How to have fun in Barcelona? Where to go for excursions or shopping? What activities are worth travelling to Barcelona for?
Book a hotel in the centre of Barcelona
Walking around the centre
It's said that anyone who hasn't walked Barcelona's most famous promenade , La Rambla, hasn't even been to Barcelona.
This 1.2 km long pedestrian zone is definitely not to be missed on your wanderings around the city. You'll not only enjoy the pleasant walk, but above all what happens on it. La Rambla is packed day and night with vendors, artists, live statues and various street performances, making it the perfect place to soak up the true Barcelona atmosphere.
Turn off La Rambla into the adjacent neighbourhoods and lose yourself in the tangle of narrow streets for half a day. While to the east of La Rambla you'll enjoy a true historic core in the Barri Gotic district, to the west you'll wander through the bohemian El Raval.
In the footsteps of Gaudí
Literally like a magnet, tourists are drawn to the works of the brilliant architect Antoni Gaudí, who was the creator of many houses and other sacred buildings that are easily and simply recognizable by the original handwriting he left in his works.
This unique architect with a huge amount of imagination gave Barcelona an unmistakable character that can be seen today at almost every turn.
Without his works, Barcelona would not be what it is today, so don't be put off by the high admission prices and long queues, because the experience is well worth it.
See detailed information on Gaudí's most famous buildings in Barcelona:
- Sagrada Familia
- Park Güell
- Casa Milá (La Pedrera)
- Casa Battló
- Casa Vicens
- Palau Güell
Tip: Always buy your tickets online to avoid higher prices and endless queues.
Relax on the beach
Barcelona's coastline is more than 4 kilometres long, with beautiful beaches of fine golden sand that literally invite you to relax.
If you head here, it would be a sin not to visit at least one of them. Barcelona's beaches have the advantage of being almost all centrally located and within easy reach of interesting historical sights and activities.
One of the most famous city beaches in the world is undoubtedly Barceloneta, a stone's throw from the historic centre, where, as well as swimming, you can enjoy late-night entertainment in the bars and restaurants of the adjacent district of the same name.
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Quieter beaches lie further north around the Poblenou district. Some of the most popular, for example, are the wide and long Bogatell Beach.
Barcelona's beaches are covered in fine-grained golden sand and all the city's beaches are well maintained and clean. All beaches also offer a wide range of restaurants and bars, as well as free showers and toilets. Some bars offer umbrellas and sunbeds for hire with prices around 15 to 20 eur per day per set.
Museums and galleries
Barcelona is home to countless museums, some of which are world famous with very valuable collections. It's not possible to list all of Barcelona's museums here, but here's a look at the most important ones:
- Museo Picasso - the museum with the most extensive and complete collection of the famous painter Pablo Picasso.
- Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (MNAC) - Catalonia's national art museum boasts the most extensive collection of art from the Romanesque period in the world. Housed in the neo-Renaissance Palacio Nacional
- Gaudí Experiencia - an interactive museum comprehensively mapping Gaudí's work
- Fundació Joan Miró - a museum of modern art with more than 10,000 exhibits
- Museum of the History of Barcelona (MUHBA) - a comprehensive mapping of Barcelona's history from prehistory to the present day
- CosmoCaixa - one of the most popular museums of science, technology and the future with lots of interactive elements
- Maritime Museum - dedicated mainly to the history of shipbuilding on the local docks between the 13th and 18th centuries
Try tapas and local specialities
Although tapas are not typical of Catalonia, there are many restaurants and bars that offer these delicacies. The selection is truly exquisite and includes just about everything you can think of: spicy sausages, fried calamari, prawns, meatballs, pieces of octopus and much more.
One of the most popular and top-rated restaurants offering popular tapas is Ciudad Condal Restaurant, which is a definite must-visit.
Juicy fruits, fresh fish, variously prepared seafood, the finest Spanish ham, delicious cheeses, tempting sweets or delicious Catalan wines. We're talking about Barcelona's largest market, La Boqueria, where you'll experience the true magic of the Mediterranean lifestyle. The famous market is the ideal place to meet all gourmets and food lovers.
Nightlife
Barcelona is rightly considered a mecca of entertainment and exuberant nightlife, so especially in the summer, when it's mainly outdoors, Barcelona's nightlife is rich and quite lively.
If you want to enjoy the club atmosphere to the full, we recommend heading to the El Raval or El Born neighbourhoods. The famous clubs here are Up And Down, Bikini, La Terrazzau Poble Espanyol and the legendary Hard Rock Café.
Flamenco lovers shouldn't miss the Tablao Flamenco Cordobes or Tablao del Carmen, where they can dance the paso doble, tango, salsa, flamenco and much more.
A rich nightlife can also be enjoyed in the restaurants, bars and clubs along Barceloneta beach.
The best sights in Barcelona
Barcelona is surrounded by hills and in the centre you'll find several high-rise buildings or roof terraces with great views.
What sights did we like best on our visit?
Free views
The best places are the ones where you don't have to pay, that's a given.
In Barcelona, the best places are definitely the hills of Montjuïc and Tibidabo, from where you can enjoy free views of the city. We'll show you our photos in the details of the place, as well as a description of how to get there:
Views from the towers and buildings
In the city you will find countless observation decks on churches, houses and skyscrapers. Which ones would we recommend? Click on the location details to find out prices or opening times:
Trip to the Monsterrat Monastery
If there's one place outside the centre of Barcelona that you should definitely not miss when visiting, it's the Benedictine Monastery of Montserrat, an important place of pilgrimage located in the natural park of the same name about 40 km from Barcelona. You'll be rewarded with stunning views of the surrounding countryside, as well as an incredible monastery built into the rock.
For detailed information on the trip to this magical place, see the separate chapter on Montserrat.
