This Is Why Barcelona Is The Best City For Arts And Culture Lovers

Located in northeastern Spain, on the shores of the Mediterranean, Barcelona has long been hailed as a European cultural capital. From its thriving art scene to its incredible architecture and world-famous gastronomy, here’s why an art and culture lover will fall head over heels for Barcelona.

Incredible architecture

It’s not just what’s found inside Barcelona’s buildings which is worth admiring – in many cases the buildings themselves are veritable works of art. The Eixample district is where you’ll find some of the most spectacular Modernist mansions around: Casa Battló, La Pedrera and Casa Ametller to name just the most famous. But there are more contemporary designs to be admired too, such as Jean Nouvel‘s Torre Glòries or the Mies van der Rohe pavillion near Plaça d’Espanya.

Epic music festivals

There’s free art everywhere

It seems that no matter where you go in Barcelona, there’s public art to be seen everywhere. Artist Joan Miró donated four major purpose-made artworks to the city, including a gigantic mosaic at the Barcelona El Prat airport and another in the centre of La Rambla. Add to that, there’s also Frank Gehry’s El Peix sculpture, Santiago Calatrava’s Montjuïc Communications Tower, and many other public works of art dotted across the city.

Amazing art galleries

Barcelona’s art scene is very much alive and kicking, and the hundreds of art galleries in the city are testimony to the Catalan capital’s ongoing relationship with the arts. Enric Granados Street in L’Eixample is home to some of the city’s most popular independent galleries, exhibiting work by established and emerging artists from Spain and beyond.

Catalan cultural celebrations

From dancing giants to human pyramids, Catalan culture is rich in unique traditions and celebrations. Admire the castellers as they form towers which can reach six or more men in height – although the youngest are the ones who brave climbing to the top. Watch devils run with fire at the correfoc, join hands for a traditional sardana dance or prepare to be dazzled by the fireworks of the La Mercè festival in September.

Avant-garde art exhibitions

Barcelona is highly regarded as a global artistic capital and regularly hosts cutting edge arts exhibitions. The CCCB – Barcelona’s centre for contemporary culture – is known for its interdisciplinary exhibitions exploring the roles of technology, art and design in contemporary society, while Espai 13 is a space inside the Joan Miró Foundation dedicated entirely to work by young, emerging artists from across Europe.

A gastronomic destination

Whether it’s for traditional Catalan cuisine or the world-famous culinary art of chefs such as Ferran Adrià, Barcelona is a place known for its food. Benefiting from its proximity to both the mountains and the sea, it has developed a reputation as a veritable foodie paradise, with everything from cheap and cheerful tapas bars to three-Michelin star restaurants to choose from.

Contemporary cuisine at Disfrutar restaurant

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.