Barcelona attractions

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.

The little town of Palamós is a popular Costa Brava vacation choice for independent travelers, and the small cruise port makes it a jump-off point for shore excursions to the Costa Brava and historic Girona. Palamós’ pretty fishing harbor is known for its prawns, but the town offers more than just good seafood. Relax on golden sand beaches, visit rocky coves, and stroll the historic town center.

Barcelona’s Chocolate Museum (Museu de la Xocolata) tells the story of chocolate across Europe, including its history, trade, and manufacturing. Its collection showcases various devices used to manufacture the sweet treat, as well as chocolate models of some of the city’s most recognizable landmarks. Naturally, it also boasts an on-site tasting area where you can indulge in a range of offerings.

Forum Park is a sprawling waterfront space that draws big crowds for cultural events, from music to trade fairs, but there’s plenty to see year-round. Here, you’ll find the Museum of Natural Sciences of Barcelona (Museu Blau), as well as the Forum Marina, which is popular with boaters. While there’s no beach, sunny days bring locals and visitors alike to swim from floating docks at the Forum bathing area.

Rising high from the top of the tallest mountain in Barcelona, the unique design of the Collserola Tower (Torre de Collserola) has made its mark on the city’s skyline. Built for the 1992 Summer Olympics, the tower stands at 288 meters high (946 feet), and is used as a radio and TV transmitter that broadcasts throughout Catalonia. Outside of its functional use, it has an observation deck with some of the best views of the surrounding city, mountains, and sea. From its windows you have 360 degree views from the highest vantage point in all of Barcelona. The tower appears futuristic, almost like a needle pointing toward the sky. It takes two and half minutes to reach the observation deck, but you’ll be rewarded with views that can reach as far as 70 kilometers on a clear day. The experience is almost like seeing Barcelona from the sky. (Helicopter tours are really the only way to get a better view.)

CosmoCaixa is one of Europe’s leading natural science museums, featuring exhibitions that span from the creation of the universe to the natural wonders of the Amazon rainforest and Antarctica, as well as a planetarium and micrarium. It’s packed with innovative exhibitions, interactive displays, and living gardens, making it a must for anyone interested in understanding more about the natural world.

Barcelona’s history goes all the way back to the days of ancient Rome, and that heritage is on view at the Via Sepulcral Romana. One among a constellation of historic sights managed by the Barcelona City History Museum (MUHBA), the burial ground is just steps from the bustling Rambla. Within the sunken garden is a range of ancient tombs; the forgotten necropolis was only uncovered during construction in the 1940s.

George Orwell Square (Plaça de George Orwell) offers tree-shaded respite in the busy Gothic Quarter (Barri Gòtic). Named for the British author—who traveled to Spain during the country’s civil war and wrote a book about Catalonia’s struggle against fascism—it features a small children’s playground and a sculpture at its center. It is lined on one side by a row of lively bars and cafés that draw locals and visitors alike.

Halfway between Barcelona and the French border lies the town of Palafrugell, a jumping-off point to some of the prettiest and most pristine areas of the Costa Brava. Enticing spots include the fishing village of Calella de Palafrugell, Cap Roig promontory, and the beachy villages of Tamariu, Aiguablava, Fornells, and Llafranc.

Just east of Barcelona’s center, El Poblenou was once an industrial section of the city, but—thanks to an Olympics-inspired facelift back in 1992—has since been transformed into one of its hippest neighborhoods. Translating to “New Village” in Catalan, El Poblenou is a lively residential area lined with shops, cafés, and restaurants, and known for its buzzing art scene.

Whether you know it as the Pabéllon de Barcelona (its Spanish name), the Pavelló Mies van der Rohe (its Catalan name), or the Barcelona Pavilion, there’s one thing that everyone can agree on—it’s a masterpiece of modern architecture. Clean lines, reflecting pools, steel, chrome, glass, and travertine marble create a serene, unfussy space that broke new ground in architecture when it debuted in 1929.

Between the industrial district of El Poblenou and the modern Forum, Diagonal Mar is one of Barcelona’s newest neighborhoods—a mix of residential complexes, luxury hotels, museums, and conference centers. Set along the northeastern shore of the city’s coastline, the area is known for its huge shopping complex, Parc del Fòrum event center, Parc Diagonal Mar, and the city’s newest urban beaches.

Located in the El Raval neighborhood, the multidisciplinary Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (CCCB) offers a wide range of programming, including everything from concerts, conferences, and festivals to debates, readings, and workshops. The cultural center also hosts frequent exhibitions on contemporary art and culture. Its location next to the MACBA Museum of Contemporary Art of Barcelona makes it easy to visit as part of a cultural day out in the city.

Pine and oak forests draw locals and visitors alike to Barcelona’s Collserola Park (Parc de Collserola), which sprawls for nearly 20,000 acres (8,000 hectares) along the city’s northwestern edge. Come to hike, run, and cycle a network of trails, visit the Tibidabo Amusement Park (Parc d'Atraccions Tibidabo), or get a bird’s-eye view of the city from one of Collerola Park’s many scenic overlooks.

Open seven days a week, La Roca Village features more than 150 stores that offer significantly discounted products year-round. A true shoppers’ paradise, you can save up to 60 percent on luxury brands from Gucci to Prada and beyond. Built in the style of a traditional Spanish town, the charming outlet also features a variety of restaurants and amenities for your convenience.

La Ribera is a charming maze of streets encompassing the historic area of El Born and bordering the picturesque Ciutadella Park (Parc de la Ciutadella), Barcelona’s principal urban park. As one of the most popular districts in the Ciutat Vella (Old Town), La Ribera teems with intimate cafés, cocktail bars, artisan boutiques, and traditional Catalonian restaurants, and it’s one of the most atmospheric spots to eat, drink, and sleep in the city.

Designed to resemble a fortified medieval castle, Torre Bellesguard is an underrated gem from celebrated Catalan modernist Antoni Gaudí. Some of its most striking features include oddly angled gabled windows, narrow walkways, crenellated walls, and a tower topped with a mosaic representing the Catalan flag. Inside, the grand interiors are awash with Gothic and art nouveau detailing.

If you can’t get enough of architect Antoni Gaudí’s creations in Barcelona, then a side trip to the nearby town of Colonia Güell is essential. Just a half-hour drive from the city, the modernist industrial village was commissioned by Eusebi Güell—who collaborated with Gaudí on Park Güell—and features several notable buildings. Most famous is the Gaudí-designed crypt, seen by many as a prequel to the Sagrada Familia.

Cava is one of Catalonia’s greatest exports, so take the time to sample some at Freixenet Winery, located in the Penedès wine region. This century-old winery is among the country’s largest and best-known cava producers, and is conveniently located within easy day-trip distance of Barcelona. Here, you can learn about the history and production of cava, and discover both its storied cellars and its tasting room.

The Frederic Marès Museum (Museu Frederic Marès) houses a collection that was the life’s work of eccentric traveler and sculptor Frederic Marès. Opened in 1948 within Palau Reial Major—a former complex of noble residences in the Gothic Quarter (Barri Gòtic)—the museum showcases an array of artifacts, including some of Marès’ own works. It’s a fascinating space crammed with an eclectic selection of Spanish artistic curiosities.

The original of three theme parks on Spain’s Costa Dorada, PortAventura Park features more than 40 rides and attractions. It’s part of the larger PortAventura World—a resort complex that also includes Caribe Aquatic Park and Ferrari Land, the resort’s newest addition and home to one of Europe’s highest and fastest roller coasters.

El Tablao de Carmen is a popular Barcelona flamenco show, designed to honor one of the world’s greatest flamenco dancers, Carmen Amaya. Known for her skill, passion, technique, and fiery personality, Carmen—a native of Barcelona—performed at this very site for King Alfonso XIII of Spain for the opening of the 1929 Universal Exposition. Today, El Tablao de Carmen hosts top-class performances, including dinner shows.

Add listening to the ethereal choir songs of one of Europe’s oldest boys choirs to your list of reasons to explore the craggy Montserrat mountainside not far from Barcelona. The boys choir, which dates back to the 13th or 14th century, is not only historic but also world famous, having recorded albums and toured to countries around the globe. The boys, who range from ages 9-14, go to school here at the monastery, and sing in the basilica, where the public can come to watch. The roughly 50 singers are carefully selected based on a handful of criteria, one of course being their musical ability. Lucky for Montserrat visitors, the choir usually performs twice daily, making a visit to the mountainside getaway just that much more magical.

A wine-growing region between Barcelona and Tarragona in Catalonia, Spain, Penedes is certified 100 percent organic. The area is best known for cava, a sparkling white wine native to Spain, but it also produces red, white, and rosé wines. A beautiful, lush area featuring picturesque views of the Mediterranean Sea, Penedes is a can’t-miss destination for oenophiles visiting the country.

A trip to Barcelona isn’t complete without sampling some of Catalonia’s renowned wines, and Familia Torres—one of Spain’s largest and most famous wineries—is the perfect place to start. A sprawling vineyard that reaches across the Penedès region, the winery is owned by the Torres family, whose winemaking legacy dates back more than 150 years.

Housed in the former seaside home and workshop of Santiago Rusiñol, the Cau Ferrat Museum (Museu del Cau Ferrat) contains the artist’s collection of artworks, spanning ancient and modernist work. In addition to Rusiñol’s own sculptures, you can see pieces by Picasso, El Greco, and Casas. There’s also a vast collection of wrought iron sculptures and adornments, which Rusiñol sought out throughout his life.

A short trip outside Barcelona on the Costa del Maresme, Illa Fantasia Water Park is a favorite spot for locals and travelers alike to cool off from the summer heat. The park is set up for family-friendly fun, with more than 22 slides, three large pools, a kids’ area, and a picnic and barbecue space, plus attractions ranging from mild to wild, from kids-only to extreme.

The highest mountain in the Collserola range outside Barcelona, Mt. Tibidabo offers the city’s most magnificent viewpoints, and is home to Parc de Collserola, one of the world’s largest metropolitan natural parks. There are several places to take in the 360-degree vistas, including the modernist Temple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus church, Torre de Collserola TV tower, and the popular Tibidabo Amusement Park (Parc d'Atraccions Tibidabo).

While it looks like yet another classic Mediterranean fishing village, El Roc de Sant Gaietà is a recent addition to the coast up from the city of Tarragona. This scenic village on the Costa Dorada incorporates a mix of Romanesque, Arabic, and Gothic architecture to give its 20th-century waterfront a sense of history.

Barcelona’s Museum of Illusions is packed with 3D paintings and optical illusions, affording plenty of fun, humorous, and fantastical photo opportunities. Here, you can “step inside” a Dali or Picasso artwork, celebrate with Barcelona’s famous football (soccer) stars, or pose for a hilarious restroom encounter with Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump.