Barcelona Travelers Recommend

An architecture tour is a fun way to navigate Barcelona’s byways and sights, highlighting some of the city’s most extraordinary and iconic sights. Along with buildings by Gaudi, you’ll see similarly outlandish Art Nouveau designs by his contemporaries Domenech i Montaner and Puig i Cadafalch. Throw away your set-square and ruler and get ready for wobbly outlines and organic shapes as you take in Casa Batllo, Casa Lleo Morera and Casa Amatller, known as the Mansan de la Discordia on elegant Passeig Gracia. Other memorable Modernist highlights include Casa Mila, the Palau de la Musica Catalana and the apartment buildings of Eixample.

Day 1: Barcelona Sightseeing Explore La Ramblas for a fabulous taste of Barcelona’s eccentric character with its restaurants and funky late-night bars. Hop on a bus, bike, or a scooter for an alternative approach to sightseeing or take the classic One Day Tour. On the Barcelona Gourmet Tapas Evening Walking Tour visit La Boquiera to see the amazing fresh food markets. Day 2: Art from Gaudi to Contemporary Discover Antoni Gaudi's masterpieces like the Casa Calvet, Sagrada Familia and Parc Güells. Other cultural highlights include The Picasso Museum, Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (Romanesque art), Fundació Joan Miró, the CCCB and MACBA for contemporary art. Day 3: Day Trips from Barcelona Take a trip out of the city to Montserrat or discover the glamorous Costa Brava and its sparkling beaches.

Famous for its modernist architecture, legendary football club and long sandy beaches, Barcelona has long been one of Spain’s top tourist magnets. But with millions of annual visitors, the Catalan capital can get crowded, especially during the busy summer months. Planning ahead is essential to make the most of your trip and pre-booking skip-the-line tours to some of Barcelona’s top attractions is a good idea, especially for those short on time. With priority access, you’ll not only avoid the long queues, but save precious time that you can spend visiting other sights, shopping for souvenirs or relaxing on the beach. Most first-time visitors make a beeline for La Sagrada Familia, Gaudi’s modernist masterpiece, but the queues for the iconic cathedral are notoriously long. Instead, pre-book a guided tour including skip-the-line entrance, either with or without a visit to the tower. Gaudi fans can also enjoy skip-the-line access to several of the architect’s other works.

Barcelona's most photographed landmark, a UNESCO-listed monument and Antoni Gaudí’s most iconic masterpiece, La Sagrada Família is a must for every itinerary. The modernist cathedral is a work of fantasy so immense and rich in detail that it isn't even finished yet, but it's still Spain’s most-visited monument, averaging over 3 million annual visitors. The best way to visit La Sagrada Família is by pre-booking skip-the-line tickets, ensuring you head straight to the front of the queue and enjoy priority access. With multiple options available, there’s a tour to suit all budgets and itineraries. Short on time? Opt for a 1.5-hour skip-the-line tour, with or without entrance to the tower, and make your own way there by public transport. First time in the city? Combine your visit with a Best of Barcelona tour and see highlights like the Gothic Quarter, Montjuïc Hill and Casa Batlló, too.

Barcelona is beloved by generations of artists all of whom left their unique imprint on the city, from the sculptural architecture of Gaudí and the mythical paintings of Picasso, to surrealist icon Salvador Dalí. Antoni Gaudí is Barcelona's most internationally renowned and emblematic architect. His buildings are gorgeously ornate and whimsical, eccentric grooves and rich colours with no straight edges. Begin your artistic journey on Paseo de Gracia to famous apartment buildings Casa Batlló and Casa Milá, and Parc Güell's undulating seating, mosaics, and a dragon fountain! The Sagrada Familia church is the masterpiece of Gaudí's intricate and organic architecture. The Gaudí Museum located in the crypt, traces the life and career of the architect. Barcelona Modernism Walking Tour takes you into "modernist" Barcelona in the Eixample district. Admire Catalan art Nouveau buildings by Gaudí and his contemporaries.

For first time visitors to Barcelona As the city’s top tourist attraction with more than 2.8 million visitors a year, La Sagrada Familia’s queues are almost as legendary as the cathedral itself, so make the most of your time and book a tour that offers skip-the-line access, like a Skip-the-Line Best of Barcelona tour. This tour offers a comprehensive tour of Barcelona’s sights, including a one-hour guided tour of La Sagrada Familia, and is available as either a half or full day tour. For those short on time You don’t have to join a long tour to check out the magnificent structure – opt for a Skip-the-Line La Sagrada Familia Tour and enjoy a hassle-free, one-hour tour of the cathedral interiors, including free time to revisit your favorite sections. Whether you’ve already seen Barcelona or just want to explore on your own, this tour is perfect for those short on time and with several time slots available, you can fit it in around your schedule.

Once a coastline of sleepy fishing villages, it was inevitable that the beauty and sunshine warmth of the Costa Brava would be discovered by the world, and in the 1950s development began to turn the area into the renowned holiday destination it is today. Located north-east of Barcelona, the Costa Brava begins at the town of Blanes and stretches all the way to the French border. The main city is Girona, a historic town dating from around 76 BC and these days is used as an international airport by low-cost carriers who refer to it as Barcelona though it is 60 miles (100km) north. Blanes, Tossa de Mar, and Lloret de Mar became well-developed resort towns, but other towns like Calella de Palafrugell have remained quieter with their old fishing village charm. A popular town is Cadaques on the bay of Cap de Creus near the French border; it has long been a magnet for artists including Dalí and Picasso.