7 Must-See and Best Things To Do In Barcelona

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7 Must-See and Best Things To Do In Barcelona

Damian Camargo
November 7, 2020

Before heading to the must-see in Barcelona, let´s have a quick overview of its history. Following its magnificent transformation and opening to the Mediterranean Sea at the 1992 Olympic Games, Barcelona has become one of the most visited cities in Europe and the world. In addition to being an ideal city to live in, since you can enjoy the beach, the mountains and a very comfortable climate, it is also one of the favorite cities for tourists from all over the world. One of its main attractions, apart from its extensive offer of cultural activities and leisure, are the impressive architectural jewels of modernism such as La Sagrada Familia, Park Güell and Casa Batlló, built by the prominent architect Antonio Gaudí.

In addition to visiting all these buildings, it is also worth getting lost in other must-see in Barcelona as its most emblematic neighborhoods such as Gothic, Barceloneta, Born or the bohemian Gracia and ending the routes at one of its spectacular viewpoints.
Barcelona is a big but super communicated city. It has a great public transport system, which is also not as expensive as in other cities. Basically, we can enjoy a sunrise in the hills and in a matter of a few minutes be bathing in the sea or having a wonderful meal at the beautiful Mercat de la Boquería.

These are the 7 must-see in Barcelona:

1. Sagrada Familia

The first must-see in Barcelona is visiting the Sagrada Familia, the unfinished masterpiece of the brilliant architect Gaudí, is probably the first thing you need to do in Barcelona.

Antonio Gaudí, the greatest exponent of Catalan modernism, began the construction of this fabulous church in 1883, leaving all the plans at his death in 1926 so that future architects could complete the work. Both inside and out, the Sagrada Familia takes your breath away. It is a totally different church from all the others, Gaudí brought together all his experience and new techniques, creating a naturalistic style, where all its elements flow in complete harmony.

Don’t be scared if you look up and see some workers in the domes. The work is expected to be completed in 2026. Once completed it will become the tallest Christian church in the world, so as you can imagine, we are already looking forward to seeing it in its full splendor.

To enter the Sagrada Familia it must be taken into account that it is one of the most visited monuments in Europe, so be prepared for long lines and a limited number of tickets, which sell out quickly. The best thing is to get the ticket online here.

2. Gothic Quarter

Nestled in the heart of the city of Barcelona, the Gothic Quarter is one of the most beautiful areas of Barcelona, since it is the medieval nucleus from which the city expanded. It keeps the best secrets and the best legends of the old Barcelona. Do not hesitate to hire a free walking tour to make your visit a unique and enriching tour.

If you want to fully enjoy the Gothic Quarter you cannot miss Plaza del Rey, the beautiful Cathedral of Barcelona, Plaza Real, Calle del Bisbe, Plaza Sant Jaume and Portal de L’Angel street, one of the most visited arteries of the city.

This is perhaps the ideal area of Barcelona if you want to lose yourself in the city without haste and without a marked destination.

3. Park Guell

Park Güell, declared a World Heritage Site, is one of the most beautiful parks in the world and one of Barcelona essentials.

This giant park built by Antonio Gaudi surprises all visitors with its amazing sculptures and fountains inspired by the undulating forms of nature, such as animals, oceans or mountains. Let yourself be carried away by the path and nature, which as our beloved Gaudí said, is wise. Arrive at the Virolai lookout, pass the soccer field and go up the hill for a beautiful and lonely view of the entire city.

One piece of advice your legs will thank me for: get to Lesseps station and walk along Avinguda Travessera de Dalt until you find the escalators. That will save a lot of efforts.

Entrance to the park is generally free, but to enter the monumental area, the space where art works and Gaudí stories are found, you must get a ticket.

4. La Boquería

This is the best-known market in the city. Here we can find the ideal place to taste typical Catalan dishes and fresh products while we delight ourselves with a perfect decoration full of color.

It houses more than 300 stalls inside and is deliciously prepared to enchant all who visit it.

This is definitely a must-see in Barcelona if you are a food lover.

5. The Bunkers

Another must-see in Barcelona! The ideal place to have a break from the noise, get a little exercise and get the best panoramic view of the city. Quite simply, this is a unique and spectacular place. To get there, you have to walk up for about 30 minutes, but it is well worth it. The heartbreaking views that you will find in this beautiful place will never be forgotten.

My advice: go up in the afternoon to enjoy one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world.

6. Casa Batlló

Most people´s favorite building to visit in Barcelona is Casa Batlló, a World Heritage Site and one of Gaudí’s best works in Barcelona. Located on the elegant Paseo de Gracia, this Catalan modernism gem impresses at first sight with its spectacular facade inspired by the organic forms of nature. It is the ideal place to fully understand Gaudi´s work and what he meant for the city.

In addition to its marvelous exterior, we advise you to enjoy an interior full of magic and fantasy thanks to its wavy shapes, the patio of lights and the roof terrace full of surprising fireplaces.

I advise buying tickets online well in advance. They can be obtained here.
At the exit, you can take a walk along Paseo de Gracia, where you will find shops of the best-known clothing brands in the world.

7. Camp Nou

Getting to know the mythical stadium of the Futbol Club Barcelona is an unmissable walk in the city, whether or not you are a football fan. If you are, then don’t hesitate to visit the museum!

Tip for Barsa fans: you can sign up in advance on the club page to be notified when tickets go out. I did so and I got to see Messi for only 40 euros!

If you have more days there are more must-see in Barcelona, of course. A beautiful plan would also be to stroll along La Rambla and end up in La Barceloneta, the most famous beach in the city.

By the way, make sure you taste the Mediterranean Sea´s water, it brings luck!

Article Tags: barcelona, Spain, travel, trip

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