Top 10 Things to do in Barcelona

An ambitious project, Sagrada Familia is an attraction that, after more than a century, is still undergoing construction. Starting in 1882, less than a quarter had been built by the time its famous architect, Antoni Gaudi died in 1926. Considered to be the most spectacular Gaudi creation of all, it is famous as one of the most visited buildings in the world. Filled with artistic allure at every corner, where Art Nouveau and Gothic designs battle for your attention, the architectural marvel in Barcelona should be on everyone's list when visiting the city. If you are wondering when one can expect to see the building in its complete glory, mark your dates for the year 2026.

• Good to know: There are only a limited number of tickets sold for each day and it is often booked up days in advance. If you just turn up to buy a ticket at the entrance, the chances are you won’t be able to visit that day. To avoid disappointment, you should buy the ticket online at least a week in advance.

While the Sagrada Familia may be Antoni Gaudi's grandest project, he was prolific throughout his career, and many of his other works are also located in Barcelona. Casa Batlló and Casa Milà (also known as La Pedrera), both located in the Eixample, are two of the most striking. Most visitors to Barcelona also visit Gaudí’s Parc Güell. These attractions were built when Gaudi was at the peak of his career, and flaunts uniqueness and artistic ingenuity that he was known for. His works are testament to his influence on modern architecture, and while many have tried to follow suit and immitate his work, few have succeeded in matching his brilliance. 

• Good to know: Since all of Gaudi's attractions are highly sought after, one cannot avoid crowds and queue at the ticket counter most times. If you do not want to queue up we recommend booking a skip-the-line-tour for all the Gaudi attractions. In case you want to take an independent tour of the attractions, it is important to remember that there are limited tickets sold everyday. Hence, it is highly recommended to reserve tickets online in advance to avoid disappointment.

Barcelona’s Picasso museum houses what is considered to be one of the world’s most important collections of the Malaga-born artist’s work. The setting alone makes the museum one of the top things to do in Barcelona. Beautiful galleries, fascinating courtyards and fantastically preserved staircases set the perfect tone for all the wonders that the museum holds in store for you. The museum hosts close to 3,500 artworks created by the great legend, and mostly concentrates on Picasso’s initial years. However, the museum doesn’t contain any of his most famous pieces, so don’t expect to see his most iconic paintings — this collection is more about Picasso’s development and progression as an artist. 

• Good to know: The museum is closed on Mondays but is free to visit on Thursday afternoons, 18:00 – 21:30, as well as the first Sunday of each month, 9:00 – 13:00 — but at these times, expect it to be extremely busy.

FC Barcelona is one of the world’s biggest and most successful football clubs, and at the team’s home, the near-hallowed Camp Nou, you can live and breathe the club’s rich history. Some of the greatest football players of all time have pulled on the famous jersey, including Brazilian trio Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho, Portuguese legend Luís Figo and, of course, current superstar Lionel Messi. For many, Barça is synonymous with the city, and no visit would be complete without a trip to the stadium.

Good to know: Many guided tours of the stadium are available. The ‘Players Experience’ tour, is the only tour that allows you to see inside the players’ dressing rooms. There is a slight reduction in price for booking the basic tour online through the official website — the Players Experience tour is available only by booking online.

At the opposite end of Las Ramblas from Plaça de Catalunya lies Port Vell, the Old Port, an area that has been completely transformed in recent years into a glitzy, upmarket waterfront full of modern restaurants and bars. Check out the Mirador de Colón, the statue of Christopher Columbus pointing out to sea in the direction of the New World and visit the Museu Maritím to learn about the long tradition of seafaring in the city. Also, don't miss l'Aquàrium, which houses over 11,000 fish and features an 80m underwater tunnel.

Good to know: The wooden walkway which makes up the Rambla del Mar and that leads to the Maremàgnum restaurant and entertainment zone is a great spot to visit in the evening after sundown. At this time, it is a bustle of activity and lights, offering some fine views of the city lit up on the other side of the harbour.

Barcelona is one of Europe's most vibrant, most exciting cities, combining the old and the traditional with cutting-edge modernity. Whether you are looking for fantastic food, pulsating nightlife, art, architecture, culture, history or just a city break with the chance to chill on the beach, Barcelona really is a place that has it all. A trip to Spain would definitely not be complete without exploring Barcelona.