Things to Do in Barcelona: What 16 Guides Agree On
Things to do in Barcelona, ordered by how many guides name them: Sagrada Família, Park Güell, the Boqueria, the Gothic Quarter, with hours and free days.
Sagrada Família and Park Güell are the only two sights every guide names. The 16 guides Roam Barcelona read, in English, Spanish and French, then split between the Boqueria, the Gothic Quarter, La Rambla, the other Gaudí houses and Montjuïc. Hours and prices below come from each place’s own page or the city council, not from those guides, so check the page on the day.
The picks follow how many guides name each one. A sight named by only a few is in the last sections, and anything named by one or two guides is left out. Every place named is on the map, and you can see what’s on during your dates on the events page and the live music page.
The short list
| Sight | Guides naming it (of 16) | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Sagrada Família | 16 | Eixample |
| Park Güell | 16 | Gràcia |
| La Boqueria | 15 | El Raval |
| Gothic Quarter | 15 | Barri Gòtic |
| La Rambla | 14 | Barri Gòtic and El Raval |
| Casa Batlló | 13 | Eixample |
| Montjuïc | 13 | Montjuïc |
| La Pedrera | 13 | Eixample |
| Barceloneta beach | 12 | Barceloneta |
| MNAC | 12 | Montjuïc |
| Barcelona Cathedral | 11 | Barri Gòtic |
| Parc de la Ciutadella | 11 | El Born |
| Museu Picasso | 10 | El Born |
Sagrada Família
Recommended by 16 of 16 guides read.
It’s the one sight nobody skips. From November to February the basilica is open Monday to Saturday from 9:00 to 18:00 and Sunday from 10:30 to 18:00, with longer days from March, per the basilica’s schedule page. The base ticket is €26 and includes the audioguide app, and €36 adds the towers, per its prices page. Opening times can change when there’s an event inside.
Park Güell
Recommended by 16 of 16 guides read.
It’s Gaudí’s hillside park above Gràcia. The general ticket is €18, and tickets must be bought in advance online, per Park Güell’s site. You get 30 minutes after your time slot to enter and you can’t re-enter. See Park Güell.
La Boqueria
Recommended by 15 of 16 guides read.
The market off La Rambla, open Monday to Saturday from 8:00 to 20:30, per Barcelona City Council. Individual stalls can keep their own hours, so don’t count on every counter being open. For where to eat in it, see where to eat in Barcelona.
The Gothic Quarter
Recommended by 15 of 16 guides read.
It’s the old city around the cathedral, and the guides recommend walking its lanes more than any one sight. Plaça de Sant Felip Neri, Plaça Reial and Plaça de Sant Jaume are the squares they name. See the Barri Gòtic guide.
La Rambla
Recommended by 14 of 16 guides read.
The pedestrian avenue through the old city. See La Rambla, and Barcelona travel tips for pickpockets and where not to eat nearby.
Casa Batlló and La Pedrera
Recommended by 13 of 16 guides read, each.
They’re two Gaudí buildings on or near Passeig de Gràcia. Casa Batlló is the one with the mosaic façade, and La Pedrera is the one with the rooftop chimneys. Casa Vicens (3 guides) is a third you’ll see on fewer lists, see Casa Vicens.
Montjuïc
Recommended by 13 of 16 guides read.
The hill over the port with the castle, the gardens and the museums. Castell de Montjuïc is free every Sunday from 3 pm and all day on the first Sunday of the month, per Barcelona City Council. The MNAC (12 guides) and the Montjuïc cable car (4 guides) are here too. See the Montjuïc guide.
Barceloneta beach
Recommended by 12 of 16 guides read.
The city beach. See Platja de la Barceloneta and the Barceloneta guide.
The cathedral, the Ciutadella and the Picasso Museum
Named by 11, 11 and 10 of 16 guides read.
The Barcelona Cathedral, the Parc de la Ciutadella and the Museu Picasso round out the middle of the list. The Picasso Museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 19:00 in winter and later in summer, and closed on Mondays. General admission is €15, and the first Sunday of each month is free with a booking, per Barcelona City Council’s museums page.
Named by fewer than half
Camp Nou (9 guides) is the football stadium, see Spotify Camp Nou. Seven guides each name El Born, Tibidabo and the Palau de la Música Catalana. Six name the Magic Fountain, Gràcia, the Montjuïc castle, the Fundació Joan Miró and the MACBA. Five name Santa Maria del Mar and the Arc de Triomf.
Less common picks
Montserrat (4 guides) is the day trip most guides add, see the Montserrat day trip. The Laberint d’Horta, the Palau Güell and Passeig de Gràcia get four guides each. The aquarium gets three.
Free days
A dozen paid sights are free every Sunday from 3 pm, and more are free all day on the first Sunday of the month, per the council’s Sunday page. The first-Sunday list includes the Museu Picasso, which needs a booking, the MNAC and Castell de Montjuïc, per the council’s first Sunday page.
Which sights to pick
- A first day: the Sagrada Família, then the Gothic Quarter and the Boqueria on foot.
- Gaudí only: Sagrada Família, Park Güell and Casa Batlló.
- A slow day: Montjuïc, where you’ve got the castle and the MNAC.
- Free: a Sunday afternoon at Castell de Montjuïc.
See where to stay in Barcelona and Barcelona travel tips for the rest of the trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top things to do in Barcelona?
The Sagrada Família and Park Güell, named by all 16 guides read, then the Boqueria, the Gothic Quarter and La Rambla.
Are there free things to do in Barcelona?
Yes. A dozen paid sights are free every Sunday from 3 pm, and more are free on the first Sunday of the month.
Do you need tickets for Park Güell?
Yes. They must be bought in advance and online, and you’ve got 30 minutes after your slot to enter.
Is Montserrat worth a day trip?
Four of the 16 guides add it. See the Montserrat day trip guide.
Sources: 16 guides in English, Spanish and French, and 7 official pages
Guides in English
- A first-timer's guide to BarcelonaGoats on the Road
- The ultimate first-timers guide to BarcelonaDevour Tours
- 12 amazing things to see on your first trip to BarcelonaHand Luggage Only
- Things to do in BarcelonaTravel Lemming
- Barcelona travel guideGo Backpacking
- Best places to visit in Barcelona, SpainMake Time to See the World
- 10 things to do in Barcelona on your first visitRoads and Destinations
Guides in Spanish
- ¿Qué hacer en Barcelona? Los 10 planes imprescindiblesGo City
- Qué visitar en BarcelonaBarceló
- Imprescindibles de BarcelonaEl viaje de Sofi
- ¿Qué ver en Barcelona? 10 lugares imprescindiblesFelices Vacaciones
- 23 cosas que tienes que ver en BarcelonaLoving Travel
Guides in French
- Visiter BarceloneVoyage avec nous
- Visiter Barcelone : les incontournablesBouger Voyager
- Barcelone : à voirLe Routard
- Que faire à BarceloneUn sac sur le dos
Official pages
- Sagrada Família schedulessagradafamilia.org
- Sagrada Família pricessagradafamilia.org
- Park Güell prices and timesparkguell.barcelona
- Museu Picasso on Barcelona City Council's museums sitebarcelona.cat
- La Boqueria on Barcelona City Council's sitebarcelona.cat
- First Sunday of the month at the museums (Barcelona City Council)barcelona.cat
- Free admission to museums on Sundays (Barcelona City Council)barcelona.cat
Places in this guide
Photos show the actual places, licensed under Creative Commons and credited to their photographers.
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