To this day, Barcelona is arguably my favorite city in the world. I can’t put my finger on it, but there is just a certain charm the city emits. It could be the peculiar, yet strikingly fascinating buildings designed by famous architect Antonio Gaudi scattered throughout the city, or perhaps the various food markets selling fresh and authentic local delicacies, or maybe the feel of the sea breeze from some of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen. I could go on, but there is just a magic about the city I can’t put into words. Hopefully for those of you who have not yet gone, you get to experience Barcelona – and just see for yourself!

Check out some of my personal recommendations on things to do while you’re in Barcelona:

142 years ago, the ground breaking for what would be the largest unfinished catholic church in the world commenced. Antonio Gaudi took over as chief architect in 1883 implementing his gothic artistic style to the project less than a quarter of the project was done by the time of his death in 1926. Since then, the construction of the church has been on going enduring several set backs due to ever changing political and global climates. La Sagrada Família is Gaudí’s unfinished masterpiece, a surreal fusion of Gothic and Art Nouveau styles. Trust me — pictures don’t do it justice. Even so, the intricate detail, thought and design of the church is mesmerizing.

I highly recommend visiting and booking a walking tour to learn more about the story as well as the history behind the church. It is one of the Barcelona’s major landmarks and is also an UNESCO World Heritage site.

Note: There are also tickets available that include a tour of the towers. For more information you may visit: https://sagradafamilia.org/en/prices.

Pro Tip: Make sure you book in advance online as tickets can sell out quickly!

Spain is renowned for their amazing tapas. If you don’t know what tapas are, they are appetizers or snacks in Spanish cuisine. They come in various dishes from sautéed potatoes to cheese and bread to fresh octopus. If you go to Spain, it is a must try delicacy!

In 2023, my sister Catie wanted to go to Barcelona for a week for a birthday. She has participated in several pub crawls in Europe in the past, so she came up with the idea to go on a “tapas crawl”. Barcelona has many restaurants and bars with delicious tapas for decent prices.

You can check out our recommendations here:

If you like beautiful sunsets and viewpoints overlooking the city and surrounding countryside, then you can’t miss out on Tibidabo, the tallest hill in Barcelona! On the summit lies the Sagrat Cor church, which is free to enter, but to use the elevator to the top of the church to see the views will cost a small fee of €3. The views from the top are absolutely magnificent! So, if you don’t mind the small fee, then I definitely recommend it! You may still get a nice view outside the church as well.

There’s quite a few ways to get there, so I wrote a quick, easy to follow guide on how to get there:

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Best for: First-timers, photo lovers, and anyone who wants the full Tibidabo experience. I did it when I went my first time and I highly recommend it. It’s a bit of an adventure to be forewarned.

Instructions	Details
Take the Train (L7)	From Plaça de Catalunya → L7 to Av. Tibidabo (~15 mins)
Tramvia Blau / Bus 196	From Av. Tibidabo Station → Take the nostalgic blue tram (Tramvia Blau) or Bus 196
Funicular Ride	From Plaça Doctor Andreu → Tibidabo Funicular to the top (~7 mins)

⏱ Time: ~40 mins
$ Cost: ~€12–15 round trip
🌟 Pro Tip: Sit on the right side of the funicular for the best city views.

Best for: Families, groups, or when the amusement park is open.

• Where to catch it: From Plaça Catalunya.
• Destination: Goes straight to the amusement park — no transfers.
• Schedule: Operates only when the Tibidabo Amusement Park is open.

⏱ Time: ~35 mins
💲Cost: ~€3 each way

Best for: Short on time or traveling with friends.

• Grab a taxi or Uber from central Barcelona.
• Drops you right at the top — zero walking required (lazy butt).

⏱ Time: ~25 mins
💲 Cost: ~€20–30

Clearly, Tibidabo is accessible through various options. It really depends on how much time you have and what you’re willing to spend, but if you can get to Tibidabo just before sunset, you are in for a magical experience!

Oddly, just next to the church is an amusement park, which is actually one of the oldest amusement parks in the world. If you like amusement parks, then it may be something to do; however I’ve never been inside.

• Go early or at sunset: Avoid crowds & get magical views.
• Check schedules: Funicular & T2A bus run only when the park is open.
• Wear comfy shoes: Some uphill walking required.
• Bring water & snacks: Fewer (and pricier) options at the top.

Monserrat is home to one of the most sacred and important religious sites in Spain, the benedictine abbey Santa Maria de Monserrat. You may enter the abbey for free, however the museum will cost about €8. The mountain offers a spectacular view of the Catalonian landscape as well as several walking trails starting from the abbey that showcase the multitude of rock formations and peaks for wide range of landscape views. You may walk the trails or if you don’t feel like getting sweaty, then there are several funiculars near the abbey that will take you straight to the peaks.

From Barcelona, several 45 minute trains from Plaça d’Espanya will take you to a small station just below the mountain. The abbey can be then reached by road, cable car or a small railway. If you aren’t afraid of heights, then taking the Aeri de Monserrat cable car tends to be preferred method to reach the abbey. It’s pretty cool if you don’t use cable cars often.

Generally, the total cost for a round trip ticket to Monserrat (train + cable car/railway) can range from €25 – €28 depending on the time of year you go. Fortunately, you can purchase combined tickets from the Plaça d’Espanya station, which is quite easy. Learn from me! I didn’t know this the first time around.

If you’re up for the challenge, you can take the train to the Monistrol de Monserrat and hike up the mountain. I haven’t personally done this, but I know some people who have and it seems to be challenging, so I don’t recommend it if you aren’t a skilled hiker.

If you absolutely don’t want to plan anything, then there are many tour companies that offer tours to Monserrat, but obviously it will be pricier.

Attraction / Service	Opening Hours	Adult Price	Child Price
Santa Maria Monastery	7:30 AM – 8:00 PM	Free	Free
Montserrat Museum	10:00 AM – 5:45 PM	~€8	~€4
Aeri Cable Car	9:40 AM – 5:15 PM (varies by season)	~€8 one-way / ~€13.50 round trip	~€4 one-way / ~€7 round trip
Cremallera Rack Railway	8:35 AM – 6:15 PM (varies by season)	~€8 one-way / ~€13.50 round trip	~€4 one-way / ~€7 round trip
Funicular Sant Joan (to the mountain top)	10:00 AM – 5:45 PM	~€8.50 round trip	~€5 round trip
Funicular Santa Cova (to the cave)	10:30 AM – 4:45 PM	~€4.20 round trip	~€2.50 round trip

Tip: Combo tickets for the train + cable car or train + rack railway are available at Plaça Espanya station and save you a few euros.

Montjuic is the 2nd highest hill in Barcelona and is considered the “birthplace” of the city due to its extensive history. There are various activities to do including the Palau Nacional (National Palace), which is home to the national art museum of Catalonia. There is also an outdoor museum and botanical garden that are free to enter. In addition, Montjuic is also another great place to get a landscape view of Barcelona.

Cost to enter the museum will run you about €12

Montjuic was famous for its spectacular magic fountain show; however as of January 2024, the fountain and light show has been suspended indefinitely due to the drought protocol in Barcelona.

Another Antonio Gaudi gem chiseled into Barcelona, Park Guell is essentially an enormous garden that showcases his distinct and amazing architectural designs. Here, you will be enchanted by colorful mosaics, beautiful gardens and panoramic views of Barcelona.

For about €10-13 euros, you can experience Park Güell. I advise that you purchase tickets in advance to avoid long queues, especially during peak season.

La Rambla is one of the most popular streets in central Barcelona which offers a multitude of things to do. During peak hours, it can be quite busy; however I think the draw to La Rambla is the amount of activity going on. On this beautiful tree-lined street are various restaurants, souvenir shops, markets, street performers etc. La Rambla also serves as a boundary to the Gothic Quarter and the El Raval neighborhood, which are also worth checking out.

I’ve probably walked through the Gothic Quarter numerous of times; however I didn’t realize it at the time, I just thought I was walking through really cool narrow and gothic alleyways that give the façade that the neighborhood dates back to the medieval period, so naturally, I didn’t really many photos (I’m not the best at taking photos), however in my defense, I get distracted easily when I’m entranced by beautiful scenery. I’ll be sure to take more when I go back.

It’s easy to get lost, which is kind of refreshing, because many streets and alleyways open up to some quaint squares since the street plan is essentially a labyrinth. There are also plenty of shops and eateries within the neighborhood.

Every time I leave Barcelona, I feel like I’m leaving a little piece of myself behind. There’s something about this city. I can’t put my finger on it, but I still consider it one of my favorite cities I’ve ever visited (really)! If I try, I suppose Barcelona conjures feelings of freedom, curiosity, and connection that stays with you long after you’ve gone. If this is your first visit, let it surprise you. If it’s your fifth, then embrace it like an old friend. To make the most of your trip, be sure to plan ahead, book tickets early for popular attractions, and don’t be afraid to wander off the tourist trail — that’s where you’ll find the real magic.

And if you want a little help planning your perfect Barcelona adventure, I’d love to be your guide — check out my Travel Advisor Services to start planning your unforgettable trip to Barcelona.

See you out there!