What are the top 10 best things to do in Barcelona?

As the most visited city in Spain, Barcelona offers a huge variety of attractions, landmarks and activities for tourists.

It’s the historic capital of Spain’s Catalonia region, sitting on the north-eastern coast not far from the Pyrenees mountain range.

Offering everything from bustling urban streets to beautiful coastline and dramatic architecture, it’s not hard to see why millions visit Barcelona each year.

Whether you’re looking for arts and culture, fashion and nightlife or beaches and scenery, Barcelona has it all. Our holidays abroad guide helps first-time visitors get to grips with what to see and do in Barcelona.

Advice for travelling to Barcelona

Getting to Barcelona from the UK is easy when flying. Those who aren’t far from the UK’s capital city will find loads of direct flights from London Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton or Stansted.

Meanwhile, there are plenty of options to fly to Barcelona from Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Bristol, Newcastle and Edinburgh airports for those located in other parts of the UK. Airlines such as British Airways, Easyjet, Ryanair and Vueling all fly to Barcelona-El Prat Airport – the second largest airport in Spain.

Driving from the UK to Spain is another option, but only if you love long road trips. I’ve done it before, and realistically you’re looking at 14-16hrs from Calais, best spread over two days.

It’s also possible to get the train and coach if flying doesn’t appeal. If starting from London, you can get the Eurostar through the Channel Tunnel to Paris, before switching to France’s TGV train network to Montpellier and getting a FlixBus to Barcelona from there. It’s roughly 13-14hrs depending on your route.

How to get around Barcelona

If you’ve flown into Barcelona, accessing the city centre is easy. I recommend getting a taxi if you’re carrying lots of luggage or are part of a small group to share the cost.

Official black-and-yellow taxis run 24/7 outside both terminals, and you’ll pay a reasonable fare of €30-40 to complete the 20-30 minute trip into central Barcelona. You can also use ride-hailing apps such as Uber which are similarly priced.

Alternatively, Barcelona’s metro, trams and buses are a great way to get to Barcelona and travel around it. You’re looking at least 45 minutes on the metro from the airport, but it is much cheaper than a taxi.

Once there, the Metro offers eight lines that serve most of the city. There are also two overground Tram networks, the Trambaix and Trambesos. Both offer easy, cheap and sustainable travel around Barcelona, operating until 2am at the weekend.

Top 10 things to do in Barcelona

On my visits to Barcelona, these have been my favourite places to visit. Here’s where I think you should go and what you should do:

Sagrada Familia

Every big European city has an iconic landmark, and the extraordinary Basilica Sagrada Familia is one I highly recommend going to see. You can’t really miss it!

Designed by famed Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi, the Sagrada Familia is arguably his most dramatic and ambitious building. Construction began in 1882, but sadly Gaudi died in 1926 before it was ever completed. The vast, ambitious structure is still being finished today.

I’ve seen this crazily unique, controversial cathedral many times, and it can be enjoyed for free from the outside.

However, I’d strongly recommend paying to enter. The official Sagrada Familia website lists entry prices at €26, but for just €4 more you can have a 50-minute guided audio tour via official app. Inside, the light changes as the sun moves across the sky.

You can also pay another €10 to access one of the Basilica’s towers via a lift, with outstanding views of the city.

Park Guell

One of Gaudi’s key creations, Park Guell is a stunning example of Catalan Modernism combining architecture and nature. It’s also a UNESCO World Heritage site.

It’s bold broken tail mosaics, dramatic structures and unique artistic vision give you a fascinating view of Gaudi’s vision, while the artist’s house (now a museum) is also located on the eastern side of the park.

What’s more, Park Guell was built in the middle of the city on a hill, giving you some of the best views Barcelona has to offer.

General admission to the 12-hectare site is a reasonable €10, but you can pay extra for guided or private tours.

Casa Batllo

There are many of Gaudi’s iconic creations around Barcelona, and Casa Batllo is one of the finest. It’s also located right in the centre of the city on the Passeig de Gracia.

The almost otherworldly Casa Batllo will stop you in your tracks from the outside, with its swirling shapes, colourful tilework and mad curving design. It was originally created as a home for the wealthy Batllo family but is now open to visitors.

The inside of Casa Batllo is just as magical as the outside, and the roof terrace has great views. The 1hr 15-minute audio tour is cheaper when booked in advance, and children under 12 enter for free.

Gothic Quarter

Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter is effectively its old town – so old, in fact, that some buildings date back to Roman times. Many are Medieval, too, and I found them easy to spot amongst the newer high-rise buildings of the city,

I love that the Gothic Quarter, or ‘Barri Gotic’, is packed full of character. You’ll find charming restaurants, tapas bars and cafes, quirky street art and, away from the main drag, narrow winding streets hiding fascinating old and remodelled architecture.

The Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia (or Barcelona Cathedral for short) is one of the centrepieces of the Gothic Quarter.

Completed in 1448, it’s much more traditional than the Sagrada Familia, but still dramatic in its look. I found the interior fascinating but also loved the courtyard outside, with its vibrant atmosphere and street musicians.

La Boqueria food market

One of my favourite places to grab a bite to eat while touring Barcelona’s sights is the Mercat de la Boquiera. One of Europe’s largest food markets, it’s located near the Gothic Quarter and Las Ramblas.

Popular with both tourists and locals,  I found it charming if hectic and loud, and best enjoyed before lunchtime when it’s in full swing. I’ve never found much in the way of bargains there but you pay near-restaurant prices because the quality and freshness of the food is unmatched.

Everything from the best seafood to cured meats and cheeses, tapas and fresh vegetables can be found in La Boquiera. Even just as a less hungry spectator, I find it’s always an entertaining place.

Barcelona beaches

Being located right on the Mediterranean Sea makes Barcelona a great destination for beach lovers. And you can enjoy the sand all year long because of the mild climate even in winter.

Playa de la Barceloneta is the most popular beach, with loads of amenities, restaurants, attractions and cafes. There’s also lots of boat trips available. I’ve found it to be a great destination outside of peak holiday times, but it does get extremely busy in the summer.

If you’d prefer a quieter beach favoured by locals, I recommend Bogatell Beach just northeast of Barcelona’s city centre, which still has plenty of places to eat. It’s also very clean, having been revamped for Barcelona’s Olympics in the 1990s.

Other options are Nova Icaria beach, Mar Bella beach and the more hidden away Levante beach.

Montjuic

I only visited Montjuic after a few visits to Barcelona, but the site of the Olympic Stadium is well worth the trip up.

Sitting on top of a hill giving panoramic views of the city and port, Montjuic is best accessed by cable car or the funicular running from the Metro station, although I found the walk down to be manageable if you’re reasonably fit. It’ll probably be a bit of a slog if you’re walking up.

Along with the history-packed 17^th century Montjuic castle (a significant site during the Spanish Civil War), there are numerous well-maintained parks and botanical gardens, pretty buildings, museums and art galleries up there.

Fundacio Joan Miro

Montjuic also offers a gem of a gallery for modern art lovers: Fundacio Joan Miro. It honours the works of Spanish artist Joan Miro, along with other twentieth and twenty-first century artists.

I found the building itself to be almost as interesting as the exhibits inside – it’s a masterpiece of modern architecture.

But the museum is packed full of painting, sculptures, engravings, tapestries and ceramics. It also celebrates new generations of art rather than relying solely on the past.

Although I’ve enjoyed this museum as a solo traveller, kids under 15 years old get free entry.

Camp Nou

As a football fan I found Camp Nou an absolute must-see. With capacity for over 100,000 FC Barcelona fans, the open-air stadium is a sight to behold even with work to renovate it not due to finish until early 2027.

Camp Nou is now open for fans to watch football matches, so if one is on while you visit it’s a great spectacle. I’d highly recommend booking tickets well in advance.

However, there’s a variety of tours and experiences at Camp Nou for when a game isn’t on. From a basic ticket to club’s immersive museum to a full match day tour and pitch walk, there’s something for every budget.

Montserrat

If you’re visiting Barcelona for more than a few days, and particularly if you have access to a car, Montserrat is a great place to visit. It’s around an hour’s drive from the city centre, but you can visit by public transport.

This dramatic, jagged Montserrat mountain range offers panoramic views and some great roads, but the jewel in its crown is the 11^th century Santa Maria de Montserratt Abbey.

This Benedictine monastery is located over 700m up the mountain, it’s possible to drive the steep, twisting roads up to it or take a 15-minute cable car journey.

I found the view from the monastery incredible, but it’s the 12^th century statue of the Black Madonna (the patron saint of Catalonia) that attracts visitors from all over the world. There’s also a museum and plenty of hiking opportunities around Montserrat.

Barcelona Map

Driving around Barcelona

If you’ve driven to Barcelona or are planning on hiring a car, you’ll need to bear some things in mind. There is a Low Emission Zone in place which requires foreign vehicles to register beforehand for access, while parking is scarce and expensive.

I’ve found driving in Barcelona to be less stressful than other European cities such as Paris or Rome. This is because the streets are wider and more open, and there are often multiple lanes aiding traffic flow.

Regardless, it still gets busy in rush hour, and the high cost of parking means I’ve often found it cheaper and easier to park outside the main city and use the public transport network to get about.

If you haven’t brought your own car, I found hiring a car in Barcelona is a great way to explore attractions outside the city centre.

These include the stunning mountains of Montserrat, the Roman ruins of Tarragona, the Costa Brava with its beautiful beaches and the medieval city of Girona.

If the Spanish Grand Prix is on, you could drive to the Circuit de Catalunya to avoid what I found was a chaotic and tiring journey by train and on foot. You’ll need to book parking in advance and leave early on race day, but it’s worth it.

Top 10 best tours in Barcelona

There are loads of tours in Barcelona, but I’ve highlighted my favourite examples here.

1.Sagrada Familia Priority Access Guided Tour

2.Barcelona Private City Tour by Tuk-Tuk

3.Monserratt & Cogwheel Train tour

4. Barcelona Ghost Tour: Gothic Quarter

5. Park Guell Guided Tour

6. Barcelona Night Walking Tour with Bars and VIP Club Pass

7. Food Walking Tour with Tapas and Wine

8. Camp Nou: Barca Stadium Immersive Tour

9. Montjuic Castle Guided Tour

10. Flamenco Show at Dalmases Palace

Best food in Barcelona

Barcelona is a great destination for food lovers. I’ve never gone hungry and mostly avoided international chains in favour of local gems.

I’d highly recommend food markets like La Boquiera as places to get a flavour of Catalan cuisine in small or large bites. I’m told this is where many of the restaurants buy their food.

There’s also loads of tapas bars around Barcelona, with more tucked away bars offering a more authentic (and often cheaper) experiences than eateries in the busy main squares.

Patatas bravas, Pa amb Tomaquet and Pintxos (smaller tapas portions on sticks) are some of my personal favourites when it comes to tapas, but meat lovers will revel in the chorizo, Iberian ham and fuet found in market stalls and most cafes.

Of course, there are plenty of great seafood restaurants and fancier, Michelin star eateries where the wine is almost as good as the food. Or, for cheaper bites, the Barceloneta beach area is full of independent stalls selling snacks, fruit and ice cream.

Best things to do in Barcelona for free

I’ve had some wonderful experiences in Barcelona that haven’t cost me anything!

Put off by the high cost of entering the Basilica de la Sagrada Familia? I’ve enjoyed its amazing exterior for free from the outside. The best free viewpoints are in the Placa de la Sagrada Familia and Placa de Gaudi parks nearby.

You can also soak up Barcelona’s stunning Modernista architecture, much of it designed by Gaudi. Most of these buildings have opulent facades that can be enjoyed for free on the outside. Some are also free on select days, such as the Palau Guell which is free to enter on the first Sunday of every month when booked ahead.

I’ve also enjoyed Barcelona just by walking around some of its most distinctive districts, such as the medieval La Ribera, the Gothic Quarter, Gracia and the artisanal hub of El Born with its free to enter art galleries.

Montjuic hill is full of great viewpoints and pretty gardens, and although the cable car to access it is expensive you can access it cheaply via bus or funicular.

Of course, Barcelona’s many beaches can also be enjoyed for free, while the Parc de la Ciutadella is one of my favourite parks in the city thanks to its easy access and outstanding sights.