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Top Things to Do in Barcelona, Spain

Here’s a quick list of Barcelona’s must-see spots if you’re planning your own adventure.

1. Visit La Sagrada Familia
This iconic basilica is Antoni Gaudí’s masterpiece and one of Barcelona’s most famous landmarks. Even if you don’t go inside, the exterior alone is jaw-dropping. Construction began in 1882, and it’s still unfinished, which somehow makes it even more impressive.

2. Stroll La Rambla and La Boqueria Market
La Rambla is Barcelona’s best-known boulevard, lined with street performers, shops, and cafes. Just off the main stretch is La Boqueria, a vibrant food market filled with fresh fruit, local treats, and quick bites that are perfect for grazing while exploring.

3. Explore the Gothic Quarter (Barri Gòtic)
Wandering the Gothic Quarter feels like stepping back in time. This area is packed with narrow medieval streets, hidden plazas, small cafes, and historic buildings, including the Barcelona Cathedral. It’s one of the most atmospheric parts of the city.

4. See Gaudí’s Other Masterpieces
Barcelona’s architectural magic doesn’t stop at Sagrada Familia. Casa Batlló and Casa Milà, also known as La Pedrera, are two of Gaudí’s most famous works and showcases his signature flowing lines and imaginative design.

5. Arc de Triomf and Ciutadella Park
Start at the Arc de Triomf, a striking brick arch built for the 1888 World Fair, and continue into Ciutadella Park. This green space is perfect for a walk, a break from sightseeing, or just enjoying the slower side of the city.

6. Relax on the Beaches
Barcelona’s beaches are surprisingly close to the city center. Barceloneta, Nova Icaria, and Bogatell are easy to reach and ideal when you need a break from museums, architecture, and walking endlessly uphill.

My Trip to Barcelona

Barcelona is one of those cities that hits you immediately. The architecture feels alive, the food is impossible to ignore, and every neighborhood has its own personality. From wandering narrow streets in the Gothic Quarter to standing in front of Gaudí’s unreal buildings, it’s a place that constantly pulls you in different directions.

We arrived in Barcelona by train and spent our days walking, eating, and exploring without a strict plan, which turned out to be the best way to experience the city. This post covers what we did, what stood out the most, and a few practical Barcelona travel tips and highlights without feeling overwhelmed.

Apartment

We got an apartment in the Urgell area. (this listing is from the same company but I can’t find the one I got to link it to) It was a great apartment! The listing said it was a 2 bedroom, but we were surprised when it was actually 3. Additionally, the pictures showed a small balcony but in reality, there was also a large outdoor patio complete with furniture. It was very comfortable, clean and perfect for our group. I liked the apartment a lot and the company that runs it seems great. In the apartment there were all the toiletries including a dental kit and slippers. There was also a small welcome kit with coffee, tea, tiny bottles of Spanish olive oil and red wine vinegar. It was also in a good location. There was plenty around the area and it was also very close to the metro stop, which made getting around Barcelona really easy. 

Barcelona hits you from every angle — architecture that feels alive, food that elevates every walk, and neighborhoods so rich in character you forget you took a train to get here. Below are some of our favorites from this trip, plus tips to help you plan your own adventure.

Exploring the city

On our first night in Barcelona, we went out for Mexican and Latin food at Kiltro Restobar. I always find a Mexican restaurant everywhere I go for a few reasons: first, I love Mexican food and I grew up on it, second, I like to see how others do it, and third, we don’t have any great Mexican restaurants anywhere near me in the Algarve and I don’t go home often. The place was highly rated and it was deserved. The food and drinks were delicious, it had a great vibe with authentic decorations and they were very knowledgeable about gluten and what I could eat. You can read more about it here on my post about everything I ate in Barcelona. After the restaurant, we went to a brewery and had a couple of drinks. We called it an early night though because it had been a very long day of traveling. 

Here’s my Barcelona eats post for celiac-friendly meals

The next day we went to the convention but it was very disorganized. It was rough getting in even though we had prepaid tickets. Additionally, it was raining and cold and some areas were very muddy. By the time we got in, all our spirits were a little down so we didn’t actually stay for a very long time, just a couple of hours. We made our way back and took a nap before heading out to explore the city. 

That evening we grabbed some food and then headed over to see the Sagrada Familia which I was so excited to see. I have always seen pictures and heard about how it’s been under construction for over 100 years, I couldn’t wait to see it in person. Let me tell you, the pictures of this place do not do it even the slightest bit of justice. From the second I walked off the escalator from the metro and saw my first glance, I was speechless. Antoni Gaudi was a genius with his designs and there aren’t enough words in the English language to describe how brilliant and beautiful it was. It is breathtaking! It was already dark by the time we went, and it was cold and rainy so there weren’t a lot of people around. The combination though made it possible to get some really amazing pictures from all sides of it. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to go inside but I will absolutely be going back to Barcelona to do all the other things I missed so I will next time. After the Sagrada Familia, we went to an Irish Bar to warm up and chill out after another long and exhausting day with a delicious cider. 

More exploring

We had decided beforehand that on the next day of our trip, we would skip the convention and explore the city because it was going to be sunny and no rain. We planned out a rough agenda and set out to see some sights. Our first stop was a 100% gluten-free bakery and got some treats and explored that area. There were lots of cool vintage shops and boutiques. From there we headed to the Plaza de Catalunya area. We hit up a couple restaurants and had drinks and snacks while we made our way towards Casa Batllo and Casa Mila, both places were also designed by Antoni Gaudi and were also so visually stunning. His influence on the whole city was just amazing. I can’t wait to go back and see more. After Casa Batlló and Casa Milà we could’ve also swung by Barceloneta beach or checked out views from Montjuïc — so much to see in this city, but since it was cold, we didn’t want to go to the beach.

We spent the rest of the day wandering around and just exploring with a few random food breaks.  If you know me, you know I love big cities. The energy I feel just makes me happy so I am always content just wandering the streets and seeing whatever I can and trying different foods and drinks along the way. That evening we met up with a couple of other friends,  had dinner, and hung out. 

The next morning we got up and got ready to head to the convention. We hit a couple roadblocks (literally) along the way. First, we were going to take a taxi to the convention center but there was actually a marathon going on that day so we had to walk for forever until we got past the blocked-off race area. Then on the way, my husband started feeling sick. We had to have the driver pull over because he was going to be sick, and then spent the next hour and a half on a bench until he felt better. We made it back to the apartment where he was able to rest. 

Luckily after a few hours, Karl was feeling better and we decided to head out and do some more exploring as it was our last night in Barcelona. We took the metro over to the Arc de Triomf. From there we walked towards the El Born neighborhood. El Born is a trendy neighborhood in a medieval area. It was really cool because there were so many cool boutiques, restaurants and bars. We actually wandered across a really cool bar called Especiarium. It looked really cool from the outside so we wandered in. It actually turned out to be voted one of the best bars in the world, for good reason, it had a really cool aesthetic and the drinks and hummus were delicious. All the drinks are based on spices and have a tie to the city. It was probably the coolest place we went in the city. Read more about it here. 

From the El Born neighborhood, we wandered to the Gothic Quarter. This was another really cool area. All the streets are so old and the buildings too. It’s really weird to think how old everything is and how far back people have been wandering the same streets, being amazed by the architecture and feeling what I felt at that moment. The Barcelona Cathedral is in this area and it is also so beautiful. It was night and closed so again, I didn’t get to see the inside. It was really great though because there were a couple of different street performers. One was a girl who sang beautifully, we watched her and danced in the square with the others. The other was 2 men who were singing opera on the side of the church. The alleyway they were at had amazing acoustics so they sounded incredible. It was a great way to end our evening. 

The next morning we headed back to the train station and back to Portugal. 

Barcelona Travel Planner (Quick Info)

Planning Your Trip to Barcelona, Spain

Best time to visit
Spring and fall are ideal, with warm days and fewer crowds. Summer is lively but hot, especially if you plan to walk everywhere, which you will.

How long to stay
Three to four days is a great amount of time to see Barcelona’s highlights without feeling rushed. You could do it in two, but why stress yourself out on vacation. And if you can do longer, do it! There is so much to see and do, its such a cool city.

Getting around
Barcelona is very walkable, and the metro is easy to use and affordable. Between walking and public transport, you really don’t need a car.

Don’t miss
Seeing La Sagrada Familia (especially lit up at night), wandering the Gothic Quarter, strolling La Rambla, visiting Casa Batlló or Casa Milà, and spending some time near the beach.

Good to know
Popular attractions sell out quickly, so booking tickets in advance can save you time and lines. Also, expect lots of walking. Comfortable shoes are not optional.

Barcelona was absolutely amazing. I definitely want to go back and see everything we missed. I love that it’s not that hard to get there from Tavira. Flying is even easier but I wanted to experience the train. But either way, it’s just so easy to get there and to so many other places in Europe. There are still so many places I want to go. This was such a big part of why we moved to Europe. Life was good in Las Vegas but there’s something so different about my life now. I’m experiencing so much more and seeing so many amazing places. This world is so big and I just want to see it all. When I’m 90, I want to look back and remember the nights I danced in the streets of Lisbon and Barcelona, and the food I ate in Paris, and all the other memories I haven’t made yet and just be happy knowing that I got to live. 

Thank you for reading. Be sure to follow me on Instagram to see more of my adventures as an expat in Portugal and more of my daily life. 💙

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