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:

  • Restaurant

    Café Pablo

    A Parisian bistro in the heart of the Picasso Museum

    At Café Pablo, discover an exquisite marriage of Parisian and Catalan culture, in the majestic setting of the Picasso Museum. The restaurant, designed by Michelin-starred chef Romain Fornell, celebrates the artistic relationship between Paris and Barcelona...

    El Born - C/ de Montcada, 15-23,
  • Rooftop Smokehouse - Barcelona
    Shop

    Rooftop Smokehouse

    The art of smoked food in Barcelona

    Now renowned throughout Spain, Rooftop Smokehouse offers smoked products unique in Barcelona, handcrafted at Fábrica Lehmann.

    Eixample left - C/ del Consell de Cent, 159, Local B (patio interior)
  • ECOALF- Barcelona
    Shop

    ECOALF

    Ecoalf the eco-responsible fashion

    Located on the Avinguda Diagonal on the ground floor of L'illa Mall Diagonal, the ECOALF boutique in Barcelona embodies the brand's commitment to sustainable and ethical fashion.

    Les Corts - Av. Diagonal, 557, local 2.14
  • Sivasdescalzo - Barcelona
    Shop

    Sivasdescalzo

    Sneakers, streetwear and limited editions...

    Not far from the Tetuan metro station, Sivasdescalzo (SVD) is the place to go for sneaker and fashion enthusiasts. An incredible selection of limited-edition trainers, re-editions of classics and one-off pieces from the hottest emerging brands.

    Eixample right - C/ de Bailèn, 18

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.

FC Barcelona Official tickets agent! - 2024-25 - FCBOOFM

Champions League schedule

FC Barcelona tickets - Champions League
January 29th 2025
FC Barcelona vs Atalanta

La Liga schedule

FC Barcelona tickets - La Liga
October 20th 2024
FC Barcelona vs Sevilla FC
November 3rd 2024
FC Barcelona vs RCD Espanyol
December 1st 2024
FC Barcelona vs UD Las Palmas
December 15th 2024
FC Barcelona vs CD Leganés

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 - 3 Oct 2024 - 07:42
@CC
Hello CC, To travel from Sitges to Barcelona Airport (specifically Terminal 2), you can take a train but there is no direct train service. Here's how you can do it: Take the R2 Sud train from Sitges: This line runs directly to El Prat de Llobregat station. The train departs frequently from Sitges, and the trip to El Prat de Llobregat takes about 30-35 minutes. Transfer at El Prat de Llobregat: Once you arrive at this station, you need to switch to the R2 Nord train heading to Barcelona Airport (Aeroport T2). This is a short ride of around 6-7 minutes. The overall journey from Sitges to Terminal 2 at Barcelona Airport takes roughly 50-60 minutes, depending on wait times between connections. The trains are generally punctual and frequent, so it’s a convenient option. Best,
Barcelona.com - 3 Oct 2024 - 07:42
@sam
Hello sam, According to the Town Hall, the market will continue to operate throughout the renovation, with the possibility of occasional or partial closures. Best,
CC - 3 Oct 2024 - 07:32
Sitges train to Barceona airport
Sitges to Terminal 2 by train.is there a direct train?
BrandaK - 3 Oct 2024 - 07:30
Manifesta 24
Manifesta is always very interesting; I'm sure Manifesta 24 is a must-see. cya
sam - 3 Oct 2024 - 07:30
works
The Boqueria market will remain open during the construction work in 2025?
Anthony - 2 Oct 2024 - 12:08
great
Bar del Pla is one of my favorite tapas bars in Barcelona. it's really delicious and i can't thank the owners enough for their warm welcome.
Barcelona.com - 20 Sep 2024 - 08:58
@VK
Hello VK, here's the new schedule of free admission to the Picasso museum in Barcelona: First Sunday of each month (advance booking required)*. Open days: February 11, May 18 and September 24 (reservation required)* November 1 to April 30: Thursday, 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm (reservation required)* May 2 to October 31: Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm (booking advisable)*. *Free opening hours: Online tickets available on Mondays from 10am. best,
VK - 20 Sep 2024 - 08:36
Free entry on Thursdays
Apparently it’s 7-9PM not as it’s stated here 6-9:30PM
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