Why I love Barcelona

“I love the sea, and taking an early-morning jog along the Mediterranean is my favourite way to start the day. I'm also a bit of a history nerd, and relish strolling the cobblestone lanes of the Gothic quarter, thinking about the people in past centuries who walked these streets. Then there's the food and drink – the first-rate tapas bars, the abundant and inexpensive wine, the superb and reasonably priced multicourse...” Read More

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Regis St Louis
Writer

Top experiences in Barcelona

Amazing hotels and hostels

We've pre-picked the best hotels, hostels and bed and breakfasts to make your stay as enjoyable as possible.

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Food and drink

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  1. Tickets in Montjuïc, Poble Sec & Sant Antoni
    Modern Spanish
  2. Tapas 24 in La Sagrada Família & L'Eixample
    Tapas
  3. Quimet i Quimet in Montjuïc, Poble Sec & Sant Antoni
    Tapas
  4. Passadís Del Pep in La Ribera
    Seafood
  5. Koy Shunka in La Rambla & Barri Gòtic
    Japanese
  6. Casa Calvet in La Sagrada Família & L'Eixample
    Catalan
  7. Cal Pep in La Ribera
    Tapas
  8. El Glop in Gràcia & Park Güell
    Catalan
  9. Cinc Sentits in La Sagrada Família & L'Eixample
    International
  10. Casa Delfín in La Ribera
    Catalan
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Recent articles

18 free things to do in Barcelona

Barcelona has enough to keep the most voracious of culture vultures and self-indulgent of gourmands happy for weeks, but all those entry fees and tapas bills can mount up. Fortunately, help is at hand with a variety of ways to make your holiday budget stretch a little further.

In addition to the free activities and sights below, you can also save on transport by investing in a T10 travel card, which allows you 10 journeys within the city on any form of public transport.
Trent Holden
Lonely Planet Writer

Tackle Barcelona like a true Barça fan

One of the great football powerhouses of today, FC Barcelona has always been ‘més que un club’ (‘more than a club’). This motto, coined back in 1968, does a fine job evoking the deeper sense of Catalan identity that so many Barcelonins feel when the blaugranes (blue and scarlet) take the field. Seeing a game is the quintessential highlight, but there are many other ways to experience Barcelona as a fan – whether celebrating at a city landmark after a big win, or exploring an infamous sight where history was made.

Camp Nou. Photo by Johnny007pan / Getty
Regis St. Louis
Lonely Planet Writer

An ecofriendly weekend in Barcelona

One of the world’s most visited cities, Barcelona is likely on your bucket list to visit or re-visit. But all that attention has a cost. As this Catalonian capital (population 1.6 million) hosts a steady influx of tourists (up to 27 million annually), it also ushers in myriad environmental problems. Luckily, there are ways you can make your trip an ecofriendly one.

View of Las Ramblas and Barcelona cityscape © Michał Krakowiak/Getty Images/iStockphoto
Karyn Noble
Lonely Planet Writer
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Travel guides

Starting at $7.99

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Barcelona adventures

$629.61 Small group tours

5-Day Spain Tour: Cordoba, Seville, Granada and Toledo from Barcelona

Head out of Barcelona on a five-day tour of Andalucia's most popular cities: Seville, Cordoba, Granada and Toledo. You'll visit several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Alhambra, and discover the rich history of this beautiful Spanish region. Choose to start your tour by high-speed AVE train, and travel from Barcelona to Madrid in just three hours or alternatively, enjoy a leisurely coach journey between the cities and visit Lerida and Zaragoza, too.
$1199 Small group tours

Mediterranean Express

Jump on this quick (and affordable) seven-day tour of some of Europe's greatest cities. See what's so nice about Nice, snap the expected "holding up the Leaning Tower of Pisa" shot, and then explore Gaudí's famous architecture. And hey, think of the food to be tried on a tour from Rome to Barcelona! (Good thing you'll be walking so much.) Travel on trains and leave the coach bus behind on this life-changing experience.
$1549 Small group tours

Spain & Portugal on a Shoestring

Take an incredible ten days to experience the best travel highlights of Spain and Portugal: art, culture, food (hello tapas!), and nightlife. Leave the typical big tour bus behind and reach these unforgettable destinations by train. All aboard for some serious (and life-changing) city-hopping through Iberia.
$730.80 Small group tours

6-Day Spain Tour from Barcelona: Zaragoza, Madrid, Cordoba, Seville, Granada and Valencia

From Barcelona, spend six days in Spain's most famous cities! Enjoy fascinating guided tours of Cordoba, Seville, Granada and Valencia, and have plenty of free time to discover more on your own. See the Great Mosque of Cordoba; admire the Generalife Gardens in Granada; and visit several UNESCO World Heritage sites, including Seville's Alcazar and Alhambra Palace. Explore Cordoba's old quarter and learn about all of these fascinating cities from your guide. See the City of Arts and Sciences (Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias) in Valencia; enjoy a Flamenco dance performance in Seville if you wish, and visit Zaragoza and Madrid at your leisure. Accommodation and transportation by comfortable coach are included.
$994.72 Small group tours

8-Day Spain Tour Including Barcelona, Madrid, Cordoba, Seville, Granada and Toledo

Discover beautiful Barcelona, UNESCO World Heritage-listed Toledo and the highlights of Spain’s Andalusia region on this 8-day tour. Spend two days exploring Barcelona at your own pace; then, ride a high-speed train to Madrid. Explore the cities of Seville, Cordoba and Granada, and visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Granada’s Alhambra Palace and Generalife Gardens. You’ll enjoy seven overnight stays in 3- or 4-star hotels as well as several guided tours and round-trip transportation by deluxe coach.
$251.54 Small group tours

Barcelona Guided Weekend Adventure

Dive into Barcelona, the most vibrant city in Europe! In three short days, the local guide will reveal the best Barcelona has to offer! The local guide will navigate you through the Barri Gotic to visit famous icons such as Las Ramblas, Park Guell, and the Sagrada Familia. Take part in cultural experiences, such as a traditional Spanish Flamenco show and a paella cooking class. Small group sizes and included award-winning accommodation ensure an unforgettable weekend experience!
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