Things to do
Sagrada Família
This basilica, Gaudi's magnum opus, needs no introduction. While you can just appreciate its ever-unfinished exterior for free, you really want to buy tickets to admire the inside. Make sure to do so a few months in advance, because they sell out fast, and to do it from the official website - google will point you towards sponsored yet unofficial sites that are both more expensive and less secure.
Passeig de Gràcia
The most impressive and upscale shopping avenue in Barcelona. It is surrounded by Modernist architecture, including two famous buildings by Gaudi (Casa Batllò and Casa Milà). It ends at Plaça de Catalunya, from where you can continue towards les Rambles for more sightseeing, or Passeig del Angel for more shopping.
LES RAMBLES
Les Rambles, Barcelona’s most famous boulevard, is a lively promenade stretching from Plaça de Catalunya to the Columbus Monument at the waterfront, bordering the Gothic Quarter and near the Mercat de la Boqueria, Gran Teatre del Liceu, and the Plaça Reial. Always bustling, we do not recommend actually walking along the whole boulevard, but instead to go in and out the parallel streets. Note that this area also has the highest concentration of pickpockets in the whole city, so please make sure to keep your belongings controlled at all times!
Gothic Quarter
The oldest part of the city, we recommend "getting lost" in its small streets. You can loop around in the area and check some of its many monuments, like the cathedral, the Palau de la Musica, or the Plaça Sant Jaume with the city's townhall and Catalunya's Parlament.
Montjuïc
One of the hills surrounding Barcelona, and with plenty to see from its foothill to its top. Start from Plaça Espanya and walk up to the monumental MNAC art museum (or come at night to enjoy the magic fountain in front of it). Walk up the hill to enjoy an impressive view of the city, the Miramar gardens, the castle, or the Olympic stadium.
Tibidabo
Another one of the surrounding hills, and a bit out of the way, Tibidabo offers breathtaking panoramic views of the city. The church of Temple Expiatori del Sagrat Cor dominates the skyline, with an observation deck at the top for unbeatable city vistas. Right next door, the Tibidabo Amusement Park, one of the oldest in Europe, blends vintage charm with thrilling rides. For nature lovers, the Collserola Natural Park provides scenic hiking trails and peaceful green spaces.
Park Güell
A bit out of the way from the other attractions in the city, this UNESCO-listed complex designed by Gaudi comprises natural gardens and whimsical architecture. If you are interested in his work, this is a can't-miss-it stop during your stay in Barcelona. Once again, when buying tickets, make sure you use the official website (https://parkguell.barcelona/en), rather than the fake Google-sponsored ones.
Sitges
This beautiful Mediterranean town is just 21 miles southwest of Barcelona, and a 15 min drive away from our wedding venue. It is primarily a seaside town, with more than a dozen beaches in the region, but there is more to it than just sand. There are beautiful seaside avenues, a network of quaint and walkable streets, and a handful of museums to keep you busy on a day trip.
Costa Brava
If you are staying longer, there are many other towns and cities to visit nearby! La Costa Brava is most known for its sandy beaches, but there is plenty to see even outside swimming season. - Girona (regional capital, with plenty of historic monuments to see) - Tossa de Mar (historic seaside town) - Calella de Palafrugell (picturesque fishing town) - Cadaquès (bohemian seaside town) - Besalù (medieval town) - Empuries (greco-roman town ruins) - Cap de Creus Natural Park (natural preserve of geological interest next to the sea) - Figueres (Theatre-Museum Dalí and Sant Ferran castle)
What to eat in Barcelona
Catalan cuisine is characterized by simple dishes with quality ingredients. Some of the most well-known dishes are: - Pa amb tomaquet (toast with tomato and olive oil), - Escalivada (appetizer of roasted veggies), - Escudella (meat and chickpea stew), - Butifarra amb mongetes (sausage with white beans), - Suquet de peix (fish soup), - Arroç negre (rice with seafood and squid ink), - Crema catalana (essentially crême brulée) Also very well-known as a Spanish product are "embutidos", cold cuts such as ham/jamón, chorizo or salchichón, which you must try before you leave. Tapas (and their cousins pintxos and montaditos) and paella are not really traditional in the region. The former is likely to be overpriced near main streets, the latter is almost always a tourist trap.
Where to eat in Barcelona
As long as you avoid going inside the first restaurant you see next to a tourist attraction, you are likely to enjoy whatever you find in Barcelona. Still, here are some recommendations: - La Dama (modernist building in Diagonal) - Las 7 Puertas (since 1836, rice dishes) - Bodega Biarritz (tapas bar) - Bar Cañete (classic dishes, good fish) - Los Caracoles (snails!) - Els 4 gats (historic bar/restaurant) - La pepita (bocadillos in Gracia) - Restaurante Martinez (in Montjuic) - La Venta (in Tibidabo) - El pez vela (in Barceloneta) Note that meals in Spain are late compared to other countries! Expect lunch between 13:00 and 16:00, and dinner no earlier than 20:00. Tips aren't expected except if you are coming in large groups, in which case you can give between 5 and 10%.