Overview
Barcelona is No. 8 in Euromonitor International's Top 100 City Destinations Index 2025. The capital of Catalonia lies on the Mediterranean between the sea and the Collserola hills. Its old town grew around a Roman settlement, and its 19th-century Eixample district, laid out on a grid by Ildefons Cerdà, is filled with Modernista buildings.
Seven works by Antoni Gaudí are part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Sagrada Família is Spain's most visited monument. The city also has beaches, food markets and a lively neighbourhood life. Barcelona is actively managing tourism, so book the major sights ahead and respect local residents.
Best time to go
May, June, September and October are warm without the peak-summer heat and crowds. The city's big festival, La Mercè, takes place around 24 September.
July and August are hot, humid and very busy. Winters are mild and sunny enough for sightseeing, though too cool for the beach.
Top sights
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1
Sagrada Família In our Top Landmarks
Gaudí's basilica, under construction since 1882, is the city's defining sight. Book timed tickets in advance.
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2
Park Güell
Gaudí's hillside park has mosaic-covered buildings, a serpentine bench and views over the city. Entry to the Monumental Zone needs a timed ticket.
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3
Casa Batlló and Casa Milà
Two of Gaudí's most famous houses stand on the Passeig de Gràcia: Casa Batlló, with its bone-like balconies, and Casa Milà (La Pedrera), with its rooftop of sculpted chimneys.
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4
Gothic Quarter and the Cathedral
The Barri Gòtic is a maze of medieval lanes around Barcelona Cathedral and the Plaça del Rei, with remains of the Roman city walls.
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5
La Rambla and La Boqueria
The famous tree-lined promenade runs from Plaça de Catalunya to the old port. Halfway down, the Mercat de Sant Josep, better known as La Boqueria, is a busy food market.
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6
Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (MNAC) In our Top 100 Museums
Housed in the domed Palau Nacional on Montjuïc, the museum is known for its Romanesque murals rescued from Pyrenean churches.
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7
Barceloneta and the beaches
A string of city beaches runs north-east from the old fishing quarter of Barceloneta, with a seafront promenade that is good for walking or cycling.
Getting there
Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) is about 15 km south-west of the centre. The Aerobús runs to Plaça de Catalunya, the R2 Nord train runs from Terminal 2, and metro line L9 Sud serves both terminals.
High-speed trains from Madrid, other Spanish cities and France arrive at Barcelona Sants station.
Getting around
The metro, run by TMB, is the easiest way around, backed by buses, trams and FGC trains. Multi-journey tickets such as the T-casual and the Hola Barcelona travel card are good value.
The old town and the Eixample are pleasant to walk. The Bicing bike-share scheme is for residents, but several companies rent bikes to visitors.
Practical tips
- Currency
- Euro (EUR). Cards, including contactless, are accepted almost everywhere.
- Language
- Catalan and Spanish are both official. English is common in hotels and tourist areas. A few words of Catalan are appreciated.
- Safety
- Barcelona is generally safe, but pickpocketing is common on La Rambla, on the metro and on the beaches. Keep bags closed and phones out of back pockets. The emergency number is 112.
- Visa & entry
- Spain is in the Schengen Area. Many visitors, including citizens of the US, Canada, the UK and Australia, can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) now records non-EU travellers' entries and exits at the border, and the ETIAS travel authorisation is due to follow. Check the official EU site travel-europe.europa.eu and your own government's travel advice before you go.
- Power
- 230 V, 50 Hz; plug types C and F.
Official information: Turisme de Barcelona (official tourism website). Check opening hours, prices and entry rules there before you go.
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