best walking tour barcelona

Walking Tours in Barcelona

Walking. One of life's many pleasures. Good for the mind, body, and soul, the simple act of walking is one often overshadowed by evil technologies like cars, buses, and bikes. Avoid these at all costs and trust your legs. They've gotten you this far. Want to take your walking to the next level? Combine it with the power of education and learning. Yes, we're talking walking tours today. Spice up those strolls with a bit of culture. Plus, some handy soundbites you can use to fool people into thinking you're more clever than you really are. These are the best walking tours in Barcelona, curated by us for you, so you can focus on strengthening those leg muscles. Always be prepared.

Featuring:

  • Sagrada Familia Tour
  • Park Guell Guided Tour
  • Picasso Museum Guided Tour
  • Barcelona Architecture Tour
  • Barcelona Ancient Markets Tour
  • Old Town and Gothic Quarter Tour
  • Raval Walking Tour

 

Sagrada Familia Tour

Take a walk through time itself with a Sagrada Familia tour. Explore the history of Gaudi, Spain's most famous architect, as you explore his most famous work, the Sagrada Familia. This century-old wonder combines elements of Gothic and Art-Nouveau, mixed up on a palate with Gaudi's distinguished strangeness.

Of course, a wizened guide will join you on your adventure, giving you key insight into the artist's style and history. Witness the religious symbolism present in his works. Have your mind blown by the geometry of the building's ceilings and stained-glass windows. Easily one of the best walking tours in Barcelona. You will love it.

 

Park Güell Guided Tour

Take your tour to a more natural place with a guided tour of the wonderful Park Guell. Our man Gaudi has done it again, designing Park Guell to his ideal specifications. Not only do you get a healthy dose of the green and pleasant, you also get some of the man's signature strangeness.

Learn about Gaudi's inspiration behind oddities like El Drac, a multicolored mosaic lizard. Stand in awe of the Porter's Lodge and its stunning style. Rumour has it that if you whistle Gaudi's favorite tune, your learned guide will reveal the universe's secrets to you. That is not true. Please do not do that. A tip will suffice.

 

Picasso Museum Guided Tour

Or, if you've had enough Gaudi to fill a lifetime, why not try another of Spain's revolutionary artists? Picasso, specifically. Take a Picasso Museum Guided Tour, and learn all about one of the 20th Century's most important artistic voices. Look upon his works, but do not despair. Instead, marvel at them, as your guide showers you with facts and information about his pieces.

And once the tour is over and you've devoured as much information as possible from your informative guide, you're free to roam the museum at will. Our top tip, retrace your steps and impress passers-by with your newfound knowledge. Unless they're on a guided tour, in which case, hold your tongue. You cannot compare to their majesty.

 

Barcelona Architecture Tour

You thought we were finished with Gaudi? Think again. Take a tour of the architect's work throughout Barcelona with one of the best walking tours you'll ever discover. You'll see all the hits; Casa Mila, Casa Batllo, and even the Sagrada Familia itself.

Your tour will end at Casa Amatller, the home of Catalan chocolate. Try some for yourself, if you dare. By then, you'll have explored works from other Spanish architects like Montagner and Puig i Cadafalch. Just don't try and say the latter's name five times fast. These tours are for walking, not tongue-twisters.

 

Barcelona Ancient Markets Tour

Explore Barcelona's ancient markets and pretend you're trading with Romans on this walking tour. Learn about Barcelona's millennia of history in market trading. Explore three, yes, three ancient markets; Boqueria, Mercat de Santa Caterina, and Mercat de El Born.

You'll also pass Barcelona Cathedral, which isn't a market, but that just means you're getting more bang for your buck. And be sure to visit the caganer shop and inquire about one of Barcelona's strangest traditions. It may just make you question life itself. Or not, you'll have to find out for yourself.

 

Old Town and Gothic Quarter Tour

Travel back to the past with this guided tour through Old Town and the Gothic Quarter. Suitably named for their old-ness, you'll pass Roman ruins, medieval marvels, and much more! Learn about Barcelona's long history, and its many changes of the guard.

This tour also passes by Boqueria market, so feel free to taste some local delicacies. Some cured ham and a drop of cava will hit the spot. Best take this walking tour if you want to learn more about Barcelona's history and the people who walked its streets in times past.

 

Raval Walking Tour

Walkers beware; you need a strong stomach for the next stop on our list. Take a trip into the depths of Barcelona's sordid past with this bloodcurdling walking tour. Raval is one of the city's districts, and one with a rather macabre history. Your ghoulish guide will beguile you with gruesome tales of ghostly orphanages, haunted hospitals, and the definitely real Vampire of Raval. Please note that your guide isn't a real ghoul, unlike the Vampire of Raval, who is very real. You'll see their house and everything. It doesn't get more real than that.

At the end of it all, you'll walk through Raval's south side, which has lots of graffiti. Now, that might not sound spooky, but there's nothing spookier than degenerates who dare to ruin bland walls with colors. The perfect addition to your social medias, if that's what you kids are still doing.

And there ends our journey into the best walking tours in Barcelona. No matter your desire, there's sure to be one that fits you like a Spanish glove. Looking for more hijinks to get up to when visiting the Catalan capital? Walking lovers might want to check out our list of the city's best parks. Are you taking a loved one with you? Here's our guide for couples. Keep that step count up, and we'll see you next time.

Dom Bewley
Go City Travel Expert

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Things to do in Barcelona in Winter

Winter can leave many of us feeling lost, alone, and pondering existential questions. Where did the sun really go? Should I throw out my summer wardrobe and replace it before spring? Is there any point in going on vacation in winter? You're on your own with the first two, but we can help answer the third. Because yes, of course there's a point to winter vacations! Minimal crowds, cheaper flights, and the ability to focus on indoor fun. In summer, spending your vacation indoors might induce serious FOMO, but not when the temperature drops. But what about a famously summertime city like Barcelona? What then, we hear you scream into the night sky. What about it? There are plenty of things to do in Barcelona in winter. Quit your wailing. Here, we'll prove it by creating the greatest list of the best things to do in Barcelona in winter just for you. Hold on to your phones, laptops, or desktops, because it's about to get crazy. Including: Art Museums Brewery tour Escape rooms Science museums Gaudí the great and more!   Image courtesy of Giorgiolo/Shutterstock Get Artsy Let's kick things off with some indoor culture. Just because it's cold outside doesn't mean you can't warm your insides with knowledge, inspiration, and learning. Feel the sacred light of art fill your withered body! We're talking modern art here, so strap in. First on the list is Barcelona's own Moco Museum. With plenty of mind-opening installations from the likes of Banksy and David LaChapelle, as well as surrealists like Dali, it's the most colorful, mind-bending place in town. Or, if you want a little less flash and a little more space to ponder, check out Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona (or MACBA for short). More of a traditional gallery, you'll find multiple periods of modern art represented in its many galleries. Another modern art museum with an appropriate acronym is the Museu Europeu d'Art Modern or MEAM. This one has a slew of alternative forms of art inside, from concerts to live art theater, as well as other experimental works. Nice.   Estrella exploration Do you like beer? Ever wondered where it all comes from? Why not head down to Barcelona's famous Estrella Brewery, take a look around, and discover for yourself? Spain's biggest amber export, Estrella is enjoyed the world over. Step inside and learn about the history of the brand, the brewery, and its rise to worldwide acclaim. Then, when you've seen enough giant metal beer barrels to fill a lifetime, sample four refreshing Estrella beers for yourself in the tasting room. Delightful.   Escape for your life If things are getting cold outside, heat up proceedings with a race against time! That's exactly what you'll get at Escape Hunt Barcelona, the city's premier escape room experience. Pick from three spooky mysteries, partner up with a few buddies, and lock yourself away. Then, as time ticks away, find the clues, decode the riddles, and solve the game before your time runs out. If you fail, you're stuck there forever to wallow in your mistakes. Not really, but imagine if that really happened? Terrifying. If you're with a large group, you can even pair off, take on a different room each, and see who escapes first. If you're looking to beat the cold weather, Escape Hunt Barcelona is easily one of the best things to do in winter in Barcelona!   CosmoCaixa Do you like science? Do the universe's many mysterious leave you wide awake at night? Well, put those sleepless nights to rest thanks to Barcelona's amazing science museum CosmoCaixa. Go on a journey through the earth's ecosystems. Travel through space and time. Explore hundreds of interactive exhibits about all facets of our world and the stars above. Enter the Room of Matter, and explore the evolution of life and matter on our planet. Trapse through the Flooded Forest and its incredible recreation of the Amazon. Learn stuff and things about science while staying warm in the comfort of the indoors. Perfect!   Gaudí, but not as you know it Everywhere you go in Barcelona, you see his face. Well, not his face, but the faces of the buildings tell his story. Gaudí left his stamp on the city and then some, with his inspired buildings standing all over the place. So, if seeing them in person is out of the question, what with it being winter, why not enter the fourth dimension and see another side of the master architect? Because that's exactly what you'll get at The Gaudí Experience, the world's first interactive exhibition space to explore the life and works of the world-famous artist. Enter his world, uncover his creative universe, and experience it all through state-of-the-art exhibitions and installations. This culminates in a 4D cinema experience that has to be seen to be believed. Feel the wind in your face as your soar high above the trees, before they stretch and evolve into soldiers. Learn how nature and the world helped Gaudí realize his vision. Hold onto your seat as you move in time with the visuals. Easily one of the best things to do in Barcelona in winter!   Ice, ice, skating And finally, we end the list on a tricky one. Winter in Barcelona can mean highs of 57°F, so you may be wondering how in the wintery hell you'll be able to go ice skating. Well, don't worry, because no matter the weather, you'll still get your icy grind on. Just head to the L'illa Diagonal, a massive shopping center in the heart of the city. There, you'll find an indoor rink. And there, you can get your skate on like nobody's business. And there concludes our list of the best things to do in Barcelona in winter! Looking for more fun ideas for your Catalan adventure? If the weather's heating up, check out our top picks for outdoor entertainment. Like things out of leftfield? Our list of quirky activities has got you covered. And be sure to check out our guide to Barcelona's market scene if you like to eat fresh!
Dom Bewley

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