Discover the best things to do in Barcelona in 2023, make sure to add these to your list! Discover the city of the famous football team, outstanding architecture by Antoni Gaudi, thriving nightlife, many great beaches, and much more! If you are a food lover, you will find some of the best Spanish food in Barcelona with over 15 Michelin-star restaurants!
While Barcelona is the capital of the autonomous community of Catalonia, it is the 2nd largest city in Spain. There are plenty of things to do to suit all travelers, whether traveling solo, as a couple, with friends, or with family. The following post will cover 15 best things to do in Barcelona!
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1.) La Sagrada Familia
No doubt this is one of the most famous attractions in Barcelona. The construction of this magnificent church began in 1882 and to this day, the church remains under construction. However, this doesn’t stop over 5 million tourists from visiting each year! Antoni Gaudi is the genius architect behind this mind-blowing structure. As you continue to explore Barcelona, you will find that his eccentric work has left a strong mark on the city.
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This site is extremely busy all year round, so make sure to buy your tickets well in advance!
2.)Park Güell
Situated on Carmel hill is the picturesque Park Güell. The park covers 18 hectares of hilly land, from where you can enjoy one of the best views of the city. Here you can enjoy a balance of nature and more of distinctive Gaudi architecture. The park was named after Eusebi Güell, a close friend of Antoni Gaudi, who admired his work and became his patron.
This park is open daily from 9.30 am to 7.30 pm. Buy your entrance ticket here or get a guided tour!
3.) Mercado de La Boqueria
This is a large food market in the Ciutat Vella neighborhood, the heart of the city. The market is world famous for the quality and variety of products from all over the world! You will find a huge selection of food, from exotic fruits and vegetables to poultry, meat, sweets, and specialties. This is also a great place for getting some delicious gifts for your family and friends!
4.) Ciutadella Park
Ciutadella Park was opened in the mid-19th century and was the only green space in the city for decades! The park houses many beautiful historical monuments for you to enjoy. You can discover many picturesque paths and various sculptures, as well as museums from the 19th century. The park is also home to the city’s zoo!
5.) Arco de Triunfo de Barcelona
The arch was built by the architect Josep Vilaseca. This is a former entrance to the World Fair in Barcelona in 1888. You should definitely put this attraction on your Barcelona list! The arch stands majestically in the heart of the city, next to Ciutadella Park. The structure itself is very impressive with its decorative and sculptural surfaces.
6.) Casa Batlló
The building, also known as the “House of Masks”, is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is another famous work by Gaudi. It is a complete reconstruction of a previously built house that was bought by the well-known Batlló family. Joseph Batlló wanted his house to be unique and not resemble any other house in his family. He commissioned Antoni Gaudi to remodel his house, as he was impressed by Gaudi’s previous works such as Park Güell. Gaudi truly created something unique and special that is still admired today!
If you want to see inside this impressive UNESCO World Heritage site, buy your tickets here!
7.) Casa Milà
Not too far from the Casa Batlló is the Casa Milà. This is another of Gaudi’s commissioned works, built in 1906 by Pere Milà. Because of its unconventional appearance, it is also known as La Pedrera – “the stone quarry”. This nickname was given to it mainly by those who disapproved of its unconventional appearance. Just like the Casa Batlló, this building is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Although Casa Batlló and Casa Milà share some similarities, they are both very different and unique buildings.
Most people usually choose to visit one the houses, Casa Batlló being the more popular one. However I strongly recommend visiting both if you can!
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The entrance fee to these houses can be quite pricey, if you’re interested in visiting multiple Gaudis sites, I suggest looking into different combo tickets to save yourself some money!
8.) Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya
This museum is highly renowned for its largest collection of Romanesque frescoes and Catalant art. You can spend around 2 hours wandering around this beautiful museum. If you are not a big fan of art or museums, the actual building itself is quite impressive and worth visiting!
9.) Gothic Quarter
Discover some of the oldest parts of the city, what used to be a much visited spot of Piccaso. Stroll through narrow streets and learn about the origins of the city. Get lost in the medieval and Gothic architecture. Here you will also find some other popular attractions such as Barcelona Cathedral and Plaça Reial.
10.) Magic Fountain of Montjuïc
Don’t miss the magical fountain show Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, from 9:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.! (times may differ for different seasons). This impressive fountain was built in 1929 for Barcelona World Fair and restored in 1992.
11.) La Rambla Street
This is a famous 1.2 km pedestrian street that runs through the center of Barcelona! The La Rambla street starts at Plaça de Catalunya and ends at the statue of Christopher Columbus. Along this street, you will find many restaurants and various merchants. This street is beautifully aligned with trees and much greenery. This is a well-loved spot by many tourists and locals.
12.) Barceloneta Beach
I’m sure you saw this one coming! After all, Barcelona is famous for its great sandy beaches and wild nightlife. This is the place to take a much-needed break from all the walking and just soak up the sun! Once you are refreshed, get ready to explore the many restaurants and nightclubs along the beach! Although there are many great beaches in Barcelona, Barceloneta Beach is the most popular.
13.) Port OIimpic
A 10-minute walk from Barceloneta beach, visit Port Olimpic. Here you will find some of the best sailing tours and boat trips daily! The port is a pleasant place to walk around and enjoy an endless selection of restaurants serving excellent seafood. It is also one of the best places for nightlife!
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Some of the restaurants can be quite pricey around this area, however, I recommend visiting ‘The Chicken Bar‘, tucked away at the corner of the port. Serves great food at a more reasonable price! 😉
14.) The Carmel Bunkers
Located just a little further from the city, is a real hidden gem! This is the best 360º viewpoints of Barcelona city. The site is made up of fortified military wall remains back from the Spanish Civil War. Many people would come here to catch the best sunsets while enjoying a drink.
15.) Telefèric de Montjuïc (Barcelona Cable Car)
For more panoramic views of Barcelona, take the 750-meter cable car ride to Montjueic Hill! The cable car offers a breathtaking view of Barcelona and the Montjueic hill. At the top of the hill, you can find the Montjueic castle. The castle played an important role in the defeat of Barcelona in many years of fighting. Now you can enjoy this castle in its tranquility and admire the historical remains.
Get the cable car tickets here.
Here were some of the top things to do in Barcelona! If you enjoy city escapes, make sure to check out 3-4 DAYS IN LISBON: THE PERFECT FIRST TIMERS ITINERARY.
