A perennially popular city, Barcelona offers exquisite art, architecture, and cuisine. Legendary artists including Salvador Dalí, Pablo Picasso, and Antoni Gaudí took inspiration from the beguiling Catalan city in northeastern Spain, and each left their distinctive mark. Sightseeing tours—by foot, bike, Segway, or bus—can help navigate the multitude of attractions and offer insights into must-sees such as the Gothic Quarter and Gaudi masterpieces including Park Güell, Casa Batlló, La Pedrera, and the soaring Sagrada Família. Lines at top sights can be extremely long during the summer months, making Barcelona tours with skip-the-line tickets a valuable time saver. Day trips around the region include tours of Montserrat monastery and are often paired with wine tastings at local vineyards. You’ll find all of the above and more in our Barcelona travel guide below.

La Sagrada Familia

At the top of most Barcelona travel guides is Antoni Gaudi’s (still unfinished) masterpiece is one of Barcelona’s most famous sights. The UNESCO-listed Catholic church boasts a surreal combination of Gothic and art nouveau styles, making it a must-see for every visitor to the Catalan capital. While most city tours visit La Sagrada Familia, options with skip-the-line entrance are particularly valuable as the church can be extremely busy, especially in summer.

Priority Access: Barcelona Sagrada Familia Tour

In addition to skip-the-line entry, this tour offers flexibility with a range of departure times, allowing clients to arrive early or late in the day to avoid the biggest crowds.

Skip the Line: Park Güell and La Sagrada Familia Tour in Barcelona

Combine skip-the-line access to the Acropolis with a pass that takes care of transport to the city’s top sights; this tour is ideal for travelers who prefer to explore at their own pace.

Priority Access: Best of Barcelona Tour Including Sagrada Familia

Time-pressed travelers can take advantage of this small-group express tour to avoid lines and see Barcelona’s top sights, including La Sagrada Familia, in one action-packed morning or full day.

Early Access to Sagrada Familia with Optional Tower Access

Visitors who are serious about avoiding crowds can explore La Sagrada Familia 10 minutes before it opens to the public, with the option to climb the Tower of Passion—a perk not available with general admission.

Gothic Quarter

The Gothic Quarter’s narrow winding streets, shaded plazas, and striking architecture form some of the oldest parts of Barcelona. Set in the heart of the Old City, the quarter features mostly walking, biking, and Segway tours, while it’s bars and restaurants are a popular draw for food tours. Explorers will find gems tucked away in the Gothic Quarter’s nooks and crannies, and the area’s proximity to Barcelona’s La Rambla pedestrian street adds to its popularity among a young, nightlife-loving crowd.

Barcelona Segway Tour

Time-pressed travelers can zip through the Gothic Quarter’s labyrinthine streets and down to the old harbor at La Barceloneta on this Segway tour, which allows them to cover sights more quickly than they would on foot.

Tapas and Wine Experience Small-Group Walking Tour

This food tour offers flexibility with a daytime or evening option, plus hearty tastings at three Old City and Gothic Quarter tapas bars that amount to a full meal.

Barcelona Tour: Gothic Quarter, Olympic Village, and Montjuic Cable Car Ride

Ideal for first-time visitors to Barcelona, this tour offers skyline views with a cable car ride up Montjuic, plus coach transportation to the Passeig de Gracia, Olympic Village, and Gothic Quarter.

City Sightseeing Barcelona Hop-On Hop-Off Tour

Clients who want to plan their own itinerary can choose to jump off at any stop, including the Gothic Quarter, and explore at their leisure.

Montserrat

Set roughly 30 miles (50 kilometers) northwest of Barcelona, the Montserrat rock formation still makes the cut on our Barcelona travel guide. Montserrat is famously home to the Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey, an important Catholic pilgrimage spot thanks to its 12th-century wooden statue of The Black Madonna (La Moreneta), Catalonia’s patron saint. Aside from its religious and cultural importance, the mountain also boasts unbeatable views from its peaks. Tours from Barcelona can accommodate both time-pressed clients and visitors who want to explore at a leisurely pace, rounding out their day with a food or wine tasting.

Montserrat Tour from Barcelona Including Lunch and Wine Tasting in Oller del Mas

Ideal for foodies and history buffs, this tour includes lunch and wine-tasting at a local vineyard along with an in-depth exploration of Montserrat and its onsite Benedictine Monastery.

Montserrat Monastery Tour from Barcelona Including Cogwheel Train Ride

For clients short on time, this tour includes a succinct guided tour of Montserrat, some free time to explore, and a ride on the cogwheel mountain train to take in the lofty views.

Montserrat and Cava Trail Tour from Barcelona

This combination tour offers a well-rounded experience, with plenty of free time to explore Montserrat Monastery before clients head to Sant Sadurni d’Anoia for a winery tour and tasting.

Most Popular Things to Do in Barcelona

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Barcelona Travel Guide: Things to Know

When to Visit

Barcelona has a rather benevolent Mediterranean climate. Early summer and fall are the ideal times to visit, especially May to June and September to October.

Local Customs

Spanish people tend to eat much later than the rest of Europe. It’s not unusual to sit down for dinner around 9pm, or even later on weekends.

Things to Bring

While Barcelona is best-known for its urban attractions, it’s also a beach town. Visitors can bring their swimwear to soak up the sun on Bogatell or La Barceloneta beaches.

Getting Around

Walking is the best way to travel in the historical center, although Barcelona has an extensive public transportation system that clients can use when time is of the essence. Travel cards are valid across buses, trams, metro, and suburban rail lines.

What the Locals Know

Gaudi is not the only architect to have left a significant mark on Barcelona. Clients can visit the art nouveau Hospital Sant Pau to see the work of Lluis Domenech i Montaner, whose creations were highly influential for Catalan Modernist style.

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