Things to Do in Barcelona
Discover 23 activities and experiences in Barcelona, Spain — from outdoor adventures to cultural events. Curated from real traveler recommendations.
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Aeri del Port de Barcelona
Have a ride at Port Vell Aerial Tramway. Port Vell Aerial Tramway is the 1450 metre long harbour aerial tramway with red cars connects Montjuic and Barceloneta. It starts in Barceloneta on the top of the 78 metre tall ''Torre San Sebastian'' tower, which has also a restaurant at its top accessible by an elevator. It has an intermediate stop at ''Torre Jaume I'' tower (close to Columbus monument), which can be reached by elevator from ground—107 metre tall tower, the second-tallest aerial tramway support tower in the world. The final point of the line is ''Miramar'' at the slopes of Montjuic hill. Overall, the whole system is quite old (built in 1929, albeit restored a couple of times), and the car is packed with tourists during the daytime — particularly sensitive for a stroller or a wheelchair. But if one starts from Montjuic side, there are fewer people waiting.
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- C/ Taquígrafo Garriga, 97 – Esc.B -2º9ª
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- Jun-Aug 11:00-20:00; Mar-May, Sep-Oct 11:00-19:00; Nov-Feb 11:00-17:30
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- single €11, return €16.50; it's not a part of Barcelona's integrated fare network
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Tibidabo
Located on the mountains of Barcelona (farther north from Gracia) and offers a spectacular view of the city (532 m high). This is a place where according some legends, the Devil tempted Jesus Christ offering him the whole world in exchange for his worship. At the top there is an awesome church, which offers panoramic views of the city. The church is almost completely surrounded by a big amusement park. You will also find an observatory and an ascendable communications tower nearby. The beautifully scenic walk down is lined with some un-missable Spanish architecture for your photo album. You can not take photos very well from the tram, but the walk is wonderful. The ''cafe con leche'' at the cafe near the church is terrible. Try at the bottom of the funicular.
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- Plaça Tibidabo, 3-4
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La Rambla
A gorgeous tree-lined pedestrian walkway, the busiest and most lively street of the city. Mostly occupied by tourists, expect to pay higher prices for food and drink. Avoid the groups of people supposedly betting on a game played on a cardboard table, they are thieves. Head off into some of the side streets for a cheaper, more local, and authentic experience of Barcelona. Often called Las Ramblas, because it is actually a series of several different streets, the sections also have distinct feels. As you get closer to Placa Catalunya, you find more street performers doing stunts. In the middle, you will find street performers in costumes. Towards the pier, there are artists who will do pencil drawings, paintings, etc.
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Beach
The beach stretches from the tip of Barceloneta in Port Vell and far away, passing Vila Olimpica and further. On warm summer days it will be crammed with people, and it might be a good idea to find a spot further away or go to a beach outside of Barcelona. There is nothing better than covering your toes with sand and lying upwards in the sun, and there is no better place to do this than on Barceloneta's famed beauty. Sit back, relax and enjoy.
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Monegros Desert Festival
The most famous and biggest one day/night electronic music festivals in Spain is in desert of Fraga 200 km from Barcelona. More than 40 000 people gather every July to celebrate the electronic music with the best DJs representing styles from house, electro, minimal, techno, to drum&bass, dubstep and hiphop. 20hours nonstop, unique desert experience.
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Sónar
An annual three-day music festival. It is described officially as a festival of Advanced Music and Multimedia Art. Music is by far the main aspect of the festival. The festival runs for three days and nights, usually starting on a Thursday in the third week of June. There is a day and separate night location.
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- €52 daypass, €76 night entry, €199 festival pass on internet booking, higher fees for entrance passes
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Piscina Municipal de Montjuïc
In the summer months July and August the outdoor swimming pool is open for public. This pool offers spectacular views over the whole city. The pool is close to the exit from the funicular that departs from metro station Parallel; metro ticket is valid for the funicular.
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- Av Miramar 31
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- Mon-Fri 11.00-18.30
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- €5,05 for adults
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Cook&Taste
Cooking class on traditional Spanish dishes. Get ingredients from La Boqueria; then together with a small group led by a professional chef, cook a few dishes: tortilla, paella and crema catalan; and enjoy the meal you prepared.
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- Carrer del Paradís 3
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- ~€60 per person
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Parc del Laberint d'Horta
Try out the labyrinth in the center of this park. The park also has a nice waterfall, a romantic canal and gardens. A quiet place to relax for several hours away from the busy city. Free of charge on Wednesdays and Sundays.
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- Apt-Oct 10:00-20:00, Nov-Mar 10:00-19:00; Nov labyrinth closed for maintenance
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Barcelona Jazz Festival
A brighter way to celebrate the colder Autumn days, the annual Jazz festival has been running for nearly 50 years now and runs roughly from the last week in October and all the way through November
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- Tickets prices differ for each event
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Funicular de Vallvidrera
A much cheaper (and still fast) way is to take S1/S2 suburban train to Peu del Funicular, then ride up to Vallvidrera Superior by a cablecar, and then take bus No 111.
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- As per Integrated Fare System tariffs
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Funicular del Tibidabo
It connects the terminus of Tramvia Blau at the ''Plaça del Doctor Andreu'' with an amusement park at the summit of the Tibidabo mountain.
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- €7.70; if bought with the amusement park admission: €4.10
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Cines Verdi
The cinema screens a diverse programme of independent, mainly European and Asian films. All films are shown in their original version.
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- Verdi, 32
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Tramvia Blau
It is an old tram (beginning of the 20th century) connecting Av. Tibidabo metro station and Funicular station at the foot of Tibidabo.
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- Single ticket: €5.50
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Barcelona Segway Day
enjoy exploring Barcelona, by visiting Barrio Gotic, Barceloneta... unique experience
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- Rull 2 08002
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- from €29
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Jazz Si
In the Raval neighbourhood. Has a cheaper alternative to flamenco nights elsewhere.
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Sail on a classic yacht
Enjoy a day trip sailing along the Barcelona coastline on a classic yacht.
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Teatre Lliure
This alternative theatre offers high quality plays.
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- Carrer del Montseny, 47
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- €13-30
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Exploring Barcelona: A Traveler's Guide to Activities
Barcelona rewards curious travelers with an exceptional range of experiences. Whether you have a weekend or several weeks, the city's 23 documented activities cover the full spectrum — architectural landmarks and world-class museums at one end, local neighborhood festivals and underground cultural scenes at the other. The activities listed on this page come from Wikivoyage contributors who have personally explored Barcelona and written detailed, practical descriptions to help you plan your visit.
The most rewarding way to experience Barcelona's activities is with company. Solo travelers who arrive without plans often find that meeting a fellow traveler at a hostel, cafe, or through the Nomax app opens up entirely new itineraries — a museum visit becomes a half-day exploration, a street food crawl turns into an evening of discovery, a day trip to a nearby site becomes an adventure. Barcelona has an active traveler community, and the city is designed to reward those who explore it with open curiosity.
When planning what to do in Barcelona, consider mixing well-known attractions with neighborhood-level experiences. The city's most photographed sights are popular for good reason, but Barcelona's character lives in its quieter corners too — the local markets, the parks where residents spend their weekends, the small performance venues where the next generation of artists and musicians are finding their voice. The 23 activities on this page include both categories, ordered by the richness of their traveler-written descriptions.
How to Get the Most from Barcelona's Activities
Timing matters in Barcelona. Many of the city's best attractions have shorter queues and better atmospheres on weekday mornings. Major cultural sites — museums, galleries, historic monuments — often run free admission windows on certain days or evenings; check before booking. Outdoor activities and walking tours are best enjoyed in the morning before the city heats up or fills with tour groups.
Budget-conscious travelers will find that Barcelona has a strong free-to-access layer. Public parks, open-air markets, architectural walking routes, and many community events cost nothing. The price information included with activities on this page (where available) helps you plan a realistic daily budget. A mix of free and paid activities across a week in Barcelona is entirely feasible for most traveler budgets.
For travelers who want to do more than just sightseeing, Barcelona offers organized activities through local guides, tour companies, and traveler apps like Nomax. Group activities — cooking classes, cycling tours, kayaking excursions, photography walks — are a natural way to meet people while experiencing the city. Many travelers who use Nomax in Barcelona coordinate these types of group experiences together, splitting costs and building memories that last beyond the trip itself.
Activities for Different Travel Styles
Not every traveler wants the same experience. History enthusiasts will gravitate toward Barcelona's museums, heritage sites, and guided historical walks that reveal the layers of the city's past. Outdoor and adventure travelers will focus on the parks, cycling routes, climbing areas, and day trips to surrounding natural areas. Food travelers will treat Barcelona's markets, restaurants, and food tours as the primary activities of each day. Culture seekers will fill evenings with concerts, theater, gallery openings, and street performances.
The 23 activities documented on this page span all these categories. Use the numbered list above to browse in order of description quality — longer descriptions generally mean more detailed, firsthand traveler knowledge. For each activity, the address and opening hours (where available) give you everything you need to plan your visit without needing to search elsewhere.
Connecting with Travelers in Barcelona
One of the best things about traveling to Barcelona is the community of international travelers already there. Backpackers, digital nomads, long-term expats, and short-trip tourists all share the same city at any given moment. Nomax makes it easy to find who is in Barcelona right now, see what activities they are joining, and coordinate plans. Whether you want a hiking companion, someone to split museum entry with, or a group for an evening out — the app connects you to people with the same itinerary in minutes.
Download Nomax before your trip to Barcelona to set your travel dates and start discovering who else will be there at the same time. The app is free, requires no subscription, and works across all the major traveler destinations worldwide — meaning the community you build in Barcelona often extends to your next destination too.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best things to do in Barcelona?
Barcelona offers 23+ activities and experiences for travelers. Top highlights include Aeri del Port de Barcelona, Tibidabo, La Rambla, and much more. This page lists every documented activity in order of description quality, so you can find both the major attractions and the hidden gems.
Are there free things to do in Barcelona?
Yes — Barcelona has a strong selection of free activities. Public parks, open-air markets, walking routes through historic neighborhoods, and many cultural institutions offer free admission on specific days. Scroll through the list above and look for activities marked with free or no price information — these are often the city's most authentic experiences.
How do I meet other travelers while exploring Barcelona?
Download Nomax — a free travel companion app that shows you other solo travelers currently in Barcelona. You can join group activities, chat with travelers at the same spots, and plan outings together. Many travelers in Barcelona use Nomax to find companions for day trips, museum visits, and evening activities.
What activities can I do with travel companions I meet in Barcelona?
Barcelona has activities for every interest — guided tours, food experiences, outdoor adventures, cultural events, and nightlife. Use Nomax to coordinate with other travelers: join a group for a walking tour, split a day-trip cost, or simply explore the city together. The app makes spontaneous plans easy.
Explore Barcelona with fellow travelers
Download Nomax — find travel companions, join group activities, and chat with solo travelers in Barcelona right now. Free forever.
Travel tips by Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA 3.0). Content may have been updated since publication.
