Top things to do in Barcelona
1. Sagrada Família
The basilica of the Sagrada Família is one of the seven buildings by Antoni Gaudí in or near Barcelona listed as "Works of Antoni Gaudí" on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is the anchor of any first visit to the city.
Pair it with the other Gaudí works in Eixample, Casa Milà (La Pedrera) and Casa Batlló, which sit on the same UNESCO listing and can be seen from the outside for free if you would rather not buy tickets.
2. Casa Milà (La Pedrera)
Casa Milà, known as La Pedrera, is a Gaudí building in Eixample and part of the UNESCO World Heritage listing. Its undulating stone facade is the reason many visitors walk this district at all.
The Ruta del Modernisme, run by the Modernisme Centre at Pl. de Catalunya, 17, is a guidebook and discount voucher book that takes you to the best Modernisme buildings in Barcelona and includes discounted tickets to attractions such as La Pedrera. All the buildings can be seen from the outside for free.
3. Casa Batlló
Casa Batlló is the third Gaudí building in Eixample on the UNESCO list, and it is easily combined with Casa Milà on a single walk through the district.
If you want to see several Modernisme interiors, the Ruta del Modernisme pack from the Tourist Offices covers discounted tickets to many attractions including La Casa Batlló. The main part of the route can be walked in a couple of hours if you do not stray too far from the main routes.
4. Palau Güell
Palau Güell in Ciutat Vella is another of the Gaudí works on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and it places you in the old city rather than in Eixample.
Use it as a stop while wandering the Barri Gòtic, the largely intact medieval centre, where the streets, squares, fountains and palaces reward slow walking rather than a checklist.
5. Parc Güell
Parc Güell in Gràcia is a Gaudí work on the UNESCO list and one of the places the source names for good views over Barcelona.
Combine it with a walk in the Gràcia neighbourhood, a popular area with a great variety of restaurants, cafés and terraces where you can still feel local ambiance.
6. Casa Vicens
Casa Vicens in Gràcia is one of the seven Gaudí works on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and it sits in the same neighbourhood as Parc Güell.
Since Gràcia is where you will also find the local restaurant and terrace culture, plan Casa Vicens and Parc Güell as one half-day rather than two separate trips.
7. Palau de la Música Catalana
The Palau de la Música Catalana in Ciutat Vella is one of the works by Lluís Domènech i Montaner on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is also a working concert venue, so you can catch a performance there rather than only looking at the building.
The Teatre del Liceu, also in Ciutat Vella, is the other venue the source names for catching a performance. Both sit inside the old city, so either fits an evening after a day of walking the Barri Gòtic.
8. Hospital de Sant Pau
The Hospital de Sant Pau, at the border of Eixample, is the second Domènech i Montaner work on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Its position on the edge of Eixample makes it a natural addition to a Modernisme day that already includes Casa Milà and Casa Batlló.
9. Catedral
The Catedral is one of the highlights of the Barri Gòtic in Ciutat Vella, and some remaining fragments of the Roman walls have been incorporated into it. Its cloister is specifically worth seeking out.
Wander the Barri Gòtic on foot and visit the Cathedral and its cloister as part of the same walk. The typically Roman grid plan is still visible in the layout of the historical centre.
10. Museu d'Història de Barcelona
The Museu d'Història de Barcelona, formerly known as the Museu d'Història de la Ciutat, is another highlight of the Barri Gòtic. Important Roman vestiges are displayed in Plaça del Rei underground as part of the museum.
It pairs directly with the Cathedral and the surrounding medieval streets, so keep them together in one old-city morning.
11. Plaça Reial
Plaça Reial in Ciutat Vella, near La Rambla, is a square to sit in, relax and drink. It is one of the named highlights of the old city.
Note that people from Barcelona do not drink sangria; it is a tourist drink, but you can enjoy it anyway. The square is an easy stop at the end of a walk down La Rambla.
12. La Rambla
La Rambla is a tree-lined pedestrian walkway and the busiest and most lively street of the city. It is a series of several different streets, each called "Rambla de ____", and the sections have distinct feels.
Expect to pay higher prices for food and drink, and avoid the groups of people supposedly betting on a game played on a cardboard table, who are thieves. Head off into the side streets for a cheaper, more local experience. As you get closer to Plaça Catalunya you find more street performers doing stunts; in the middle, performers in costumes; towards the pier, artists doing pencil drawings and paintings.
13. Plaça de Catalunya
Plaça de Catalunya connects all the major streets in the city and is known for its fountains and statues. It is a favourite meeting spot for locals.
The Modernisme Centre sits at Pl. de Catalunya, 17, subterráneo, so this is where you pick up the Ruta del Modernisme guidebook and discount voucher book before starting a Modernisme walk.
14. El Born
El Born in Ciutat Vella is a former very popular area with great restaurants and places to have a few drinks. Its name means jousting field, and there are interesting details to uncover while walking, such as the names given to its streets and the medieval signs to brothels.
If your accommodation is on La Rambla, El Born is a good place for a more relaxed atmosphere and more creative shops and craftsmen. Indulge yourself at Hofman or Bubó bakeries and make sure you visit the Santa Maria del Mar church.
15. Port Vell Aerial Tramway
The Port Vell Aerial Tramway is a 1450-metre-long harbour aerial tramway with red cars connecting Montjuïc and Barceloneta. It starts in Barceloneta on top of the 78-metre-tall Torre San Sebastian tower, which also has a restaurant at its top accessible by an elevator, and has an intermediate stop at Torre Jaume I tower, close to the Columbus monument.
The car is packed with tourists during the daytime, which is particularly sensitive if you have a stroller or a wheelchair, but if you start from the Montjuïc side there are fewer people waiting. It is not part of Barcelona's integrated fare network.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start in Ciutat Vella and wander the Barri Gòtic, visiting the Catedral and its cloister and the Museu d'Història de Barcelona, with its Roman vestiges in Plaça del Rei underground. Walk down La Rambla towards the pier, keeping to the side streets for cheaper food and drink, and finish the morning at Plaça Reial.
Afternoon: Move into Eixample for the Modernisme buildings, seeing Casa Milà (La Pedrera) and Casa Batlló, and pick up the Ruta del Modernisme from the Modernisme Centre at Pl. de Catalunya, 17 if you want discounted tickets. If time allows, add the Sagrada Família, the strongest single sight in the city.
Evening: Head to El Born for its restaurants and places to have a few drinks, stopping at Hofman or Bubó bakeries and visiting the Santa Maria del Mar church. Finish with a performance at the Palau de la Música Catalana or the Teatre del Liceu, both in Ciutat Vella.
Frequently asked questions
Which Gaudí buildings in Barcelona are on the UNESCO World Heritage List?
Seven buildings by Antoni Gaudí in or near Barcelona are listed as "Works of Antoni Gaudí": the basilica of Sagrada Família, Casa Milà (La Pedrera) and Casa Batlló in Eixample, Palau Güell in Ciutat Vella, Parc Güell and Casa Vicens in Gràcia, and the crypt of the Church in Colònia Güell.
Can I see the Modernisme buildings without buying tickets?
Yes. All of them can be seen from the outside for free. If you want to go inside several, the Ruta del Modernisme guidebook and discount voucher book from the Modernisme Centre includes discounted tickets to many attractions such as La Pedrera and La Casa Batlló.
Where can I get good views over Barcelona?
The source names Park Güell, Tibidabo, Montjuïc and Carmel's bunkers for good views over the city.
Is the Port Vell Aerial Tramway part of the integrated fare network?
No. It is not part of Barcelona's integrated fare network, so you buy a separate ticket for the ride between Barceloneta and Montjuïc.
Decide which of these fits your days, check the current details for the ones you choose, and start planning your trip to Barcelona.