Visit Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona travel guide since 1996. Expertise and tips for exploring Barcelona city.

Visit Barcelona

Your holiday in Barcelona

Welcome to our travel guide dedicated to Barcelona, the vibrant capital of Catalonia! It's the country's second-largest city in terms of population (1.7 million in January 2024) and number one in terms of visitors (7.8 million in 2023). There's no shortage of attractions for lovers of art, architecture, contemporary culture, gastronomy, Mediterranean traditions or simply partying.

If you have any questions or comments, please don't hesitate to contact our experts, who will be happy to answer them!

What to visit in Barcelona?

Among the highlights of your stay in Barcelona are monuments such as the Sagrada Família, Park Güell and Casa Milà, Gaudí's marvellous modernist jewels on UNESCO's World Heritage List. The Picasso Museum, the Joan Miró Foundation and the Antoni-Tàpies Foundation are also important museums for understanding the spirit of this city. For each of these monuments, you'll find the best-value admission tickets.

Sagrada Família

Sagrada Família

The Sagrada Família is Barcelona's most emblematic monument. Designed by the brilliant modernist architect Antoni Gaudí, the basilica will be completed in 2026.

Parc Güell

Park Güell

The garden with the dragon and the undulating mosaic bench. Park Güell, where Antoni Gaudí's boundless imagination transformed nature into a vibrant, colorful work of art.

Casa Batlló

Casa Batlló

Visit Casa Batlló, the most dreamlike of Antoni Gaudí's houses, distinguished by its polychrome facade decorated with ceramics and glass, and its undulating roof symbolising Saint George slaying the dragon.

Gothic Quarter

Gothic Quarter

A stroll through Barcelona's Gothic Quarter plunges you into the city's medieval history, as you wander through a labyrinth of picturesque alleyways.

Picasso Museum

Picasso Museum

With over 4,200 works, the Picasso Museum in Barcelona boasts the most important collection of Picasso's drawings, paintings and sculptures, from his earliest days to his blue period.

Casa Milà

Casa Milà

Also known as La Pedrera (the stone quarry). This other masterpiece by Antoni Gaudí is the quintessence of Catalan modernism, and its roof terrace will leave you breathless.

Boqueria Market

Boqueria market

A must-see on the Rambla, the Boqueria Market is the city's most famous and oldest food market. If you want to do your shopping or have lunch...

Camp Nou

Camp Nou

Barcelona's stadium!  You can visit the Camp Nou and its museum all year round, despite the current renovation work. Families come here to see the team of all Catalans, FC Barcelona!

What’s hot in Barcelona!

Visiting Barcelona takes several days. Ideally, you should stay at least 4 days, but a weekend is a good start. Here are some ideas on what to do in Barcelona in 1, 2, 3 or 4 days.
Barcelona is a great place for shopping, with typical Spanish stores such as Zara, El Corte Inglés, Custo Barcelona and Desigual, but also some very imaginative young designers.
Barcelona's signature dish is certainly "pa amb tomàquet", the tomato bread eaten at every meal. In the section on where to eat in Barcelona, we give you the best addresses for tapas, paella and fish restaurants. With an emphasis on the increasingly popular slow food restaurants.
Barcelona is also a city of nightlife, so we'll tell you where to go out in Barcelona, including our favorite bars, cocktail bars, vermuterias, the best rooftops and clubs like Opium and Razzmatazz, to name but two.
Barcelona is a relatively expensive city, with an average meal costing around €30 and a hotel €80, with big variations - up and down - that we explain in budget.

Keep up to date with the latest places we talk about in town. The latest editorial reviews:

  • Adonia - Barcelona
    Shop

    Adonia

    Totally ecological skin care

    Just a stone's throw from Casa Batlló, Adonia is Spain's first ecological cosmetics boutique, with over 15 years' experience.

    Eixample left - Carrer Balmes, 70
  • Biocenter - Barcelona
    Restaurant

    Biocenter

    Vegetarian and vegan cuisine

    With its three spacious lounges and inviting terrace, Biocenter offers an ultra-tasty vegetarian and vegan culinary experience. 

    El Raval - Pintor Fortuny, 25
  • Lamalva - Barcelona
    Restaurant

    Lamalva

    Creative brunches and arroces

    Just a 10-minute walk from Casa Batlló, Lamalva is a new address for brunch and rice lovers. An ideal stopover from 10 a.m. to midnight on weekends.

    Eixample left - C/ de València, 199
  • Wet Deck at W hotel Barcelona
    Clubs & Discos

    Wet Deck at W Barcelona

    All summer long, great Sunday evening parties

    The Wet Deck is a sublime terrace by the pool of the W hotel, offering a breathtaking view of the Mediterranean Sea. Especially in summer, it's the place to be every Sunday evening for the most discerning clubbers.

    Barceloneta - Plaça Rosa Del Vents 1, Final, Pg. de Joan de Borbó

FC Barcelona

For the Catalans, Barça, or FC Barcelona, represents much more than just a soccer club; it embodies their regional pride, cultural identity and spirit of resistance, symbolizing the unity and passion of an entire people. This 2024/2025 season, FC Barcelona's home matches will be played at the Montjuïc Olympic Stadium, pending a return to the Barcelona stadium.

How to get around Barcelona?

The Aerobus is the bus that provides a fast, economical transfer between the airport and the city center (35 minutes). Even more economical, the Aerobus can be combined with the "Hola Card", which offers unlimited use of all public transport in the city for 48, 72 or 120 hours. This pass includes metro, bus (TMB), urban railway (FGC, Zone 1), Montjuïc funicular, tramway (TRAM), regional railroad (Rodalies de Cataluny) + 1 return trip from the airport to the city center. Last but not least, the open-air hop-on hop-off bus is a fantastic way to get from one monument to another. Finally, you can simply buy metro tickets.

Where to stay in Barcelona?

Accommodation is the first step in preparing your trip. To help you find the perfect place to stay, we offer you the best hotels in Barcelona, Barcelona airport hotels, by central districts such as El Born, Ramblas or by categories such as the 4-star hotels.

Hotels in Barcelona City Centre

Hotels in the city centre

Our selection of the best hotels

The centre of Barcelona is called Ciutat Vella. It is the old town and its districts such as the Eixample, El Raval, El Born, El Gótico and Barceloneta. It’s for sure the ideal area to be during vacation. This guide and handmade selection of city centre hotels will help you to book according to your budget and likes.

Hotels in the Gothic Quarter Barcelona

Hotels in the Gothic Quarter Barcelona

The Gothic Quarter is an area full of history and charm, and a stay in one of its hotels will allow you to discover an authentic medieval atmosphere. Hotels in the Gothic Quarter Barcelona are an excellent choice for those looking for accommodation close to the city's main tourist attractions, such as Barcelona Cathedral, Plaça de Sant Jaume, Plaça Reial.. 

Hotels near the Sagrada Familía

Hotels near the Sagrada Familía

Discover the city on foot by staying at one of our carefully selected hotels near the Sagrada Familía. Soak up the city's lively atmosphere and explore Gaudí's architectural wonders while enjoying the ideal location of your accommodation.

Hotels by the sea in Barcelona

Barcelona Beach Hotels

Welcome sun, sand, and farniente lovers! Barcelona is a city on the Mediterranean Sea that offers beautiful and lively beaches made for you. This is our selection of hotels near the sea, near the harbour, at the Barceloneta or by seafront.

City Guide

Explore our city guide to discover the Catalan capital. Among the most practical sections to help you prepare for your stay > Airport, Car Parking, Low Emission Zone, Metro, Weather, Map, What to do in 3 days, ideas for routes by district, selected city  tours, monuments and museums and, of course, everything about Gaudí...

When is the best time to visit Barcelona?

To take advantage of the pleasant weather and avoid the tourist crowds, it's best to visit Barcelona in spring (April to June) or autumn (September to November), as these periods offer mild temperatures, interesting cultural events and fewer tourists.

weather forecasts.

Temperatures

 

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C
(°F)
13.6
(56.5)
14.2
(57.6)
15.8
(60.4)
18.6
(65.5)
21.7
(71.1)
25.9
(78.6)
28.2
(82.8)
29.0
(84.2)
26.1
(79)
22.7
(72.9)
17.6
(63.7)
14.0
(57.2)
20.6
(69.1)
Daily mean °C
(°F)
9.4
(48.9)
10.0
(50)
12.0
(53.6)
14.1
(57.4)
17.8
(64)
22.1
(71.8)
24.6
(76.3)
25.1
(77.2)
22.1
(71.8)
18.4
(65.1)
12.9
(55.2)
9.8
(49.6)
16.7
(62.1)
Average low °C
(°F)
5.2
(41.4)
5.8
(42.4)
7.9
(46.2)
10.8
(51.4)
14.1
(57.4)
18.3
(64.9)
21.0
(69.8)
21.2
(70.2)
18.3
(64.9)
14.8
(58.6)
9.3
(48.7)
5.8
(42.4)
12.7
(54.9)
Precipitation mm
(inches)
41
(1.61)
39
(1.54)
42
(1.65)
49
(1.93)
59
(2.32)
42
(1.65)
20
(0.79)
61
(2.4)
85
(3.35)
91
(3.58)
58
(2.28)
51
(2.01)
(25.2)
Avg. precipitation days 5 6 5 6 7 3 3 4 5 7 5 7 62
Mean monthly sunshine hours 149 163 200 220 244 262 310 282 219 180 146 138 2,524
Source: Wikipédia

Barcelona in figures

Where is Barcelona? Located on the Mediterranean coast, Barcelona is Spain's second-largest city after Madrid. The capital of Catalonia, known for its unique architecture, beaches, lively nightlife and rich culture, welcomes some 24 million tourists every year. Paradoxically, its 1.6 million inhabitants manage these visitors perfectly well, as the city is spread out and its tourist districts very central.

 

Profile of tourists coming to Barcelona in 2022

Gender: 36.3% women, 67.7% men
Average age: 37.6

Reason for visiting Barcelona:

  • Vacation: 67.7% 
  • business trip: 18.7%,
  • personal or other 1: 3.6%.

Means of transport:

  • Plane 62.8%,
  • private vehicle 22.3%,
  • train 10.7%,
  • other 4.2%.

Among travelers arriving at Barcelona airport:

  • 89.4% are European,
  • 2.7% African,
  • 5% American
  • 2.9% Asian.

49.7% have never been to Barcelona before,

50.3% are returning for at least the second time.

 

Tourist profile

  • 43.6% of tourists come as a couple,
  • 26.4% alone,
  • 15% with their children
  • 14.6% with friends.

Last comments

Barcelona.com - 4 Jul 2024 - 08:02
@Dom
Hello Dom, For a week's stay, a very smart pass is the City Pass (the most complete and economical) or the Barcelona Essentials Pass with two must-see monuments and the public transport card.. Best,
Dom - 4 Jul 2024 - 07:52
Best pass for one week stay?
Hello, I'm staying in Barcelona for a week. Which smart pass would you recommend?
Barcelona.com - 1 Jul 2024 - 09:48
@Jacqui
Hello Jacqui, The Aerobus in Barcelona does not offer a specific senior discount for international visitors. Best,
Barcelona.com - 1 Jul 2024 - 09:48
@Colin
Hello Colin, Yes, there are pickup points near Terminal 2C at Barcelona Airport that you can access. Specifically, you can use the express car park located in front of Terminal 2, which includes T2C. This parking area allows for quick drop-offs and pickups and is situated conveniently close to the terminal entrances​ . Best,
Colin - 1 Jul 2024 - 08:56
Picking up passengers terminal 2 c
Is there pick up points near 2 c that I can access and do I pay
Jacqui - 1 Jul 2024 - 08:54
Seniors Card
Is there a seniors discount for visitors from other countries,
Barcelona.com - 25 Jun 2024 - 10:40
@Rebecca
Hello Rebecca, As of now, you do not need to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test or a vaccination certificate to enter Spain from the United States. Spain has lifted all COVID-19-related health controls at its entry points for travelers, making travel much simpler in terms of pandemic restrictions​. Best,
Rebecca - 25 Jun 2024 - 10:36
Vaccines
Do I need to provide proof of negative Covid test or vaccine in order to visit Spain (coming from the U.S.)?
flag-de flag-en flag-es flag-fr flag-it flag-pt logo-ba-white icon-avatar icon-facebook icon-instagram