Hop-Off Bus

Of course, there is far more to this extensive city of 5.5 million people, and I think the best way to get a taster is to take one of the Official City Bus tours. These leave from Placa de Catalunya at regular intervals and you can hop on and off, at any point. There is a choice of routes, East and West.

I took the West route, which takes you on a circuit of 18 tourist-friendly sites, ranging from grand civic buildings to commercial centers to gardens to churches and even the Nou camp – the well-known stadium of Barcelona Football Club.

The bus is open-topped and commentary in the language of your choice is available on a headset. There is a lot of interesting and detailed information. The idea is that you select a destination of particular interest, leave the bus to explore, and then take a later bus. It is indicative of the number of places of interest that the East route offers another 16 tourist sites. There are lots to see in Barcelona.

Barcelona’s beaches

Barcelona’s glistening coastline plays a huge role in the city’s identity. The most central is the Sant Sebastià beach that stretches from the W Barcelona hotel to the Homenatge a la natació sculpture. While Barceloneta is the closest to the center, it is can also be quite busy on certain days. That said, I never miss a chance to walk along the Port Vell and Barceloneta seafront whenever I can.

If you are looking for a quiet place and cleaner water within walking distance from the city center, it’s best to head down to Mar Bella, Bogatell, and Nova Icaria. But first, pay La Boqueria food market a visit to pick up bits for a seaside picnic.

Visit Gaudi’s Quirky Buildings

Barcelona is synonymous with the distinctive buildings of the world-famous architect Antoni Gaudi. I admired his works at many locations around the city and they are instantly recognizable. I went along on the metro to the Park Guell at Carmel Hill. Gaudi designed this place as a public park, although there is now an admission charge. It is well worth the cost to see an artist’s imagination truly at work. It is one of Gaudi’s most famous projects, built between 1900 and 1914.

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His style is unique and individualistic. Thanks to two gingerbread houses just past the main entrance, a ceramic dragon fountain and bench, and a monumental stairway, the park is reminiscent of an adult-sized fairyland.

Many visitors head for the park, but only a limited number are permitted at any one time, so you should buy your ticket in advance.

Another of Gaudi’s splendid works is the unfinished Basilica de la Sagrada Familia, a large Roman Catholic Church with many ornate spires. This has become a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is very popular with visitors and thus worth arriving early. Make sure to book your ticket online at least 2 days in advance because they sell out fast.

Alternatively, you can do a guided tour. Get Your Guide tour allows you to get access to the Nativity Tower, skip the long lines, and explore the Basilica with an audio guide.

Casa Batlló

Another Gaudi masterpiece, this apartment building is worth seeing alone for its stunning spine-like staircase and organic-feeling rooms. Casa Batlló is one of the most famous of Gaudí’s houses in Barcelona. The incredible roof terrace and 27 polychrome original chimneys are covered with glass fragments and ceramic tiles that represent the spine of the dragon – one of Gaudí’s favorite icons. As gift shops go, this one’s excellent.

Casa Batlló is a popular attraction in Barcelona. You can get your ticket online or opt for a skip-the-line guided tour.

See the Magic Fountain

The Font Magica de Montjuic is the local name for this ‘must-see’ in the city. It is an atmospheric sound and light show where the illuminated spurting fountains are coordinated to classical and modern music. It is a very pleasant way to spend some time during the evening. Local vendors sell snacks and drinks and it is a popular meeting place for locals. Varied performances take place every half hour at weekends, and it is free of charge.

Las Ramblas

Yes, Las Ramblas is a tourist trap. But if it’s your first time in Barcelona you shouldn’t refrain from strolling this pedestrian boulevard. Stretching from the waterfront to Plaça Catalunya, Las Ramblas is lined with cafes, historic buildings, and souvenir stalls. This is a great place for people-watching, which also serves to divide Barri Gòtic to the east and the El Raval neighborhood to the west.

While my personal favorites here are Plaça Reial and La Boquería food market, I don’t think restaurants along the Ramblas worth your attention. You’ll find far better value for money just a block or two away.

Visit the Spanish Village

El Poble Espanyol is also at Montjuic just 400 meters from the Magic Fountain. This is an open-air museum in the style of a Spanish village with squares, cafes, craft workshops and gardens. For a truly memorable evening, eat at the Tablao de Carmen in the village. The food is authentic and good but the highlight for me was watching the amazing flamenco dancing afterwards. This is a nightly one-hour show when expert classical guitarists accompany the dramatic dancers – it will leave you spellbound!

Do as the Locals Do

A love of good company and good food is very apparent in the city. That is why you should partake in a favorite activity of the Catalonians while you are there. Find a pavement café, enjoy some tapas, drink a few glasses of Estrella and sit and chat and watch the world go by. There are few finer places that enjoy such a simple pleasure!

Barcelona is an exuberant city with a lot going on. It is a city with a fascinating history, which is reflected by a large number of sights and monuments. I have only scratched the surface with my recommendations.

Where To Stay in Barcelona

Another very important thing to take into account when traveling to Barcelona is where to stay.

While it’s often tempting to choose cheaper accommodation further away from the city center, I have learned that staying near or around the Plaça de Catalunya is what would be considered to be desirable by many visitors. Yes, you can save money staying outside of Old Town, but it will cost you time and comfort.

While Plaça de Catalunya may lack the charm of other neighborhoods in the city, it’s a busy area, with tourists, buses, and traffic that is also close to a metro station, so you can always get to the other parts of town quicker. If you are visiting Barcelona for the first time, book your apartment in advance to secure a comfortable stay.

Located between the Gothic Quarter and Eixample, Plaça de Catalunya is a perfect location for sightseeing and you can easily walk to most attractions in the old town and to the Gothic Quarter, Casa Batlló and Casa Milà, and Las Ramblas. There are also plenty of shops and restaurants nearby, and most tours and excursions start in this area.

I stayed in two hotels here – H10 Catalunya Plaza and Olivia Plaza Hotel. The location couldn’t be better and it offers unbeatable value for money.

Here is a small selection of the best hotels that have an excellent location near Plaça de Catalunya:

Metropolitan;
Catalunya Plaza Boutique Hotel;
Acta Atrium Palace;
Exe Plaza Catalunya.

If you are on a lower budget, check out these popular and affordable options with excellent location:

Barcelona Central Garden;
Pars Tailors Hostel;
Hostal Oliva;
Hostel One Paralelo

When is the best time to visit Barcelona?

Generally, the shoulder months of September, April, and May are the best to visit Barcelona because they offer fewer crowds, pleasant daytime temperatures, and enough events going on.

Barcelona has a cool winter and very pleasant weather in autumn and spring. Summer lasts from June to August and is very hot. Although you can actually enjoy the city by spending your days at the beach. For this reason, summer becomes a very interesting option if you’re a beach-goer and Barcelona also has a wide range of cultural and entertainment during this time.

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Summer is a busy season in Barcelona, so you can expect local restaurants, cafes and central beaches to be crowded with tourists and locals alike. At the same time, part of locals do flee to their summer homes to find some relief and return in the fall when temperatures drop back down into the comfort zone.

That concludes my Barcelona Travel Guide – the best things to do in Barcelona, Spain. I hope this has helped you get a better idea and feel for this beautiful city. Hopefully one day I’ll be able to go back to so I can experience even more things to do in Barcelona!

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