DESTINATIONS · Europe Travel · Spain Travel ·Apr 03, 2024

20+ Best Things To Do In Barcelona - Enjoy Yourself while in Barcelona

Surely when it comes to Spain, we are no longer strange to the magnificent and bustling city of Barcelona. Below, we will take a look at the top 20+ best thing to do in Barcelona.

This is the second-largest city in Spain, where many of the cultural and historical quintessence of this country converge. When you come to this city, there will be many new things waiting for you to come and experience. Below, we will take a look at the top 20 activities to experience in Barcelona.

Top 25 Best Things to Do in Barcelona - Experience the Most of Barcelona

La Sagrada Familia - The Highest Basilica from Spain
Park Guell - The Harmonious Garden Combination between Nature and Modern Urban
Barri Gotic - Travel Back in the Old Time within the Medieval Town
Palau de la Música Catalana - The Palace of Spanish Classical Music
Museu Picasso - A Destination for Picasso’s Lovers
Bogatell Beach - Enjoy Outdoor Chill
Casa Milà - Artistic Masterpiece by Antoni Gaudi
La Rambla - The Large Pedestrian Square
Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria - Eat All You Want and Fill Your Crave
Magic Fountain of Montjuïc - Watch the Brilliant Water Music Shows
Parque de atracciones Tibidabo - Happy Land for Everyone!
Santa Maria del Mar - Typical Catalan Cathedral Style
Arc de Triomf - Sightseeing the Spanish Triumphal Gate
Aquarium Barcelona - Experience The Vivid Reproduction of the Ocean World
Museum Nacional d'Art de Catalunya - Travel Back in Time and Enjoy Ancient Art Exhibitions
Passeig de Gràcia - Immerse Yourself in the Walks
Parc del Laberint d'Horta - Immerse Yourself into a Fairytale Garden
Gran Teatre del Liceu - Seize every Moment with Operas
Museu de la Xocolata - Enjoy the art of chocolate
Barcelona Port - Sightseeing Cruise Ship while Stopping
Virreina Palace - Stop in Time and Enjoy the 1770s Vibe
Montjuïc Communications Tower - Spreading the Olympic 1992’s Spirit
Palau Reial de Pedralbes - A Little Recall of 1910s
FC Barcelona Museum - Precious Moment Spend for Football Lovers!
Tablao Flamenco Cordobes Barcelona - Dance the Nights Away

1. La Sagrada Familia - The Highest Basilica from Spain

Photo by Pawel Pajor - stock.adobe.com

The Sagrada Familia, also known as the Basilica de la Sagrada Familia, is a large basilica under construction in the Eixample district, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. In 2010, this work was consecrated to the church by the Pope and considered a minor basilica, not recognized as a Cathedral.

This structure was designed and supervised by the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi. Antoni combined artistic elements of Very Nouveau, Catalan Modernism and Spanish Late Gothic.

According to Antoni's design, the church will have three facades with the following themes: The Nativity Facade (the time of Christ's birth), the Passion Facade (the passion of the Lord), and the Glory Facade (praise the glory of Jesus Christ). It is expected that this will be the tallest church building with a monumental construction scale.

You can book a tour package to visit the church, which costs about $80 for a small group. You can extend the tour package to a maximum of 12 participants. With this tour package, you can skip the line and still be able to visit.

A local guide will present on the tour to guide you through the most important information about the site. If you want to stay to take pictures, you can tell the tour guide in advance so they can extend your visit here.

2. Park Guell - The Harmonious Garden Combination between Nature and Modern Urban

Photo by M.studio - stock.adobe.com

Park Guell, or is known as Parque Guell in Spanish - is a system of private parks built by combining natural ecology and urban gardens, located on the Carmel hill, Barcelona, Catalonia to the north. This work was also supervised and designed by Antoni Gaudi because of his modern breath-taking designs.

This place gathers the natural ecological environment of plants. Most are native cultivars that consume little water. In addition, the park also adds shrubs and herbaceous families to improve soil quality, prevent soil erosion and degradation. They also brought in and incorporated a variety of plants with varied flowering times to create a harmonious aesthetic for the colourful garden.

On the other hand, researchers are also working to restore fruit trees that once existed there with historical events attached. Guell is indeed a modern ecological garden but still retains the ethereal beauty of nature, which will surely bring you into Mother Nature's paradise in the most authentic way.

The closing time here is 10 pm. You will not be allowed to bring pets, specifically dogs and cats, into this area because it is easy to damage or disturb the plants here.

You can take advantage of visiting Park Guell and Sagrada Familia because they are located in Catalonia. There is a tour package that combines visiting these two places with a price for groups, at $79.91.

You can extend the maximum number of people for a group to 12 people. An English-speaking local guide is included, so you won't have to worry if you do not speak Spanish. Sightseeing tickets will be provided and the group will be given priority to visit without waiting in line for too long.

Here is the booking link for your information.

3. Barri Gotic - Travel Back in the Old Time within the Medieval Town

The Barri Gotic, also known as the Gothic Quarter, is the historic centre of the city of Barcelona. This is part of the Ciutat Vella district, which includes the oldest structures of Barcelona. Here, you can find many remains of ancient Roman buildings and buildings with a hint of medieval Europe.

Barri Gotic still retains the direction of street planning in the form of a maze with many small streets leading directly to large squares. When you reach the city centre, you will find the two large churches located here.

The church is built Gothic in style with a delicately sculpted facade with a gilded altar. Coming to this place, tourists will be able to visit the monastery and the garden symbolizing the noble martyrdom of Saint Eulalia.

You can stroll the winding streets of the Gothic Quarter, its narrow cobblestone streets, as you can visit beautiful quaint shops and restaurants while walking. Gothic Quarter will bring you a go back in time experience with a medieval Europe theme.

4. Palau de la Música Catalana - The Palace of Spanish Classical Music

The Palau de la Música Catalana is a large concert hall in Barcelona built between 1905 and 1908 by architect Lluis Domench i Montaner for the Orfeo Catala choir - the musical force that paved the way for the Catalan cultural movement. This theatre was officially inaugurated in February 1908.

Palau is one of the distinctive architectural works of the Catalan Art Nouveau and is the venue for concerts in the Catalan style recognized by UNESCO. On December 4, 1997, Palau was honoured as a World Heritage Site. Not only that but it is also considered as a symbolic spiritual gem for a nation and also an important historical witness.

The building is designed around a metal structure covered with glass to exploit natural light, making the theatre a lively music box with vibrant colours and exquisite sculptural patterns.

You can enjoy the music here by booking tickets through the theatre's official email and reservation method, by phone or by booking online. If you want to buy tickets to visit, you can buy the ticket box of the theatre from 9.30 am to 3.30 pm.

The ticket price for a guided tour is € 11 and without a guide is € 8. Please note that the theatre is always packed with visitors and shows are packed, so try to be on time to avoid ticket cancellations.

5. Museu Picasso - A Destination for Picasso’s Lovers

Kippelboy, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Image resized.

The Picasso Museum located in Barcelona, Catalonia has become a dedicated venue for one of the largest and complete collections of works by the famous artist Pablo Picasso. You can comfortably look at and enjoy the artistic style of this talented artist with about 4251 paintings during his life.

In addition, the museum also keeps information and biography of the artist Picasso, as well as will reveal to visitors about the artist's deep relationship with the city of Barcelona throughout his creative life from the youth time until he passed away.

You can take advantage of booking tickets in advance to avoid running out of tickets for that day. In addition, admission tickets will be closed and no longer sold about 30 minutes before closing time. The museum will be closed every Monday.

So you can only visit from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10 am to 7 pm. In addition, there will be times when the entrance fee is free every first Sunday of each month and Thursday afternoon from 4 pm to 7 pm.

The normal ticket price if you visit is €12. You will receive a discount if you are a citizen between the ages of 18 and 25, a student, an employee of the Barcelona library, an elderly person aged 65 or over, unemployed or pink card holders, so the total price for you would be €7.

You can check the time availability and booking ticket online here.

6. Bogatell Beach - Enjoy Outdoor Chill

If you want to get outdoors and soak up the sun, you can head to the beaches to enjoy the sunny days. You can come to Bogatell Beach to enjoy the summer feels. The beach is shared with a stream that once flowed from the Vilapicina town area down the boulevard of the same name, which will empty into the sea.

Bogatell Beach is about 702 meters long and is one of the famous beaches in this country with quite clean and clear seawater. You can go to the beach very easily by public transport such as buses and subways.

There are convenient bathrooms and showers for everyone. There is a police station nearby so you will also feel more secure. The beach always has a lifeguard on duty, free wifi for you to surf the web and update photos on social networks.

There are many practice fields for popular sports such as volleyball, table tennis, basketball, beach soccer, canteen area, and rental of beach equipment which is very convenient.

7. Casa Milà - Artistic Masterpiece by Antoni Gaudi

This place is also known as La Pedrera, Quarry because of its creatively rough shape. This is a building built in the direction of modernism in Barcelona. This place was once the residence of Lord Pere Milà and his wife.

The building has a stone facade and wavy surface, wrought-iron balconies with a curved shape, designed and supervised by architect Antoni Gaudi. The unusual shape of the building caused waves of fierce controversy at that time. Since 2013, the building has been used as a place to manage visits for tourists, exhibitions, and organize cultural and educational activities.

You can choose activities according to your liking to experience cultural activities and enjoy the peak. Each type of activity will have its ticket price because it also includes accompanying services.

Rest assured that if you are unable to make it, the fare will be fully refunded to you. The building is open to visitors from Monday to Sunday and on public holidays from 9 am to 6.30 pm. Alternatively, you can join the tour at night from 7 pm to 10 pm.

You can check the ticket booking and more information here.

8. La Rambla - The Large Pedestrian Square

Photo by Yoav Aziz on Unsplash

This is a large square located in the city centre of Barcelona. This street is about 1.2km long and is covered with a lot of cool green trees, very suitable for those who want to take a walk and let in the interesting things they will meet on the way. From La Rambla, you can go out to Placa de Catalunya and the monument of the great explorer Christopher Columbus.

Then, from La Rambla, it forms a boundary with the neighbourhoods of Barri Gotic to the east and El Raval to the west. La Rambla is a large pedestrian square so it is very crowded with tourists, especially in the high season.

You can visit any cafe shop and enjoy a cup of coffee after a walk, or you can take pictures of the kiosks for souvenirs. However, due to the hustle and bustle atmosphere, this place is also a "business" for pickpockets, so be careful of your personal belongings when walking in La Rambla.

9. Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria - Eat All You Want

Also known as La Boqueria for short. This is a famous public market located in the Ciutat Vella district of Barcelona. Dubbed the ‘dining paradise’ of Barcelona, this is the best destination for you all foodie lovers.

You can find a lot of fresh and unique ingredients in this market. After a tiring shopping day, you can stop at one of the eateries in this market and enjoy a delicious meal here.

There are many dishes that you will want to enjoy, so prepare an empty stomach so you can eat to your heart's content. Coming to this dining paradise, the dishes are varied and delicious with very affordable prices.

You can pay by credit and debit card, many shops and merchants accept the card payment method. However, the market is only open for business from Monday to Saturday, from 8 am - 8.30 pm.

Here is the official website for more information.

10. Magic Fountain of Montjuïc - Watch the Brilliant Water Music Shows

In Spanish, this fountain is called Fuente Mágica de Montjuic. This is a fountain located at the top of Avinguda Maria Cristina in the Montjuic neighbourhood, Barcelona.

The fountain was built for the Barcelona International Exposition in 1929. The fountain spewed approximately 700 Gallon of water per second through 3620 jets to create an effect on the coloured background. The highest point reached by the fountain of Montjuic is 170 feet.

In 1980, this fountain was integrated with a performance combining music and light, collaborating with the National Museum of Spain to perform during the 1992 Summer Olympics.

Water music performances include famous films, classical and modern music such as The Godfather, Lord of the Rings, Gladiator, the Spanish zarzuela movement, the Barcelona version of Freddie Mercury and Monsterrat Caballé along with modern pop songs.

Coming to the Montjuic fountain, you will witness the unprecedented vibrant and lively water music shows. The shows will run for 30 minutes every weekend.

11. Parque de atracciones Tibidabo - Happy Land for Everyone!

This is an amusement park located on Tibidabo, Collserola Ridge, Barcelona. Built-in 1899 by businessman Salvador Andreu and officially opened in 1905. The park is considered one of Spain's oldest theme parks still in operation.

The park retains some of its original design and is currently owned by the Barcelona City Council. You can reach the park by public transport such as bus and tram. Coming to this park, you will be able to comfortably participate in thrilling and indoor games.

You should try once to step on the Giradabo wheel, the largest wheel of this park to be able to enjoy the panoramic view of Barcelona city from above with the ticket price of €19 for adults and €10.50 for children that have the height from 90 to 120 cm. If you want to visit the theme park, the ticket price will be €35 for adults and children from 90 - 120 cm tall is €14.

You can go to the official website to check the opening hours depending on your schedule.

12. Santa Maria del Mar - Typical Catalan Cathedral Style

Lohen11, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Also known as the Church of Saint Mary of the Sea, located in the Ribera district, Barcelona. At the height of commerce in the region - the 1329s to the 1383s, it was one of the Catalan Gothic architectural styles that came with consistency in design style and uniqueness compared to other buildings of the same time.

The Ribera Cathedral is surrounded by narrow streets, so it is only up close that you can admire the whole of this novel building. At the back of the church, most are decorated with rose-patterned windows. In addition, images of Saint Peter and Saint Paul are inlaid into the niches on both sides of the west door, and there is also an image of the Redeemer next to the Virgin Mary and Saint John.

When going inside the church, you will find the space here is decorated very gently and cozy. With three aisles forming a uniform space and no boundary line with the nave and the front house. The dome has simple lines with an octagonal mast that helps to reduce the glare from outside light sources.

13. Arc de Triomf - Sightseeing the Spanish Triumphal Gate

Surely, you are too familiar with the triumphal gate in Paris and want to come here again. Barcelona's Arc de Triomf, a majestic red brick triumphal arch, won't let you down. Built for the 1888 World's Fair by Josep Vilaseca I Casanovas, it stands proudly at the end of the Passeig de Lluís Companys, the city's central promenade.

The Arc de Triomphe is built of red bricks in the Neo-Mudejar direction. On the gate is a relief engraved with the words that mean that Barcelona always welcomes nations. Opposite this relief is a stone sculpture called Recompensa, an early work of art by Josep Llimona - symbolising the prestigious awards of the World Exhibition.

14. Aquarium Barcelona - Experience The Vivid Reproduction of the Ocean World

This is an aquarium located in Port Vell - a harbour in Barcelona. With a capacity of about 35 fish tanks and 11,000 marine species with a diversity of up to 451 species, visitors can come here to see the miniature ocean world.

The aquarium here is 36m in diameter, 5m deep and 80m long and has a capacity of 5,000. 000 litres of water can become a small ocean for sharks, rays and other large fishes.

Opening times depend on each day, not fixed, so you will need to go to the official website to find out the opening time depending on your schedule. Children under 2 years old will have free admission.

There are 2 types of tickets including standard and flexible. The flexible ticket will be a bit more expensive, but you will have the option to choose any date of visit and the ticket is valid for 3 months from the date of purchase.

Children may be eligible for a reduced fare if you present appropriate identification. Alternatively, you can participate in outside events including the Underwater Observer, Dive with the Sharks - however you will need to demonstrate age and health eligibility to participate as the above activities will be below the water for quite some time.

For more information, please access the official website.

15. Museum Nacional d'Art de Catalunya - Travel Back in Time and Enjoy Ancient Art Exhibitions

Photo by Kristijan Arsov on Unsplash

Do you love exhibitions of ancient art from the XI-XX centuries? Then this museum will be the right place for you. This is a national exhibition museum of Catalan visual arts located in Barcelona, located on the Montjuic hill at the end of the Avinguda de la Reina Maria Cristina.

Here, you will be overwhelmed with outstanding collections of modern paintings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Housed in the Palau Nacional - an old Italian-style building dating from 1929, has been declared a national museum since 1990 under the Museums Law officially announced by the Catalan government.

It is also one of the largest museums in Spain. During winter, the museum is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10 am to 6 pm. On weekends and public holidays, it will be open from 10 am to 3 pm. The normal ticket price will be €12, but if you want to see thematic exhibitions you will need to keep track of the ticket price of that theme.

Here is the official website for your information.

16. Passeig de Gràcia - Immerse Yourself in the Walks

This is one of the great avenues in Barcelona. It is also the city's most important business and shopping area. In addition, it also contains the famous architecture of Barcelona and is located in the centre of Eixample.

If you are tired of going into indoor places, you can head to this avenue to enjoy comfortable walks. You can shop here, but consider the price because staying on this avenue is quite expensive.

17. Parc del Laberint d'Horta - Immerse Yourself into a Fairytale Garden

Parc del Laberint d'Horta is an old garden located in Guinardo, Barcelona. Formerly located in a garden owned by the Desvalls family on the side of the Collserola mountain, the park includes an 18th-century neoclassical garden and a modern 19th-century romantic garden with a width of about 9.1 ha. On the terrace is the famous hedge maze that made this garden famous.

The park is being used as a garden museum with a limited number of 750 visitors at a time to preserve the ecological environment, control the safety of visitors when visiting the garden, and ensure the structure of the garden is always stable.

Since 1993, it has been used as the venue for the Center de Formacio Del Laberint - an educational institution specializing in horticulture owned by the city of Barcelona.

The park is surrounded by numerous sculptures, some citing passages from Greek mythology and folk tales, along with fountains, springs, and pools within the garden grounds. You can come here for free on Wednesdays and Sundays. If you love to explore and decipher the way, then the blue maze garden is the right place for you!

18. Gran Teatre del Liceu - Seize Every Moment with Operas

If you want to enjoy opera plays and be immersed in a classic atmosphere, you can come to Gran Teatre del Liceu. This is an opera house on La Rambla and was officially opened in 1847. Along with this theatre, there is a metro station named after.

Many operas have been performed here to honour and introduce classical art to everyone. Over time, the theatre only had 2 facades because the other sides were limited. However, some parts of the architecture are still kept intact with a very romantic and poetic decoration style with paintings with a hint of old Europe.

The theatre is open from Monday to Friday, from 10 am to 7 pm. Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm, and on Sundays and public holidays, the theatre will be closed. Ticket prices will vary depending on the seating position, the play and whether the audience in the auditorium exceeds 70% or not.

You can check the ticket prices of the plays right here.

19. Museu de la Xocolata - Enjoy the art of chocolate

This is a private museum in Barcelona, owned by Gremio de Pasteleria de Barcelona - The Pastry Association of Barcelona. The museum was officially opened in 2000 at Calle Comercio 36, El Born, Ciudad Vieja on the site of an old barracks.

The museum displays the history and origins of chocolate, chocolate sculptures, including famous buildings in Barcelona, and illustrations from different genres of stories.

The interesting thing is the chocolate-making workshop at this museum. You can join workshops and other activities to enrich your experience. The ticket price for a single entry is €6, and what's more special, this is an authentic chocolate bar! You can eat it during the tour. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 am to 7 pm.

You can book slots and get more information here.

20. Barcelona Port - Sightseeing Cruise Ship while Stopping

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If you are passionate about logistics or want to see large yachts, you can go to Barcelona harbour. This port is about 2000 years old and plays a very important role in Spain's sea trade until now. It is also the largest port of Catalonia and the third-largest container terminal in Spain with a trade milestone of 3.42 million TEUs in 2018. The port is under the management of the Port Authority of Barcelona.

The port is divided into three main areas: Vell port, a port for commerce and industry, and finally a port for logistics. If you stand at this harbour, you will sometimes be able to admire the large yachts that are docking or stopping.

21. Virreina Palace - Stop in Time and Enjoy the 1770s Vibe

Palace Virreina is a building built in the 1770s in the city of Barcelona and is located on the famous La Rambla avenue. The palace is being used to host temporary art exhibitions and art and cultural events by the Cultural Institute of Barcelona city council.

The palace was built specifically for the Viceroy of Peru, Sir Manuel d'Amat I de Junyent and named after his wife. The main architecture of the palace is baroque style combined with rococo, creating a gentle classic but still exuding luxury. You can enter for free and enjoy the many unique photo exhibitions here about the memorable historical landmarks of Barcelona.

22. Montjuïc Communications Tower - Spreading the Olympic 1992’s Spirit

Also known as Torre Calatrava or Torre Telefónica. This is the telecommunications tower of the Montjuic neighbourhood, Barcelona. This tower was built from 1989 to 1992. Telefónica built this tower with the purpose of broadcasting television about the 1992 Olympic Games to the people of Barcelona.

The tower was built with a height of 136m and painted white, located in Olympic Park. The tower has a hidden image symbolizing the athlete holding the Olympic Flame in his hand with the determination to win with the spirit of chivalry. The base of the tower is created from broken bricks and tiles, they are all designed and built under the supervision of architect Gaudi.

23. Palau Reial de Pedralbes - A Little Recall of 1910s

Photo by Manuel Torres Garcia on Unsplash

Palau Reial de Pedralbes is a large building located in the middle of a large garden in the Les Corts district, Barcelona. This used to be the resting place of the Spanish Royal Family when they came to Barcelona from 1919 to 1931.

When the monarchy ended, the mansion was opened in 1932 to visitors. This place still retains the furniture and items in 3 rooms of the old Royal family members who were exiled to remote islands through many political institutions of Spain.

The palace is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10 am to 6 pm. In addition, the palace will be closed for the public holidays. With a ticket price of 5€, you can visit the splendid palace and see the living space of the former Royal members. On Sunday afternoon and the first Sunday of the month, admission is free.

24. FC Barcelona Museum - Precious Moment Spend for Football Lovers!

Are you a fan of FC Barcelona? Then this is the place for you to know a lot more about your idol through the ages - the FC Barcelona museum. The museum was built in 1984 during the presidency of Josep Lluis Nunez. After a lot of restructuring, the museum has been reopened to welcome visitors. The restructuring has made the museum much more lively and interesting.

The museum is divided into three sections including a 3D cinema, touch screens and information on the history of FC Barcelona. You can book the Camp Nou Experience combo package that includes both museum admission and a stadium tour. You'll admire a collection of photographs, documents, and titles detailing their origins and timelines achieved through an interactive glass wall. Visitors will be able to touch the screen to drag and read information about the team. In addition, you can enable viewing of videos, photos or music on demand through this glass wall. Ticket prices start at 30 € for the Camp Nou Experience ticket and increase gradually according to the service package you choose, can go up to 150€ for the full experience package of visiting private places, with access to the pressroom, Barca players' changing room and accompanying gifts.

25. Tablao Flamenco Cordobes Barcelona - Dance the Nights Away

You can experience the hot and passionate flamenco dance here - Tablao Flamenco Cordobes restaurant. It is managed by a family of artists with a reputation in the flamenco industry, who implement the strictest standards to preserve and promote the spiritual values of flamenco dance. Because of the professionalism and tradition of the managers here, the dance sessions here are highly appreciated by the dance experts.

When you come here, you will experience the traditional standard flamenco dance as well as the processes that make up a passionate flamenco dance. In addition, you can also watch live flamenco shows performed by elite artists. You can also enjoy typical Spanish dishes to the fullest. The ticket price for a meal at this restaurant will be about 51 € and the restaurant will be open from 9 am - 1 pm.

Conclusion

Hope that this collection helps you while choosing which activities that should be done during your stay at Barcelona. If you have any idea, please do not hesitate to share it with us and hit your comment below. Enjoy your trip!

Nhi Hoang