Barcelona is a vibrant city full of activities and monuments that keep locals and tourists coming back for new, different or repeat experiences. After calling it home for the past 22 years, I’ve compiled a list for you to start ticking off, enjoy!
Looking for recommendations in Barcelona? Let’s get started!
101 things to do in Barcelona
Classic things to do in Barcelona
- Visit Parc Guell and enjoy Gaudí’s mosaic dragon
- Marvel at the impressive Sagrada Familia building both from outside and inside
- Enjoy the best sunsets and sundowners from the Bunkers el Carmel
- Experience the neighbourhood of Gràcia visiting the squares one tapa at a time (Plaça del Sol, Plaça del Diamant, Plaça de la Virreina, Plaça de la Revolució)
- Visit the Christ Pantocrator and learn about Catalan romanesque at MNAC
- Walk along Les Rambles avenue (early morning to avoid the masses) and..
- .. have a taste of Catalan gastronomy at the never sleeping market of La Boqueria
- Enjoy the majestic Cathedral
- Have a peak at the cutest wall on Plaça Isidre Nonell
- Feel like a local in Plaça Felip Neri, arguably the smallest and cutest little square in the Gothic Quarter
- View the city from a different viewpoint from The Castle of Montjuïc
- Walk the promenade o Passeig marítim from Hotel Arts to hotel Vela
- See the undulating façade of La Pedrera or Casa Milà, another of Gaudí’s buildings
- Get lost in El Born quarter, especially visiting C/Princesa
- Be amazed by Basílica Santa Maria del Mar
- Get ready for the busiest meeting point of the city: Plaça Catalunya
- Visit the Camp Nou, official stadium of Barça
- Walk underneath the Arc de Triomf
- Have a paella close to the sea. My favourites are Pez Vela and Cheriff
- Visit shelter 307 in Poble Nou
Different things to do in Barcelona
- Stroll in the cacti garden of Jardins de Josep Mossen Batlle
- Hop on a bus for a day of sightseeing
- Break the bank shopping at Passeig de Gràcia, the “5th Avenue of Barcelona”
- Enjoy an orchestra in Palau de la Música
- Visit the Horta Maze and try to get out quickly (spoiler: I totally failed!)
- Read a book in La ciutadella park
- Take the blue tram to go from Avinguda Tibidabo to Tibidabo Theme park
- Enjoy the Picasso paintings in the Picasso Museum
- Catch up with the latest fashion trends in Pelai St
- Have Bravas at Bar Tomás or La esquinica – widely accepted as some of the best in town
- Find the enchanted Madrona Chapel
- Taste the typical Catalan dishes Fideuà at Arrosseria Xàtiva
- Roam the streets of the Raval for the best pre-drinks ambiance
- Learn in the Barcelona History Museum
- Spend sunset watching the Magic Fountain show in Montjuic
- See 360 views of the city from Las Arenas, an old bull fighting stadium turned into a mall
- Have brunch in one of the trendiest pedestrian streets in town, Enric Granados
- Drink vermut and eat ‘Bombs’ at Cova Fumada
- Soak up the sun in the terraces of Sarrià quarter
- Have a drink in the terraces overlooking the city at Mirablau or Mirabé
- Discover the party scene on the harbour strip
- Gamble away your money in the Barcelona Casino
- Eat all the Iberian ham/Iberian acorn ham in tapas
- Try the budget restaurant of chef Ferran Adrià at König (patates braves and burger 34 are my favourites!!)
- Go for a run/walk at carretera de les aigues
- Get lost in another time visiting Poble Espanyol de Montjuic
- Eat delicious tapas at La Flauta, a busy restaurant
- Go sailing and witness Barcelona from the sea
- Enjoy the Castellers human towers at the City’s various events
More things to do in Barcelona
- Enjoy all the chocolate in the chocolate Museum
- Try to not stain your clothes while learning how to eat Calçots, a Catalan food
- Do an audio tour in Casa Batllo, one of Gaudí’s iconic buildings with an amazing façade
- Visit the modernist hospital of Sant Pau
- Go to the plane park next the airport to watch the planes landing and taking off
- Swim in La Barceloneta beach
- Walk along Rambla del Poblenau and discover the true Barcelona charm
- Enjoy a concert in el Jardí de Pedralbes or walk along the tranquil gardens
- Go to Palo Alto Market
- Visit la casa Vicens
- Visit gracia at night to mingle with the locals having drinks
- Walk around barri de la ribera to see the harbour
- Discover the narrow streets of the jewish quarter
- Visit the santa catarina market with its undulating coloured tiles
- Go see the modernism shops Colmado Murria
- Watch “l’ou com balla” (the egg that dances) at the cathedral during Corpus
- Wine tasting at La viniteca
- Go to Tibidabo
- Appreciate the façade of Casa Comalat (and check it from Corsega st for the back view!)
- Take a picture in the pink façade in Pàdua st
- Visit the roman temple of August (MUHBA)
Some extra things to do in Barcelona
- Walk Carolines st
- Visit the tunnels underneath Gracia
- Eat one of their 4 tapas in Bar la Plata, opened in 1945
- Travel back in time by walking in Passatge de les Manufactures to experience the old Barcelona
- Enjoy the architecture of the former monastery and church of Sant Pau del Camp
- Look down in Passeig de Gràcia and appreciate the tiles covering the street
- Get goosebumps in a classic concert at Auditori
- Visit els 4 gats, the bar where Picasso and Dalí met up and had dinner most nights
- Check the exhibits of Caixa Forum
- Visit the Olympic stadium of Sant Jordi
- Get lost in the Botanical Gardens
- Feel like a noble in Plaça del Rei and Palau Reial
- Visit the MACBA (museum of contemporary art) and marvel at groups of skaters in the square in front
- Attend any of the neighbourhood Festa Major, the party of each quarter (throughout the year, most of them during Summer months)
- Visit the Centre Cultural del born to see the ruins of one of the buildings that were demolished by Felip V
- Check for vintage and old things at flea market Els Encants Vells
- Look for AXE colours graffiti (featuring John Snow or Sansa Stark!)
- Look up to not miss the can sentences in different streets corners by Me_Lata
- Visit the underground tunnel of La casa de l’Aigua
- Relax in the Arab thermal baths and spa of Aire
Further things to do in Barcelona
- Visit one of the better well-known clubs in the city, Razzmatazz
- Go back in time in Mercat de Sant Antoni on a Sunday and exchange cards, vinyl’s or chromos
- Watch the stars from Observatori Fabra
- Have a drink at OHLA hotel rooftop
- Enjoy 360 views of Barcelona from El Raval Barceló hotel
- Antiaircraft shelter underneath Plaça del Diamant
- Go to Pedralbes Monastery
- Take an amazing cooking class + dinner/lunch at Just Royal Bcn (their braves sauce and risotto recipe has earned me many good friends)
- Visit the famous Estrella Damm Factory
- Go up to the 10th floor of Torre the Collserola and admire the city from up high
- Attend Sonar Music Festival (only possible in June)
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