Things You Must See While Visiting Barcelona
There is something for everyone in this vibrant, lively, and culturally rich city. From delicious tapas to mesmerizing mosaics and architecture, you won't have a spare second to be bored.
Some things are absolute must-dos to really get you immersed in the Barcelonian lifestyle! Here are some of them.
Marvel At The Masterpiece Of The Sagrada Familia
This is Antoni Gaudí's life's work as Catalonia’s most famous architect. You can't go to Barcelona without gawking at the masterpiece that took almost 140 years to complete. You won't believe the details of its contrasting façades, sculpture, and stained glass
Feel Like A Local As You Walk Through Las Ramblas
This street full of little markets, vendors, and occasional entertainers is basically a sequence of promenades that runs from Plaça de Catalunya down to the Columbus Monument at the waterfront.
Locals walk through it most days, but as a tourist, you'll be impressed by the bird sellers, the smell of fresh waffles, and the view of the water down the road.
Admire The Shimmer Of Casa Batlló
This house is covered in shards of stained glass that sometimes appear blue, then green. It's sure to catch your eye with the way it shimmers. It was designed by Gaudí, who was commissioned by textile industrialist Josep Batlló.
It's influenced by nature, so it has no straight lines (because Gaudí they don't exist in nature).
Satisfy Your Taste Buds At La Boqueria
This market isn't just for groceries, it has everything from dining hotspots to the finest cheeses, charcuterie, seafood, and produce. It attracts more than 45,000 visitors a day.
It was established as the city’s first-ever covered food market in the 19th century.
Immerse Yourself In Color In Park Güell
This urban park is located above the city and was meant to serve as a utopian vision of rich industrialist Eusebi Guell in the 20th century. In fact, it was originally meant to be made of 60 luxury homes in the best part of the city, but they only built three.
Today, it's full of mosaic benches, gingerbread-house-like architecture, and breathtaking views of the city.
Indulge Your Sweet Tooth With Churros
Barcelona isn't all about what you see, but also about what you eat! While exploring, make sure you make a pit stop to try this long doughnut-style dessert. It's a Spanish delicacy that's likely to be found in most cafés in Barcelona. Make sure to dip them in chocolate while they're still hot.
Discover Picasso's Early Work At The Picasso Museum
This museum has a collection of over 3,000 of Pablo Picasso's early works. It was founded in 1963 and serves a perfect lens into the artist's coming of age through his formative work.
It is really fascinating to see how his style evolved into abstract art and cubism, especially between 1890 and 1904.
Barcelona Has The Perfect Mix Of Culture And Beach Relaxation
Take some time to relax between all the adventures, and discover Barcelona's beachfront that stretches for miles.
It will take a good hour to get from La Barceloneta to Diagonal Mar if you choose to walk it, but you'll encounter trendy shops and bars with terraces along the way. Or, you can bask in the sun and still get your tan on.
Experience The City On A Giant Ferris Wheel At Tibidabo
Tibidabo mountain is basically a "fairground on a hill," high on a summit. It's officially called the Temple Expiatori del Sagrat Cor. It's famous for the giant bronze statue of Jesus that you can take an elevator to.
But the amusement park feel comes from the giant Ferris wheel with colorful seats that give breathtaking views of the city, along with other retro-style attractions.
You'll Eventually Need A Cava Drink From La Vinya Del Senyor
Catalan cava, like fine champagne but more similar to prosecco, has a certain effervescence and complexity from bottle fermentation. At La Vinya del Senyor, you can taste the region's best bubblies while in a cozy restaurant with views of Santa María del Mar’s 14th-century façade.
Experience Live Music In Open Air At Barrio Festival
It's not unusual for Barcelona to cut off the streets from traffic, put up a stage with live music, and get a vibe going with wine and music. Barcelona's two biggest festivals of the year are La Festa Major de Gracia (in August) and La Mercè (in September).
Get Lost In Nature Quite Literally In The Maze Of Parc Del Laberint D'Horta
It's not only buildings in Barcelona that make it a work of art, but gardens like this one. This is Barcelona's oldest park and feels like stepping into a storybook with temples, lily ponds, sculptures of mythological figures, and a cypress maze.
The labyrinth is made of elaborate swirls of thick foliage. It's supposed to recreate the Greek myth of Theseus who destroyed the Minotaur.
Get A Little Sappy At "The World Begins With Every Kiss"
This romantic mural was only meant to be a temporary exhibition in 2004 for the 300th anniversary of Catalonia Day. It gives tribute to the Catalan lives lost, regional identity, and freedom with 4,000 tiles of printed photos.
The resulting mosaic was carefully organized by color and density so that it gives the full picture of two people kissing. This kiss is a symbol of affection, empathy, and liberty.
Party It Up And Bar Hop At Passeig Del Born
Back in the day, people met up at Passeig del Born for celebrations and sporting events. "Born" actually means jousting field, which is like barside banter. The vibrant nightlife here is framed by a tree-lined promenade with all types of bars lined up.
You Can't Go To Barcelona Without Eating Some Paella
The seaside neighborhood of Barceloneta is where you'll find some of Spain's best paella. Paella means "frying pan" in Valencian, and it's made of fresh seafood vegetables, and sometimes beans and traditional rice.
Cheer Your Heart Out With The Locals At Soccer Games At Camp Nou
Barcelona's home team, Futbol Club Barcelona ("Barça" for short) gets people from all around traveling all the way to cheer them on. Camp Nou has the highest capacity in Europe and can seat nearly 100,000 spectators.
At a live game, you're guaranteed to share enthusiasm and excitement amidst the roaring of the full stadium.
Indulge In More Traditional Eats At Gràcia
Separate yourself from the metropolitan district in Gràcia. Here, you won't find any Americanized restaurants or chain stores; instead, you'll find many family-owned local restaurants and cafés.
"A place where you might find a tiny 30-year-old neighborhood bar next to a Nordic-inspired organic bakery," says Lauren Aloise, a tour guide.
Take A Guided Tour Of The Gothic Quarter
The Barri Gòtic (Gothic Quarter) is part of Barcelona's Old City. It's best experienced in two-hour-long tours that also feature the Born, the Raval, and Barceloneta.
In this tour, you get to wander through narrow medieval streets and quieter squares as well as learn more about the history of central Barcelona.
Try A Little Bit Of Everything With Traditional Tapas
This is ideal for those of us who can never choose only one item off the menu. Tapas are a series of small portioned delicacies that are meant to be shared at tapas bars.
Some of the most popular tapas are crispy bread rubbed with tomato and garlic, octopus with potatoes, and paprika and garlic prawns.
Get Your Dance On With Some Flamenco
Flamenco is folkloric Spanish art form mixing singing, dancing, guitar, clapping, vocalizations, and snapping. Usually, it's performed with only a dancer and musicians. It's meant to incite passion and tranquility with the push/pull dynamics of the performers.
