I’ve taken a trip to Barcelona twice now, and I’ve loved it both times. The combination of big city, green open spaces and the beach make it truly a city that has it all.
The weather is welcoming all year round, as are the people. Not to mention, Barcelona is an LGBT friendly travel destination too.
I previously visited on a two day trip to Barcelona to see the main sites, and in 2019, I returned to attend Barcelona Pride.
On both trips I did some of the same things, and some different. So I think it’s about time I wrote a full list of things to do on a trip to Barcelona.
Here are 16 things to do on a trip to Barcelona that I know you’ll love.
Take A Cycle/Walking Tour
While there’s plenty of fun things to do in Barcelona, it’s worth getting a taste for the culture and history while you’re here too. One of my favourite things to do is taking a free walking tour of the city when I first arrive. It helps you get your bearings, learn a little bit about where you are, and plan the rest of your trip to Barcelona.
When in Barcelona I mixed it up a little and instead of a free walking tour, I took a free cycling tour instead. Considering how massive the city is, this meant seeing and learning even more in the space of only a few hours.
Hunt For Street Art
Barcelona may not be the biggest city for street art in Europe, but it certainly does have some excellent murals. Particularly in the Gothic quarter. As you wander the streets, there are walls full of colour just waiting to be admired and their photo to be taken. My absolute favourite is the Kiss of Freedom. Which is most definitely a lesbian kiss (even if it wasn’t intentional by the artist!)
People Watch On Plaça de Catalunya
This is the main square in Barcelona. And also where the airport bus will bring you to at the beginning and end of your trip to Barcelona. The square itself is a classic European tourist hub. With food vendors, balloon sellers and buskers in some wildly oversized animal costumes or questionable Mickey Mouse gear, waiting to take your money in exchange for a photo.
The more picturesque side of Plaça de Catalonia is the gorgeous fountain in the middle. We enjoyed grabbing an ice cream and sitting here for a while watching the world go by. (But be prepared to take out a second mortgage to buy an ice cream in this part of town).
Admire The Sagrada Familia
Certainly one of the most iconic buildings in Barcelona. Your trip to Barcelona wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the Sagrada Familia. I’ve been to Barcelona twice, I never got inside. Admission price is fairly expensive, and you should book in advance to avoid major queues.
However, whether you go inside or not, it’s certainly worth a walk around the outside to see the building that has been under construction since 1882 and is due for completion in 2026!.
If you do want to go inside, be sure to buy tickets for the Sagrada Familia in advance.
Sunbathe At Barceloneta Beach
A trip to Barcelona wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the beach. And for a city beach it’s pretty impressive. Spanning more than a kilomtere (1100 meteres to be precise), there are plenty of opportunities to sunbathe and relax. Or if you feel energetic, try out a water sport or two from the various rental shacks along the way.
Try Surfing
Yes! You can surf in Barcelona too!
At the far end of the city beach (Platja de Sant Sebastià), lies the top surf spot and a couple of rental shops too. So whether you’re bringing your own surfboard, or want to give it a try for the first time, Barcelona has some great conditions for learners. It may not be Hawaii barrels, but it’s impressive that this option is available right on the edge of a major city
Get A Thrill With Water Sports
If surfing isn’t your thing, it doesn’t mean that watersports are off the cards completely. There are plenty of other water sports that are easier to pick up.
In the Port Olimpic harbour area and at Club Natació Atlètic-Barceloneta, there are a variety of water sports tents where are you can sign up to banana boating, flyfish boating, speedboat rides and everything in between. There are also paddle boards and water bikes. Which we learned are best to take one between two and enjoy switching between peddling across the sea and lying on the front sunbathing while your partner does the work.
We also tried the fly fish boat, which was a tad crazy, but incredible fun.
Feast On Tapas
Did you even go to Spain if you didn’t eat Tapas? Our only challenge in Barcelona, was matching the level of quality tapas we had previously in Madrid. But we came pretty close. Particularly when it comes to seafood, being right on the coast, Barcelona has some incredibly fresh dishes to try.
For a full list of tapas spots in Barcelona, check out this list by Culture Trip.
Be Mesmerised At The Magic Fountain
This was a total surprise gem on my first trip to Barcelona. The magic fountain (Font màgica de Montjuïc) is a gorgeous place to visit during the day, and even better at night. Every night the Font màgica de Montjuïc lights up and performs a light and sound show. I wasn’t expecting much, particularly as I’ve been to Disneyland and seen the Singapore lights show. But it was really magical, and very worth a visit.
Check here for the timetable for your Barcelona trip, as it changes seasonally.
Roam Park Güell
The park itself is absolutely massive. You can enter it for free, and wander around pathways, through Gaudi’s architecture, among the trees and climb up the hills for some spectacular views of the city.
The most popular part of the park is the ceramic and mosaic areas. I’ve never been inside, as again the ticket price is fairly hefty as are queues.
But here’s a link to opening times and ticket prices if do you fancy seeing it up close.
Ramble On Las Rambla
Las Ramblas is a long street connecting Placa Catalunya to Barceloneta Beach. The street is massive, and a great place for shopping, eating and general people watching. There is nothing specific to see and do on it. But you’re bound to find yourself walking up or down Las Ramblas at least a few times during your trip to Barcelona
Visit The Ciutadella Park
Along with Parc Guell, Barcelona also has a massive city park Parc de la Ciutadella). The parks spans 74 acres and is home to the zoo, the Catalan Parliament. The Museu d’Art Modern, a gorgeous fountain and a Japanese gardens. There is so much open space for picnics or sitting on a bench and purely watching the world go by. It would be quite a challenge to see the whole park, but wondering through and seeing at least the fountain area is well worth a visit.
Get Lost In The Gothic Quarter
The Gothic Quarter can be found just off Las Ramblas and is home to some of the most picturesque streets in Barcelona. Among the tourist shops selling keyrings and magnets, and more ice cream stores than you can imagine, lies some interesting and unique boutique shops too. Even if shopping and eating aren’t on your agenda, the Gothic Quarter is well worth a visit to walk around and enjoy the ancient architecture.
Be A Big Kid On Tibidabo Mountain
Probably worth an entire blog to itself, the Tibidabo Amusement Park is great fun for a unique and alternative thing to do in Barcelona. The amusement park is incredibly old, and still runs some of its original rides. The Tibidabo opening times are seasonal and so it’s not always possible to access the full park.
But a ride up the funicular railway takes you to the entrance where there are two or three rides before you pass through the ticketing gates.
Visit An Olympic Stadium
There is something I absolutely love about visiting past Olympic stadiums. After travelling to Rio in 2016, I love it even more. The Barcelona Olympic stadium is open to visitors to wonder around the grounds, and walk in the footsteps of heroes. It might not make any lists for the top 10 things to do in Barcelona, but it was super interesting, and offered some great views over the city.
Eat at Veggie Garden
This vegetarian restaurant in Barcelona is so good I’ve eaten it it three times in two trips. And I recommend it to everyone that I know who’s visiting Barcelona too. It’s incredibly affordable, at about €10 per meal for three courses.
It’s a limited menu (which I assume is how they do it so cheap),. However you still have a choice of three or four options for each starter main and desert.
Whether or not you’re vegetarian yourself the food and the price is too good to miss.
And there you have it! 16 Things To Do On Your Next Trip To Barcelona. I hope I’ve covered it all, but if you think of any gems I missed please let me know by dropping me a comment or DM on Instagram!
