Barcelona is one of those cities that you should visit at least once in your life, as it is a destination that is home to incredible architecture, beautiful parks, dream beaches and, in addition, a wide range of activities and an exquisite gastronomic offer.
The city of Barcelona is called the capital of modernism thanks to its imposing architecture marked by the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí. Its streets are full of history, art and culture, which makes it extremely difficult to cover all the tourist attractions that this incredible destination has in a single visit.
For this reason, from PrivateTour we have made a list of the 5 most emblematic places in Barcelona with which you can begin to get to know the cosmopolitan capital of Catalonia.
1. Sagrada Familia
The Sagrada Familia temple is one of the best-known works of the architect Antoni Gaudí. It began its construction in 1882 and even today it remains unfinished. However, the work is expected to be completed in 2026 to become the tallest Christian church in the world. Sagrada Familia is the most emblematic places in Barcelona.
The Nativity façade and the Crypt were included as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005; in 2007 it was elected one of the Seven Wonders of Catalonia; In 2010 the temple was declared a minor basilica by Pope Benedict XVI and the main nave of the temple received the City of Barcelona Award for Architecture and Urbanism.
Do you need any extra reason to visit it? We doubt it! What you should keep in mind is that, being one of the most visited monuments in Europe, it has a limited quota of daily tickets that sell out quite quickly, not to mention the long lines that form to enter, so our recommendation is that you reserve a tour with a local guide so that you can secure your ticket and avoid waiting.
How to get to La Sagrada Familia?
To get to this temple you have two options:
- By Metro: Take metro lines 2 and 5 that stop at the Sagrada Familia.
- By Bus: Take the urban bus: 19, 33, 34, 43, 44, 50, 51, B20 and B24.
2. Casa Batllo
Also named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2005, Casa Batlló is our second option to visit. This building is a remodeling that Gaudí carried out on a previous construction managed by Emilio Sala Cortés. It is located at number 43 Paseo de Gracia in Barcelona and is accompanied by: Casa Amatller, Casa Lleó Morera, Casa Mulleras and Casa Josefina Bonet. So in addition to seeing this spectacular building, you will have the opportunity to enjoy other great works of Catalan modernism.
The construction was carried out between 1904 and 1906 and shows a reflection of Gaudí’s naturalist stage, where the façade evokes different forms of nature, such as: the balcony of the attic is shaped like a flower, the roof simulates the scales of the back of a dragon; Inside we see stairs similar to the backbone of an animal, chimneys in the shape of mushrooms, a beautiful central patio called “patio de Luces” with 26 meters high, which combines white and blue tiles simulating an underwater cave.
To access Casa Batlló there are three types of tickets, which you can book in advance from its website, although if you want to visit several works by Gaudí, we recommend you experience our Gaudí tour, thanks to which you will be able to visit Casa Batlló, Casa Milà and Sagrada Familia without problems head
How to get to Casa Batlló?
- By metro: lines L2, L3 or L4.
- By train: RENFE and get off at Passeig de Gràcia or take the FGC to Provença, and walk 10 minutes.
- By bus: H10, V15, 7, 22 or 24.
3. Mila House
Popularly called “La Pedrera”, it was the last civil work of Antoni Gaudí and was built between 1906 and 1910. Like Casa Batlló, in this building we see a design influenced by nature. Its facade is built in calcareous stone combined with a white tiled roof on the upper part, which evokes a snowy mountain.
This building is full of constructive and functional innovations, as well as beautiful decorations and ornaments. which makes it a true work of art of modern architecture that you cannot miss during your stay in Barcelona.
You can access different types of tickets, and the ideal is that you book in advance; As in the previous section, we cannot fail to mention our recommendation, if you want to take advantage of the trip and visit several works by Antoni Gaudí, it is ideal that you hire our Gaudi tour to know the most emblematic places in Barcelona.
How to get to La Casa Milà?
- By metro: lines 3 and 5, Diagonal station.
- By bus: lines 7,16,17,22,24 and V17.
- FGC: Provença-La Pedrera.
- RENFE: Passeig de Gràcia.
4. Gothic Quarter
The Gothic Quarter is located in the Ciutat Vella district and is the oldest neighborhood in Barcelona. It originated in Roman times and its greatest expansion was achieved in the Medieval Age. That is why we can visualize several constructions of Gothic churches and palaces. But in addition, its narrow medieval streets are full of trendy bars, nightclubs and Catalan restaurants that show the perfect contrast and make it one of the most popular tourist places.
So that you get to know it perfectly without missing out on anything at all, from PrivateTour we bring you a small guide so that you can orient yourself or, if you wish, encourage you to book our tour of this impressive neighborhood of Barcelona.
Let’s get started!
You can start the tour through Portal de l’Àngel street, where you can enjoy the beautiful Kiss Mural. Next, continue until you reach the Barcelona Cathedral, where artisans sell leather goods and jewelry, accompanied by flower stalls and street food on La Rambla avenue.
In addition, in La Plaça del Pi you will have an art market on weekends that you cannot miss.
After taking a tour of the Cathedral, we recommend you walk along Carrer del Bisbe, where you will cross the famous Bishop’s Bridge and find Plaza de Sant Felip Neri, Palau del Bisbe, Templo de Augusto, Plaza del Rey, Plaza Sant Jaume, the church of Santa Ana and the Plaza Real.
Carrer Petritxol is full of art galleries, and you cannot miss the Basilica Santa Maria del Pi, where you will enjoy the best panoramic views of the neighborhood.
To finish, you have to visit the old Jewish quarter, where you can see buildings such as the Greater Synagogue, among others.
How to get to the Gothic Quarter?
- By metro: lines L3 and L4.
- By train: R4.
- By bus: lines 47, 67, A2, D20 or L95.
5. The Mountain of Montjuïc
Finally, we have the Montjuïc Mountain, which has a height of 177 meters above sea level and was the venue for the Olympic Games in 1992. You cannot miss visiting the Olympic Ring located in this old location of the games. Currently, the Montjuïc Mountain is used for sporting and musical events, as well as a place of sports recreation for the inhabitants of the area.
This place is incredible, since you can find many alternatives to visit, among others, you can get lost for a whole day here and enjoy its incredible views. From PrivateTour, we bring you a list with recommendations of everything you cannot miss on Montjuïc.
Museums: You have several options and with very varied themes for all tastes:
- The Joan Miró Foundation
- The Archeology Museum of Catalonia
- El Poble Espanyol
- The National Art Museum of Catalonia
- The Joan Antoni Samaranch Olympic and Sports Museum
Parks and Gardens: You can also find hectares of colorful parks and gardens such as:
- Botanic Garden of Barcelona
- Mossèn Cinto Verdaguer and Joan Brossa Gardens
- Mossèn Costa i Llobera Gardens
- Miramar Gardens
Theaters: For lovers of the performing arts here, Montjuïc is a perfect place to visit the Mercat de les Flors, which is the municipal theater; and also the Teatre Grec, an open-air theater that hosts the Grec Festival.
Architecture: You will enjoy the contrast of the neoclassical architecture of El Palauet Albéniz in contrast to the modern design of the Mies van der Rohe Pavilion and, to top it off, you have the Torre de Calatrava, which is the telecommunications tower de Montjuïc and simulates an athlete holding the Olympic torch.
Fuente Mágica
An attraction that you should not miss is the Magic Fountain, located at the foot of the mountain and where you can enjoy an exhibition of music, light and color, which is usually accompanied by dancers performing fascinating choreographies, combining them with the light show.
How to get to Montjuïc?
- By metro or FGC: lines L1, L3, L8, L2 and L10 Sud
- By Bus: lines150, 13 , 125, 23, 55 and 107.
- Cableway
- Bicycle
- Car or motorcycle
In the same way, if it is difficult for you to take a route, you always have our tours of Barcelona at your disposal, such as the tourist tour of the city that we offer you and with which you can also get to know the Plaza de España, Passeig de Gràcia, Plaza Cataluña, Gaudí’s Houses and the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia, among others.
With our tours you can make the most of your day, visiting many of the emblematic places in Barcelona, one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Contact us now and we will take care of planning the best guided tour of the city.
