On your first trip to Barcelona, there are some places you just have to see. The Sagrada Família, Park Güell, the Gothic Quarter and La Rambla are on most first time itineraries for good reason.
But what about when you’ve already done all that?
One of the best things about returning to Barcelona is that you can forget about ticking off the big sights and start exploring more of the city. Spend time in neighbourhoods you barely touched on your first visit, find new places to eat, or use Barcelona as a base to see more of the Catalonia region.
If you haven’t been before, our guide to Barcelona for first timers is a better place to start. Otherwise, here are some of our favourite things to do in Barcelona when you’ve already experienced the usual highlights.
You’ve seen the Barcelona Highlights. Now What?
Think back to your first trip. What do you actually remember?
Probably a lot of Gaudí, crowds in the old town, a drink near the beach and a slow shuffle down La Rambla with several thousand other people.
That’s pretty normal for a first trip. You want to see the places Barcelona is famous for, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
The good thing about coming back is that you don’t have to do it all again.
Think about what you missed instead. If most of your meals were close to the tourist sights, make food more of a focus this time. If you barely left the Gothic Quarter, spend an afternoon somewhere completely different.
It can also be worth exploring with someone who knows the city well.
Companies like Fernwayer offer experiences with local guides that take you beyond simply moving between the main sights, giving you more of the stories and context behind the places you’re visiting. On a return trip, that can be a great way to discover parts of Barcelona you might otherwise walk straight past.
Explore El Raval
If the Gothic Quarter took up most of your first trip, start just across La Rambla in El Raval.
Historically a working class area and home to generations of migrant communities, El Raval is one of Barcelona’s most diverse neighbourhoods. It’s busy, a little rough around the edges in places (but totally safe), and packed with restaurants, bars, vintage shops and awesome street art.
It’s also home to MACBA, Barcelona’s contemporary art museum. Even if you don’t go inside, linger a while in the open plaza, Plaça dels Àngels, just outside to see the skateboarders doing tricks and soak in the vibrant atmosphere.
El Raval isn’t really somewhere you need a checklist for either. Just give yourself a couple of hours to have a wander.
Spend an Afternoon in Gràcia
Gràcia used to be its own town before becoming part of Barcelona in the 19th century, and it still has a quite a different feel from the centre itself.
The streets are narrower, small squares pop up all over the neighbourhood and there are plenty of independent shops, cafés, restaurants and bars.
You can quite happily come here without much of a plan. Grab a table in Plaça del Sol, order a drink and stay for a while. Then wander from there and see where you end up.
That’s about as complicated as an afternoon in Gràcia needs to be.
Eat Your Way Around Sant Antoni
La Boqueria is worth seeing, but if you’ve already been there, try Sant Antoni this time.
The huge Mercat de Sant Antoni reopened in 2018 after a major renovation and is worth visiting for the building alone. Inside you’ll find stalls selling meat, fish, fruit, vegetables and other produce.
The surrounding streets are just as much of a reason to visit, with cafés, bakeries, bars and restaurants all within a short walk of the market.
Bonus for if you’re there on a Sunday, there’s also a huge book and collectors’ market that pops up outside.
Give Montjuïc More Than an Hour
If your only memory of Montjuïc is riding the cable car, taking in the view and heading back down again, give it more time on your next visit.
Montjuïc Castle sits at the top of the hill and has a very dark political history, including periods when it was used as a prison and execution site. Elsewhere you’ll find the Olympic Stadium, botanical gardens, museums and buildings dating back to the 1929 Barcelona International Exposition.
It’s also one of the greenest areas of the city. Once you move away from the busiest viewpoints, there are gardens and walking paths where Barcelona suddenly feels a lot less hectic.
See a Different Side of Barcelona in Poblenou
Poblenou defintely isn’t the Barcelona you picture before you arrive.
It was once of the city’s major industrial areas and packed with factories and warehouses. Some of those old buildings are still standing today, although many have been turned into offices, studios and cultural spaces, with newer developments built around them.
You can explore independently, but this is one of those places where knowing a bit about what you’re looking at by taking a guided tour with a local makes wandering around much more interesting.
Go for Pintxos in Poble Sec
For an easy evening away from the busiest parts of the old town, head to Poble Sec.
Carrer de Blai is known for its pintxos bars, where small dishes are laid out along the counter. Grab one or two, order a drink and then move on to the next place.
There are plenty of local bars and restaurants in the surrounding streets too, so there’s no need to stick to the main street if somewhere else catches your eye.
The whole point is to make a night of it rather than sitting down for one long meal.
Get Out on the Water
You’ve probably already seen Barceloneta from the sand. Seeing Barcelona from the water gives you a completely different perspective.
Boat trips leave from the waterfront throughout the day, ranging from short sightseeing cruises to longer sailing trips. It can also be a great option if you’re looking for more romantic things to do in Barcelona, particularly later in the afternoon or around sunset.
Once you get further out, you get a much better sense of how the beaches, Olympic waterfront and city skyline all fit together.
Time it for later in the day and you can head for drinks or dinner when you get back.
Drink Wine in Alella
You don’t need to travel particularly far from Barcelona to find yourself in wine country.
Alella sits between the hills and the Mediterranean just north of the city and is one of Catalonia’s smallest wine regions. It’s known particularly for its white wines, and there are several wineries in the area offering tours and tastings.
It’s close enough to Barcelona to visit for half a day, although it’s worth booking tastings ahead rather than simply turning up.
If you have more time, stay for lunch and turn it into a full day away from the city.
Take a Proper Day Trip
If you’ve already given Barcelona itself plenty of time, use a day to see somewhere else in Catalonia.
Montserrat is the obvious one, but that doesn’t make it a bad choice. The monastery and its huge jagged mountain backdrop are around an hour from Barcelona, and there are hiking trails if you want to do more than visit the abbey and head home. Our guide to planning your visit to Montserrat covers how to get there and what to know before you go.
Girona is around 40 minutes away by high-speed train. Its historic centre is compact enough to explore in a day, with medieval walls, narrow streets, the cathedral and the colourful houses lining the River Onyar.
Or head south to Sitges. It’s an easy train ride from Barcelona and has a completely different feel, with beaches, a pretty old centre and a long waterfront promenade.
You’re Never Really Done With Barcelona
If you think you’ve seen everything, that actually means you just followed a basic tour and saw all the big stuff. But Barcelona is way more than that.
The second or third visits can be a lot more fun than the first because you can kind of find your way around some parts of the city, and you also get to be surprised by everything you didn’t see the last time.
Besides, the parts that stick with you usually aren’t the ones where you’re standing with a camera in your hand, looking at a famous building.
So go back to somewhere you loved. Try a neighbourhood you missed. Take the train out of town. Spend too long over lunch. Book something you didn’t have had time for on your first visit. But most of all, just slow it down and enjoy!
