Barcelona Travelers Recommend

Day 1: Barcelona Sightseeing Explore La Ramblas for a fabulous taste of Barcelona’s eccentric character with its restaurants and funky late-night bars. Hop on a bus, bike, or a scooter for an alternative approach to sightseeing or take the classic One Day Tour. On the Barcelona Gourmet Tapas Evening Walking Tour visit La Boquiera to see the amazing fresh food markets. Day 2: Art from Gaudi to Contemporary Discover Antoni Gaudi's masterpieces like the Casa Calvet, Sagrada Familia and Parc Güells. Other cultural highlights include The Picasso Museum, Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (Romanesque art), Fundació Joan Miró, the CCCB and MACBA for contemporary art. Day 3: Day Trips from Barcelona Take a trip out of the city to Montserrat or discover the glamorous Costa Brava and its sparkling beaches.

Famous for its modernist architecture, legendary football club and long sandy beaches, Barcelona has long been one of Spain’s top tourist magnets. But with millions of annual visitors, the Catalan capital can get crowded, especially during the busy summer months. Planning ahead is essential to make the most of your trip and pre-booking skip-the-line tours to some of Barcelona’s top attractions is a good idea, especially for those short on time. With priority access, you’ll not only avoid the long queues, but save precious time that you can spend visiting other sights, shopping for souvenirs or relaxing on the beach. Most first-time visitors make a beeline for La Sagrada Familia, Gaudi’s modernist masterpiece, but the queues for the iconic cathedral are notoriously long. Instead, pre-book a guided tour including skip-the-line entrance, either with or without a visit to the tower. Gaudi fans can also enjoy skip-the-line access to several of the architect’s other works.

To save time The cheapest and easiest way to visit is on a half-day trip from Barcelona, an ideal option for those short on time. The mountaintop Basilica is the focus of the tour and you’ll arrive by coach, with plenty of time to explore the abbey and watch a performance by the renowned La Escolania de Montserrat, one of Europe's oldest children's choirs. You can also upgrade your tour to include a scenic cogwheel train ride up the mountain. To save money Perfect for first time visitors who want to save money and see as many sights as possible, the Barcelona Super Saver Sightseeing and Montserrat Tour combines two top tours into one day. See the attractions of the Catalonian capital, enjoy aerial views of the city on a cable car ride up Montjuic, and then climb Montserrat on a cogwheel train for a tour of the Montserrat Royal Basilica. Finally, sample traditional Montserrat liquors at a mountaintop distillery.

Barcelona's most photographed landmark, a UNESCO-listed monument and Antoni Gaudí’s most iconic masterpiece, La Sagrada Família is a must for every itinerary. The modernist cathedral is a work of fantasy so immense and rich in detail that it isn't even finished yet, but it's still Spain’s most-visited monument, averaging over 3 million annual visitors. The best way to visit La Sagrada Família is by pre-booking skip-the-line tickets, ensuring you head straight to the front of the queue and enjoy priority access. With multiple options available, there’s a tour to suit all budgets and itineraries. Short on time? Opt for a 1.5-hour skip-the-line tour, with or without entrance to the tower, and make your own way there by public transport. First time in the city? Combine your visit with a Best of Barcelona tour and see highlights like the Gothic Quarter, Montjuïc Hill and Casa Batlló, too.

For first time visitors to Barcelona As the city’s top tourist attraction with more than 2.8 million visitors a year, La Sagrada Familia’s queues are almost as legendary as the cathedral itself, so make the most of your time and book a tour that offers skip-the-line access, like a Skip-the-Line Best of Barcelona tour. This tour offers a comprehensive tour of Barcelona’s sights, including a one-hour guided tour of La Sagrada Familia, and is available as either a half or full day tour. For those short on time You don’t have to join a long tour to check out the magnificent structure – opt for a Skip-the-Line La Sagrada Familia Tour and enjoy a hassle-free, one-hour tour of the cathedral interiors, including free time to revisit your favorite sections. Whether you’ve already seen Barcelona or just want to explore on your own, this tour is perfect for those short on time and with several time slots available, you can fit it in around your schedule.

Barcelona is beloved by generations of artists all of whom left their unique imprint on the city, from the sculptural architecture of Gaudí and the mythical paintings of Picasso, to surrealist icon Salvador Dalí. Antoni Gaudí is Barcelona's most internationally renowned and emblematic architect. His buildings are gorgeously ornate and whimsical, eccentric grooves and rich colours with no straight edges. Begin your artistic journey on Paseo de Gracia to famous apartment buildings Casa Batlló and Casa Milá, and Parc Güell's undulating seating, mosaics, and a dragon fountain! The Sagrada Familia church is the masterpiece of Gaudí's intricate and organic architecture. The Gaudí Museum located in the crypt, traces the life and career of the architect. Barcelona Modernism Walking Tour takes you into "modernist" Barcelona in the Eixample district. Admire Catalan art Nouveau buildings by Gaudí and his contemporaries.

Flamenco is the passionate style of traditional music, song and dance of the Gypsies of Andalusia. Flamenco takes three forms: Cante, (song), Baile, (dance), and Guitarra, (guitar). It features swirling skirts, rhythmic patterns, and sophisticated footwork and hand gestures, with singing at the heart of the tradition. Flamenco songs explore themes of love, politics and humor, and the lyrics reflect the suffering of the gypsy people. Flamenco is classified into “palos”, based on rhythm, chord, and origin. The serious style is “cante jondo”; “cante chico” is light and humorous; “cante intermedio” is anything else. "Tablaos flamencos" developed in the sixties, replaced the "café cantante". Feel the passion of flamenco at Barcelona's legendary Torre Cordobes, where some of the greatest names in flamenco have performed. While being entertained by the fabulous live flamenco show, enjoy a traditional Spanish meal of paella, pastries and fruit with sangria, wine and beer.

By day the Gothic Quarter may be all about sightseeing -- from the cathedral to the Picasso Museum, and the medieval streets -- but by night its a going-out headquarters. Wandering northeast off Las Ramblas, take your pick of offers from promoters who often hawk free admission to various clubs (typically before a certain hour), or even a complimentary drink. Or head straight to some of the neighborhood’s most popular nightspots, like Sidecar to get your indie-music fix, and Marula for jazz, soul and more. If you’re looking for a trendier scene, but minus as many tourists, pop over to the nearby Born District. Seeking out something still a bit more alternative? Head to the edgy Raval district, known for its eclectic vibe. Start your night at historic bohemian hangout London Bar, once frequented by the likes of Hemingway, Picasso and Miró, then shift your night into full gear at nightclubs like Boulevard, situated right on Las Ramblas, and techno-happy Moog Club.

In Spain, Cava is sipped at everything from weddings and birthday bashes to an evening meal with friends and family. First produced in 1872 at the Codorniu Winery, Cava was the brainchild of winemaker Josep Raventós. Blended from local Xarel-lo, Macabeo and Parellada grapes grown in the Penedès region, Cava quickly became popular, marketed as the 'wine that goes with everything'. Today, the Penedès remains the heart and soul of Cava production, with over 160 wineries growing and producing traditional Cava. Touring the wineries of the Penedès is the best way to experience the depth of Cava’s cultural and historic significance. As well as learning about its production, you'll get the chance to sample a selection of fine Cava, which comes in a number of varieties including sweet, dry and rosé. A hugely popular day trip from nearby Barcelona, the idyllic Penedès countryside has even been affectionately renamed 'Cava County' in honor of the Catalonian drink of choice.

An architecture tour is a fun way to navigate Barcelona’s byways and sights, highlighting some of the city’s most extraordinary and iconic sights. Along with buildings by Gaudi, you’ll see similarly outlandish Art Nouveau designs by his contemporaries Domenech i Montaner and Puig i Cadafalch. Throw away your set-square and ruler and get ready for wobbly outlines and organic shapes as you take in Casa Batllo, Casa Lleo Morera and Casa Amatller, known as the Mansan de la Discordia on elegant Passeig Gracia. Other memorable Modernist highlights include Casa Mila, the Palau de la Musica Catalana and the apartment buildings of Eixample.

Once a coastline of sleepy fishing villages, it was inevitable that the beauty and sunshine warmth of the Costa Brava would be discovered by the world, and in the 1950s development began to turn the area into the renowned holiday destination it is today. Located north-east of Barcelona, the Costa Brava begins at the town of Blanes and stretches all the way to the French border. The main city is Girona, a historic town dating from around 76 BC and these days is used as an international airport by low-cost carriers who refer to it as Barcelona though it is 60 miles (100km) north. Blanes, Tossa de Mar, and Lloret de Mar became well-developed resort towns, but other towns like Calella de Palafrugell have remained quieter with their old fishing village charm. A popular town is Cadaques on the bay of Cap de Creus near the French border; it has long been a magnet for artists including Dalí and Picasso.