Barcelona offers so much that it is easy to get lost. Here are ten stops not to miss on a first visit, with some practical tips. For an introduction see our Barcelona guide.
- Sagrada Família: Gaudí's unfinished masterpiece, with its forest-of-columns interior lit by stained glass. Book a timed entry online, possibly with a tower climb.
- Park Güell: the ceramic salamander, the hypostyle hall and the serpentine bench overlooking the city. The monumental zone requires a timed ticket.
- Casa Batlló and La Pedrera: two modernista houses on Passeig de Gràcia, both by Gaudí; La Pedrera's rooftop, with its warrior chimneys, is unforgettable, including on evening visits.
- Gothic Quarter and cathedral: medieval lanes, the cathedral with its cloister of thirteen geese, Plaça del Rei, the Roman remains at the Barcelona History Museum and Plaça Reial.
- The Rambla and La Boqueria: the most famous promenade, from Plaça de Catalunya to the port, with the great covered market.
- Santa Maria del Mar and El Born: the finest Catalan Gothic church, the Museu Picasso on carrer Montcada and the area's bars.
- Palau de la Música Catalana: Domènech i Montaner's modernista concert hall, with its stained-glass skylight; better still, attend a concert.
- Montjuïc: the MNAC with Romanesque frescoes, the Miró Foundation, the castle and, in the evening, the Magic Fountain show (check the schedule).
- Barceloneta and the beaches: the old fishermen's quarter, the seafront promenade and a rice dish with a view.
- Views: Tibidabo with its amusement park and Sagrat Cor church, or the Bunkers del Carmel, civil war anti-aircraft positions, for the city's most famous sunset.
Tips
- Two days cover the main sights; with three or four you can add museums and a trip to Montserrat, Sitges or Girona.
- Buy tickets for the Sagrada Família, Park Güell, Casa Batlló and La Pedrera online, days ahead in high season.
- Get around by metro and on foot; bikes are handy for the beaches and port.
- Watch out for pickpockets in crowded areas.
See also the museums and lifestyle.