Barcelona: Places to Go & Things to Do in Barcelona

Barcelona is the capital city of Catalonia, and enjoys all the culture and excitement of a vibrant city. There is so much to see in do in Spain’s second biggest city, and there is enough there to suit everyone. From museums to green spaces, to everything in between!

The tourist spots in Barcelona are popular for a reason! The city’s unique style and atmosphere means visitors flock to the Catalonian capital. To make sure you see everything that Barcelona has to offer, there are bus/walking/cycling and even segway tours you can take! You’ll get to see the beautiful Sagraga Familia, still in construction but with a character all of its own thanks to Gaudi’s architecture. Why not visit the famous FC Barcelona home ground? Camp Nou is home to not only so many incredible sporting moments, but also a museum and tour, so any football fans can learn of the history of one of the most famous clubs in the world.

On sunny summer days, Barcelona has many parks you can relax in, with a book or a picnic. Easily the most famous park is another one of Gaudi’s incredible creations. Park Guell, in the north east of the city is a beautiful spot for looking out over Barcelona towards the sea, with so many intricate architectural features, that you can spend hours looking at them all. From the gothic style columns that hold up the main platform, to the intricate mosaic design that covers a lot of the park, Gaudi’s masterpiece is a fantastic place to enjoy the Barcelona atmosphere. There are always performers, artisan sellers and the friendly Catalan people to join you in Park Guell.

One of the selling points of Barcelona, aside from its world class shopping, art scene and heritage, is of course its beach! Barcelona is lucky enough to be right on Spain’s Mediterranean coast, meaning you get the best from both the city and sea. There are a few different beaches in and around the city to visit, such as the famous Barceloneta beach, which is still relatively central in the city. Also on the waterfront are remnants from the 1992 Olympic Games which were held in this fantastic city. The Olympic Stadium is now a museum dedicated to sport, and the huge esplanade with some of the city’s most popular restaurants serve up the best of Barcelona cuisine.

The nightlife here is legendary. Each district has a different atmosphere, so weather you want a quiet night with a bottle of beer and a few friends, live music, a heaving club or anything in between, Barcelona has it all. Due to its cosmopolitan nature, you can find some amazing restaurants here, as well as an enviable music scene. Las Ramblas is a great place to go to start your night, with its numerous tapas and cocktail bars. The gothic quarter is home to some of the city’s most popular clubs, with the central El Born area perfect for more sophisticated socializing. Raval is the place to go for an edgier night out, and Poble Sec is also a very hip part of town. You could of course do a full city bar crawl and visit them all!

For nature lovers, aside from all its parks, Barcelona has a lot to offer. Just 40km outside of the city, the mountain of Monserrat makes for a fantastic day trip. This is a very powerful symbol for the Catalan people, with La Moreneta statue of the Virgin of Monserrat, loacated high at its summit. The Benedictine abbey at the top is world famous, for its choir and boys school, and it is a must see for any visitor of the region. The monastery here became notorious during the Franco regime for being a stronghold of Catalan culture and language, and was a refuge for many Catalan nationalists. You can hike up to the peak of this famous Spanish mountain, or there is public transport you can take, to enjoy the spectacular views in comfort.

There are so many places to go in Barcelona, with things to see and do to suit everyone!