Best Things to Do in Barcelona: Must-Sees and Hidden Gems
Barcelona is one of those cities that you could visit over and over and still find something new and beautiful to see or eat or do. There are the must-see things to do in Barcelona, like Park Guell and La Boqueria, and the things you do every time you visit, like the stunning Sagrada Familia. But there are also lesser known sights that are less crowded and maybe even more photogenic than the popular sights. It’s discovering these hidden gems that makes Barcelona exciting to visit again and again. Whether you’re visiting for the first time or a repeat visitor, you’re bound to find something on this list to explore.
1. Sagrada Familia
Barcelona is known for its whimsical buildings designed by the iconic architect Antoni Gaudi. The Sagrada Familia church is one of the iconic ones. We visit the Sagrada Familia church every time we visit Barcelona (timed entry tickets required, buy tickets here). It is so cool to actually see a monumental church of this scale being built in our lifetime. And truly awe-inspiring to see the progress that they have made between each visit. The design is inspired by nature, and different from any other church you have probably seen before. Inside, it is whimsical, light and bright, and peaceful. Definitely worth a visit even if you are not religious. To learn even more about the history and hidden gems of the cathedral, visit with a guided tour (also a great option if tickets are already sold out for the day of your visit!).
Pro tip: For the iconic pictures with the facade of the Sagrada Familia in the background, head to the pond at Placa de Gaudi park or the walkway leading to the Sagrada Familia in Placa de la Sagrada Familia park.
2. Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau
Nearby to the Sagrada Familia is the Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau, a former hospital turned architectural gem. It was not designed by Gaudi, but the buildings have a similar art-nouveau vibe. It wasn’t as crowded as the Gaudi houses, and we found it to be a nice wander off the beaten path to admire more unique architecture. This is where I would go to get some unique Modernista photos that you won’t find on your friends’ Instagrams.
3. Casa Vicens
Casa Vicens is one of Gaudi’s earlier houses. Besides the Sagrada Familia, this is probably my favorite Gaudi building in Barcelona. It has a colorful Moorish design, so the rooms are much more fun to look at and take pictures in than the more popular La Pedrera or Casa Battlo. I actually enjoyed visiting Casa Vicens so much more. It was also much less crowded than the other houses. At times we had a room all to ourselves!
4. La Pedrera and Casa Battlo
Besides the Sagrada Familia, the other popular Gaudi houses to visit are Casa Batllo and La Pedrera. Lines can get long for both of these houses, so I definitely recommend buying tickets online to skip the lines. If you are a Gaudi enthusiast or someone who has FOMO, you can go to both Casa Batllo and La Pedrera. But otherwise, I recommend just visiting one of the houses to give you a feel for Gaudi’s housing visions.
5. Tapas Crawl
If you’re the type that likes to try a little bit of everything, then tapas are for you. I love tapas. They’re little bite-sized treasures of deliciousness. And the best part is because they’re small, you can try everything! To find a cluster of tapas bars in one area, head to the Gothic Quarter and El Born. While both areas have great tapas, the neighborhood vibes are distinctly different. The Gothic Quarter is a little more rough around the edges, while El Born is more trendy and upscale. We navigated the tapas bars in both neighborhoods fine because my husband speaks Spanish. But don’t let the language barrier deprive you of this experience – go with a guided tapas crawl tour so you don’t miss out on these amazing bites.
6. FC Barcelona Game
If you are a soccer fan, check to see if there are any FC Barcelona games at the Camp Nou Stadium. The atmosphere at the games is electric because the fans are SO into it. It’s fun to experience even if you’re not a football superfan. We also toured the Camp Nou Stadium because my husband is a football fan.
7. Eat Jamon Iberico
Jamon (pronounced ha-mon, NOT jay-mon) Iberico is not your typical lunchmeat. It is melt-in-your-mouth porky goodness. We ate jamon every day that we were in Spain – for breakfast on a tomato toast, during a tapas break, or a late night boccadillo sandwich. If you just want a taste first to see if you like it, you can head to La Boqueria market and find a stall selling jamon iberico. But trust me, you’ll like it. If you’re visiting with kids, this fun kid-friendly walking tour includes a taste of jamon at La Boqueria and keeps kids entertained with visits to playgrounds in between the sights.
8. Churros con Chocolate
This ain’t your Costco churro. No disrespect to Costco churros, I love those too. But churros con chocolate in Spain are another level. The churros are perfectly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, and you get to dip it into a decadent cup of molten chocolate. Some yummy options we tried were from Granja la Pallaresa, Churreria Laietana, and Xurreria Banys Nous. If you’re visiting with kids, this fun kid-friendly walking tour includes a stop for churros con chocolate and keeps kids entertained with visits to playgrounds in between the sights.
9. Park Guell
Park Guell (timed entry tickets required, buy tickets here) is a little outside the city center, but it is worth the trek to visit this whimsical park. Nowadays, many parks try to incorporate structures inspired by nature, but Gaudi is the OG of this. Many of the structures in the park resemble things found in nature, like the “pathway of columns” that looks like a surfer’s dream tube wave. Throw in two perfect little gingerbread houses at the entrance and it’s no wonder Park Guell is a social media darling.
10. Picasso Museum
The Picasso Museum in Barcelona focuses on works from Picasso’s early years. So you won’t see Picasso’s signature Cubist artwork here. But it is interesting to see the progression of his growth as an artist. We are by no means art connoisseurs, but we still enjoyed this museum. One “game” our friends had come up with to make art museums more interesting is to have everyone pick their favorite piece, and we would guess which piece was which person’s favorite based on our knowledge of our friends. Is it nerdy? Maybe. But it’s a fun way to discuss what we like about the art and also get to know each other a little better.
Bonus food tip: if you’re hungry after all that art, we recommend El Xampanyet for some delicious tapas just down the street from the Picasso Museum. It helps to know some Spanish to navigate the tapas bars, which usually don’t have english menus. If you’re intimidated by ordering because of the language barrier, join a walking tour that combines the Picasso Museum with a tapas tour to get the same experience without the stress.
11. Las Ramblas and La Boqueria Market
Las Ramblas starts in Placa de Catalunya and ends at the waterfront. It’s the main pedestrian boulevard in Barcelona, and while it is pretty touristy, it’s one of those things that everyone has to do once when they visit Barcelona. It’s an interesting and random combination of street mimes dressed as colorful statues, flower stands, and pet shops. Plus, La Boqueria Market is right off the middle of the main drag. I love a market to check out the snacks and produce unique to the area, and to find some local food souvenirs. The juice stands always look tempting here, and we usually try to find some jamon for a snack. Pro tip: head further into the market for lower prices. To make sure you can order all the local specialties, you can visit the market with a local guide on a food tour. Note that the market is closed Sundays.
Check out our favorite place to stay in Barcelona, perfectly located right near Las Ramblas!
12. Barcelona’s Beach
Most people don’t think of Barcelona as a beach vacation destination, but it does have a man-made beach. This beach has full on resort vibes, complete with lounge chairs and beach bars. If you’re tired of sightseeing, this is a good place to just sit and relax.
13. El Corte Ingles Department Store
We found ourselves in an El Corte Ingles department store almost every day. Not because we are shopaholics, but because of the basement supermarket and the heavenly air conditioning. If you have been to Spain in the summer, you know it can get HOT. Sometimes you just need to luxuriate in some air con to catch a break from the heat. And I always love a local supermarket to look for local snacks and treats.
