Must Do in Barcelona: Explore Montjuic Park

The Ultimate Barcelona Bucket List

The Ultimate Barcelona Bucket List

If you’re like us and only have a few days to explore Barcelona, you may need to narrow this list down a lot. Have no fear, though. We’ve shared a separate post with our favorite things to do in Barcelona with limited time. For those of you with more than a few days, this ultimate Barcelona bucket list will keep you going throughout your vacation!

50 Things To Check Off Your Ultimate Barcelona Bucket List:

Admiring Architecture

Visit Casa Vicens, a Gaudi home in Barcelona
  • Casa Batlló – A popular building designed by Antoni Gaudí. 
  • Casa Vicens – This was Antoni Gaudí’s first major commission.
  • Park Güell – A whimsical public park with a variety of colorful statues, walls, buildings, and gardens.
  • Casa Mila (La Pedrera) – Another popular building designed by
    Gaudí.
  • Güell Palace – A mansion designed by Gaudí.
  • La Sagrada Familia – A massive basilica designed by Gaudí that’s been under construction since 1882.
  • Gaudí House Museum – This museum gives visitors a closer look at the architect including furniture he designed and other items linked to his life.
  • Plaça Reial – A bustling plaza filled with restaurants, clubs, and more where you can see touches of work from Gaudí including some very unique lampposts.
  • Casa Amattler – A building designed by architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch.
  • La Manzana de la Discordia – A block of buildings on Passeig de Gràcia that includes works from the four important architects of the time: Gaudí and Puig i Cadafalch (Casa Battlo and Casa Amattler already mentioned), along with Lluís Domènech I Montaner (Casa Lleó Morera) and Enric Sagnier (Casa Mulleras).
  • Santa Maria del Mar – A beautiful church in Gothic architecture located in the Ribera district.

Parks & Nature

Look for monk parakeets in Barcelona
  • Olympic Ring at Montjuïc Park – Includes several sporting facilities used for the Barcelona 1992 Summer Olympics and includes Torre de Calatrava, a communications tower that stands in the center of the area.
  • Mossèn Costa i Llobera – This cactus garden at Montjuïc Park also overlooks the harbor.
  • Teatre Grec at Montjuïc Park – An open-air theatre built in ancient Greek amphitheater style where you can sometimes catch a live show.
  • Magic Fountain – This popular light and sound show takes place in the evenings at the Magic Fountain in Montjuic Park. Check the city website for showtimes.
  • Castell de Montjuïc – Military fortress built during the Reapers’ War. Today, you can visit or take a guide tour.
  • Parque del Laberinto de Horta – The Horta Labyrinth is a giant hedge maze.
  • Parc de la Ciutadella – Row a boat around the lake, visit the
    Catalan Parliament, or stop by the Zoological Museum.
  • Search for monk parakeets – These green birds can be spotted throughout the city but we saw a lot of them closer to the port.
  • Relax on the beach – Barcelona has a variety of beaches with the most famous being Barceloneta Beach.
  • Jardí Botànic de Barcelona – A botanical garden in Montjuïc Park.
     Admission is €3.50.

Art, Culture & Museums

Everything you need to know about visiting Barcelona

Please note that many of the museums and attractions mentioned below are free or discounted on certain days of the week or month. See our article on How to Save Money in Barcelona for details!

  • Museu Picasso – One of the most extensive collections from Pablo Picasso and rich in works from his early years as an artist.
  • Joan Miró’s Pla de l’Os mosaic – Located on La Rambla not far from the entrance to La Boqueria Market.
  • Woman and Bird sculpture – Another work by the artist, this one is located at Joan Miró park near Plaça d’Espanya.
  • Museu Fundació Joan Miró – Houses the largest collection of
    Miró’s works.
  • Museu Nacional D’Art de Catalunya – This Catalan art museum includes Romanesque mural painting, works of Catalan modernism, Gothic art, and more.
  • Palau de la Musica Catalan – See a show at this beautiful concert hall or book a tour to see the spectacular architecture anglass ceiling
  • Museu Blau – Barcelona’s natural history museum.
  • Barcelona Zoo – The zoo is located in Parc de la Ciutadella.
  • Aquàrium de Barcelona – The aquarium is located in the harbor at Port Vell.
  • Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA) – The Museum of Contemporary Art of Barcelona is a popular art museum located in El Raval.
  • Museu Marítim – The Maritime Museum is located in the former shipyard of Drassane and holds an extensive collection of ships.
  • CosmoCaixa – This is a science museum with a planetarium.
  • Museu d’Història de Catalunya – This museum explores Catalan history.

Enjoy the Barcelona View

Ride the cable car in Barcelona
  • Caramel Bunkers – Abandoned Spanish Civil War bunkers that offer panoramic views of the city.
  • Arenas de Barcelona – A former bullring turned shopping mall with restaurants, a movie theater, and a rooftop that provides 360° view of the city. 
  • Ride a Cable Car – There are two cable cars in Barcelona: the Port Cable car and the Montjuïc Cable Car.
  • Walk along La Rambla – Yes, this street is certainly “touristy,” but you are a tourist after all!
  • Arc de Triumf de Barcelona – A massive archway that served as the main gate for the 1888 Barcelona World Fair.

Food and Drink

Drink absinthe at Bar Marsala in Barcelona
  • La Boqueria Market – An open-air market with lots of delicious food choices.
  • Cava – Try this sparkling wine that comes from Catalonia.
  • Catalan food – Try as much as you can while visiting! Our favorite was a dessert called Crema Catalana.
  • Bar Marsella – Believed to be the oldest bar in Barcelona, it specializes in absinthe.
  • Rooftop drinks at La Isabela – This is a great spot to enjoy the sunset with a glass of wine.

Sports & Entertainment

  • Fútbol Club Barcelona – Attending a European fútbol match is definitely a must-do (we saw Real Madrid at their home stadium in Madrid). Can’t score tickets? Watch the game at a pub with the locals!
  • Tour Camp Nou stadium – This is another great way to experience
    fútbol if you can’t attend a game.
  • Tibadabo Amusement Park – A quirky amusement park located on top of Tibadabo Hill.

Day Trips

Enjoy the view at Montserrat Monastery
  • Montserrat Monastery – In our opinion, this is a must-do. Montserrat is a working monastery located in the mountains about an hour from Barcelona.
  • Girona – A city with medieval architecture located along the Onyar River. It is also home to some Game of Thrones film locations.
  • Figueres – This is the birthplace of famous artist Salvador Dalí and is home to the Dalí Theatre-Museum. 

Need more Barcelona inspiration?

Still looking for more trip inspiration after reading our ultimate Barcelona bucket list? Check out these other articles:

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The Ultimate Bucket List for Barcelona

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