10 Best Monuments in Barcelona

Barcelona is a city known for its iconic monuments and stunning architecture, so it's easy to list some of its most iconic architectural works. Highlights include the Sagrada Familia, which has been under construction since 1882.

There are also relevant monuments such as Park Güell, with its mosaics and gardens; or the Palau de la Música Catalana, which is considered one of the most emblematic sites in Barcelona.

There is no doubt that it is one of the most important monuments in Barcelona, so booking your tickets for the Sagrada Familia Basilica is practically a must on your trip. The monument was designed and started by the architect Antonio Gaudí in 1882, who worked on it until his death in 1926.

Since then, several architects have joined in to continue the work, although it is still unfinished. From the outside you can see the towers and ornate façades depicting different biblical passages.

If you're wondering what to see inside the Sagrada Familia, you should know that you can take a guided tour where you 'll be shown the stained glass windows, the wooden details and the wide variety of sculptures and religious art. If you want to appreciate one of the best views of Barcelona, I recommend you climb the tower to see it and take lots of pictures. Here are the different options available:

• Tickets for the Sagrada Familia, from £29.
• Guided tour of the Sagrada Familia with optional access to the tower, from £62.
• Tickets for the Sagrada Familia with access to a tower, from £39.
• Guided tour without queues to the Sagrada Familia, from £46.
• Private guided tour of the Sagrada Familia, from £158.

Interesting details

• Price: from 34 €.
• Opening hours: Monday to Sunday, from 9am to 7pm.
• Location: in the Eixample district, on Carrer de Mallorca.

Also the work of the Catalan Antonio Gaudí, like many of the monuments in Barcelona, Casa Batlló is located on Passeig de Gracia and was designated as a monument in 1969. Part of the monument's charm is the modernist architecture that the Catalan architect gave to his work. A good way to get to know the place and other works by the architect is to sign up for one of Gaudí's tours of Barcelona.

If you book your ticket for Casa Batlló, you'll be able to see and enjoy a beautiful experience, admiring the ceilings and walls that were decorated with glass and ceramic mosaics. If you pay attention to detail and take a guided tour inside the building, you'll be able to see the wrought iron details that represent the organic nature of Gaudí's work. You'll also like the outside of the building, with its undulating façade that alludes to the sea.

Interesting details

• Price: around 35 ¤.
• Opening hours: from 9 am to 9 pm.
• Location: Passeig de Gracia de Barcelona, 43.

The Casa Milà is also known as La Pedrera and is a modernist building built between 1906 and 1912 under the supervision and responsibility of Gaudí. Today it has become a historical and artistic monument. Inside it houses a cultural centre and an exhibition on the life and work of Gaudí, so I recommend you buy your ticket to La Pedrera to enjoy all its splendour.

Inside the house you can see the architecture designed by Gaudí, but you will also have the opportunity to see the different examples of decoration and modernist furniture. You'll love to see spaces such as the rooftop terrace with its chimneys from which you can enjoy incredible panoramic views of the city. There are also other spaces that you should not miss, among which the Sala Gaudí stands out.

No matter if you go to Barcelona in autumn, winter, summer or spring, Casa Milà always offers different temporary exhibitions and activities for the whole family such as the night experience at La Pedrera, so it is a good place to visit and include in the list of things to do in Barcelona with children.

Interesting details

• Price: approximately from €32 per ticket.
• Opening hours: usually open from 9am to 6pm for daytime sessions. For evening visits it opens between 7pm and 10pm.
• Location: Paseo de Gracia, 92 (Eixample district).

Also created by Gaudí, Park Güell is a public park built between 1900 and 1914. Nowadays it is considered one of the main tourist attractions of the city and you will love it thanks to its modernist architecture and its panoramic views, so I recommend you to book your tickets for Park Güell in advance, so you don't miss the opportunity to visit this jewel during your trip to Barcelona.

It's certainly a good place to appreciate the attention to detail in Gaudí's work, because during your visit, especially if you book a guided tour of Park Güell, you'll have the opportunity to enjoy different spaces and iconic constructions such as the famous serpentine terrace, the Plaza de la Naturaleza, the vertical garden and the Gaudí House Museum. All the work is set in a natural environment that you won't be able to miss.

Interesting details

• Price: from 10 € admission.
• Opening hours: Open every day of the year from 8.30am until the sun goes down, depending on the season.
• Location: between the neighbourhoods of El Coll, La Salud, Vallcarca-Penitents, El Carmel and Can Bar, in the districts of Gracia and Horta-Guinardó in Catalonia.

Another of the city's most important monuments is the Palau de la Música Catalana, an emblematic building located in the Gothic Quarter of the city. It was built by the architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner and was designed to serve as the headquarters of the Catalan Choral Society.

If you book your ticket and visit the inside of the Palau de la Música Catalana, you will see how the building has a large number of ornaments and architectural details , including mosaics and stained-glass windows. Moreover, if you want to see this place in all its splendour, I recommend you to go to one of the concerts and cultural events in the auditorium.

If you are wondering how to visit the Palau de la Música in Barcelona, I recommend you buy tickets for a guided tour, which are available in Spanish, Catalan, English, French, German, Italian, Russian, Japanese and Chinese.

Interesting details

• Price: around €22.
• Opening times: open every day of the week between 10am and 3.30pm and from 4pm to 6pm.
• Location: in the city centre, specifically in the Gothic Quarter.

A truly popular street in Barcelona is none other than La Rambla, which stretches from Plaça Catalunya to the Christopher Columbus monument in the harbour. Along this street you'll find shops, bars, restaurants and many people doing artistic activities.

Although it is not a monument in itself, you will be able to see through it, different monuments and incredible places to photograph in the city. A good way to get to know this street is by taking a tour of Barcelona that includes Las Ramblas as part of the route. You will find a great and original offer like:

• Bicycle tour of Barcelona.
• Segway tour of Barcelona.

One of the monuments that you can find in this street is the one dedicated to Columbus, which is located very close to the end of the avenue. It was created in 1888, and it is 60 metres high. The Canaletas Fountain is also one of these monuments, which also has a very particular legend: whoever drinks water from it will return to Barcelona.

Interesting details

• Price: around 30 €.
• Opening hours: There are no specific opening hours, although I recommend that you go during the day so that you can better appreciate the scenery.
• Location: from Plaça Catalunya to the Christopher Columbus monument in the port.

The Cathedral of Barcelona, also known as La Seu de Barcelona, is a temple dedicated to Santa Eulalia and the Virgin of La Mercé. It is also one of the most incredible monuments in the city, because it is a great example of Catalan Gothic architecture. This temple dates back to the 13th century and is full of features that you should see and know about.

It has a glass rose window, a carved choir, and a cloister with gardens and palm trees. Barcelona Cathedral also has a long history, as it was built on the site of a Roman temple, so many parts of the building date back to medieval times.

When you visit the cathedral, remember to go to the cloister, whose entrance is located at the outer side doors, which lead to Calle del Bisbe. Inside you can see 13 geese, one for each year of Santa Eulalia's life. To visit this cathedral, I recommend you sign up for one of the tours of Barcelona's Gothic Quarter.

Interesting details

• Price: depending on the timetable it will be free or will cost approximately €7 per person.
• Opening hours: generally open between 8am and 12.45pm for free; from 1pm to 5.30pm with paid admission, and from 5.45pm to 7.30pm for free.
• Location: in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter.

Home of FC Barcelona, Camp Nou is a football stadium located in the district of Les Corts and has a capacity for almost 100 thousand spectators. That is why one of the best things to do in Barcelona is undoubtedly to go and experience the Camp Nou Experience. But besides all the excitement of this activity, the complex itself is one of the best monuments in the city. You have several options:

• Private tour of the Camp Nou Spotify in Barcelona, from £135.
• Visit to Camp Nou and FC Barcelona Museum, from £24.
• Visit to Camp Nou, FC Barcelona Museum and Barcelona sightseeing bus, from £84.

The history of Camp Nou is quite fruitful, considering that it has hosted several international football competitions, including the UEFA Champions League, the Copa Libertadores de America, the European Cup Winners' Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup. In 1982 it was one of the most used stadiums for the World Cup matches held in Spain. All these data make the Culé stadium one of the most important football stadiums in the world.

Interesting details

• Price: from 19 € per person.
• Opening times: opening times vary depending on the football season and the tour guide.
• Location: in the municipality of Les Corts, 5 kilometres from the city centre.

If there is one monument you will love to visit, it is the Picasso Museum in Barcelona, which is considered one of the most important art galleries in the city. I recommend you to book a Picasso tour in Barcelona with a guided visit to the museum so you can delve into the artist's work, basically because you will find an extensive collection qualified as one of the largest and most complete in the world.

Among the artist's works you'll find inside are paintings, sculptures, ceramics and engravings. The best part is that during this visit you will be able to learn about much, if not all, of Picasso's artistic career, from his formative years to his last works. You'll have to spend a lot of time inside the museum, because there are more than 4,000 works and personal items inside, including his sketches, studies and early works.

Interesting details

• Price: around 12 €.
• Opening hours: October to March, Tuesday to Sunday, 9am to 7pm. April to September, 9am to 8pm.
• Location: in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter.

As you can see, there are numerous things to see and do in Barcelona. Among all of them you should not miss the Boqueria Market, which is a food market located in the Raval, and very close to Las Ramblas. You can book a gastronomic tour of Barcelona's markets or even a paella cooking class and a visit to the Boqueria market, the most original plan.

What you'll love about this place is that you'll find a variety of fresh, local produce, including fruit, vegetables, meat, seafood, sweets and breads. You'll also find artisanal products such as chocolates, olives, cheeses and cured meats, so it's definitely a good place for one of Barcelona's best gastronomic tours.

The market dates back to 1217, when it began life as a small street market on the outskirts of the city. Over time and after many transformations, it became a covered market and one of the most important in the city.

Interesting details

• Price: you will not have to pay to enter the market, although inside you will have to pay for everything you consume or buy.
• Opening hours: open from Monday to Saturday, between 8am and 8.30pm.
• Location: in the Raval neighbourhood, near Las Ramblas.