41 Best things to see & do in Barcelona

Gaudi’s extraordinary, iconic masterpiece – and the most spectacular church of the 21st century.

Gaudí’s city is packed with delights: spectacular Gothic, flamboyant Modernista, and edgy 21st-century marvels.

The former home of the Batllo family, Gaudí’s shimmering, colour-drenched townhouse is a Modernista masterpiece. One of three Modernista masterpieces in a single block.

Gaudi’s otherworldly masterpiece, shaped like a curvaceous cliff with a surreal roof guarded by twenty-eight knight-like ‘witch-scarers.’

Gaudi’s endlessly playful, imaginative garden is a lyrical delight, with majestic views over Barcelona.

In Europe’s biggest stadium, FC Barcelona’s museum is the third most visited attraction in Spain, and a must for sports fans.

Our summary of the typical food ingredients and flavours, cooking styles, dining scene and best foodie experiences in Barcelona.

The home of sparkling cava, this beautiful wine region is made up of historic vineyards set in rolling Catalan countryside.

Picasso and Miro steal the headlines, but Barcelona’s museums are packed with extraordinary art, from the Middle Ages to now.

A mystical, 10th-century monastery perched amid undulating mountain scenery that inspired Gaudi – now a famous Spanish honeymoon destination.

A thrumming, lively street running through the heart of Barcelona towards the sea, is a magnet for street performers, tourists and pick-pockets.

A privately-owned museum that specialises in contemporary art and exhibitions from famous artists such as Banksy, Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, and Salvador Dali.

Luminous museum of modern and contemporary art, housing the world’s top collection of works by Joan Miro. Set in a striking rationalist-style building, designed by Josep Lluis Sert.

Gleaming white museum housing a cutting-edge collection of international and Catalan contemporary art, representing the 1940s-60s, 1960s-70s and the contemporary period.

Ponderous and strange, Gaudi’s Art Nouveau town palace, commissioned in 1886 by the oligarch Eusebi Guell, is full of astonishing innovations, from its sweeping ramp to the subterranean stables, lofty parabolic cupola, and chimney sculptures covered in broken tiles.

Absorbing collection of early and late works by Picasso, in a beautiful Gothic palace. The collection includes Picasso’s 58 paintings inspired by Velazquez’s Las Meninas.

This major collection of the works of the late, great Abstract Expressionist Antoni Tapies is stored in a stunning Modernista building.

Barcelona’s beautiful, palm-lined shore, from the 18th-century Barceloneta district to the ex-Olympic village, is a two-mile sweep of beach and boardwalk packed with trendy cafés and clubs, great for walking, cycling and rollerblading.

Showcases a thousand years of Catalan art history, with rich Romanesque, Gothic and Modernista sections and plenty of Grand Masters in between.

The first private home Gaudi designed, this bright Orientalist building only opened to the public in 2017, so it’s a relatively new addition to Barcelona’s Modernista scene – as such, its brightly-tiled and painted interior is often blissfully quiet.

Take to the top of the Montjuic hill for spectacular city views (there’s also a stop for Montjuic Castle). Go in the other direction over the port to the San Sebastian tower.

Just above Placa Espanya, the fountain (another relic of the 1929 International Exhibition) explodes into a fabulous choreographed display of water jets and colourful lights, synchronised with an enchanting musical soundtrack. The shows typically take place in the evenings, with varying schedules depending on the season.

Catalan’s gorgeous Modernista concert hall, Palau de la Musica, is a must-see for its extraordinary architecture alone. Designed by Lluis Domenech i Montaner, the palace mesmerises with intricate ornamentation, stained glass windows, and lavish interiors. Today, it serves as a vibrant cultural venue hosting a variety of concerts, operas, and choral performances.

This vibrant market is a Barcelona institution, packed with almost a thousand stalls selling fresh produce or dine-in tapas.

The city’s oldest covered market was rebuilt in 2005, and crowned with an undulating roof of multicoloured tiles – peruse hanging jamon and stacks of veg, or lunch at no-frills restaurant counters.

Barcelona’s rich seafaring past comes to life in this museum housed in the city’s 14th-century medieval shipyards. It showcases an extensive collection of ship models, navigational instruments, and artefacts that explore the evolution of seafaring and Barcelona’s maritime heritage. Star of the show is a life-size model of Don Juan’s flagship at Lepanto.

Recently restored, this enormous X-shaped market from 1882 overflows with delicacies daily – except Sunday, when it becomes a flea market.

Barcelona’s spectacular performing arts festival, featuring the world-famous ‘giants’ dance and the mesmerising human pyramids, the castellers.

This massive pile is Catalan Gothic at its most grandiose, full of wonders: lavishly ornate chapels, Renaissance sculpted choir stalls, and crypt of patron saint Eulalia. The cloister is especially charming.

Founded in 1933, Barcelona’s oldest cocktail bar hasn’t changed since; come for superb cocktails in an evocative, Art Deco atmosphere.

Stop for breakfast at this historic milk bar, with its classic Catalan ensaimada pastries, crema catalana, horchata (tiger nut milk), hot chocolate and more.

Only Barcelona is crazy enough to put a funfair on a mountain, with hair-raising rides swinging over the void. There are majestic views over the entire city – especially from the ferris wheel or airplane ride.

The world’s premier dance music event, a three-day extravaganza featuring giant dance halls and international DJs.

This massive pile is Catalan Gothic at its most grandiose, full of wonders: lavishly ornate chapels, Renaissance sculpted choir stalls, and the crypt of patron saint Eulalia. The cloister is especially charming, and you can climb to the rooftop for panoramic views of the city.

A fun, interactive museum covering the history of the sport and the Olympics (especially Barcelona’s in 1992). Explore the history of the Olympics, discover iconic moments, and learn about various sports disciplines. For sports enthusiasts and history buffs alike.

This royal 14th-century convent contains the finest Gothic frescoes in Catalonia, as well as a beautiful alabaster tomb of Queen Elisenda. It houses a collection of religious art and artefacts, showcasing the artistic and cultural heritage of the monastery, and the medieval period.

Barcelona’s Gothic jewel was built in the 14th century by the sea-faring community in only 50 years – hence its rare stylistic harmony. During the Spanish Civil War, its accumulated Baroque decorations burned, leaving behind the bare bones of its sublime interior.

Barcelona’s aquarium, one of Europe’s biggest, has 11,000 sea creatures, plenty of sharks and an underwater tunnel.

If Michelin stars could be award for donuts, this riotously colourful café in the Eixample would win hands down. Imaginative toppings are crammed on top pf the good old fashioned donut, from sweet to savoury, create a new culinary art form that will have foodie salivating.

Design is Barcelona’s middle name, and this museum is a temple to it, filled with old and new fashions, furniture, decorative and graphic arts.

A magnificent, red-brick Modernista factory now converted into a superb Catalan cultural centre, with edgy permanent and temporary exhibitions.