Things to Do in Barcelona - Free Attractions, Tickets & Tours

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Barcelona is one of Europe’s most exciting cities, known for its architecture, beaches, culture, and street life. Whether it’s your first visit or a return trip, our guide will help you discover the best things to do in Barcelona, from Gaudí's landmarks to hidden neighbourhoods and day trips.

Barcelona is home to the Sagrada Familia, which is Spain's most visited attraction with millions of people visiting it each year from all over the world. Some just sit and enjoy it from outside. Others buy tickets to enjoy the inside as well.

Antoni Gaudí, the architect that designed the Sagrada Familia is also responsible for several other popular attractions in the city as well including Casa Batlló, Casa Milà - La Pedrera and Casa Vicens.

Let's have a look at some of the most popular places to visit and see if we can find something that grabs your attention and you would like to see.

‍Top Picks in Barcelona

• Sagrada Familia
• Park Güell
• Casa Batlló
• Gothic Quarter (Barri Gòtic) - Free to explore with optional guided tours available
• Barceloneta Beach - Free to explore but paid for activities are available
• Montjuïc viewpoints - Free to visit but paid for activities are available

Best Attractions and Places to Visit in Barcelona

Gaudí's Sagrada Familia - Tickets

• Average Visit Time: Around 1.5 - 2 hours

The Sagrada Familia is Barcelona's most famous landmark and it isn't even finished yet. Antoni Gaudí's crowning glory is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with several of his other designs in the city.

Construction on the Sagrada Familia began in 1882 and it was due to be completed this year, but the COVID-19 pandemic and slower funding has delayed the project slightly, making it one of the longest-running architectural projects in the world.

The inside of the church is equally as impressive as the outside. People sit for hours enjoying it and watching as time passes and the stained glass windows create shapes that change throughout the day as the sun moves across the sky creating new shadows and colours in the church.

Whether visitors want to enjoy a guided tour or explore for themselves, both options are available. Include Tower access if you would like to enjoy views of the city from above the rooftops and other landmarks in the city.

Casa Batlló - Tickets

• Average Visit Time: Around 1 hour

Casa Batlló is another Gaudí design, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and another of Barcelona's most popular attractions and architectural landmarks. There aren't many properties that look like Casa Batlló, so you will know when you arrive as the beauty of the building will make you smile and say 'wow'.

Built on 'Passeig de Gràcia', which is one of the city's most prestigious and upmarket streets, Casa Batlló welcomes you with bright colours and it only gets better inside.

The house is known by several names including 'house of bones', 'house of masks', 'house of beards' and 'house of the dragon', which will become apparent when you arrive, if you haven't already seen it.

Gaudí took a lot of his inspiration from nature and incorporated it into his designs where he could. He wanted them to be bright and colourful but also functional. He rarely used straight lines as he said you don't find straight lines in nature.

Casa Milà - La Pedrera - Tickets

• Average Visit Time: Around 1 hour

Casa Milà - La Pedrera is another UNESCO World Heritage Site, Gaudí design and very popular attraction. Referred to as 'La Pedrera' due to it looking like a stone/rock quarry from the front, Casa Milà is another example of Gaudí's incredible imagination.

Like Casa Batlló, Casa Milà is also on 'Passeig de Gràcia' and was built between 1906 & 1912. La Pedrera was controversial at the time of construction as Gaudí refused to follow local council building guidelines and the property ended up being bigger than what was allowed, in essence meaning it was an illegal structure.

However, upon completion, the local council deemed the property was 'a monument in nature' and because of that it did not need to abide by the bylaws and was then certified as acceptable.

The decision preserved one of Barcelona's most famous buildings, which has since become one of the city's most visited attractions.

Palau Güell (Güell Palace) - Tickets

• Average Visit Time: Around 1 hour

Gaudí's Palau Güell or 'Güell Palace' is another popular attraction that sits in the heart of 'Las Ramblas'.

It was commissioned by Eusebi Güell (of Park Güell) as his family residence. Like most of Gaudí's designs, you can tell as you approach that it isn't just another normal property with its grand facade and ornate ironwork. Inside, you can enjoy its parabolic dome, the play of light between dark and light textures and the views from its rooftop.

The UNESCO World Heritage Site may not be as famous as some of Gaudí's other designs but it doesn't disappoint.

‍Explore the city with a Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour

Barcelona Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour - Tickets

One of the best ways to see the city and many of its landmarks is by using the Barcelona Bus Turistic (Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour). The bus routes run on a loop and take you past most of the landmarks in the city, so it's a great way of sightseeing.

With it being a hop-on hop-off service, it means you can either sit back and relax and enjoy a whole loop, or you can hop-off at the places you want to explore and then hop-on the next HOHO bus to move on to the next destination.

The routes start at 'Plaça de Catalunya' and take you past the landmarks including Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, the Gothic Quarter, Barceloneta Beach, Port Vell, the Picasso Museum as well as others. Most of the buses also have onboard Wi-Fi available as well, so you can stay connected.

La Rambla Boulevard - Free to explore.

La Rambla or Las Ramblas is another of Barcelona's famous streets. It's in the heart of the city and is a lively street that stretches for around 1.2 km. It starts near to the Port Vell (the cruise terminal) and runs up to Plaça de Catalunya.

There are several points of interest and attractions dotted along Las Ramblas including the Plaça de Catalunya which is the central square and full of shops as well as fountains and sculptures.

La Boqueria Market ('Mercat de la Boqueria') is a famous market which we suggest having a wander around. You can find food stalls selling fresh fish, vegetables and other goods and cafes with tapas dishes, as well as local goods from artisans. It's a great place to visit and enjoy the atmosphere.

Las Ramblas is also home to Barcelona's Erotica Museum, for those that wish to enjoy a bit of history on the subject and the Columbus Monument which offers incredible views of the surrounding area.

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Relax at Barcelona's Park Güell

Park Güell - Tickets

• Average Visit Time: 2 - 3 hours

Park Güell is Gaudí's magical fairy-tale dreamland park in Barcelona, and another UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park is split into two sections, the forest area, which is free to enter and then the famous 'Park Güell Monumental Zone', which you need a ticket for.

The Monumental Zone covers around 12 hectares and has plenty to see and do. It's home to the famous Dragon Staircase and El Drac and the Hypostyle Room and lots of paths to explore.

The land on which Park Güell was built was originally meant to be an exclusive housing estate. However, due to costs, only two properties were ever completed, and one of the properties, Antoni Gaudí himself went on to live in until the day he died, which is now the 'Gaudi House Museum'.

The land was eventually given to the city of Barcelona and Gaudí went on to create Park Güell which has grown to become one of the city's most popular attractions and places to relax.

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Visit Montjuïc Hill And Enjoy What It Has To Offer - Free to walk around.

Montjuïc Hill is one of Barcelona's tallest points, so it offers great views of the city. It has various attractions and things to see and do, including museums, Montjuïc Castle, beautiful gardens, the Olympic facilities and the famous Magin Fountain water show. The hill also has paths to hike or cycle and along the way you can see sculptures, gardens, picnic areas.

Popular Attractions on Montjuïc hill

Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya - Tickets

• Average Visit Time: 1.5 hours

The museum's collection of Romanesque Art is considered one of the best in the world. It also includes works by Gaudí, Casas, Titian (Tiziano), and Velázquez. The museum is also home to the biggest and oldest mural and panel paintings in Europe, as well as metalwork and sculptures in wood and stone.

Fundació Joan Miró -Tickets

• Average Visit Time: 1.5 hours

The museum is one of the city’s cultural landmarks and is dedicated to the life and work of Joan Miró, who was a Catalan artist. It combines modern architecture with one of the best collections of Miró’s work in the world and includes surrealist works, abstract paintings, sculptures and textiles.

‍Poble Espanyol - Tickets

• Average Visit Time: 2.5 hours

Poble Espanyol is a 49,000 m² open-air museum on Montjuïc Hill. It was created for the 1929 Barcelona Universal Exposition to show a taste of the whole of Spain in one location. The designers visited over 1500 towns and villages to get inspiration so they could show the different cultures and traditions of Spain.

It has stalls with artisans selling products they've created and offering workshops showing you how they make them, including glassware, leather, ceramics, jewellery and more.

There are cafes and town squares all representing the various areas of Spain and created with the town squares being the centre and life happening around them. You can also visit the Fran Daurel Museum, which is home to one of the best contemporary art collections in Barcelona.

Magic Fountain of Montjuïc - Free to Watch

At the foot of the hill is the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc. The shows are seasonal and subject to heat conditions (in periods of drought for example, they suspend the shows) but when operating, it's a beautiful choreographed display featuring dancing waer fountains with music and coloured lights.

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Visit The Gothic Quarter - Free to explore.

Barri Gòtic (The Gothic Quarter) Walking Tour Ticket

• Average Visit Time: 2 hours +

The Gothic Quarter is old Barcelona mixed with new. It has beautiful narrow mediaeval streets and hidden squares for you to explore.

It's a place to wander, relax and enjoy. What will you find around the next corner. Stop at a cafe and have a coffee or a glass of wine and a plate of tapas. Watch the world go by.

Head towards the centre of the Gothic Quarter and you will find the beautiful Barcelona Cathedral - La Seu, the start of Las Ramblas and the Via Sepulcral Roma (the Roman cemetery from 1st to 3rd century), and so much more, so there really is plenty to see and do in the Gothic Quarter.

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Visit Some of the City's Museums and Galleries

Barcelona Museum Pass - Articket

For art lovers how about our excellent 'Barcelona Museum Articket' Pass. The popular multi-museum entry pass gives you access to some of Barcelona's best museums on one easy and convenient pass and includes access to:

• The Museu Picasso of Barcelona
• Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (MNAC)
• Fundació Joan Miró
• The Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona
• Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona
• Fundació Antoni Tàpies.

It also includes skip the line entry to help you avoid the queues, which means you can enjoy more time inside.

Relax at Barceloneta Beach - Free to visit.

Barceloneta Beach is one of the popular beach stretches in the city. A lively beach with restaurants at the edge and the sea ready to help you cool off during the summer months.

It's the place to be seen during the summer, if you can find a spot to sit (it does get busy). From Barceloneta beach why not jump on a cable car ride and enjoy a bird's-eye view of the city using the 'Transbordador Aeri del Port' (Barceloneta Cable Car - click here for ticket options).

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Visit FC Barcelona Museum and Immersive Tour

‍Spotify Camp Nou FC Barcelona Immersive Tour Tickets

• Average Visit Time: 2 hours

FC Barcelona is one of the world's most famous football clubs and the Spotify Camp Nou FC Barcelona Museum is a firm favourite for football fans visiting Barcelona. Visit the museum, see the club's famous trophies, and learn about the history of one of the world's greatest football clubs, and see its future with digital viewpoints of the new stadium.

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Popular Day Trips From Barcelona

Montserrat Mountain and Monastery - Tickets

• Average Visit Time: Half Day or Full Day

The Montserrat Mountain Range is just outside Barcelona. Depending on how you approach the city, you can sometimes see it and recognise it due to its jagged peaks. The mountain range is home to the Benedictine monastery of Santa Maria de Montserrat and a natural park, which is a great day out offering a different side of Barcelona.

The basilica is home to the famous 'Black Madonna' sometimes referred to as 'The Virgin of Montserrat' or 'La Moreneta'. It's a wooden sculpture depicting the Virgin Mary and it attracts pilgrims from all over the world.

The statue sits behind a sheet of glass to protect it but one hand is accessible and holds a sphere that symbolises the world, and it's common for visitors to touch or kiss the hand.

The Montserrat Museum is also worth visiting as it has works by artists such as Caravaggio, Picasso and Dalí, showing pieces from the 13th century through to the 20th century.

The monastery is also famous for its boys' choir which is called the 'Escolania de Montserrat'. It is one of Europe's oldest boys' choirs and one of the most prestigious musical institutions in Spain. It has been associated with the abbey for centuries, with records dating back to at least the 14th century.

The choir is made up of boys aged between 9 and 14 who live and study at the monastery while receiving specialist musical training. The choir is internationally renowned for its performances and visitors can often hear them perform in the basilica where they sing traditional hymns including the famous Virolai, dedicated to the Virgin of Montserrat. Hearing them perform is one of the most memorable parts of a trip to Montserrat.

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Girona, Figueres & Dalí Museum Day Trip From Barcelona

• Average Visit Time: Full Day Tour

Enjoy a day trip to Girona, Figueres & the Dalí Museum on an air-conditioned coach from Barcelona.

Visit the beautiful town of Girona and wander around its quaint mediaeval streets with cobblestone paths and its historic architecture, before moving on to Figueres, which is the birthplace of Salvador Dalí and home to the Dalí Theatre-Museum where you can enjoy his art and other pieces including sculptures and more.

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