Places to visit in Barcelona : Must visit places in 2024
This list of the best places to visit in Barcelona will help you organize your visit to one of the most impressive cities in the world, known for its incredible history and culture as well as for its many charming corners, which we are sure will surprise and make you fall in love. in equal parts.
After its transformation and opening to the Mediterranean Sea, during the 1992 Olympic Games, the city known as Ciudad Condal became one of the most visited cities in Europe (and the world) in which one of its main attractions, in addition to its extensive offer in cultural and leisure activities, are the impressive architectural jewels of modernism such as the Sagrada Familia, Casa Batlló, La Pedrera and Park Güell, built by the famous architect Antoni Gaudí. Of course, don’t stop at just that since the city has many other things and, in addition to visiting all these buildings, it is also worth getting lost in its most emblematic neighborhoods such as Gótico, Born, Barceloneta, Poblenou or Gracia and Of course, finish the itineraries at one of its spectacular viewpoints.
And of course, the city can boast, in addition to everything mentioned above, excellent gastronomy, which is another of the city’s great attractions and will surely delight every good palate; including yours.
Based on the numerous times that we have visited this city to update this Barcelona guide, we have made a list of what we believe are the 10 most beautiful places to see in Barcelona. Let’s start!
Here are the Best Places to visit in Barcelona :
1. The Holy Family
Entering the Expiatory Temple of the Sagrada Familia, the unfinished masterpiece of the brilliant architect Gaudí, is one of the best things to do in Barcelona.
The greatest exponent of Catalan modernism, Gaudí took the reins of the construction of this church in 1883, of which the first stone had been laid a year before, leaving after his death in 1926 all the plans so that future architects could finish the work.
With a wonderful interior and exterior, we can say that the Sagrada Familia is not comparable with any other church in the world, largely due to the experience and new techniques that Gaudí used, creating a naturalistic style, where all its elements flow in complete harmony. . As a curiosity we can tell you that on the outside the 3 facades dedicated to the Birth, Passion and Glory of Jesus stand out and that the towers will reach 172 meters when the monument is finished.
This is expected to happen in the year 2026, which is the deadline we know today; and once finished, it will become the tallest Christian church in the world, so as you can imagine, we are already impatient and counting the days to see it in its maximum splendor.
Before entering the Sagrada Familia, we cannot forget that it is one of the most visited monuments in Europe, it is important to know that long queues form and that it also has a limited number of daily tickets, which sell out quite quickly.
An option to ensure entry and learn more about the history of this building is to book this skip-the-line tour with a Spanish guide, which includes climbing one of the towers from where you will enjoy incredible views.
Another alternative, if you don’t want to climb the tower, is to book this skip-the-line guided tour in Spanish. In case you do not want to take a guided tour, you can reserve these tickets in advance.
Are you wondering how to get there? Do not worry, it is very easy! You can go to the Sagrada Familia, one of the places to visit in Barcelona furthest from the center, with metro lines 2 and 5 that stop at Sagrada Familia. Another less advisable option due to traffic would be the city bus.
For more information you can consult this post on how to visit the Sagrada Familia.
Visiting hours: every day from April to September from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., March and October closes at 7 p.m. and the other months at 6 p.m.
2. Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau
The Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, built between 1902 and 1930 by the modernist architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner and his son, is another of the buildings to see in Barcelona declared a World Heritage Site.
Located a few meters from the Sagrada Familia, this old hospital surprised with a set of modernist red brick buildings and a large central square, which at the time helped, with a quiet and beautiful atmosphere, to cure patients. In 2009, the hospital and medical equipment were moved to new facilities located at the north end of the complex.
Keep in mind that the visit can take between one and two hours, since there are several exhibitions to learn about the history of the hospital and although everything is very well explained, it may be interesting to take a guided tour. If you do not want to take a guided tour you can reserve this ticket in advance.
To get to this hospital you can take metro line 5 and get off at Sant Pau or line 4 that leaves you in Guinardó.
If you are going to spend several days in the city, a good way to get around Barcelona and save money is to buy the Hola BCN Card! for 2, 3, 4 or 5 days, which allows you unlimited access to public transport in Barcelona.
Visiting hours: Monday to Saturday from November to March from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; from April to October from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. On Sundays it closes two hours earlier. Remember that the first Sunday of each month has free entry, making it one of the best free things in Barcelona.
3. Paseo de Gracia
Paseo de Gracia or Passeig de Gràcia in Catalan, which connects the emblematic Gracia neighborhood with Plaza Catalunya, is the main shopping avenue to visit in Barcelona.
Showcase of the powerful Barcelona bourgeoisie of the late 19th century, this elegant and stately promenade has some of the most beautiful modernist buildings in Barcelona such as La Pedrera, Casa Batlló, Casa Amatller and Casa Lleó Morera, among others.
Although walking through it is always a pleasure, we can say that the route along this walk usually begins at the Casa Bonaventura Ferrer in a modernist style and the Palau Robert, which houses interesting exhibitions and then observe the windows of some of the most luxurious stores in Barcelona until reach the spectacular façade of La Pedrera (Casa Milà), which we will talk about in the next point.
Halfway along the walk you will come across an authentic jewel of world architecture, known as the Apple of Discord, made up of the modernist facades of the Casa Batlló, Casa Amatller, Casa Josefina Bonet, Casa Mulleras and Casa Lleó Morera buildings. .
Although in this area you can find a great gastronomic offer, our recommendation is that you recharge your batteries at the Nacional, a spectacular restaurant with different gastronomic spaces where you can enjoy traditional recipes with quality products.
An excellent way to delve into modernism and its main buildings in Barcelona is to book this free tour or this private tour, perfect for groups.
4. Casa Milà
Casa Milà, a modernist building built between 1906 and 1912, popularly called La Pedrera for its sober stone façade forming wavy arches, is one of Gaudí’s most famous works to see in Barcelona.
Created by Gaudí during one of his most creative stages, he contributed new architectural solutions that would take him to the pinnacle of architecture with his naturalistic style, this is something that is reflected in this beautiful and emblematic building.
Of course, don’t just stay with its façade since, in addition to this, it is worth taking a tour of its interior, passing through the former apartment of the Milá family, located on the first floor, and going up until you reach the roof. , which marvels with its large ventilation towers and chimneys transformed into works of art.
It is important to know that, as in all the works carried out by this architect, endless queues form at the entrance, so it is advisable to reserve this ticket in advance.
Another option, if you want an original way to visit La Pedrera, is to book this night tour that includes an audiovisual show on the rooftop.
Visiting hours: every day from November to February from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and the rest of the months from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
5. Casa Batlló
There is no possible discussion and we believe that in this, we agree with many of you. Our favorite building to visit in Barcelona is Casa Batlló, a World Heritage Site and one of Gaudí’s best works in Barcelona.
Known for being the jewel of Catalan modernism and located on the elegant Paseo de Gracia, Casa Batlló impresses at first sight thanks to its spectacular façade inspired by the organic forms of nature.
But just like in La Pedrera, we recommend that, in addition to marveling at its exterior, you give yourself the pleasure of enjoying its interior, a place full of magic and fantasy thanks to its undulating shapes, the patio of lights and the full roof terrace. of surprising chimneys.
Although the visit is already spectacular in itself, we believe that it is especially interesting to take the virtual reality audio guide (smartguides) that will take you back in time, when the architect, commissioned by the rich businessman Josep Batlló, began the remodeling of this old house until it became a landmark of world architecture.
To access there are three types of tickets, although only with the Gold you will skip the long lines that form at the entrance. You can book your ticket in advance from this page.
If you are going to visit several of Gaudí’s works, it may be profitable to book this tour with a guide in Spanish that includes skip-the-line entry to Park Güell, the Sagrada Familia, Casa Batlló and a visit to La Pedrera.
For more information you can consult this guide on how to visit Casa Batlló.
Visiting hours: every day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (last access at 8 p.m.).
6. Plaza Cataluña
After walking along Paseo de Gracia, we suggest you finish at Plaza Cataluña, built in 1889 after the Universal Exhibition, which is one of the nerve centers to see in Barcelona.
Union point between the old town of the city and the Eixample district, this enormous 30,000 square meter square is surrounded by imposing buildings that house shopping centers, shops, banks and hotels, in addition to having ornamental fountains, sculptures and numerous e iconic pigeons that have always been part of the landscape of this emblematic square.
Although you can’t miss walking around it, our recommendation is that, to enjoy the best views of the square, go up to the terrace of the El Corte Inglés cafeteria, located on the top floor.
When you go down from the viewpoint you can leave Plaza Cataluña along the commercial street of Portal de l’Àngel, passing by the beautiful Mural of the Kiss, a photo-mosaic made by the photographer Joan Fontcuberta and the ceramist Antoni Cumella, until you reach the Plaza Nova, presided over by the Barcelona Cathedral.
A very interesting option to learn about the history and not miss anything about this part of the city is to book this free tour, considered one of the best free tours in Barcelona, or this mysteries and legends tour.
7. Barcelona Cathedral
The Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia, also known as La Seu, is one of the oldest buildings to visit in Barcelona and one of the great Gothic jewels of Catalonia.
Built between the 13th and 15th centuries, on the old Romanesque cathedral, the seat of the Archbishopric of Barcelona stands out for its fantastic neo-Gothic façade and an interior with several treasures such as its colorful stained glass windows, the beautiful cloister, the choir carved in wood, the High Altar and the Crypt of Santa Eulalia (co-patron saint of Barcelona).
If you have time you can also go up to the terrace to see the details of the towers up close and enjoy the views of the city center of Barcelona.
Visiting hours: Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Saturdays close at 5 p.m. and Sundays from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
8. Gothic Quarter
Going back in time as you stroll through the alleys of the Gothic Quarter, located in the heart of the city, is one of the best things to do in Barcelona.
With an origin dating back to Roman times, from which you can still see some remains of the ancient city of Barcino, this area reached its maximum splendor during the Medieval Age with the construction of Gothic churches and palaces.
After visiting the Cathedral, we recommend getting lost in the narrow streets of the neighborhood starting with Carrer del Bisbe, where you can see the famous Bishop’s Bridge; and from where you will find magical corners of Barcelona such as the Plaza de Sant Felip Neri, the Palau del Bisbe, the hidden Temple of Augustus, the beautiful Plaza del Rey, the Plaza Sant Jaume, the church of Santa Ana and the magnificent Plaza Real.
Once you arrive at Carrer Petritxol, one of our favorites, which is full of art galleries, we recommend going up to the Basilica Santa Maria del Pi to enjoy one of the best panoramic views of the old town from its enormous bell tower of more than 50 meters high.
When you go down you can have tapas in some of the most recommended restaurants in the area such as La Alcoba Azul, Colom Restaurant or Viana Restaurant, although our favorite is the historic Els Quatre Gats, an icon of Barcelona.
To better understand the history of this emblematic neighborhood and its most important points, we advise you to book this free night tour.
In addition to remembering its medieval past, this neighborhood also has an important Jewish legacy as it is home to the largest Jewish community on the Peninsula. To explore this area, called El Call de Barcelona, you can book this guided tour in Spanish in which you will discover its most famous corners and see buildings such as the Main Synagogue, the oldest in Spain and the only one of the five medieval ones that is preserved.
9. El Born
Right next to the Gothic Quarter, between Vía Laietana and La Barceloneta, is El Born, another of the most beautiful neighborhoods to visit in Barcelona.
Characterized by an endless number of narrow, cobbled streets, which are full of tapas restaurants, charming cafes, boutiques, local shops, boutiques and places to have the first drink of the night; El Born is one of those places that does not disappoint any traveler, no matter what expectations they have.
Although our recommendation is that you walk aimlessly through the neighborhood, we cannot fail to mention the three main jewels of the neighborhood, which are the Basilica of Santa María del Mar, the Palau de la Música Catalana and the Picasso Museum, which we will talk about in the following points, since they deserve a section for each one.
In addition to visiting these wonders, we recommend investing time in walking through its most emblematic streets such as Montcada, Argenteria, Grunyí, Mirallers and Brosolí and passing through its main points of interest such as the old Mercado del Born, Passeig de Born, the Marcus chapel, the Church of Sant Pere de les Puelles and the beautiful Francia Station.
During the route you cannot miss a visit to the new Moco Museum, which will surprise you with its modern art. You can buy tickets in advance from this page.
If you want to recharge your batteries, there is nothing better than having tapas in the Santa Catarina market or in some of the best restaurants to eat in Barcelona such as Casa Lolea, Orvay or Elsa y Fred.
Moco visiting hours: every day from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; On Fridays and Saturdays it closes at 9 p.m.
10. Palau de la Música Catalana
The impressive Palau de la Música Catalana, a modernist building built between 1905 and 1908 by the modernist architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner for the headquarters of the Orfeó Català, is another of the architectural wonders to see in Barcelona.
Among its treasures stands out the only concert hall declared a World Heritage Site, with capacity for more than 2,000 spectators, which makes you fall in love at first sight with the light that passes through its stained glass windows and its beautiful mosaics full of colors.
Remember that to enter the Palau de la Música you have to book a guided tour or buy a ticket to attend one of its music concerts and also enjoy its excellent acoustics.
Visiting hours: every day from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (July and August until 6 p.m.).
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