Top 10 things to do in Barcelona

Barcelona is the city that is one and all. Let me explain. Barcelona is one because it’s unique, it’s singular, it’s special. There is no city that is so much itself and so different to other cities. It also has a personality and an identity that is among the strongest I’ve seen during my travels. Barcelona has its own soul, its own spirit and its own fierce style that makes it so attractive.

And it’s all because it has a bit of everything. It has the sea, the beach and the fantastic Mediterranean weather. It has the mountains, the views and the hikes in nature. It has the frenetic life of a big city but the comfortable size of a big town. It has the food…oh, the food! There is no place you can eat better and healthier than in Spain. It has history that is still visible in its streets and buildings, but it has become an urban metropolis where you can find the latest trends…

I am in love with Barcelona. It’s the city where I was born and, eventually, it will be the city where I finish my life.

This is one of the most difficult posts I have written, because I never think it’s enough. And it never will be, so I might as well just post it and hope it will help someone. I will add other sub-posts to complement it until I am more or less satisfied. Remember that this is just a small fraction of what you can do in Barcelona, what I think is essencial. Let’s dive in!

* Since I need to maintain Feast of Travel, it is likely that this post contains affiliate links. It does not affect you in any way, but if you want to read more about it, you can have a look at the Trusted companies page.

1. Experience Modernisme through Gaudí

When I talk about Barcelona having its “own style”, I am talking about Modernisme, the Catalan art nouveau. This 19th century artistic movement was used as a representative of Catalan identity. Although it was present in all variants of art, it is best known for its architectural expression, with Antoni Gaudí in the forefront.

Examples of Gaudí’s work can be found around the city. Casa Batlló, the dragon-shaped house; Casa Milá (also called La Pedrera) the stone quarry building; Parc Güell, the famously failed housing project of Gaudí; and his unfinished masterpiece Sagrada Família, the world’s most singular representation of art nouveau.

Discover more about the modernist features of Barcelona in these dedicated posts:

Casa Batlló

La Pedrera

Sagrada Família

Parc Güell

Route through Modernisme in Barcelona

2. Go back in time in the Gothic Quarter and Born

Barri Gòtic (or the “Gothic Quarter”) is like a big time capsule in the middle of Barcelona. This was the original walled city of Barcelona. Walking through these narrow serpentine stone streets makes you feel like you went back in time. The skeleton of the neighborhood dates from the Roman and Medieval times, although many of the buildings were restored and improved in the 19th and 20th century. Among the landmarks of this neighborhood are Barcelona Cathedral, the Church of Santa Maria del Pi, the City Hall and the Generalitat (the Catalan Government) and Pont del Bisbe (a beautiful neo-gothic bridge). The Call (Jewish Quarter) is also located in this area.

Born was a growing suburb outside of the city wall that was later included. It is centered around Passeig del Born, the main street of the neighborhood, which used to be the just yard. The neighborhood is home to the famous Church of Santa Maria del Mar and the Picasso Museum, as well as some of the most beautiful streets in the city (i.e. Carrer de Montcada).

Again, this topic is too large to include it in this section, so  have a look at this historical route that I designed through Barcelona’s Old Town, including a map with the itinerary and the major sites:

Medieval Barcelona: a route through Barcelona’s Old Town

3. Indulge in some delicious tapas or paella

Certainly food is one of the biggest attractions in Barcelona. The combination of the Mediterranean diet with the flavours of Spanish cuisine, all soaked in delicious Spanish wine… what’s not to like?

One of the best way to taste Spanish cuisine is through tapas: small portions of any given dish. This allows to taste different dishes for a fraction of the price. Some of the most popular tapas include patatas bravas, croquetas, jamón ibérico, pa amb tomàquet (local), tortilla de patatas and pintxos.

This is of course a large topic that cannot be covered here, so I am working on a dedicated post about my favourite tapas restaurants in the city. In the meantime you can have a look at this fantastic tapas route in the old school bars of the Barceloneta neighborhood:

A 5-stop vermouth and tapas route in Barceloneta

Another popular option is paella. Even though the origin of paella comes from Valencia and not Barcelona, the quality of paella in Barcelona is fantastic and it comes with a wide variety of it: meat, vegetable or seafood paella; fideuá or rossejat (similar but with short noodles instead of rice) and the Catalan arroç negre (cuttlefish rice cooked in its ink) -a a personal favourite – are all great options!

Another post is coming your way with the best spots to savour a great paella without being ripped off by tourist traps. I will also post my recipe for paella, so you can bring it back home and cook it whenever you feel like having a Spanish moment.

4. Get some amazing views of the city

If you’ve been following Feast of Travel for a while, you will know that this is something I always recommend in any destination guide I ever write. And that is because seeing a city from above doesn’t only give you a cool #instamoment, but also it lets you put the city into the new perspective, it helps you orient and, in many cases, it makes you understand its history a bit better (why was the city built there, where were the city walls located and how it would defend from attackers…).

Barcelona is locked in between the sea and the mountains, so it is meant to have some amazing views from the hills that surround it.

You can have a look at our selection of 15 sites for fantastic views over Barcelona:

Barcelona from above: 15 best views of Barcelona

5. Enjoy the sea at Barceloneta

Barceloneta is an interesting neighborhood in the city. Containing the most popular beach in the city, this small quarter has become a hub for tourism. However, its feisty inhabitants are fighting against the lost of their heritage and traditions.

Today, there are many things you can do in this interesting neighborhood: have a stroll down the seafront walkway under the characteristic sight of the W Hotel, sunbathe or swim almost year-round in the 4.2 km-long beach, visit the small streets and alleys in the old neighborhood to escape the tourists, get a glimpse of the history of the city at Palau del Mar or discover sea life in the Aquarium (especially when traveling with kids!). If you get hungry and want to try something authentic, check out this tapas route through the most traditional bars of the neighborhood:

A 5-stop vermouth and tapas route in Barceloneta

6. Stroll through Ramblas and do some groceries at Boqueria Market

Las Ramblas is one of the most famous streets in the city. Located in the very center of the city, crossing the Old Town and connecting the central Plaça Catalunya with the seafront, it has become one of the commercial hubs in the city, focused mainly on tourism.

Guide to Las Ramblas in Barcelona

Among some of the sights in the Ramblas area are the Liceu Theater, the Palau de la Virreina, the Font de Canaletes (a fountain that is used as a meeting point for Barça celebrations), a mosaic by Joan Miró, the Columbus Monument and the famous market La Boqueria, a modernist market with great products and a surprisingly decent price.

7. Visit the hill of Montjuïc

Montjuïc is a hill in the southern part of Barcelona. It was the original settlement of the city and eventually became its main quarry. The hill has been historically the site of numerous events, such as the International Exposition in 1929 and the Olympic Games in 1992, from which many of the actual sites derive.

A guide to Montjuïc in Barcelona

Montjuïc offers some of the greatest views of the city, but also much more. Visit the sites of the International Exposition at Palau Nacional and its Magic Fountain and Poble Espanyol, an open air architectural museum where several Spanish villages can be seen in a single complex. Other sites of interest include the Montjuïc Castle, the Anella Olímpica (the complex built for the Olympic Games) and the Fundació Joan Miró.

8. Walk through Arc de Triomf and have a picnic at Parc de la Ciutadella

Arc de Triomf is a structure built for the Barcelona World Fair of 1888, opening the way to Passeig de Lluís Companys which leads to Parc de la Ciutadella. Funny enough, this arch was not designed to commemorate any military victory, but simply to act as a gateway to the 1888 World Fair.

Parc de la Ciutadella is a large park built in the 19th century in the location of a military citadel (hence the name). Now it’s the biggest park in the city in it offers entertainment for locals and tourists alike. It is home to the Catalan Parliament on the site of the former arsenal, the Barcelona Zoo and the Museum of Natural Sciences, as well as the iconic Cascada fountain and a romantic lake where you can rent a rowboat and enjoy a glass of cava.

Parc de la Ciutadella is a fantastic way to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, especially when traveling with kids. Also, it is one of the best spots in the city to have a picnic, which will cut your expenses. Buy some jamón, cheese and a loaf of bread, maybe pair it with a nice bottle of wine and head to the park!

9. Watch a football (soccer) game at Camp Nou

One of the favourite attractions for tourists visiting Barcelona is to visit FC Barcelona (locally known as Barça) at the famous stadium Camp Nou. You can buy tickets for a match here or have a tour in the stadium in the Camp Nou Experience, where you get to visit the field as well as a guided tour through the history and trophies of the club.

Now, full disclosure, I am not a fan of football. I never acquired the taste. Therefore watching a match would not be in my top priorities while visiting the city, and even less watching the trophies. However, most of the people who I know that visit the city enjoy the experience. That’s why I recommend this experience ONLY if you are interested in football (or soccer for Americans).

10. See the local life in Gràcia

Gràcia is a tiny neighborhood in Barcelona, just north of Eixample, that used to be a separate city until 1897. Interestingly, you can still feel the different atmosphere. Although there is nothing particularly monumental about Gràcia (except for Parc Güell, hello?) it is a great way to see the local life in the city outside of the tourist hordes (although it is not a secret anymore). The best way to enjoy Gràcia is to just walk around and soak up on the essence, especially on the squares, where the life of the neighborhood is centered. Some nice squares in this district are Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia, Plaça del Raspall, Plaça del Sol, Plaça de la Revolució, Plaça de la Virreina and Plaça del Diamant.

This neighborhood is also in its culinary explosion, being full of restaurants and bars with foods from all around the world. Other activities in the district include the alternative Cinema Verdi, which offers lesser known movies in original version (along with blockbusters, of course), and Teatre Lliure, a small, alternative theater.

You can also visit the neighborhood in mid-August, when the Festa Major de Gràcia happens. Each district in Barcelona celebrates its own festival at some point in the year, but Gràcia’s is the biggest. The neighbours decorate their street and have a competition, they cook for one another (and for visitors) and concerts and events are happening continuously for around two weeks!

Closing statement

Barcelona is one of the most amazing cities this planet has to offer, so make sure you visit and it will let you wanting for more. I hope I have been able to transmit my love for the city and that now you are feeling the urge to buy your plane tickets!

Make sure you don’t miss out on experiences in Barcelona by buying tickets for its attractions in Tiqets.com and skipping the lines:

In particular I recommend purchasing the Barcelona Card if you are interested in visiting some of the city’s museums and attractions. With this card you get free entrance to many museums and attractions as well as unlimited use to the public transport for an amount of time as well as transport from and to the airport. It also includes a discount coupon booklet that you can use for other attractions, tours and entertainment in the city.

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