I want you to experience the best things to do in Barcelona as I would do them.
After ten years of living here, I’ve soaked up all the art museums, followed Antoni Gaudi through every barrio, and eaten and drank everything the Catalans have laid down before me – both good and bad.
Let’s break down what to do in Barcelona with some local knowledge.
The Best Things to Do in Barcelona Spain
La Sagrada Familia
Just look at any postcard in the city. This is the one of all the must see Barcelona attractions, especially if you’re taking a Sagrada Familia guided tour.
Sagrada Familia is the crown jewel of Catalan wonder architect Antoni Gaudi’s architectural empire and one of the most spectacular basilicas in the world.
⚠️ Warning ⚠️: Barcelona’s top two attractions must now be booked in advance.
You can book fast track tickets to both individually or get them as part of a discount pass:
- ⛪ Buy now: Sagrada Familia Fast Track Admission (skip the lines)
- 🏞️ Buy now: Park Guell Fast Track Admission (skip the lines)
- 🎟️ Buy now: Best of Barcelona Bundle (Sagrada + Park Guell + 10% discount code for all else)
You will not be able to book these tickets on site – lock in your tickets ASAP or you could miss out.
For those tired of traditional churches, you’ll be positively refreshed. The arches of this UNESCO world heritage site are modelled after tree branches, and the stained glass here creates a rainbow effect you won’t soon forget.
Every Barcelona itinerary should start here.
Park Güell
Park Guell is a dreamy urban park floating above the city, far from the city center, and was the utopian vision of rich industrialist Eusebi Guell in the early 20th century.
Today the entrance at Park Guell and its gingerbread house-like porter’s lodge and the emblematic mosaic lizard is a highlight.
At Park Güell, tourists sit on the mosaic benches (remember Vicky Cristina Barcelona?) and take in amazing views.
You can also check out the Gaudí House Museum (La Casa Museu Gaudí) on the grounds.
Barrio Festivals
When coming up with the best things to see in Barcelona, locals tend to cut off the streets from traffic, put up a stage with live music, and get the wine and music flowing.
The eccentric European block parties that honour patron saints and long-dead political prisoners are the closest a tourist can get to real Barcelona.
I’ve got a list in my Barcelona events calendar, but the biggest two of the year are La Festa Major de Gracia (in August) and La Mercè (in September).
🍷 Want to sample the best local wines? Book one of Barcelona’s best wine tours right now.
Go on a Spectacular Guided Tour of Barcelona
There’s no better way for Barcelona beginners to learn the city than from a licensed, entertaining, expert guide.
In fact, you can soak up city knowledge, fill your stomach, sample epic Spanish wines, get exercise, and more – sometimes at the same time!
Here’s a quick list of favourites:
- 🗺️ Best guided tours of Barcelona
- 🚲 Best bike tours of Barcelona
- 🍔 Best food tours of Barcelona
- 🧑🎨 Top Gaudi tours in Barcelona.
Booking at least one in for your Barcelona holiday is a must.
Tapas
Even at Barcelona’s best restaurants, it can be difficult to decide what to eat – so why not split 25 things?
These small-portioned savoury snacks are ordered in Barcelona’s best tapas bars in rounds of 5 or 6 and are shared by friends over cañas (a small draft beer).
Patatas bravas (pictured) and pan con tomate (crispy bread rubbed with tomato and garlic) are automatic – but pulpo a la gallega (octopus with potatoes and paprika) and gambas al ajillo (garlic prawns) are where dreams are made.
My current favourite place to take visitors in 2023 is Season – I like it so much that I’ve set up a discounted tasting menu.
Flamenco
The most folkloric Spanish art form grabs your attention with its cante (singing), baile (dance), toque (guitar playing), palmas (clapping), jaleo (vocalizations), and pitos (snapping).
A typical flamenco recital mixes passion and tranquillity with a festive and resistant mood that can bring audience members to tears. The push/pull dynamics of the performers entice and resist simultaneously.
For me, the king of the best flamenco shows in Barcelona is Tablao Cordobes.
Vermut
It’s not just a tradition… it’s a lifestyle!
And who wouldn’t like drinking tasty, inexpensive wine fortified with spices and botanicals like cinnamon and chamomile?
And at only €1.50 or so each, downing a glass or two of this Spanish favourite won’t set you back on the next mortgage payment.
Tradition holds that one must consume (at least) one at la hora del vermú (vermut time, 12 noon) before eating lunch. It’s as sacred as the Spanish siesta so if you’re looking to fit in – drink up!
I go for mine at Quimet & Quimet.
The Gothic Quarter
The Gothic Quarter is oldest neighbourhood in Barcelona, dating back to the city’s founding as a Roman military camp in 15 BC. You’ll still see some of the original walls as part of the Barcelona Cathedral.
This is basically an open-air Barcelona city history museum.
Most of the area is cut off from cars, and that means winding roads and tight alleyways opening up into majestic squares like Plaça de Catalunya, Plaça Reial, Plaça del Pi, Plaça George Orwell, and Plaça de la Seu.
Nowadays, it’s a hot spot for some of Barcelona’s best bars.
Casa Milà (La Pedrera)
Casa Milà (aka La Pedrera) is another surreal mansion right in the heart of some of the best shopping in Barcelona.
This unconventional Antoni Gaudi apartment block built for the city’s richest industrialists is without a straight line and more wobbling Jell-O than a building. From above, it’s actually built in an asymmetrical eight shape.
It’s also possibly the most spectacular roof terrace you’ll ever see with its 28 guardian warrior chimney stacks that are more Darth Vader than anything else!
Paella
This classic rice dish from Spain was invented by servants using the leftovers from royal banquets – and you’ll feel like royalty by the fork full!
Though technically from nearby Valencia (where the rabbit and chicken version reigns supreme), you’ll find the mixed seafood paella to be the go-to for Barcelona paella restaurants.
For couples visiting Barcelona this is a great option as it’s usually served in portions of two.
Make sure to scrape the soccarat (toasted, scorched rice) off the bottom of the pan-flavour town!
The Moco Museum
The hottest new museum in Barcelona burst open its bright pink doors in October 2021. Sister museum to the one in Amsterdam, this is the place to go for modern art.
The Moco Museum Barcelona hosts amazing works from Banksy, Hirst, Warhol, Kaws, and Kusama.
You’ll probably remember the Diamond Matrix (pictured) the most, though Chilean artist Guillermo Lorca really got me with his massive surrealist fantasy paintings.
Camp Nou
Camp Nou is arguably the most historic football stadium in Europe and home to FC Barcelona.
Visiting the FC Barcelona Museum means living the glory through overloaded trophy cases and an interactive museum offering a Mecca-like experience for football fans.
Here during football season? Of all the top Barcelona attractions, football at Camp Nou has got to be one of the best – FC Barcelona tickets are a must.
Bike Tours
Barcelona is Europe’s most bike-friendly city – with nearly 300 km of bike lanes in the city center it’s prime real estate for the top bike tours in Barcelona.
This 90-minute ride through the city’s top sights like Sagrada Família, Casa Batlló, Las Ramblas, El Born, and La Pedrera, unveils the city’s magic in a new light.
Each booking includes a helmet, insurance, and a bottle of water.
Rides depart daily from Arc de Triomf at 10:00 am and 4:00 pm.
Casa Vicens
What if you’re such a big fan of Gaudi that you want to go back to his humble beginnings?
The only recently available to the public (as of 2017) summer chalet Casa Vicens will get you there.
With an €18.00 price tag, this is probably the cheapest way to experience Gaudi’s genius – and the lush garden, terracotta tiled rooftop, Catalan art, and Turkish and Oriental-influenced Noble Floor will make you glad you did.
Las Ramblas
Las Ramblas is Barcelona’s most famous street and one of those top places you should visit at least once in your lifetime.
Here you’ll find an explosion of bars, street performers, and souvenir shops.
While this is tourist trap central, you can cut to the chase by finding Gaudi’s lanterns in the picturesque square Plaça Reial.
In Pla de l’Os you’ll find a brilliant pavement mosaic by Joan Miro – the site of the city’s old gate.
La Boqueria Market
It’s hard not to put La Boqueria Market at the very top of Barcelona’s best markets.
The quality of the fruit, meat, and fish here will amaze you, and its infectious energy is something to be seen: don’t leave before trying one of their delicious €2.00 smoothies.
Looking for a meal with market-fresh ingredients? Grab the fried eggs with baby squid at El Quim de la Boqueria, or get adventurous with the garbanzo beans and blood sausage at Bar Pinotxo.
Related: How Many Days Should I Stay in Barcelona?
El Raval
For those looking to truly discover the city, you need to see a bit more than just the main Barcelona attractions and postcard streets – so why not do it in Barcelona’s most unique and diverse neighbourhood?
El Raval offers skateboarders, cheap cocktail bars (along Carrer de Joaquín Costa), epic ethnic food, and some of the best museums in Barcelona, like the CCCB.
Make sure to walk the famous Rambla del Raval to see Botero’s Cat.
The Magic Fountain
If you’re looking for free things to do in Barcelona this is it. This enchanting magic fountain and light show uses 3620 water jets and 4760 lights to create over 7 billion combinations.
The show is set to beautifully choreographed music ranging from classic to swing to modern hits. Just make sure you gauge the wind before picking your spot – you might get soaked!
Magic Fountain shows go from Thursday to Saturday (Sunday in high season), and you can get all the info in my article on Barcelona’s Magic Fountain Show.
The Picasso Museum
The Barcelona Picasso Museum is arguably the most important Picasso museum in the world.
If you’re looking to fill up an afternoon, especially when it rains, you can start with over 4000 permanent pieces of his art. Here it mostly showcases the early years of the world-renown artist when he was based in Barcelona.
Make sure to have a coffee at Els Quatre Gats, one of the best cafes in Barcelona and a meeting spot for modernist artists of the time, Pablo Picasso included.
Casa Batllo
A colourful mosaic mansion whose every last detail, down to the doorknobs, was designed by Antoni Gaudi. Visiting Barcelona without at least passing by the modernist landmark Casa Batllo is criminal.
Here it’s a constant ode to nature with jaw-bone balconies, mushroom-shaped smoke vents, and tropical fish-based radiators.
The ceramic tile shards on the facade (a style known as trencadis) were taken from broken cups at local factories to create a unique colour play.
Did I also mention that the Casa Batllo roof is a sword in a dragon’s back? Yeah.
Poble Espanyol
Visiting Poble Espanyol is what to do in Barcelona if you want to see all of Spain in one afternoon.
Built for the 1929 World’s Fair, this mock Spanish town has 117 full-scale replica buildings representing the architecture of all 15 of Spain’s regions (we think Barcelona architecture is the best, though).
Here you can see the emblematic white streets of Andalucia, Pre-Roman Austurias, and all sorts of Castillian classics.
It also has over 20 artisan craft shops for some great jewellery, handbag, and glass shopping.
Ciutadella Park
Ciutadella Park is Barcelona’s biggest urban park and a great picnic spot for those looking for an outdoor escape but want a break from Barcelona’s best beaches.
At Parc de la Ciutadella, you’ll find a ton of open space, the zoo, and a great artificial lake for rowboat rides.
I also suggest heading up La Cascada (pictured) which is a fountain loosely based on the Trevi Fountain in Rome. From here you’ve got a bird’s eye view of the park’s personality – which also includes a ton of musicians.
MACBA
The contemporary art museum.
If you want things to see in Barcelona, you’ll get it with over 5000 pieces from well-known 20th-century artists. Check out the mesmerizing photography, sculpture, painting and more.
Discounts can be had by buying the Articket BCN museum discount card.
The Barcelona Cathedral
It’s almost impossible to miss this imposing building during any casual walk through the Gothic Quarter.
The Barcelona Cathedral (not to be confused with Sagrada Familia) is a neo-Gothic church notable for its gargoyles and domestic and mythical animal rooftop.
A must-see is the cloister that is home to a small garden with orange and almond trees, a pond, and 13 geese – one for each year of life lived by Eulalia.
Tibidabo Amusement Park
In our list of stuff to see, Tibidabo Mountain is right at the top… quite literally.
Tibidabo offers some incredible views from the Temple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus church – not to mention the super geeky retro amusement park with 100-year-old Ferris Wheel.
Visiting with family? This is one of the best things to do in Barcelona with kids.
Get up there with the super, almost San Francisco-like Tramvia Blau for extra extra effect.
Palau de la Musica
The Palau de la Musica, a musical palace with golden-age acoustics in the ‘key’ of Catalan modernism, is the best place for music lovers to take in some opera, Flamenco, or even a symphony.
The explosion of colour and chandelier centre piece (pictured) are world-class.
If you’re interested in seeing musical performances check out the calendar of events. Another tip? Follow it up with a trip the nearby Santa Maria del Mar church to admire the stained glass windows.
Turó de la Rovira – “The Bunkers”
The highest point (560 feet) above metro Barcelona was once an anti-aircraft bunker defending the city against Spanish Civil War bombings.
Today The Bunkers is a great museum, lookout point, and picnic spot with an insane panoramic view and a great option for budget-conscious Barcelona nature lovers. For young adults, this is the weekend hangout spot.
It’s probably my favourite thing to do in Barcelona on Sunday.
Grab bus 22 from Plaça Catalunya and get off at the last stop.
Staying awhile? Check out my Barcelona one week itinerary.
The Dali Museum
The Dali Museum is a fantastic museum dedicated to the surrealist genius Salvador Dali – it actually finds itself 140 km from Barcelona in his hometown of Figueres.
It’s a can’t-miss for fans of the man and insanity in general.
Two favourites here are the Spectre of Sex Appeal (1932) and The Basket of Bread (1945).
Gracia’s Squares
One of Barcelona’s best neighbourhoods is full of cool décor bars, quirky shops, and street musicians.
The bohemian atmosphere of Gracia makes it the top place for people watching or a coffee or beer in squares like Plaça del Sol, Plaça Vila de Gracia, Plaça de la Virreina and Plaça de la Revoluciò.
If you’re really looking for stuff to do in Barcelona with very little effort, head to an outdoor spot with homemade tapas to enjoy life at your own pace – I recommend Sol Soler.
The vibes here are as local as it gets.
Montserrat
Nature offers a great escape from the urban hustle at 1236 meters: the highest point in the Catalan Lowlands. At Montserrat you get the most breathtaking jagged mountains around.
Some highlights are the Benedictine monastery and its Black Madonna statue, while the less religiously inclined usually head to the Sant Jeroni lookout.
Escape on a Day Trip
One of the top things to do in Barcelona for locals is to escape the hustle and bustle on a quick Barcelona day trip.
I like to explore the charming coastal town of Sitges, known for its beautiful beaches, vibrant nightlife, and impressive Modernist architecture. You can also take a trip to the historic city of Girona, with its well-preserved medieval walls, winding cobblestone streets, and impressive Gothic cathedral.
History buffs will enjoy discovering the ancient Roman ruins in Tarragona, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
And beachgoers will love the stunning coastal region Costa Brava, known for its rugged cliffs, hidden coves, and crystal-clear waters.
Shop Until you Drop
Barcelona is a shopper’s paradise, offering a compelling blend of unique boutiques, renowned fashion brands, and vibrant markets. Whether you’re searching for the latest fashion trends, traditional Catalan products, or one-of-a-kind souvenirs, the city has it all.
For fashionistas, the best shopping in Barcelona can be found on the iconic shopping street of Passeig de Gràcia, where you’ll find luxury designer stores alongside local boutiques.
Discover the trendy El Born district, filled with independent shops and artisanal crafts. Mercat de Sant Antoni is a historic market in the Eixample neighbourhood that offers a mix of food stalls and a large second-hand book and clothing market on Sundays.
Bus Turistic
The Barcelona Hop on Hop off bus (aka the Bus Turistic) is a popular and convenient way to explore the city’s top attractions.
This convenient bus service offers a comprehensive tour of Barcelona, taking you to iconic landmarks, cultural sites, and vibrant neighbourhoods.
With multiple routes to choose from, you can customize your itinerary and explore at your own pace. Sit back and relax on the open-top double-decker bus as you enjoy informative audio commentary about the city’s history and attractions.
What to Do in Barcelona FAQ
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What are the best things to do in Barcelona?
Visitors usually construct an itinerary that includes the top attractions in Barcelona, some of the city’s natural wonders, and a few visits some culinary hot spots.
If we had to boil it down to just a few choices, the top things to do in Barcelona would include Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, the Gothic Quarter, the beach area of Barceloneta, and a nice round of tapas and paella for food.
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What are the must see things to do in Barcelona?
If you’ve only got a short timeframe, the two must see attractions in Barcelona would be Sagrada Familia and Park Guell.
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What are the best outdoor activities in Barcelona?
The top things to do outdoors in Barcelona include visiting the lookouts at Montjuic Hill, the Bunkers, and Park Guell. Visiting the city’s many rooftop bars like Hotel Pulitzer and Sky Bar at the Grand Central Hotel are also a good idea.
Finally, a trip to the city’s beaches and walks around the Gothic Quarter, Gracia, and El Born are definitely in order.
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What is Barcelona famous for?
The city of Barcelona is famous for its distinctive, and arguably superior architecture due to a modernism movement lead by architect Antoni Gaudí.
It’s a bustling, multicultural city where the urban is in a constant flirtation with nature. It’s a place where large, vibrant street festivals and blaring, state of the art cocktail bars compete with tranquil, rural hill walks and introspective museum evenings.
It’s culture, nature, and good taste shacked up in a warm Mediterranean climate.
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What are the best things to do in Barcelona for young adults?
Barcelona offers a vibrant and energetic atmosphere that caters well to young adults. The best things to do in Barcelona for young adults include: Exploring the nightlife in the Gothic Quarter, visiting the trendy neighborhood of El Raval, relaxing on the city’s beaches, attending local festivals and cultural events, and experiencing the vibrant food scene.
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What are the best things to do in Barcelona for families?
Barcelona offers a wide range of family-friendly activities and attractions. The top things to do in Barcelona for families include: exploring the whimsical Park Güell, discovering the Barcelona Aquarium, hitting up the Illa Fantasia water park, enjoying the Tibidabo Amusement Park, and exploring the Barcelona Zoo, located in Parc de la Ciutadella.
Still looking for Things to Do in Barcelona?
Let me know if my list of top Barcelona activities wasn’t enough. I’m usually quick with a suggestion.
Also, don’t be afraid to join the Barcelona attractions discussion by giving me a like on Facebook and then joining my group; I’m Off to Barcelona. Here, you can ask questions and chat with thousands of Barcelona travellers.
Looking forward to hearing from you before your Barcelona holiday. I hope you enjoy my selection of the top things to do in Barcelona 🤝
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March 13, 2019 at 6:09 pmHi Ash, We are a family of 4 adults and are arriving on the 28th of March for four days until 1st April 2019 and staying in the Hotel 1898, we arrive and leave at midday day on those dates. We would love to fit in the following and would appreciate your advice: Las Ramblas and the Gothic Quarter, Barceloneta, La Boqueria, Picasso Museum, MareMagnum Port, Magic Fountain, Sagrada Familia, Casa Batilo, Casa Mila. With regards to day trips we were wondering about tickets for the places we want to go to/bus hop on hop off bus, but avoiding Camp Nou as we aren't that interested. We love going out for nice food and drinks such as cocktails and wanted to try Bosc De Les Fades as it looked so quirky. We also really want to try good churros! Also what are the best places near these areas for breakfast/lunch/dinner on different days for different trips. We love tapas, but also good food from casual to fine dining, would like to try and avoid more touristy traps. We haven't got a clue where to start or what to see first/what order and was wondering if you would kindly give us some help to plan our first ever trip/itinerary to barcelona as your website has given us inspiration and hacks is amazing! Thank You so much and Kind Regards, Claire, Matt, Annabelle and Amelia.
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March 14, 2019 at 11:33 am
Team MemberAshHi Claire, Thanks for writing in, it sounds like you've got quite the plan there :) First off, if you haven't already I'd recommend reading my 3 day itinerary post as this will give you great structure to the trip and includes most everything you've listed here. It would work perfectly given your location on La Rambla and you can swap in things for other things you don't want to see etc. Provided you want to see all those main attractions from the inside I recommend getting a Barcelona City Pass as it gives you Sagrada, Park Guell (this NEEDS to be on your list so please add it), the Bus Turistic, Aerobus transport to airport (perfect for your hotel), plus a 20% discount code which you can use for Casa Batllo, Casa Mila, Picasso Museum etc. It also lets you book in advance to skip the lines, which is a god send this time of year and onward. Here's all the City Pass info you'll need. Again, in most of my posts of the major attractions (Sagrada, Casa Batllo etc.) I've listed my top restaurants in the area for visiting... it's simply a matter of scrolling all the way down! If you have something more specific to ask please let me know. For around your hotel I really suggest checking out Luoro as it's literally the only place I'd choose to eat along La Rambla. You'll also need to walk over to Calle Petrixol (not far from hotel) for your churros and there are a few options. Also, make sure you do breakfast at La Boqueria at least once - El Quim de la Boqueria would be my recommendation. When you've done with the Magic Fountain I also suggest walking into the Poble Sec area and grabbing some classic pintxos which are cheap, traditional, and super tasty. I would recommend doing this at La Tasqueta del Blai. Anyway, this should be more than enough to give you some structure and good places to eat... for drinking I suggest any of the bars in my Gotico article or the best bars in Barcelona one. Please let me now if you need any more help! and thanks so much for the kind words :) Ash
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February 15, 2019 at 6:48 amHi Ash, I am a solo traveller. I have 2 weeks in Bcn so time isn't an issue at all. Budget certainly is :) I do plan to visit the most famous Gaudi sites. Do you recommend them all or are there some specific ones that are the most worth visiting? And which ones would they be. Also, is it worth visiting the Sagrada Familia from inside? If yes, how much in advance do I need to book the tickets. And what would you say is the best time of the day. I will be there from the 12th to the 23rd of April. I chose to stay on till 23rd because of the festival and then I continue onward to Seville. P.S. I have visited lots and lots of churches across Europe in the past, including all the churches and cathedrals in and around Madrid, Segovia, Avila. Based on that, would you say I could skip some of the popular sights (from inside) in Bcn and visit some other attractions instead? Would love some ideas and recommendations from you. Thanks for this great website! As my days get closer, I will be contacting you for more help and questions. Niki.
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February 15, 2019 at 10:24 am Team MemberAshHi Niki, Thanks for your very kind words :) Let's see, of all the Gaudi sights I would rank them Sagrada, Park Guell, Casa Batllo (1-2-3) and then La Pedrera as a number 4. Usually I suggest picking one of either Casa Batllo or La Pedrera to see from the inside and the clear winner is Casa Batllo because it's a greater window into Gaudi's genius, the video guide is superb, and the building itself is just more beautiful (though it's close!). As far as visiting the inside of Sagrada this is what I usually tell all my friends or fellow travelers: over 11 years of living on this side of the pond I have visited the inside of countless churches big and small and yet perhaps only the Vatican (for its sheer size and importance) comes close to seeing Sagrada inside. Only seeing the outside of the church is preventing you from seeing half the genius. The light play and stained glass of the inside is worth the price of the ticket alone, not to mention Gaudi’s tomb and the ability to learn so much more with guided tours, audio guides etc. I would see the inside. The 23rd of April if I'm not mistaken is Easter weekend and around this time is the beginning of high season. I would book ASAP as last year the time slots dried up very quickly. I would generally try and visit as early as possible in the morning to avoid crowds - at this point of the year it should be sunny at this time too and the stained glass will look amazing. Anyway, let me know if you need any more help :) Ash
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February 12, 2019 at 5:50 amHi Ash, We are traveling to Barcelona pre tour at the end of May and have 3 full days prior to our tour. Do you think it is possible to do the following in one day on the Hop On Hop off buses, and in what order would you suggest to do. We will be doing La Sagrade Familia with our tour group, and will spend our first day after a late breakfast heading down to the waterfront, beaches and marina, Then a walking and Tapas tour in the Evening. We will also do Montserrat on a separate day as I believe that this is a full day in itself. Paul Guell - Do English speaking Tour Camp Nou - Do tour Case Batllo - Tour Visit Bullring Magic Fountain Light Display Thanks for your help and any other advise that you can offer.
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February 12, 2019 at 11:04 am Team MemberAshHi Joanne, That sounds like a great plan you've got cooked up :) As far as the day in question is concerned I just wanted to ask... by the 'bullring' what are you referring to? There are two in different parts of the city so it's hard for me to get a grip on this. That said, if you're referring to Las Arenas which is right near the Magic Fountain then this itinerary sounds pretty much perfect. You'll be able to get it all done on the Bus Turistic and it won't be all that stressful. Each of these tours will last about 90 minutes plus you'll have maybe 30-40 minutes to get to the next place. My only advice though is to start fairly early so you're not rushed and have plenty of time for lunch or a coffee break or whatever. Also, I would probably start with Park Guell and work my way down since it's so nice up there in the morning. Ash
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November 18, 2018 at 8:25 pmAsh, I won't bore you with the details of our timeline, but I am going to list what we have on tap. I still have one full free day that has nothing on it except Las Ramblas / la Boqueria. Unless it is a major BIG deal, we really don't want to so another museum. Your blog is extensive and I am almost overwhelmed by the options. Can you give me 2-5 suggestions of what to do on our last day (it will be a Tuesday) to help me narrow my options? Sagrada Familia Parc Guell Casa Battlo Casa Mila (exterior only) Picasso museum Magic Fountains Plaça de Catalunya Barri Gòtic Picasso Museum / Cafés El Magnífico arc d triumph wine tour to 3 wineries including Freixenet poble-espanyol w/ flamenco dinner Walking is no problem Was going to include the Chocolate museum but read some meadicore reviews.
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November 19, 2018 at 10:07 am Team MemberAshI haven't heard much good about the Chocolate Museum only that kids really love it for the workshops (and of course the chocolate!). One thing I see missing is a visit to the fisherman's neighbourhood of Barceloneta. I recommend taking a walk through and really getting the whole Barcelona experience. I've got a guide on visiting here. Also you can't go wrong covering more of Montjuic. Taking the teleferic is a really cool, if a bit scary, experience with a view. Other than this it looks like you've got all the main stuff covered! Ash
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April 28, 2019 at 2:25 amHi Ash Your website is fantastic, thank you, its helped so much. I'm still unsure on the best option for transport, Haha, but I'll figure it out! My first question is about advice on places to eat please; we're looking for nice vegetarian friendly options. We're staying in the gothic quarter near the waterfront/wax museum area. Also, we are there for a long weekend, arriving Friday evening and leaving mid morning Monday so only really two full days to explore. We don't want to spend the whole time rushing about cramming it all in as it's my partners 40th birthday so we will want a relaxed time to enjoy it (not that she even knows we are coming yet! Shhhh). I'd like to do Sagrada familia and parc guell but is it possible to do this and enjoy both properly in one day, do you think? We don't really want to do a tourist bus as we like walking and exploring, and sitting in cafes, haha! but those two places seem far away from our hotel. Any other advice on a 'must see/do' within easy reach, as we'd also probably want to spend some time chillaxing on the beach if the weather is nice (we arrive next weekend). Sorry for the long comment, any advice, including best travel option for us, greatly appreciated. Thanks
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November 19, 2018 at 2:34 pmsounds like we will have a leisurely day then and can take our time enjoying those two suggestions.
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September 22, 2018 at 4:41 pmThis is great. I cannot recommend Barcelona Private Experiences enough as they specialise in high-end tours. We said to them that we were interested in Yacht tours and experiencing the private jet too, so they designed a custom itinerary where we got to experience these and Barcelona's gastronomy, festivals and shopping too. https://www.barcelonaprivateexperiences.com/
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June 29, 2018 at 10:28 pmThanks so much for your awesome information!! I was interested in a concert at Palau de la Musica. How do you purchase tickets and do you choose seats? TIA for your help. I am sure you will be hearing from me often. We plan to spend 2 weeks :-)
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June 30, 2018 at 10:40 am Team MemberAshHi Kate, Thanks so much for the kind words. You can buy tickets (and choose your seats) for all the concerts at the Palau de la Musica using the official website: http://www.palaumusica.cat/en/programme_314?subset=upcoming Cheers, Ash
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June 19, 2018 at 12:05 amHi Ash, Hope all is well! Can really use your help planning my itinerary.I will be in barcelona for 3 days july 2-5th. How do i get to hotel from the main airport(bcn), the hotel i am staying in is hotel arts(Marina 19-21, 08005 Barcelona, Spain). some of the recommendations of the places to go to are below- is there something i am missing?can you help me structure it where i do everything that is close to each other together. sagradia familia montujic castle arc de triumf park de la citadela park guell picasso museum case mila base bastillo water ofuntain show casa batloo camp nou experience las ramblas If there is something i am missing/ places that may be too far/ too much/ unnecessary since i have such a short time, please let me know as well. If yo ucan recommend how long i would need in each place and travel time between that would be great too. i dont want to pack my day too much and miss out on all the great sights and the enjoyment Thanks!
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June 19, 2018 at 2:28 pm Team MemberAshHi Joe, Outside of taking a taxi the next best bet would be to grab the Aerobus to Plaça de Catalunya, walk over to the Urquinaona metro station (about 3 minutes), and then take the yellow line of the metro to Ciutadella - Villa Olimpica. From here it's a 5 minute walk. You've got quite a bit on your plate there... most if not all of these are included in my 3 day itinerary: https://www.barcelonahacks.com/3-days-in-barcelona/ I would follow this to give it some structure and then throw in Ciutadella Park and Arc du Troimf in a brisk morning walk from your hotel (it'll be about 25 minutes) on your way to the metro. You could even throw in the Picasso museum to this because it's very near the park/arch. This would be optimal on day 2 of the itinerary since you could easily walk into the Gotico after. Aside from this I think you'd be overdoing it trying to incorporate anything else, you'll need time for improvisation and little issues that always pop up... but yeah, that's a solid list you've got :) If you're looking for events I've got a list of July ones here: https://www.barcelonahacks.com/events-in-barcelona-in-july/ Also, make sure if you're visiting to buy the attraction tickets online in advance to skip the lines using either the City Pass or individually. Ash
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April 13, 2018 at 5:27 pmHi Ash, Our itinerary is as following and we need help deciding where to stay April 30 and May 1st of our trip. Should we come back to Barcelona or go to Mallorca? We've heard Mallorca is amazing so want to go but we also want last three nights to be free of packing/unpacking. 23-Apr Barcelona (Land at 12:30 pm) 24-Apr Barcelona (Hop on and off bus) 25-Apr Barcelona (La Sagrada at 3 PM, Parc Guell at 6 PM) 26-Apr Seville (Leave at 10:00 AM from Barcelona) 27-Apr Seville 28-Apr Granada 29-Apr Granada 30-Apr Mallorca? or Barcelona? 1-May Mallorca? or Barcelona? 2-May Barcelona (get to Barcelona at 10 PM if going to Mallorca) 3-May Flight back to US at 6 PM thank you so much!!!
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April 14, 2018 at 4:36 pm Team MemberAshHi Rina, I have limited experience with Mallorca (and in high season at an all inclusive resort) so perhaps I'm not the best person to say, but at the end of April and early May I hear it's a great place to relax with temperatures finally starting to creep up. The travel to Barcelona is a breeze but yes, if lugging around big suitcases it could be a bit of a haul. If you guys found reasonable flight prices with times that would allow you to spend the most possible time there I say go for it. Especially if you feel you've covered what you want to see in Barcelona on the first round. It looks like you'll still have some time on the last day to squeeze in any last minute stuff too. Maybe I'm just saying that because I'm always a 'see as much as possible' guy, but hey... you asked! :) Let me know how you get on. Ash
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April 2, 2018 at 9:13 amHi Ash, I can see why one falls in love with Barcelona! Enchanting, indeed. Having taken the city pass and looking at the weather today, we thought of taking the bus tour and are looking to combine it with one or two attractions such as Casa Batlo. Have you written on estimates of time for each attraction. of course, I understand it would be dependent on what one wants from it. We are flying back this saturday. Kind Regards
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April 2, 2018 at 11:56 am Team MemberAshHello Sathya, For the major attractions like Sagrada, Casa Batllo, and Park Guell I recommend 90 minutes but for other attractions like markets or Gaudi's 'secondary masterpieces' like Casa Vicens I say about an hour. Again, it depends how deep you want to explore and if you get audioguides and really want to take it all in etc. If you have any specific attractions in mind please let me know but general rule of thumb is 60-90 min. Ash
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September 4, 2017 at 5:37 pmHi Ash, its me again :) any wine/ cava tours that you would recommend in Oct? the harvesting season is already over right? Cheers!
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September 4, 2017 at 7:01 pm Team MemberAshHi again Elizabeth :) Wineries and these type of tours aren't really my forte but I've had readers tell me they had a great time doing the 'wine and cava bus' that takes you to three wineries, covers some of the countries top wines, and ends in Freixenet which is a legendary cava producer in the region. For three separate guided tours plus transport and wine/cheese etc it's also great value. You can check it out here. I would reserve comments on others since I don't have much experience otherwise. But yes regardless of harvest season these tours run year-round :) Ash
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