I’ve lived in Barcelona for 24 years, and the question I get asked most is always the same: what should I do in Barcelona? This is my long answer. 30 ideas, grouped by what you’re after, each linked to the guide where I cover it with prices and opening hours.
The basics
Book ahead the Sagrada Família and Park Güell, which sell timed tickets
Free many museums on the first Sunday of the month
For today see what to do today in Barcelona
Coming soon? Start with a weekend in Barcelona
If you’re after plans for a specific date, check what to do today in Barcelona, which I update every week. Here are the ideas that work all year round.
The Barcelona essentials
- The Sagrada Família. Since June 2026, with the 172.5-metre Tower of Jesus Christ, it’s the tallest church in the world. Tickets are online only, from €26. Go first thing.
- Park Güell. The monumental zone is sold in time slots from 9.30 to 19.30, at €18. Put it on a different day from the Sagrada Família.
- The Gothic Quarter, knowing what you’re looking at. Much of the “medieval” quarter was rebuilt between 1908 and 1928. More in Barcelona facts.
- The Eixample on foot. Cerdà’s grid, the cut-off corners and Passeig de Gràcia are free and queue-free.
- Underground Barcelona. The Roman city under Plaça del Rei and the civil war shelters, in underground Barcelona.
If you’re visiting, I have the order that works in a weekend in Barcelona and in Barcelona in 3 days.
Free things to do in Barcelona
- Free museums. On the first Sunday of every month many are free all day, such as MNAC or the Picasso Museum, and MACBA is free on Saturdays from 4 to 8 pm. Every free slot is in free museums in Barcelona.
- The Gothic hall of the Biblioteca de Catalunya. From its lobby at carrer de l’Hospital 56 you can see the old hospital’s hall for free.
- The Born Centre de Cultura i Memòria. You walk above the 1714 neighbourhood without paying.
- The Bunkers del Carmel. The best free viewpoint in the city, at 262 metres. Watch the closing times, which I cover in sunset viewpoints.
- A castellers’ rehearsal. Barcelona has eight human-tower teams and their rehearsals are open and free on weekdays. When and where, in where to see castells.
Where to eat and drink in Barcelona
- Vermouth in a neighbourhood bodega. Vermouth on tap for around €2 and homemade tapas for €3 to €6. My favourites are in neighbourhood bodegas.
- A set lunch. The average in Barcelona is around €15.10, but in Sants, Gràcia or the Clot you can still find them for €12. Where, in eating cheap in Barcelona.
- A Spanish omelette. From Flash Flash, the tortilla bar from 1970, to the runny Betanzos style in the Raval. The five best are in the best tortilla in Barcelona.
- Breakfast at a market bar. My favourite market is Sant Antoni, and Santa Caterina is both beautiful and the real thing. All of them, in the best markets in Barcelona.
- A bowl of ramen. Ramen-Ya Hiro opened in 2012 and was the city’s first. The rest, in the best ramen in Barcelona.
- Artisan ice cream. With the pistachio trick to avoid the industrial stuff, in the best ice cream in Barcelona.
- The new restaurants. This season’s openings, in new restaurants in Barcelona. And for the full list, the best restaurants in Barcelona, sorted by neighbourhood.
The best views of Barcelona
- A free rooftop. The 360° at the Barceló Raval, at Rambla del Raval 17, charges no entry. This one and the rest, in rooftop terraces.
- Sunset on Montjuïc. The steps of MNAC have the whole city in front of them.
- A full evening of cinema, dinner and drinks. Five walkable neighbourhood routes, in Barcelona evening plans.
Plans with kids and for rainy days
- Free museums for kids. Under-16s get in free at many museums, and Tibidabo charges by height, not age. Everything is in Barcelona with kids.
- Original-language cinema for €4. The Filmoteca de Catalunya, on plaça de Salvador Seguí in the Raval. More ideas in Barcelona when it rains.
Neighbourhoods to get lost in
- Gràcia. Squares, terraces and small shops. It’s the neighbourhood I enjoy most on my own, as I explain in enjoying Barcelona solo.
- Sant Antoni. For a market lunch.
- Poble-sec. For dinner, even on your own.
- Barceloneta. The seafront walk to Port Olímpic takes about twenty minutes.
Day trips from Barcelona
- Sitges. About 35 minutes by train and covered by the T-Casual. This and other villages, in villages near Barcelona.
- Montserrat. The choir sings at 1 pm and you need to book. How to get up there, in Montserrat from Barcelona.
- Andorra. About three hours away, with hotels, restaurants and shopping, in my Andorra trip.
Seasonal plans
- What’s on depending on the season. In autumn, the Castanyada; in winter, Christmas in Barcelona, European Capital of Christmas in 2026. To pick when to come, the best time to visit Barcelona.
Every place I recommend is on the Mapa Inspira, and if you’re coming from abroad, choose an area with where to stay by neighbourhood.
Missing a plan? Message me on Instagram @barcelonainspira and I’ll add it.
Frequently asked questions
What to do in Barcelona on a first visit
Book the Sagrada Família and Park Güell, which sell timed tickets, and spend the rest of your time walking the Gothic Quarter, the Born and the Eixample, which are free. If you have a weekend, I have a Saturday and Sunday plan; if you have three days, a longer one.
What to do for free in Barcelona
On the first Sunday of every month many museums are free all day, and MACBA is free on Saturdays from 4 to 8 pm. The lobby of the Biblioteca de Catalunya, the Born Centre de Cultura i Memòria, the Bunkers del Carmel and the castellers’ weekday rehearsals are free too.
What to do in Barcelona today
I keep an up-to-date list of what’s on today and over the next few days, with dated plans, exhibitions and fairs worth your time, on my what to do today in Barcelona page.
What to do in Barcelona when it rains
The Filmoteca de Catalunya, in the Raval, shows original-language films for 4 euros, and markets and museums are the best shelter. Rain here usually lasts a couple of hours, so it pays to have an indoor plan nearby.
What to do in Barcelona with kids
Under-16s get in free at many of the city’s museums, and Tibidabo charges by height rather than age. I have a guide to what’s free and what’s really worth paying for.
