This seaside Spanish city has captured the hearts of millions around the world, myself included. It has an extremely distinctive character, having bred many artists and visionaries such as Picasso and Gaudi, and you’ll find its charm woven into the very streets of the city. There’s no way anyone wouldn’t love the city – there’s delicious food, stunning architecture, gorgeous beaches, and wild nightlife. I, personally, have now been to Barcelona three times and decided to share with you everything I’ve learned about this spectacular city in this ultimate guide to Barcelona.
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How to get there
Fly into Barcelona El-Prat: If you’re coming from outside the country, the main way is to fly into Barcelona El-Prat. It’s the main international airport in Barcelona, and from there, you can take public transport or catch a cab into the city center.
The public bus, called Aerobus, runs from Plaça Catalunya to both terminals of the airport. If you are going to the airport from the city center, be aware that Placa Catalunya is a giant roundabout, so it might take you a bit to get to the street in the circle which the bus actually stops at!
Take a train into Barcelona Sants: This train station is connected via Eurorail to almost every major European mainland city.
How to get around
Metro: There are eight different lines that will take you around Barcelona, which is kind of confusing, but the same tickets work for each one. A single ticket will cost you 2,20€ but for ten rides you can get a T-10 Card which is only 10,20€. If you’re staying for longer than a couple of days I highly recommend it. You can even share one T-10 pass among multiple people!
Walking: The city is very walkable, and generally, once you’re in the city center, you never have to take transport unless you’re trying to go to somewhere near the edge of the city like Parc Guell.
Cabs: Barcelona’s taxis are very distinctive, with their black and yellow exterior, and they have to charge by the meter. If you’re traveling with up to four people, taxis could be cheaper than the metro!
The W Hotel, Barcelona
If money ain’t no thang to you, then you have to stay at the W Hotel. It’s one of the most iconic silhouettes in Barcelona, and you’ll be located right on the edge of the sea. There’s even an infinity pool on an outdoor deck overlooking the ocean. It is unquestionably the best place to stay in Barcelona, but the cheapest room during peak season is about 660 euros a night! If you can swing that cost, then absolutely do it.
Ginosi Pedralbes Hotel
If you’re a regular person (like me), Ginosi Pedralbes Hotel is what I recommend! I found that Airbnbs were almost as pricey as hotels in Barcelona, so why not pay for a hotel with cleaning services and amenities? This hotel is located in a more residential neighborhood in the city but is still close enough to the city center that getting there via metro takes no more than 20 minutes. In my opinion, it was a great value for the price!
Parc Guell
Possibly the most iconic of Gaudi’s works (second to only the Sagrada Familia), you’ll see this iconic view of Barcelona everywhere. What makes this place more fun is that instead of just being one building, it’s a whole park full of Gaudi’s work. However, be sure to buy tickets ahead of time. The second time I came to Barcelona, we failed to do so, and it was completely sold out. You can come early in the morning to wait in line for tickets, but if you come too late then they can run out. Get skip the line tickets with a guided tour included here!
Sagrada Familia
This Barcelona church has been in the making for over a century, and in fact, still isn’t finished! It’s set to be finished at around 2026-2028 so if you’re waiting to visit Barcelona, that’s a good year to go! Hint: for a good place to take a pic of this church, head to the children’s park! The view from inside is equally as stunning, but be sure to buy tickets online to skip the line!
Palau de la Musica
Palau de la Musica is a concert hall designed in the 19th century and has been declared a World UNESCO Heritage Site. The theater is open for guided tours or self-guided walkthroughs from 10AM-3:30PM every day, so be sure to come before late afternoon if you want to enter!
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Casa Batllo
The exterior of this Gaudi building is always surrounded by tourists and is quite stunning. While the exterior is the most famous, you can also go inside for stunning tile mosaics! If you choose to go inside, be aware that you need to buy tickets beforehand or else risk waiting in a long line!
Gothic Quarter
The winding streets of the Gothic quarter are so enchanting, it’s worth devoting an entire portion of your itinerary to simply wandering around them! You’ll stumble upon plenty of gems, such as this intricate bridge which spans two buildings across a small narrow alleyway called the Pont de Bisbe. You can walk through the Gothic Quarter by yourself or take a guided tour!
Arc de Triomf
Much like the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and the Arch of Titus in Rome, this triumphal arch is Barcelona’s take on the Roman classic. It was built by architect Josep Vilaseca i Casanovas as the main access gate for the 1888 Barcelona World Fair. The Arc de Triomf is also located close to Parc de la Ciutadella, an absolutely gorgeous park with a lake and plenty of sculptures and fountains that I also highly recommend!
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Barceloneta Beach
Going from mountains to beaches, Barcelona really has it all! Barceloneta beach is absolutely stunning! If you can, find a nice spot to lie and sunbathe and enjoy the gorgeous Barcelona weather. Personally, I wouldn’t recommend swimming in the water; I tried it and it was pretty gross. But if you can, I do recommend eating by the beach; the atmosphere is unparalleled.
La Pedrera
Also known as Casa Mila, most of this Gaudi building is stunning, however, my favorite part is the roof. With its whimsical tall structures, it’s quite the sight to see. Skip the line by booking tickets online ahead of time!
La Rambla
This is Barcelona’s most famous street! Lined on both sides by tons of delicious restaurants, cool shops, and swarming with tourists. As one of the main landmarks associated with Barcelona, La Rambla is usually crowded and always overpriced. I would suggest walking along the road just for the experience, but don’t stop to eat here or buy anything.
Picasso Museum
You’ve definitely heard of this famous artist. Explore Picasso’s journey to becoming the world-renowned artist he is today at this museum! Displaying years work of pieces, Picasso’s journey through the art world is super interesting to see, as you can see his pieces descend from more realistic to super abstract.
Barcelona Cathedral
Don’t be fooled; the Barcelona Cathedral is completely different from the Sagrada Familia! Also known as the Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia, this cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Barcelona, Spain. This square in the Gothic Quarter is always packed and busy, so for a good shot try a lower angle!
Placa Reial
Placa Reial is a gorgeous little square in the middle of the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona, near La Rambla. Full of palm trees, a fountain, and arches, it is wonderfully photogenic. It is also surrounded by a ton of restaurants and bars and is always full of street performers. When night hits, the square gets livelier than ever. Somehow, every night I was in Barcelona, I ended up back in this plaza.
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El Born
Probably the most photogenic neighborhood of Barcelona, you can get tons of photo opportunities by just strolling through the narrow winding streets. Plants drip down the walls, and flags and banners are hung throughout the alleyways.
Tibidabo Cathedral del Sagrat Cor
Tragically, I have been to Barcelona twice without visiting this amazing cathedral yet! Perched on top of the highest mountain in all of Barcelona, the view seriously doesn’t get any better than this. Cathedral del Sagrat Cor was meant to be Barcelona’s answer to the Sacre-Coeur, and personally, I think it’s even grander than the Parisian counterpart.
El Carmel Bunkers
By far the best view of the city, it takes quite some hiking to get to the Carmel Bunkers but the journey is so worth it. It is located in the El Carmel neighborhood, the entirety of which is high up and therefore contains an insane amount of good views. The directions to this location are rather complicated, but mostly just involves walking up a hill for a ridiculous amount of time. I recommend coming at sunset, but be aware that you’ll definitely be sharing this spot with a ton of other people just picnicking, hanging out, and admiring the view.
Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya
Also called the MNAC, this museum sits upon a hill and showcases Catalan visual art. The exterior is quite photogenic on its own, and the view from the hill also makes for a great photo. This spot is also famous for its fountain show, but when I stayed to watch, I honestly found it lackluster, so I wouldn’t recommend going out of your way to see it. However, the museum itself is quite worth a visit, so get admission tickets to the museum here!
Camp Nou
This is the stadium of the famous football (soccer) team FC Barcelona! If you’re a sports fan, this is definitely the location for you. Along with getting to visit the actual stadium itself, you can also visit the museum dedicated to this world-renowned team.
La Boqueria
This is the most famous market in all of Barcelona! Located right off La Rambla and full of delicious food, La Boqueria specializes in Iberian ham & cheese combos, seafood, fruit, and other grab and go foods. I think it’s a great place for a snack, but if you’re looking for a real substantial meal, try one of the other places on this list.
Paella Bar Boqueria
So if you are looking for a real restaurant to fill up your belly after all that exploring, come to Paella Bar! Located right next to Boqueria, Paella Bar serves absolutely incredible paella at a decent price. If you’re not yet familiar with Paella (what are you doing) it’s a rice-based seafood dish that is all cooked in one large pan together. The rice is flavored with the juices cooked out from the seafood and saffron, which gives it its bright yellow color, and it’s absolutely delicious.
La Fabrica
If you’re craving a quick snack stop next to the beach, you have got to come to La Fabrica! La Fabrica specializes in empanadas and as I was missing Buenos Aires at bit, I decided to try them. And wow, they were even better than the ones I had in Argentina!
Brunch & Cake
If you’re a fan of brunch (which I very much am), then you’ll love Brunch & Cake! Brunch & Cake is super trendy, featuring healthy, delicious, and photogenic foods such as stunning acai bowls and picture-perfect avocado toasts. They’re so popular that when a friend and I arrived at their most famous location to a ridiculous wait time, they offered us a personalized shuttle service to their next closest location, where there was no wait at all! The portions were just as filling as they were gorgeous, and I can’t recommend this place more!
Xurreria
Churros are just one of the things that you must when you are in Spain, and Xurreria is the perfect place to have them. With regular churros and churros stuffed full of delicious cream, you’re sure to find some that you love! I recommend getting the plain churros and then dipping them in melted chocolate, but it’s all up to you!
Chök
I saw this place recommended on another blog, and I am so glad that I caught it because this place is such a hidden gem! With stunningly minimalistic decor and absolutely delicious chocolate treats, I could’ve stayed in here for days.
Espit Chupitos
This shots bar is the most fun pregame you’ll ever have! With a menu of hundreds of different fun and creative shots, which they often set on fire, you never know quite what you’re going to get, which makes it all the more fun! My favorites include the Willy Wonka, which was a sweet chocolatey shot that actually tasted amazing and the Monica Lewinsky, which you shouldn’t try but you should order for your friend. It’s the best way to start your night.
George Payne Irish Bar
If you’re looking for a community feel, try this Irish pub! George Payne is huge, with two different floors and loads of space. This is the place to be if you’re looking to meet new people and actually be able to hear your friends when they speak!
Eclipse Barcelona
Eclipse is located in the W Hotel, which I mentioned earlier in this post, which means it’s definitely the club with the best view. It is insanely bougie, always crowded, and a tad overpriced, but you can’t really beat the experience. Interestingly, during the day, it functions as a dim sum restaurant.
La Terrrazza
This open-air party is hosted in the middle of Poble Espanyol, which during the day is a museum showcasing different types of architecture from different types of Spain. But at night, the place transforms, and you’ll walk through faux old-fashioned streets to the mansion where the club is housed. The atmosphere here is insane, with palm trees swaying next to people, and colorful lights dancing throughout the air. It’s probably the coolest place to party in all of Barcelona.
Opium Barcelona
This was the most recommended nightclub to me in all of Barcelona. Everyone I asked insisted that I had to go! Unfortunately, I didn’t quite make it, but I will recommend it here for everyone who wants to have an absolutely wild night. Located right by the sea, Opium has stunning views of the Mediterranean, an outdoor section for lounging, and an insane dance floor. It is very popular, so I’d go earlier rather than later, and the dress code is supposedly pretty strict, so dress up.
Madrid
Of course, I have to include the capital of Spain! Most people already combine Barcelona and Madrid into one trip. In my opinion, Barcelona is the better city, but Madrid has its own charm too! It reminds me of Paris in how the whole city screams “sophisticated,” and it’s full of delicious food just like Barcelona is. Madrid is only 2.5 hours away from Barcelona by train, making it an easy day trip.
Valencia
Valencia is Spain’s third-largest city, and it has got a rich cultural history, such as being where the famous Spanish rice dish paella originated from, and a marvelous Old Town. But these days it’s known for its innovation. When a river kept overflowing and flooding the city, they diverted the entire thing and converted the riverbed into a park. And that’s not even to mention the City of Arts and Sciences with such modern architecture that you feel like you’ve literally stepped into the future. I think Valencia is so underrated, and I can’t recommend it more! It’s only 3 hours away by train, again making it a great day trip.
To learn more, read: What to Do in Valencia, Spain’s Innovation Capital
Andorra
Most people haven’t even heard of this little mountainous country, but Andorra sits right between the French and Spanish borders! As a micro-nation similar to Monaco, Andorra is often overlooked and is actually quite difficult to get to. If you are going to attempt this day trip, I recommend booking it as part of the Three Countries in One Day tour, where you’ll visit a medieval town in Northern Spain, spa villages in Southern France, and then the charming mountain city of Andorra la Vella.
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