About

About ULTIMATE Barcelona City Guide

ULTIMATE Barcelona City Guide is an independent guide for visitors to Barcelona, Spain. We publish 14 curated lists: restaurants, cafés, bars, hotels, sights, art & culture, parks & beaches, walks, shopping, health, property, developments, motoring and getting around. We cover the Gothic Quarter and El Born, the Eixample and Passeig de Gràcia, Gràcia, Barceloneta and the Port, Poblenou, Sarrià–Sant Gervasi and Pedralbes and Montjuïc, with day trips to Montserrat, Sitges, Girona, the Costa Brava and the Penedès.

Our editor

Jai Michael is Editor-in-Chief of the ULTIMATE City Guides. With more than 25 years in the media industry, he founded ABSOLUTE brighton and London TV, and has worked with leading luxury brands around the world.

How we choose

Every place in our lists has been checked against its own website or an official source such as thisisbarcelona.com (Turisme de Barcelona), ajuntament.barcelona.cat, TMB, Rodalies de Catalunya, FGC, Renfe, Aena, the AMB, UNESCO or The MICHELIN Guide. MICHELIN stars are quoted only from the 2026 guide. We use no ratings, and we leave out anything we can’t confirm.

Before you go

Opening hours, entry rules and timetables change often. Please check directly with each place, and with official sources, before you travel. Prices are in euros (€).

For venues

Run a venue in Barcelona and spotted something to update? We review our lists regularly and welcome corrections.

Photo credits

• The timber-slatted façade and garden of ABaC on Avinguda del Tibidabo, by Kent Wang from London, United Kingdom, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The concert hall of the Palau de la Música Catalana, under its stained-glass skylight, by Alvesgaspar, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The glass-and-steel tower of Hotel Arts (centre) beside Torre Mapfre at the Port Olímpic, by Fred Romero, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The tree-like columns and vaults of the Sagrada Família’s nave, lit by its stained glass, by Robertgombos, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Nova Icària and Bogatell beaches from above, curving north along the coast, by dronepicr, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Nova Icària and Bogatell beaches from above, curving north along the coast, by dronepicr, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The mosaic façade and bone-like balconies of Casa Batlló on Passeig de Gràcia, by Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The blue-tiled lightwell inside Casa Batlló, by Julian Lupyan, licensed CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Nova Icària and Bogatell beaches from above, curving north along the coast, by dronepicr, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A greengrocer’s stall piled with fruit and vegetables inside the Boqueria, by Matti Blume, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Tables under the lit arcade outside 7 Portes on Passeig d’Isabel II, by Enric, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The monastery of Montserrat beneath the mountain’s serrated rock pinnacles, by Bernard Gagnon, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The arched Modernista lobby of Hotel Casa Fuster, with its marble columns, by Jordiferrer, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Gothic façade of Barcelona Cathedral at dusk, above an empty square, by Jose María Ligero Loarte, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Cascada fountain with its gilded quadriga in Parc de la Ciutadella, by Isiwal, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The white houses of Cadaqués around its bay on the Costa Brava, by Berthold Werner, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The monastery of Montserrat beneath the mountain’s serrated rock pinnacles, by Bernard Gagnon, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Torre Glòries lit in red and blue at night, by Alvesgaspar, licensed CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The mosaic façade and bone-like balconies of Casa Batlló on Passeig de Gràcia, by Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The painted houses of Girona’s old town lining the River Onyar, by Krzysztof Golik, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Torre Glòries lit in red and blue at night, by Alvesgaspar, licensed CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The carved Gothic footbridge over Carrer del Bisbe in the Gothic Quarter, by Joe Mabel, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The carved Gothic footbridge over Carrer del Bisbe in the Gothic Quarter, by Joe Mabel, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The mosaic-clad roof and spire of the Casa del Guarda lodge at Park Güell, by Julian Lupyan, licensed CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The wrought-iron entrance of Hotel 1898 at La Rambla 109, by Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Tiled domes and towers of the Modernista pavilions at Sant Pau, by Bernard Gagnon, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Barcelona’s beaches curving north from Nova Icària and Bogatell, with the city and the hills beyond, by dronepicr, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The balconied façade of the Majestic on Passeig de Gràcia, by Enric, licensed CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The arched Modernista lobby of Hotel Casa Fuster, with its marble columns, by Jordiferrer, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A balustraded double stair above the clipped box garden at the Laberint d’Horta, by Enric, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The gilded tiers of the Gran Teatre del Liceu, seen from the orchestra pit, by Josep Renalias, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The arched Modernista lobby of Hotel Casa Fuster, with its marble columns, by Jordiferrer, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The white façade of MACBA on Plaça dels Àngels, by Victoriano Javier Tornel García from Barcelona, España, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The balconied façade of the Majestic on Passeig de Gràcia, by Enric, licensed CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The sculpted stone entrance of Mandarin Oriental on Passeig de Gràcia at dusk, by Enric, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The white buildings of the Fundació Joan Miró on Montjuïc, with a red sculpture on the lawn, by Jorge Franganillo, licensed CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Palau Nacional, home of the MNAC, above its cascades and stairways on Montjuïc, by Felix König, licensed CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Palau Nacional, home of the MNAC, above its cascades and stairways on Montjuïc, by Felix König, licensed CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The monastery of Montserrat beneath the mountain’s serrated rock pinnacles, by Bernard Gagnon, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Acropolis of Athens by day, seen from Philopappos Hill, by A.Savin, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Goat Cay and the turquoise shallows of the Exumas, by DrGvago, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Grand Palace reflected at dawn, by Nawit science, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The golden sand and calm water of Paynes Bay, St. James, by Barry haynes, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Barcelona’s beaches and the city from above, by dronepicr, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The old town of Belgrade above the Sava, with the spire of the Cathedral Church of St Michael, by Tatil Dükkanı, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Romanian Athenaeum in its garden, by Jorge Franganillo, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Hungarian Parliament lit up at night on the Danube, by Tom Ek, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Bixby Creek Bridge on the Big Sur coast, by Diliff, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Burj Khalifa and Business Bay at blue hour, by Robert Bock, licensed CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The beach at Rosemary Beach on the Gulf of Mexico, by Miamireader, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Blue domes of Oia above the Santorini caldera, by Norbert Nagel, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Helsinki Cathedral above the South Harbour, by Ввласенко, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Golden Horn and the mosques of the old city, Istanbul, by Diego Delso, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Las Vegas Strip at dusk, by Dietmar Rabich, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Triple Bridge over the Ljubljanica, by Fred Romero from Paris, France, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Palace of Westminster and the Elizabeth Tower, by Domob, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Griffith Observatory with downtown Los Angeles beyond, by The Fun Chronicles, licensed CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• La Seu, Palma’s Gothic cathedral, and the Almudaina above the old sea wall, seen from the Parc de la Mar, by Enric, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• An aerial view of a small island ringed by reef in the Maldives, by Luka Peternel, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Yachts in Puerto Banús, by kallerna, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Art Deco hotels on Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, by Robbschultz69, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Monaco from above, Port Hercule and Monte-Carlo below the mountains, by Spike, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Taj Mahal Palace and the Gateway of India from the harbour, by iMahesh, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Sunset at the Naples Pier, by pmarkham, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The New York City skyline from Top of the Rock, by Dillan Payne, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Millennium Bridge over the Morača, by Desemeus, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Golden Gate Bridge seen from Battery Spencer, by Christoph Strässler, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Sebilj fountain and the square of Baščaršija, by Yukof, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Lujiazui skyline and the Oriental Pearl Tower lit up at night across the Huangpu River, by King of Hearts, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Stone Bridge over the Vardar, by kallerna, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The gilded domes of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Sofia, by Plamen Agov (user:MrPanyGoff), licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Nine Arch Bridge near Ella, in the hill country, by Knthabrew, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Gros Piton and Petit Piton, the twin volcanic spires of the UNESCO-listed Pitons, by xiquinhosilva, licensed CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Skanderbeg Square with the Et’hem Bey Mosque, by Andrew Milligan sumo, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The tiled roof of St Mark’s Church in Zagreb’s Upper Town, by Bernard Gagnon, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• El Palace Barcelona on the Gran Via, beside the Diana fountain, by Jordiferrer, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The concert hall of the Palau de la Música Catalana, under its stained-glass skylight, by Alvesgaspar, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The mosaic-clad roof and spire of the Casa del Guarda lodge at Park Güell, by Julian Lupyan, licensed CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Cascada fountain with its gilded quadriga in Parc de la Ciutadella, by Isiwal, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The three-storey Gothic cloister and bell tower of the Monastery of Pedralbes, by Joe Mabel, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The warrior-like chimneys on the roof terrace of Casa Milà, La Pedrera, by Alvesgaspar, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Rows of vines in the Alt Penedès wine country, by Àngela Llop, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Gothic arcaded gallery in the courtyard of the Museu Picasso’s medieval palace, by MARIA ROSA FERRE ✿ from Vilafranca del penedes, Catalunya, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The Palau Reial Major and its tower on Plaça del Rei, by C messier, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Torre Glòries lit in red and blue at night, by Alvesgaspar, licensed CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The warrior-like chimneys on the roof terrace of Casa Milà, La Pedrera, by Alvesgaspar, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The mosaic façade and bone-like balconies of Casa Batlló on Passeig de Gràcia, by Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A greengrocer’s stall piled with fruit and vegetables inside the Boqueria, by Matti Blume, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Sculpture on the Nativity façade of the Sagrada Família, by Alvesgaspar, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The tree-like columns and vaults of the Sagrada Família’s nave, lit by its stained glass, by Robertgombos, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The slender octagonal columns and rib vaults inside Santa Maria del Mar, by Alvesgaspar, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Tiled domes and towers of the Modernista pavilions at Sant Pau, by Bernard Gagnon, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A red high-speed train at a platform in Barcelona Sants, by ItsAstrid, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The three-storey Gothic cloister and bell tower of the Monastery of Pedralbes, by Joe Mabel, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Tables under the lit arcade outside 7 Portes on Passeig d’Isabel II, by Enric, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A greengrocer’s stall piled with fruit and vegetables inside the Boqueria, by Matti Blume, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The church of Sant Bartomeu i Santa Tecla on its headland above the sea at Sitges, by Kent Wang, licensed CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The mosaic-arched façade of the Sagrat Cor church on the summit of Tibidabo, by Joe Mabel, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• A red high-speed train at a platform in Barcelona Sants, by ItsAstrid, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• Casa Vicens, Gaudí’s tiled house on Carrer de les Carolines in Gràcia, by Canaan, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
• The carved Gothic footbridge over Carrer del Bisbe in the Gothic Quarter, by Joe Mabel, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.