100 Things To Do In Barcelona
Last Updated: 20th September 2018
You could feasibly soak up the unique culture of Barcelona just by sitting outside a vermouth bar and watching the world go by.
But there’s plenty of other ways tapas the time.
And while that will obviously include soaking up Gaudí’s architectural wonders; checking out the multiple art museums and hitting the beach, it might less obviously include learning how to drink absinthe the traditional way in Hemingway’s former haunt; going on a cryptic cocktail crawl; dining inside a cable car tower; picnicking with panoramic views of the city; finding a restaurant hidden in a bar; visiting a church filled with geese; and eating a 4 hour experiential dinner in a room with cloud ceilings.
So as your curators-in-chief, we’ve trawled the city and put everything in one handy list.
Here it is.
PS You can explore all of our favourite restaurants, bars, hotels, and things to do in our full Barcelona City Guide
1. WATCH FLAMENCO IN A BAROQUE PALACE
El Born | €€
Or opera, if that’s more your thing. VIEW MORE INFO
_
2. FIND A STREET PARTY IN GRACIA
Gràcia | Free
The Festa Major in August is their most famous. VIEW MORE INFO
_
3. GO ON A WHIRLWIND TOUR OF SPAIN AT POBLE ESPANYOL
Montjuïc | €
It has 117 lifesize copies of buildings from across Spain. VIEW MORE INFO
_
4. HEAD TO THE MUSEUM OF CATALAN HISTORY
Gothic Quarter | €
Then have a drink overlooking the port on their roof terrace. VIEW MORE INFO
_
5. DRINK IN THE HISTORY AT A TAPAS BAR-BREWERY
Gothic Quarter | €€
Picasso and his modernist mates used to hang out here at Els 4 Gats. VIEW MORE INFO
_
6. TAKE THE CABLECAR UP TO THE JOAN MIRO MUSEUM
Montjuïc | €€
There are guided tours every Thursday at 1pm. VIEW MORE INFO
_
7. AND MAKE SURE YOU SEE THE MERCURY FOUNTAIN
Montjuïc | Inside The Museum
Credit: Steven Brace/Flickr
Don’t worry, they keep it behind glass now. VIEW MORE INFO
_
8. THEN WATCH THE SUNSET WITH LIVE BOSSA NOVA AT CASETA DEL MIGDIA
Montjuïc | €€
It’s not hugely fancy, but the views are incredible. VIEW MORE INFO
_
9. DRINK WINE, READ BOOKS AT MONVINIC
Eixample | €€(€€)
So. Much. Wine. VIEW MORE INFO
_
10. CRICK YOUR NECK LOOKING AT THE SAGRADA FAMILIA
Sagrada Familia | €€€
Work started in 1882, and it passed half completion in 2010. VIEW MORE INFO
_
11. THEN SHOP FOR VERMOUTH IN CASA MARIOL
Sagrada Familia | €€
Credit: Joselu Blanco/Flickr
Make sure you test some, first. VIEW MORE INFO
_
12. SEE THE CITY FROM ABOVE
Gothic Quarter | €€
There’s even a week in June dedicated to the city’s hotel terraces, with all kinds of special events. VIEW MORE INFO
_
13. VISIT CASA BATLLÓ BY NIGHT
Eixample | €€€
Credit: Elisabetta Stringhi/Flickr
And listen to live music with drinks in amongst the chimney pots. VIEW MORE INFO
_
14. WANDER THROUGH THE GOTHIC QUARTER
Gothic Quarter | Free
Credit: Soomness/Flickr
And finish wandering when you get to El Paraigua. VIEW MORE INFO
_
15. BOOK A TABLE AT SPEAKEASY
Eixample | €€€€
It’s a restaurant… hidden within a bar. VIEW MORE INFO
_
16. EXPLORE THE CITY BY VESPA
From El Born | €€€
Stop off for tapas in each neighbourhood. VIEW MORE INFO
_
17. LET YOUR MIND BE SLIGHTLY BLOWN BY PARK GÜELL
La Salut | €
It’s pretty Güell. VIEW MORE INFO
_
18. THEN GO FOR FULL OVERLOAD AT CASA MILÀ
Eixample | €€
Man, this guy was busy. VIEW MORE INFO
_
19. EAT EXPERIMENTAL MICHELIN-STARRED CUISINE AT CINC SENTITS
Eixample | €€€€
And go for a nightcap at Dry Martini. VIEW MORE INFO
_
20. CLIMB UP TO THE PALAU NACIONAL
Montjuïc | €€
And check out the National Museum of Catalan Art inside. VIEW MORE INFO
_
21. THEN CATCH THE EVENING LIGHT SHOW AT THE MAGIC FOUNTAIN
Montjuïc | Free
Credit: Alexander Baxevanis/Flickr
It has a mere 7 billion possible light and water combinations. VIEW MORE INFO
_
22. BEG, STEAL, OR SNEAK IN AN EXTRA TABLE AT ENIGMA
Sant Antoni | €€€€€
It involves 4 hour, 40 course tasting menus; frozen caviar; and cloud ceilings. VIEW MORE INFO
_
23. SEE A SUPERCOMPUTER INSIDE A CHURCH
Ciutat Universitària | By Appointment Only
It’s got 13.7 Petaflops of power. Yeaaaah. VIEW MORE INFO
_
24. TRY NOT TO GET CREEPED OUT IN MONTJUÏC CEMETERY
Montjuïc | Free
Credit: –v/Flickr
They offer tours of the most artistically interesting monuments. VIEW MORE INFO
_
25. THEN TAKE A LOOK AROUND EUROPE’S ONLY FUNEREAL CARRIAGE MUSEUM
Montjuïc | Free
A rip-roaring day out for all. VIEW MORE INFO
_
26. BUILD A PICNIC BASKET AT LA BOQUERIA
El Raval | €€
Credit: Jason Gessner/Flickr
It’s the Borough Market of Barcelona. VIEW MORE INFO
_
27. …AND EAT THE FRUITS OF YOUR LABOUR BY THE BUNKERS OF CARMEL
Can Baró | Free
Feat. panoramic views of the city. VIEW MORE INFO
_
28. OR HEAD TO THE QUIETER MERCAT SANTA CATERINA
El Born | €€
Snack on melt-in-the-mouth jamón before you… VIEW MORE INFO
_
29. SEE A CONCERT AT THE PALAU DE LA MÚSICA ORFEÓ CATALÀ
El Born | €€
Or take a guided tour if you want to know about the architecture. VIEW MORE INFO
_
30. EXPLORE THE 19th CENTURY GARDENS OF CA N’ALTIMIRA
Sarrià-Sant Gervasi | Free
They were built by a millionaire freemason who supposedly had an orangutan for a butler. VIEW MORE INFO
_
31. DANCE IN EACH ROOM IN RAZZMATAZZ
Poblenou | €€€
They cover indie, house, disco, pop and dancehall. VIEW MORE INFO
_
32. …THEN GET A 4PM BRUNCH THE DAY AFTER
Gothic Quarter | €€
Milk serves their ‘Recovery Brunch’ daily, with lashings of cava and bloody maries. VIEW MORE INFO
_
33. DRESS UP, WATCH THE BALLET AT THE GRAN TEATRE DEL LICEU
La Rambla | €€
Seats are cheaper than you think, and the building’s insane. VIEW MORE INFO
_
34. THEN EXPLORE THE STUDIO OF ITS FORMER SET DESIGNER
Gràcia | €€
It’s full of designs, costumes, and automata. VIEW MORE INFO
_
35. GO WINDOW SHOPPING 19th CENTURY-STYLE AT HERBORISTERIA DEL REI
Gothic Quarter | €
It’s the oldest herbal and cosmetic store in the city. VIEW MORE INFO
_
36. HIT THE BEACH
Barceloneta | €
Credit: James Truepenny/Flickr
Then pick-your-own seafood at La Paradeta. VIEW MORE INFO
_
37. SPEND A WEEKEND BROWSING THE VINTAGE & ANTIQUE STANDS AT MERCANTIC
Sant Cugat des Vallès | €€
And check out the craft workshops upstairs, too. VIEW MORE INFO
_
38. THEN TAKE A LOAD OFF WITH A TRADITIONAL VERMOUTH BRUNCH
Sant Cugat des Vallès | €€
They serve it in the old bookshop every weekend, with live music. VIEW MORE INFO
_
39. WATCH A MATCH AT CAMP NOU
Les Corts | €€
You can even go on a VR-enhanced tour. VIEW MORE INFO
_
40. GO TO A CENTURY-OLD AMUSEMENT PARK
Sant Jordi | €€€
It’s one of the world’s oldest, and it’s still going. VIEW MORE INFO
_
41. THEN TAKE A LOOK AT THE HILLTOP TEMPLE OF THE SACRED HEART
Sant Jordi | €
You may need shades. VIEW MORE INFO
_
42. SCUBA DIVE WITH SHARKS AT BARCELONA AQUARIUM
Port Vell | €€€€€
You can go with or without the cage. VIEW MORE INFO
_
43. BRUSH UP ON CONTEMPORARY ART AT MACBA
El Raval | €
Then browse the shops down Portal de l’Àngel. VIEW MORE INFO
_
44. TAKE A DAY TRIP TO MONTSERRAT
Monserrat | €
Credit: Bert Kaufmann/Flickr
And visit the monastery in the mountains. VIEW MORE INFO
_
45. HIT THE PICASSO MUSEUM
El Born | €€
The place is kind of a work of art in itself. VIEW MORE INFO
_
46. THEN DRINK SPARKLING CATALONIAN WINE AT EL XAMPANYET
El Born | €
It’s been around since 1929. VIEW MORE INFO
_
47. GET LOST IN THE SECRET GARDENS OF THE LABERINT D’HORTA
Horta-Guinardó | €
They’re crazy beautiful. VIEW MORE INFO
_
48. CLIMB THE ROOFTOPS OF THE CANDLELIT SANTA MARIA DEL MAR
La Ribera | €€
You can see the sun setting over the surrounding neighbourhoods. VIEW MORE INFO
_
49. THEN ADMIRE THEM FROM BELOW, WITH WINE
La Ribera | €€
La Vinya del Senyor is right opposite, and it’s excellent. VIEW MORE INFO
50. WATCH OLD FILMS AT THE FILMOTECA
Raval | €
They always have great exhibitions on, too. VIEW MORE INFO
_
51. SQUEEZE INTO QUIMET Y QUIMET
Poble Sec | €€
It’s tiny, but it might just be the best tapas you’ve ever had. VIEW MORE INFO
_
52. TAKE A STROLL ROUND THE JARDÍ BOTÀNIC
Montjuïc | €/Free on certain days
Walk through six different climates in one place. VIEW MORE INFO
_
53. VISIT SOME OF THE BEST RESTAURANTS IN THE CITY
We have a couple of ideas here… VIEW MORE INFO
_
54. SEE SOMETHING AVANT GARDE AT THE ANTIC THEATRE
Eixample | €€
And discuss it over cheap beers in their secret garden afterwards. VIEW MORE INFO
_
55. GAWP AT THE GIANTS OF SANTA MARIA DEL PI
Gothic Quarter | €
You can also climb their bell tower – the tallest Medieval tower in the city. VIEW MORE INFO
_
56. IF IT’S WINTER, ORDER A HOT CHOCOLATE AT LA GRANJA 1872
Gothic Quarter | €
With churros, of course. VIEW MORE INFO
_
57. AND IF IT’S CHRISTMAS, LOOK FOR EL CAGANER
Aka the heartwarming Catalan tradition of hiding a peasant taking a dump somewhere in the nativity scene. VIEW MORE INFO
_
58. DRINK ABSINTHE IN HEMINGWAY’S OLD HAUNT
El Raval | €
200 years old, to be precise. VIEW MORE INFO
_
59. TAKE A BIKE RIDE DOWN LA RAMBLA TO PORT VELL
Las Ramblas | €
Credit: Mathieu Marquer/Flickr
It’s Barcelona’s most famous street for a reason. VIEW MORE INFO
_
60. THEN HEAD UP TO THE MIRADOR AT COLUMBUS MONUMENT
Port Vell | €
And score panoramic views of the city and sea. VIEW MORE INFO
_
61. HEAD TO THE MARITIME MUSEUM
Port Vell | €
They have a full size galleon in there. VIEW MORE INFO
_
62. WATCH THE SUNSET FROM CASA VICENS
Gràcia | €€
Credit: Jon Ander/Flickr
Perfect for a night on the tiles. VIEW MORE INFO
_
63. BROWSE WORK FROM UP-AND-COMING ARTISTS AT PALO ALTO MARKET
Poblenou | €
And refuel on delicious street food. VIEW MORE INFO
_
64. GET ICE CREAM FROM GELARTO ROSA
Gothic Quarter | €
Try the wasabi hazelnut. VIEW MORE INFO
_
65. TICK OFF BARCELONA’S BEST BARS
We have some suggestions… VIEW MORE INFO
_
66. WALK THROUGH AN UNDERGROUND ROMAN CITY
Gothic Quarter | €
It’s literally underneath the Plaça del Rei. VIEW MORE INFO
_
67. RIDE A 1901 FUNICULAR TROLLEY UP TIBIDABO
Sant Jordi | €
Credit: Jon Ander/Flickr
Then watch the sunset with a cocktail from Mirablau. VIEW MORE INFO
_
68. SWIM IN AN URBAN OASIS AT PARC DE LA CREUETA DEL COLL
Gràcia | €
It was built in a former quarry, and it’s lush. VIEW MORE INFO
_
69. ORDER A FEAST OF TAPAS AND VERMOUTH AT BALIUS
Poblenou | €€
On Sunday afternoons, they have live jazz. VIEW MORE INFO
_
70. SHOP AT A ZERO-WASTE SUPERMARKET
Sant Antoni | €€
Bring your own jars and bags, and stock up. VIEW MORE INFO
_
71. HAVE A NOSE AROUND A 19th CENTURY FREEMASON’S LIBRARY
Fort Pienc | €
He bequeathed his 24,000 books to promote free thinking. VIEW MORE INFO
_
72. SUNBATHE IN A CONVERTED INDUSTRIAL PARK
Sants | Free
There’s a lake, ping pong tables, and a giant kids’ slide shaped like a dragon. VIEW MORE INFO
_
73. BROWSE FOR SCENTS AT LES TOPETTES
El Raval | €€
It’s a super trendy soap boutique. VIEW MORE INFO
_
74. SOAK UP THE SUN WITH WINE IN THE JARDINS DE RUBIÓ I LLUCH
El Raval | €€
Fun fact: this ancient hospital is where Gaudí stepped off. VIEW MORE INFO
_
75. SEE MODERNIST ARCHITECTURE WITHOUT THE TOURISTS
Eixample | €€
Casa Felip is stunning, and sooo much less crowded. VIEW MORE INFO
_
76. TAKE TEA AT SALTERIO
Gothic Quarter | €
Or the Turkish coffee, if you’re after something stronger. VIEW MORE INFO
_
77. WATCH A FILM ON SANT SEBASTIÀ BEACH
Barceloneta | Free
It’s on all summer, and it’s free. VIEW MORE INFO
_
78. CATCH YOUR BREATH IN THE SQUARE OF SANT FELIP NERI
Gothic Quarter | Free
Credit: Katherine Price/Flickr
It’s peaceful now, but you can still see where a nearby bomb hit in WW2. VIEW MORE INFO
_
79. SEE SOME OF GAUDÍ’S MORE UNUSUAL ARCHITECTURE
Sarrià-Sant Gervasi | €
Torre Bellesguard is genuinely notable for his rare use of straight lines. VIEW MORE INFO
_
80. LISTEN TO LIVE MUSIC IN A MODERNIST FORMER HOSPITAL
El Guinardó | €€
Ugh, more jaw-dropping architecture. VIEW MORE INFO
_
81. WATCH DEVILS RUN THROUGH THE STREETS DURING LA MERCÈ
It takes place every September, and it’s mental. VIEW MORE INFO
_
82. ORDER COCKTAILS AND CREPES AT CREPS AL BORN
El Born | €€
This place is a hoot. VIEW MORE INFO
_
83. EXPLORE THE AMAZON AT COSMOCAIXA
Sarrià-Sant Gervasi | €
They’ve recreated 1000 square metres of the rainforest, complete with flesh-eating fish. VIEW MORE INFO
_
84. IMAGINE LIVING IN THE BARCELONA PAVILION
Montjuïc | €
Credit: malouette/Flickr
Sooo sleek. VIEW MORE INFO
_
85. THEN SEE SOME MODERN ART AT CAIXAFORUM
Montjuïc | €
Their exhibitions are always seriously cool. VIEW MORE INFO
_
86. GO ROWING ON THE LAKE OF THE PARC DE LA CIUTADELLA
La Ribera | €
They also have a zoo, and it’s the seat of the Catalan Parliament. VIEW MORE INFO
_
87. VISIT A 700 YEAR OLD MONASTERY
Pedralbes | €/Free
The chapel’s practically a mini Sistine. VIEW MORE INFO
_
88. EAT RAMEN IN A JAPANESE BACKSTREET
Sant Pere | €€
They’ve built fake apartment blocks and everything. VIEW MORE INFO
_
89. GO TO BRUNCH IN THE CITY
Montjuïc | €€
This monthly electronica minifest sees parks fill with street food and workshops while the likes of Apparat and Mr. Scruff hit the decks. VIEW MORE INFO
_
90. EAT DINNER IN A CABLE CAR TOWER
Barceloneta | €€€€
It makes an excellent spot to watch the Sant Joan fireworks in June. VIEW MORE INFO
_
91. WALK OVER AN ANCIENT ROMAN NECROPOLIS
Gothic Quarter | €
It’s two millennia old. VIEW MORE INFO
_
92. HAVE A SNOOP AROUND GAUDÍ’S HOUSE
La Salut | €
It’s filled with furniture he designed, too. VIEW MORE INFO
_
93. FIND A BAR BEHIND A FRIDGE IN A SANDWICH SHOP
El Born | €€
It’s called El Paradiso, and the cocktails are something else. VIEW MORE INFO
_
94. FINISH OFF YOUR MODERNIST TOUR AT CASA AMATLLER
Eixample | €
A little Modernisme, a little Snow White. VIEW MORE INFO
_
95. GET TO KNOW YOUR ONIONS AT A TRADITIONAL CALÇOTADA
Across Barcelona | €
It’s a way out, but Can Cortès is a good spot if you can’t find a street BBQ. VIEW MORE INFO
_
96. WALK AROUND LA MODEL PRISON
Eixample | Free
It’s just opened its doors to the public this year. VIEW MORE INFO
_
97. EAT PAELLA AT SET PORTES
La Ribera | €€
Order the Parellada version, it’s delicious. VIEW MORE INFO
_
98. GO OUT ON A CRYPTIC COCKTAIL TRAIL
Gràcia | €€
Solve clues to find the next bar. VIEW MORE INFO
_
99. SPOT THE LIVE GEESE IN THE CLOISTERS OF THE CATEDRAL DE BARCELONA
Gothic Quarter | €
They represent the years of Saint Eulalia’s life before she was martyred. Obviously. VIEW MORE INFO
_
100. TAKE A LOAD OFF BACK AT THE HOTEL – YOU DESERVE IT.
Haven’t picked yours yet? Happily, we have… VIEW MORE INFO
PS Looking for more inspiration? Check out our entire Barcelona guide
Main image: Isaac D/unsplash