10 Things to Do in Barcelona Old Town

Barcelona's old town is the perfect place to soak up the city's history. The architecture and atmosphere will make you feel like you've stepped back in time, but the cobbled streets and narrow alleyways also give way to some incredible museums and modern restaurants.

That's why I want to leave you with a list of things to see on this side of the city, in case you had any doubts that touring the old town is one of the best things to see and do in Barcelona, no matter what time of year you plan your trip.

The Picasso Museum is a must-see in Barcelona. It is located in the heart of the city, near the Barcelona Cathedral, so it is a good place to include in your Barcelona itinerary in 1 day, right after going to the Cathedral. Inside you'll see a collection of over 3,500 works by Picasso, plus temporary exhibitions and workshops you can take part in to learn about the artist's work.

Designed by Catalan architect Josep Lluis Sert and opened in 1963, booking tickets for the Picasso Museum (which also includes a full Picasso tour) is a must for you to enjoy its avant-garde design, curved lines, bold colours and geometric shapes.

Inside there are five floors, each with a differenttheme. The ground floor shows Picasso's early years, while the first floor focuses on his blue period. On the third floor you can enjoy his figurative style, inspired by classical art and pre-Romanesque sculpture.

Interesting details

• Price: The Picasso tour with entrance to the Museum costs 34 euros.
• Opening hours: Generally open between 10:00 and 19:00 from Tuesday to Sunday. Closed on Mondays.
• Location: Calle Montcada 15-23 in the Born district of Barcelona.
• More info: You can find out all the details in this post about tickets for the Picasso Museum.

The Sagrada Familia, designed by Antoni Gaudí, is the most famous church in Barcelona, so you should definitely buy your tickets to the Sagrada Familia. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it is one of the most incredible temples in the city because its construction started in 1882, and it is still unfinished.

Inside this church you will be able to see 14 altars in Gothic-Renaissance styles, stained glass windows depicting scenes from the life of Jesus, as well as other religious figures such as angels or saints; there are also paintings on the walls representing different events from the books of the Old Testament and the New Testament, such as Noah's Ark or the story of the Passion of Christ.

The most famous part of the church is the roof, which is covered with coloured tiles, so you can't miss the chance to go up and see it. You can also see several statues of angels on top of the roof. Among the sculptures you can see inside the church is "Ecce Homo", which depicts Jesus carrying his cross up the hill of Calvary. Another sculpture you will love is Mary Magdalene with her hair down her back.

Interesting details

• Price: Admission costs 34 euros per person.
• Opening times: Varies according to the season. Generally between 9:00 and 20:00 in summer and until 18:00 in winter.
• Location: Calle Mallorca, 401, in the centre of Barcelona.
• Further information: In this article on tickets to the Sagrada Familia you will find all the details.

I recommend you sign up for a tour of Barcelona's Gothic Quarter, which is the oldest part of the city and a World Heritage Site. It is home to many of the city's most famous landmarks:

• The **Placa de Sant Jaume -the central square in front of the City Hall.
• Barcelona Cathedral.
• Places like Els Quatre Gats.
• Many open-air bars.
• Restaurants where you can try traditional Catalan cuisine, such as paella or calçots.
• Shops and boutiques for shopping during the day.
• Many options of nightclubs and pubs where locals and tourists enjoy some of the best things to do in Barcelona at night.

In any case, if you really want to get to know the Gothic Quarter and all it has to offer, my advice is to hire a tour of Barcelona's Gothic Quarter where in small groups and accompanied by a local guide you will learn about the history of the most emblematic monuments and buildings.

Interesting details

• Price: Touring the city on your own is free, except for personal expenses incurred during the tour. If you want to join a guided tour, it costs 20 euros per person.
• Timetable: You can tour the city of Barcelona at any time you want, although I recommend you do it during the day to get a better appreciation of the sights.
• Location:Ciutat Vella district, in the heart of the city.
• More info: Read this post to find out everything you need to do about Barcelona's Gothic Quarter.

Casa Milà, also known as La Pedrera, is a residential building designed by Antoni Gaudí for Count Eusebi de Marimón i de Blasco, who commissioned the project in 1906 and moved in in 1910. Gaudí spent six years designing the structure before starting to build it in 1910. Since 1929 it has been open to the public, becoming one of Barcelona's most famous tourist attractions.

Before entering you should photograph its undulating façade built of Montjuïc stone. Inside the house you'll be delighted to see the entrance staircase, which is decorated with floral designs and other modernist motifs.

The rooftop is another place inside the house you won't want to miss, thanks to its extravagant antennas and chimneys, as well as its panoramic views of the city. Due to the influx of tourists, I recommend you buy your tickets to visit La Pedrera well in advance.

Interesting details

• Price: 28 euros per person.
• Opening hours: From 9:00 to 18:30.
• Location: Paseo de Gracia, 92 08008 Barcelona.
• More information: In this post you will find everything you need to know about tickets to visit La Pedrera and, in this one, you will find out everything there is to see inside La Pedrera.

Barcelona's La Boqueria Market, also known as Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria, is one of the most famous markets in the city, so I recommend you don't miss it, as it is a popular place for locals and tourists alike. Inside you'll find a wide variety of fresh local produce, including fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, seafood, sausages and cheeses.

This place is also a good place to try traditional Spanish sweets and desserts and European cuisine in general. I recommend visiting the market in the morning, when the vendors are preparing their stalls and the fruit and vegetables are at their freshest.

A good way to get to this place is to book a seat on the Barcelona tourist bus, an excellent idea to get around Barcelona in a comfortable way while enjoying the best places in the Catalan capital.

Interesting details

• Price: It's free to enter the market, but once inside you'll want to buy lots of things.
• Opening hours: Between 8:00 and 20:30, every day.
• Location: Las Ramblas Street.
• More information: In this post you'll find out everything you need to know about the best tourist buses in Barcelona.

If there's one place you should go and see in Barcelona, it's the famous Las Ramblas street, which stretches from Plaça de Catalunya to the seafront promenade, leaving some of the city's squares in between. You'll find many shops, restaurants and cafes along this street, so it's a great place to see and meet people, go shopping or dine out.

Among the highlights of this street are La Boqueria market and Passeig de Gràcia, with its luxury boutiques and art galleries. You're sure to find good entertainment on this street thanks to the street performers who perform acrobatic stunts and set up with music.

Interesting details

• Price: A self-guided tour of this street is free, but a bike tour that includes a visit to this street will cost you from 27 euros per person.
• Time: You can go to this street at any time, although during the night is a good time to visit this place.
• Location: This street is located in the heart of the city of Barcelona.
• More information: In this article you will learn everything you need to know about bike tours in Barcelona.

If you want a place to rest your feet and get away from the hustle and bustle of Barcelona's old town, you should consider buying a ticket to Barcelona's Park Güell. Designed by Antoni Gaudí between 1900 and 1914, this public park is one of Barcelona's most important works and has an amphitheatre inside with views across the city.

Inside Park Güell you'll also have the chance to see different mosaics made from broken tiles, an art form that draws its inspiration from Islamic art. You'll see palm trees planted in circles around a central fountain and benches carved into stone walls, as well as multiple paths to gardens of cacti and exotic plants.

Details of interest

• Price: 16 euros per person.
• Hours: 9:30 am to 6:00 pm daily.
• Location: It is located on a high hill in the Gràcia District in the heart of the city of Barcelona.
• More information: In this post you will find out everything you need to know about tickets to visit Park Güell.

A good plan to do in Barcelona in 2 days or less is to visit the Mercat Santa Caterina, where you can do some souvenir shopping for your trip. This place is located in the Raval neighbourhood, which is popular for its vibrant artistic community and shops. I recommend you to visit this place in the morning to have a coffee in one of its cafés before going inside.

Inside you will find different stalls selling fresh fruit and vegetables, places offering gourmet food, snacks such as chocolates or cheeses, and drinks of all kinds, but also handmade jewellery and clothes.

If you like gastronomy, you should not miss the chance to book a private gastronomic tour in Barcelona, where you will taste different recipes from the sea, mountains and countryside.

Interesting details

• Price: Admission is free, you will pay for drinks.
• Opening hours: From 8:00 to 13:00 every day.
• Location: La Ribera district in Ciutat Vella in Barcelona.
• More info: In this post you will find details about the different gastronomic tours in Barcelona.

Much of what you have to see in Barcelona is signed with the pen of Antoni Gaudí, so a couple of buildings of his work that you have to visit are Casa Batlló and Casa Amatller.

Casa Batlló was going to be a private home, but later it was transformed into an apartment building with shops and now it's definitely one of the favourite tourist spots for visitors, so I recommend you to buy tickets to visit Casa Batlló and don't miss this experience.

Casa Amatller is a Gothic-style building that was originally used as a textile factory and then converted into flats after the end of World War II. I also recommend that you buy your tickets for Casa Amatller in advance.

Interesting details

• Price: Tickets for Casa Batlló cost €35, while premium tickets (without queuing or waiting) cost €45. Tickets for Casa Amatller cost €20.
• Opening hours: Casa Batlló is open from 9:00 to 20:00 every day. Casa Amatller is open from 10:00 to 19:00.
• Location: Both are located on Paseo de Gracia.
• More information: In this post you will find all the information about tickets to visit Casa Batlló.

Barcelona Cathedral is one of the most important religious monuments in Spain, and therefore one of the best places to visit in Barcelona, so you definitely can't miss it. It is located in the Pla de la Seu and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000.

If you can't miss the outside view and you have to take lots of pictures, the inside is even more interesting, as it contains many works by Gaudí, including stained-glass windows depicting saints such as Santa Eulalia, who gave her name to Barcelona; San Pedro Nolasco, who is known for being the founder of the Church of Our Lady; and San Raimundo Nonato, who is the patron saint of pregnant women.

You can also see sculptures by Josep Llimona i Casasayas depicting scenes from the Passion of Christ. You can take a guided tour inside Barcelona Cathedral, and the best thing about them is that you can do them without paying anything extra. By taking one of these guided tours you will be able to see parts of the cathedral that are not available to general visitors.

Interesting details

• Price: Free of charge.
• Opening hours: Monday to Friday, from 10:00 to 18:30. Saturdays, from 9:30am to 5:15pm. On Sundays and public holidays it is open from 14:00 to 17:00.
• Location: Pla de la Seu, 3.