In 2024, Barcelona was the most visited city in Spain welcoming an average of 32 million visitors each year. You might have heard that the city struggles with over tourism and locals are being forced to relocate due to rising housing costs thanks to Airbnb (which is to be phased out by 2029). In fact, a local informed me that since the Olympics took place in Barcelona in 1992, the city has seen a rise in tourism by more than 1,000,000 people each year! Needless to say it is already one of the most sought after destinations, and for good reason! The food, drink, beaches, and architecture of the city are all reasons you should be booking your flight into Barcelona now. (By the way, Barcelona is far from my favorite place in Spain so if you’re not looking for a city break, I suggest Seville, Mallorca, or San Sebastián instead).
IF YOU PLAN ON SIGHTSEEING IN BARCELONA, PURCHASE A BARCELONA PASS TO SAVE MONEY ON ATTRACTIONS
If you’re traveling to Spain, don’t miss…
- Everything You Need to Know About Planning a Trip to Spain
- The Ultimate Spain Packing List
- Everything You Need to Know About Renting a Car in Spain
Is Barcelona Worth Visiting?
If you’re looking for a fun, lively, city break; then yes, Barcelona is worth visiting! However, I have to point out that it isn’t my favorite place in Spain and it certainly isn’t my favorite city in Europe. The truth is, I’ve been to Barcelona twice and while I’ve enjoyed it, it will never be one of my favorite places. If you’re eager to visit, I recommend staying a couple of days and spend most of your time exploring other parts of Spain.
For more destinations in Spain, don’t miss…
- A Complete Guide to Mallorca
- The Best 4 Day Basque Country Itinerary
- 8 Day Barcelona, Madrid, & Southern Spain Itinerary
- How to Make the Most of One Day in Granada
- How to Spend One Day in Malaga
- Things to Do in Seville – 5 Experiences to Have
Brief History of Barcelona
Barcelona was founded as a Roman colony in 15 BC, and the city later grew under Moorish rule before being reclaimed by the Franks in the early 9th century. By the Middle Ages, Barcelona had become a major maritime power, playing a key role in the Crown of Aragon’s dominance in the Mediterranean. The 19th century brought the city’s revival through industrialization and the rise of Catalan modernism, famously showcased by Antoni Gaudí’s architectural masterpieces, like the Sagrada Família. Today, Barcelona is celebrated for its lively culture, vibrant art scene, and unique blend of Gothic and modernist architecture.
The Best Time to Visit Barcelona
Barcelona is best visited during the shoulder seasons of spring (April to June) and fall (September to November), when the weather is mild, and there are fewer tourists, making it perfect for exploring Gaudí’s architecture and strolling along La Rambla. Summer (July to August) is the peak tourist season, bringing hot temperatures and bustling crowds, especially around the beaches. Winter (December to February) is cooler and quieter, ideal for a more relaxed experience, though some attractions may have shorter hours or fewer events.
I visited Barcelona in May and September and experienced great weather both times. While I’m sure there were fewer crowds than during peak tourist season, both months still felt pretty crowded to me.
How Many Days Should You Spend in Barcelona?
Barcelona isn’t my favorite city so for that reason I would say you don’t need more than two days. One day to see some of the most famous attractions like Sagrada Família and Parc Güell, and another day to wander the Gothic Quarter and visit the beach.
However, if you’re someone who loves a city break, you could spend 3-4 days exploring the ins and outs of Barcelona. Plus, this gives you more time to visit some lesser known attractions and head up to Montjuic.
How to Get to Barcelona
The good news about visiting Barcelona is that if you’re flying from the US, there are tons of easy, affordable, and non-stop flights (from major cities). I like to use a search engine to compare prices across multiple different airlines and choose the route best for me. The airport you’ll fly into is called Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN).
Getting from the Airport to the City
The easiest way to get from the airport to the city is to take a taxi from the airport. Depending where you’re going, the drive should be around 20-30 minutes and shouldn’t cost more than €40. You can also take an Uber from the airport (although this was more expensive in my experience) or book an English-speaking driver to be waiting for you at the airport.
Lastly, your cheapest option will be to take public transportation. There is a train that goes from the airport to the city. I like to use Google Maps to see times and routes. There is wifi at the airport to connect your phone, but I would also recommend an e-SIM just in case (use code “KYLEE5” for a 5% discount).
How to Get Around Barcelona
Although Barcelona is a big city, it’s easily walkable if you’ve placed yourself in a central part of the city. If you’re going somewhere further, getting a taxi is easy and affordable (make sure that they have their meter on), or Barcelona has great public transportation. I recommend using Google Maps when searching for public transportation options.
Where to Stay in Barcelona
Although it’s the most touristy spot in Barcelona, I highly recommend staying in or near the Gothic Quarter. This part of the city is really fun and beautiful with tons of great shops, restaurants, and tapas bars. Here are my hotel recommendations…
BOOK YOUR STAY IN BARCELONA HERE!
The Best Tours & Things to Do
There are tons of great things to do when you’re in Barcelona. For starters, Antoni Gaudí is a famous architect who built tons of incredible buildings, houses, and structures around Barcelona. Plus there are great food tours, walking tours, and so much more to do in Barcelona. Here are my top tour recommendations and things to see and do around the city…
- Learn how to make Spanish food in a cooking class – When I travel, I love to explore a city through its food. Whether I take a local cooking class or a food tour – it always ends up being my favorite thing when I travel! Here are a couple of cooking classes in Barcelona that I’d recommend…
- Take a food tour – There’s nothing better than starting your trip with a food tour to get a lay of the culinary scene and figure out some of the best restaurants in the city! My absolute favorite company to take food tours with (I’ve used this company for several tours!) is Devour. You can view all of their Barcelona food tours here!
For more on Barcelona’s food scene, don’t miss…
- Walk through the Gothic Quarter – The Gothic Quarter is the historic, medieval centre of Barcelona. It has tons of great shops, bars, and restaurants and is definitely my favorite area in Barcelona!
- Head to the top of Montjuic – Montjuic is the highest point in Barcelona so needless to say, you can get some pretty great views of the city. I joined this electric bike tour when I visited, but you can also take a cable car to the top (purchase tickets here)
- Visit Parc Güell – Parc Güell was built and designed by Gaudi and is not only a beautiful park, but offers incredibly views over Barcelona. I highly recommend visiting and would suggest purchasing tickets ahead of time!
- If you want to take a guided tour of Parc Güell, purchase tickets here (if you want to take a guided tour of both Parc Güell and Sagrada Família, purchase tickets here)
- If you don’t want to do a tour you can purchase self-guided tickets here (if you plan to visit both Parc Güell and Sagrada Família on your own, purchase combined tickets to save money)
- Tour Sagrada Família – Sagrada Família is one of the most impressive attractions I’ve ever seen and if you only have time for one thing in Barcelona, it should be to visit. It was designed by Gaudi and has taken over 140 years to finish and won’t be completed until 2026
- If you want to take a guided tour of Sagrada Família, purchase tickets here (if you want to take a guided tour of both Parc Güell and Sagrada Família, purchase tickets here)
- If you don’t want to do a tour you can purchase self-guided tickets here (if you plan to visit both Parc Güell and Sagrada Família on your own, purchase combined tickets to save money)
- For something different, try this Sagrada Família closing time experience
- Go on a day trip – Barcelona has some great places nearby that are easy to day trip to! Here are my top recommendations…
IF YOU’RE PLANNING ON VISITING MULTIPLE ATTRACTIONS IN BARCELONA, CONSIDER PURCHASING A BARCELONA PASS TO SAVE MONEY ON ATTRACTIONS
The Best Bars & Restaurants in Barcelona
One great thing about Barcelona is it is a foodie paradise! There are so many incredible restaurants and fun cocktail bars. Below you’ll find some of my favorite spots in the city!
TO EAT…
- Bar del Pla
- Batea – Seafood
- Chök – Patisserie with multiple locations throughout Barcelona
- La Alcoba Barcino – Top restaurant recommendation
- Sophie Gastrobar
- Ziryab Fusion Tapas Bar
TO DRINK…
- Bobby’s Free – Speakeasy
- Carlos & Matilda
- Dr Stravinsky – Former top 50 cocktail bar in the world
- Farola – Traditional tapas bar where you receive a free tapa with select drinks
Spain Essentials – What You Need & Need to Know About Visiting Spain
TRAVELING THROUGH SPAIN
- The easiest way to book train tickets in Spain is through Omio
- The easiest way to book bus tickets in Spain is through Bookaway
- To book a flight to Spain, I recommend using a big search engine to compare options
- For car rentals in Spain, I recommend Discover Cars (you do need an international drivers license to drive in Spain)
- If you want an English speaking driver waiting to pick you up at the airport, use Welcome Pickups
- I highly recommend travel insurance when traveling through Spain – I use and recommend SafetyWing
- If you need a SIM card, aloSIM for an easy and affordable e-SIM – use code “KYLEE5” for 5% off
ACCOMODATION IN SPAIN
- To easiest way to book hotels in Spain is through Booking.com or Expedia
- The easiest way to book rentals in Spain is through VRBO
TOURS IN SPAIN
- For tours and activities in Spain, I recommend using Viator
- For food tours in Spain, I recommend Devour Tours
- For walking tours in Spain, I recommend Take Walks
- For cooking classes in Spain, I recommend using Cookly
WHAT TO BRING TO SPAIN
- Don’t forget a Spain guide book to help plan your travels
- You’ll need a travel plug adapter (Spain uses type C)
- I recommend bringing a reusable water bottle to cut down on plastic waste
- My favorite luggage is Calpak
- My favorite travel backpack is Nordace
- I recommend a sleep mask for long flights
I hope that this guide helps you plan your trip to Barcelona and gives you further inspiration for other destinations in Spain. If you have any questions about Barcelona or Spain in general, let me know in a comment below!
If you’re planning a trip to Spain, don’t miss…
- A Complete Guide to Mallorca
- The Best 4 Day Basque Country Itinerary
- 5 of the Best San Sebastián Pintxos Tours
- 72 Hours in Barcelona
For more information on things to see and do in the Spain, make sure to check out my Instagram page/highlight reel by searching “#ppinspain” or under my highlights for “Spain”; alternatively, head to my TikTok and search for the saved “Spain” highlight
Pin Me!
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to purchase through my link, at no cost to you. Passports and Preemies is also a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees.
Founded by Kylee, a NICU nurse with nine years of experience, including seven years as a travel nurse; Passports and Preemies was created in 2017 and is now the go-to travel and lifestyle channel for nurses who crave adventure beyond the bedside. Whether you’re a staff nurse looking for your next getaway or a travel nurse navigating life on the road, this space is designed to help you maximize your time off, explore the world, and prevent nurse burnout.
On Passports and Preemies, you’ll find everything from travel nursing insights – how to get started, land the best assignments, and thrive on the road – to expert travel tips, destination guides, and real-talk about balancing nursing with a life well-traveled. Passports and Preemies also includes Beyond the Bedside – group trips for nurses around the world; as well as the podcast, Passports and Preemies Talks.
