1. Explore Barcelona with a local

Ready to explore the streets of Barcelona by foot? Barri Gotic or the Gothic Quarter is the exquisite center of the old city and it’s filled with beautiful streets. You won't get lost or miss out on any of the hidden gems if you go there with an excited local host.

The entire area has buildings dating back to medieval times and even some ancient Roman ones, which your host can tell you all about. They will also show you hip spots, lovely shops and tell you about the awesome things to do in Barcelona. Locals are always willing to personalize your experience so you can have a great time and discover the city, suited to your wishes. If you want to see more places in a shorter time, consider taking a bike!

2. Eat Tapas

Barcelona is THE place to eat! The food is so appealing and fresh that you won’t be able to stop eating while you’re there. There are many things you can try out, but tapas and paellas are the most authentic ones out there.

Everybody knows tapas, the small fresh treats that people enjoy in Spain. Depending on the season there’s always going to be a new recipe you haven’t tried yet. Grab a bite from 15 homemade tapas to die for cooked by a local or have a taste of the traditional Paella, a delicious mixture of seafood, chicken and rice, that you’ll love for sure.

Enjoy a glass of wine and have a fun chat with your hosts. Ask them about the local culture and cool things to do in Barcelona. You’ll make new friends and have a delicious meal at the same time, who wouldn’t love that?

3. Do a Antoni Gaudi Tour

The one thing you’ll not forgive yourself for missing is visiting Gaudi’s brilliant masterpieces. There are 5 main Gaudi attractions: Basilica Sagrada Familia, Casa Batllo, Park & Palau Guell and Casa Mila.

Yes, the places are crowded and everyone brags about going there, but you know what? These spots are just too fab to miss! Gaudi’s style is something that you won’t find anywhere else in the world. It’s unique take on nature inspired architecture will blow your mind away!

And what’s even more special? The fact that you’ll be there with a private local guide, who will give you all the backstories for what you’ll see. Some locals, like our hosts, really love Antoni Gaudi and know lots about his work! They’ll tell you many unknown tales about the famous artist. Stop to take pictures and enjoy the views!

3. Visit Montjuic hill

Why should you visit the Montjuic hill you wander? There are 3 reasons for which you shouldn't miss it: the striking views, the area’s history and the magic fountain show held in the evenings.

Enjoy the charming gardens and the Castell de Montjuic, a strong fortification built many years ago. The castle’s history is not the prettiest, so explore the darker facts about Barcelona’s past events.

After the sunset , stay on Montjuic hill for the magic fountain show. It’s probably the best in Europe. All in all, you’ll enjoy art, colorful water displays and the great company of your local guide!

4. Boqueria Market

Do you like shopping for fresh delicious goods? Then Boqueria Market is the right place for you! This food market is one of the largest and most famous in Europe. It’s a very loud and crowded place, but all of this just makes the experience more exciting! You can buy almost anything you can imagine in terms of vegetables, fruits, dairy, fish and more, for a fair price. Its a good place to visit on a rainy day since its a market hall.

Opening times: Monday / Saturday: 08:00 - 20:30, Sunday: Closed

5. Take a painting workshop

Noticed that Barcelona gets to be such a popular city mostly because of its art gems? So after you visit all the beautiful spots you can, how about trying to be a bit of an artist yourself? Try an exciting painting workshop with some local artists from the city, who will show you a bit of their technique and a few of their art pieces.

All the materials you need for the workshop (canvas, paint, brushes) will be brought by your host, so you don’t have to worry about anything. All you have to do is see the beautiful contemporary art and listen to your local host explain you how to master painting something from scratch.

If the activity makes you crave more art exploration, you can also try out a contemporary art tour and enjoy the unique graffiti of Poble Nou and the dazzling art galleries from the city.

6. Visit one of the modern art museums

You can’t say you had a complete visit of Barcelona without visiting at least one of its museums. You might not get to see all the art galleries while being there, but your host will show you at least one.

They’ll go with the Picasso Museum, and so would we. It’s pretty awesome, if you’re into modern art. The museum was opened in the 60s and has many great paintings from the famous artist. They are arranged in a chronological order, so it’s easy to understand Picasso’s evolutions with his work, while listening to insights about his past.

7. Get active on the beach

It’s Barcelona were talking about right? You’d be crazy not to take at least a walk on the beach! That being said, you can do a more exciting activity than walking, am I right? So, how about getting a bit active?

Try out a cool workout session with a local trilingual personal trainer right on the sunny beach. Get your blood pumping while enjoying the beautiful sights of the city. You trainer is a local, so any questions about the city and how people enjoy their time there are always welcomed. Use this time to find out which are the best things to do in Barcelona!

Don’t forget to let your trainer know your fitness level and take your working out gear with you. Do this activity somewhere in the morning and you’ll be super energized for the entire day!

8. Be astound at Palau de la Musica Orfeo Catalana

Many travelers say that this is a must see spot in the city. And we get why. The Palace looks so stunning that it’s impossible not to like. It has been declared an UNESCO site (exernal), so it’s worth at least a peek. Add it to your things to do in Barcelona list.

Your host can tell you which of the amazing shows held there are the best. We hear they’re to die for! If you don’t have much time for that, just have a small visit and let your local guide give you insights on the place and its history. A tip from us is to take a selfie with the columns, they look gorgeous!

After that, just grab a bite and get going for your next local highlight, or head to a homemade dinner with you host.

9. Camp Nou tour

This is for all football lovers! Everyone knows Barcelona’s famous team FC Barcelona and its popular players. But do you want to see the grand stadium as well? Well, you can with a Camp Nou private tour! You’ll also enjoy the museum and get to hear all the info about the history of the team and gossips surrounding it from your host.

It’s a pretty touristy spot, but if you really like football, it’s a pity to miss it, especially when you have a local that knows everything about it. What you can do to make the experience more special is to combine the visit with an actual football game with some locals. Get moving and enjoy the day like a famous player!

10. Explore la Sagrada Familia

Undeniably one of the most famous buildings in the world, the Sagrada Familia is definitely something you have to visit at least once in your life. La Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família, as his Basilisk is officially called, is designed by the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi. The architecture of the Sagrada Familia consists of various building styles, but the dramatic and organic style of Antoni Gaudi can be seen throughout the cathedral. In its turbulent building history, which spans almost 140 years, fires, wars and funding problems have slowed construction, but once finished, it will be the highest basilisk in the world. For the best experience, take a guided Sagrada Familia tour so the guide can tell you every little detail about this amazing place!

Guest review - Lisa about La Sagrada Famila
Amazing sight to see. We took the Metro to the Sagrada Familia where we were really relieved that we had the skip the line tickets. We would recommend doing this tour with a private guide as the guide gives you an excellent background to Gaudi's architecture and how his genius was expressed in these wonderful creation.