Barcelona is one of those cities that immediately captivates its visitors upon arrival. Whether you’re wandering through the moody streets of the Gothic quarter, taking a stroll beneath the lush greenery of Las Ramblas, or standing in awe before Gaudi’s architectural wonders, it’s impossible not to be swept away by the romance and beauty of this city.
Nestled along the northeastern coast of Spain along the Balearic Sea, Barcelona is distinctly its own. It proudly serves as the capital of Catalonia, a region of Spain that has its own cuisine, language, culture, and history. Today, Barcelona is a melting pot of 179 different nationalities. It’s home to roughly 5.6 million people.
Yet, every year its epic nightlife, stunning beaches, killer art scene, and fantastic food draw in millions of visitors. In this article, we’re sharing some of the best things to do in Barcelona to help you make the most of your visit to Barcelona.
Casa Battló
One of the 12 buildings you can tour from the famous architect Anthony Gaudi. This is one of the top things to do in Barcelona. There’s always something new to see and the properties are just so stunning.
Antoni Gaudi was commissioned to build this personal residence for the wealthy Battló family. On Passeig de Gracia, one of the most desirable streets for Barcelona’s elite at the turn of the century. Even though Gaudi was one of several esteemed architects in Barcelona at that time, it’s easy to see what made his work so distinct. As a Catalan native, he drew inspiration from his faith, his culture, and his surroundings.
But nature is often what people see first in his work. His designs rarely contain flat surfaces and he seamlessly integrates naturalistic features in organic forms, curves, and asymmetry, both for functionality and beauty. The facade of Casa Battló appears to have dragon-like features in its colorful ceramic tiles adorning its roof, it’s unconventional. Balconies mimic seashells, which some believe resemble a Venetian mask while others see a turtle skull.
The natural elements continue as you move inside the home from its mushroom-shaped fireplace ceilings that look like the scales of a reptile window shaped like the silhouette of a turtle and worm-like chimneys on the roof. Every aspect of Gaudi’s design was purposeful, striking a perfect balance between sustainability, functionality, and aesthetics.
Mercat Santa Catarina
You should go there to see it because it’s the oldest market in town. It’s over 200 years, but this is not the most representative experience in the food market. Very crowded.
So they tore the building down and built an outdoor market and finally, at the beginning of the 19th century, they closed it in, and made it into the structure we see today. So people have been shopping here for a hundred years now, which is pretty cool.
El Born District in Barcelona
The city has something about it. Everywhere you walk, it’s like you’re walking in a romantic novel. Every building is so beautiful. All of the terraces are decorated with plants and flowers.
El Born neighborhood is a very popular spot for tourists. Tons of Airbnbs, hotels. It’s got that romantic charm and a lot of great restaurants and bars all around. So it’s a great central spot for you to springboard as you’re exploring. It’s also close to the Gothic Quarter, which is another really beautiful place to explore.
Tip: Our Suggestion for the restaurant would be “Restaurant Petra” at El Born. 13.50 – 18.50 per dish.
Picasso museum
You can enjoy Picasso’s paintings in the museum easily for 2-3 hours. The blue period is one of the most famous series from Picasso. Almost all the pieces are done in variations of blue and have a very melancholy feel to them, but he painted those here in Barcelona just after his friend committed suicide it was a very dark period in his life and this work was kind of what helped him work through that and process the emotions.
It’s also amazing to see his progression as an artist. The styles that he used constantly changed over time. He often took inspiration from other famous artists as he was growing as an artist himself. It’s really cool to see that progression in all the stages he had to go through to be perfectly Picasso.
Tip: The Ticket for the Picasso Museum will cost 22 euros per head.
Barcelona Catedral
This is one of the most famous churches aside from the Sagrada Familia and it is absolutely stunning. One of the things you’ll love about Barcelona is all of the little plazas that are tucked away on the side streets. We highly encourage you just to get lost in the streets and discover all of the beauty. There are normally people playing music.
The Gothic Quarter is Barcelona’s oldest district where its narrow dimly lit alleyways transport you back to the Middle Ages. Some parts of this quarter have a history stretching over 2,000 years when it was the Roman town of Barcino.
Originally this area was completely walled in, but in the late 19th century, city planners expanded Barcelona and tore the walls down. This area has undergone significant restoration over the 20th century.
So many parts of the quarter aren’t quite as old as they seem. One spot that often fools people is the iconic Gothic bridge, which despite its appearance was built in the 1920s. In any case, this beautiful neighborhood is an absolute must-visit and we’ll sweep you off your feet.
Placa Reial
You definitely wanna check out the Plaça Reial, which dates back to the 18 hundreds and just has a really beautiful tropical vibe with the yellow buildings and all of the super tall palms. Make sure to keep an eye out for Gaudi’s first work he ever did.
After graduating from college at the art school here in Barcelona, he created two lamps that are very clearly Gaudi.
La Sagrada Familia
No trip to Barcelona would be complete without a visit to La Sagrada Familia, the tallest building in Barcelona. This monumental basilica was Gaudi’s most ambitious project and has now become an icon for the city.
The basilica is an illustration of Gaudi’s devotion to the church, drawing from his love of nature and his deep faith. The exterior is made of hand carved stone with intricate details, natural elements, and religious symbolism woven throughout. It has two facades.
The nativity facade includes gothic inspired sculptures and details reflecting the story of the birth of Jesus. The passion facade on the opposite side has a more stoic tone as it depicts the crucifixion in the final days of Christ.
While the exterior is a sight to behold, the true magic takes place inside the basilica walls. Gaudi wanted to make the inside of the church feel like a sanctuary, a place of beauty and spirituality that inspired and captivated those who visited The breathtaking spectacle of light and color bounces off the stained glass windows, painting a rainbow in the church. The massive columns resemble trees and branch out to support the ornate ceiling.
No matter your beliefs, the towering, magnificence, and intricate details of what is often considered Gaudi’s masterpiece are bound to leave you inspired and awestruck. This is the most visited attraction in all of Barcelona.
Park Güell
The Güell Family Commission Gaudi built this estate in 1900. The goal was to make it into a sustainable community with 60 individual houses in a shared common space in between.
True to Gaudi’s signature style, the property design was anything but ordinary. He used native plants to combat erosion while ingeniously integrating rainwater catchment systems into the whimsical structures.
Only two homes were completed by Gaudi, but the park is filled with lush gardens, meandering paths, and its most renowned feature. A covered marketplace with a mosaic, lizard fountain, and colorful benches that surround an overlook providing the most breathtaking views of Barcelona and the Balearic Sea.
Unfortunately, when the construction was completed in 1914, there were no buyers for the planned community. After Eusebi Güell passed in 1922, his children sold the property to the city who converted the Güell home into a school and then opened the space up as a public park. In the 1960s, the park became the Gaudi House Museum and later gained the title of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Montserrat Monastery
Patrones Moreneta was found in a cave in the year 880AD very close to here. The bishop of Manresa came here to take her, and this is the place where he couldn’t move her anymore. That’s why we have this beautiful Basilica from the 19th century.
She’s well known because she has healing powers and fertility powers. So the tradition is to come here, go up, see her and touch her. And meanwhile, you are touching her. You have to think about your wish. If your wish comes true, you have to come back and bring her a present.
La Moreneta has baby Jesus in her lap. Baby Jesus is holding a pine cone with the left hand which is a symbol of eternity and fertility, and then is giving a blessing sign with three fingers. In this case, it’s the Trinity or the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
So there are a few theories about her skin color. Some people like to think it’s because of the candles inside of the cave and she became black. Maybe it’s because the varnish that they use, makes a chemical reaction over the years.
There’s so much to do here. You could easily spend a full day. There’s a hotel on-site and a cheese market. You can take a tram up to the very tippy top to get a beautiful vantage point. And there’s tons of hiking in this area as well.
If you’re gonna be spending more than three days in Barcelona, I highly recommend exploring outside of the city. There are so many cool day trips you can enjoy. You can visit the Cava wine region, which is where Cava originates from. It’s like a sparkling wine. You can also go to some of the super quaint and charming beach towns all along the coast here. There’s also a trip to Giona, which is only an hour away.
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