What are the top Barcelona tourist attractions, landmarks, must see highlights, sightseeing and best places to visit in Barcelona Spain? Best things to do in Barcelona city.
What to do in Barcelona city? Barcelona in Spain is a city full of museums, parks, Antoni Gaudí landmarks and other highlights. Barcelona city offers more than just the attractions and famous sights such as the Sagrada Familia, Park Guell and Camp Nou. During your Barcelona visit, these are the top 20 of the most famous and most popular Barcelona tourist attractions. Click one of the best must-see highlights for more information on this unique sightseeing, museum, landmark or attraction:
The absolute number 1 attraction in Barcelona Spain is the Sagrada Familia; the holy cathedral designed by Antoni Gaudí. The unfinished church will probably be completed in 2026 and has to be part of your city break. Be sure to always buy your tickets for the Sagrada Familia several days in advance!
Park Guell is the famous park with mosaic benches and the salamander. This Park Guell is a sightseeing must-see when visiting Barcelona. However, only a limited number of visitors are admitted every hour. The park used to be free, but now you have to purchase your tickets in advance.
Visit the FC Barcelona Camp Nou stadium. Take the Camp Nou Experience tour and see the dressing rooms, trophies, and all the parts of the stadium, or attend one of Barca's matches. The Camp Nou stadium is a must see for every football lover.
Casa Batlló is a building with apartments designed by Antoni Gaudí, completely in the style of Catalan Modernism. The shapes of the house are based on the legend of George and the dragon. You will be amazed at the many beautiful details, colors and mosaics. In this article an overview of all buildings of Gaudi in Barcelona city, but for me personally Casa Batlló the most beautiful house of Antoni Gaudí.
Another beautiful building designed by Antoni Gaudí is Casa Milà, also known as 'La Pedrera'. Translated, this means the 'quarry', named after the rugged appearance of the complex. The roof terrace with its special chimneys is more than worth a visit. More info 'Casa Milà (La Pedrera)'.
The museum of Pablo Picasso is located in the district La Ribera. The Museu Picasso has over 4,000 works of art by the painter Pablo Picasso who spent an important part of his life in this city.
Las Ramblas is the busiest street in Barcelona Spain with its flower stalls, plane trees, street musicians, and living statues. It's the most touristy place in the city and the spot to get souvenirs. One of the most crowded places to visit in Barcelona.
The Montjuïc is the most famous mountain of the city with dozens of sights, including Palau Nacional, Foundation Joan Miró, Poble Espanyol, the Olympic Stadium, the cable car, and the magical fountain 'Font Magica' with its fountain show of water and light.
The Palau de la Música is one of the most beautiful concert buildings in the style of Catalan Modernism. Visit a concert or take a tour through this Modernist palace of music. More info about visiting 'Palau de la Música'.
The Barri Gòtic is the Gothic Quarter in Barcelona's historical city centre, with the Barcelona cathedral and famous squares such as Plaça Reial and Plaça Sant Jaume. Wander the small, picturesque streets in the historical city centre near the Rambas. What to do in Barcelona's 'Barri Gòtic'?
Mercat de la Boqueria, or the Mercat de Sant Josep, is the colourful produce market on the Ramblas. The Boqueria market is the perfect place to start the day by tasting and experiencing Catalan flavours and smells. More info for visiting the Barcelona highlight of 'Mercat de la Boqueria'.
Fun activity: Last time I visited the market with this amazing market tour where a chef will take you to the market, you will get a paella workshop and also taste different tapas.
The hospital is one of the prime examples of Catalan modernist architecture. With its main building and many pavilions, the former complex of Hospital de Sant Pau is one of my favorite (less touristy) spots in Barcelona Spain. More info 'Hospital de Sant Pau'.
Special: November 21 - January 14: The Lights of Sant Pau & Christmas Garden (book your tickets)
One of the best things to do in Barcelona is to discover the Barcelona tourist attractions is by bike. Barcelona city has an extensive network of cycle paths, certainly also along the beach. Rent a bike yourself or even better, join this bike tour with an inspiring guide and discover the best parts of the city. Find out more about bike tours: 'more info & bike tour bookings'.
At the top of Montjuïc mountain is the Castell de Montjuïc, the 18th century fortress with a brutal history. The best way to reach the top is with the Telefèric de Montjuïc, the funicular to the castle where you will enjoy one of the most beautiful views of Barcelona.
Free things to do in Barcelona: Next to the El Born district, in the center of Barcelona, is the beautiful city park of the World Exhibition of 1888. In the Ciutadella Park you will find tourist attractions like the Font de Cascada (photo), the Barcelona Zoo, the Castell dels Tres Dragons and via a beautiful boulevard you reach the Arc de Triomf, the old entrance gate to the park.
At the end of the Ramblas, near the statue of Columbus, you will arrive at the port of Barcelona. In this area you will find highlights like the marina, where you can take a boat tour, or you will find the large shopping center Mare Magnum and the largest aquarium in Europe, l'Aquarium. For great views you take the funicular over the harbor. Read all about the places to visit in Barcelona's Port Vell.
Tibidabo is the 512 meter high mountain on the outskirts of Barcelona. You can reach the top with a cogwheel train, after which you can do three things on top of the mountain. You can visit the amusement park 'Parque de Atracciones del Tibidabo', visit the church 'Iglesia del Sagrat Cor', and the main reason is the phenomenal view from Tibidabo.
The Catalan city is full of fine museums, including a number of appealing art museums. Besides the Picasso museum the most popular museums are the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya in the Palau Nacional, the Fundacio Joan Miró and the science museum Cosmo Caixa. This article provides an overview of all Museums in Barcelona.
The 14th century Basilica di Santa María del Mar is located in the district of La Ribera. It was built in the heyday of Catalonia as a trading and maritime nation. It is possible to visit the beautiful basilica, crypts and towers. The surrounding district of La Ribera is also a nice area to discover with many art galleries, boutiques and bars.
What to do in Barcelona's Barrio de Gracia? This neighborhood is one of the nicest areas of Barcelona city and is popular with the locals, is still authentic and not very touristy. In the district you will find lively squares and original shops. Highlights include the festive week in August and the building of Casa Vicens, one of Gaudí's masterpieces.
Flamenco is the music, song and dance of Spain, especially the southern provinces of Spain. Are you looking for a fun activity in the evening? In the center of Barcelona you can enjoy several beautiful flamenco shows in the evening. Learn more about visiting flamenco shows at Tablao Flamenco Cordobes and Los Tarantos.
One of the most beautiful day trips you can make from Barcelona is a visit to Montserrat. Montserrat is a majestic mountain located approximately 56 kilometers away from the city. This mountain is not only known for its breathtaking natural beauty, but also for the Montserrat Monastery. Read more about 'visiting Montserrat' from Barcelona
In addition to characteristic buildings, Barcelona landmarks and sights by Gaudi, such as the Sagrada Familia, Casa Mila, and Casa Batlló, the city in Spain has many more unique buildings and Barcelona monuments that are worth visiting:
In addition to the Museo Picasso, Barcelona city offers many other famous museums, such as the Miro Museum, Maritime museum and the MNAC in Palau Nacional.
Other attractions, landmarks, must-sees, things to do and places to visit in Barcelona Spain are:
Around Barcelona city (in Catalonia) you can find some popular attractions and sights, which can be visited on a day trip. Read more of the best day trips from Barcelona, like visiting amazing cities like Girona and Tarragona or to visit the surrealistic museum of Salvador Dali in Figueres.
Colonia Güell (23 km)
The village of Colonia Güell with Gaudi's unfinished crypt
Montserrat (50 km)
Visit this Montserrat mountain with the Benedictine monastery
Museo Dalí (147 km)
The surrealistic museum of Salvador Dalí in the town Figueres
Tarragona (100 km)
On the coast lies Tarragona with a Roman history
Barcelona is Spain's second-largest city with 1.6 million 'Barcelonians' and 4.9 million inhabitants for the wider metropolis. The city was founded over 2,000 years ago and played an important role for all those years, in part because of its strategic location by the sea. The hill Montjuic with its fort was strategically located with a view of the sea and the beach. In all those centuries, metropolis Barcelona was influenced by different cultures.
Over the years, Barcelona Spain has been welcoming to the rest of the world. That is why the city shows many influences and historical Barcelona sights and Barcelona landmarks from the 1888 and 1929 World Fairs, as well as the 1992 Olympics. Combine these 'things to do in Barcelona' with its mild, pleasant mediterranean climate, delicious Catalan cuisine, a vibrant nightlife, a paradise of shops, and the many works by artists and architects such as Gaudi, Picasso, and Miro. All of this has made Barcelona a top tourist destination, number seven on the list of the most visited cities in Europe. Prepare your Barcelona city trip carefully; the hotels are popular and tourist attractions such as the Sagrada Família and Park Güell have long queues and are often sold out. Take your time to read through all the tips for your Barcelona visit, and you'll be sure to have some unforgettable days in this wonderful city.
Things to do in Barcelona Spain: Barcelona city has everything for the perfect city trip in Spain. This city in Catalonia has a great wealth of architecture, art and culture (including many museums and monuments) and is therefore the most visited city in Spain with 7.5 million tourists per year. Our Barcelona travel guide gives you the best tips about the Barcelona tourist attractions, monuments and landmarks for a successful city trip in Barcelona and Spain. Everywhere during your city trip in Barcelona you will come across landmarks and works by architect Antoni Gaudí and the city has several buildings on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Artists such as Picasso and Miro are world famous. In addition, Barcelona Spain is also the perfect city to enjoy delicious food (tapas) and drinks, to shop, to relax on the beach and to dive into the vibrant nightlife. Enjoy the visit of the Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, Camp Nou, the most beautiful concert hall in the world Palau de la Musica Catalana or Casa Mila, one of the wonders of artist Antoni Gaudí. Welcome to Barcelona, city of Gaudi.
Choose your Top 20 Barcelona sightseeing, museums, or must see highlights for your city break and city trip from the list above. For each tourist attraction and highlight, you can read more information on the opening hours, tickets, location, and tours of these Barcelona landmarks. Read about also more about Things to do in Barcelona with kids.
In the list of Top 20 Barcelona sights you will find buildings by Gaudi such as the Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, Casa Mila (La Pedrera) and Casa Batllo. Other highlights in the city are the Camp Nou stadium, the Gothic Quarter with the cathedral, the Ramblas and the Palau de la Musica Catalana. Read all about the Barcelona tourist attractions.
Do I have to book tickets for the Sagrada Familia?Gaudi's unfinished church is by far Barcelona's most popular attraction and is notorious for its long waiting times. To avoid disappointment, we always recommend that you book tickets online, as the church is regularly sold out in high season. Read more about booking Sagrada Familia tickets.
What are free things to do in Barcelona?Unfortunately you have to buy tickets for many Barcelona attractions, but you can also enjoy the city with little money. Visit the atmospheric Parc de la Ciutadella, the beautiful beaches, watch street artists on the Ramblas or enjoy the Boqueria fresh market. You get a phenomenal free view at the Bunkers del Carmel. Read all about free things to do in Barcelona.
What can you see on the Montjuïc?Montjuïc is Barcelona's most famous hill. On the hill you will find the cable car to the Castell de Montjuïc, the museum of Joan Miró, the Olympic stadium and a magnificent view of the Palau Nacional with the magic fountain show. More information about the sights of the Montjuïc.
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