Attraction
Sagrada Família
Antoni Gaudí's still-unfinished basilica in the Eixample, Barcelona's defining landmark, with a forest-like nave, two sculpted façades and climbable towers.
The Gothic Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia at the heart of the Barri Gòtic, with a shaded cloister and a crypt dedicated to the city's patron saint.
Good to know
Barcelona's cathedral was built mainly between the 13th and 15th centuries, although the elaborate neo-Gothic façade on Pla de la Seu is a later addition. Inside, side chapels line a lofty nave, and steps lead down to the crypt of Saint Eulalia, the young martyr who is one of the city's patrons.
The cloister, planted with palms and orange trees and home to a flock of white geese, is the most memorable corner. Visitor tickets, available online, give access at set times, while worship takes priority at others. Shoulders and knees should be covered. Afterwards, wander the lanes behind the apse towards Plaça de Sant Felip Neri.
Reviewed by Lifestylemetro · Details checked October 23, 2026
Yes, as a place of worship it asks visitors to dress respectfully, with shoulders and knees covered.
Yes, tickets are sold through the cathedral's official website.
Restaurant
Three-Michelin-star restaurant in the Eixample run by former elBulli chefs Oriol Castro, Eduard Xatruch and Mateu Casañas, serving long, playful tasting menus.
Hotel
A Ritz-Carlton tower hotel on the Port Olímpic seafront, with two outdoor pools, a fourth-floor spa and the two-Michelin-star Enoteca Paco Pérez.
Thing to do
Barcelona's best-known food market, entered from La Rambla under a wrought-iron arch, packed with produce stalls, fishmongers and busy counter bars.
Café
The original coffee bar of Nømad, the Barcelona speciality roaster founded by Jordi Mestre, tucked into a quiet passage near the Palau de la Música.