Must-Visit Areas and Must-See Attractions in Barcelona, Spain

The capital of Catalonia is a vibrant and exciting city to visit anytime of the year. It has a rich culture and effervescent nightlife. Barcelona has some of the most unique architecture in Europe with its own version of Art Nouveau buildings, many of which are designed by Antoni Gaudi, an architect of Catalan Modernism. His most famous design being the Sagrada Familia—the city’s most iconic monument. Another important area is the Gothic Quarter, located next to La Rambla.

Barcelona is a popular and important cruise port from where many Mediterranean or Canary Islands cruises depart. There is so much to see and do in Barcelona that adding a few days before or after your cruise to enjoy more of what this bustling and exciting city has to offer is worth it. In any case, it’s always a good idea to arrive at least a day early before leaving on any cruise in case of flight delays or cancellations.

Travel Tips

Places to see around Barcelona’s cruise port

There are lots of restaurants, shops and activities in proximity to the port and taking a shore excursion isn’t necessary. Of course, one does not have to be leaving on a cruise to visit this wonderful city.

Near the cruise port, there are multiple sights to see. It’s about a 20-minute walk to La Rambla, the city’s famous promenade that connects Plaça de Catalunya to the Columbus Monument located near the waterfront. On top of the monument the statue of Christopher Columbus actually points in the direction of the cruise port!

Nearby there is Port Vell, which is a busy esplanade with shops and restaurants. Some highlights in the area include the Aquarium and the Catalonia History Museum. The aquarium has a huge shark exhibit and it’s even possible to scuba dive with them. If you prefer to stay dry, take a closer look from the 80-meter long (262 ft) underwater tunnel.

In the vicinity of Port Vell there is also a nice sandy beach, Barceloneta Beach, but even in August the water was a bit too cold for us, although many seemed to enjoy it!

Exploring the Gothic Quarter

The best way to explore the Barri Gòtic area is simply by strolling around its narrow winding streets and plazas. The Gothic Quarter is lively day and night and offers a great choice of restaurants and bars. It’s a beautiful neighborhood with lots of ancient buildings, some dating back to Roman times, but the Cathedral takes the cake!

This monumental Gothic cathedral sits in the heart of Barcelona’s old town and is unmistakable with its two bell towers that reach up to a height of 54 meters (177 ft). The central tower is even taller! The cathedral’s construction began in 1298 and was completed in 1420. The façade, added later on, was completed in 1913.

The exterior of the cathedral is adorned with typical Gothic gargoyles, statues and intricate carvings. The best way to see the cathedral’s features is to walk around it. In any case, the area is rich in history and makes for an interesting walk.

On the way we saw the beautiful Pont del Bisbe bridge, built in 1928.

On the Gaudi Trail

Antoni Gaudi was a great Catalan architect and a leader of Catalan Modernism. He defied the laws of creation by incorporating elements found in nature and creating unique and unusual buildings. Some of these were commissioned by Eusebi Güell, a Spanish entrepreneur, who recognized the ingenuity of Gaudi’s architecture. These two became great friends and collaborated on many projects together. Following are some of the most interesting Gaudi designs:

Sagrada Familia

Antoni Gaudi’s greatest masterpiece is without a doubt the magnificent Sagrada Familia. Construction began in 1882 it is still going on today. But after more than 135 years of ongoing construction this colossal temple is expected to be completed by 2026. An interesting fact is that countless people donated and contributed funds for its construction.

Having had the chance to see this iconic church more than once, we saw the progression of this work. However, on our last visit a fence surrounded the basilica and it wasn’t possible to get close to it unless you had a ticket to go inside. We suggest buying your time-slot ticket online to avoid a long queue.

We highly recommend visiting the interior and climbing its 400-step spiral staircases to the top to get a closer look at some of the details. Also, the view from up there is fantastic! Those who prefer can take the elevator, but we favor the staircase. Also, inside the basilica there is a museum about the history of the Sagrada Familia.

Palau Güell

This palace, designed and built by Antoni Gaudi, is located just off La Rambla. It was Gaudi’s first commission from Eusebi Güell. The construction of the mansion started in 1886 and ended in 1890. It became the primary residence of the Güell López family until they moved to Park Güell.

Highlights include the multifunction central hall with a closet-chapel, the oculus dome and the roof-terrace with colorful chimneys decorated with ceramic.

Our hotel concierge recommended this visit (and we’re glad he did!) and got us combo tickets for Palau Güell and Park Güell.

Güell Park

This fairytale park is absolutely breathtaking! Here you can see Gaudi’s creativity and imagination transformed into a symbolic work of art.

Some of our favorite elements include: the central staircase and decorative fountain, the gingerbread-like houses by the entrance and the mosaic serpentine bench on the upper terrace. From up there we got a bird’s-eye view of the park and the city.

Good to know: Part of the park was under renovation and closed to visitors during our last visit in February 2019.

Casa Batlló

Gaudi completely redesigned the Battló residence between 1904 and 1906. He created a unique mosaic façade unlike any other. Interesting features include: an ornate curved staircase, the Noble floor with stained glass windows and a dragon-like roof terrace.

Good to know: In February 2019, the façade and Noble Floor were under renovation.

Casa Milà (La Pedrera)

This building is another one of Antoni Gaudi’s creations, but it’s his last because he wanted to dedicate all his time to the construction of the Sagrada Familia. The undulating and curvy façade makes this building very unusual and almost cake-like. Also noteworthy are a series of 270 catenary arches in the attic and the distinctive chimneys and ventilation towers on the rooftop.

Getting around

To see some of Barcelona’s must-see attractions including Gaudi’s masterpiece, the Sagrada Familia, the Hop-on Hop-off bus works well. Taxis will get you there faster, but the metro will be much more economical. Keep in mind that it may be difficult to hail a taxi at crowded tourist zones, look for a taxi stand.

Day Trip from Barcelona to Montserrat

You might want to consider a day trip to Montserrat, a hill-side monastery and church, located an hour’s drive from Barcelona. We visited this spectacular sight after our cruise to the Canary Islands. The scenery is breathtaking!