I have been able to enjoy the opportunity to visit and explore Barcelona in depth several times already. The truth is that I love the city and it's well worth a visit. What's more, whenever you go there are always new things to see.
Barcelona is very popular, just look at the amount of tourists you can come across while you're there. The first time I visited Barcelona I was so little that I don't even remember it, but I've visited it again later for other reasons: Game of Thrones - The Touring Exhibition, holidays, Ed Sheeran concert...
The best plans in Barcelona
When I go there I usually repeat some places I've already seen, but I tend to innovate a lot. Here are 20 things to do in Barcelona:
The most typical
1. Visit the Sagrada Familia: The entrance fee is not cheap, but it's worth going once in a lifetime. It cost me around €30 to buy a ticket for a visit with access to "La Torre de Nacimiento" (Nativity Tower) included. Hopefully you'll be lucky and get a sunny day because when the sun hits the stained glass windows it produces a super beautiful effect.
Photo: Pexels
2. Snack at La Boqueria: Next to Las Ramblas is the La Boqueria market, where you can find a wide range of products. It's one of my must-visits every time I'm in Barcelona. A strawberry and banana juice (they start at €1 and are delicious) and a cheese and ham cone are always a must! But bear in mind that the market is open from 8am to 8pm, so don't expect to find it closed.
3. Sunbathing at La Barceloneta: Barcelona has more than one beach. For me, the easiest way has always been to get off at the "Barceloneta" metro station and walk to the beach. Once there, you can see the W Hotel, which forms part of the city skyline.
Photo: Pixabay
4. Enjoy the views from the Bunkers del Carmel: In my opinion, the best views of Barcelona are from the Bunkers del Carmel. I was lucky enough to see them at night and they are impressive. I got there by car but there's a bus that drops you off nearby, so make the most of it! And if you have anything to eat or drink with you, remember to take your rubbish with you when you're done.
A different plan
5. Hiking the Mirador d'Horta: There are many places where you can see Barcelona from above, and this place is another one of them. We walked up but it's a bit crazy because the verge is sometimes very narrow. Once you're there, look for a swing. Maybe you're lucky (we weren't) and you can swing from a tree, which sometimes has a swing and sometimes doesn't.
6. Watch the Montjuic Magic Fountain show: This is a free show of light, colour, music and water. The timetable varies depending on the time of year, and to get there you can get off at the "Espanya" metro stop.
Photo: Pixabay
7. Losing yourself in the Labyrinth of Horta: We spent a wonderful morning in the Horta Labyrinth. Of course, we thought it would be difficult to get out of it, but entering it took us quite a long time as well. The normal entrance fee is 2.23€, but I got it for 1.42€ with my Youth Card.
8. Eating at El Racó: Besides going for a bite to eat at La Boqueria, I always go to a Mediterranean cuisine restaurant located in the Las Ramblas area. It's El Racó Restaurant and I usually order the rigatoni bolognese and a pizza called "La Ibérica". I wish I could try the whole menu!
To spend the afternoon
9. Explore Parc de la Ciutadella: This is a beautiful park located next to Barcelona's Arc de Triomf. As well as resting in this green spot, you can admire the waterfall, the lake... You can even go to the Parliament. Here's another plan if you come to this park.
Photo: Pixabay
10. Rowing in the Ciutadella: This is one of the many things you can do in the Parc de la Ciutadella. If you want to ride a boat on the lake of the Ciutadella and there are two of you, you'll have to pay 6€ for half an hour. If there are three of you, 9€, while if there are 4 or 5 of you, you will pay 10€.
Other plans
11. Rest at Cat Café Espai de Gats: If you love cats, come to this Cat Café in the Gracia neighbourhood. Here you can have something to eat and drink while surrounded by felines. They also have a shop, offer courses and workshops and there is the possibility to adopt. Of course, all the money you spend there goes to help cats in need. The entrance fee is 2,50€ but you can pay more depending on how long you want to stay there.
12. Walk along Paseo de Gracia: This is a street full of shops where you can find architectural wonders such as La Casa Batlló or La Pedrera (Casa Milá), among others.
Photo: Pixabay
13. Walk along Las Ramblas: This is one of the most popular walks in Barcelona for tourists, and I invite you to find the Canaletas Fountain, which is where the triumphs of Barcelona Football Club are celebrated. You can finish your walk with a stroll around the Plaza Catalunya.
14. Ride the Montjuic cable car: In addition to the viewpoints, there are other options for seeing Barcelona from above, and the Montjuic cable caris one of them. A round-trip ticket for an adult costs 12.70€.
15. Enter Parc Güell: Visit a park as unique as Parc Güell and take some beautiful photos. General admission is 10€.
Something for everyone
16. Contemplate the Cathedral of the Sea: It is located in the Born district and was built by the locals and inspired Ildefonso Falcones to write his novel "The Cathedral of the Sea", which was later turned into a television series. Next to it is El Foso de las Moreras, the moat with the fallen during the siege of Barcelona that took place in 1714.
17. Having a Free Tour: Whenever I prepare a trip, one of the first things I do is to check if there is the possibility of having a Free Tour in that place. These are guided tours in which you pay according to how satisfied you are with the circuit and the explanations. In Barcelona I did the Old Town Free Tour which starts from the Barcelona Cathedral, so I took the opportunity to get to know it.
Photo: Pixabay
18. Christmas Market: Near the Cathedral, at Christmas time, is Barcelona's Christmas market. I was lucky enough to be able to visit it and it is very beautiful.
19. Visit Camp Nou: Of course, if you're a Barça fan you can visit the stadium. There are different types of tickets, but the most basic ticket costs €26 (try to buy them online, they'll be cheaper).
20. Botanical Garden: If flora is your thing, you should know that Barcelona also has a Botanical Garden which you can enter for 3.50€.
Pending visits
Some of the things on this list I've left pending for my next visits (for example the Cable Car), there are others that I'll definitely repeat and other places that I haven't included but I have in mind (such as the Tibidabo Amusement Park). By the way, if you're a fan of shopping, Barcelona is also your place because you'll find brick and mortar shops that you won't find in many places (I, for example, usually go to MiiN Korean Cosmetics).
Photo: Pixabay
Finally, regarding accommodation, I have stayed in different places, some more affordable than others, and I have no complaints about any of them: Hotel Abba Sants, Hostal La Palmera and Apartamentos Villa Sagrada.
Go ahead, explore Barcelona! What is your favourite thing to do when you visit this city? Would you like me to mention anything else? Leave a comment and I'll be happy to read it and get back to you. If you wish, find out more about Europe.
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