Things to Do in Barcelona, Spain: Sights, Museums and Beaches

If you are wondering what to see in Barcelona with limited time, the Basilica and Expiatory Church of the Holy Family is the one most travellers build their trip around, a church still being built more than a century after work began in 1882. Park Güell, a public park system about 2 miles from the centre, comes a close second, followed by the Gothic Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia, seat of the Archbishop.

For architecture lovers, Antoni Gaudí designed both Palau Güell, a city mansion, and Casa Vicens, originally a family residence and now a museum. Art is the other great draw among Barcelona's attractions: the Museu Picasso, the Fundació Joan Miró, the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya and MACBA, the Museum of Contemporary Art, are all within about a mile or so of the centre.

Many of the things to do in Barcelona city cluster close together. Around the old centre you can link the cathedral, the Basilica of Our Lady of the Sea, the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pine Tree, the Museu d'Història de Barcelona and the Museu Picasso on foot, with MACBA and Palau Güell a short walk away. On the hill of Montjuïc, roughly 2 miles out, Montjuïc Castle, the Fundació Joan Miró and the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya make a good day together. Further out, around 3 miles from the centre, the National Expiatory Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus rounds off a church-lover's itinerary.

Barcelona is a beach city as much as a cultural one, and getting from the centre to the beach is easy, with the Aquarium in the Port Vell harbour marking the waterfront. For beaches from Barcelona, the coastal towns of Badalona, about 6 miles away, and Montgat, about 8 miles, both have their own sights and activities, as does El Prat de Llobregat, next to the airport. Inland, Sant Cugat del Vallès, around 7 miles away, is an option for a quieter half-day.

Families have two obvious anchors. Barcelona Zoo sits about 2 miles from the centre, and the Aquarium Barcelona in Port Vell, close to the city beach, pairs neatly with an afternoon by the sea. Park Güell gives children space to roam between the sights, and Montjuïc Castle offers a hilltop fortress to explore.

Summer brings highs of 29°C in July and August, so plan museums and churches for the morning and keep the zoo, the aquarium or a beach for later. May and June, at 21°C and 26°C, are kinder for small children who tire in the heat.

The best-known sights draw long queues, so it pays to sort entry before you fly. You can compare tours and tickets for the basilica, Park Güell, the Gaudí houses, the museums, the zoo and the aquarium directly on this page, alongside hotel prices and car hire.

If you are building a holiday rather than a city break, the page also shows package deals combining flights from the UK, a hotel and transfers. Barcelona airport is the closest arrival point, while Girona is about 67 minutes' drive from the city. School holidays push up demand for packages, so booking early gives you a wider choice.