10 Best Activities in Barcelona

There are endless things to see and do in Barcelona, but not all of them are amazing monuments, that's why I wanted to show you a selection of amazing activities to do in the city. Some of the places where you can do amazing activities in Barcelona are the Park Güell or the Sagrada Familia.

But besides that, Barcelona offers you other fun activities like enjoying amazing attractions in the Port Aventura park or going to the Rambla to visit its exotic shops and restaurants where you can not only enjoy the vibrant atmosphere, but also the Spanish gastronomy.

A stroll through Barcelona's Gothic Quarter is one of the activities you should include in your list of places to visit in Barcelona in 1 day. This is one of the most emblematic and touristic areas of the city, and it is also steeped in history thanks to the fact that it was founded during Roman times. Thanks to its gothic and medieval architecture, you will surely love to know part of what is considered one of the best medieval towns in Barcelona.

If you go on a guided tour of the Gothic Quarter, your guide will tell you that it is not possible to establish precisely the year in which this place was founded because the overlapping of different civilizations and architectures throughout the history of the city gave rise to it. Within this place there are several points of interest that you should not miss, among which are the Cathedral of Barcelona, Plaza Sant Jaume, Plaza Real and the Museum of History of Barcelona.

You can also see places that are recognised as some of the most touristic places in the city such as the Boqueria Market, where you can try some of the Spanish gastronomy. The Call Jueu is another of the highlights of this neighbourhood, which is precisely a Jewish area of Barcelona, which you will love for its narrow streets and historic buildings.

If you go with children, they will also have fun touring the Gothic Quarter because there is the Museum of History of Barcelona, which is an amazing place to see interactive exhibits and educational games for children. One of the things I highly recommend when you go to this place is to visit it during the day, so that you have the opportunity to see in detail each of its buildings and historical monuments.

Interesting details

• Price: You don't need to pay anything to visit the Gothic Quarter if you go on your own, but if you take a guided tour you will have to pay between 20 and 35 euros per person.
• Opening hours: The area is open, so it is accessible 24 hours a day. Although if you go on a guided tour, you'll have to stick to your itinerary to the schedule proposed by the guide.
• Location: This neighbourhood is one of the most important in the centre of Barcelona.

There is no better way to get to know a city than riding through its streets by bike, that's why one of the things you have to do is to sign up for one of the best bike tours in Barcelona, not only to get to know the city, but to feel each of its streets, its atmosphere, its people, and to breathe its air in the purest way. To explore the city in this way, you have two options: either take a tour or rent a bike.

If you choose the second option, you will find many shops in Barcelona that rent bicycles, and prices can vary considerably from one shop to another. As Barcelona is a city where it is customary to cycle to many places, there are plenty of places you can cycle around and take photos along the way, thanks to the fact that they are both picturesque and busy.

Among the most recommended places to cycle in the city is the Serra de Collserola Natural Park, which is also a perfect place to get in touch with nature, as it is the city's green lung. And as Barcelona is a coastal city, you' ll also love cycling along the beach, touring the Olympic Port or exploring the seafront promenade on two wheels.

Now, if you're looking for a much more urban route, I recommend cycling to the city's most popular neighbourhoods such as the Gothic Quarter, the Raval and El Born. In each of these places, footpaths and cycle paths are very common, so you should always ride on these roads to stay safe during your trip.

Interesting details

• Price: Bike hire can cost between 20 and 30 euros per day. While a city tour can cost between 30 and 50 euros per person, including bike rental.
• Timetable: The time of the bike tour is up to you, although if you take a guided tour, the tour guide will most likely tell you what time the tour will take place.
• Location: You can cycle all over the city of Barcelona.

There are many places in Barcelona where you can enjoy traditional Spanish flamenco, and among the most prominent are Palau Dalmases, Tablao Flamenco Cordobes and Los Tarantos Flamenco. And with so many places to see some of the best flamenco shows in Barcelona, this is definitely an activity that shouldn't be missing from your travel itinerary.

Part of what you'll love about these shows, in addition to the wealth of talent and culture, is that they are all-encompassing shows that include singing, dancing, guitar and percussion. Best of all, they take place in an intimate and cosy atmosphere in traditional tablaos around the city. In the middle of the show you'll have the opportunity to accompany that moment with some traditional Spanish tapas and drinks, which adds extra value to the show.

If you are definitely a fan of flamenco and a couple of shows are not enough for you, you also have the opportunity to go to flamenco schools and academies where you can attend a couple of classes to learn more about flamenco culture.

Interesting details

• Price: Flamenco shows can cost from 25 euros per person per ticket, consumption also has to be paid on your own.
• Time: Generally these shows take place in the evening and until dawn.
• Location: There are many places where you can get flamenco in the city.

In Barcelona it is very common to find wineries and vineyards because the wine culture is deeply rooted in the city, so this is one of the activities you can't miss. Visit a local winery and even a vineyard to taste and learn about different types of wine, while experiencing the culture and enjoying the local scenery.

To see different wineries and vineyards, I recommend you sign up for a wine-focused gastronomic tour of Barcelona, where your guide will take you to visit different wineries to taste wines and learn about the winemaking process and the length of time the wines are aged. Each of these wineries has its own best times to visit them, which is why touring a vineyard or winery is always a good option, whether you visit Barcelona in summer, autumn, or any other season of the year.

Interesting details

• Price: A gastronomic tour to visit wine cellars can cost between 100 and 250 euros per person, provided it is shared.
• Timetable: The times of the vineyard and wine cellar tours vary according to the indications of each of these wineries.
• Location: There are multiple wineries throughout the city.

The Montjuïc Cable Car is one of the most popular ways to get to the top of the mountain to see Montjuïc Castle, and is definitely one of those things you have to include among the things to see and do in Montjuïc. I recommend you to take the cable car up so you can appreciate the scenery from the moment you start to climb until you reach the top.

Once at the top, you'll love the panoramic views of the city and the Mediterranean Sea, a landscape worth photographing time and time again. As you get on this cable car and find yourself in the town of Montjuic, you'll realise that there's so much more to see besides Barcelona's most iconic monuments like the Sagrada Familia or the Olympic Stadium, which you should definitely visit as well.

Interesting details

• Price: The usual price of a single ticket for the cable car is approximately 12,80 euros for adults, while children will have to pay at least 9,60 euros between 4 and 12 years old.
• Opening hours: The opening hours vary from March to November, from Monday to Sunday from 10:00 to 20:00. Between December and February the cable car opens from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 18:00 hours.
• Location: The main station of the Montjuïc cable car is located on Avinguda de Miramar, in the Parc de Montjuïc area of Barcelona.

Without a doubt one of the things you can't miss, especially if you visit Barcelona with children, is to go and enjoy a live football match at the Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona. Of course, you have to keep in mind that this is an activity that you should include in your itinerary if you go to Barcelona in August, when the football season starts, which lasts until May.

To go to a football match in this stadium you should buy your FC Barcelona tickets in advance so you don't miss your place in the match, because although the capacity of the Camp Nou Stadium is almost one hundred thousand spectators, you would be impressed by the amount of people who really love watching football all over the country, and also taking this into account, once you have your ticket, I recommend you to arrive with enough time before the match to avoid the crowds.

But if you don't go during the football season, you can still experience the Camp Nou Experience, thanks to the guided tours inside the stadium when it's not football season. During the tour guides take you around the stadium, including the famous stands, the changing rooms, the tunnel to the pitch and the technical area, and the rooms dedicated to the club's trophies and achievements in the FC Barcelona Museum, it's without doubt one of the best experiences for football fans.

Interesting details

• Price: Tickets to see FC Barcelona can cost around 20-50 euros per person. While to explore the Camp Nou you will have to pay approximately 40 euros per person.
• Timetable: Football match times can vary according to the season, while guided tours usually take place in the morning hours.
• Location: Camp Nou is located in the area of Les Corts, in the district of L'Hospitalet de Llobregat.

Moving away from urban activities, one of the things I recommend you to do in the city if you plan to stay in Barcelona for 3 days or more, is to leave a whole day to have a great time with your family at PortAventura Park. This park is amazing because it offers a wide variety of attractions and mechanical shows for all tastes.

I recommend you to buy tickets to Port Aventura Park because inside you can find roller coasters, water shows and fireworks. The amusement park is divided into regions, including the Mediterranean region, China, Mexico, Far West and Polynesia. In each of these places you can find different types of fun.

Interesting details

• Price: To enter Port Aventura Park you will have to pay around 50 to 60 euros per adult, while children have to pay around 40 to 50 euros per ticket.
• Opening hours: The park normally opens between 10:00 and 11:00 and closes between 18:00 and 20:00.
• Location: It is located in the city of Tarragona, about 100 km from Barcelona.

Among the things you definitely have to do in Barcelona is to try its delicious and extensive gastronomy, which is why you should sign up for a gastronomic tour of the city. One way to do it is through a guided tour, and the other option is to take advantage of the stops of the Barcelona tourist bus to visit some of the most emblematic restaurants and bars of the city.

On this tour you will have the opportunity to get to know the culinary scene of the city and taste the different dishes that make up the local cuisine, entering several local restaurants. In the middle of this gastronomic tour you will be able to try dishes such as paella, bread with tomato, tapas and local desserts.

Interesting details

• Price: When taking a gastronomic tour you will have to pay around 30 euros per person, including tastings.
• Opening times: Restaurant opening times in Barcelona can change, but the average Spaniard usually has lunch between 13:00 and 15:00, so this is a good time to sample some hearty dishes. You could also take a night tour for dinner between 20:00 and 23:00.
• Location: In Barcelona's old town there are countless restaurants where you can enjoy tapas and Spanish dishes.

One activity that can't be left off your list is a tour of the El Born neighbourhood, which is a historic area of Barcelona and has become an iconic part of the city without anyone knowing exactly why. You' ll love to see how El Born has evolved over the years, and how its historical, cultural and touristic importance has influenced it.

To get to know this place, I recommend you sign up for one of the tours of Barcelona, because your guide will take you on a stroll through the streets of this area where you will also find vintage clothing shops, cafes and outdoor terraces to enjoy a coffee or a drink. The Plaça del Born and the Santa Maria del Mar Cathedral are places where you should stop to take a couple of photos.

Interesting details

• Price: For a tour of the old town that includes the El Born neighbourhood, you will have to pay around 20-30 euros per person.
• Time: You can take a tour of this neighbourhood at any time of the day, although I recommend you do it in the morning hours.
• Location: El Born neighbourhood is located in the heart of the city of Barcelona.

One of Gaudí 's greatest works in Barcelona is Park Güell, which is one of the best options to enjoy art and nature in one place. You can go to the park on your own, where you will find many maps and signposts to help you get to know the site.

Also, inside the park you will find many shops and restaurants where you can buy food and drinks during your stay in the park. I recommend you to buy your tickets for the Park Güell because it is a good place to bring your children as you will be able to find different attractions for them, among them the famous Lagarto de Gaudi, and several playgrounds.

Interesting details

• Price: The price of admission to Park Güell changes depending on the season and time of day, although generally the entrance fee is 10 euros per person, while children would have to pay around 7 euros for their ticket.
• Opening hours: Although visiting hours change according to the season, it is usually open between 8.30am and 6pm.
• Location:Park Güell is located on Calle Olot in Barcelona, very close to the Gracia neighbourhood.