Barcelona Tours & Cultural Attractions
With an abundance of cultural attractions, from awe-inspiring museums and art galleries to Gothic architecture and works by Catalan modern artist Antoni Gaudí, this Mediterranean city is not one to be missed. Not only does it provide a plethora of opportunities for learning about its history and culture, but it also offers plenty of chances for visitors to explore the city in a unique way, with a range of tours and experiences designed to help you get the most out of your stay.
Whether you’re looking for an interactive educational tour, a leisurely stroll through the old town, or a guided experience along some of Barcelona’s famous landmarks, you’ll find something to suit your tastes. Nowhere else will you be able to experience such a vibrant mix of culture, history, and art all contained within one city – it’s no wonder why so many people travel from around the world each year to visit Barcelona.
Barcelona Cultural Tours
Barcelona Cultural Tours – Enjoy the true essence of this lovely city!
Gaudi Walking Tours
Your cultural tour of Barcelona begins along Paseo de Gracia to see Gaudi’s famous apartment buildings, Casa Batllo and La Pedrera. It’s then on to Parc Guell, La Sagrada Familia, and then a visit to Barcelona’s Monumental Bull Ring and the famous Cathedral Sta Maria del Mar. The tour ends near the Picasso Museum.
Gothic Quarter Morning Walking Tour
Spend a morning taking a guided walk through Barcelona’s fascinating Gothic Quarter. It’s a great way to find your way around Barcelona and become familiar with the famous Gothic Quarter and its lively bars, tapas restaurants, and trendy boutiques.
Picasso Museum
If you are interested in Picasso, this is the tour for you. See the places the famous artist frequented in Barcelona during your walking tour, before a visit to Barcelona’s most visited museum – Picasso Museum. The Picasso Walking Tour shows you the Bohemian Barcelona in which Picasso lived.
Barcelona Photography Walking Tour
Photograph the outside of two of Gaudi’s masterpieces – La Pedrera (Casa Mila) and Casa Batlo. Photograph La Boqueria the best food market in Barcelona where you can experiment with shooting in low light. Continue to the Gothic Quarter, the old part of town, and walk along the original Roman road between medieval walls to photograph the narrow streets and town squares.
Barcelona Half-Day Bike Tour
A great way to get the most out of your visit is to join one of the city’s guided bike tours. Not only will you be able to take in the sights at your own pace, you’ll also have the opportunity to socialize with others on the tour and receive knowledgeable insights from an English-speaking guide. From exploring Barri Gotic and taking in the sites along La Rambla, to discovering lesser-known gems such as Parc de la Ciutadella, a bike tour of Barcelona promises to be a truly memorable experience.
Artistic Barcelona Afternoon Tour
Discover fabulous architecture by the incomparable Antoni Gaudi on an afternoon tour of Artistic Barcelona. Accompanied by your professional guide, you will visit the UNESCO-listed Parc Guell on this half-day tour, plus Barcelona’s most famous landmark, La Sagrada Familia.
Girona Figueras & Dali Museum Tour
Enjoy a day away from the hustle and bustle of the city. On this day trip from Barcelona, you will explore the historical city of Girona and see the hometown of renowned surrealist painter Salvador Dali including a visit to the Teatre-Museu Dali.
Montserrat and Artistic Barcelona Day Trip
Visit Montserrat in the morning and tour Barcelona’s Modernist attractions in the afternoon on this full-day sightseeing tour. You’ll travel outside Barcelona to Montserrat’s Royal Basilica, then explore Barcelona’s special Artistic heritage. After driving through picturesque little villages you will arrive at the craggy mountain of Montserrat and the Royal Basilica…
Architecture in Barcelona
Barcelona Cathedral can be found in the medieval Barri Gòtic (Gothic Quarter) and nearby is the Basilica de Santa Maria del Mar – a beautiful example of Catalan Gothic architecture.
Catalan Modernisme architecture developed between 1885 and 1950 in Barcelona and many of these buildings were designed by architects such as Antoni Gaudí, Lluís Domènech i Montaner, and Josep Puig i Cadafalch who designed the Casa Ametller in Passeig de Gràcia.
Many of these buildings are now World Heritage Sites and are visited by millions of visitors to Barcelona every year. Amongst the most popular are those in the Passeig de Gràcia of the Eixample district such as Casa Milà (La Pedrera) and the Casa Batlló. Nearby is Gaudí’s unfinished and breathtakingly beautiful La Sagrada Família. Not far away is his amazing modernist playground of Park Güell.
Antoni Gaudí
Antoni Gaudi (1852-1926) was born in Reus close to the city of Barcelona.
The legacy he left to this lovely city can be found in works such as Casa Milà, Casa Batlló, Palau Güell, Park Güell , and his most important and unfinished work – La Sagrada Familia.
His work has a fairy-tale magic! Hardly ever do you see a straight line – everything is curved and organic and the effect is totally stunning!
One of his early works was Casa Vicens which is at Carrer de les Carolines, 18-24, Gràcia District. It’s a private house built between 1883 and 1888 in the district of Lesseps (not far from the metro and Park Güell). The house has a Moorish style, built with stone, red bricks, and ceramics designed by Gaudi.
For some years (from 1906-1926) Gaudí lived in a house in Park Güell which was designed by Francesc Berenguer. To reach Park Güell you pass through the lovely bohemian area of Gràcia. It takes about 20 mins if you take the number 24 bus from Plaça Catalunya.
Most of his later years were spent living and sleeping in the workshop at La Sagrada Familia. Gaudí was hit by a tram in the streets of Barcelona in 1926 and died in hospital. He is buried in the crypt of La Sagrada Familia Catedral. His work can be seen all over the city and especially in the Eixample district along Passeig de Gracia.
His most famous works such as Casa Milà (La Pedrera) and Casa Batlló are here and the hexagonal squares and street lights along the Passeig de Gracia were all designed by Gaudí.
During the summer months, Casa Milà (also known as La Pedrera which means quarry in Spanish) is a great place to come and enjoy drinks and jazz on its amazing rooftop.
If you’d like to see all of his works then it’s definitely worth buying a pass as this entitles you to discounts (can be bought at Casa Amatller which is next to Casa Batlló).
La Sagrada Familia
The construction of La Sagrada Familia (The Holy Family) began in 1883 and is still unfinished.
Due to Gaudí’s untimely death in 1926, there were not many plans to continue and finish the work he had devoted much of his life to. In 1936, at the time of the Spanish Civil War, a fire in Gaudí’s workshop destroyed blueprints and hundreds of plaster models.
Many thought the cathedral would never be completed and should be left as it was. For over a hundred years the surrealist structure has towered over Barcelona as if testament to the work of Gaudí.
Although the cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage site its completion is funded only by donations – there is no official funding.
Gaudí was a very religious man and the nacimiento façade is pure Gaudí. It has three doorways representing Faith, Hope, and Charity and was completed in 1904. The 18 towers represent the 12 Apostles, the four Evangelists, the Virgin Mary, and Jesus. The final part of the structure will be a central 170-meter cross.
Museums in Barcelona
There are over 50 Barcelona museums and many are FREE on the first Monday of the month.
The mayor of Barcelona, Jordi Hereu, recently announced that ALL municipal museums are to open free of charge on Sunday afternoons, from 15:00 to 20:00, from 1 April. This is in addition to the free entry already available on the first Sunday of the month
Some of the most popular are the Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA), Tápies Foundation, Centre de Cultura Contemporánea (CCCB), the Museu Picasso and the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC).
Other equally popular museums include the Casa Museo Gaudi, Casa Mila La Pedrera (Fundació Caixa Catalunya), Museu del Temple Expiatroi de la Sagrada Familia, Museu de la Musica and Museu de la Xocolata.
Festivals in Barcelona
The main festival is La Mercè – (la Mare de Deu de la Merce) which is the patron saint of Barcelona. Festivals in Barcelona are exciting and fun and almost always full of dancing and spectacular fireworks displays.
La Merce – Les Festes de la Mercè
The stunning festival of La Merce is as always full of fun and activities which as well as being free are great fun for everyone. Les Festes de la Mercè normally has around 500 events all focusing on popular Catalan and Mediterranean culture and traditions.
This is the biggest and most important festival in Barcelona. It’s held every year in the month of September and is the final celebration of the summer before autumn sets in.
The day of the actual festival is on the 24 September but the highlight is on the eve of 24 September. Celebrations include a midnight procession of dragons and devils and a spectacular firework display.
More events will be held on the weekend of the 27 and 28 September. This year’s opening speech will be made at Plaça de Sant Jaume by popular actresses Montserrat Carulla and Vicky Peña who are mother and daughter.
Theatres in Barcelona
There are many music venues such as Palau de la Música Catalana in the old city of Barcelona, (designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner) and the Gran Teatre del Liceu opera theatre in La Rambla. There are many other lovely theatres which include Teatre Nacional de Catalunya and Teatre Lliure.
Gran Teatre del Liceu
Located in Barcelona’s La Rambla district, the Gran Teatre del Liceu is widely considered to be one of the world’s greatest opera houses. Its main auditorium is an acoustically perfect circle with its own specially-designed pillars and balcony boxes. The theatre has staged everything from classic operas to modern musicals since it opened in 1847, and it continues to dazzle audiences today with its beautiful interiors and top-notch productions.
Teatro Nacional de Catalunya
Another unmissable theatre in Barcelona is the Teatro Nacional de Catalunya (TNC). Founded in 1997, this dynamic venue combines contemporary design with classical elements. It features three levels of seating that offer spectacular views of the stage, as well as two bars and a restaurant. As the first Spanish theatre to host performances by international companies, the TNC presents a variety of performances, including dramas, comedies, and musicals.
Teatre Grec
For an outdoor theatre experience like no other, head to the Teatre Grec in Montjuïc Park. This open-air amphitheater is modeled after the ancient Greek theatres and comes alive each summer with spectacular dance shows, concerts, and dramatic productions. Visitors will also get a chance to admire its unique architecture, which includes bluish stone benches and wall mosaics depicting scenes from Greek mythology.
Barcelona Art Galleries
There are many lovely art galleries to visit and artists such as Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró and Antoni Tapies have left a lasting legacy to the city of Barcelona.
The Joan Miró Foundation
Established in 1975 by Spanish artist Joan Miró, the Joan Miró Foundation is the city’s premier gallery for modern and contemporary art. Located in Parc de Montjuïc, the foundation offers visitors the chance to explore the works of Miró, as well as those of other renowned 20th-century artists like Alexander Calder, Jean Dubuffet, and Francis Bacon.
MACBA & Fundació Tàpies
Just a few blocks away from the Joan Miró Foundation is another essential stop for Barcelona’s art lovers: MACBA (The Museum of Contemporary Art of Barcelona) and Fundació Tàpies. This enthralling double-exhibition provides visitors with the chance to experience some world-class modern and contemporary artworks from across the globe. Not only does it house a great collection of more traditional works, but MACBA also includes an impressive video art section – something truly unique within Europe.
Fundacio Antoni Tapies
Home to one of Spain’s most influential modern painters, Fundacio Antoni Tapies continues to be one of Barcelona’s top choices for lovers of abstract art. With over three thousand pieces from internationally acclaimed artists like Josef Albers, Willem de Kooning, and Niki de Saint Phalle, this gallery is sure to captivate even the most discerning audience.
Museo Picasso Barcelona
No exploration of Barcelona’s art scene is complete without a visit to the Museo Picasso Barcelona. Located in the heart of Barcelona’s Gothic quarter, this museum houses some outstanding works from Pablo Picasso, as well as a number of temporary exhibitions that change throughout the year. In addition to its fantastic permanent collections, the Museo also boasts several interactive educational programs and workshops that provide insight on Picasso’s life and work.
CCCB Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona
Located near Plaza Catalunya, CCCB is not your typical gallery; rather than displaying individual pieces or exhibitions from a single artist or time period, it focuses instead on presenting unique projects and events related to various aspects of European contemporary culture. Offering everything from screenings to multidisciplinary programs featuring visual arts, literature, photography, and performance pieces, CCCB is a great place to explore current trends in European culture.
Barcelona Food and Wine
Discover Barcelona’s most emblematic gastronomic establishments. Learn about Catalan gastronomic culture and visit specialist shops such as “Tostaderos Casa Gispert”, which specialized in roasting coffee and nuts. Sample traditional Catalan products, such as fruits in La Boqueria Market, and wine at the end of the tour in the Winery “La Vinya del Senyor” (a glass of wine and a Catalan Tapa).
Tapas Evening Walking Tour of Barcelona
Take a tour of Barcelona’s celebrated tapas bars and experience a delectable introduction to Catalan culture. With an informed guide, explore the city streets and learn about the customs that make this region so unique. Savor the aromas of gourmet dishes as you pass by lively eateries dotted around the city.
Plus, your knowledgeable guide will provide essential tips on ordering snacks at local bars and can suggest notable restaurants for you to visit during your stay. An evening spent discovering Barcelona’s vibrant gastronomical atmosphere is the ideal way to kick off an unforgettable holiday!
Andalusian Dinner and Flamenco Show in Barcelona
Feel the passion of the flamenco and the delicious heat of Andalusian cuisine on a night out in Barcelona to remember! You’ll dine on typical fare from Andalusia and watch a dynamic flamenco show in classic Spanish surroundings. The dinner menu is a tasty sampling of typical Andalusian dishes, Andalusian Dinner, and Flamenco Show in Barcelona.
Montserrat and Cava Trail
Combine a visit to Montserrat and one of Spain’s most famous producers of cava (sparkling wine) on a full-day small group tour by minivan from Barcelona. You’ll travel in a comfortable air-conditioned minivan and receive individual attention from your expert tour guide.
Independent Day Trip to Montserrat, Torres Winery and Sitges
Visit three outstanding attractions on a full-day trip from Barcelona. You’ll tour the famous Torres Winery, ride the rack railway to the top of Montserrat, pay a visit to Montserrat Monastery, and relax by the beach at colorful Sitges. Best of all, this is a partially guided tour and you will have plenty of time to spend at your leisure at each attraction.
Wines of Montsant by Train
Take the train from Barcelona to the Montsant Apellation for a wine tour to Capcanes. This village hidden away in the Priorato hills inland from Tarragona, is the source of some of the best fine
Alella Flowery Wine Tour
Alella’s white, flowery wines and lesser-known red ones come from a very old vineyard area. This wine tour of Spain’s smallest wine region is perfect for enthusiasts who want to see the magic of wine close to Barcelona.
Final Word
If you’re looking for a unique and exciting travel experience, Barcelona is the city for you. Filled with stunning architectural wonders, vibrant culture, and delicious cuisine, the city has something for everyone. From architecture walking tours to food-tasting experiences, there’s no shortage of fun and interesting attractions.
No matter what your interests are, there’s something to keep you entertained in this beautiful city. With so much to see and do, Barcelona is the perfect destination for your next vacation or business trip. So book your tickets today and explore all that this incredible city has to offer.