Here are some of my top recommendations for things to do if you’re lucky enough to be visiting the beautiful city of Barcelona! All of these are linked to my blog posts, so I’ll add more entries as I write them. Enjoy!
To start, check out this time-lapse video that really gives you a feel for the city.
Top Sights
- Get to know the city with a fun bike tour with Steel Donkey Bike Tours.
- The Sagrada Familia – Gaudí’s famously incomplete church. Love or or hate it, it definitely makes an impression.
- The Font Màgica de Montjuïc, the magic fountain show! Way better than Vegas’s Bellagio.
- Take a stroll through the winding streets of the Barri Gòtic.
- Get the city’s best secret view from the Hotel 360.
- Gaudí’s lesser-known works, like the Palau Güell and Casa Vicens
Food & Drink
- Café Marti for an afternoon snack of delicious Spanish pastries and coffee.
- Go for tapas at El Rincón del Cava
- Try some of the city’s best burgers at Kiosko Hamburguseria
- Looking for vegan or vegetarian food in Barcelona? Try all-vegan restaurant and juice bar Juicy Jones.
- Have a go at making sangria
- If you love to cook, try your hand at making gambas al ajillo, espinacas con garbanzos, or pimientos del padrón.
Festivals & Parties
- February: see the crazy partying for Carnaval in the nearby town of Sitges.
- August: The Festa Major de Gràcia (check out photos from this year’s party here!)
- September, check out La Mercè, especially the castellers.
Other Cool Stuff
- Flea Market Barcelona. There are others in Encants, in front of the cathedral on Sundays, and near the metro Drassanes on Sundays, but the Flea Market is my favorite.
- Rent a bike to get around – it’s a flat city with lots of bike routes.
- Talk to some locals about Catalan identity, and the idea that “Catalonia is not Spain.”
- Looking for a unique souvenir? Check out local artist Xavi Julià’s beautiful work.
And one final note: watch out for pickpockets – seriously.
I know this list doesn’t even begin to cover all the great things to do in Barcelona, so lots more fun things are coming!
If you’re planning a trip to Barcelona and want recommendations for things to do, see, or eat, feel free to e-mail me at holayessica@gmail.com.
¡Hola Yessica! 
Thanks for finding my blog and leading me to yours. I love Spain and especially Barcelona! But haven’t traveled nearly as much of the country as you, so I will be following to see your advice. Safe and fun travels..
You’re welcome, thanks for checking my blog out. I’ve been very lucky to be able to travel around Spain – it’s such a fascinating country!
Hi Jessica! I’m leaving for Barcelona on Saturday and would love if you could tell me some more of your top recommendations for eating! I’ve been reading your blog the past few weeks & your posts make me so excited to go! I’m 23 and am going with my family, but they sometimes think they’re 23 also so the better atmosphere/live music/party feel the better 🙂
Sure! The Xampanyeria is great – they have super cheap cava and yummy sandwiches, and it’s always crammed wall-to-wall.
Also check out Plaça Reial for a fun place to drink and have some tapas. My favorite is the Cerveceria Canarias, which is pretty cheap and right on the plaza.
If you like seafood, you have go to La Parradeta, which is full of just-caught seafood that you choose by weight and then tell them how to prepare it. There are a couple of these.
Oh, and another tapas place is Morryson. It’s about a 10-15 minute walk away from the Sagrada Familia and really tasty.
And finally, you have to eat something at La Boqueria. The little bars in the back have amazing food. Sometimes you have to wait a bit, but it’s definitely worth it!
Have a ton of fun in Barcelona! If you want any other tips on what to do/see/eat, you can send me a message at holayessica@gmail.com.
La Boqueria is indeed an experience 🙂
I also liked Lolita Taperia, on Carrer de Tamarit – cava and tapas 😉
Thanks for the suggestion, I haven’t been there yet! Cava and tapas is always a good idea.
Jessica, did you try the Txakolin, an extraordinary tapas bar across the street from the Parc de la Ciutadella, where every 5 min, it seems, fresh, piping hot, and delectable bites come from the kitchen to be served to all at the horseshoe -shaped bar? It’s incredible! Jackie Garza
No, but it sounds like I might have to! Thanks for the tip.
I’m heading out to Barcelona for the first time on 31st December for 4 short days so it’s great to find a post like this with good local knowledge and tips.
I hope it’s a city that’s good for discovering on foot?
Looking forward to some good tapas and seeing the infamous architecture!
Ooh, lucky you. 🙂 It’s definitely great for seeing on foot – that’s one of my favorite things about the city.
Have a great trip!
P.S. If you want any more recommendations, feel free to shoot me an e-mail at holayessica@gmail.com with stuff you’d like to see in Barcelona and I can help you out.
good advice! i’d love to hear if you have an alternative list of things to see, i think many people are second time round visitors, or live here, so its always nice to discover local secrets. i did a list here: http://katcameronillustration.com/2011/12/20/my-top-5-barcelona/
if you are interested.
Oh your list is awesome, I haven’t been to many of those places! That’s a great idea, I’ll see what I come up with.
Hi Jessica! I’m from Barcelona and I really like your blog 🙂
Thank you very much! 😀
Hi Jessica,
Thanks for stopping by my blog! I’m going to Barcelona in March with my mom – this list is such a great starting point! Do you think 3 days would be enough? Any recommendations of places to stay (i.e. neighbourhoods)?
3 days is never enough 😉 Nah, I think you can see plenty of the city in 3 days. If I were picking a place to stay, I’d go with either Gràcia or El Born, because there’s lots of cool stuff in both neighborhoods.
Feel free to e-mail me if you have any other questions about BCN!
Some great tips here, I miss this city so much! The San Juan festival in June is also well worth going to – and fun fact, the only night when you’re legally allowed to sleep on the beach in BCN. Huge beach parties with fireworks, so much fun last year!
Yes, I like that too! It’s so much fun. I haven’t written about it yet…must add that to my list. 🙂
Great blog!
Heading to Kiosko this afternoon with my boyfriend.
Have you been to Caravelle? great food and drinks
I have not been to Caravelle. Where is it?
I hope you enjoy Kiosko! 🙂
Kiosko was delicious – I’m so glad I came across your recommendation.
Caravelle is off Las Rambas. I wrote about it if you want have a look http://www.macupoft.com/2013/04/caravelle.html
🙂
Awesome, I’m glad you like it!
Thanks for your suggestion of Caravelle, it looks really great.
Jessica,
For a small groups, a new and different experience in Barcelna: comedorclandestino.blogspot.com
What a cool spot, Javier! Maybe I’ll have to stop by and see the Comedor Clandestino experience for myself soon. 🙂
My Brothers arrive in B tomorrow … I’ll send them a link.
Thank you very much! I hope they enjoy my favorite city on the planet.
Hola Yessica! Love your blog. This list is great! I’m currently an au pair living in Castelldefels but I’m always looking for suggestions for things to do when I’m in Barcelona on the weekends to get a real taste of life here. Gracias de nuevo!
Gracias! There are so many great things to do in Barcelona on the weekend, especially in the summer. They have a lot of outdoor movie nights right now that are a blast.
I must come to Barcelona soon! Lovely blog 🙂