There is no doubt that Barcelona is a fantastic city with countless activities and cultural attractions to enjoy. However, there are some ways to explore the capital of Catalunya that give you an entire new perspective, places that provide a jaw-dropping view and that will fill your camera roll with numerous epic photos to keep all your memories alive. Let’s explore the best sightseeing in Barcelona.
With all the great things to do, we want to tell you where you can enjoy the best sightseeing in Barcelona, ranging from natural viewpoints to buildings with bars and restaurants.
Park and Castle of Montjuic
Most of us get inspired by nature, and in Montjuic you can combine nature with an incredible scenic view over one of the world’s most beautiful cities.
Parc de Montjuic is a little world on its own. Surrounded by the nature of beautiful gardens like the Jardí Botànic, you can enjoy one of the best views of Barcelona while walking around or having a picnic with friends.
There are many tranquil places to rest and to relax. You can also use the many open spaces to do sports and exercise. It’s an area as diverse as the city itself, beautiful flowers are omnipresent and you can even find some small waterfalls at Jardins de Laribal.
Montjuic is also a great place if you are interested in history. Amongst many museums such as the Museum of Archeology and the Museum of Ethnology, there is the Castle of Montjuic.
The Castle dates back to 1640 and served as a prison during the Spanish Civil War. Today you can stroll around and explore around it.
Parc Güell
As one of Barcelona’s most famous attractions, Parc Güell attracts many people for different reasons, one of them being the incredible views of Barcelona that you will get once you walk up there.
Inside the park there is a free area where you can walk around without paying a cent. However, if you want to see the beautiful monumental zone with attractions like the famous dragon´s steps, you will have to pay an entrance fee. Nevertheless, if you are coming for the views, the free area offers fantastic spots to overlook the city of Barcelona.
If you are interested in visiting the monumental zone, we recommend you buy your tickets online before going. You can reserve a guided tour for Parc Güell here
Gardens del Turo de Putxet
These beautiful gardens are located at the very top of the hill, making them by far one of Barcelona’s best sightseeing spots.
The area is abundant in vegetation species, has plenty of resting areas and children playgrounds, definitely a nice place to stroll around with the family.
Bunkers del Carmel
For travellers looking for a photo of a lifetime, Bunkers del Carmel is the place to go. This is a favorite among the #SweetBCNTeam.
From the metro station Alfons X (L4, yellow line) it takes about 20 minutes to get to the top, but the views are well worth the walk. Once you reach the top, you have a 360° view of Barcelona, the Sagrada Familia seems so close that you could almost touch it.
Sunsets are a fantastic time to enjoy the place, there are street vendors that sell drinks and snacks and sometimes there are musicians that provide music for a perfect laidback atmosphere.
However, sunrise is the best time for taking great pictures. There are less people, you might even be the only one up there, and the rising sun that reflects in the sea is simply magical. Going there for sunrise without a doubt is a little gem for an unforgettable time in Barcelona.
Tibidabo
Arguably the best viewpoint in Barcelona is Tibidabo, the highest mountain of the Serra de Collserola (512m).
It is not just the view that makes this place so magical, you will also find an entire amusement park and a beautiful church, the Temple de Sagrat Cor, on top of the mountain.
To get there you can take the famous Tramvia Blau which was first opened in 1901 and a funicular train. You could easily spend an entire day at Tibidabo, exploring its many different attractions and viewpoints of Barcelona relaxing and taking your time.
La Caseta del Migdia
This is a restaurant in the middle of the forest of Montjuic, known for being one of the best spots for sightseeing in Barcelona, especially for a beautiful sunset.
Providing scenic views of the sea and the mountains. You can enjoy being in this place with really good authentic music, while having some great barbecue food, salads and crepes. The restaurant itself is located directly at the Mirador del Migdia in Montjuic, which you can reach easily by taking a taxi or by walking from the Bus Parc de Montjuic (bus 150).
Eclipse Bar
If you prefer a great view over the beaches of Barcelona, the Eclipse Bar is a fantastic alternative.
It is located inside the famous W Hotel and is well-known for its luxurious and modern interior. Drinks tend to be rather pricey, but one drink in exchange for the views is definitely worth it.
Furthermore, at night the bar turns into a club, so for anyone interested in having a fancy night with a view, that’s the place to go.
Do you want to know more about nightlife in Barcelona? Do not miss this other post.
The Towers of La Sagrada Familia
65 meters above the ground you can enjoy the view from the top of Spain’s most visited tourist attraction, La Sagrada Familia.
Thanks to its location in the city centre and its height, this is an ideal spot for sightseeing Barcelona’s main sights.
Make sure you note that the tickets for the towers are not included in the entrance price and have to be bought aside. Whether you decide to go up the towers or not, the inside of the Sagrada Familia itself is one of the places in Barcelona that you should not miss.
If you are interested in visiting the Sagrada Familia, we recommend you buy your tickets online before going. Book the best guided tour for Sagrada Familia, click here.
Barceló Raval Hotel
Located in the neighbourhood of El Raval, this hotel has a rooftop bar and a 360° terrace.
The bar serves classic cocktails, wine, beer and tapas. The terrace is open to the public from 6pm to midnight during the week and until 1am at weekends.
When you want to enjoy the evening with some good drinks and tapas while you soak in the fantastic views of Barcelona, head over to this place right in the city center.
The Columbus Statue
The Christopher Columbus Monument is located at Placa Portal de La Pau and includes a small viewing platform, not many people know about, which can be reached by an elevator.
From up there you get some amazing close-up views over the world famous Las Ramblas, Port Vell, Montjuic and the Gothic Quarter.
Museu Nacional d´Art de Catalunya / Palau Nacional
The Palau Nacional building itself is a stunning piece of architectural art, and the views you get from the top of the stairs, in front of the historic construction are overwhelming, especially at night with the famous magic fountain in front of you.
For an extra 2€ you could get up on the rooftop of the museum to get an even better view of the surroundings, from Tibidabo to the Sagrada Familia. Montjuic is nearby, so you could combine two of Barcelona´s best sightseeing spots in one day.
La Pedrera
This one is another one of Antoni Gaudi’s masterpieces: Casa Milà, better known as La Pedrera.
The exterior of the building is stunning, but the inside and especially its rooftop with the beautiful stairwells and chimneys is absolutely spectacular. It’s the architect´s last civic architectural project and clearly shows his connection to nature, one of the most important inspirations for his work.
Online day tickets cost 22€, whereas the office price is 27€ and apart from the magnificent architecture you will have a nice view over the original and authentic neighbourhood of l’Eixample, where CoImpact Coliving and Traveller House are located, and the well-known boulevard of Passeig de Gràcia.
Helicopter Ride in Barcelona
If you want to experience Barcelona in a unique way not many people get to enjoy, view the Catalan capital in an exclusive perspective, you should contact Cat Helicopters and join one of their unique Barcelona Skytours, hire them to take you to an important sporting event or craft your authentic personalized experience.
Definitely, to get to know the Catalan capital from different perspectives, there is no better way than sightseeing Barcelona from one of these amazing viewpoints.
The #SweetBCNTeam hopes you enjoy our selection of spots and if you have any questions or would like to stay with us, please write us an email at info@sweetbcnapartments.com, we will be more than happy to host you and give you our best recommendations for Barcelona.
