Hidden Gems in Barcelona: How To Get off the Beaten Path
Barcelona's headline attractions are famous for a reason, but if you stick to the Sagrada Família–Park Güell–La Rambla circuit, you'll spend most of your trip standing in line. Look beyond the big names, though, and you'll find a city full of surprises.
Underground bunkers built during the Civil War, cemeteries designed with intricate Gothic tombstones, lesser-known Gaudí sites that rival his most celebrated works—exploring Barcelona off the beaten path will elevate any trip to the Catalonian capital. For a more authentic experience in Spain’s second city, venture off the tourist trail and follow these Barcelona travel tips.
1. Discover Gaudí’s hidden masterpiece, the Torre Bellesguard
The Torre Bellesguard is a lesser-known Gaudí site that blends Gothic ruins with his modernist genius.
Most visitors tick off the Sagrada Família, Casa Batlló, and Park Güell without realizing that there’s an equally rewarding yet lesser-known Gaudí site sitting quietly in the foothills of Collserola, largely ignored by most.
Torre Bellesguard was built on the ruins of a medieval castle, and Gaudí's design pays tribute to its Gothic past with twisting towers and intricate stone facades, while inside you’ll find his signature modernist flourishes, including stained-glass windows and brick-vaulted ceilings. And with a location a bit outside of the center, it’s far quieter than the architect’s most famous creations.
Insider tip: Combine your tour of the Torre Bellesguard with a walk along Carretera de les Aigües, a long, panoramic trail through Collserola Natural Park above the city.
Related: 9 of the Top Gaudí Buildings in Barcelona and How To Visit
2. Step inside Gaudí’s colorful first house at Casa Vicens
Casa Vicens is Gaudí’s very first house, a riot of color and pattern in the Gràcia neighborhood.
Another of Gaudi’s buildings overshadowed by the big three, Casa Vicens is one of Barcelona's most underrated attractions. Built between 1883 and 1885, it was Gaudí's first major commission, and the exuberant mix of checkerboard tiles, floral ceramics, and Mudéjar-inspired ironwork hints at everything he'd go on to create.
Its location in Gràcia, away from the Eixample tourist corridor, keeps it comparatively quiet. The house only opened to the public in 2017.
Did you know?: Seven of Antoni Gaudí’s works are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Casa Vicens.
3. Wander the hillside tombs of Montjuïc Cemetery
Montjuïc Cemetery is one of Europe’s most spectacular, cascading down a hillside overlooking the Mediterranean.
Cemeteries don't make most itineraries, but Montjuïc Cemetery is one of the best underrated spots in the city and one of the more unusual things to do in Barcelona. Established in 1883, it's the final resting place of artists, politicians, and figures from Barcelona's anarchist and labor movements.
Tumbling down the mountain's southern slopes in a cascade of elaborate tombs, mausoleums, and sculptures, all framed by sea views, the architecture ranges from Gothic Revival to art nouveau. Wander the quiet terraces to feel worlds away from the city on the other side of the mountain, or join a walking tour of the cemetery for stories about the famous residents buried there.
4. Hunt for treasure at Mercat dels Encants
Barcelona’s sprawling Mercat dels Encants is a flea market hiding plenty of treasures under its mirrored canopy.
As far as markets go in Barcelona, the foodie markets of La Boqueria, Santa Caterina, and Sant Antoni get all the attention. But Mercat dels Encants is also worth a visit. This is one of Barcelona’s oldest markets, dating back centuries, which sells everything from vintage furniture and vinyl records to antique ceramics and other historic Barcelona bric-a-brac.
Sitting in an open-air space beneath a mirrored canopy that reflects the chaos below, it’s also a big architectural highlight. You can get here easily by using the hop-on hop-off bus.
Insider tip: Visit on a Monday, Wednesday, or Friday and arrive early to watch vendors auction off their most sought-after items from 7:45–9am.
Related: 9 of the Top Markets of Barcelona
5. Go underground into the Civil War air shelter Refugi 307
Refugi 307 is a Civil War air-raid shelter that lets you explore the history of Barcelona’s darkest chapter.
Barcelona was one of the first European cities to face sustained aerial bombardment, and its residents dug hundreds of shelters into the hillsides for protection. Refugi 307, carved into Montjuïc beneath the Poble Sec neighborhood, is one of the few open to visitors. A guided tour takes you through 4,305 feet (400 meters) of tunnels built by hand by local civilians, with stark details about life under siege. It's a powerful and unusual thing to do in Barcelona that offers a perspective most sightseeing itineraries skip entirely.
Did you know?: Barcelona's Montjuïc Castle was used to detain and execute political prisoners during and after the Spanish Civil War.
6. Walk past the tourist beaches to Barcelona’s local coastline
Head past the tourist beaches and you’ll find Barcelona's quieter, more local stretch of coastline.
For a less-crowded alternative to Barceloneta Beach, walk or ride northeast along the coast and the scene changes quickly. The beaches of Bogatell, Mar Bella, and Nova Mar Bella are where locals go, with wider and quieter strips of sand, and lovely xiringuitos (beach bars) to enjoy a drink and some food, an authentic Barcelona experience.
The promenade that connects them is ideal for a morning walk or a Barcelona bike tour, as you’ll pass public art installations and enjoy views back toward the city skyline. Alternatively, you could also jump on a sailing tour of Barcelona and glide up the coast in style.
Did you know?: None of Barcelona's beaches are natural. They were all created with imported sand for the 1992 Olympic Games.
7. Stumble upon ancient Rome in the Gothic Quarter
The Temple of Augustus is a nearly 2,000-year-old Roman temple hidden behind a door in the Gothic Quarter.
This is one of those Barcelona hidden gems that even locals walk past a hundred times without knowing it's there. Tucked inside a medieval courtyard just off Carrer del Paradís, four towering Corinthian columns are all that remain of the 1st-century Temple of Augustus.
They once stood at the highest point of Roman Barcino, the ancient settlement that became Barcelona, and the marble floor marker in the street outside still marks the exact spot. Entry is free, the space is small, and the whole visit takes barely 15 minutes. It’s also a stop for many Barcelona walking tours in the Gothic Quarter.
8. Spend a peaceful afternoon at the Pedralbes Monastery
The serene 14th-century Pedralbes Monastery is hidden on the quiet western edge of Barcelona.
The Royal Monastery of St. Mary of Pedralbes is one of Barcelona's most beautiful and least-visited monuments. Founded in 1327, this Gothic monastery centers on a stunning 3-story cloister, the largest in the world, surrounded by lemon trees and a Renaissance garden.
Small displays in different rooms around the cloister show what life used to be like in the monastery. On the walk there, look out for the ornate wrought-iron gates and fountain on Avinguda de Pedralbes, some of Gaudí's earliest and most overlooked commissions. It's an easy but rewarding detour in one of the most peaceful local neighborhoods in Barcelona.
9. Get lost in Barcelona’s labyrinth garden
Parc del Laberint d’Horta is a little-visited but lovely park at the edge of the city, and the oldest garden in Barcelona.
Barcelona’s oldest garden is also one of its most playful, and another spot to add onto an alternative Barcelona itinerary. Tucked into the hillside at the edge of the city, Parc del Laberint d’Horta feels wonderfully removed from the rest of urban buzz. Its headline act is its labyrinth, a tangle of tall green hedges with pathways that weave and wind their ways past dead-ends to a neoclassical pavilion at the center.
Beyond the labyrinth, explore more landscaped terraces rising through romantic gardens, with a scattering of statues, hidden staircases wreathed in ivy, and shaded viewpoints overlooking the city. It’s much quieter than the central parks in Barcelona, making it ideal to escape from the crowds.
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