Visiting Barcelona and not sure where to start? Don’t worry. Here are some things to see and do in the capital of Catalonia.
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01. Sagrada Familia
The Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família is a Catholic church in the Catalan modernist neo-Gothic style. Construction began in 1882 and is still unfinished.
Its architect was Antoni Gaudí, who supervised the work until his death in 1926. Gaudí was buried in the chapel of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in the crypt.
It was declared a minor basilica by Pope Benedict XVI during his visit to the city on 7 November 2010. It is the most visited monument in Spain with almost 5 million visitors in 2023.
How to get there: Sagrada Familia metro station, lines 2 and 5.
Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 20:00 // Saturdays from 9:00 to 18:00 // Sundays from 10:30 to 20:00.
Price: Basilica €26 // Basilica and towers: €36 // Basilica guided tour: €30 // Basilica and guided towers: €40.
More information on the official website.
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02. Parc Güell
Park Güell is a garden with architectural elements in the Catalan Art Nouveau style designed by Antoni Gaudí.
It was built between 1900 and 1914 and inaugurated in 1926 as a public park. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.
How to get there: Lesseps metro station, line 3 and walk for 15 minutes // Travessera de Dalt stop, lines H6 and D40. Walk for about 10 minutes.
Opening times: daily from 9.30am to 7.30pm.
Price: general admission: €10 // Children 7-12 and over 65s: €7 // Under 6s: free.
More information on the official website.
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03. Passeig de Gràcia
Passeig de Gràcia is one of Barcelona’s main avenues and one of its most important shopping areas.
Here you will find some of the most outstanding Catalan modernist buildings in the city. Such as La Pedrera and Casa Batlló.
It was a rural road flanked by orchards and was the main route from Barcelona to the town of Gracia. In 1821 it was decided to urbanise the road and it was inaugurated in 1827. It soon became a favourite strolling spot for Barcelona’s aristocracy.
Today it is Barcelona’s golden mile, where we can find some of the shops of international luxury brands.
04. La Pedrera – Casa Milà
Casa Milà, also known as La Pedrera, is a modernist building designed by Antoni Gaudí. It is located on the corner of Passeig de Gràcia and Carrer de Provença and was built between 1906 and 1912.
In 1984 it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and since 2013 it has been the headquarters of the Catalunya-La Pedrera Foundation.
How to get there: Diagonal metro station, lines 3 and 5.
Opening times: during the day: 9am-6.30pm // at night: 7pm-11pm.
Price: general 28€ // 12 to 17 years old: 12,50€ // Under 12s: free // Over 65s, disabled and students: 19€ // Tickets at the ticket office cost 2€ extra.
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05. Casa Batlló
This is another modernista building located on Passeig de Gràcia. It was commissioned by the textile businessman Josep Batlló i Casanovas from the architect Antoni Gaudí.
It was built between 1904 and 1907 and was declared a World Heritage Site in 2005.
Since 2002 it has been possible to visit its interior, where you can contemplate its exquisite interior. All except the upper floors are inhabited or occupied by the offices of the company that runs it.
How to get there: Passeig de Gràcia metro station, lines 3 and 4.
Opening times: daily from 9am to 10pm (last admission at 9.15pm // ticket office until 9pm).
Price: general: 29€ // from 13 to 17 years old: 23€ // children under 12: free // over 65: 26€ // Residents in Spain 2×1.
More information on the official website.
06. Plaça Catalunya
It was built in 1889 to connect the Eixample with the old part of Barcelona. It was a place full of cafés and restaurants, an important meeting point for literary and political debates.
Today it hosts public events, concerts and various civic gatherings.
07. Rambla de Barcelona
La Rambla is an emblematic promenade in Barcelona that runs between Plaça de Catalunya and Port Vell. Here you will find many interesting spots such as its classic newsagents and flower stalls.
08. La Boqueria Market
The Mercat de Sant Josep (Saint Joseph’s Market), currently the market of La Boqueria, is the second largest market in Catalonia with more than 300 stalls.
It has its origins in the open-air market that used to be held on the esplanade in front of the Boqueria portal.
In 1586, the Discalced Carmelites founded a convent on the Rambla. On St. James’ Day in 1835, it was burnt down during a demonstration, along with the rest of those on the Rambla.
A square with large columns surrounded by porches was built on the site to temporarily move the market there. It was finally decided to leave it permanently and in 1840 the roof was built.
How to get there: Liceu metro station, line 3.
Opening times: Monday to Saturday from 8:00 to 20:30. Closed on Sunday.
09. Gran Teatre del Liceu
The Gran Teatre del Liceu, popularly known as the Liceu, is an opera house located on the Rambla in Barcelona. It was inaugurated in 1847 and for the next 100 years it was the largest in Europe.
The architect in charge was Miquel Garriga i Roca and its inauguration consisted of a mixed programme that included music, theatre, song and dance.
The Liceu originally occupied the site of the former convent of the Trinitarians on the corner of La Rambla and Carrer de Sant Pau.
How to get there: Liceu metro station, line 3.
10. Barri Gòtic (Gothic Quarter)
The Barri Gòtic is one of the four neighbourhoods that make up the Ciutat Vella district and is the oldest area of Barcelona.
In turn, it is made up of seven historic quarters, those that were inside the Roman wall and those on the outside.
- Inside: the Cathedral quarter, the Call and Sant Felip Neri neighbourhoods, the Sant Just neighbourhood and the Palau neighbourhood.
- Outside: the Pi neighbourhood, Santa Anna neighbourhood and La Mercè neighbourhood.
11. Pont del Bisbe
This is probably one of the best-known elements of the Barri Gòtic. Although we might think it is very old, it is actually an addition from 1928. It was designed by the architect Joan Rubió i Bellver, a disciple of Antoni Gaudí.
One of the elements that arouses most curiosity is the skull pierced by a dagger on its roof. It is the subject of a curious legend. It says that if one day someone were to remove the dagger, all the buildings in Barcelona would collapse.
It is also said that if you pass under the bridge and make a wish while looking at the skull, it will be granted.
12. Plaça de la Seu
This is the largest square in the Barri Gòtic. Here we can find several remarkable elements, such as the Cathedral and the Casa del Arcediano (Archdeacon’s House).
A small section of the Roman Aqueduct, dating from the 1st century BC, can also be found here. This transported water from the springs of Moncada to the colony of Barcino.
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13. Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia
The Cathedral of Santa Creu i Santa Eulàlia is a Gothic basilica, the seat of the archbishopric of Barcelona. It is one of the few churches in the world (and one of the oldest) dedicated to the Holy Cross, dating back to the 7th century.
A Paleochristian church from the 4th century was already here. The remains of its baptistery have been preserved. This church was remodelled before the 9th century and destroyed in 985 by the Al-Mansur raid.
A new Romanesque cathedral was consecrated in the 11th century, thanks to Bishop Guislabert. The Gothic cathedral was built from 1298 during the reign of James II of Aragon, the Just. This work lasted 150 years, no more and no less.
The neo-Gothic façade is the work of the architect Joan Martorell and was built between 1887 and 1890.
How to get there: Jaume I metro station, line 4.
Opening times: Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 6.30pm // Saturdays and eves of public holidays from 9.30am to 5.15pm // Sundays and public holidays from 2pm to 5pm.
Price: general admission €14 // Children from 3 to 12 years old €6 // Children under 3 years old free.
More information on the official website.
14. Plaça Sant Jaume
Plaça Sant Jaume is the administrative heart of Barcelona. Here we find the seat of the Government of Catalonia and the Barcelona City Council.
During the Second Republic it was officially called Plaça de la República.
The Palau de la Generalitat, formerly the Casa de la Diputació, is the seat of the Catalan government. The original building was part of Barcelona’s Jewish quarter. In reality, however, it consisted of an impractical jumble of buildings.
In the 15th century, the architect Marc Safont was commissioned to completely remodel the building. These were carried out between 1410 and 1425 to give shape to the Gothic palace that still exists today.
Between 1531 and 1537, further extension work was undertaken. The western part was built in Renaissance style, including the Golden Chamber.
At the end of the 16th century, the extension towards Plaça Sant Jaume was approved, demolishing several houses.
The Barcelona City Hall building dates back to 1369. Although, like the Generalitat building, it has undergone many renovations and extensions.
15. Montjuic Castle
Montjuic Castle was a military fortress built in 1641. Its current appearance is due to a reconstruction by the military engineer Juan Martín Cermeño in the 18th century.
At the end of the 14th century it became a military prison. This use lasted until 1960, when it was ceded to the city of Barcelona. In 1963 the Military Museum was opened here, which closed its doors in 2009.
If you have a little more time, take a look at our diary Barcelona: a walk around Montjuic (only in spanish, at the moment).
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