Few European cities offer the wide cultural diversity that you will find in Barcelona. Throw in the 4.2km of sandy beaches right near the city center, warm Mediterranean sunshine most of the year, and you have everything you need for a great vacation in Spain.
Here you’ll find a top 5 list of the best restaurants, museums and galleries, beaches, shopping districts, bars, clubs and homes to stay in Barcelona. We’ve detailed all the opening hours, addresses, contact details and websites, so you’ll know the best things to do during your stay in this fabulous city!
Top 5 Barcelona Restaurants
While you are at the beach, you can try some of the best seafood the Mediterranean has to offer. If seafood isn’t your cup of tea, there are numerous excellent restaurants and bars serving tapas. Similarly, many restaurants offer more conventional dishes if you prefer a traditional meal.
The elegant yet informal atmosphere of the Lounge area of Acces restaurant provides an alluring and spacious context for guests to enjoy dynamic cocktails and champagne.
1. TAST-LLER. Price range: high. Cuisine: Delicatessen. You can try a Gift Card to enjoy the full gastronomic experience in this delicious restaurant. Opening Hours: Tuesday - Saturday at night. Address: Barri Gotic | Escudellers, 08002 Barcelona. Tel. +34 663 83 37 17
2. ACCÉS RESTAURANT & LOUNGE. This is a great option for starting your evening out in Barcelona. One of Barcelona’s best kept secrets, offers Acces offers contemporary, creative Mediterranean cuisine to tantalize your tastebuds. Opening Hours : 20:00 – 2:30 / Kitchen 20:00- 00:00. Sunday Closed Address: Aribau 55 Tel. +34 930 077 839 / +34 691 015 667
3. LASARTE. This restaurant may fall into the high price range, but it’s ideal for a couples or for special celebrations. Make sure you put on your fancy clothes for a night out at Lasarte Restaurant: they require a smart dress code. Opening Hours: Tuesday - Saturday: 20:30 - 23:00 Address: Mallorca St., 259 Tel: +34 93 445 32 42
4. CAN DENDÊ. Known as the best breakfast and brunch in Barcelona, you can try delicious Mediterranean and Brazilian food here. Top tip: dig into the eggs benedict, pao de queijo and pancakes. Opening Hours: Monday - Friday: 8:30 - 17:00. Saturday - Sunday: 10:30 - 17:00 Address: Carrer Ciutat de Granada 44 Tel: +34 646 32 55 51
5. PAPA’S. Papa’s is THE place to go to enjoy the Spanish food and good wines. Opening Hours: Monday – Friday: 17:00 - 23:00. Friday – Sunday: 19:00 - 23:00. Address: Carrer d’En Cortines, 17, 08018 Barcelona. Tel:+34 644 35 58 65
Top 5 Barcelona Museums and Galleries
Barcelona is a city for modern art lovers. Many important painters and artists worked in Barcelona at some point and their influence is still evident throughout the city. Two of the most famous are Picasso and Miró: you’ll find some of their most important works in dedicated museums in Barcelona. There are also dozens of museums and art galleries scattered throughout the city, so you will always have lots of art to see while you’re in the city.
Park Güell, one of the major works of Gaudí in Barcelona
1. Museum of the Sagrada Familia, Barcelona’s architecture is heavily influenced by the work of Antonio Gaudí. One of the greatest creations of Gaudi is the Sagrada Familia, a huge neo-Gothic Temple. Construction on the temple began in 1882, and it’s still going! The building is the top attraction in Barcelona, receiving about 2,000,000 visitors a year. Once inside the Sagrada Familia you can visit the museum which is located inside the building. The museum is dedicated to the history and construction of the Sagrada Familia and also gives fascinating insights about its architect Gaudí. Address: Mallorca St., 401 08013 Barcelona, Spain Opening hours: October to March: 9:00 - 18:00, from April to September: 9:00 - 20:00, on December 25 and December 26, January 1 and January 6: 9:00 to 14:00. Admission: €14.80
2. La Pedrera of Antonio Gaudí. The building designed by Gaudí IS the museum. La Pedrera is another of Gaudi’s famous creations. Address: Street Provence, 261-265 08008 Barcelona, Spain Opening hours: November 5 to February 28: 9:00 - 18:30. March 1 to November 4: 9:00 - 20:00 Admission: € 20.50
3. The Dalí Museum - Figueres. The Dalí Museum is not in Barcelona, but the train ride is very short (1h 45 min.), and entirely worth it for a glimpse into one of the most famous creators of surrealist art. The museum is in a town called Figueres, and is one of the most interesting and highly recommended museums in northern Spain. Figueres was Dalí’s home town and the museum houses one of the largest collections of his work in the world. Opening hours: July-September: 09:00 - 15:00, January-June / October-December: 10:30-17:15. Closed Monday (except holidays and eve of public holidays) Admission: €12.00
4. Picasso Museum. One of the most popular of all art galleries in Barcelona, this museum houses one of the largest collections of works of art by Picasso. Address: Montcada, 15 to 23 08003 Barcelona, Spain Opening hours: Tuesday - Sunday: 10:00 - 20:00; Closed on Mondays; Closed on annual holidays: January 1, May 1, June 24, December 25, December 26th. Admission: €11.00 per permanent exhibition - extra for special exhibitions
5. National Museum of Art Catalonia (MNAC) - Montjuïc. This museum of modern art is the seventh most visited building in Barcelona; a visit that’s made worthwhile not only by the artwork, but also by the fabulous view of Barcelona Address: Palau Nacional Parc de Montjuic 08038 Barcelona, Spain Opening hours: Tuesday - Saturday: 10:00 to 19:00, Sundays and holidays: 10:00 to 14:30, Closed on Mondays, except holidays. Admission: € 10.00
Top 5 Barcelona Beaches
If you are overloaded with art and culture, then spend the day recovering on one of the sandy beaches of Barcelona, located near the center of town. Order a sangria in one of the bars and throw down your shoes, sit back and absorb the sun, sea and landscape.
Relax On One of Barcelona’s Beaches
1. Barceloneta Beach. In addition to swimming, windsurfing and kite surfing are popular at this central beach. You can also enjoy a refreshing drink at one of the beach huts. The fastest way to go to Barceloneta beach is to take the yellow metro line and get off at the Barceloneta stop. You can also walk from the center of town until Barceloneta. It will take about 20 minutes from the end of La Rambla.
2. San Miguel Beach. The beach of Sant Miquel was refurbished in 1755 and is one of the oldest in the city. It is near the Church of Sant Miquel del Port, it is a central and lively beach which, despite its small size, is one of the busiest parts of the coast of the city.
3. Icaria Beach. Icaria beach is usually quieter than the Barceloneta during the summer months, and worth a visit if you want more space and the opportunity to relax and soak up some rays. To get to Icaria Beach, you can take the yellow metro line and get off at “Ciutadella Vila Olímpica” Stop.
4. Mar Bella Beach (warning: it’s a nudist beach!). Walk 20 minutes from the metro station Poblenou (Yellow line) to “Playa Bella” to arrive at this gorgeous beach. Even though it’s unofficially a nudist beach, many people come here to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere, and are not nudists. So you won’t feel our of place in your bikini or board shorts here, and you’ll get a local experience.
5. Sitges Beach. This beach is outside Barcelona and you must take a train from Sants station - the journey takes about 30 minutes. It’s worth the journey for those beach lovers among you!
Top 5 Barcelona Shopping Districts
Barcelona is an extremely practical city to for shopping, as all the best shopping spots are concentrated in the center and the historical city. For the bargain-hunters among you, try timing your visit to Barcelona with the big sales. The winter sales generally begin in the second week of January and last until the end of February and the summer sales begin on 1st July and last until the end of August.
1. Arenas Shopping Centre in Barcelona. The shopping mall you should not miss. Arenas is an architectural spectacle in the door Parc de Montjuïc . Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 22:00
2. La Maquinista. The biggest shopping in Sant Andreu district of Barcelona, is also the most beautiful. It’s also a great spot to head to when the heavens open: there are sales on rainy days! Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 22:00
3. Maremagnum. For the best in tourist shopping, visit Maremagnum. It’s built over the sea at Port Vell, in the old port of Barcelona. Opening hours: Shops and bars and restaurants are open 7 days a week. Shops: 10:00 to 22:00. Restaurants: until 01.00
4. Diagonal Mar Shopping Mall. Modern shopping centre in Sant Marti district of Barcelona. On the top floor of the mall there is a very nice terrace with lots of restaurants and views of the skyscrapers in the modern neighborhood. Opening hours: Mondays to Saturdays from 10.00 to 22.00. Third floor is opened all Sundays: restaurants and leisure.
5. El Corte Inglés. El Corte Ingles is the biggest chain of department stores in Barcelona and Spain. They have stores in all major Spanish cities and in various locations in Barcelona. The biggest Corte Inglés in Barcelona is on the top floor of the big building on Plaza Catalunya, which has a great restaurant and cafeteria with great views of the famous Plaza. Opening hours: Corte Inglés stores are open Monday to Saturday from 10.00 to 22.00.
Top 5 Barcelona Bars and Clubs
Something that you will soon learn about Barcelona is that it is a city that never sleeps. The Spanish eat late, drink late and go out very late. You’ll understand why mornings are quiet! On the weekends, do not be surprised if the nightclubs of Barcelona remain empty until at least 01:00-02:00 am and stay open until 06:00.
Barcelona has more bars, caffes and late night haunts per capita than any other city in the world.
1. Razzmatazz. At Razzamatazz you pay just on entry fee and get access to five clubs. There’s something for every nightclubber in this mega-bar! Admission: € 15,00 (+ a drink). Address: Carrer Pamplona, 88
2. Elephant. One of Barcelona’s chicest nightclubs, Elephant is located in the Les Corts neighborhood. Opening hours: Thursday - Saturday: 23:30-05:00. Address: Passeig de los Tilos, 1.
3. Pacha. Located in Port Olímpic, Pacha brings a taste of Ibiza to the streets of Barcelona. Pacha hosts some of the best nights out in Barcelona every day of the week. Address: Paseo maritimo de la Barceloneta 34.
4. Shoko. One of Barcelona’s most famous clubs, Shoko is best described as an Asian-Mediterranean fusion restaurant by day and a wild party spot at night. Opening hours: Restaurant: 12:00 – 00:00 / Club: 00:00 – 06:00 Address: Paseo maritimo de la Barceloneta, 36
5. CDLC – The Orient Meets the Mediterranean. This luxurious Barcelona club offers the perfect mix of exotic and exquisite tastes with its fusion of Eastern pizzas and Mediterranean charm. Perfect for dinner then dancing. Address: Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta, 32
Top 5 Homes to stay in Barcelona
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Fantastic Barcelona Apartment with Amazing views of Sagrada Familia available for swapping on CasaVersa.
1. Charming Balcony Flat In Gotico. Stay in this apartment equipped with everything! It’s cozy and bright with balcony and excellent location in the heart of Barcelona just 40 meters from the Place de la Tripi, famous for its concentration of ambient activity, terraces and cosmopolitan atmosphere. Located in the center of the city where the guest has restaurants, nightclubs, supermarkets, beach 10 minutes walk away, bars, theaters, galleries and art museums.
2. Fantastic Apartment with Amazing views of Sagrada Familia! Enjoy a stunning views of the Sagrada Familia. With a privileged location on the Pedestrian boulevard of Avinguda Gaudi- EIXAMPLE district, just 5 min walking from the basilica and Sant Pau Hospital, the modernist jewel. Perfect for couples, families or groups of friends.
3. Charming & cute studio. This apartment is ideal for two people or couple in Borne, one of the most charming neighborhoods in Barcelona.
4. Nice flat in Gràcia. A nice flat in a good area in Barcelona, Gràcia, the flat is in a really good area, near the metro, train, supermarkets, near to the nicest areas to eat, walking and relax.
5. 70m2 Apartment. Enjoy this cozy apartment with lovely natural lighting.
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