Things to do & places to visit in Catalonia, Spain

From stylish Barcelona to sunny resort towns on the Costa Brava and Costa Dorada, Catalonia offers a wealth of attractions. Barcelona attracts those who love Gaudi's architecture, hot nightlife and thrilling restaurants. Elegant Tarragona's Roman ruins and amphitheater add to its historical appeal. Beach lovers flock to Mediterranean playgrounds including pine back-dropped Cape Salou, stunning Costa de Garraf, home to gay-popular beach resort Sitges, and the 40 sandy miles of La Maresme.

Catalonia #1 destination in Spain 2023. The average rating score is 4.41 based on 812.0k traveler reviews, of 171 attractions. Timezone: Europe/Madrid, current date and time: Monday, April 29, 2024, 13:14.

Top things to do (30)

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 Vila Vella (Old Town) (2.479 reviews)
- A really interesting area
Historic Sites

This National Monument is the only surviving walled city on the Catalan coast. See more..
5.0 Rafting Catalunya (1.716 reviews)
- Super Fun
Monday: 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM River Rafting & Tubing • Canyoning & Rappelling Tours

Went rafting on July 11th with Aleix from Llavorsí to Sort. We had a fantastic time from minute one as all the staff were super friendly and more importantly highly experienced and professional. We enjoyed the rapids as well as floating on calmer waters and jumping into the river from a bridge and thanks to Aleix we always felt safe but had a lot of fun. He also managed very well the atmosphere on the boat as he had the challenge to communicate in three languages: Catalan, English and Spanish. Aleix and all the other guides went out of their way to ensure that absolutely everybody could join in regardless of age, fitness, health etc. Thanks very much from Mons, Jac and Liz. See more..
4.5 Basílica de la Sagrada Familia (166.0k reviews) from $53.53
- Breathtaking
Monday: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks • Architectural Buildings • Churches & Cathedrals

The Basilica de la Sagrada Familia is a church devoted to the Holy Family. One of Antoni Gaudi’s most famous works, the church is perhaps best known for still being under construction since 1882—with works funded purely by donations. Take a lift to the top of the towers for a panoramic view of the city and marvel at the ornate architecture. The nativity facade and crypt have also been awarded UNESCO World Heritage Status. Skip the line with a pre-booked tour with tower access, or combine your visit with another of Gaudi's work, Parc Guell. – Tripadvisor See more..
4.5 Casa Batlló (58.0k reviews) from $37.47
- very much enjoyed tour
Monday: 9:00 AM - 8:15 PM Spent 1-2 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks • Architectural Buildings

Nicknamed the "House of Bones" for its distinctive skeletal exterior, this private house along the Passeig de Gracia was famously designed by renowned architect, Gaudi. See more..
4.5 Gothic Quarter (Barri Gotic) (40.4k reviews)
- Take time to wander the narrow streets and discover the hidden magic.
Spent 2-3 hours Neighborhoods • Historic Walking Areas

Stroll through the historic center of medieval Barcelona and visit some of the city's most important political buildings and gothic architecture. See more..
4.5 Camp Nou (40.3k reviews) from $16.06
- Great visit, just not great value for money
Monday: 10:00 AM - 6:30 PM Spent 2-3 hours Arenas & Stadiums

This gigantic stadium is the largest soccer stadium in Europe, with a seating capacity of 100,000 See more..
4.5 The Magic Fountain (29.6k reviews)
- Amazing show
Monday: Spent 1-2 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks • Fountains

A combination display of water, music and light which was originally built in 1929. It was restored in 1992 and provides a spectacular show every half hour. See more..
4.5 Mercat de la Boqueria (26.5k reviews)
- Don't miss it !!
Spent 1-2 hours Farmers Markets

Officially known as the Mercat de San Josep as it was built on a former monastery, La Boqueria is a popular food market along Barcelona's touristy La Rambla stretch. Dating back to the 13th century, this colorful market is the largest in the city, home to more than 300 stalls renowned for selling some of the freshest produce—including meats, vegetables, cold cuts, sweets, and seafood. Join a food and drink tasting tour with a local to better enjoy the delicious delicacies on display and learn more about the market's history. The market can be easily reached by the metro. – Tripadvisor See more..
4.5 Suntransfers (25.4k reviews)
- Highly Recommend
Monday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent < 1 hour Taxis & Shuttles

Suntransfers offers reliable, low-cost airport, port and train station transfers by taxi, minivan, minibus, coach and shuttle in more than 500 airports and travel gateways worldwide. See more..
4.5 Casa Milà - La Pedrera (23.6k reviews) from $26.77
- Entry fees quite a lot so we didnt go inside and just viewed from the street.
Monday: 9:00 AM - 11:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks • Architectural Buildings

Casa Mila, popularly known as La Pedrera, is a most unusual building, constructed between 1906 and 1912 by the architect Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926) and declared UNESCO World Heritage in 1984. Today it is the headquarters of Fundacio Catalunya La Pedrera and houses a cultural centre that is a reference point in Barcelona for the range of activities it organises and the different spaces for exhibitions and other public uses it contains. A visit to La Pedrera, landmark building and container, gives us a better understanding and appreciation of architecture and transports us to the period when Antoni Gaudi lived. See more..
4.5 Palace of Catalan Music (18.8k reviews) from $17.13
- Absolute gem
Monday: 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM Spent < 1 hour Architectural Buildings • Theaters

The Palau, an icon of modernist architecture in downtown Barcelona The Palau de la Música Catalana is one of the most representative monuments of the city and It is one of the most recommended tourist attractions of Barcelona. Built between 1905 and 1908 by the great architect Lluis Domènech i Montaner, the Palau de la Música Catalana is an architectural jewel of Catalonia and essential part of any visit to the city, as any of the most fascinating Gaudi buildings. This historical building, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997, offers an experience so magical that visitors fall in love with it. From the hand of experienced guides, the wonders of this architectural pearl discovered and visitors into a fantasy world full of details and references to the characteristic nature of modernist architecture. An essential visit in the list of top 10 things to see in Barcelona. See more..
4.5 Aerobús (18.1k reviews)
- Aerobus. Simple and Cheap transportation
Monday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent < 1 hour Bus Services • Taxis & Shuttles

Aerobus is the official shuttle bus that connects Barcelona Airport (terminals 1 & 2) to Barcelona's city center. Every 5 minutes, 24 hours, 365 days a year in just 35 minutes. Along the route the bus stops at several important points of the city: Plaça Espanya, Gran Via-Urgell, Placa Universitat and Plaça Catalunya. Faster. More frequent. Economical. WiFi and USB charge onboard. See more..
4.5 Passeig de Gracia (13.9k reviews)
- la crem de la crem
Points of Interest & Landmarks • Scenic Walking Areas

Major thoroughfare in Barcelona that is lined with shops, restaurants, bars and some of Gaudí's architectural masterpieces. See more..
4.5 Basílica de Santa Maria del Mar (13.9k reviews)
- Very worth it
Monday: 9:00 AM - 8:30 PM Spent < 1 hour Historic Sites • Architectural Buildings • Churches & Cathedrals

A jewel of the La Ribera neighborhood, this is Barcelona's last remaining Catalan Gothic-style church, with majestic naves and beautiful stained glass windows. See more..
4.5 Parc de Montjuic (11.2k reviews) from $12.85
- Best visit in town for us, recent Spanish history bought to life
Speciality Museums • Parks

Overlooking the city, it is an imposing military fort used by Franco throughout his time in power and as a fort up to 1950s, handed over by military only recently. Take the metro up to the cable car, worth taking to the top and walk diwn if the weather is good. Free entry first Sunday of the month and make sure to book the English language tour which goes into areas only recently revealed. See more..
4.5 Palau Güell (9.822 reviews) from $16.69
- Gaudi early works for a reasonable fee
Monday: Spent 1-2 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks • Architectural Buildings

This palace was the home of industrialist Eusebi Guell and was Antonio Gaudi's first major building in the city.. See more..
4.5 Barcelona Cathedral (9.807 reviews) from $21.41
- Don't forget the roof walk!
Spent < 1 hour Churches & Cathedrals

A beautiful gothic cathedral with stained glass windows dating back 500 years. See more..
4.5 Abadia de Montserrat (8.046 reviews)
- Excellent visit - 31 May 2022
Spent 2-3 hours Religious Sites

Benedictine monastery with a fantastic view of the surrounding hillside and town. See more..
4.5 Dali Theatre-Museum (7.865 reviews)
- Amazing experience
Spent More than 3 hours Art Museums

Instituted in 1974, this museum was built on the remains of the former Figueres Theater, and features a broad range of works of Salvador Dalí (1904-1989.) See more..
4.5 Parc de la Ciutadella (7.631 reviews)
- Oldest park in Barcelona
Spent 2-3 hours Parks

The 44 acres (18 hectares) are home to Castell dels Tres Dragons, the Umbracle (plant house) and Hivernacle (glass house). See more..
4.5 Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya - MNAC (7.301 reviews) from $12.85
- Saturday afternoon free and great cafe with views
Monday: Speciality Museums

An art museum containing hundreds of pieces from the medieval age to the 19th century. See more..
4.5 Plaça d'Espanya (5.566 reviews) from $8.79
- Amazing square
Points of Interest & Landmarks

One of the most beautiful squares I've seen and a landmark in Barcelona. In order to truly appreciate the beauty of that place, I recommend visiting it early in the morning, you'll only encounter a few joggers as opposed to a mass of tourists. We visited it at dawn and could admire the Montjuic castle. See more..
4.5 Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau (4.700 reviews) from $17.13
- llums de sant pau
Monday: 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM Spent 1-2 hours Architectural Buildings

Formerly Barcelona's most important hospital, this lavish art-nouveau complex is the seminal work of Catalan architect, Lluís Domènech i Montaner, and a UNESCO monument. See more..
4.5 CosmoCaixa (4.185 reviews)
- Great fun
Monday: 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM Spent More than 3 hours Speciality Museums • Science Museums • Children's Museums

CosmoCaixa offers its visitors a whole host of activities and permanent and temporary exhibitions to give anyone who is interested a greater insight into the world of science. The museum’s most distinctive attractions include the new permanent exhibition “The Universe Gallery” where visitors can learn about the cosmos and its evolution from the big bang to the present day. An interactive experience beginning with the creation of the cosmos and going on to explore the evolution of the species and the innermost workings of the human brain. The "Flooded Forest” recreates the ecosystem of the Amazon inside a glass house covering an area of 1,000 m2, which is home to piranhas, crocodiles and other animal and plant species typical of the area, and the “Geological Wall” consists of seven vast sections of genuine rock that allow us to interpret the world’s geology. See more..
4.5 Plaça Reial (4.116 reviews)
- The palm trees make this square special
Spent 1-2 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks

Known for its many outdoor venues, restaurants and nightclubs, Plaça Reial is a popular meeting place during the summer when open air concerts take place, and during other celebrations such as New Year’s Eve. See more..
4.5 Joan Miro Foundation (4.012 reviews)
- not to miss
Monday: Spent 1-2 hours Speciality Museums • Architectural Buildings • Art Museums

The Fundació Joan Miró was created by Miró himself, at first principally with works from his own private collection, with a desire to set up an internationally recognised centre in Barcelona for Miró scholarship and contemporary art research, and to disseminate the collection. The Fundació opened to the public on 10 June 1975 and has since become a dynamic centre in which Joan Miró's work coexists with cutting-edge contemporary art. The Fundació is located in a building designed by Josep Lluís Sert, making it one of the few museums anywhere in the world in which the complicity between artist and architect underpins the dialogue between the works and the space that houses them. The Fundació offers an overview of the landscapes of Joan Miró's art and life, creating an enriching dialogue with other artists from the 20th and 21st centuries. See more..
4.5 El Born (3.977 reviews)
- Between the Basilica and Picasso
Neighborhoods

Off-beat and fashionable neighborhood that features historic attractions, art galleries, funky shops, bars and tapas. See more..
4.5 Illuminated Fountain (3.868 reviews)
- Well worth taking in the fountains at nighttime
Fountains

Well worth taking in the fountains at nighttime. Plenty of restaurants and bars to sit and take in the views. See more..
4.5 Girona Cathedral (3.478 reviews)
- Supreme
Historic Sites • Religious Sites

This 15th-century cathedral has the second-widest nave in the world. See more..
4.5 Salvador Dalí House (3.469 reviews) from $20.66
- Impressive museum in Dali's former residence
Historic Sites • Art Museums

Built in the 1930s, this was the summer home of the famous artist Salvador Dalí. See more..