Barcelona is such a vibrant city with so many attractions and a rich history and culture, it’s impossible to see everything in just one visit. We have been lucky enough to spend quite a bit of time here but still haven’t done it all. This article focuses on the main things to do in Barcelona. If you think you’ll only visit once, these are the best things to do!
If you have more time and want to explore more of the country, read this ‘Highlights of Spain’ itinerary.
In this article
Before you Go
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- Get in the mood by reading about Spain and Spanish culture. This article from Wayfaring Views describes 50 of the best books on Spain.
- Buy a city pass and travel card. This will save you both time and money when you are in the city.
- Book your accommodation and research where in the city you are staying. Familiarise yourself with the locale so you won’t feel totally lost when you first get there.
- Plan what you want to see, but don’t overfill your diary. It’s important that you leave yourself time to people-watch while enjoying a leisurely lunch!
- Pre-book tickets online for the main sites.
Check on Booking.com for somewhere to stay
1. Visit La Sagrada Família
At the risk of being strung up for heresy, I have to say that La Sagrada Família, the world-famous emblem of Barcelona, is not my favourite place! I still think it’s a must-see destination, but, if you’re anything like me, prepare to be underwhelmed!!
History
The church was commissioned by the arch-conservative Josephine congregation as a Catholic backlash against the encroaching frivolous free spirit of the late nineteenth century. Antoni Gaudí was the architect charged with designing La Sagrada Família. He spent four decades working on the project and the last twelve years of his life dedicated exclusively to it. When he died in 1926, the structure was only about 10% complete with just the apse, one of the eighteen planned towers, the crypt, and the eastern facade finished. It is still incomplete today although work is moving on apace to try to finish by 2026, the centenary of Gaudí’s death.
Ahead of your visit
Make sure you buy your tickets in advance. You can get them online at the Sagrada Família website or through a tour operator like Get Your Guide. This is essential to avoid waiting in long queues with the risk that you won’t get into the church at all! There are many ticket options so choose carefully. Tickets are all for a specific time so make sure you will be there at the correct hour.
Our visit
What it cost
We booked the ‘Sagrada Família with Towers’ ticket on the attraction’s own website at a cost of €32 each. The price includes timed entrance to the church, a 45-minute audio guide, and a timed visit up one of the towers (we chose the Passion tower). Children under 11 go free (but they are not allowed an audio guide!). Vistors aged between 11 and 30 pay €30 and seniors are charged €26.
The exterior
Arriving a little early for our timed ticket, we passed the time walking around the outside of La Sagrada Família. I have to say, I wasn’t blown away! I realise that you’re not supposed to say that! For me, it’s just too much – too ornate, too messy. Don’t get me wrong, it’s an incredible feat of engineering and a design of genius, but, to my eye, not so aesthetically pleasing!
The interior
Inside, again, I felt a little deflated. Yes, it’s a huge, cavernous space, but massive pillars seem to detract and make it seem smaller. Ongoing work interferes with your ability to appreciate the building. The stained glass is undeniably stunning – the coloured patterns cast on the floor are mesmerising. However, as with many of Barcelona’s attractions, your enjoyment is marred somewhat by the sheer number of visitors! People are falling over each other in their efforts to capture the perfect picture. I know, I know!! Complaining about tourists when I’m one myself is a bit rich!!
Despite the fact that La Sagrada Família was consecrated by Pope Benedict in November 2010, I got no sense that this was a sacred place, somewhere for quiet contemplation. There is an area designated for prayer in the centre of the apse but it is ‘policed’ by uniformed attendants who make sure that worshippers don’t sit for too long! There is religious imagery, of course, but it seems to get lost in the melee of selfie-taking tourists.
The tower
Our trip up to the top of the tower was interesting. Visitors ascend in a lift and then walk down 400 steps. It’s great to get a bird’s eye view of some of the architectural details of the cathedral, but there are few open spaces and the ones that there are, are small, so city views are restricted. If you are just visiting the towers to get a view of Barcelona, there are better vantage points (the Olympic swimming pool or Parc Güell, for example).
The signage when we exited the lift at the top of the tower was woefully inadequate leading to several impasses as people were trying to go in both directions through a narrow space.
The last couple of hundred steps in the descent are in a tight spiral staircase – not for the faint-hearted or claustrophobic!
2. Get to Know Gaudí
It’s impossible to visit Barcelona and not hear about Gaudí. His works are everywhere in the city including, of course, La Sagrada Família which is described above. Antoni Gaudí i Cornet (25 June 1852 – 10 June 1926) was a Spanish architect known as the greatest exponent of Catalan Modernism.
Gaudí was the youngest of five children. He suffered poor health as a child and was a reticent and reserved boy. From an early age, he was a devout Catholic and, unusually, a strict vegetarian. His passions for nature, religion, and architecture were to shape his entire life. He was single-minded, leaving no room for external relationships. He never married.
Gaudí’s talent for art was noticed early on and he was encouraged to study architecture when he left school. He managed to complete his degree mainly while on sick leave from compulsory.military service. After graduating in 1878, his initial designs were seen by Catalan industrialist, Eusebi Güell. Impressed with Gaudí’s genius, Güell went on to commission some of the architect’s most outstanding work.
Antoni Gaudí considered every detail of his creations and integrated into his architecture crafts such as ceramics, stained glass, wrought ironwork forging, and carpentry. He also introduced new techniques in the treatment of materials, such as trencadís which used waste ceramic pieces.
Under the influence of neo-Gothic art and Oriental techniques, Gaudí became part of the Modernista movement. His work, however, transcended mainstream Modernisme, culminating in an organic style inspired by natural forms. Gaudí rarely drew detailed plans of his works, instead preferring to create them as 3D scale models and moulding the details as he conceived them.
Gaudí’s work enjoys global popularity and continuing admiration and study by architects. Between 1984 and 2005, seven of his works were declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. Gaudí’s Roman Catholic faith intensified during his life and religious images appear in many of his works. This earned him the nickname, “God’s Architect” and led to calls, so far unheeded, for his beatification.
Casa Batlló
History
Casa Batlló was built in 1877. It was a classical building, completely unremarkable, with a basement, ground floor, four other floors, and a garden at the back. Josep Batlló bought it in 1900. He didn’t like the design, but was taken with the building’s prestigious, central location. He chose Gaudí to redesign his house because he wanted something audacious and creative – a house like no other.
He wanted to knock it down and start again, but Gaudí persuaded him that it was better to renovate. Having won the argument, Gaudí went on to completely change the main apartment which became the Batlló family home until the 1950s. He also expanded the central well to supply light to the whole building and added new floors.
The Batlló family gave the building to Barcelona City Council and in 2005, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Today
Today the house is open to the public from 9am to 9pm every day of the year and is one of Barcelona’s top tourist attractions.
Prices
Tickets can be purchased in advance from the website or through Get Your Guide. Prices are as follows:
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- Adults – €25
- Children aged 7 – 18, students, and seniors – €22
- Children aged 0 – 6 – FREE
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All entrance tickets include an augmented reality video guide.
Our visit
It was in Casa Batlló that I began to appreciate Gaudí’s genius! I fell in love with this crazy building which the locals call Casa del Ossos (House of Bones) due to its visceral, skeletal, organic quality. Gaudí’s goal here appears to have been to avoid straight lines completely. He designed all of the furniture and fittings to be very tactile, very ergonomic. The bannisters and door and window handles all cry out to be touched.
Gaudí’s use of natural light and blue tiles in varying shades in the central shaft of the casa give the impression of moving water. There are incredible windows giving great views of the street. I was most impressed with the loft space. This functional area, divided into individual storage and laundry rooms for the residents, has been given the Gaudí design touch with a series of 60 elaborate arches made to look like the ribcage of an animal. This theme continues on the roof where a representation of a dragon doubles as a water collection point. The chimney pots, too, are highly decorative.
The route of our visit through Casa Batlló was very well-organised and the audio guide gave us just the right amount of information.
Casa Milà
Popularly known as La Pedrera (‘the stone quarry’) because of its unconventional rough-hewn appearance, Casa Milà was the last private residence designed by Antoni Gaudí.
History
Casa Milà was commissioned by Pere Milà and his wife Roser Segimon in 1905, to be built on a plot of land they owned on the fashionable Passeig de Gràcia. The main floor of the new building would be their home and they would rent out the other apartments.
Gaudí wanted this project to be the ultimate expression of his talent and his ethos that architecture should always be inspired by nature. He designed two apartment blocks interconnected by inner courtyards and a shared facade.
Construction took place between 1906 and 1912 and was fraught with difficulties throughout. Sensing that this would be his last civil project, having already become totally involved in building La Sagrada Família, Gaudí kept changing the design in his quest to produce his ultimate legacy. He went well over budget and didn’t abide by the City Council’s building codes: the built volume was illegal, the attic and rooftop exceeded permitted maximums, and one of the pillars of the façade occupied part of the pavement on the Passeig de Gràcia.
After much legal wrangling, the Council decided that the building was a monument to nature and, therefore, didn’t need to conform strictly to municipal building regulations. Despite this ruling, the Milàs had to pay a fine of 100,000 pesetas to legalise the building. They took Gaudí to court over his fees. They lost and had to mortgage Casa Milà to pay Gaudí the compensation they owed him. Gaudí donated the money to a local convent.
In 1984, Casa Milà was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Today
Since 2013, La Pedrera has been a cultural centre and home to the headquarters of the Catalunya La Pedrera Foundation. As such, it fosters talent, creativity and education while supporting the preservation of Catalonia’s natural and cultural heritage. It hosts art exhibitions, lectures, music concerts and conferences.
The building is also open to the public and is a popular destination for tourists visiting Barcelona.
In addition, there are shops and businesses operating from the ground floor of Casa Milà and there are three residential apartments which are still occupied by families who have owned them since the building first opened.
Prices
Prices are as follows:
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- Adults – €22
- Children aged 7 – 12 – €11
- Children aged 0 – 6 – FREE
- Students, disabled and seniors – €16.50
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All tickets include an audio guide and can be purchased from Casa Milà’s website or from Get Your Guide.
Our visit
La Pedrera is a short walk from Casa Batlló, so make sure you visit both at the same time.
I was not so keen on the aesthetic here as in Casa Batlló, but I could appreciate the nature-inspired design and the intent. The oval shape formed by the apartments around the courtyard is quite something.
We took the lift up to the roof and then worked our way down. The roof is a revelation, and unlike anything we’ve seen before! There are lots of curves, arches and stairs giving views in all directions over the city, including towards La Sagrada Família. Functional objects like chimneys, stairwells and ventilation shafts are made to look unusual and beautiful. Some are decorated with broken tile mosaics which catch the light and throw colourful shadows on the cream stonework.
From the roof, we descended to the attic space which is even more impressive than the one in Casa Batlló. Here, 270 brick arches support the roof terrace. The engineering involved in such a structure is truly mind-blowing!
On the floor below, we explored an apartment laid out to show how a bourgeois family would have lived in early 20th century Barcelona. It was fascinating to see the servants’ quarters and a lavish dining room which could be extended by folding back the walls leading to the sitting room.
Park Güell
History
At the end of the nineteenth century, industrialist Eusebi Güell bought a large plot of hilly land overlooking the sea and the city of Barcelona. He commissioned Gaudí to create an estate of 60 properties for well-off families, along the lines of a British residential estate, hence the use of the English ‘park’ in the name, Park Güell.
Gaudí designed the park with a complex network of paths, viaducts and steps to cope with the steep topography of the terrain. He respected the vegetation that was already growing on the property, such as the carob and olive trees, and when new species were introduced, he opted for Mediterranean plants that did not require much water. He also designed various systems for collecting and storing water, helping to prevent land erosion by heavy Mediterranean downpours, and at the same time helping to provide the water needed by the estate’s inhabitants.
In 1902, a friend of Güell bought the first plot on the estate and built a villa on it. A few years later, Gaudí’s assistant, Francesc Berenguer, designed and constructed a show house to encourage sales, but none were forthcoming. Potential buyers were put off by a lack of suitable transport and the high costs associated with such an exclusive development. Gaudí himself moved into the show house in 1906 with his father and his niece. The following year, Güell converted the old mansion that was already there when he bought the site into a home for him and his family.
These were to be the only completed residences. The development was unviable and Güell abandoned the project in 1914. The park became a large private garden which he allowed to be used for public events. After his death in 1918, Güell’s family offered the park to the City Council. It was opened as a municipal park in 1926 and the Güell family home was turned into a school.
Gaudí’s house opened to the public as the Gaudí House Museum in 1963.
Park Güell became a public park much appreciated by Barcelona’s inhabitants and tourists alike. It was declared a World Heritage Site in 1984 and is now, at 17 hectares, one of the largest green spaces in Barcelona.
Today
Today, the park is divided into two areas – the forested area where visitors are free to roam, and the monumental area which requires a timed entry ticket in order to limit the potential damage caused by over-tourism.
Ahead of your visit
Make sure you buy your tickets for the monumental area well in advance! They sell out very quickly and you could find yourself in the city and not able to visit this important landmark. You can purchase tickets at the park’s official website or from Get Your Guide.
Prices
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- Adults (over 12 years old) – €10
- Children 0 – 6 years old – FREE
- Children 7 – 12 years old – €7
- Seniors and disabled people – €7
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Rules
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- Your ticket includes a timed entry to the monumental area. You MUST arrive at the right time! You simply won’t be allowed in outside of the times stated on your ticket.
- Once you are inside the restricted area, you can take as long as you like to enjoy the brilliant architect’s work, but once you have left the restricted area, you cannot re-enter.
- Once you’ve bought your tickets, you can’t change the date or time, so make sure you can be there.
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Getting there
Public transport in Barcelona is clean, efficient and super-easy to use, especially if you buy a travel card.
You can easily access Park Güell using either the bus or the metro. All I would say, though, is that, if you use the metro, you’ll have quite a long walk uphill to the park, whereas the bus drops you right outside the gates at the top!
Our visit
The forested area of Park Güell is a beautiful, peaceful place, perfect for a stroll after a hard day’s sightseeing in the city. The monumental area, however, is the complete opposite! Despite the city’s best efforts (limiting access to 800 people per hour), the place is almost always rammed. People push each other as they vie for the best position to take their photos. Others stop in the middle of a walkway causing all those behind them to bunch up and small children to fall over. It’s impossible to appreciate the beauty of the place in the face of such mayhem!! Currently (2019), there is also a lot of renovation work going on which doesn’t help the situation. It’s difficult to understand Gaudí’s vision, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try! Perhaps you’ll get lucky and the crowds will part, affording you the perfect view of this modernist masterpiece!!
Whilst you’re in Park Güell, make sure to visit Gaudí’s House Museum. There’s an extra charge (€5.50 for adults, €4.50 for under 30s and seniors, free for children aged 0 – 10) and it will be busy, but you can get a real sense of the man in the home where he lived for 20 years.
3. Walk Down La Rambla
La Rambla, or Las Ramblas as it is known locally, was originally a waterway – a channel for the run-off from the mountains when the snow melted, which prevented Barcelona from flooding.
Today, this tree-lined pedestrian street stretches for 1.2 kilometres from Placa de Catalunya to Port Vell. It is a place to see and be seen and is invariably crowded, especially during the height of the tourist season. There is a plethora of pavement cafes, street artists and performers, and souvenir kiosks.
Don’t miss the opportunity to soak up the atmosphere of this busy street, but take care of your valuables – the area is a notorious hunting ground for pickpockets.
4. Ride on the Montjuïc Cable Car
The Montjuïc Cable Car is a 750-metre ride from Montjuïc Park up to Montjuïc Castle on the summit of the hill. It was originally put into service in 1970, but has recently been completely refurbished. The views over the whole city of Barcelona to the sea beyond are well worth the cost of a ticket. Return prices are:
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- Adults – €12.70
- Children aged 4 – 12 – €9.20
- Children under 4 – FREE
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The cable car operates from 10am to sunset every day of the year. You can buy your tickets from the official website or from Get Your Guide.
5. Go Food Shopping in the City’s Markets
There is nothing better than wandering through the enticing stalls at one of Barcelona’s main food markets. We were lucky enough to do this with an Italian chef who lives and works in the city. He gave us the very useful tip that you should bypass the stalls at the front of the market because these are the ones which sell goods aimed at tourists – ready-cut fruit in a plastic cup, paper cones filled with shavings of serrano ham and local cheese, over-priced mass-produced chocolates. Delicious though these might be, it’s better to head to the back of the market where the locals shop. Barcelona residents tend to buy fresh ingredients every day so don’t be afraid to ask for a small quantity of something – a couple of juicy fresh figs, a handful of ripe cherries, two or three large cooked gambas, or a single slice of aged nut-fed smoked boar. The stallholders will enjoy discussing their produce with you!
La Boqueria
Situated on Las Ramblas, La Boqueria is probably the most famous market in Barcelona, if not the whole of Spain. It’s certainly the one which attracts the greatest number of tourists. Don’t let that put you off, though. Locals, both individuals and businesses, use the market. Some of the vendors are members of families who have been selling here since the market began in 1836.
La Boqueria is open from Monday to Saturday from 8:00am to 8:30pm.
Santa Caterina Market
Less well known to tourists than La Boqueria, Santa Caterina Market nevertheless attracts its fair share of visitors, many of whom come to admire its colourful wavy roof which was added when the market was renovated in 2005. It consists of 325,000 ceramic pieces in over 60 colours representing the colours of the fruit and vegetables sold inside.
Santa Caterina is open from 7.30am to 8.30pm from Monday to Friday, 7.30am to 3.30pm on Saturday, and is closed on Sunday.
6. Take a Walking Tour of the Gothic Quarter
The walk costs €18 when booked through GetYourGuide.
We love taking walking tours with local guides. You learn so much and see things you wouldn’t have noticed had you been on your own.
There were just six of us on our fascinating two-hour walk through Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter, the historical and political centre of the city. Our knowledgeable and entertaining guide, Nina, began by telling us about the history of Barcelona. She supplemented her talk with pictures on her tablet which really clarified how the city has changed through the centuries.
As we walked, Nina explained the case for Catalan independence and the significance of St. George, both to Barcelona and to Catalonia. We explored the Gothic cathedral which, I have to say, was immediately more evocative and meaningful for me than La Sagrada Família! We saw the remains of the old walled city of Barcelona and the columns of a Roman temple, as well as the ancient palaces of kings and queens.
It was interesting to learn about the different flags we were seeing throughout the city:
We were all shocked when Nina told us about Hitler’s intervention on Franco’s side in the Spanish Civil War. He used Spanish cities, including Barcelona, as targets for practice bombing campaigns in readiness for the Second World War which he knew was imminent. Nina showed us photos of bombed buildings including a school which we were standing in front of watching the children play during their break.
7. See the City from an Open-Top Bus
This activity is included in most city passes. If you want to go on the bus, even if you have had your pass posted to you in advance, you will still need to go to the city’s tourist office on La Rambla to pick up your vouchers. Without a pass, you can buy your ticket here. It costs €29 for adults.
There are three routes the buses take so that you can see all areas of Barcelona without getting sore feet. You will get a map with your tickets so you can plan where you want to get on and off. It’s a great way to see the city, especially if you’re lucky enough to get the front seats! Be aware, though, that journey times can be longer than you think, particularly in rush hour. The guide you can listen to on the headset provided is very interesting and a good way to make sense of what you’re seeing and to make sure you don’t miss anything. You’ll be astounded at how many discarded headsets you see on the roofs of bus shelters along the route!
8. Visit Barcelona Cathedral
The beautiful Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia, also known as Barcelona Cathedral, is the seat of the Archbishop of Barcelona. It is a stunning structure, built in the Gothic style in the 14th century. The cathedral is dedicated to Eulalia, co-patron saint of Barcelona. She was a young virgin who, according to Catholic tradition, was martyred in Roman times at the age of 13. Her body is entombed in the cathedral’s crypt and thirteen white geese are kept in the cloister, one for every year of her life.
There are many interesting architectural details in the cathedral, notably the gargoyles on the roof which feature a wide range of animals, both domestic and mythical.
9. Join a Cooking Class
One of the top things to do in Barcelona is to take a cooking class, preferably one which is linked with a shopping trip to a local market. There are many options available. We booked ours through Cookly. I can’t recommend the platform or the class we did highly enough. It’s probably the best thing we’ve ever done in Barcelona! I wrote a full review of our course here.
Check out Cookly for all their classes in the city.
10. Take a Tour of Camp Nou
Before you think, ‘I’m not a football fan’, and dismiss the idea of a tour of Barcelona FC’s home ground, stop! That’s what I thought, but I went along because Mark wanted to go and, do you know what? I really enjoyed it!! It costs €28 and can be booked here. Even if you have a city pass, you still need to book your Camp Nou experience in advance.
The tour begins in the club’s museum. I hadn’t realised that clubs get to keep replicas of all of the cups they win. Barcelona FC’s trophy room with their five Champions League trophies was very impressive!
From the museum, we went high up into the stands for a full view of the stadium and the immaculate bright green turf and then down to pitchside where Mark, a life-long Spurs fan, got to sit in the seat Pochettino sat in recently! To get there, we passed through the visiting side’s changing room with a very small hot tub which would certainly be very cosy if an entire team tried to use it!
We also got to see the press room where press conferences are held (after new signings by the club, for example) and the interview points in front of a wall of sponsors’ names and logos where players and managers are questioned after a game. This was a surprise as in my head (I’ve no idea why!), I imagined just one place where this happens – not so many all in a line!
We emerged pitchside in the same way as the players do. I thought ‘the tunnel’ would be a slope that players walk up to access the pitch. At Camp Nou, however, it’s a long steep flight of stairs with a chapel off to one side about half-way down. I’d love to know if anyone stops off in there for a quick prayer before a big match. Once players reach the bottom, they then have to climb another steep flight of steps before making their appearance on the pitch!
From pitchside, we ascended the stands again and went in the lift right up to the gods where VIPs and commentators sit during a game. It was really interesting to be there and appreciate the ground from their point of view.
11. Head to the Beach at La Barceloneta
Barcelona is that rare beast – a large cosmopolitan city which also has world-class sandy beaches. This is a curse as well as a blessing. The beaches in the district of La Barceloneta attract hundreds of thousands of visitors each summer. Many of these tourists are not the kind that locals want to see in their city. They party hard, invariably drinking too much and causing problems for people who just want a quiet stroll or a swim in the warm waters of the Mediterranean. This has led to anti-tourism demonstrations and calls for visitor numbers to be restricted.
Having said all of this, it can still be a pleasant experience to escape from the city centre and spend a few hours enjoying the sea breezes on the sand, particularly in low season when the weather is still warm and the crowds have gone home. La Barceloneta is also the best place in the city to eat paella with a plethora of restaurants offering their versions of this iconic dish.
12. Visit Poble Espanyol
Of all Barcelona’s main attractions, Poble Espanyol is probably one of the least visited. This is a shame because this open-air architectural museum is traffic-free and provides a pleasant respite from the city’s usual chaos.
Built for the 1929 Barcelona International Exposition, the museum consists of 117 full-scale buildings, which recreate Spanish villages. It’s fascinating to take a walk through Spain’s architectural history. The place is also home to more than 30 artisans who sell their handcrafted pottery, glassware and leather goods.
You can buy tickets for Poble Espanyol here.
13. Take a Boat Trip Around the Port of Barcelona
We took a trip around Barcelona port with Las Golondrinas. There are several companies that offer similar tours. You will find details in the kiosks lining the waterfront at Port Vell or you can book in advance here.
Taking a sightseeing cruise is a great way to view the port, the coastline, the beaches, and the Barcelona city skyline. Most trips travel for nine miles up the coast and back again and take around an hour and a half. On windy days, expect to remain within the confines of the harbour. If this is the case, the price remains the same, but the trip will only take 40 minutes and you will be given drinks vouchers to use on board.
Either way, it’s fascinating to get up close to some of the superyachts that moor in Barcelona, as well as the more mundane commercial ships. You could even find yourself dwarfed alongside a massive cruise ship.
14. Do a Behind-the-Scenes Tour of the Liceu
One of the best things to do in Barcelona is to take a tour of the Liceu, home to the city’s opera. Whether or not you are an opera fan, you can appreciate the elegance of the Renaissance-style lobby and the beauty of the 2,300-seat auditorium. The latter is an exact replica of the original horseshoe-shaped hall which was built in 1847, but which, unfortunately, was damaged by fire on more than one occasion. You also get to see the Mirror Hall, for many years the favourite gathering spot of the Catalan upper middle classes.
Perhaps, you will get really lucky, as we did on our last visit. We were warned when we went in that the lights in the auditorium would be dimmed during our visit as there was a rehearsal taking place. In the event, we got to sit in on half an hour of the first full rehearsal with the orchestra of Bellini’s I puritani. It was such a treat to listen to one of the world’s best tenors, Javier Camarena from Mexico, performing with South African soprano, Pretty Yende and an ensemble of 50 singers!
The price of the tour includes a very good audio guide. You can buy your tickets via the theatre’s website.
15. Eat Lots of Tapas and Drink Copious Amounts of Wine!!
Spain has an amazing tradition of small plates of delicious food which you can eat with your fingers or just a fork whilst enjoying a large glass of red. It’s one of the best things to do in Spain and I recommend you partake at least once a day!!
Before visiting Barcelona this last time, I was under the impression that pintxos and tapas were one and the same thing, the names differing merely because of where in Spain you were eating them. However, Nina, our guide on our walking tour, explained that they are actually different things. Pintxos are individual bites, whereas tapas are sharing plates.
Either way, these are some of our favourites:
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- Patatas bravas – fried potatoes in a spicy tomato sauce served with or without added chorizo
- Pork with tamarind
- Marinated salmon
- Tomato bread
- Fresh sardines
- Croquetas de jamón – ham mixed with a thick bechamel sauce, shaped into logs, covered in breadcrumbs and deep-fried
- Calamares a la Romana – deep-fried squid rings
- Gambas al ajillo – garlic prawns
- Pulpo gallego – grilled octopus coated in sweet paprika
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Let Someone Else do the Organising
Whilst it’s perfectly possible to explore Barcelona independently, why not join a tour and let someone else sort out the logistics? It’s a great idea, especially if time is limited. Whenever we visit a new destination, we book a tour or two with local guides. There’s no better way to get under the skin of a place! We use Get Your Guide when we want to uncover interesting things to do in a new city. They’re easy to use and book with, and we’ve had some amazing experiences with them.
Read more about Barcelona
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