11 Reasons Why You Should Visit Barcelona At Least Once In Your Lifetime

Whether it’s jaw-dropping architecture, mouth-watering tapas or that cool, Mediterranean atmosphere – here are 11 reasons why Barcelona is truly unmissable.

To admire the Sagrada Família

The most spectacular – and controversial – of Antoni Gaudí’s modernist masterpieces, the Sagrada Família has been under construction for over 100 years and is not expected to be completed until about 2026. Rich in religious symbolism intertwined with themes of nature and unusual geometric forms, this is one of the most visually arresting monuments you’ll find in Europe.

Construction on Gaudí’s Sagrada Família began in 1882

To discover the hidden alleyways of the Gothic Quarter

The Bishop’s Bridge, which spans Carrer del Bisbe in the Gothic Quarter, dates back to 1928

For contemporary art and street art

The presence of artists such as Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí helped give Barcelona its reputation as a noteworthy artistic city, but the city’s contemporary art scene has very much consolidated its status. The MACBA is Barcelona’s cutting-edge contemporary art museum and one of the most well-regarded institutions of its kind in Europe. On the other hand, there are a plethora of respectable art galleries representing emerging and mid-career artists from Spain and abroad. Last but not least, the street art in Barcelona attracts artists – and admirers – from across the world.

The MACBA is a world-class contemporary art museum

To enjoy the culinary legacy of Ferran Adrià

Deemed one of the most forward-thinking chefs of our time, Ferran Adrià led the elBulli restaurant on the Costa Brava, voted the best restaurant in the world a record five times. While that restaurant is no longer open, the legacy of Ferran Adrià and his disciples lives on in Barcelona’s contemporary dining scene, with restaurants such as Dos Palillos, Alkimia and Tickets continuing the tradition of culinary innovation.

For the collection at the Joan Miró museum

Joan Miró was a leading Surrealist artist who was born and raised in Barcelona before later moving to France and Majorca. He is famous for his bold artwork conceived using vivid primary colours to create scenes – often described as nearly childlike. He was involved in the creation of the Joan Miró Foundation, which sits atop Montjuïc and is home to the largest collection of his work open to the public.

The Joan Miró Foundation honours Joan Miró’s work

For the live-music scene

In recent years, Barcelona has successfully established itself as a rival to the likes of Berlin for its live-music scene. Two of the world’s most well-regarded music festivals – Sónar and Primavera Sound – take place here each spring, while the rest of the year sees the hottest DJs of the moment regularly perform at clubs such as Razzmatazz and Sala Apolo.

Sala Apolo regularly hosts world-renowned DJs

For the food stalls of the Boqueria Market

There are few food markets in the world quite like the Boqueria Market, which stands on Las Ramblas. This 19th-century building was conceived by local town planners and was initially designed to contain mainly meat and fish stalls. While today’s shoppers can find everything from exotic fruit to rare spices under its covers, the fish carousel at the centre of the building remains one of the highlights of this spectacular edifice.

The Boqueria Market is a foodie’s paradise

To shop on Passeig de Gràcia

Sometimes described as the Champs-Élysées of Barcelona, the Passeig de Gràcia is the city’s designer-shopping hotspot. Stretching from the Plaça de Catalunya up to the trendy Gràcia neighbourhood, the boulevard is home to some of the most fashionable and well-regarded designer labels in the world, including Chanel, Stella McCartney and Gucci.

Passeig de Gràcia is home to luxury shopping

For the Camp Nou stadium

Not only is it the home of one of the world’s most famous football teams, Camp Nou is also the largest stadium in Europe with a capacity of just under 100,000. The stadium is open to the public for the Camp Nou Experience, which includes a tour of the stadium and a visit to the FC Barcelona Museum, which contains trophies, memorabilia and original football shirts.

FC Barcelona play their home games at Camp Nou

For the nightlife in El Raval

One of the most vibrant and multicultural neighbourhoods in Barcelona, El Raval was once considered a no-go area in the city. Today, it’s home to a thriving arts community and some of the best nightlife in the city, thanks to its mixture of hipster hang-outs and underground bars. Start on the Carrer Joaquin Costa and then let the night guide you.

Explore Barcelona’s nightlife in El Raval

For a city break and beach holiday all in one

There are few cities in Europe where you can enjoy the culture and vibrancy of a city break with the fun and relaxation of a beach holiday, yet Barcelona offers the best of both worlds, thanks to its location right on the Mediterranean coastline. Hire a boat for the day and discover the beauty of the Costa Brava and be back in time for dinner at a Michelin-star restaurant and late-night cocktails afterwards.

Barcelona is in a prime location on the Mediterranean Sea

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.