Barcelona attractions

Barcelona’s La Monumental Bullring (Plaza de Toros Monumental de Barcelona) was built with a flamboyant neo-Mudéjar and Byzantine facade, and embellished with Iberian blue-and-white tiles. The bullring was the largest in Barcelona and could seat 20,000, plus another 5,000 standing. After bullfighting was banned in 2012, the ring was repurposed as a bullfighting museum and concert venue and is now better known as La Monumental.

Hidden away in a courtyard, just a short stroll from the medieval Barcelona Cathedral, the 2,000-year-old Roman Temple of Augustus is one of the most surprising landmarks of the Gothic Quarter. Once a mighty temple about half the size of Athens’ Parthenon, only four Corinthian columns remain. It’s nonetheless an impressive sight, with the ancient columns looming nearly 30 feet (9 meters) high.

Locals and travelers alike flock to Santa Caterina Market (Mercat de Santa Caterina), which stands out amid the historic buildings of Barcelona’s La Ribera neighborhood with its wave-like mosaic roof. The colorful redesign was added more recently, but this is one of the city’s oldest covered markets, dating back to 1848 and brimming with fresh produce and delicious gourmet foods from around Spain.

Barcelona’s rich seafaring traditions are on display at the city’s Maritime Museum of Barcelona (Museu Marítim). Located in the Barcelona Royal Shipyard at Port Vell, the cavernous, Gothic-style building holds centuries-old war and merchant ships, modern sports boats, and a collection of maps, weapons, and navigational tools. Another highlight of the permanent collection is the 14th-century Les Sorres X, which was discovered during construction work for the Olympics.

Barcelona’s Spanish Village (Poble Espanyol) is an open-air museum located on Montjuïc Hill. Built in 1929 for the Barcelona International Exposition, the village was created to resemble a traditional Spanish town and depicts replicas of Spanish buildings from around the country that showcase the country's architectural and cultural diversity. Visitors to the village can watch demonstrations of traditional Spanish glassblowing, pottery, and more, and purchase handmade products.

Designed by architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner, Casa Lleó i Morera is one of three buildings on the Illa de la Discordia (Block of Discord) on Barcelona’s Passeig de Gràcia that exemplify three greats of modernist architecture: It stands beside Antoni Gaudí’s Casa Batlló and Josep Puig i Cadafalch’s Casa Amatller. Along with a distinctive ornamental façade, Casa Lleó i Morera has exquisite stained-glass windows and sculptures by Eusebi Arnau.

From Roman times to the present day, the city of Barcelona boasts thousands of years of history and has many stories to tell. The Museum of the History of Barcelona (Museu d'Història de Barcelona, or MUHBA) is today situated in Plaça del Rei atop the Roman ruins of Barcino. Its collection preserves and communicates the heritage of the Catalonian capital.

A soaring, shimmering glass and concrete edifice in El Raval, the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art (MACBA) spearheaded the once-dilapidated district’s revival. Its matte white interior flooded with natural light creates a backdrop for the 6,000-strong collection, which is displayed in ever-changing temporary exhibitions. Highlights include works by Pablo Picasso and Joan Miró dating from the mid-20th century.

Housed in the former Municipal Theatre of Figueres, the Dalí Theatre-Museum (Teatro-Museo Dalí) was converted by Salvador Dalí himself into a museum to display his works—the building itself is considered his final great work. Of the major Dalí sites in northeastern Spain, including his former homes in Portlligat and Púbol, this is the best place to explore Dalí’s art and see some of his most famed pieces. Even the polka-dotted exterior is pure Dalí, and his final resting place is here in a crypt beneath its stage.

Tablao Flamenco Cordobes combines high-energy flamenco shows with Spanish and Catalan specialties in the adjacent restaurant, which is inspired by Granada’s Nasrid-style architecture. An award-winning venue founded in 1970, Tablao Flamenco Cordobes is one of the few spaces of its kind on La Rambla, and it attracts some of the country’s top flamenco performers.

Whether you’ve managed to snag tickets for a home game or booked a behind-the-scenes tour of the legendary Camp Nou Stadium, a visit to the FC Barcelona Museum is a must for football (soccer) fans. The museum sits right next door to the stadium, and brings fans closer to the city’s favorite team through a series of interactive exhibits and galleries.

Located in the Poblenou neighborhood of Barcelona, the Torre Glòries is a modern architectural landmark and one of the tallest buildings in the city. Designed by French architect Jean Nouvel, the structure is said to have been inspired by Montserrat, Antoni Gaudí’s iconic Sagrada Familia, and the bubbling form of a geyser. The 38-story building also has a popular observation deck offering 360° city views.

Located just off the Passeig de Gràcia, the Egyptian Museum of Barcelona contains one of the leading private collections of Egyptian art and artifacts in Europe. Dive into Egyptian life and culture as you browse the permanent collection, which includes more than 1,000 pieces from the collection of its founder, Catalan Jordi Clos, including jewelry, sarcophagi, amulets, mummies, and ancient artwork.

The Barcelona Aquarium (L’Aquarium de Barcelona) sits right on the harbor in the heart of the old city and is one of Europe’s largest aquariums. The exhibits within provide a habitat for some 11,000 sea creatures representing 450 different species, and feature one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of sea life from the Mediterranean. Little wonder that the aquarium is among Barcelona’s top family-friendly attractions.

Don’t call it a hill; while this 568-foot (173-meter) mountain in southwest Barcelona is small in stature, it packs some major attractions. A cable car and funicular whisk visitors to the military fortifications of Montjuïc Castle (Castell de Montjuïc) at the summit, which is perched above a wooded park, Olympic sports facilities, the Magic Fountain (Font Màgica), the Joan Miró Museum (Fundació Joan Miró), and the National Art Museum of Catalonia (Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya).

A historic 10th-century castle and winery situated in Catalonia, Oller del Mas has been family-owned for more than a thousand years. Set against the backdrop of the breathtaking Montserrat mountains, the winery is known for its organic vineyards and wine production. You'll find several tourist-centric activities on-site, including horseback riding, wine tours, restaurants, and overnight accommodations. It's a popular day trip from Barcelona.

The museum occupies the old Casaramona factory building, a modernist building that was constructed from 1909 and 1912 and was later adapted and expanded for artistic use. Today, the CaixaForum contains more than 800 works of art representing a range of styles and movements. Pieces are displayed across three sections and showcase ancient, modern, and contemporary art, photography from the 20th century, and avant-garde expressionism.

Housed inside the Palau de Mar, the History Museum of Catalonia (Museu d’Història de Catalunya) opened in 1996 with the goal of focusing on the region’s cultural and political development from prehistory through to the present day. It’s a great place to learn how the Romans, Moors, and others each left their mark on Catalonia. The exhibits focused on the Spanish Civil War and Franco’s rule are particularly well done.

Trains from França Railway Station whisk travelers to cities across Catalonia—and Europe—but that’s not the only reason to visit. This 1929 landmark features elegant, Noucentista architecture, from its iron-and-glass canopy spanning its 12-track train shed to a lobby in marble and bronze. Even its cafeteria is a destination in its own right; it serves affordable, 3-course menus featuring seasonal, Mediterranean cuisine.

Located in the Plaça de Sant Jaume, the Catalan Regional Government Building (Palau de la Generalitat de Catalunya) is the seat of the Government of Catalonia and the Presidency of the Generalitat. Built between the 15th and 17th centuries, this magnificent structure includes a variety of architectural elements, with neoclassical, Gothic, Renaissance, and baroque features.

Since its opening on La Rambla in 1847, the Gran Teatre del Liceu has been a cultural, artistic, and political hub for Catalonia, as well as one of the most impressive opera houses in all of Europe. After fire damaged the theater on several occasions, the Gran Teatre was completely restored in 1999, complete with new technology for contemporary productions.

While the masses head to Barceloneta Beach, those in search of quieter shores take their towels to Nova Icària Beach (Platja de la Nova Icària). Located between Bogatell and Barceloneta Beaches, this quarter-mile-long (400-meter-long) stretch of sand features great amenities and a local vibe. It’s backed by a wide promenade and the Port Olimpic neighborhood with its abundant restaurants.

If you’re a music lover, or you simply enjoy American-style food, then add the Hard Rock Cafe to your Barcelona itinerary. Located in Plaça de Catalunya, the city’s main square, the restaurant serves up the same crowd-pleasing fare and music memorabilia that you’ll find in its other locations around the globe.

A museum enshrining monastic life now fills this Barcelona monastery—which was founded in 1327 by Queen Elisenda de Montcada. While the nuns are gone, the elegant cloisters remain serene, and exquisite religious art fills some rooms. Just as fascinating are the monastery’s behind-the-scenes working areas, like the dormitory, storeroom, and a kitchen that remained in constant use from the 14th century through 1983.

With a grand facade on Plaça de Sant Jaume and an impressive interior, the Barcelona City Hall (Casa de la Ciutat) is more than a local government headquarters—it’s a 14th-century landmark that’s an architectural highlight of the surrounding Gothic Quarter. Past the neoclassical facade lie original, Gothic-style spaces like the medieval Saló de Cent reception chamber, as well as the Saló de Cròniques adorned with murals by Josep Maria Sert.

Many travelers come to Barcelona to see the colorful broken-tile mosaics or trencadís that are emblematic of Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí’s modernist masterpieces. At Mosaiccos, budding artists and craftspeople can learn about the process, try the time-honored techniques, and create their own works of mosaic art. In addition to hands-on workshops, the studio has a shop selling a variety of mosaic-crafted gifts.

Not to be confused with the Port Olímpic, the Port of Barcelona is one of Spain’s most important maritime hubs. With ferry connections to Italy, Morocco, and Spain’s islands, ships have been transporting passengers across the Mediterranean Sea from the port for millennia. If you’re not sailing off into the sunset, the most interesting part of the Port of Barcelona to visit is Port Vell (Old Port), a bustling lifestyle destination filled with superyachts.

Palau Sant Jordi is a covered stadium in Barcelona that hosts top sports competitions and high-profile concerts for crowds of up to 18,000 people, all within a venue built for the 1992 Olympic Games. Even if you’re not attending a game or show, it’s worth a stop; outside of the stadium is a series of 36 art pieces created by Aiko Miyawaki, consisting of concrete cylinders topped by metal rings and cables.

Situated southwest of Barcelona along the Costa Dorada, Sitges is one of the most popular LGBTQ+ beach resorts in southern Europe. Travelers flock to this destination for its sizzling nightlife, annual festivals, and 18 beaches, which range from family-friendly to clothing-optional stretches of white sand. Sitges isn’t just about seaside and sunshine—a hub of the 19th- and 20th-century modernism movement, its bohemian old town is filled with characteristic Catalan architecture and art museums.

Surrounded by walls and marked with winding cobblestone streets, medieval Pals still has many of its aged stone arches, walkways, and balconies. A Romanesque tower dates back to the 11th century, while the Mirador del Pedró provides a lookout over the sea and surrounding Catalonian landscape dotted with citrus groves and rice fields.