11 Things to Do in Barcelona at Night
When night falls Barcelona shows its other side and offers several plans and experiences to enjoy it and in this post I have selected the 10 best activities for it.
Barcelona | ©Sandor Somkuti
While mornings in Barcelona are for getting to know the city and seeing its main monuments and tourist sites, nights are for relaxing, discovering another side to the city and enjoying either nightlife or more relaxed plans. Luckily, Barcelona doesn't stop when the sun goes down and offers activities and experiences to suit all tastes.
If you're looking for a quiet evening, you can choose to dine in unique places, stroll through its streets among monuments, buildings and beaches or enjoy the views from some of its best viewpoints. If you prefer a cultural evening, you can contemplate the beauty of its monuments at night, visit some of them or go to the theatre. And if you're more into partying and nightlife, the options in Barcelona are almost endless.
1. Visit La Pedrera at night
Barcelona La Pedrera Night Experience
Enjoy a guided tour of La Pedrera with a show on the rooftop and a glass of cava and sweets.
The most complete experience of the Pedrera house at night to get to know this unique monument in an original way.
La Pedrera, also known as Casa Milà, is inspired by nature, which is reflected in its shapes and in the names of its rooms and parts, such as the flower courtyard or the whale's attic. But the particularity of seeing it at night is the projection that is made on the peculiar shape of its roof taking advantage of its architecture.
It is, without a doubt, one of the most special visits to make at night in Barcelona and worth paying the entrance fee for.
2. See the night-time spectacle of the magic fountain of Montjuic
Barcelona Montjuic Tour: Cable Car, Castle and Fountain
Take a complete tour of the Montjuic district and discover the light show of its magical fountain.
With this tour you can also see the castle, ride the cable car and taste some tapas and wine, all accompanied by an expert guide.
One of the favourite night-time activities for visitors to Barcelona, and for the locals themselves, is the show at what is known as the Magic Fountain of Montjuic. This large fountain is located at the foot of the National Art Museum of Catalonia on the Avenida de María Cristina, which runs from the slopes of Montjuic to Plaça d'Espanya.
This large fountain, inaugurated in 1929 for the Barcelona International Exhibition, is the site of the famous night-time show.
3. Take a night tour to discover the legends of the Gothic Quarter
Barcelona Ghost Tour
Discover the mysteries surrounding Barcelona's famous Gothic Quarter with this night tour.
Learn about the stories of Barcelona's oldest neighbourhood from a professional guide who will tell you about the city's darkest events.
There are many guided tours designed to get to know Barcelona. Many of them take you through the Gothic Quarter, as this area is home to many of the city's oldest and most important monuments. But the tour I propose here is far from being a typical, touristy tour.
It is a walk through the area with the mystery and legends that surround the Gothic Quarter as a common thread. Since the neighbourhood is the oldest in Barcelona and dates back to Roman times, there are many legends that have been passed down through its streets.
4. Enjoy a cruise with live music
Barcelona Sunset Jazz Cruise
Relax on board a boat as the sun goes down with the incredible panoramic view of Barcelona in the background.
On this one and a half hour cruise you will also listen to live jazz music....
There are options to take a stroll close to the coast and see the city's skyline from the Mediterranean and others that offer the possibility of completing this stroll, generally at sunset, with jazz music on board a boat.
This activity is perfect for, for example, a romantic evening or simply to treat yourself to a ride on the high seas. Some boats may even include a DJ and drinks for a party at sea. Others include snorkelling and paddle surfing equipment. The options are varied and include different services depending on your needs.
5. Experience a flamenco night in Barcelona
Barcelona Flamenco Show Tickets at Tablao de Carmen
Get closer to the art of flamenco in one of the most prestigious tablaos in the city.
Don't miss the most authentic flamenco night and enjoy the clapping, singing and dancing accompanied by tapas or a VIP dinner.
In Barcelona you can enjoy numerous flamenco shows and give the Catalan night that magical touch that only flamenco art can give. There are numerous tablaos where you can experience a show full of passion and duende, some of which also include a dinner for an unforgettable night.
From the City Hall Theatre to the Tablao Cordobés and Los Tarantos, the oldest tablao in Barcelona, any of them will give you the opportunity to enjoy a show full of passion and duende. Any of them will give you the opportunity to get a little closer to this unique discipline in the world, declared Intangible Heritage of Humanity by Unesco.
6. Dinner with a star at the Fabra Observatory
You don't have to go to a Michelin-starred restaurant to have a starred dinner. At least in the case of the place I'm going to tell you about next. This place doesn't have one star, or two, or three... it has thousands.
I'm talking about the Fabra observatory. This peculiar place, as well as being dedicated to astrological observation, offers dinners combined with the experience of seeing the stars through its telescopes.
The observatory is located on the slopes of Tibidabo mountain and offers a complete dinner with various menus on its terrace, from which there are spectacular views of Barcelona. The complete experience includes a tour of their facilities, dinner, and stargazing with their telescopes. There are few more original and complete activities to experience Barcelona's nightlife.
Useful information
- Price: From 35 euros.
- Place: Observatori Fabra
- Timetable: In the evenings around 20:00-21:00
7. Stroll along the Barceloneta beach
Barceloneta beach is the most popular beach in the city, especially in summer. It is so because of its bathing in the Mediterranean, but also because of its atmosphere that makes it one of the best areas of the city to enjoy the nightlife.
On its shore there are numerous bars, restaurants and beach bars perfect for a dinner with the sea breeze accompanying you. A stroll along the sand or the promenade is the perfect complement to this.
Its location also helps it to be considered a special place at night. It is situated close to the centre and the Rambla area next to the marina. At the end of Barceloneta is the W hotel, famous for its sailboat shape, where you can go and climb to the 26th floor where the Eclipse bar is located.
Here the drinks are expensive but the views are unbeatable. These are just some of the reasons why this area is one of the best in the city for nightlife. I invite you to discover the rest for yourself.
8. Enjoy a play or an opera at the Liceu
For those who prefer to dedicate the night to culture, I can't think of a better place in Barcelona than the Gran Teatro del Liceu.
This is not only the most important opera house in Barcelona, but it is also recognised as one of the most important in the world. Throughout the year they have a programme with the best in theatre and opera and many of them at night.
It is worthwhile not only to see great artists on stage. It is also worth it for the beauty of its interior, which remains intact despite being the victim of two fires, the last one in 1994, which led to a major refurbishment of the theatre. The location of the Liceu is also unbeatable as it is right on Barcelona's Rambla.
Useful information
- Price: Depending on the play. There are tickets available from around 10 euros.
- Place: Liceu de Barcelona on the Rambla.
- Opening times: Depends on the play.
9. Discover the atmosphere of Barcelona's central neighbourhoods at night
I'm sure you've wondered which are the neighbourhoods with the best nightlife in Barcelona. Well, I'm going to answer that question and I'll give you a brief tour to enjoy the best atmosphere in Barcelona when the night falls.
We can start by strolling along the Ramblas to Plaza Real. This is a neuralgic point where many bars and restaurants congregate and which leads to the Gothic Quarter and the Raval, our next destination.
In the streets of these two neighbourhoods, the atmosphere is unbeatable, especially in mythical streets such as Carrer Robadors and Carrer Sant Ramon, which have historically been the centre of the city's nightlife.
The Born area is another perfectly valid option, although it is more recommendable for those who are looking for more peace and quiet. Its pedestrian streets are full of terraces of bars and pubs that do not close until the early hours of the morning. The streets of Tantarantana and Allada Vermell are the best known in this respect.
10. Enjoy the best night-time views of Barcelona in the Carmel bunkers
As you can discover in this other post about the best views of Barcelona, the city is a marvel seen from above. But it doesn't lose that virtue at night. The city is very well lit and at night it also offers some great views. And from where can you enjoy these views? Well, there are many answers, but I'll choose one. From the Carmel bunkers.
These former civil war bunkers have been refurbished and now serve as a balcony with one of the most complete and beautiful views of Barcelona. If the sky is clear, at night it offers the best panoramic view of the illuminated city, and there is also a good night-time atmosphere in the same area to complete the experience.
11. Experience the Barcelona party
Barcelona is a city that never sleeps and nightlife and partying is one of the main attractions of the city at night. In Barcelona's nightclubs you can dance to all kinds of music and there is a place for everyone.
Some of the best known clubs in the city are The Mix club in the Born area, the Moog discotheque, perfect for techno lovers, Jamboree for jazz or blues lovers and the famous Pacha discotheque which even has a terrace overlooking the sea. The Apolo concert hall on Carrer Nou de la Rambla deserves a special mention for its variety of music and entertainment.
If you want to opt for another type of party in bars or pubs, there are many areas where you can do so. In addition to the neighbourhoods in the centre that we have already mentioned, other neighbourhoods and areas where nightlife has a strong presence are: Eixample, the Olympic Port, Sant Gervasi and Poble Nou. Skybars are also very fashionable in Barcelona, such as the one in the Hotel Central or the terrace of La Isabela in Hotel 1898.
As you can see, party and nightlife lovers have almost the whole city to themselves.