The 22 Best Things to do In Barcelona, Spain in 2023 (with photos!)

TL;DR

Want a quick look at our favorite things to do in Barcelona? Here is our quick look at the best things to do in Barcelona, Spain.

The 22 Best Things to do in Barcelona

1. La Sagrada Familia

The most iconic landmark and must-visit tourist attraction for first-time visitors.

Website • 📍 Google Maps • Tel: +34 932 08 04 14

La Sagrada Familia is the most essential, must-visit tourist attraction in Barcelona. Designed by the iconic architect Antoni Gaudí, this is the largest unfinished church in the entire world. Construction remains ongoing, and though it is expected to finish in 2026, many believe that it may never be finished at all because of how many tourists it draws in.

Over 4.5 million people attempt to make the trip to the temple every year, and it’s actually necessary for you to book online in advance if you want a chance at getting inside. Typically, you have to book at least three months in advance. Alternatively, there are tours that allow you to skip the line, but book those in advance to secure a spot, as they are likely to sell out quickly, too.

La Sagrada Familia has two towers, which you have to pay extra to access while visiting. The Passion Façade is the taller tower while the Nativity Façade allows access to a small footbridge. An elevator brings you up, but you have to climb down the winding, extremely narrow staircase on your own – which is all part of the experience, to be fair!

But you don’t need to go to the towers to enjoy the stunning stained glass, beautiful interior architecture, and undeniable grandeur of it all. If you can’t get a ticket, head to the Ayre Hotel Rosellón and go up to the roof terrace to still get an eyeful!

2. Park Güell

A one of a kind architectural wonder.

Website • 📍 Google Maps • Tel: +34 934 09 18 31

Park Güell is a unique location in Carmel Hill, designed by Antoni Gaudí and built during his naturalist phase, between 1900 and 1914.

Originally, the park was meant to be a part of the private city of the wealthy Count Eusebi Güell, who wanted the project to contain 60 private homes within a self-contained area. The residency failed, leading to its transformation into a municipal park, which opened its doors in 1924.

Along the north of Park Güell, you’ll be able to see gorgeous views of the small city built by Gaudí, contained by a scalloped exterior perimeter. Among the interesting sights are el drac, which is a large salamander that stands at the main entrance gate, and a huge bench that looks like a serpent of the sea.

There’s something very picturesque about Park Güell and its carefully curated plants and gardens, Doric columns, cobblestone, and tiled streets, curved viaducts, and arboretums. That may be why Park Güell is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

You can buy a ticket in advance to gain access to the park, or you can book a guided tour to learn more about the history of Park Güell.

3. Museu Nacional D’Art de Catalunya

A grandiose museum whose infrastructure is as amazing as its exhibits.

Website • 📍 Google Maps • Tel +34 936 22 03 60

The Museu Nacional D’Art de Catalunya, or the MNAC, rests on Barcelona’s Montjüic hill. From the get-go, it boasts a dramatic style that catches the eye – a grand stairway leads upwards (though escalators are also installed), and as you approach the entrance, waterfalls cascade on either side, as well as cubed topiaries and bushes.

But it’s the interior of the museum that holds even more impressive sights. The museum’s exhibits are divided into four zones, and each zone is designed in a maze-like structure that brings you from one style to a vastly different one in seconds, shocking you with variation and diversity.

The first zone is the Medieval Romanesque, which features frescoes extracted from World Heritage churches with Strappo techniques. The second zone is the Medieval Gothic and Renaissance zone. Finally, the last two rooms are focused on Modern Art. Some traveling exhibits also come around regularly.

If you plan on experiencing the Museum on your trip to Barcelona make sure you grab your tickets in advance so you can skip the line!

4. Museu d’Història de Barcelona

Get a closer look at the unique history of Barcelona.

Website • 📍 Google Maps • Tel: +34 932 56 21 00

Museu d’Història de Barcelona is essentially the city’s history museum. Its tales begin all the way back in 10 BC when the Roman Barcino was first erected and Emperor Augustus first came into power. The museum highlights many of the town’s ruins, including sewers, streets, factories, and more.

This museum contains a former portion of the Palau Reial Major, adding to its historical eminence. You can walk in through Casa Padellàs, built for a noble family in the 16th century and moved to its current spot stone-by-stone, then follow its path to a Roman tower and wall section that have been restored over time.

Head below ground to walk through Roman and Visigothic Barcelona that has been excavated, covering around 4 square kilometers of space. You’ll learn about how the standard Roman Domus looked, and then pass outside to public streets until you reach Cardo Minor, which showcases popular foods of the Roman Empire, including garum.

Next, you’ll view church and episcopal buildings from the 6th and 7th centuries, winemaking shops, ramparts that go to Palau Episcopal, a display on medieval Barcelona, and finally the ticket office at Plaça del Rei.

From there, explore the banquet hall of Saló del Tinell, the palace chapel of Capella Reial de Santa Àgata, and the lookout tower of Mirador del Rei Martí.

5. La Boqueria

Spend a day shopping at the massive market and grab some food.

Website • 📍 Google Maps • Tel +34 933 18 25 84

La Boqueria dates back to 1217, making it the oldest market in Barcelona.

Over 200 stalls are set up and run from 8 am to 8:30 pm, with the best shopping time being from 10 am to midday or right before closing for bargains. The smell of the salt of fresh, fried ocean fish permeates the whole area, punctuated by the calls of traders bargaining and greeting customers.

Although many tourists wander through the frontmost stalls and flock for pictures, the market is still primarily filled with locals buying produce and other items. This is likely why the deeper you venture into the market, the better the overall prices.

If you’ve got the money to spend, buy some jamón ibérico, sample Catalan sausage, and try out other local favorites like botifarra, calçots, turró, and fruit smoothies.

If you have the patience and the grit, try and grab a seat at an eatery in the market, especially El Quim de la Boqueria and Kiosko Universal. You can also get more involved and book a tour with a cooking class!

6. Camp Nou

Home of Barcelona FC and a museum celebrating the team’s history.

Website • 📍 Google Maps • Tel +34 902 18 99 00

Camp Nou is the home stadium of the Barcelona Football Club. If you’re a football fan, you can catch a La Liga match with FC Barcelona playing.

You can usually get tickets 2 or 3 days before a match with no issue unless it’s against a very high league team – or an El Clásico match of FC Barcelona against Real Madrid, their rivals. Only six tickets may be purchased per person.

If you’re not a fan, head to the FC Barcelona museum to learn about the soccer club’s history and prestige. You can purchase Camp Nou Experience tickets for access to the museum, an opportunity to sit on the bench of the first team, a chance to see the trophies won by famous striker Lionel Messi and a glimpse into the players’ tunnel.

If you want to check out both the stadium and the museum, you can book a guided tour in advance.

7. Fundació Joan Miró

Showcasing the art of the beloved artist

Website • 📍 Google Maps • Tel +34 934 43 94 70

Joan Miró was a prolific and much-loved Catalonian artist, and Fundació Joan Miró showcases his work in all its glory. The artist had the building built himself in the 60s in order to boost contemporary art appreciation in the city, and the building was designed by Josep Lluís Sert and Miró.

Inside the museum, Miró’s works stand side-by-side in harmony, with drawings, paintings, and sculptures all made by the artist – over 10,000 in total, ranging from his earlier works in Surrealism and his later works inspired by Dadaist styles. Some temporary exhibitions also showcase modern art.

There are some works you shouldn’t miss, like the hilarious Man and Woman in Front of a Pile of Excrement by Miró, or the Calder Mercury Fountain, which is not by the titular artist.

This fountain, now kept safely behind panes of glass to prevent fume inhalation or touching, continually pumps the silvery mercury metal in a beautiful and unusual display.

Make sure you grab your tickets in advance so you don’t have to worry about lining up.

8. Casa Batlló

A stunning architectural work of art

Website • 📍 Google Maps • Tel +34 932 16 03 06

Casa Batlló is a stunning architectural work of art – though it is a bit confusing. It was a commission to Antoni Gaudí by Josep Batlló, a textile industrialist, who hired Gaudí after being impressed with his work on Park Güell. The goal was simple – create a home that none of Batlló’s family members would have a similar style to. Most would agree the effort succeeded.

Casa Batlló does not have any straight lines in its structure, as Gaudí was influenced by nature, which he said doesn’t have straight lines. As such, pillars are contorted and the shape undulates, inspired by the mythical dragon slain by St Jordi. A stairwell tower in a deep ocean blue and stained glass shards cover its surfaces at every turn, sparkling in different hues.

Booking tickets in advance will let you enter the Casa Batlló, which provides guests with a smartphone that has a VR tool that overlays the home’s original designs over its current ones while providing audio guidance. The courtyard, serene and coated in tiles, is also worth checking out.

9. Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona

Well-known and acclaimed center for contemporary art

Website • 📍 Google Maps • Tel +34 934 12 08 10

Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona, or MACBA, was opened in 1995. Its modern design is courtesy of Richard Meier, and MACBA is now the most respected and well-known center for contemporary art in Barcelona. It is packed with all sorts of exhibitions. Spread across three floors.

The permanent collection focuses on art from the latter part of the 20th century, with a focus on Catalan and Spanish art. Both local and international artists have their works on display here.

The other two floors are open to temporary and traveling exhibitions of all kinds. Much of the art is accompanied by events or talks, allowing art to be critically discussed and viewed, as opposed to merely used as a spectacle.

10. La Ramblas

One of Barcelona’s busiest streets, packed with various sites, sounds, and great food

Website • 📍 Google Maps 

La Ramblas is a street in Barcelona often considered the most famous in the city. It stretches for around one mile, beginning at Plaça Cataluyna and ending at Port Vell – and is essentially a boulevard for pedestrians to stroll and walk along. The street is lined with little stalls that sell candy, flowers, crema Catalana, and gelato, giving it an old-school, charming vibe.

The street is usually quite busy, with over 78 million people walking across it on an annual basis – 80% of which aren’t local to Barcelona. Locals often enter La Boqueria through a side entrance from here or relax on chairs to read the papers, but the rest of the people on the street are tourists.

If you go here, beware of pickpockets, and don’t be fooled by the questionable “branded” bags sold by vendors along the street.

Still, these are minor setbacks in a stunning street, which has many stunning and attractive houses designed with Catalan Modernism, including Antigua Casa Figueras, which is covered in mosaics and stained glass. You can even catch a Flamenco show at one of the area’s most historic venues.

11. Gran Teatre del Liceu

The opera house of Barcelona, where you can catch various types of live performances

Website • 📍 Google Maps • Tel +34 934 85 99 00

Gran Teatre del Liceu is the opera house of Barcelona. It is a landmark that has been open since 1847, where it served as the center of upper-class political, social, and artistic expression and entertainment.

A 1994 fire destroyed much of the theater, but it was modeled to closely resemble the style it had in 1909, with notable modern improvements.

Despite attracting a fair share of bad luck in two fires, a financial crisis, and even a bombing, Gran Teatre del Liceu stands strong today, with 2,292 seats in its main auditorium, each decorated with ornate golden carvings over its plush, comfortable red cushions.

Opera performances, concerts, and ballet are all put on in Gran Teatre del Liceu, with a number of low and reasonable offers for ticket prices. Small-format, contemporary, and full-length operas all continue to be played here, and seat-back subtitles that come in various different languages are now a part of the experience.

You can also go down to the basement, where a teeming bar lives. Children’s shows, musicals, and similar events are put on there, as well as recitals and talks before performances.

12. Picasso Museum

Museum showcasing the master painters art

Website • 📍 Google Maps • Tel +34 932 56 30 00

The Picasso Museum isn’t just in one single palace – it’s distributed across five of them. Though Barcelona is not his birthplace, Picasso moved to the city at the age of 14 and traveled regularly to return to this city as his life continued.

Studios are located downstairs, showing off some of his works, and upstairs, opulent chandeliers and meticulously painted ceilings serve as a backdrop for even more of the talented artist’s genius.

However, it’s worth noting that none of Picasso’s famous works are stored here – but you do get a look at many of his lesser-known works, like ceramics.

For the most part, you have to pay to enter the Picasso Museum, but you can get in free from 6 pm to 9.30 pm every Thursday, or on the first Sunday of every month. You can also book a guided tour in advance if you would like to skip the line.

13. Catedral de Barcelona

A huge gothic cathedral that is a popular landmark

Website • 📍 Google Maps • Tel +34 933 15 15 54

Catedral de Barcelona is a huge Gothic cathedral that once was home to a Roman temple 2,000 or so years ago.

It is known as the Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia in modern times. Eulalia was a local who fought back against Emperor Diocletian of Rome’s orders to drop her faith in Christianity, and her refusal to comply led to 13 painful years of torture, capped off with a gruesome decapitation.

The cathedral today is extremely intricate, and inside, there’s even a pond with living geese inside, all bright white – a way of honoring Eulalia’s 13 years of suffering, and tied into the legend that says a dove flew from her neck when she was beheaded.

Catedral de Barcelona is still a temple of worship today, and organ recitals are held monthly. Dress conservatively and buy tickets in advance so you get the right price for your chosen window of time.

14. Casa Vicens

A unique architectural wonder that also homes a museum

Website • 📍 Google Maps • Tel +34 932 71 10 64

Casa Vicens was built by Antoni Gaudí, and it is as iconic as it is unique. The house is a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its creativity and heritage for modern architecture. Each tile on its facade is delicately painted, the lower ones with French marigolds, and the higher ones across a domed rooftop in bright red and greenish hues.

Casa Vicens was the first of what would be seven private properties designed by Gaudí. It was commissioned by Manuel Vicens i Montaner, a stockbroker, who wanted it as a summer home. It was worked on from 1883 to 1888, and then further expanded by Joan Baptista Serra de Martínez in 1925, which contributes to the unique, mixed style of the building.

Today, Casa Vicens is a museum and has been since November 2017. 15 different rooms within have been restored with information from original tenants’ descendants and a lot of research.

Inside, you can also find furniture crafted by Gaudí himself and an impressive 32 paintings done by Francesc Torrescassana i Sallarés, a Spanish painter. You can buy your tickets in advance to ensure you don’t have to wait in line.

15. Santa Maria del Mar

Visit the most famous church in Barcelona

Website • 📍 Google Maps • Tel +34 933 10 23 90

Santa Maria del Mar is arguably the most famous church in Barcelona. The gothic house of worship served as the setting for the thriller novel Cathedral of the Sea by Ildefonso Falcones.

The building has been through its fair share of hard times. A major earthquake shook it to its core in 1428, and in 1936, arsonists attacked the church and it burned non-stop for 11 days. In fact, you can still see some of the scorch marks from that attack on the roof.

Its expansion and repairs were repeatedly merchant-funded, which lends itself to the open-arms, welcoming, and accepting policy the church still has now.

The building is very tall and very wide, and being inside brings with it a feeling of tranquility. Though the outside isn’t quite as impressive as many other architectural feats in Barcelona, it’s worth a trip for the largeness of its interior.

16. Palau de la Música Catalana

Experience the sights and sounds of the “Palace of Catalan Music”

Website • 📍 Google Maps • Tel +34 932 95 72 00

In English, Palau de la Música Catalana translates to “Palace of Catalan Music”. This UNESCO World Heritage site is beautiful to behold, with stone pillars decorated with mosaics of flowers and nature outside and luxurious chandeliers, clear stained glass, and roses peppered throughout the inside.

The building was designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner, a Modernist. Inside, a room called the Sala Lluís Millet is fitted with pillars studded with sparkling and shimmering jewels, making it a popular photo op.

Though Palau de la Música Catalana was mainly made to serve as a home base for the symphonic choir known as Orfeó Català, it has much more to offer than just that.

Operas like Carmen and La Traviata play regularly, as well as piano, flamenco, and even jazz performances. There are also family concerts put on earlier during the daytime for families with kids.

17. Casa Milà

A unique building with nautical inspirations needs to be seen

Website • 📍 Google Maps • Tel +34 932 14 25 76 • Hours • Price

Yet another Antoni Gaudí masterpiece, Casa Milà – or, as it is commonly known, La Pedrera, which translates to “The Stone Quarry” – began as an apartment for residences. Just like Casa Batlló, it has no straight lines and is made primarily with bricks and mortar, though broken cava bottles and ceramics also make their way into its creation.

At the time of its completion back in 1912, it was extremely outlandish and ahead of its time (which it still sort of is). Roser Segimon, who commissioned the home, actually became a laughing stock, but today, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The building bears the appearance of marine inspiration, with doors of kelp ribbon, balconies tangled and twisted, ceilings designed to resemble sea foam, blue patios, and a rippling design along its exterior. Its windows, asymmetrical and unusual, allow natural light to permeate the building.

Casa Milà is now a cultural center with three spaces for exhibitions. The first floor is an art gallery that showcases the works of popular artists. The upstairs area invites you to learn more about Gaudí and his style. The fourth floor is a flat designed to be reconstructed from Modernista times. You can book a guided tour through Casa Milà here.

18. Nau Bostik

Celebrate street art at this hidden gem of a museum

Website • 📍 Google Maps • Tel +34 667 75 53 47

Nau Bostik is a museum in Barcelona that doesn’t get nearly as much appreciation as it deserves. Though it is not among the more popular attractions in the city, it is worth a visit and showcases a wide range of street art. You can spot it by its mural, a striped and vibrant one stretched over the wall.

The museum is housed inside what was once a glue factory, which was abandoned back in 2006. The aforementioned mural is the work of Elian Chali, a street artist from Argentina. Inside, absolutely anything and everything is used as a place for art to be made – walls, electricity meters, doors, and more.

The street art showcased is regularly switched around, with exhibits changing weekly or even daily. Some are thought-provoking and meaningful, while others are beautiful and aesthetically pleasing, and many more are a mixture of both.

19. Explore Parc de la Ciutadella

A large green space with gardens, sculptures and attractions

If there’s one thing you can count on being free no matter where you go, it’s parks. Even in the most bustling cities, there is typically a green haven of some kind to relax in. In Barcelona, that haven is the famous Parc de la Ciutadella.

Why is the park named “citadel”? Well, it originally served as the site of a fortress built in the 18th century after the War of Spanish Succession. The fortress was taken down 150 years after that, and it became the home of the city’s first World Fair – the Great Universal Exhibition – in 1888. It was after this fair that the area was turned into a park.

The park has many spaces for walking, picnics, and exploring. Common favorites include a giant mammoth statue, ping pong tables, and a kid’s playground. It also houses these attractions:

• Cascada Monumental
• Castle of the 3 Dragons
• Catalan Parliament
• Barcelona Zoo
• The Umbracle
• Arc de Triomf

20. Explore The Roman Barcino

An area you can explore the history of Barcelona for Free

Many years ago, Romans occupied Barcelona and built structures of all kinds for the purposes of protection and war. A good many of those structures remain in bits and pieces, mainly in the form of ruins and remnants of what once was.

Some of these structures are easy enough to find, but others are more hidden and take some digging. Most importantly, however, finding and exploring them is free! Here are some to set your sights on:

• The City Wall: The entire perimeter of what was once the Roman city is easily visible and even simpler to follow. Information panels line the walls, allowing you to follow them along and learn tidbits of history as you gawp at the remainder of the walls.
• The Aqueduct: Located in Plaça del Vuit de Març, the remains of the original Roman aqueduct are attached in part to the plaza walls.
• The Necropolis: For a more spooky endeavor, take a trip to Plaça de la Vila de Madrid. Just outside the Roman city wall perimeter, you can find the necropolis.
• City History Museum: We’ve already talked about the Museu d’Història de Barcelona, but it’s worth mentioning again due to its exhibits on the Roman legacy, excavations, and more.
• The Temple of Augustus: Believe it or not, within Barcelona, there live the 2,000-year-old remains of the Temple of Augustus. In Carrer del Paradís, the Roman City’s highest point, a house contains four large columns – the only things that remain of the original temple that honored city founder and emperor Augustus.
• The Domus: Historically speaking, among the Romans, the Domus was a form of home typically lived in by the upper class or wealthy. Two of these houses are now open to the public. One is in Carrer d’Avinyó, 15, and has a beautiful set of wall murals from the era. The other is in Carrer de la Fruita, 2.

21. Relax at One of The Many Barcelona Beaches

Because you deserve it!

Just like parks, beaches are another example of locations that are almost 100% guaranteed to be free, no matter what city you’re in. Barcelona is no exception, with plenty of expanses of gorgeous white sand and lovely blue surf to experience. Here are some of the best options.

• Sant Sebastià Beach: This beachfront is right next to the port and is of Ciutat Vella. Parts of it were once known as the Sant Miquel Beach, attached to Barceloneta coastline spanning more than a kilometer. This beach isn’t far from the Barcelona city center, and it’s worth the visit for the coastline alone.
• Nova Icària Beach: In the 19th century, Ildefons Cerdà, one of the area’s city planners, had a dream of creating the ideal, utopian island – Icària. The result is this beach, which covers 400 meters of land and can be found right smack in the center of the coastline of Barcelona.
• Bogatell Beach: This beach is named after a stream that once ran through its area, which was ruined by the stink of the municipal sewer. At the time, many fishermen lived in the area. Today, however, it’s one of the most popular beaches in Barcelona after an overhaul in the 1980s.
• Nova Mar Bella Beach: This beach is named after the area where La Barcelonate was built, and “Marbella” actually means land that has been reclaimed from the water or sea. 60% of this beach’s visitors are women, and it’s also highly disability-friendly thanks to multiple walkways that lead straight to the sea over the sand.
• Zona de Banys del Fòrum: This beach isn’t the most traditional kind of beach. In fact, it’s more of a bathing area. Essentially, cement is used instead of sand to take the land back from the sea, creating a big but shallow pool of saltwater that is perfect for soaking in.
• Llevant Beach: This beach came to life after many portions of cement from the Prim breakwater were removed. It’s still a very new beach, which makes it quiet and peaceful but lacking in facilities. Still, you may find it worth a visit just to see the Diagonal Mar.
• Mar Bella Beach: This beach had baths as early as the 20th century’s beginnings, but a storm destroyed many of them. The beach fell on hard times despite being an esteemed part of the city, and it was only with the Olympic Games of 1992 that the beach returned to life.
• Barceloneta Beach: This very traditional beach is the most famous that Barcelona has to offer. It was built in the 18th century by those who were expelled from La Ribera, and it has a rich maritime history, as well as connections to large industries such as the gas and metallurgy markets.

22. Visit A Cemetery

For those who love the macabre with their history

Though an unusual choice for an excursion, one cannot deny the draw that cemeteries can have on curious tourists. There’s something about the spooky and macabre – yet somber and melancholy – atmosphere of cemeteries that makes them an intriguing visit.

The Poble Nou Cemetery is Barcelona’s first graveyard of modern times. It was first constructed in 1775 with the goal of curbing the unhygienic burial practices carried out in the middle of the city. The war with the French saw the cemetery destroyed, but it was rebuilt in 1819 with a stunning neoclassical style that is so typical of 19th-century architecture.

While you’re here, don’t forget to stop by the El Petó de la Mort sculpture – The Kiss of Death sculpture – which is an impressive structure depicting a man being kissed on the side of the face by a skeleton with angel-like wings. You also should drop by El Santet’s grave and see the thousands of little notes from worshippers left there.

The second cemetery you may want to visit is Montjüic Cemetery. This extremely large cemetery – with three hours’ worth of space to explore – is a truly unique and fascinating city of the dead.

The bourgeoisie class of Catalan hired expensive architects to design and build their final resting places in this cemetery, resulting in a wide collection of Art Nouveau graves and statues.

There is also a special area in Montjüic Cemetery that is dedicated just to non-believers. Many anarchist leaders call this spot their final resting place.

FAQs About Barcelona Attractions