Barcelona attractions / Things to do in Barcelona Spain

Things to do in Barcelona city

Places to visit, tourist attractions & sightseeing Barcelona Spain

Barcelona Tourist Attractions

An overview of all the top Barcelona tourist attractions, landmarks, parks, sightseeing and best places to visit in Barcelona Spain. Best things to do in Barcelona city.

Top 20 Things to do in Barcelona Spain - Attractions & Landmarks

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 tourist attractions Barcelona. Click one of the best must-see highlights for more information on this unique sightseeing, museum, landmark or attraction:

Sagrada Familia

1. Top attraction: Sagrada Familia

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 tickets for the Sagrada Familia several days in advance!

Park Guell

2. Visit Park Güell

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.

Casa Battlo Barcelona

4. Casa Battló, must see of Gaudì

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.

Sights Barcelona La Rambla

7. Tourist spot: Las Ramblas

Las Ramblas is the busiest street in Barcelona 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.

Montjuïc Barcelona

8. Parc de Montjuïc & Magic Fountain

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.

Gothic Quarter Barcelona sightseeing

10. Sights of the Gothic quarter

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. More info 'Barri Gòtic'.

Market Boqueria highlights

11. Boqueria Market

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 'Mercat de la Boqueria'.

Hospital de Sant Pau Barcelona

12. Unique landmark: Hospital de Sant Pau

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'.

Things to do in Barcelona city

15. Parc de la Ciutadella

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 Zoo, the Castell dels Tres Dragons and via a beautiful boulevard you reach the Arc de Triomf, the old entrance gate to the park.

Port Vell

16. Port Vell, port of Barcelona city

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 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.

Visit Tibidabo

17. Tibidabo Mountain

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.

Places to visit in Barcelona Spain

19. Santa Maria del Mar

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.

Gracia

20. Things to do: Barrio de Gracia

One of the nicest areas of Barcelona city is Barrio de Gracia. This neighborhood, that 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.

Barcelona sights and landmarks

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:

See all Gaudí buildings

Barcelona Museums

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.

See all Barcelona museums

Barcelona Parks

All parks in Barcelona

Squares in Barcelona Spain

Other famous places to visit in Barcelona

Other attractions, landmarks, must-sees, things to do and places to visit in Barcelona Spain are:

Things to do: Day trips in Catalonia

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 Guell

Colonia Güell (23 km)

The village of Colonia Güell with Gaudi's unfinished crypt

Montserrat

Montserrat (50 km)

Visit this Montserrat mountain with the Benedictine monastery

Dali museum Spain

Museo Dalí (147 km)

The surrealistic museum of Salvador Dalí in the town Figueres

Tarragona tourist attractions

Tarragona (100 km)

On the coast lies Tarragona with a Roman history

More day trips from Barcelona

Visit Barcelona city

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 this 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.

Faqs Things to do in Barcelona Spain

What are the sights in Barcelona?

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.

Which sightseeing activities are free in Barcelona?

Unfortunately you have to buy tickets for many 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 activities.

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.

barcelona attractions

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4.8 (95.83%) 13 reviews
July 10, 2023 : "We had an amazing trip to Barcelona city because of the interesting local tips for sightseeing, activities and best things to do in Barcelona Spain."