Barcelona Tours

Barcelona is one of the most visited cities in the world, thanks to its beautiful architecture, incredible gastronomy and a nightlife scene with a light of its own. To enjoy the real thing like a local, here are the best tours and key tips.

This guided tour of Barcelona takes you on a stroll through the main areas of the city where you can discover the ancient city and the mark left by the Romans throughout its streets. A professional guide will explain the history of the beautiful buildings of the Gothic Quarter, such as the Plaza Real, the Fountain of the Three Graces and, of course, the impressive Barcelona Cathedral.

The tour will take you to one of the most famous promenades in the world, Las Ramblas, the nerve centre of leisure in the Catalan city. Walking along it, you'll come across the popular La Boqueria market. Can you resist trying some of its exquisite products?

Another of the unique neighbourhoods you'll discover on this 2-hour small-group tour is El Born, where you'll walk through its narrow streets and see the Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar and the Palau de la Música. Undoubtedly, a combination of history, modernism and architectural genius, ideal to start your trip around Barcelona.

Duration: 2 hoursRecommended: As a first tour of Barcelona it is a good option, as it will show you several of the main areas of the city that you can then walk around on your own.

What you will see on this tour

Another tour that is perfect for getting to know Barcelona on the first days of your trip is this bike tour of the highlights of the city. Its streets are very flat and exploring them by bike is very comfortable and allows you to see the whole city in about 3 hours. You also have the option of the electric bike tour.

Accompanied by your guide, you'll pass through the Barceloneta area, the Eixample where you'll see Casa Batlló and La Pedrera, and some of the city's main squares and the imposing Sagrada Familia. All in the company of an expert guide who will tell you about the historical context of everything you see. The route is perfectly safe and very easy to do, and is recommended for all ages thanks to the organised layout of Barcelona and its flat streets.

Duration: 3 hoursRecommended: If you like to do alternative tours of the cities you visit or if you are only going to be in Barcelona for a few days.

What you will see

If you want to explore the Catalan capital at your own pace but without giving up a specialised guide who will tell you every detail of the architecture and history of Barcelona, you have the option of this personalised private tour.

You won't miss any of the city's most important monuments, but you'll do it according to your interests and privately with your family or friends, no one else. With a duration of 2 to 6 hours, this tour allows you, hand in hand with the local guide, access (if you wish) to some of the attractions you find along the way, such as Park Güell, the Sagrada Familia or the Boqueria Market.

Duration: 2 to 6 hoursRecommended: If you want to personalise your tour because you already know the city's main attractions and would like to explore some of them in more depth with a specialised local guide.

What you will see

If you're a fan of Carlos Ruiz Zafón's novel, "The Shadow of the Wind", you'll know that it takes place in various parts of Barcelona. In this literary tour of the bestseller you will be able to walk through the streets that appear in this beautiful book.

The Paseo de las Ramblas, the Plaza Real, the Basilica of Santa Ana and the Plaza de Catalunya. Sceneries that hide the secrets of the award-winning novel and where a professional guide will tell you every detail to make you relive the magic of his story.

Duration: 2 hours and 30 minutesRecommended: If you want to take a themed tour of the places in Ruiz Zafón's novel to learn more about the story.

What you will see

This original ghost tour, more than a sightseeing tour, is an experience in which you'll be solving tests and finding clues about a legend of the city of Barcelona. Using your mobile phone, you will enter a labyrinth of horror stories and mysteries.

Please note that you will not have a guide during this tour, as you will be solving the tests set out in the game simply by using your phone, which will guide you through the city. So you can do the tour in a group or privately, which is an advantage if you like customisable and unique tours.

Duration: 1 to 2 hoursRecommended: If you're visiting Barcelona in a group or with your family and you fancy a different tour to learn interesting facts about the city while having fun.

What you will see

I recommend this tour if you have visited Barcelona before or if you prefer to explore the city on your own and do an alternative tour to discover things different from the typical tourist attractions.

Your guide during this tour will tell you stories about famous personalities of Barcelona, myths, legends, lurid details... everything you need to have a good time while you walk around the Rambla and the Gothic Quarter....everything you need to have a good time while you walk around the Rambla and the Gothic Quarter.

Duration: 2 hoursRecommended: If you already know Barcelona or if you like off-the-beaten track tours.

What you will see

Alex's Traveller Tip

Try to do the Barcelona tour as early as possible in your trip, as it will give you a much better orientation in the city and a context for the places you visit later on your own.

As with tickets to almost all of Barcelona's tourist attractions, it is highly recommended that you book the tour you want to take online in advance. Your other option is, once in the city, to go to one of the different tour operators' offices and book the tour on the spot, but I'm sure that, like me, this will seem like a waste of time.

Once you have booked the tour you have chosen, you will receive an email confirmation and you can either print it out or show it directly to your guide at the meeting point indicated on the tour page. You will also receive the address and meeting time by email.

None of these tours of Barcelona show you the whole city, but rather, they are a guided tour of some of the main areas of the city with the context provided by a guide. The essential part of travelling, which is discovering and exploring at your own pace, begins after the tour.

I'm going to share with you what I think is the great secret of people who travel a lot: walk whenever you can. This is something I love to do when I travel to a European city, as I find it the best way to get to know the city's neighbourhoods, discover the local atmosphere, the most genuine shops, restaurants and bars and generally feel for a few days like I've lived all my life in the city I'm visiting.

Enjoy its architecture

Barcelona's architecture shines for its buildings created by Gaudí, but there is a plethora of modernist architects who also have their place in the urban shaping of the city. So remember to look up every time you turn a corner and you won't miss a single one of the unique façades dotted around Barcelona.

Visit its traditional street markets

There are a few flea markets and flea markets that take place in Barcelona and are the perfect place to pick up a souvenir or two, much better than any trinket you'll find in the typical tourist shop. If you're passing through them on your tour or are dropped off nearby at the end of the tour, recommendations include the Mercat dels Encants, the Mercat Gòtic (opposite Barcelona Cathedral), and if you happen to be in town on the second Sunday of the month, you can visit El Flea.

Keep an eye on your belongings

Finally, a somewhat obvious tip you should follow on your trip to Barcelona, and especially while on a tour, is to keep an eye on your belongings. Going in a group with a guide will immediately identify you as a tourist, and especially in areas such as the Rambla de Catalunya or any of the city's central squares, you'll need to watch out for pickpockets.

Days and times

The vast majority of Barcelona tours operate daily, and unless the weather is essential for the visit, they take place rain or shine. The timetable is usually fixed, usually in the morning or midday, unless otherwise indicated on the tour. In some cases you can choose morning or afternoon, giving you more possibilities for personalisation when choosing your tour.

Duration of tours

If your tour is a half-day tour, it will typically last about 3 hours. Short or express tours usually last around 1 hour, and day tours can last 8 hours or more.

The Sagrada Familia is the most popular visit in Barcelona and in case you are looking for a guided tour of this architectural marvel, I tell you everything you need to know in my guide to the Sagrada Familia. Barcelona Sagrada Familia Tickets and Visits.

Another place in Barcelona you shouldn't miss is Park Güell, and before you choose a tour of this emblematic park I recommend you to read my guide on how to get to know it. Park Güell in Barcelona Tickets and Tours where you will find all the tips and tricks to make the most of your visit.

There are a number of museums in Barcelona that might interest you, especially if you are passionate about the art of Picasso or Catalan artists such as Tàpies or Miró. You can consult my guide to Barcelona Museums to get your tickets and guided tours at the best price.

Finally, if you're a football fan and even more if you're a Barça fan, the Spotify Camp Nou Experience is something you can't miss, as it will give you the chance to tour FC Barcelona's emblematic stadium and its museum full of the club's history. You can read all about it here: Barcelona Spotify Camp Nou Stadium Visits.