Is Barcelona worth visiting? That’s one of the first questions I get asked every time I mention our epic Spain trip. I’ll be honest. Both the times we planned our trip, we asked the same question. You hear so many conflicting reviews about the city that it honestly can be pretty hard to figure out whether or not to add Barcelona to your itinerary.
Truth be told, I think that Barcelona is a mix of different cultural, historical and even touristic preferences. There’s a lot of good but there is also a smattering of bad in it. So back to the question… Is Barcelona worth visiting? We decided that it was but I’m going to enumerate all the good and bad about Barcelona so that you can make an informed choice for yourself.
And if you want further inspiration about the city, you should check out these amazing captions on Barcelona. They are bound to cause a bit of wanderlust!
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Table of Contents
Is Barcelona Worth Visiting? – The Pros
Is Barcelona worth visiting? To truly understand this, you need to explore the best of the city and trust me… There is a lot to explore. I’m going to take you through some of the highlights of the city which makes this place extremely attractive to a traveler.
1. Incredible Architecture
There are few places in the world which people head to just to catch a glimpse of the architecture of the buildings around. There are loads of different types of buildings in the city and many are really really old. This gives the city a very interesting feel. In some parts of Barcelona, you feel as if you are walking back through time. In others, you will find yourself in a very modern vibe.
One of the most popular reasons why people head to Barcelona is to see the works of Antonio Gaudi. He designed a number of iconic buildings in the city. These buildings are popular because they did not confine to the traditional norms of architecture back then (or now!). Among these is the famed Sagrada Familia.
2. The Famous Sagrada Familia
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While we are on the topic of architecture, you will find that one of the biggest attractions in Barcelona is the Sagrada Familia. This impressive basilica was originally started off by Francisco de Paula del Villar but was later taken on by Antonio Gaudi. While many architects followed him, the Sagrada Familia is still considered one of the best works of Gaudi art.
Intriguing enough the basilica is still not complete and you can see its construction work when you visit. We visited the Sagrada Familia during our time here and boy were we impressed.
The gorgeous stained glass windows, the design of the interior, Gaudi’s tomb and more enthralled us for well over two hours.
“Great experience. Getting in was fast and easy and we even went in about 15 minutes early that day. To be honest I didn’t use the audio as I was with kids but it’s a must see in Barcelona. Bring an extra memory card for your camera and be sure to just take a moment to look around and take it all in.”
Traci (read more reviews now!)
The key to visiting the Sagrada Familia is to book your tickets in advance. Seriously! If you don’t you won’t be able to enter so don’t make that mistake or you will miss out on one of the best attractions in the city.
Is Barcelona worth visiting? For many, a chance to catch sight of the Sagrada Familia is reason enough!
3. Lot’s Of History
All those history lovers who ask if Barcelona is worth a visit? I recommend heading to the Gothic quarter!
I happened to read Carlos Ruiz Zafron’s series called the Cemetery of Forgotten books where he walks you through the streets of Barcelona. Sure it’s all fiction but he brought the streets to life and I just had to visit.
When you walk through the streets of the Barcelona, you can see the history that is etched everywhere. Every single building has a tale if you care to listen.
The Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, Casa Vincent and others talk about Gaudi. Arc de Triomf is the gateway to the city. The Gothic Quarter has some extremely well preserved Medieval architecture.
As you can see, the more you walk around the city, the more you discover interesting historical monuments. Each of which have their own tale to tell.
Is Barcelona worth visiting? Yes! If you are a history buff or have read some of the historical fiction books that revolve around the city.
4. Cheap And Good Food
Spain in general is known for its cuisine. Barcelona is such a big hub for both locals and tourists that it is an excellent place to indulge in Spanish food. From Andalusian tapas to the ever popular paella, from snacks to meals and everything in between, the city has it all. Plus it also has a restaurant for every budget.
The best part is that almost every place has good food. Just make sure to pair it with a glass of Cava. Yup! That was my indulgence! If you want to head straight to the source, you can also visit some of the wineries near Barcelona.
Oh and incase you have time, take one of the food tours of the city! They are pretty amazing!
5. Great Shopping
When asked is Barcelona worth visiting, all the people who loved shopping said yes!
A lot of people head to Barcelona to shop. No, I’m not talking about the overpriced goods in La Rambla. I’m talking about the myriad of shops that are scattered all around Barcelona. If you really want to shop near La Ramblas, I recommend heading out to the Gothic quarter where there are so many cute little shops.
You will find that the price of everything drops significantly once you head away from the iconic tourist street. That being said, browsing through La Ramblas is one of the popular free things to do in Barcelona. Just make sure that you have your valuables close because this is also one of the popular spots for pickpockets!
6. It’s A Walkable City
One of the best things about Barcelona is that it is a walkable city. We walked everywhere. In fact, the city is very wheelchair/stroller accessible too. I know this because we pushed our double stroller everywhere.
The beauty about walking around Barcelona is that you always discover something new. So unless you are really in a rush or are exhausted, I always recommend walking.
7. The Sheer Number Of Museums
Barcelona has loads of museums. I think this is one of those times when the reasons why Madrid is worth visiting and why Barcelona is worth visiting overlap. Both cities have loads of museums. You could literally spend all your time (and money!) just visiting the museums in the city.
Some of the best museums that should be on your list are:
- Museu Picasso
- Fundacio Joan Miro
- MNAC: Museu Nacional d’Art De Catalunya
- FC Barcelona Museum
- Moco Museum
8. Fun Festivals
Sometimes it feels as if Barcelona is always celebrating a festival. I’m not kidding. It is one of those places where you plan your trip and then check to see which festival coincides with it. Odds are you will find one or two that are.
While we were there, we stumbled across the Medieval festival. Everyone was dressed up and playing their parts. There streets in which pop up tents were set up. Music, wine, food and all sorts of activities were a part of the festival.
I think this is one of the things about Barcelona that make it a really cool place to visit.
9. It’s Central Location
When I say that Barcelona is centrally located, I don’t mean that it is in the center of Spain. What I mean is that it has a great location in terms of visiting nearby attractions in Spain. You can even head to Andorra on a day trip from Barcelona.
Some of the best day trips from Barcelona are:
10. Amazing Beaches
Did you know that Barcelona has a really nice coast line? Most people head to Barcelona for the architecture, the nightlife, the shopping amongst other things. Few realize that the beach is one of the best places to be!
You will find that the coast has a lovely paved area which allows you to walk up and down the entire length of the beaches. There is even a park that runs the length. Plus the beaches have designated areas for sports too! You will even find a nude beach on the Barcelona coast.
So when I say Barcelona has it all, I really mean it! So to answer your question, is Barcelona worth visiting for its coast? Definitely!
11. The Nightlife
The city comes alive at night. I’m not kidding. I mean it is super busy in the day but at night you will find that there is a lot going on too. From Flamenco dances, bars and restaurants and just all out activity, you will find that the nightlife in Barcelona is pretty fun.
We personally didn’t head out much because we had two tired toddlers with us but the times that we did, we found that the restaurants were pretty inclusive. It wasn’t unusual to see children accompanying their parents at night too. Quite different from the city we currently live in.
Is Barcelona Worth Visiting? – The Cons
I’ll be the first to admit that Barcelona is not perfect. So when I’m asked, is Barcelona worth visiting, I pause and try to give everyone an unbiased opinion. That includes the parts of Barcelona that I really did not care for. Here are some reasons why my answer may tend towards no when asked, is Barcelona worth visiting?
1. Pickpockets
Barcelona is famous for its pickpockets. I’m not kidding. Almost everyone who I know who has been to the city has been pickpocketed during their time here. Most of them have had the incident occur on the crowded streets of Las Ramblas.
Luckily for us, we avoided the same fate. The trick is to ensure that all your most important belongings are left at home. Carry just enough money for your day out and keep your belongings close at all times.
2. Crowds
Generally speaking all the big popular cities in Europe suffer from overtourism. Barcelona is no exception. This means that in the peak season, you will find lines everywhere.
This includes attractions, restaurants and even the parks are crowded. It can get really annoying because you can’t be spontaneous. You have to plan everything well in advance.
Is Barcelona worth visiting? I would say no when it comes to the peak season but that’s me. I really don’t like crowds so it’s a big deterrent where I’m concerned/
3. Expensive Accommodation
One thing that I have learnt about Barcelona is that the accommodation is really expensive in the city. This is regardless of how much in advance you book. Your best bet is hostels if you want to keep the budget down or you can stay outside the city. Both of which did not work for us because our toddlers wouldn’t do well in a hostel and traveling a long distance everyday would just tire them out before we even started the day.
So yes, the price of accommodation is pretty much a downside to visiting Barcelona.
Is Barcelona worth visiting? In general I would say a big fat YES! The things that aren’t really pleasant about the city can be managed in different ways and as long as they are not a deal breaker, book your tickets now!
My personal advice however is when considering a trip to Barcelona, try and book it during shoulder season. You will have pleasant-ish weather and you will lose the worst of the crowds.