Barcelona is a perfect tourist destination. Located on the northeast coast of Spain, the city is one of the most popular tourist destinations in this European country. The city is full of sites that are perfect for both solo and group travelers. It is packed full of attractions created by the famous architect, Antoni Gaudí, including the Sagrada Familia and Park Guell. Enjoy the views from the water with a boat tour, or look out over the sea from the Ice Bar. If you want the city viewpoints, visit the Montjuic Cable Car and the Fabra Observatory. Check out our list of the top 10 things to do for solo travelers in Barcelona.
Tip from Content Creator
Here are some more attractions and activities that I recommend checking out during your solo trip:1. Visit Casa Milà, Barcelona Cathedral, Parc de la Ciutadella, and Palacio de la Música Catalana.
2. Explore the city's most famous street, La Rambla.
3. Try the tapas or go for a great dining experience in La Boqueria.
4. Chill out in the sun at La Barceloneta.
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1. Visit the beautiful Park Güell
You can’t escape Gaudi once you’re in Barcelona! Park Güell is one of Gaudi’s largest pieces of architecture in Barcelona, and you have the added bonus of amazing views of Barcelona from the park. Try and find some of his other famous works while you’re there! At the park, admire all the pieces of modern architecture. You could spend days there! As part of your ticket, you also get access to the Casa de Guarda.
Book Tours : Barcelona: Park Güell Admission Ticket
2. View the city from the sea
The beauty of Barcelona is amazing on land. Viewing the city from the sea gives you a whole new perspective. Enjoy the views from a luxury yacht. You’ll see such wonders as the statue of Christopher Columbus. Enjoy the views of the Montjuic and Tibidabo Mountains and the beauty of the Mediterranean. There are snacks included in the ticket price.
3. Learn about the history of Barcelona and football
If you’re a football fan, this place is perfect for you! Enjoy a 90-minute tour around the largest stadium in Europe, and learn all about the history of FC Barcelona. You also get to learn a little about the history of Barcelona itself! Enjoy an up-close and personal view of the football pitch and a panoramic view of the whole stadium. There’s also an amazing audiovisual multimedia section inside, making the experience as lifelike as possible.
4. Enjoy the city at sunset from the water
Once you’ve worn yourself out exploring the city in the day, head out on to the water and witness it at night! Enjoy the sunset, while listening to both the waves crashing and the onboard jazz band. The cruise on this luxury catamaran lasts for 90 minutes – and you’re going to wish it never ends! Although your ticket price doesn’t include any onboard drinks, there is a bar on the catamaran where you can purchase some drinks. Watch the sailors as they hoist the sails with well-honed skills, and sit back and relax!
Book Tours : Barcelona: Sunset Catamaran Cruise with Live Music
Barcelona Tour Guide
Perry Tours
Hello! My name is Perry, originally from the heart of Belgium, famed for its waffles and fries. However, it wasn't just the call of the Spanish sun that brought to Barcelona, but rather a captivating encounter with a German-Uruguayan beauty in Thailand. This led to the birth of our son in Ibiza, and eventually, more than two decades ago, I found myself in the vibrant city of Barcelona. My pa... Read more
Tours by Perry
5. Chill out at the ice bar
Cap off a fun trip to Barcelona with a visit to an iconic ice bar. During this hour-long visit, you get your entrance fee covered, as well as all the woolly gear you may need, including a hat and coat, as well as your first drink for free. Enjoy the uniqueness of this particular ice bar that has an outdoor terrace overlooking the sea. It’s the perfect place to visit when it’s too hot to sit outside a normal bar in the heat.
6. Make sure you check out some flamenco!
A visit to Spain would not be complete without seeing the dancing of the flamenco – it’s a must see! The Los Tarantos in Barcelona is one of the most famous and respectable venues in Barcelona for flamenco. Enjoy the amazing songs and feel the emotion of the dance. No two shows will ever be the same as the dancers make up the dances as they go along – nothing’s choreographed! The theater is in a great location in the center of town, which means you don’t have to worry about walking back to your hostel or hotel alone – and you may meet some new friends there!
Book Tours : Barcelona: Los Tarantos Flamenco Show
7. Enjoy a unique view of Barcelona
It’s very rare you get to enjoy the views of a city from a cable car – and this is just that! The cable car is in the south of the city, in the suburb of Montjuïc, which allows you to see amazing views of the park. Once you’re at the top, you get to enjoy the Parque de Montjuïc. At the top, you find yourself in the Castell de Montjuïc, which is a beautiful, historic castle. There’s room for up to eight guests in each car, so you get to meet new people on the journey!
Tip from tour guide
Be surprised by the beautiful view of Barcelona from Mount Montjuic! With a height of 173 meters, the mountain can be reached by a gondola, public transport, or escalators (from Plaza Espanya), and for enthusiasts, it's also accessible on foot. The cable car on Montjuic "Telefèric de Montjuïc" takes you to the highest point of the mountain. During the ride, you will enjoy a beautiful view of Barcelona, the Mediterranean Sea, and the surrounding area. Upon arrival, there is a 16th-century castle to admire.
Book Tours : Barcelona: Montjuïc Cable Car Roundtrip Ticket
8. Visit the Sagrada Familia!
The Sagrada Familia is one of the most famous and favorite tourist sites in the whole of Barcelona, and being in this Spanish city on your own shouldn’t be a reason to miss the sights! As part of this tour, you join a group of travelers and spend 90 minutes exploring the sights of Barcelona. As well as admiring the beauty of Sagrada Familia, you also get to learn about the history of the building and why it’s unfinished. You’ll also find out the unique history of Gaudi, its architect. It’s a sight not to be missed!
9. Look out over the city from the Fabra Observatory
Enjoy the beautiful Fabra Observatory with its amazing night time views over Barcelona. The observatory itself is lit up, becoming a landmark in the night sky as well. Enjoy both a pre-dinner drink upon arrival and a beautifully cooked dinner. You also get a guided tour around the observatory and a sneak peek into the night sky through the observation telescope. The outdoor dining area is almost guaranteed to be cooler than the city below, so it’s perfect for warm summer nights. Advise the guide for any food intolerances ahead of time, and they can have a perfect meal prepared for you.
10. Enjoy the beauty of Casa Battló
The Casa Battló is another one of Gaudi’s amazing architectural wonders in Barcelona. Enjoy the guided tour of the building, as well as an additional video guide, so you don’t have to worry about not knowing all about it! Learn all about the Modernisme movement, which was the great architectural inspiration for the building, and spend time on the roof terrace, marveling at the unique chimneys atop the building.
11. Admire the beauty of Montjuïc Communicator
Contributed by Tour Guide, Perry Tours
Visit The Needle, also known as Montjuïc Communicator and Torre de Comunicacions de Montjuïc, situated on the mountain of Montjuic. Its construction took place between 1989 and 1992. Located near the Olympic stadium, the white tower was built to broadcast television coverage of the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. The 136-meter (446.19-foot) tower depicts an athlete holding the Olympic flame.
12. Click a selfie with La Cara de Barcelona
Contributed by Tour Guide, Perry Tours
Also known as La Cabeza de Barcelona, La Cara de Barcelona is a sculpture by the American graphic artist Roy Lichtenstein. As a representative of American pop art, Lichtenstein created a masterpiece that resembles large brushstrokes forming a face against a background of raised red dots covered in a beautiful mosaic. It’s located on Passeig de Colom and serves as a tribute to Catalan modernism. Be sure to take a selfie with it when you visit Barcelona.
13. Unwind with your favorite drink in a chiringuito
Contributed by Tour Guide, Perry Tours
In Spain, a coffee bar on the beach is called a ‘chiringuito,’ and you’ll find plenty of them in Barcelona where you can sip on your drink and spend hours admiring the water. But do you know how this concept began? The origin of the 'chiringuito’ is said to come from cane sugar plantation workers in 19th-century Cuba, who made coffee by pressing coffee grounds into a stocking, creating a juice called 'chiringo.’ This is how the term 'chiringuito’ was born, giving rise to the expression 'let’s go to the chiringuito.’ These rustic stands provided shade and respite from the blazing Caribbean sun.
Over time, chiringuitos in Spain have evolved into more than just places of rest. They started serving an extensive choice of delicious tapas and dishes, ranging from fried fish to calamari, always at affordable prices. Drinks soon took center stage, starting with beer and wine, and eventually expanding to cocktails and mixed drinks, including the iconic mojito.
Today, chiringuitos have undergone another transformation, adopting an elegant Ibiza style with minimalist and Asian influences. Imagine yourself in a 21st-century chiringuito, a serene oasis where you can sip an ice-cold mojito, listen to music, and enjoy the Mediterranean breeze. Chiringuitos can be found on every beach in Barcelona, so be sure to visit one!
14. Admire the collection of contemporary art at Moco Museum Barcelona
Contributed by Tour Guide, Perry Tours
Moco Museum Barcelona opened its doors in 2021 and echoes its commitment to exhibiting iconic works by celebrated modern and contemporary artists, as well as rising stars. The museum features a huge collection including, but not limited to, Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Salvador Dalí, Damien Hirst, Keith Haring, KAWS, Yayoi Kusama, and more.
There's more in Barcelona!
Enjoy all these sights in Barcelona and more! Visit the Casa Batllo, the Barcelona Zoo, or purchase a Barcelona Museum pass, which will let you visit up to six different attractions in Barcelona, including the Museu Picasso and the National Art Museum of Catalonia. The pass lets you visit the museums in up to 10 days, so you don’t have to rush through them all in one day!
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