Barcelona is such a vibrant city at the Mediterranean Sea. It offers so many popular attractions designed by Antoni Gaudí like the Sagrada Família, multiple historical monuments, a vibrant culture, beautiful beaches, and delicious local cuisine. And of course, it has plenty of unique spots. In this blog post I will share the best Barcelona hidden gems so you can visit them when you’re in the Catalan capital. This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase I may get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Find out more here.
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Montjuïc cable car
I feel like Montjuïc is one of the best hidden gems in Barcelona. Seriously. It’s still an off the beaten track attraction. Everyone goes to Las Ramblas and very few people come here. Not sure why it’s not more popular.
You can take the Montjuic cable cars here that takes you up Montjuïc Hill. This is one of the best panoramic views of Barcelona!
And since there are fewer crowds, you can get an entire car for yourself. How cool is that?
The cable car takes you all the way up to Montjuïc Castle. On the way down there is an optional stop at Mirador de l’Alcalde for more incredible views.
While you’re in the area you can also stop by Fundació Joan Miró if you like modern art.
Montjuïc Castle
Montjuïc Castle is a military fortress that was built in the 1600’s on the Hill of Montjuïc. There are plenty of rooms with exhibits on the ground floor of the castle.
However, the coolest thing about it is the rooftop terrace. It’s an enormous terrace with spectacular views of Barcelona.
There are also a few benches where you can sit down and enjoy the view. It’s such a great place if you like panoramic views of a city. It’s also a great spot to take some pictures.
The entrance fee is affordable compared to Casa Batlló, so it’s definitely worth visiting.
The World Comes To Life With Each Kiss mural
While you’re in the Gothic Quarter make sure to stop by The World Comes To Life With Each Kiss mural. It’s a mural that shows a man and a woman kissing, but the cool thing is that the entire mural is made from pictures sent by residents of Barcelona.
If you go close to the mural you can see these pictures of regular people from Barcelona. I love street art and I love this idea of involving the local community in an art project.
It’s one of the secret spots in an otherwise popular location.
Picasso Museum
The Picasso Museum has an extensive collection of the artist’s work (over 4,000 pieces!). If you like the art of Pablo Picasso you should definitely visit.
Park Güell
Parc Güell is probably my favorite park I’ve ever been to. The lush greenery, Gaudi’s architecture with its beautiful ceramic tiles, and the tranquil gardens make it the ideal spot for a stroll.
It’s an oasis of peace and it’s perfect for nature lovers. Plus, you get to enjoy Gaudi’s architecture and you get some iconic sights of Barcelona since the park is on a hill.
The plaza that offers these great views is also the perfect spot to take pictures.
The park is a popular spot, so to avoid overcrowding, you need to buy a ticket before you visit. It’s so worth it though! It’s so beautiful that it feels magical. You should spend a few hours here to be able to explore everything.
Palau de la Musica Catalana
Palau de Musica Catalana is a concert hall designed in the Catalan modernista style. Both the concert halls and the facade and its balconies look impressive.
You can visit it during the day. Or you can go to a concert or flamenco show at night. I highly recommend adding it to your itinerary.
While you’re in the area stop by the Caganer store to get some of the best souvenirs.
Barcelona Cathedral
This Gothic Cathedral is in the heart of the Gothic Quarter. It’s not as well-known as La Sagrada Familia, but it’s worth a visit nonetheless since it has so much history.
There is a plaza in front of it where people perform or just blow these giant soap bubbles for children. It has a cool vibe.
Rooftop terrace of La Pedrera (Casa Milà)
The architecture of Antoni Gaudi is a symbol of Barcelona. The most well-known buildings designed by him are La Sagrada Familia, Casa Battlo, La Pedrera (or Casa Mila), and Park Guell. It’s really hard to pick a favorite because all of them are so beautiful and unique in their own way.
La Pedrera offers a sunrise tour at 8am, 1 hour before it opens for regular visitors. I think you should take advantage of this since you’ll be able to explore the place with a guide and no crowds.
My group had only about 10 people, so it’s really not crowded at all at that time. They offer this sunrise tour in English, Japanese, Korean and Chinese.
If you like taking instagrammable pictures, know that during this tour you will have about 15-20 minutes on the rooftop so you can take all the pictures and videos you want. With no people! This rooftop offers an incredible view of Barcelona, so I highly recommend you book the sunrise tour to be able to properly enjoy.
If waking up early is not your thing, though, you can opt for a regular visit. While the difference in ticket prices for the two options is not that big, ticket prices for the main attractions in Barcelona are steep. Around 30 euros or more. I was surprised when I saw these prices. Barcelona is definitely one of the most expensive destinations in Europe when it comes to entrance fees for attractions.
Tibidabo amusement park
This is one of the oldest amusement parks in the world. It is located on Mount Tibidabo and it has a panoramic area that offers some of the best views of Barcelona. Tibidabo Hill is also the highest point in the city.
The Tibidabo Panoramic Area is open every day from March 4 to January 5 (except December 25 and 26 and January 1 and 6).
It’s one of the best places to see the whole city from 500m above sea level, especially on clear days. It’s a very unique view!
Where should I stay in Barcelona?
Mid-budget hotels
Barcelona has plenty of hotel options in central locations for a decent price. Here are some of my favorites: Hotel NH Collection Barcelona Gran Hotel Calderón, HG City Suites Barcelona, Hotel Duquesa de Cardona Barcelona.
Luxury hotels
If you have a higher budget and are seeking a more luxurious option, then Mandarin Oriental, El Palauet Barcelona, or The Barcelona EDITION are all great options.
Hostels
Unfortunately, I am not the right person to recommend any hostels to you. I am in my 30s and I value comfort, so I will always choose to stay at a hotel vs a hostel.
I can see how a hostel is a great option for younger people, but I’m at a different stage in life, so I prefer hotels.
Airbnb
I also tend to pick hotels over Airbnbs because I feel like it’s less of a risk and it’s a more reliable option. One time when I visited Miami with my friends we booked an Airbnb that looked great in pictures but looked really bad in reality. We ended up going to a hotel instead. After that experience I tend to avoid Airbnbs altogether.
What should I eat in Barcelona?
Seafood paella
Paella is a rice dished that originated in Valencia and it’s probably the most famous Spanish dish. Barcelona also has some amazing paella since they are pretty close to Valencia.
While there are different types of paella, the seafood one is probably the most famous. That’s what I tried. It had shrimp, calamari, and mussels. The rice was flavored with saffron.
I am not a huge fan of rice, but the combination with seafood and that flavored broth was really good. I really enjoyed it. You can try paella at Alegoria Restaurant.
Octopus (or any seafood dish)
Since Barcelona is a sea city, the seafood here is always fresh and delicious. You should try any seafood dish you like, you can’t go wrong with anything.
I loved the octopus with mashed potatoes at El Tastet de l’Artur. Simple and delicious. The restaurant has a few tables outside if you want to dine with a view. Just be aware that they will charge you 1 euro if you opt to eat outside.
Tapas
I love trying a lot of dishes, so I love the concept of tapas where you get a smaller portion of a dish. Every time I go to Spain I try to have tapas at least once.
In Barcelona I went to Cerveceria Catalana and I highly recommend it. It’s centrally located, they have an extensive menu, and they are very fast with service (unlike a lot of places in Europe).
The restaurant is usually packed, so I suggest you make a reservation. Since I traveled solo, they squeezed me in at the bar area even though I didn’t make a reservation ahead of time.
I ordered the mixed fish, a burrata and tomato salad, and some croquetas. Everything was really good and you could tell they use high quality ingredients and everything is fresh.
Crema catalana
Crema catalana is a similar dessert to creme brulee. The main difference is that creme brulee is a vanilla custard made with heavy whipping cream baked in a water bath, while crema catalana is a vanilla custard made with milk.
Crema catalana is lighter and it can also be flavored with lemon zest or cinnamon. A must try if you visit Barcelona. I tried it at Cerveceria Catalana and it did not disappoint.
Torrijas
Torrijas is a Spanish style French toast. It can be served as dessert or for brunch and it’s very popular for Easter and the week before Easter.
Torrijas can be made from bread that’s dipped either in milk flavored with vanilla, or in wine. Then the slices of bread are dipped in egg and pan fried. Once it’s cooked torrijas are usually topped with cinnamon sugar.
While regular torrijas are good, you want to try torrija cremada at Cerveceria Catalana. It’s like a French toast and a crema catalana had a baby.
The bread is soft, there is plenty of cream, and it has a burnt sugar crust on top. This was my favorite dessert I tried in Barcelona. So good!
Cafe con leche and some little croissants
Coffee is Spain is outstanding. It’s strong, the coffee beans are high quality and they use the perfect ratio of coffee to milk. I always order a cafe con leche.
In Barcelona there are a lot of coffee shop chains, as well as neighborhood cafes. My favorite chain was 365. They have locations all over Barcelona.
You should order some of the little croissants to eat with your coffee. I call them little croissants because they are literally two bites.
At 365 they have two kinds: milk chocolate and white chocolate. Not only are they dipped in chocolate, but they have cream inside too. So delicious!
If you want to try additional flavors of these mini croissants go to Manolo Bakes. They are a Spanish chain that focuses on these croissants called Manolitos.
They are delicious and come in all sorts of flavors such as: Biscoff, lemon pie, pistachio, salted caramel, and chocolate crunch.
What is the best time to visit Barcelona?
I went in early November and it was perfect. The weather is still pretty warm, but there are less tourists compared to the peak summer months. May could also be a great option.
I tend to avoid Europe summer travel because it gets so hot and there are so many tourists everywhere that it takes away from the experience for me. I’d rather wait a few months and go in the fall so I can properly enjoy the destinations I’m visiting.
The weather in Barcelona gets very hot and humid during the summer months, so it can be very uncomfortable to spend the entire day outside, exploring.
August is usually vacation month for most European countries, including Spain, so many restaurants and shops will be closed.
How can I get around Barcelona?
Barcelona is a very walkable city and it has a great subway system with stations near all major attractions in case your hotel is further away from the city center. There are a few ticket options for public transportation
Single tickets
These are tickets that are valid for one trip. If you won’t travel a lot by metro or bus, they can be a great option. Otherwise, it makes more sense to go with a T Casual pass.
T Casual
This is a pass that’s valid for 10 trips on any metro, bus, and the airport train. It’s a great option if you are in Barcelona for a few days and will use public transportation a few times.
Hola Barcelona Travel Card
This is a card that can be valid for 2, 3, 4 or 5 days. It offers unlimited trips on public transportation, including the metro to and from the airport. It’s perfect if you know you’ll use public transportation a lot during your trip.
How can I get to the city center from the Barcelona airport?
Train
You can take the RENFE train from Terminal 2. There are trains leaving every 30 minutes. If you land at Terminal 1 there is a shuttle bus that can take you to Terminal 2 to catch the train.
You can get off at Barcelona Sants, Passeig de Gràcia or Clot and you can transfer to the metro at all 3 stops. You can pay for the train using the T casual card.
Bus
You can take Aerobus which will take you to Plaça España or Plaça de Catalunya in about 45 minutes. You can take this bus from both terminals T1 and T2 and the price is the same. There are buses that leave every 5-10 minutes.
Another option is to take bus 46 which will take you to the city center. Bus Line 46 operates from 05:30 am to 11:50 pm. You can pay for this bus using the T casual card, unlike the Aerobus.
It will take a little longer to reach the city center if you opt for bus 46, but it has the advantage of being able to pay with the T casual card.
There is also a night bus. Night Bus N17 runs from 09:55 pm to 04:50 am every 15 minutes.
Metro
You can take the L9 metro to get to the city center. It has a stop at both Terminal 1 and 2. The airport metro ticket is included in Hola Barcelona Travel Pass.
Taxi / uber
This is the most convenient option since it leaves you right in front of your hotel. Alternatively you can also schedule a private transfer.
How to get cell phone data when visiting from abroad?
The cheapest and most convenient way to get data while visiting from abroad is to buy an eSIM. An eSIM is a digital SIM that lets you activate a data plan from a provider without having to use a physical SIM card. They are super easy to use.
I use Nomad eSIM (use code IOAN43TM for 25% off your first purchase). You can go to their website, select the country you’re traveling to, select how many GB of data you want, and how many days you want the eSIM to be active for. After you pay you will receive a confirmation email with instructions on how to activate the eSIM.
You can activate it on your phone and the process takes under 1 minute. Once the eSIM is activated you don’t have to do anything else. When you’re at your destination you will automatically get data.
Is Barcelona safe for a solo female traveler?
I saw so many posts on social media about Barcelona being full of pick pockets. On top of that, everyone I met in Barcelona on my first day there warned me to always keep an eye out on my cell phone as there are a lot of thieves and they operate so smoothly that you can’t even tell you are being robbed.
Suffice to say I was a little scared. However, I never had any problems in Barcelona. I took the subway, I visited all the popular spots, and I took pictures and videos with my phone and tripod and nothing happened. I also didn’t see any pickpockets or people getting robbed.
Maybe I was just lucky. Maybe the situation is a bit exaggerated. I don’t know what to say. I think that as long as you’re on high alert, as you should be anytime you travel solo, you’ll be fine.
Do I need cash for my trip to Barcelona?
I didn’t use cash at all when I visited, I paid for everything with a credit card. But it’s always recommended to carry some cash with you so you can tip tour guides or buy souvenirs or something else from small mom-and-pop shops who don’t accept credit cards.
Pro tip: always get cash from an ATM in the airport instead of going to an exchange place. Your bank will always have better exchange rates when taking out cash in a foreign currency from an ATM.
Do I have to tip in Barcelona?
Tipping is not mandatory, but it is highly encouraged. I usually leave 1-2 euros as tip when I eat out. They highly appreciate it when you do this.
Do I need to book tickets for attractions in advance?
I highly recommend you book all the tickets online in advance of your trip. Barcelona is a very popular destination so it’s very likely that tickets will sell out. Especially if you visit during the summer months. Booking in advance will give you peace of mind.
Do people speak English in Barcelona?
Yes, they do. Barcelona attracts a lot of visitors each year and, as you can imagine, not all tourists speak Spanish. I still recommend you learn a few words in Spanish ahead of your trip though. I do this for every country I visit.
What Spanish words do I need to learn before my trip?
- Hola = hello
- Adiós = goodbye
- Gracias = thank you
- De nada = you’re welcome
- Sí = yes
- No = no
- Encantado/a = Nice to meet you
- Tarjeta = credit card
- Hablas inglés? = Do you speak English?
- Me puedes ayudar? = Can you help me?
- Dónde está el baño? = Where is the bathroom?
- No entiendo = I do not understand
- Puedes tomarme una foto? = Can you take a picture of me?
Do you recommend Barcelona as a solo destination?
I do recommend Barcelona as a destination for solo female travelers. There are so many things to do, the weather is great all year round, and the food is delicious.
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Ioana was born and raised in Romania, lived in NYC for 14 years, and is now back in Romania. She fell in love with traveling when she was little and used to visit her aunt in Vienna. Then in high school she was able to visit Siberia, Turkmenistan, Istanbul, and Tokyo through chemistry competitions. As an adult she started to travel solo once she turned 30 and visited 20+ countries so far. Ioana is a full time travel blogger and content creator with an audience of 75K+ people on Instagram. She loves to share travel recommendations and tips.