You don’t want to miss these 10 fun things to do in Barcelona!
Conspicuous in its vibrancy and proud of its quirks, Barcelona is the Spanish city with an infectious buzz. From a secret bunker with sweeping views over the metropolis to the ultimate spots to sample Catalan’s most delicacies, here is a list of 10 fun things you simply MUST tick off your Barcelona bucket list!
10 Fun Things to Do in Barcelona: Barcelona Bucketlist
1. Feast on Paella, Tapas, and Sangria
It is traditional in Spain to eat a big meal at lunchtime and a smaller meal for dinner, so make sure you’ve worked up an appetite by midday. In Barcelona, you’ll find a plethora of restaurants offering a scrumptious selection of share plates, referred to as tapas, alongside pans of steaming hot Paella. Of course, to make things fun, all this food must be washed down with a generous jug of Sangria, the national drink of Spain. Check here for a dedicated tapas tour!
2. Marvel at Gaudi’s architectural genius
If anyone is responsible for shaping the aesthetic of Barcelona, it’s Spain’s most revered architect, Antoni Gaudi. From the wondrous La Sagrada Familia, a cathedral that has been under construction since 1882, to Park Guell’s gingerbread-like buildings, every Gaudi piece looks like it was conceptualized for a fairytale. Make sure you take time to explore the all the must-see Gaudi sites during your visit!
For tours around Barcelona of Gaudi’s architecture, check these:
- Park Guell Skip the Line Guided Tour
- Casa Batlló Fast-Track Early Bird Entry
- The Best of Gaudi Tour
- Private Gaudi Bike Tour with a Local
- Park Guell Photoshoot Tour
- Skip the Line Sagrada Familia and Park Guell Tour
- Barcelona Instagram Tour
3. Have a picnic at the bunker with the best views over Barcelona
If you want to find the best panoramic views over Barcelona, head up to the Bunker del Carmel. This idyllic spot makes for a great place to bring a picnic and watch the sun setting over the Barcelona sprawl. To get here, take metro line L4 (yellow) to station Alfons X. From Alfons X, take exit Ronda de Guinardo, cross the street and turn left. From here, you have to walk up a hill for about 25-30 minutes. I promise you, the view is worth it!
4. Visit Espit Chupitos Bar
Chupitos means ‘shots’ in Spanish, so you can probably take a stab at what this bar has on offer. With over 150 different types of shots on the menu, you can expect a little more than tequila with lime and salt. It’s a bit of a lucky dip when making your selection, but expect each one to be somewhat of a fun surprise. My personal favorite was when the bartender lit the bar on fire, and handed us all marshmallows. We proceeded to toast the marshmallows, dip them into our shot, eat the gooey goodness and then finally, consume the alcohol.
5. Get lost in the Gothic Quarter
If there ever was an ideal place to get lost, the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona would be it. Throw aside all plans and spend a few hours simply meandering through the endless maze of intriguing alleyways, quaint shopfronts, hip bars, and Gothic architecture. I spent hours wandering through these streets and never ran out of things to photograph. If you want to make your explorations of the area even more interesting… You can take part in a Gothic Quarter Cava Tasting (Spain’s version of champagne), led by a Michelin Star Sommelier!
For more ways to explore the Gothic Quarter:
- Gothic Quarter and Palau Guell Tour
- Bike Tour of the Gothic Quarter, Gaudi, and the Olympic Village
- Gothic Quarter and Chocolate Tasting
- Picasso and Gothic Quarter Walking Tour
- Myths and Legends of the Gothic Quarter
- Private 2-Hour Tour
- Gothic Quarter Walking Tour
6. Go inside La Sagrada Familia
On my first visit to Barcelona I never actually made it inside La Sagrada Familia and I regretted it ever since. I made it a priority on my second visit to Barcelona and I am so glad I did! If you are under the impression that all cathedrals look the same, get ready to have your mind blown. I would recommend booking your tickets in advance so you don’t have to cue for hours or miss out altogether!
7. Go on a food tour of Barcelona
When visiting a new city, one of the easiest ways to get an authentic taste of its culture and cuisine is by going on a local food tour. The Food Lovers Company, for example, offer small group tours focused on showing you real Spanish and Catalan culinary culture. On the tour, locals and culinary experts, Nuria and Margherita show you around Old Town on a four-hour drinking and eating session. Just make sure you schedule time for a serious siesta once you’re finished!
For some more food tour ideas:
- Tapas and Flamenco Experience
- Paella Cooking Experience with Boqueria Market Tour
- Tapas and Wine Walking Tour
- Private Food Tour with 10 Tastings
- Paella Cooking Workshop with Chef
- Evening Tapas Walking Tour
- Tapas Like a Local
8. Stroll along Barcelona Beach
In the height of summer, Barcelona beach is teeming with locals and tourists alike. Here, you can sunbathe (and if you’re brave, join the locals and go topless!), cool down in the waters or simply sit at a beachfront bar imbibing Mojitos. I personally found the beach WAY too crowded during the middle of the day, but I did enjoy strolling along the sand at sunset before retreating to one of the restaurants along the water for a steaming hot bowl of Paella.
9. Try everything from La Boqueria Markets
La Boqueria is Barcelona’s most famous food market, brimming with an irresistible throng of food stalls that sell just about everything under the sun. On entering, you’ll find a rainbow array of smoothies and fresh fruit, delectable crepes brimming with fillings and exotic candies. Walk in a little further to discover food stalls offering a place to sit and feast on local delicacies.
10. Watch the magic fountain show
First spouting all the way back in 1929, this magnificent display of colour, light, sound and water is an absolute must-see when you are in Barcelona! The show occurs outside of the National Museum of Art Cataluyna at different times depending on the season, so I would recommend checking on the Barcelona Tourism website before planning to go.
Barcelona Bucketlist: Travel Tips
Getting to Barcelona
If you are planning to fly to Barcelona, I would recommend using Skyscanner to book your flights. It’s free to use and doesn’t have any hidden fees like other flight search engines, and works by comparing prices across every airline to ensure you get the best deal possible. Plus, You can download the free Skyscanner App on iOS or Android, or use the Skyscanner flight search engine to find cheap flights to Barcelona.
How to Get Around Barcelona
Barcelona is a fairly straight-forward city to navigate so getting around is pretty easy. In my opinion, walking is always the best way to get from place to place as it allows you to see the most. The city is also very bike-friendly and has a great public transport network of metros and buses. If you are going to use public transport during your visit, your best option is to pre-purchase a transport pass for the duration of your time in the city.
Where to Stay in Barcelona
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Still to this day, the best hostel I’ve ever stayed at is the Casa Gracia. The design of the place is super cool and you’ll literally pay hostel prices for hotel standards. Plus, they will throw in an amazing breakfast and a bunch of fun, social activities! Book a stay now or check here to compare prices & availability
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Barcelona has a lot of great options on Airbnb. By using Airbnb, you can often score yourself a beautiful, self-contained apartment for a fraction of what you’d pay for a hotel. If you haven’t yet signed up to Airbnb, you can sign up here and get $45 credit towards your first stay!
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If you want to treat yourself, check out the exquisite W Hotel Barcelona. Located right on the Barcelona beachfront, you can hardly pick a room with a bad view at this place! Book a stay now or check here to compare prices & availability
Have you been to Barcelona? Got something fun to add to this bucket list? Let me know in the comments below!
For more Spanish Bucketlist travel:
- A Luxurious Roadtrip Through Southern Spain: PHOTO DIARY
- How to Visit Cáceres, Spain in 48 Hours
- What it was like Learning Spanish in Salamanca
My General Travel & Photo Tips:
Travel Insurance
I highly recommend getting travel insurance before ANY international trip. World Nomad’s offer the most flexible worldwide cover that I have come across, and you can purchase a policy online, even if your trip has already commenced. If their prices are too high for you, you can also check out SafetyWings, though SW doesn’t cover tech.
Booking Flights
To book flights, I always use flight search engine, Skyscanner. I find it the easiest way to compare flight prices across airlines and get the best deals. Skyscanner also have a free App (available on iOS or Android) which is great for booking flights on the go.
Photography Gear
Here is a list of the photography gear that I always travel with:
- Canon 6D Mark II
- Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 ii
- GoPro Hero Black 7
- DJI Mavic Pro
- ONA Camps Bay Backpack
- ONA Bowery Bag
Photo Editing
I use Lightroom and Photoshop to edit all my photos. Both these programs are included in the Adobe Creative Cloud subscription (which you can get a free 30-day of here).
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