Things to do in Catalonia

Activities, attractions and tours

Visit Catalonia

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Where to stay

Catalonia travel guide

Arenas de Barcelona featuring a monument, night scenes and a sunset

Barceloneta Beach showing general coastal views, a beach and a skyscraper

National Art Museum of Catalonia which includes interior views and art

Sagrada Familia featuring heritage architecture, a city and skyline

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Top places to visit

1. Sagrada Familia

The Sagrada Familia is Antoni Gaudí’s legacy to the world. This masterpiece of imagination and inspiration was so ambitious that the building was never completed during the architect’s lifetime and is still being worked on to this day.

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Sagrada Familia showing religious elements, a church or cathedral and heritage architecture

2. La Rambla

Las Ramblas pulsates with life, from early morning when the locals come out to buy fresh flowers and breakfast pastries, until the last of the late-night party animals head for home in the wee small hours.

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Las Ramblas featuring street scenes and a city as well as an individual male

3. PortAventura World

Roller coasters, rides, shows and a water park make PortAventura World theme park one of Europe’s most exciting vacation destinations. It’s just outside Salou in the hills of Catalonia. Get your heart pumping on thrill rides or enjoy a relaxing day amid the attractions, which are designed for visitors of all ages. Spend time on Sesame Street or go on the global tour through Mexico, the Wild West, China, Polynesia and the Mediterranean.

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4. Plaça de Catalunya

Plaça de Catalunya marks the heart of Barcelona’s city center. Surrounded by shops and peppered with monuments, this grand square is where the Ciutat Vella (Old City) and the modern 19th-century district of L’Eixample converge. King Alfonso XII unveiled the square in 1927 on the site of the former gates to the old city walls.

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Plaza de Catalunya in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, Europe

5. Park Güell

The site of Park Güell in the north of Barcelona was originally earmarked for an up-market residential development by Count Eusebi Güell, Gaudí’s patron. The hillside location was chosen for its fresh air and beautiful views, but in the end only two houses were built and Gaudí moved into one of them. His designs for the 15-hectare park reflect his quirky sense of humour and aversion to straight lines. Construction took place between 1900 and 1914 and the park is now an essential stop-off on the Gaudí trail and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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BARCELONA, SPAIN - JULY 19: Ceramic mosaic Park Guell on July 19, 2013 in Barcelona, Spain. Park Guell is the famous architectural town art designed by Antoni Gaudi and built in the years 1900 to 1914

6. Passeig de Gràcia

It’s hard to imagine, standing on the Passeig de Gràcia, that less than 200 years ago it was a cart track connecting Barcelona and the rural town of Gràcia. By the early 20th century the sidewalks became promenades for Spain’s most elite families. That atmosphere still pervades the space, as tourists and chic locals pass buildings designed and built by some of the superstars of Catalan Modernism. Shop in the upscale boutiques or just go in search of magnificent homes.

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Passeig de Gràcia which includes street scenes and a city as well as a small group of people

7. Barcelona Cathedral

Barcelona’s atmospheric Gothic Quarter contains its fair share of awe-inspiring buildings, but perhaps the most impressive of all is the striking cathedral, where you can visit the remains of Saint Eulalia, the city’s patron saint.

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Barcelona Cathedral showing a square or plaza, heritage architecture and a church or cathedral

8. Casa Batllo

There’s no mistaking the hand of Gaudí in Casa Batlló’s striking façade. The colourful mosaics and curved lines so typical of Barcelona’s famous architect give the game away as soon as you approach this family home in Eixample, the north of the city centre. It is one of two private homes designed by Gaudí which are now open to the public.

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Casa Batllo featuring heritage architecture and a city

What to do in Catalonia

Popular places to visit

Sagrada Familia

Buildings don’t come more iconic than this extraordinary basilica which has become the symbol of Barcelona worldwide.

La Rambla

Take a leisurely promenade along Las Ramblas to experience Barcelona life in all its colourful intensity.

PortAventura World

A worldwide adventure awaits you in this theme park, one of Europe’s best and largest. It’s just a 90-minute drive from Barcelona.

Aerial view over historical city center of Barcelona Spain with La Rambla main street, square Portal de la pau, Port Vell marina and Columbus Monument after sunset.

Port de Barcelona

Explore the waterfront in Barcelona with a trip to Port de Barcelona. Discover the acclaimed theatre scene and stunning cathedral in this vibrant area.

Placa de Catalunya featuring heritage architecture, a city and a square or plaza

Plaça de Catalunya

This popular Barcelona meeting point connects the old city with the new and is famous for its shopping, monuments and festival celebrations.

Park Güell

A surprise awaits you at every turn in this fantasmagorical park with fabulous views over the city.

Camp Nou

Catch an event at Camp Nou during your trip to Barcelona. Discover the area's fascinating museums and notable monuments.

Passeig de Gràcia

One of Spain’s most expensive streets has masterworks by Gaudí, Falqués and more, interspersed with designer boutiques and rather opulent cafés.

Barcelona Cathedral

This beautiful building in the heart of the Gothic Quarter dates back to the 13th century.

Areas of Catalonia

Basilica de Santa Maria del Mar showing a church or cathedral and heritage architecture

Downtown Barcelona

Known for its fascinating museums, stunning cathedral and popular shops, there's plenty to explore in Downtown Barcelona. Top attractions like La Rambla and Plaça de Catalunya are major draws. Catch the metro at Liceu Station or Jaume I Station to see more of the city.

Gothic Quarter

4.5/5(1,039 area reviews)

If you love exploring medieval streets, watching street artists and eating tapas along shared tables in tiny bars, head straight for the Barri Gòtic of Barcelona.

Eixample

4.5/5(1,463 area reviews)

This upscale part of Barcelona charms with grand buildings, modernist architecture, fine dining, and trendy bars and luxury shops.

Aerial view over the rooftops of the Eixample district in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Shutterstock ID 733305124; Purchase Order: -

Dreta de l'Eixample

Known for its charming cafes and popular shops, there's plenty to explore in Dreta de l'Eixample. Check out top attractions like La Rambla and Passeig de Gràcia, and jump on the metro at Girona Station or Passeig de Gracia Station to see more of the city.

Boqueria Market featuring street scenes as well as a large group of people

El Raval

4/5(558 area reviews)

Known for its fantastic nightlife and popular shops, there's plenty to explore in El Raval. Check out top attractions like La Rambla and Port de Barcelona, and jump on the metro at Parc de Montjuic Station or Paral-lel Station to see more of the city.

La Sagrada Familia

Walk in Gaudí’s footsteps by visiting his breathtaking temple, an impressive labor of love that started in the late 19th century and is still ongoing today.

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