Catalonia's capital packs Roman and Gothic lanes, Gaudi and Modernisme, and a city beach into a walkable grid between the hills and the sea. Locals eat late, drink vermouth at midday on weekends, shop at neighbourhood markets and head to Gracia, Sant Antoni, Poble-sec and Poblenou rather than La Rambla.
Must-see
The sights to fit in even on a short trip.
- 01Sagrada Familia
- 02Park Guell
- 03Casa Batllo
- 04La Pedrera (Casa Mila)
- 05Barcelona Cathedral
- 06Museu Picasso
- 07Palau de la Musica Catalana
- 08Santa Maria del Mar
History & museums 29
- Sagrada Familia
- Casa Batllo
- CosmoCaixa
- Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (MNAC)
- Palau de la Musica Catalana
- Santa Maria del Mar
- Barcelona Cathedral
- Casa Vicens
- CCCB
- La Pedrera (Casa Mila)
- Magic Fountain of Montjuic
- MUHBA Placa del Rei
- Palau Guell
- Sant Pau Recinte Modernista
- CaixaForum Barcelona
- Fundacio Joan Miro
- Museu d'Historia de Catalunya
- Museu del Disseny
- Museu Frederic Mares
- Montjuic Castle
- Museu Maritim de Barcelona
- Museu Picasso
- Park Guell
- MACBA
- Poble Espanyol
- Museu Tàpies
- Palau de la Virreina
- Sant Pau del Camp
- Temple of Augustus
Where to eat 58
- A Tu Bola
- Bar La Plata
- Berbena
- Casa Maians
- Gelaaati di Marco
- Shunka
- Vrutal Poblenou
- Ziryab
- Alapar
- Baluard Barceloneta
- Bar Canete
- Benzina
- Ca l'Estevet
- Can Paixano (La Xampanyeria)
- Can Pineda
- El Xampanyet
- La Cova Fumada
- Quimet & Quimet
- Tandoori Nights
- Bo de B
- Cal Boter
- Can Mano (Montolio)
- Casa Vives
- El Pachuco
- El Quim de la Boqueria
- Forn Mistral Sant Antoni
- Jon Cake Santa Caterina
- Koku Kitchen Born
- La Tasqueta de Blai
- Maoz Falafel
- NAP Antic Mercat
- Tlaxcal
- Bacoa Burger Universitat
- Bar del Pla
- Bar Pinotxo (Mercat de Sant Antoni)
- Blai 9
- Cal Pep
- Chivuo's Gracia
- Elisabets
- Las Fritas
- Macchina Pasta Bar
- Xurreria Trebol
- Bar El Tomas de Sarria
- Can Culleretes
- Can Sole
- Chen Ji
- La Esquinica
- Pim Pam Burger
- Mosquito
- Bar Mut
- Atipical Casa de Menjars
- Bar Canyi
- Bo de Bernat
- Can Vilaró
- Denassus
- Dr. Zhang
- La Sosenga
- Margarit
Night out 25
- Zim
- Bocanariz
- Dr. Stravinsky
- Harlem Jazz Club
- Bar Marsella
- Bar Pastis
- Dry Martini
- London Bar
- Los Tarantos
- Mirablau
- Morro Fi
- Soda Acustic
- Boadas
- Heliogabal
- Marula Cafe
- Paradiso
- Rooftop Ohla Barcelona
- Two Schmucks
- Jamboree
- Razzmatazz
- Sala Apolo
- Moog
- Sips
- Bar Calders
- Caribbean Club
Locals only 28
- Bunkers del Carmel (Turo de la Rovira)
- Viblioteca
- Vila Viniteca La Teca
- Jardins de Laribal
- Jardins de Mossen Costa i Llobera
- Mercat de Sants
- Mirador del Migdia
- Palau Robert gardens
- Parc de Cervantes rose garden
- Parc del Guinardo
- Refugi 307
- Sant Antoni Sunday Book Market
- Bodega Maestrazgo
- Granja M. Viader
- Jardins de la Maternitat
- Mercat de Galvany
- Mercat de Sant Antoni
- Mercat de Santa Caterina
- Mercat del Ninot
- Parc de les Aigues
- Parc del Laberint d'Horta
- Els Encants
- Jardins de la Tamarita
- Mercat de la Llibertat
- Palo Alto Market
- Mercat de la Barceloneta
- Parc de la Creueta del Coll
- Carrer de Blai
Walking routes 6
- 01Gothic Quarter and El Born: Roman walls to Santa Maria del MarThe medieval core in one loop: cathedral, Roman Barcino, the old royal square and the Born's Gothic church, ending with cava at a 1929 bar.
- 02Modernisme mile: Passeig de Gracia to Sant PauGaudi and Domenech i Montaner along the Eixample grid: Casa Batllo and La Pedrera, the Sagrada Familia, then the tiled hospital city of Sant Pau via Avinguda de Gaudi.
- 03Montjuic: museums, gardens and a sea-view castleFrom Placa d'Espanya up the Expo steps to the MNAC, across to the Miro Foundation and the castle, then down through quiet gardens into Poble-sec for pintxos.
- 04Food grazing: Sant Antoni market to Carrer de BlaiA neighbourhood graze where locals shop and snack: a market bar breakfast, a bakery, vermouth on Carrer del Parlament, then a pintxo crawl on Carrer de Blai and conservas at Quimet & Quimet.
- 05Gracia squares to the Bunkers del CarmelGaudi's first house, Gracia's market and squares, then a steep climb past Park Guell's east side to the city's best free sunset view.
- 06Barceloneta bites: cava, bombas and the seaThe old fishermen's quarter the way locals eat it: cava and sandwiches at Can Paixano, the original bomba, a wood-fired bakery and the market, then the beach.