Must-See Attractions in Barcelona – Guide to Essential Sights! august 19, 2024 – Posted in: Spain, Travel – Tags: Archaeology, Attractions, Barcelona, History, Holiday, Metro, Spain, Vacation

Tourist Attractions in Barcelona

Barcelona, Spain’s second-largest city, offers so much to see that you certainly won’t be able to experience it all in one visit. Just wandering through the charming streets and soaking in the lively atmosphere can easily fill a weekend trip. But if you’re in Barcelona, there are many exciting attractions that you should explore – enough to keep you busy for an entire month.

So what are the must-sees if you only have a few days in Barcelona? Is it okay to just admire the unfinished cathedral, La Sagrada Familia, from the outside, or should you experience it from within as well? And which other works by Gaudí are must-sees? All these questions will be answered here as we guide you through sightseeing in this beautiful Catalan city!

A Quick Tip for Buying Tickets

Before we dive into the many exciting attractions in Barcelona, we have a quick recommendation. Barcelona is a top tourist destination, which means you can often purchase tickets online. This allows you to plan your visits to various attractions before you even leave home.

Buying tickets online can save you both money and time by avoiding long lines created by the influx of tourists. Even though we visited the city in January, there were still many tourists because Barcelona is a year-round tourist destination. But don’t worry – the city is well-equipped to handle it, and the lines are managed quickly and efficiently.

When booking tickets online, follow the links we’ve provided for each attraction. Note that the prices listed were valid in 2023 and may have changed.

12 Must-See Attractions in Barcelona

Barcelona has many exciting attractions, and here is a list of the sights you definitely should see when you’re on vacation in the city. You may not get to see them all, but La Sagrada Familia, the Gothic Quarter, and Park Güell are all must-visits.

To get around the attractions, it’s fastest to put on your walking shoes and explore on foot. It’s only a 30-minute walk from La Sagrada Familia to Park Güell. Barcelona also has 11 metro lines that can take you anywhere in the city, which you can read more about here: Getting Around Barcelona: Guide to Bus, Tram, Train and Metro. So let’s get out and see something amazing!

1. La Sagrada Familia

The impressive cathedral stands proudly over the city. Despite its unfinished state, it’s a magnificent sight that only gets more stunning as you get closer. Yes, La Sagrada Familia should be experienced both from the outside and inside. It’s a bit pricey to enter – 26 euros, and 36 if you want to go up one of the towers – but it’s absolutely fantastic and overwhelming!

As incomplete as the cathedral is from the outside, it is equally beautiful, organic, and complete on the inside. Antoni Gaudí, who took over the project in 1883, aimed to combine Gothic spires with the flowing curves of Art Nouveau. This is especially evident when you look up, and light filters through the many mosaics in a thousand colors, giving you a sense that the cathedral could be a living being.

When you buy your ticket, you have the option to add access to one of the two towers: Nativity or Passion. From the Nativity tower, you can see the city and the mountains, while the Passion tower offers an even more extensive view of the city and the Mediterranean Sea. Most people choose the Nativity tower for its mountain views, as it was built by Gaudí himself, but we opted for the Passion tower for its beautiful views of the city and the sea. Whichever tower you choose, be prepared to walk about 504 narrow steps down after taking the elevator up.

2. Barri Gòtic – The Gothic Quarter

In Ciutat Vella, the old town, lies the neighborhood of Barri Gòtic. It was here, near the Cathedral of Barcelona, that the Romans laid the first stones of their colony, Barcino, which is now modern-day Barcelona. Standing in front of the cathedral, you can see the remnants of the Roman aqueduct to its right.

Today, it’s mainly the traces of the medieval city that impress. In the Gothic Quarter, you can spend hours simply strolling around and enjoying the beautiful buildings. In the maze of narrow streets, you can breathe in the ancient medieval history and get lost among numerous antique shops, bookstores, historic buildings, and small tapas bars.

3. Park Güell

Barcelona is a bustling city with all that entails in terms of traffic, so it’s refreshing to step a bit outside the city. Park Güell is located where the mountains begin, offering the most delightful view over the city. It’s yet another of Gaudí’s masterpieces, and the whole park is imbued with his creativity and imagination.

Entry to the park costs 10 euros, and you can easily spend 1-2 hours seeing everything. The Three Viaducts at the eastern end of the park are particularly stunning. If you have strong legs that day, the view from the Three Crosses atop the mountain at the other end of the park is absolutely breathtaking.

To get that famous panoramic shot over Barcelona from the large oval square and the Greek Theater, come early in the morning when the park opens. This way, you’ll avoid the long line for the famous blue tiles.

4. Montjuïc and the Cable Car

Another fantastic viewpoint over Barcelona can be found on Montjuïc Mountain. In the large park surrounding the mountain, there’s plenty to see. Besides the many beautiful gardens, you’ll also find the Miró Museum here.

Most people come here to take the cable car up to the castle at the top. From Plaza d’Espanya, it takes about half an hour to walk to the start of the cable car, but the metro goes right to the entrance. If you choose to walk up, you’ll pass by Salts, the restaurant located in the Olympic swimming stadium. Read more about it here: Top Restaurants in Barcelona: Must-Try Dining Spots and Hidden Gems

You can buy tickets for the cable car online at Telefèric de Montjuïc. It’s a good idea to just choose a one-way ticket for 10 euros, as it’s a real pleasure to walk down the mountain. On the way down, you can also stop at Parc del Mirador del Poble Sec, where you’ll find another fantastic view over Barcelona and the harbor.

4a. Another Cable Car: From the Harbor to Montjuïc

When we returned to beautiful Barcelona in 2024, another cable car had opened, connecting the harbor to the lower part of Montjuïc Mountain. The cable car Teleférico de Barcelona, also known as Aeri del Port, runs between Sant Sebastia Beach in the La Barceloneta neighborhood and the viewpoint in Parc del Mirador del Poble-sec.

5. MNAC, Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya

It costs €12.50 for a one-way trip, transporting you across the harbor and all the sights up to Montjuïc. From here, it’s a fifteen-minute walk to the next cable car, Telefèric de Montjuïc.

5. MNAC, Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya

You can easily walk down Montjuïc Mountain, and on your way down, you should almost certainly make a stop at the magnificent Palau Nacional of Montjuïc, built for the 1929 World Exposition. Today, the palace houses the art museum MNAC, Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya, where you can view Catalan art from the medieval period to modern times.

However, many come here to enjoy the splendid view over Barcelona. From here, you can see both La Sagrada Familia and many other iconic buildings of the city. If you’re lucky, you might also get a sunny spot in the museum café and enjoy a lovely lunch.

6. Gaudí’s Houses

Back in the city, it’s time to see more of Gaudí, Barcelona’s famous architect. Gaudí lived from 1852-1926, but it wasn’t until the 1950s that the world truly recognized his use of vibrant colors, tiles, and curvaceous lines. Today, Park Güell, La Sagrada Familia, and many of his other works are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

This includes two of his most famous buildings, Casa Batlló and Casa Milà (La Pedrera). Casa Batlló is located on Passeig de Gracia, and there is always a crowd in front of the house at all times of the day. Casa Milà is a bit further north, right by the Diagonal metro station.

Both locations cost about 200 kr. to enter. Since we were only in the city for an extended weekend, we prioritized spending time on longer visits to La Sagrada Familia and Park Güell, and we were content to admire the two beautiful houses from the outside. However, based on what we read and the photos we see online, visiting inside both houses is something we will experience next time we are in town.

7. The Cathedral of the Sea – Església de Santa Maria del Mar

If you’ve read the medieval novel The Cathedral of the Sea by Ildefonso Falcones, you might also want to visit the cathedral that forms the backdrop of the story. The cathedral is a beautiful example of the unique Catalan-Gothic architectural style, and in the novel, we follow the construction of the cathedral in 14th-century Barcelona.

Església de Santa Maria del Mar is located in the Ribera district between the Gothic Quarter and the Arc de Triomf from the 1888 World Exposition. In the past, this was the area where the city’s fishermen, sailors, and merchants lived. With The Cathedral of the Sea in mind, it’s not hard to imagine what life was like in the narrow streets during the Middle Ages.

The Madonna statue that Arnau prays to can be found at the altar. Also, take time to enjoy the view from the church’s roof. A visit to the church costs 5 euros, and 10 euros if you want to go up to the rooftop terrace.

8. MUHBA – Museu d’Historia de Barcelona

For tourists like us who can swoon over a Roman ruin, Barcelona might seem a bit too new and modern – at least on the surface. But if you descend into the basement of MUHBA, Barcelona’s historical museum in Palau Major, you also step back into the city’s beginnings.

8. MUHBA – Museu d’Historia de Barcelona

Just below the square in front of the Cathedral of Barcelona, you’ll find the remains of the Roman colony, Barcino. In 100 BC, the first stones were laid for this small settlement, which has now grown into Spain’s second-largest city. In the 4,000 m² excavation, you can see, among other things, the massive city walls, the garum factory, and the ancient sewers under the streets.

In a city where many attractions cost an arm and a leg to enter, you get a lot of entertainment for just 5 euros here at MUHBA. After exploring the Roman ruins in the basement, the exhibition continues upstairs with the rest of the palace and exhibits on medieval Barcelona, among other topics.

9. The Jewish Synagogue

While you’re in this part of the city, you should also check out the ancient Jewish synagogue, Sinagoga Major de Barcelona. The synagogue is described as one of the oldest in Europe and certainly the oldest in Spain. As early as the 3rd century, there is believed to have been a Jewish community here, as evidenced by the archaeological remains.

It is certain that in 1391, the Jews were victims of a massacre. In the Jewish quarter of Barcelona alone, 400 were killed, and the survivors were forced to wear a red badge on their clothing.

Today, the synagogue is in use again, and between Bar Mitzvahs and other religious ceremonies, it is possible to take an interesting tour of the two small rooms.

10. Camp Nou

For football enthusiasts, Camp Nou is a huge experience. But whether you’re a football fan or not, you’ve undoubtedly heard of FC Barcelona and its many star players: Messi, Ronaldinho, and of course our own Michael Laudrup. The history of these players and the entire club is told at the Camp Nou museum.

By clicking the link, you can buy tickets for both the museum and a stadium tour. If you’re looking for tickets to a football match in Barcelona, click here: Football Tickets – FC Barcelona Official Channel. Prices for a home game start at around €70 and go up to €200.

11. The Beaches

No matter when you visit Barcelona, you should almost certainly head down to the water. Barcelona has 4.5 km of beach promenade, offering the chance to combine a city break with a beach holiday. The bathing season in Barcelona runs from March 15 to November 15, but even in winter, it can be warm and sunny enough to sit outside and enjoy a meal at one of the seaside restaurants.

There is no clear consensus on which of Barcelona’s nine beaches is the best. Some prefer Platja de la Barceloneta because it’s within walking distance from the city center, while others like to go a bit further north, such as to Nova Icaria, with its many bars and sports activities.

12. Flamenco Show at Los Tarantos

End your trip with a flamenco show in Barcelona. There are many different bars and clubs where you can see flamenco. At the city’s oldest flamenco bar, Los Tarantos, you can enjoy a 40-minute intense flamenco show for 17 euros.

There are three shows each evening with changing performers. We saw a show featuring three different palos (flamenco styles), performed by two female flamenco dancers, a singer, and a guitarist.

And now to clear up any misconceptions: given the flamenco bar’s location right by the heavily touristic La Rambla, our expectations weren’t exactly sky-high. But the show was worth every penny, and we were tempted to stay for another round when the lights came back on. It’s a must for the next trip!

More Tips for Your Trip to Barcelona

Find a Great Hotel in Barcelona

Barcelona is a big city, and it can be a bit overwhelming to figure out which hotel to choose. Most tourists opt to stay in the old quarter near all the major attractions. If you click on the hotel we stayed at, B&B Boutique Ca La Maria, and then click on “Show on map,” it’s easy to see. Look for the area between Avinguda Diagonal, Avinguda del Paral·lel, and Arc de Triomf. This is the most popular area for a vacation in Barcelona.

As you can see, the hotel we stayed at is in the Eixample district, right next to the Provença metro station. From here, it was easy to reach all parts of the city and attractions, and since we stayed at the end of La Rambla, it was also easy to find our way back home. It’s a newer neighborhood that’s nice and relatively quiet, where you’re just a bit away from the busiest areas.

About B&B Boutique Ca La Maria

B&B Boutique Ca La Maria was the perfect hotel for our family vacation with a teenager. This small boutique hotel is located in an old mansion apartment with stucco and incredibly high ceilings. Our apartment had a small entrance with access to the large bathroom. The entrance also led to our private living room and further into two huge bedrooms, each with its own really good bed. We had the largest apartment in the hotel, but we also met several couples on romantic getaways – so the hotel suits them as well.

In addition to our own living room, the hotel also has a common lounge area, as you can see in the picture above. A lovely breakfast was served here, and for the rest of the day, there were free drinks, fruit, and cake. All in all, we can’t recommend the hotel enough!

Read more about the hotel here B&B Boutique Ca La Maria and see all the other hotels in Barcelona by clicking here. However, Barcelona is an extremely expensive city to live in, with high costs for housing, dining, and daily expenses. If you’re looking for more affordable hotels, we’ve written an article about living cheaply in Castelldefels, a charming seaside town just outside Barcelona.You can also conduct your own search for hotels in Barcelona right here:

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