Buildings in Barcelona

Many buildings in Barcelona are unique sights

View to the Sagrada Familia from the park on the west side of the basilica

The Sagrada Familia, view from the park on the west side of the basilica.

In Barcelona you will find buildings spanning all eras of the city’s 2000 years old history: The oldest date back to the time of the Romans, there are buildings from the Gothic period, the Catalan art nouveau (el Modernisme) and imposing modern buildings.
Many of them are famous landmarks and real tourist attractions. Some of them made Catalonian architects famous far beyond the Spanish borders.

Sightseeing in Barcelona

In the modern era, especially the Olympic Games in 1992 led to the construction of many modern and beautiful buildings. The city managed to liberate itself from the dreariness of the Franco era and continue with its tradition of creativity, known from the Modernisme, blended with modern styles. Some of the buildings are quite disputed – but that makes the charm of it.

By the way: there is no othher city in the world that hosts UNESCO heritage sites as Barcelona: Casa Milà (La Pedrera), Parc Güell, Palau Guell, the Sagrada Familia, Casa Batlló, the Casa Vicens, the crypt of the Colònia Güell , Palau de la Mùsica Catalana and the Hospital de Santa Creu i de Sant Pau.

With the Barcelona Card you can get free or reduced admission to many attractions.

Church Sagrada Familia, Gaudí's life work

Sagrada Familia The Sagrada Familia ist the most popular and certainly one of the most imposing landmarks of the city of Barcelona. The church is the life’s work of the famous architect Antoní Gaudí. From 1883 until his death, he directed the still ongoing construction that is based entirely on donations and entrance fees. It shall be completed in 2026.

Address: Mallorca, 401
Phone: +34 932 073 031
Internet: www.sagradafamilia.org
Metro: L2, L5, Sagrada Familia Bus Turístic: Sagrada Familia

Casa Milà (La Pedrera), quarry house has no right angles

Casa Milà (La Pedrera) Anyone who will see it will be fascinated by the Casa Milà. It is dubbed „La Pedrera“ (quarry) - a look at its façade explains why. The term La Pedrera means stone pit, of which the facade is reminiscent.

Address: Passeig de Gràcia, 92
Phone: +34 902 202 138
Internet: www.lapedrera.com
Metro: L3, L5, Diagonal Bus Turístic: Pg. de Gràcia - La Pedrera

The cathedral La Seu of Barcelona, one of the most beautiful Gothic buildings in Barcelona

The cathedral (La Seu) The Catedral de la Santa Creu i Santa Eulàlia is in the middle of the Gothic Quarter. Its magnificent gothic interior has an extraordinarily pretty cloister. Especially on hot summer days it is a pleasantly cool retreat. From within the church, you can hear the cackling of the geese that live in the cloister’s garden.

Address: Plaça de la Seu, 7
Phone: +34 933 107 195
Internet: www.catedralbcn.org
Metro: L4, Jaume I. Bus Turístic: Barri Gòtic

Casa Batlló, Gaudí embodies this structure with the legend of St. George

Casa Batlló The roof of the Casa Batlló is arched like the back of a dragon. With the building, Gaudí represented the legend of St. George. It is one if the most beautiful and curious symbols of the Catalan art nouveau. Large parts of the interior and the roof of the interesting house can be visited when it reopens after the ongoing restoration.

Address: Passeig de Gràcia, 43
Phone: +34 932 160 306
Internet: www.casabatllo.es
Metro: L2, L3, L4, Passeig de Gràcia Bus Turístic: Casa Batlló - Fundació Antoni Tàpies

Camp Nou, stadium of FC Barcelona Camp Nou is the stadium of the FC Barcelona. Offering seats for 98,000 visitors, it is the largest football stadium in Europe. It will be enlarged by another 25,000 seats to be the „Nou Camp Nou“.

Address: Carrer Aristides Maillol
Internet: www.fcbarcelona.cat
Metro: L3, Les Corts, L5, Collblanc Bus Turístic: Futbol Club Barcelona

Santa Maria del Mar, the most beautiful gothic church in Barcelona

Santa Maria del Mar Visiting the Santa Maria del Mar is a must when you are in Barcelona. The gothic church is one of the city’s landmarks. It was built in only 55 years, so it is purely gothic and not a blend of different architectural styles.

Address: Pl. Santa Maria del Mar
Metro: L4, Jaume I. Bus Turístic: Pla de Palau

Monestir de Pedralbes - Monastery of Pedralbes The Monastery of Pedralbes is one of the prettiest examples of Catalan gothic in Barcelona. It was built in the early 14th century and shows the everyday life of nuns. Religious art from the 14th to the 20th century is displayed in the monastery museum. The pretty gardens are a nice place to relax and stay a little while.

Address: Baixada del Monestir, 9
Phone: +34 932 563 434
Metro: FGC R6, Reina Elisenda Bus Turístic: Monestir de Pedralbes

Castell de Montjuïc, gigantic view over Barcelona

Castell de Montjuïc The Castell de Montjuïc houses the military museum and offers an astonishing view over the city. At the foot of the rocky hill, there are many attractions such as the Poble Espanyol, an amusement park, the MNAC and parks.

Address: Avinguda del Castell/C. de Montjuïc
Internet: www.castillomontjuic.com
Metro: L2, L3, Paral·lel, Funicular Bus Turístic: Télefèric de Montjuïc, weiter mit der Seilbahn

Palau Güell, an early work of the architect Gaudí

Palau Güell The Palau Güell is one of Antoni Gaudí’s early masterpieces. Parts of it remind of a Venetian palace. It is in the district of Raval, just a few steps off the Ramblas.

Address: Nou de la Rambla, 3-5
Phone: +34 933 179 974
Internet: www.palauguell.cat
Metro: L3, Liceu Bus Turístic: Colom - Museu Marítim

Hospital de Santa Creu i de Sant Pau, beautiful buildings will help in recovery

Hospital de Santa Creu i de Sant Pau As a tourist you enjoy looking at the Hospital de Santa Creu i de Sant Pau and as a patient the building serves its purpose: allowing the sick to recover and creating a pleasant atmosphere.

Address: Sant Maria Claret, 167-171
Phone: +34 932 562 504
Internet: www.santpau.es
Metro: L5, Hospital de Sant Pau, L4, Guinardó Bus Turístic: Sagrada Familia

Palau de la Música Catalana, on the List of UNESCO World Cultural Heritage

Palau de la Música Catalana The impressive concert hall Palau de la Música Catalana is on the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites. It is a splendid example of Catalan art nouveau (Modernisme).

Address: Palau de la Música, 4-6
Phone: +34 902 475 485
Internet: www.palaumusica.org
Metro: L1, L4, Urquinaona Bus Turístic: Barri Gòtic

The opera house Gran Teatre del Liceu

The Gran Teatre del Liceu is one of the most important opera houses in Europe and one of the most beautiful attractions of Barcelona. The greatest singers of the last two decades performed the most important classic oeuvres at this opera. Performers like Domingo, Pavarotti, Caballé, Callas or Tebaldi will always have a special place in the hearts of the audience.

Address: La Rambla, 51-59
Phone: +34 934 859 914
Internet: www.liceubarcelona.com
Metro: L3, Liceu Bus Turístic: Colom - Museu Marítim

Torre Agbar, newest and (still) highest attraction in Barcelona

Torre Agbar The 142 m tall office tower is Barcelona’s latest attraction. Depending on the incidence of light, it shimmers in all different colours; at night it is even illuminated.

Address: Plaça de les Glòries
Internet: www.torreagbar.com
Metro: Glòries, L1 /Tram T5, Glòries

Pavilion Mies van der Rohe The German pavilion of the World Exhibition in 1929 was built by Mies van der Rohe. The cofounder of the modern architecture used an architectural style that is often found in today’s modern architecture: a free and open layout. The Barcelona chair is a landmark of modern design. Mies van der Rohe had created it for the royal couple just for the inauguration of the exhibition. Today it is a classic and imitations can be found in many waiting rooms.

Address: Av. Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia, 7
Phone: +34 934 234 016
Internet: www.miesbcn.com
Metro: L1, L3, Espanya, FGC, Espanya, L93, 933, 94, R5, R6 Bus Turístic: CaixaForum - Pavelló Mies van der Rohe

Arc de Triomf The Arc de Triomf served as the entrance to the World Exhibition in 1888. A car-free street leads from here to the Parc de la Ciutadella.

Address: Passeig Lluís Companys
Metro: L1, L5, Arc de Triomf

Columbus monument in Barcelona The 60 m tall Columbus Monument is not a must for tourists, but has interesting views over the port and the old town of Barcelona.

Address: Plaça del Portal de la Pau
Metro: L3, Drassanes Bus Turístic: Colom - Museu Marítim

Buildings in Barcelona

Many buildings in Barcelona are unique sights

Sightseeing in Barcelona

Barcelona Card

Sightseeing tours

Hop-on Hop-off Bus

Gourmet Bus Barcelona