15 best things to do in Barcelona

Barcelona isn’t just Spain’s second city – it’s one of its most magnetic. From the shadowy lanes of the Barri Gòtic to the glassy storefronts of La Ribera, the city packs centuries of history and cutting-edge cool into walkable streets. Add beaches, world-famous food, and the surreal geometry of Catalan Modernisme, and you’ve got a destination that delivers on every level.

A trip to Spain without Barcelona feels incomplete – this is where bold architecture meets street life, where art is everywhere, and where you’re just as likely to stumble into a Roman ruin as a rooftop bar.

Here are the best things to do in Barcelona – from must-see icons to under-the-radar favorites that make the city impossible to forget.

1. Eat your way through La Boqueria market

Yes, it’s busy. Yes, it’s a tourist hotspot. But La Boqueria, just off Las Ramblas, is still one of the best places in the city to dive into the world of best Spanish food.

You’ll find vibrant stacks of fruit, aged cheeses, towers of olives, glistening fish and, if you're not squeamish, whole sheep’s heads on ice. Snack as you go – many stalls sell paper cones of jamón, fresh juices or grilled skewers right off the griddle. Show up early to beat the crowds and catch it at full buzz.

If you’ve already eaten, or want something grittier, head to Els Encants Vells (metro Encants or Glòries) – a chaotic open-air flea market selling everything from vintage vinyl to power drills.

2. Explore the modernist marvel of Hospital de Sant Pau

Just ten minutes’ walk from the Sagrada Família, the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau is one of the most underrated things to do in Barcelona. Designed in 1902 by Lluís Domènech i Montaner – a modernist master who also built the Palau de la Música – the complex looks more like a palace than a hospital.

Its pavilions are connected by underground tunnels and decorated with vibrant mosaics, swirling brickwork, stained glass, and sculpted tilework. It’s a quieter, more contemplative counterpoint to Gaudí’s creations – and just as impressive.

Originally built to treat patients, it’s now a cultural site and UNESCO World Heritage site, with exhibitions on its architecture and history. Entry is free on the first Sunday of every month, and the gardens are worth lingering in.

Add this to your Spain itinerary for a modernist highlight most visitors overlook.

3. Spot dragons and mosaics in Parc Güell

If you're exploring Spain with kids, Parc Güell is one of the best places in Barcelona to let their imagination run wild – and yours too. Designed by Antoni Gaudí and opened to the public in 1922, this fantasy-like park sprawls across the hills above Gràcia and mixes art, architecture and nature in Gaudí’s unmistakable style.

You’ll find gingerbread gatehouses, spiral towers, colourful tiled staircases and a giant mosaic lizard, now a selfie icon. The park’s most famous feature is the long ceramic bench – a glittering wave of multi-coloured tiles that snakes across a terrace with sweeping views over the city.

Entry to the Monumental Zone (where the mosaics and structures are) requires a ticket, but much of the surrounding parkland is free to wander. Bring water, sunscreen and time – the layout’s confusing, but worth the detour.

4. Hit the sand – Barcelona’s beaches deliver

A proper swim and sunbathe are among the easiest things to do in Barcelona, especially when the city heat kicks in. From the old fishing quarter to the Olympic port, the coastline is lined with urban beaches that are lively, accessible and sandy enough to count.

Barceloneta is the closest to the city center – just a 20-minute walk from the Gothic Quarter – and usually packed. For something calmer, head to Icària Beach, near Ciutadella-Vila Olímpica metro, with a better food scene and room to stretch out. If you don’t mind a bit of a hike (20 minutes from Poblenou), Mar Bella offers a wilder vibe, with windsurfing, a nudist section, and fewer tourists.

Barcelona’s seaside setting is one of the top reasons to visit Barcelona, and this stretch is one of the most accessible beaches in Spain – city convenience meets coastal chill.

5. Step inside La Seu – Barcelona’s Gothic heavyweight

Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter has no shortage of historic buildings, but La Seu – officially the Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia – is the one to see. Dating back to 1298 and built over a Romanesque church (and before that, a Roman temple), it’s one of the best places to visit in Spain for fans of dramatic architecture.

The cathedral’s facade bristles with spires and flying buttresses, while the cavernous interior is dark, ornate and steeped in legend. Beneath the high altar lie the remains of Santa Eulalia, a teenage martyr and one of the city’s patron saints. The cloister is quieter – home to white geese said to symbolize her purity.

General admission hours are free, though access to the rooftop and some chapels comes with a fee. Visit early or late to dodge the crowds and hear the bells echo through the Gothic quarter.

6. House-hop through Barcelona’s modernist masterpieces

You don’t need a ticket to appreciate Barcelona’s modernisme – just look up. While most of the famous houses charge for interior visits, their facades alone are worth the trip. A DIY walking tour is one of the easiest and most rewarding things to do in Spain if you’re into art, architecture or just surreal city streets.

Start with Casa Batlló and Casa Amatller, side by side on Passeig de Gràcia. Then wander up to La Pedrera (Casa Milà) with its curving balconies and chimneys like helmeted warriors. Add Casa Lleó Morera, and if you want more, check out Casa Vicens in Gràcia – one of Gaudí’s early works.

Of course, no modernist stroll is complete without gawking at the Sagrada Família. You’ll need a ticket to go inside, but the towering exterior is free, photogenic and unforgettable.

7. Get weird at the Frederic Marès Museum

If you’re into oddball collections, this under-the-radar spot near the cathedral is one of the more unusual things to do in Barcelona. Sculptor Frederic Marès wasn’t just prolific with a chisel – he was also a compulsive collector, hoarding everything from crucifixes to fans, keys, pipes, and pocket watches.

His former home is now a museum, and it’s packed to the rafters with religious art, household objects, and an entire floor of everyday items from 19th-century bourgeois life. There’s a strange intimacy to it all – as if you’re wandering through the mind of someone who couldn’t let go of anything.

Admission is free on the first Sunday of each month, and it’s rarely crowded. Even if ecclesiastical sculpture isn’t your thing, the sheer volume and variety of stuff makes it worth a wander.

8. Watch the Magic Fountain light up Montjuïc

By day, the Font Màgica in Montjuïc barely gets a second glance – just a big basin surrounded by grand buildings and landscaped gardens. But come nightfall on show days, it transforms into one of the most crowd-pleasing spectacles in the city.

Waves of water shoot into the air, lit up in rainbow colors and timed to a booming soundtrack that veers between classical hits and pure cheese. It’s dramatic, it’s loud, and best of all – it’s free.

The show runs on select evenings (usually weekends), so check the schedule ahead of time. It gets busy, especially in summer, but the vibe is relaxed and family-friendly. Bring a drink, grab a spot on the steps, and get ready for some over-the-top entertainment. It might be touristy, but it still delivers.

9. Get lost in El Raval’s backstreets

Tucked behind La Rambla, El Raval is one of Barcelona’s most compelling – and contradictory – neighborhoods. Gritty, multicultural, artistic and constantly evolving, it’s where skateparks and halal butchers sit next to cutting-edge galleries and vegan cafés.

There’s no set route here – just wander. You might stumble across the giant Botero cat, grab a café con leche at a Sri Lankan-run bar, or catch a dance rehearsal spilling out into the street. MACBA, the city’s contemporary art museum, anchors the area and draws a mix of skaters, students and creative types.

El Raval isn’t polished, but it’s alive – and for many, that makes it one of the best areas to stay in Barcelona if you want character over comfort. You’ll also find some of the best tapas bars in Barcelona hidden in its narrow lanes – less curated, more real.

10. Catch the sunset from the Bunkers del Carmel

For a sweeping, no-filter view of the city, few spots beat the Bunkers del Carmel. Originally built as anti-aircraft defences during the Spanish Civil War, this hilltop perch has become a favorite hangout for locals – especially at golden hour.

It’s a bit of a climb (or a short bus ride followed by a 10-minute walk), but once you’re up there, you get a full 360° panorama: the Sagrada Família rising above the rooftops, the beach off to one side, the mountains behind.

There’s no entry fee, no fences, and no frills – just crumbling concrete, good company and the best view in Barcelona. Bring snacks, a jacket, and something to drink. Sunset’s the headline act, but sunrise is just as good if you want the place to yourself.

11. Browse street art and zines at La Central del Raval

Bookstores aren’t usually bucket-list material, but La Central del Raval earns its spot. Housed in a former chapel just steps from MACBA, this indie bookshop is packed with art books, edgy fiction, radical politics, and one of the best zine collections in the city.

There’s a street-art-covered courtyard out back where you can sit and read, and the building itself is worth a wander – it’s part bookshop, part cultural refuge. You don’t need to buy anything to enjoy it, though you might walk out with a handmade comic or a Catalan poetry pamphlet.

Come for the books, stay for the vibe. And if you’re into local publishing, this is where you’ll see it happening.

12. People-watch in Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia

Skip the tourist-thronged Plaça Reial and head up to Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia, the beating heart of the Gràcia neighborhood. With its clocktower centerpiece, shady trees, and café terraces, this square feels more like a village plaza than part of a big city.

It’s where locals actually hang out – kids kicking footballs, old men playing dominoes, and friends nursing vermouths under parasols. Come at sunset and the whole place hums with that effortless, lived-in energy that Barcelona does so well.

Grab a bench and stay a while – no entrance fee, no itinerary, just real city life unfolding in front of you. If you're here in August, this is also a main venue during the Festa Major de Gràcia, one of the city’s wildest street festivals.

13. Tour the Sagrada Família – Gaudí’s unfinished masterpiece

You can’t come to Barcelona and skip the Sagrada Família – even if you think you’ve seen enough churches for a lifetime. Gaudí’s most iconic work is still under construction (since 1882), but inside it’s otherworldly: soaring white columns, kaleidoscopic stained glass, and architectural details that feel more sci-fi than sacred.

Book your ticket in advance – ideally with access to one of the towers – and go early or late to dodge peak crowds. It’s not cheap, but it funds the ongoing build and is one of the most unforgettable things to do in Barcelona.

14. Hear live music at Palau de la Música Catalana

Not just a concert hall – this is one of the most beautiful buildings in Barcelona. The Palau de la Música Catalana, designed by Domènech i Montaner in 1908, is a modernist marvel of stained glass, tilework and carved stone. It looks like Gaudí meets a Fabergé egg.

You can tour it during the day, but the real magic happens at night, when the chandeliers glow and the acoustics come alive. Classical, flamenco, jazz – check the calendar and pick something.

Even if you’re not a music buff, this is an experience that stays with you. And it’s a side of Catalan culture most visitors miss.

15. Catch a match at Spotify Camp Nou

Whether you're a football fanatic or just in it for the atmosphere, watching FC Barcelona play at home is one of the most electric things to do in Barcelona. Spotify Camp Nou – Europe’s biggest stadium – is being redeveloped, but games continue at the Olympic Stadium until its return.

Barça fans are fiercely loyal, and when the crowd starts chanting, you feel it in your bones. Even league games against mid-table teams sell out fast, so book ahead. If you can’t catch a match, the Barça Immersive Tour offers a deep dive into club history, with trophies, kits and a VR stadium walk.

Love it or hate it, Barça is part of the city’s soul – loud, proud and larger than life.