Top 10 Tourist Attractions Barcelona 2024 - Top Ten Barcelona Things to to

Top 10 Tourist attractions Barcelona

2024 Barcelona top ten sights and things to do. Maps & Tips.

Updated September 2024

Welcome to Barcelona and to our local, up-to-date list of Barcelona's Top 10 essential tourist attractions. Find Top 10 tips, map and advice for planning. See also our 3 day Barcelona guide, and our useful where to stay page and our good to know Barcelona tips. When you read this page, you might ask yourself: what about the Camp Nou stadium and the Magic Fountain? Both are temporarily closed. The legendary Camp Nou football stadium is under renovation, and the Magic Fountain is temporarily closed following a prolonged drought and works. We also invite you to visit our Barcelona events page for events for September 2024.

Number 1 

La Sagrada Familia

Top Ten tourist attractions Barcelona
La Sagrada Familia - famous unfinished church by Antoni Gaudí

Top Ten Barcelona Things to to

Number 1. La Sagrada Familia temple. The fabulous and unfinished temple of La Sagrada Familia (The Holy family) is the top 'must-see' for Barcelona visitors. It's spectacular! This unique and unusual church is Barcelona's most famous attraction - and also Spain's most visited attraction. This temple was designed by the renowned Catalan/Spanish architecht Antoni Gaudi. Construction started in 1882 and hopes to finish in the next 10 years. It's famous both for being unfinished, and for the extraordinary design.

History of Sagrada Familia. The foundation stone was laid in the year 1882 when the area around the basilica was mostly fields. It's taken a long time to build because the construction is privately funded and work has slowed or stopped at various turbulent times in Barcelona's history. The spectacular interior was completed and opened in 2012. Experiencing the interior is a unique experience and visitors love the sunlight streaming through colorful stained glass windows. The outside is still under construction and around 80% was completed in 2023.

When will it be finished? Well, it was hoped that it would be finished by 2026 to coincide with the 100th anniversary of Gaudi's death, but the pandemic stopped that. In 2024, it was announced that construction would continue longer, maybe even until 2034, which would be 152 years after the foundation stone was laid on March 19, 1882. Gaudi only lived to see part of his creation. He was tragically hit by a tram in 1926 and died of his injuries a few days later.  At the time of his death, only the nativity facade was complete. Gaudi knew the temple would take decades to build, and he is famously quoted as having said, 'My client is not in a hurry,' inferring that God was his client. See how the finished Sagrada Familia will look  and see the construction timeline.

How to visit. TYou can see the exterior from the street free of charge, but the interior is definately worth seeing. Tickets are only sold online. At the basilica you can buy online tickets using the direct purchase QR codes around the Basilica but availability is based on occupancy so to be sure of a visit inside, order iofficial tickets tickets well in advance, especially in peak vacation periods. Plan to spend 1 to 2 hours to see the interior. To get to the Sagrada familia address, you can go by hop-on-hop-off bus - or by metro to station Sagrada Familia. See map and try the virtual tour to get a sneak peak.

How long does it take to visit Sagrada Familia? The exterior of the Sagrada Familia takes 15 to 30 minutes to see and is free of charge. To explore the interior, plan for 1 to 2 hours, depending on the type of ticket you buy.

Ticket prices:
Official Tickets Sagrada Familia - various prices
Tickets via GetYourGuide
Ticket prices

Top Visitor tip:
Tickets are online available online.

Visitor Tip:
Dress respectfully by covering shoulders inside. See full Sagrada Familia dress code in visitor rules.

Opening times:
Open all year, but closed for some services and special religious events.

November to February:
Monday to Saturday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Sundays from 10:30 am to 6:00 pm.

March to October:
Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm.
Saturdays from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Sundays from 10:30 am to 7:00 pm.

April to September:
Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm.
Saturdays from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Sundays from 10:30 am to 8:00 pm.

X Sagrada Familia
Google maps location
Getting to Sagrada Familia
Pictures Sagrada Familia
Gaudi buildings Barcelona
Hotels near Sagrada Familia



Number 2
Ciutat Vella - Medieval area

Top Ten attractions in Barcelona
Medieval area of Barcelona which consists of several neighbourhoods 

gothic_quarter_barrio_gotico_barcelona

Number 2. The Cuitat Vella district is the medieval city of Barcelona. Some people confuse area names and think that all of the medieval area is called the Gothic area but there are actually several areas in Barcelona's medieval area. The Gothic area - Barrio Gotico - is the most central and the oldest. The Gothic area grew around the ancient Roman town of Barcino which is Barcelona's origin. Book a Gothic quarter walking tour. The gothic part of the city has many beautiful churches, plazas, markets and museums and you can see parts of the old Roman walls. If you visit the Barcelona history musuem Museu d'Història de la Ciutat you can see remains of Roman city houses and streets underneath the museum. Also worth visiting are neighbourhoods of El Born, Barceloneta and Raval in the Cuitat Vella district. They have many interesting sights including Santa Maria del Mar church, the Picasso museum and more. The Cuitat Vella area is best seen on foot because large tour buses cannot drive through the narrow streets. There are no dangerous areas in the Cuitat Vella quarter during the day and evening but be aware of Barcelona pickpockets and apply caution in early hours of morning in Raval area. 

Opening times & Ticket prices
The Cuitat Vella area is always open and FREE to visit
  
PIctures Gothic Barcelona
Walking tour Gothic area


Number 3
Picasso Museum

Top Ten attractions in Barcelona
Picasso Museum. A permanent collection of Picasso's life in Barcelona and early works.

Top Ten Barcelona sights

Number 3. Picasso Musuem. Barcelona's most famous museum is located in the Born area of Barcelona's Ciutat Vella medieval city near the places where Pablo Picasso lived in Barcelona in his youth. Picasso was born on October 25th, 1881 in Malaga in the south of Spain. In 1895, when he was 14 years old, the Picasso family moved to Barcelona. Picasso lived in Barcelona until 1904 after which he emigrated to France at the age of 23. Picasso's father was an art teacher and initiated his early artistic education. His most formative years were spent in Barcelona, where he held his debut exhibition. Although the Picasso Museum in Barcelona may not house the most famous Picasso paintings, it has a remarkable collection of 4,000 early sketches and canvases and these pieces chronicle the remarkable evolution from an young art student to the world's most celebrated artist.

How to visit: The museum is housed in several adjoining gothic mansions in the Born part of Barcelona's medieval city. The nearest metro station Jaume I and then 10 mins walk. See map

Visitor Tip 1: Tickets are only available online. Buy official Picasso museum tickets.
Visitor Tip 2: Free admission on first Sunday of month all day and free every Thursday after 6pm.

Opening times & ticket prices
Closed Mondays, except public holidays
See all opening times

Related pages:
Google map location
Address Picasso Museum
Top Barcelona museums 

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Number 4
La Rambla street

Top Ten attractions in Barcelona
La Rambla – Barcelona's most famous street

Barcelona top ten tourist attractions

Number 4. La Rambla street. Free attraction. La Rambla is Barcelona's main tourist street and the most famous street in Barcelona. This street is also called Las Ramblas (plural of La Rambla) because it has different street sections, each with its own Rambla name. The Rambla connects the central square Plaça de Catalunya to the Port Vell marina and Mediterranean sea. La Rambla is undeniably touristy, yet it retains plenty of charm and history and remains a 'must-see.' Is La Rambla safe? Yes, La Rambla is safe to visit, but pickpockets are omnipresent, so keep a hand on all personal items. In the very early morning hours, from 2 a.m to 6 a.m., be careful on La Rambla especially around the part of La Rambla near the harbour. See map.  

Visitor tip 1: Lookout for pickpockets on La Rambla at all times.

Visitor tip 2: Always ask about meal prices and portion sizes on La Rambla before ordering. 

Opening times and ticket prices
La Rambla street is always open and FREE to visit

Google maps location
Address La Rambla
Pictures La Rambla


Number 5
Park Güell by Gaudi

Top Ten attractions in Barcelona
Park Güell – Gaudi's modernist park

parc_guell_gaudi_barcelona

Number 5. Park Güell. Park Güell is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered to one of Gaudi's most artistic works. Park Güell is a Barcelona top attraction and must-see. The park is on Carmel hill so seeing this attraction involves a 900m uphill walk if you take the hop-on-hop-off bus or arrive from metro station Vallcarca. If you prefer not to walk, then take a taxi to the Park Güell front gate.

Park Güell History: The original idea of Park Güell came from Eusebi Güell. He wanted to develop a private and exclusive residential garden village outside the city centre with plots of land for 60 houses. The plan didn't work. Perhaps because the location was too remote in those days - or perhaps because few people appreciated Gaudi's fairytale designs. Only two houses were ever built in Park Güell. After Guell's death in 1923 the park was donated by the Güell family to Barcelona to be used as a public park.
See map

Opening times & Ticket prices
Park Güell is open daily all year

Google maps location
TICKETS skip-the-line Park Guell
Address Parc Guell
Pictures Parc Guell
Biography Antoni Gaudi


Number 6
Casa Mila - La Pedrera

Top Ten attractions in Barcelona
Modernist building in Barcelona

la_pedrera_casa_mila_gaudi_barcelona

Number 6. Casa Mila - 'La Pedrera'. Gaudi's famous modernist apartment building on elegant shopping street Passeig de Gracia street called Casa Mila - and nicknamed 'La Pedrera' (the Quarry) because of its striking design. In the summer months there are usually weekly concerts on the rooftop terrace of the building La Pedrera. Modernisme was a Catalan cultural movement centred in Barcelona and Catalonia from 1888 to 1911. It is most famous for its architectural expression, in particular seen in the many works of Antoni Gaudí. Barcelona has many beautiful modernist structures, with three of them conveniently situated in the same city block on Passeig de Gracia street, close to Casa Mila. The city block with three famous modernist buildings is nicknamed 'Illa de la Discòrdia' - the 'Block of Discord' because the style of the three modernist building is so different. The three buildings are Casa Amatller, the magical Casa Batlló and the Casa Lleó-Morera. In the summer months there are usually weekly concerts on the rooftop terraces of La Pedrera and Casa Batllo. 

Opening times & ticket prices

TICKETS La Pedrera DAY
Address Casa Mila
Modernist architecture
Gaudi buildings

Number 7
Montjuic hill & Poble Espanyol

Top Ten attractions in Barcelona
Montjuic hill, Montjuic castle and El Poble Espanyol (Spanish Village)
  
montjuic_castle_barcelona

Number 7. Montjuic hill, Montjuic castle and Poble Espanyol Spanish Village. Montjuic hill is a lovely place to spend an afternoon or day in good weather. The Montjuic area has various parks and attractions including a former military fort on the summit called Montjuic Castle, which has a rich and dark history, and fantastic city and sea views. Montjuic castle is open daily all year. Another attraction on Montjuic hill is the quirky Spanish village called Poble Espanyol. This is a unique celebration of Spanish culture and architecture. It was originally built for the Barcelona 1929 World Fair as a showcase village of Spain's different regional architectural styles. The idea was that you can see 'all of Spain' in one village. The popularity of the village, both with visitors and locals, led the city to preserve the village as a permanent attraction after the world exhibition ended. Today, Poble Espanyol has numerous cafes, nightclubs, restaurants and more than 40 artisan craft shops and workshops. It is also home to the popular El Tablao de Carmen flamenco show.

Visitor tip. The flamenco show includes 1 hour free entrance to Poble Espanyol. See map. This attraction is on hop-on-hop-off bus routes or take metro L1 or L3 to nearest metro station Espanya and then it is a 20 minute walk to Poble Espanyol.

Opening times & Ticket prices
Montjuic castle is open daily all year with few exceptions for special events.

Tickets Montjuic Castle
TICKETS Montjuic cable car
Address Montjuic Castle

Poble Espanyol village is open daily all year

TICKETS Poble Espanyol
Address Poble Espanyol


Number 8
Tibidabo hill

Top Ten attractions in Barcelona
Tibadabo hill, Sagrat Cor church & Tibidabo amusement park

sagrat_cor_church_on_hill_barcelona

Number 8. Tibidabo. A visit to Tibadabo hill is a fun thing to do in Barcelona and perfect for families with children. The views of Barcelona from Tibidabo hill are fantastic. The Sagrat Cor church on Tibidabo hill is open all day all year and is free to visit. Below the peak, Tibidabo hill also has a vintage amusement park, called Tibidabo. It is open from March to September and during festive seasons. Check the amusement park opening times to  plan a visit. The Tibidabo Panoramic Area with wonderful views of Barcelona is free and open every day (except for some weeks in February for annual maintenance) You can reach the Tibadabo hill top by bus and mountain railway called Cuca de Llum which starts at Plaça del Doctor Andreu and end at the top of Avinguda Tibidabo

See map and how to get to Tibidabo

Useful Tibidabo pages

Google maps location
TIckets Tibidabo funfair
Address Tibadabo
Pictures Tibadabo

Number 9
Montserrat monastery

Top Ten attractions in Barcelona
Montserrat monastery & mountain - 1 hour from Barcelona

top-10-barcelona-montserrat

Number 9. Montserrat monastery & Mountain. 1 hour from Barcelona. Montserrat mountain and monastery near Barcelona. Montserrat is a mountain, a 1000 year old abbey and monastery, a basilica church and the shrine of the famous and sacred effigy of the Virgin Mary, the Lady of Montserrat, which is a black Madonna affectionately called 'La Moreneta' in the Catalan language, which means the 'little dark one.' The Montserrat monastery was founded in 1025 by Abbot Oliba. Montserrat celebrates its millennium anniversary for 15 months from September 7th 2024 until December 8th, 2025. The millenium celebrations comprise religious, cultural and social activities and a music festival with fifteen concerts

Opening times
Open all year

Tickets
The surroundings are free to visit. Tickets are needed to visit interior of Basilica and Virgin of Montserrat shrine and to listen to the boys choir.

Getting there:
Book train
Train information
Book Small group tour

Useful Montserrat pages

Google maps location
Address Montserrat
Pictures Montserrat

Books set in Barcelona

While you visit Barcelona why not read a fun, interesting, exciting book about Barcelona or set in Barcelona. Find them on our Barcelona book list
Top books set Barcelona


Top day tours outside Barcelona

Top attractions near Barcelona that can be visited in one day or half a day.

Private day tour Montserrat - small groups - hotel pickup




day tour barcelona to andorra

Map Top 10 Tourist Attractions Barcelona


Open Fullscreen Top Ten Google maps Barcelona




Other Top 10 Day Tours from Barcelona

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This pages also answers the questions:

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Last Updated on Thursday, 19 September 2024 09:12
 

Thursday, 21 November 2024


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