Barcelona has so much to offer with rich history, impressive architecture, delicious food, a vibrant nightlife, and so much more. I was lucky enough to study abroad in Barcelona for fall semester in 2013 and visited again in 2019. Here are 20 awesome things to do in Barcelona to thoroughly explore this great city!
1. Witness a Castellers performance
Castellers are human towers where the members typically wear white bottoms and a colorful shirt. During La Merce in September they perform in Plaça de Sant Jaume. They can also be seen throughout the year during multiple festivals.
2. Check out Barcelona Cathedral
Barcelona Cathedral is a beautiful 15th century Gothic cathedral located in the Gothic Quarter. Walking by the cathedral is sufficient to get a good view, but I consider this a must see while in Barcelona!
3. Visit the Cascada Monumental
The Cascada Monumental is an impressive structure in Parc Cituadella featuring Venus in the center of the fountain. Famous architect Antoni Gaudí was involved in this project in the late 1800s.
4. Climb the towers at La Sagrada Familia
One of Barcelona’s most famous landmarks is la Sagrada Familia which is yet another creation by Gaudí. This church is located in l’Eixample and has been under construction for over 100 years.
While the views from the outside are impressive, the inside with the stained glass and vaulted ceilings is worth going in. You can go up the towers to get close to the ornate facade and views of the city. You will need a ticket to go inside, and the towers are an extra fee. If you would like to visit in the summer, make sure to get tickets ahead of time online.
5. Canoe in Ciutadella Park
Parc Cituadella is a large park near the beach and the Arc de Triomf. The park has a small lake where you can rent canoes, as well as a zoo, museums, and more.
6. Sign up for a cooking class
Learn how to make Spanish food at a cooking class. A friend of mine said their favorite thing they did in Barcelona was take a Paella class with Secret Garden Paella!
7. Wander through Plaça de Catalunya
Plaza Catalunya is a central plaza and is the intersection of a lot of major streets including the famous las Ramblas. There is guaranteed activity here with so many people passing through. During the holiday La Merce I stumbled upon a stage with a band performing here!
8. Admire the roof of Casa Milà
Casa Milà aka la Pedrera aka ‘The stone quarry’ was designed by Gaudí in the early 1900s. The roof is unique with various sculptures, chimneys, and ceramic pieces. You can purchase a ticket and explore the rooftop.
9. Explore Parc Güell
Parc Güell is a must visit site in Barcelona. The Park was designed by Gaudí and is full of ceramic mosaics, ‘gingerbread’ houses, gardens, and views of the city. Most of the park is free to wander, however if you want to get up close to Gaudi’s sculptures, there is a small fee and daily capacity.
10. Relax at the beach
Barcelona sits on Mediterranean coast and has great beaches for lounging and taking a dip. Barceloneta is a popular beach with many bars and restaurants along the boardwalk. To get away from the crowds, check out the beaches to the north.
11. Shop in Plaza de España
Plaza España is home to Barcelona’s old bull fighting ring, which is now a mall. This is also home for the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC) which has a nightly fountain show.
12. Marvel at Casa Batllo’s facade
Casa Batlló is another building designed by Gaudí. The dragon scale roof, skull balconies, and bone shaped pillars create a very unique façade that is a must see in person. You can admire the building from the street for free or pay a fee to go inside.
13. Hang out in the Arc de Triomf plaza
The Arc de Triomf is located in the Eixample neighborhood in a large plaza. Here you will find entertainment with local musicians, street performers, or festivals. I once stumbled upon a wine festival!
14. Take the cable car to Montjuïc Castle
Montjuïc Castle sits atop the Montjuïc Hill in the southeastern part of Barcelona. The castle was originally a military fortress in the 1960s, and present day is open for tourism. There are walking paths to get to the top, however the faster and more fun way is to take the cable car.
15. Travel back in time at the Museum of History Barcelona
The Museum of History of Barcelona has multiple locations throughout the city, but the primary building is located in the Gothic Quarter. The exhibits range from the time when Barcelona was a Roman colony (Barcino) to present day.
16. Admire Picasso’s work at the Picasso Museum
The Picasso Museum in Barcelona has work from all throughout Pablo Picasso’s life, however the majority of pieces are earlier work.
17. Explore a Bomb Shelter
Refugi 307 is a bomb shelter built during the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s that has now been excavated and open for tourism.
18. Enjoy the art at MNAC
The Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya is located on Montjuic Hill and is especially known for Romanesque and Catalan art.
19. Tour Casa Vicens
Casa Vicens was a house designed by Gaudi during his Orientalist era and is in the Gracia neighborhood. It is now a museum open to the public.
20. Visit Fundació Antoni Tàpies
Fundació Antoni Tàpies is a museum located in Eixample and was created by Antoni Tàpies in the 1980s. The building is very distinct with the wire sculpture on the roof representing a cloud and a chair. Here you will find modern and contemporary art.
21. Go dancing at a club
Barcelona has a vibrant night life with many clubs to choose from. There are several clubs near the beach that are pretty touristy but still fun with Opium being one of the most popular. There are other clubs throughout the city like Otto Zuts, Sutton, Apollo, and Razzmatazz.
22. Watch the sunset at Bunkers del Carmel
Bunkers del Carmel (also known as Turó de la Rovira) are located in Parc del Guinardó and have one of the best views in the city. The bunkers were built during the Spanish Civil War, and are now popular for watching the sunset. You can expect to do some walking to get to the bunkers unless dropped off at the entrance.
23. Enjoy the view from Tibidabo
Tibidabo sits among the mountain range above the city of Barcelona with views facing east toward the Mediterranean. The silhouette of the Temple Expiatori del Sagrat Cor, which sits at the top of the mountain can be seen throughout the city. In addition to the temple, there is an amusement park with a few rides.
24. Get lost in Parque del Laberinto de Horta
The Labyrinth Park (english) is located outside the city center against the mountains in the Horta-Guinardó neighborhood. This park has beautiful gardens including the labyrinth itself.
25. Attend a soccer game at Camp Nou
Whether you’re a soccer fan or not, seeing a game at Camp Nou is a must have experience in Barcelona.
26. Experience the correfoc during La Mercè
The correfoc translates to ‘fire run’ and occurs during festivals where people dress up and light fireworks while the crowd runs through the fire. In Barcelona this happens during the festival La Mercè in September. You don’t have to run through the fire and can watch from afar, but if you want to, do so at your own risk and wear layers!
27. Buy fresh food and tapas at La Boqueria
La Boqueria is a huge market off the famous street Las Ramblas. Here you can buy fresh produce, meats, and juices. There are also a couple highly recommended tapas restaurants in the market, El Quim and Bar Restaurant Pinotxo. The market is usually very busy so be prepared for crowds.
28. Eat a trendy brunch
For a trendy brunch check out Brunch and Cake or Flax and Kale. Both restaurants boast healthy options and are are delicious. The Flax and Kale location near the university has a fantastic outdoor terrace.
29. Sip a cocktail
Barcelona is a big city with a lot of cool bars to explore. A couple bars to check out are Crepes Al Born, Antic Theater, and Paradiso. During my study abroad days we frequented bars like Pippermint, Dow Jones, Le Cyrano, and L’Ovella Negra.
30. Take a Day Trip
While there is plenty to do in Barcelona alone, there are some fantastic day trips that should be mentioned. Some day trip ideas are Montserrat, Sitges, and Girona.
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