Barcelona is a city in Spain in the Catalonia Region known for its culture, tasty tapas, beautiful architecture, sandy beaches and lively nightlife. Along with famous landmarks, including the Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, and Casa Batllo.
I had always been sceptical about visiting this city as I had heard it is overhyped and overcrowded. I can agree with the overcrowding in some parts of the city, but I was amazed at how much the city had to offer and gutted I only had 4 days there.
I have listed the 15 best things to do in Barcelona, to ensure you get all the best bits of the city.
1. Casa Batllo
Gaudi’s work is famous all-around Barcelona, but the Casa Batllo is known as one of Antoni Gaudi’s masterpieces and is a UNESCO World Heritage site and icon in Barcelona. For this reason, I made it my first stop once arriving in Barcelona. To get the full experience I purchased the gold tickets to give me full access to the museum. Upon arrival I was given a virtual reality iPad as my guide. During my experience, I learned about the house’s history and what each room use to be used for. The home also had the immersive dome and cube experience, which was pretty cool if your into immersive art.
If you are interested in Gaudi’s work, I recommend you visit this landmark to get a real insight into his work. There is also a rooftop bar, where you can enjoy a glass of Sangria and a snack before embarking on the final part of the experience in the immersive cube.
2.La Boqueria Market
My second stop, which I absolutely loved, was La Boqueria Market in Las Ramblas. La Boqueria is the most famous market in Barcelona and is a MUST VISIT while in the city.
Open 8am-8:30pm Monday-Saturday, it is a haven for all you foodies. You can eat all types of food here, either on the go or sitting at one of the tapas bars within the market.
Being faced with cured meats, cheeses, olives, hot savoury snacks, tapas bars, fresh fruits, sweets, chocolates, and desserts. My eyes were definitely too big for my belly. I left feeling incredibly full, but it was worth it. I just recommend you go with an appetite to eat all that is on offer.
To find out more about La Boqueria Market, Click HERE
3. Watch a Flamenco Show
Add some culture to your holiday and attend a Flamenco show. Flamenco is a style of Spanish music played on the guitar and accompanied by singing and dancing.
There are a few places in the city where you can catch a show so look around for a package that suits you as some include a dinner. I decided to book tickets for Los Tarantos. Not only was it cheaper than the other options available, but it’s also the oldest tablao flamenco in Barcelona since 1963, making it a more authentic experience.
The show lasts around 40 minutes, and tickets cost £15 (17 euros), which I pre-purchased on TripAdvisor.
The show times are 18:30, 19:30, or 20:30.
I went to the last viewing, so it gave me more time in the day to do other things without rushing. I recommend you go at least 20 minutes early to get in, purchase a drink and get a seat. The establishment is small, so seating is limited. Arrive early to avoid standing up.
It was a perfect end to my first evening in Barcelona, and I discovered more about what Flamenco actually was.
4. Walking Tour Around The Gothic Quarter
The Gothic Quarter has tiny narrow medieval streets and alleyways. It is filled with restaurants, bars, and clubs as well as some iconic landmarks. To enjoy this area, take a walking tour of the to explore the streets and discover hidden corners. You can either take a self-guided tour or book a guided tour to learn more about the history of the city and it’s landmarks. I spent my time walking around the Gothic Quarter every day in Barcelona, always finding new things and discovering more tucked-away alleyways.
Landmarks In The Gothic Quarter
Cathedral of Barcelona
Within the Gothic Quarter, you will find the Cathedral of Barcelona. It was constructed between 1298-1420. This spot is a popular hangout in the city so expect crowds from 11am. If you want to beat the crowd then head there very early in the morning.
The Cathedral was also undergoing construction during my visit hence the billboard ruining the photo, but it was still amazing to see. I will have to go back again once the work is complete. You can go inside the Cathedral for 9 euros or just enjoy the views from the outside. The entry ticket will give you access to rooftop views too.
Kiss Of Freedom
The Kiss of Freedom was created by the Catalan artist and photographer Joan Fontcuberta. From afar, the Kiss of Freedom wall looks like a huge graffiti but close up, as you can see in this picture, it is a mosaic made up of 4000 tiny ceramic tiles. Each tile with a photo representing an expression of freedom. The images are a mixture of people, a place, a moment, or an event.
Wishing Bridge
The Pont del Bisbe, also known as the wishing bridge, is a Gothic bridge built in 1928 that connected the House of Canons with the Palau de la Generalitat.
Legend has it that if you make a wish while walking backward under the bridge and looking directly at the skull, that wish will come true. So let’s hope mine does, especially as I ended up walking into a woman while walking backward, as I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going.
Photoshoot In The Gothic Quarter
Sometimes it’s hard to get the photos you want when travelling solo. So I decided to book a photo shoot in the Gothic Quarter. Photo shoots are a great way to capture your moments and have fun. I booked this tour through Airbnb Experiences. This experience only cost £27, which is a steal. You will shoot at 4 different locations and receive all the photos taken.
Note the experience is a group tour, so you will be with other travellers and take in turns taking photos. However, you can request private bookings at an extra cost if you prefer. My group was small, which was good. It was myself and 3 other ladies. We got along very well, making it even more enjoyable. The photographer was also really friendly and upbeat helping us pose to get the best photos.
Book your photoshoot experience HERE
5. La Sagrada Familia
La Sagrada Familia is some of Gaudi’s best work and one of the most visited landmarks in Spain. When Gaudi designed the La Sagrada Familia, he believed no structure should exceed gods work. So despite its incredible height, he designed it to be precisely 170m to ensure it’s not higher than Barcelona’s tallest hill Montjuic. It was also made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984 despite not being finished due to Gaudi’s art and innovation.
I never managed to go inside or climb it as all the tickets were sold out until after my trip, so unfortunately, I missed out on that aspect. However, just standing in front of the landmark was breathtaking. No photo could communicate the size and detail. If you plan on going inside, book your tickets ahead of time to avoid disappointment. Do not leave it to the last minute, thinking you can book the day before like me.
6. Barcelona Bike, Photoshoot & Tapas Tour
One of the highlights of my trip was the bike, photoshoot, and tapas tour I booked with the cycling tour Barcelona. I love doing bike tours in cities as it allows you to cover large bases with scenery and stops.
My tour ended up being only two, which made it even better as it meant our guide, Martin, had more time to take photos of me and the other traveller.
It was a magical experience cycling through the vibrant city. Pedalling pass the Mediterranean coast, city traffic, and through the medieval alleyways of the Gothic Quarter.
At each stop, our guide Martin gave us the history of each place, along with recommendations to things to do and places to eat in the city. Then of course you have your photoshoot moment. Capturing your moments to treasure forever and share with friends and family.
At the end of the bike tour, you will enjoy tapas with the group if you selected the tapas option. We enjoyed 5 Tapas dishes together which was a perfect end to the tour. I couldn’t recommend the Cycling Tour Barcelona enough, and Martin is an amazing photographer and tour guide.
The whole experience was amazing and very memorable. It’s great for getting a feel of the city, the history of the Famous landmarks, and all the local tips from Martin, all while enjoying a fun activity.
Book your experience HERE
7. Get pushed and shoved at Park Güell
Park Güell is a private park composed of gardens and architectural elements located on Carmel Hill in Barcelona. Tickets are required to enter the park, and I recommend you purchase them online before your visit. Tickets are sold at the entrance but only 100 tickets a day and they get sold very fast. So pre-purchase them online to avoid disappointment.
It is a beautiful park, but I am not going to lie to you, the park is EXTREMELY busy. You will get pushed and shoved and get annoyed at some point. I went to the park at 11am, and it was already packed full of tourists. You also have to queue to enter the Greek theatre area of the park. This is the iconic photo spot most tourists visit the park for.
Besides that, the park offers many areas with lovely views and beautiful gardens. It is split into 7 sections, so grab your map at the entrance so you do not miss anything. There is also a restaurant near the exit. The pizza and sangria from here were delicious, so be sure to stop for lunch. There is also a house you can go in close to the restaurant. It’s free to enter. You just have to queue. I was in the queue for over 30 minutes, and it was not worth it. There wasn’t really anything inside to see, and given a chance again, I would skip it. So it’s up to you whether you want to go inside the house, just know I warned you if your underwhelmed after you come out.
Park Güell is a must-visit in Barcelona; Its beautiful with a lot to see. Just go as early as possible and manage your expectations as it is an extremely busy park.
8: Have a Drink at 360° Terrace Bar at Barcelo Raval
Having a drink on the top of Barcelo Raval in their 360 Bar is a unique city experience with amazing 360° views of Barcelona.
When you arrive at the hotel, take the elevator to the 11th floor and walk up a few steps to the bar. When you arrive, just take a moment to take it all in and walk the circle taking in the magnificent views of the city. It’s called 360 because you can walk around getting a 360° view of the city.
After enjoying the views, I went to the bar to order a Cava and sat close to the plunge pool. The seating here was close to the bar, the soft music, and in view of where all entertainment happens.
At the bar, you can choose from a selection of classic cocktails, wine, beer, snacks, and Tapas. I went on a sunny Monday afternoon, but they have live DJs on Thursdays-Saturdays, which would make a perfect sunset drink experience.
9. Monti Cable Car
Hop on board the Montjuïc Cable Car and enjoy breath-taking city views from above. I was lucky to enjoy a cable car to myself on the way up, taking in all the sights. When you get off on the other side, you can walk the circuit for around 40 minutes ending at the Castle. You can also go straight to the Castle without walking the circuit, or take an adventure into the forest. The choice is yours. Personally, I didn’t find the walk around that exciting, but I loved the views from the cable car. There is also a bar and public swimming pool called Piscina Municipal de Montjuïc across the road. This establishment had beautiful city views while you enjoyed some food and drinks.
10. Arc De Triomf
The Arc de Triomf is a beautiful monument in Barcelona. It was built to be the gateway to the Barcelona World Fair in 1888. It’s cool to see and a perfect photo-op spot. There is a beautiful City Park opposite it too, which you could visit after for a pleasant stroll or picnic.
11. Enjoy Tapas & Pintxo
Tapas and pintxo are a massive part of the culture in Barcelona. However, it is custom in Barcelona, then when you go for Tapas, it is to be enjoyed in many establishments, having small bites in each location.
I took a self-guided tapas and pintxo tour around the city, sampling different dishes in different locations. I started in La Ramblas, then got on the metro to Jaume, where there were loads of Tapas bars within walking distance of each other.
The other option I would definitely do on my next visit is to book an organised Tapas tour to discover more local tapas and hidden gems. Travelling solo, and booking a tour also allows you to meet others and try more dishes as you can share.
12: Paella Cooking Class
Paella is made for sharing, so when traveling solo, what better way to enjoy it than to learn to cook it and then share a meal with others.
I booked this experience through a trip advisor with The Paella Club. In the class, you will enjoy flowing cava and learn how to prepare paella. From start to finish, this experience was 5 stars. I had so much fun and met so many people. We also shared all the paellas so you could taste all the different flavours. My cooking partner and I cooked a vegetarian paella, while others cooked chicken, chorizo, and seafood.
13. Barcelona Beach
Barceloneta Beach is 422 meters long and is one of the city’s oldest and most traditional. The beach can get very busy, so if you hope for a peaceful sunbath, go early in the morning. You can also enjoy water activities, yoga, and vibrant beach bars here.
14. Casa Vincens
Casa Vicens is the first masterpiece of Antoni Gaudí and sowed the seeds of later works. It was built between 1883 and 1885 as a summer house for the family. If you have time on your trip, I would definitely recommend visiting Casa Vincens. It is some of the most beautiful architecture I have ever seen. The colors and design are stunning. You can purchase tickets on arrival as it’s not as busy as the Casa Batllo house. Tickets cost 20.50 euros.
15. Rooftop Bar & Restaurant at Hotel Colon
Have a drink and tapas with magnificent views of the Cathedral of Barcelona at Hotel Colon. I arrived 20 minutes before they opened for food to ensure a good seat. I was very lucky to get the best seat on the roof with a direct view of the Cathedral. During my time on the roof I enjoyed vermouth, sangria, and some of the best potato bravas I had ever eaten in my life. The prices here are slightly higher than in other places in the city, but it was worth it for the view. My two drinks and potato bravas cost 28 euros.
Conclusion
I loved my time in Barcelona. There was so much to see and do. My only regret is not staying longer. More than 4 days were needed to see everything. However I believe I saw the 15 best things to do in Barcelona. I covered food, culture, architecture, art, and adventure.
If you are on a budget and plan on doing many things, Barcelona is not cheap. I spent £530 over the 4 days, then with my flights and accommodation on top, it cost me over £1,000 for a 4-day trip from the UK.
Alcohol and coffee are cheaper than in the UK, but the overall cost of the trip if doing multiple things adds up very quicky.
I also had the added cost of paying for new flights on my return and one more night of accommodation due to missing my return flight.
Tips
Tip 1: Purchase tickets before your trip to popular attractions and landmarks to avoid disappointment.
Tip 2: Purchase a travel card for the duration of your trip. This allows you to move around the city by bus and metro, saving costs on taxis when going further than walking distance or paying for individual tickets.
Tip 3: If your flight is during peak times, head to your gate exceptionally early. I was relaxing in the airport, eating and relaxing, not realising they had an additional passport control checkpoint before entering the gate area. This queue was extremely long as it was for all gates, and I queued for over 40 minutes just to show my passport, which cost me and around 15 others to miss the flight back to the UK as the gate was closed by the time we got to the other side. This was extremely frustrating as the workers were not interested in helping us or letting those who had gates closing go through.
Additional Info
Language: Catalan and Spanish
Currency: Euro
How To Get There
Flight
Interrail From: Madrid, Paris or Geneva
Where to Stay
Gothic Quarter
Barceloneta
Las Ramblas
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