Long stretches of beach, countless green spaces and parks, a historic quarter and modern districts – you could say that Barcelona is a city that has it all.
One thing is for sure – you will never run out of things to do in this city, from exploring interesting architecture, sampling the best Catalan cuisine or taking in the sights from some of its many perfectly poised viewpoints.
This year is a very important one for Barcelona, with the centenary anniversary of the death of architect Antoni Gaudí, the man behind some of the city’s most interesting and colourful buildings, including the Sagrada Família, which became the tallest church in the world in February.
Many visitors will flock to the basilica in June when the Pope is expected to make an appearance to bless the church’s new tall tower – a month that is shaping up to be very busy otherwise, with two major festivals, the Formula 1 Grand Prix and other Gaudí celebrations in June.
So whether you intend to visit with the summer crowds to catch these cultural moments, or book a visit during the shoulder season for a more relaxed city break, these are the best things to do in Barcelona this year, along with recommendations on where to stay.
The best things to do in Barcelona 2026
1. Join in the Gaudí Year celebrations
Plenty is happening in Barcelona to celebrate Gaudí and his achievements on the centenary anniversary of his death, coinciding with the Sagrada Família, his ultimate masterpiece, becoming the tallest church in the world. Several exhibitions are running across the city. For example, from 27 April to 26 July, an exhibition will be staged at Palau Robert Gardens with photographs from key moments in the Sagrada Familia’s construction. In June, “Processions of Popular Culture” will take place, in which several groups from the city will take part in a procession highlighting the country’s heritage and commemorating the centenary.
In autumn, Catalan performers, from sardana dancers to human pyramids, will fill the surroundings of the Sagrada Família in an open air celebration. Then on 18 December, there will be a Christmas concert with performances by the choir Escolania of Montserrat and the Vallès Symphony Orchestra, while outside the church spotlights will illuminate the detailed Nativity Facade to tell the story of the birth of Jesus Christ.
Find out more about celebrations at the Sagrada Família here.
Where to stay
For a touch of luxury, El Palace is located only a short bus ride away from the Sagrada Família, close enough to get to the basilica easily but far enough removed that you can retreat to relaxation after a busy day. The five-star establishment has 120 rooms, six of which are the signature Art Suites, each inspired by famous regulars, from artist Joan Miro to Rolling Stones’ Ronnie Wood. The standout feature is El Palace’s rooftop, with views of the Sagrada Família.
Read more: Hotel El Palace, Barcelona, review
2. Party at a summer festival
Barcelona’s annual music festival, Primavera Sound, is back for another year at Parc del Fòrum on the waterfront. From 3-7 June, ticketholders can see the likes of Doja Cat, The Cure, Addison Rae and The xx perform against a backdrop of the Mediterranean sea. Later in June, electronic music festival Sónar will take place from 18-20, with over 100 acts spread across the three days at the Fira Gran Via events space.
Join the waiting list for Primavera Sound tickets starting from €135 (£117). Tickets for Sónar start from €44 (£38).
Where to stay
Perfectly poised in El Fòrum, where Primavera Sound takes place, SLS Barcelona has 471 contemporary rooms, some of which look out over the Mediterranean Sea. When not dancing to headline acts, head to the glowing triangular pool for a cool off.
Read more: The best beach hotels in Barcelona, with rooftop pools, Michelin-starred restaurants and epic views
3. Watch the Formula 1 Grand Prix
Along with Gaudí celebrations and festivals, the month of June will bring the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix from 12-14, just outside the city in Montmeló. A recurrent stop in the Formula 1 season, the track will see world champions such as Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, and Charles Leclerc compete. When not hosting an F1 race, the Circuit de Barcelona Catalunya racecourse has plenty of other events throughout the year, such as the European Le Mans Series, motorbike championships and the annual 24 Hours of Barcelona motor endurance race.
Tickets for the Grand Prix start from €305 (£264).
Where to stay
If travelling by public transport, the best way to get to the track is from Barcelona’s central station, Sants. Just opposite, you will find Nobu Hotel Barcelona, a skyscraper property with the highest rooftop bar in the city. Afternoons at this luxury hotel can be spent in the basement spa, while evenings mean dancing along to DJ sets on the roof.
Read more: Nobu Hotel, Barcelona review
4. Catch a glimpse of Pope Leo XIV visiting the Sagrada Família
Pope Leo XIV has announced he will attend a central event commemorating the 100th anniversary of architect Antoni Gaudí’s death in June 2026. Exact details are yet to be confirmed, but it is thought that he will bless the Tower of Jesus Christ, the central tower of the basilica that was recently completed, making the Sagrada Família the tallest church in the world. It is known that 10 June will be a key date for the church, the exact date that Gaudí died a century ago. To commemorate, there will be an offering at Gaudí’s tomb and a solemn mass at the basilica officiated by the Pope.
A final itinerary will be revealed closer to the time, detailing how the public can get involved in this momentous event. Barcelona is set to be very busy during this week, as it is an important occasion for Catholics across the globe, so if you want a quieter trip to Barcelona, this is a time to avoid.
Find out more about Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Barcelona here.
Where to stay
While Barcelona is a notoriously expensive place to visit, Casa Mathilda helps keep costs down as it’s one of the more reasonably priced places to stay in the city. The Eixample-based hotel is only a 12-minute walk from the Sagrada Família and has 14 rooms to choose from, with custom furnishings and vintage decor in the rooms.
Read more: I’m a Barcelona destination expert, and these are the best cheap hotels
5. Watch a match at Camp Nou
The home of FC Barcelona, with a capacity of almost 100,000, Camp Nou holds the title of the biggest stadium in Europe. This prestigious venue, which has just undergone a major renovation and partially reopened in November 2025, mainly hosts men’s and women’s football matches, but visitors can also catch basketball, handball, hockey and futsal games here.
When not taking a seat at a hair-raising match between some of Spain’s biggest teams, fans can immerse themselves in FC Barcelona’s history at the Barca Museum, temporarily housed in an events space outside the stadium while its usual home inside undergoes final renovations. There are major trophies on display; an exhibition about the history of the team and its most memorable milestones; and the “Messi Zone”, a space dedicated to the club’s legendary player, Lionel Messi, featuring his Ballon d’Or awards and Golden Boots.
Visitors can also embark on a Barca Tour around Camp Nou, which allows fans to get a closer look at the pitch and access to exclusive spaces of the first football team, depending on which tier of tour they buy.
Tickets to matches can be bought on FC Barcelona’s website, along with museum tickets from €28 (£24) and tours from €49 (£42).
Where to stay
You can’t get much closer to Camp Nou than the NH Barcelona Stadium hotel, located just outside the ground. This practical, no-frills hotel has simple rooms, some of which have small balconies. Some top-floor rooms have views of the stadium.
Read more: The best spa hotels in Barcelona for luxury, relaxation and rejuvenating treatments
6. Relax at the beach
One of Barcelona’s outstanding features is that it also has a coastline, allowing residents and visitors to combine urban city life with relaxing moments on the beach. The almost 5km of swimmable shoreline is split into 10 beaches with Barceloneta Beach being the most well known as it’s the easiest to get to. However, this means that it is also usually the most crowded.
If you want a little more space, visit Bogatell beach for a family-friendly option with table tennis and volleyball courts. For a quieter spot to relax, Nova Mar Bella beach allows you to pitch your towel with less disruption from hawkers – although don’t get this stretch of sand confused with Mar Bella beach next door, frequented by nudists (unless that is your cup of tea). For a slice of local life, head to the Zona de Banys bathing area – although it doesn’t have sand, the swimming spot allows you to splash around in a shallow saltwater pool or rent a paddleboard.
Where to stay
Known for its sail-like structure dominating the seafront, W Barcelona is the place to be if you want easy access to beaches. The five-star stay has sea views from two pool areas, while many of its 437 rooms have full-length windows to capture as much of the Med as possible.
Read more: The best beaches in Spain to visit
7. Take a walk through the city parks and green spaces
Not only does it boast multiple beaches, Barcelona is home to plenty of green spaces for walks, picnics, or just to soak up the Mediterranean sun. One of the city’s most famous green spaces is Park Güell, designed in part by Gaudí and known for its colour trencadís (broken) mosaic tile benches that look out over the city to the Balearic sea. Although it costs to enter, it’s a must-see for anyone visiting the city, with its Greek-inspired 86-column Hypostyle Room and Dragon Stairway. For a more central green space, Cituadella Park features grand glasshouses, some of which – including the Umbracle – house collections of subtropical plants.
Barcelona also hosts a selection of grand and beautifully maintained gardens. Visit Mossen Costa i Llobera for cacti and succulents, Tamarita Gardens for classical statues and fountains, and Cervantes for a huge collection of rose bushes. Just outside the city is the great green lung of Parc de Collserola, spanning over 8,000 hectares and frequented by cyclists, birdwatchers, hikers and history lovers visiting early settlements, castles and churches.
Tickets for entry into Park Güell start from €18 (£15) for adults.
Where to stay
While you have to pay to enter some of Barcelona’s green spaces, booking a few nights at the Generator Barcelona hostel will help keep costs down for your trip. Located a short walk downhill from Park Güell, this hostel has both contemporary dorms and private double rooms, some of which have balconies.
Read more: I was drugged and robbed in Barcelona – but I’d travel back in a heartbeat
8. Explore the best Gaudí architecture
Whether it’s your first time visiting Barcelona or you have toured Gaudí’s works of Modernisme architecture many times before, visiting the highlights during the centenary year will feel extra special. The headline act is undoubtedly the Sagrada Família, which can be toured individually or as part of a group. Either way, spend time studying the story of Jesus Christ on the church’s different facades before stepping inside to see the breathtaking interior made to look like a forest set in stone.
Elsewhere, head to Passeig de Gracia to visit two civil buildings Gaudí designed for bourgeois families, La Pedrera and Casa Batlló. Palau Güell, just off La Rambla, is worth a visit for its colourful chimney rooftop, while Casa Vicens over in Gracia is Gaudí’s first masterpiece, a terracotta-coloured summer house with Moorish influences.
Visiting each building will give you a perspective on how Gaudí’s style developed in the lead-up to the creation of the Sagrada Família. Spot the various techniques used through the different buildings: trencadís mosaics, catenary arches and religious and natural motifs.
Tickets for the Sagrada Família start from €26 (£22), La Pedrera from €25 (£22), Casa Batlló from €29 (£25) and Palau Güell from €15 (£13).
Where to stay
Located just off La Rambla in the Gothic Quarter, the contemporary Kimpton Vividora is an ideal place to base yourself, with at least three Gaudí buildings within walking distance and views of the Sagrada Família’s tallest tower. Rooms are tastefully designed with colours matching the Mediterranean, while the rooftop pool is an ideal place to cool off in the summer sun.
Read more: I lived in Spain for two years and Elche is a green, sunny paradise
9. Take the cable car to Montjuïc
For a whole new perspective on Barcelona, board the gondola cable car that takes you up to the 213-metre hill of Montjuïc. The cable car ride allows visitors to get a unique glimpse of some of the city’s best landmarks, as well as a look out to sea. Once at the top of Montjuïc, interesting cultural attractions await, such as the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya, housed in a huge Italian-style building topped with regal-looking domes. Also atop Montjuïc is the Joan Miro foundation, a huge 14,000-strong collection of works by the famous Catalan artist, as well as Montjuïc Castle, a military fortress dating back to the 17th century.
Tickets for the cable car start from €17.10 (£15) if bought online.
Where to stay
For a budget-friendly stay right next to Montjuïc, B-Hotel is a great base if you are keen to explore the hills’ acclaimed museums. Rooms are pared back, but full-length windows allow you to take in all the sights.
Read more: The overlooked Canary Island with cobbled streets, local markets and subtropical forests
10. Drink cava at local wineries
An hour’s drive outside of the city, wine lovers will be pleased to discover the Penedès DOP region, best known for producing 95 per cent of the world’s cava wine. Perhaps the best-known winery in the region is Freixenet, which provides tours and wine pairing around its complex. For something a little more historic, visit the Codorníu winery, established by the family of the same name in 1551, making it the oldest cava producer around. Tours of the wine cellars can be taken on a small train, passing thousands of heritage bottles, before heading to the tasting room to sample a few premium cavas.
Tickets for a Freixenet tour start from €21.50 (£19) and Codorníu from €25 (£22).
Where to stay
If you would rather stay near the wineries than commute from the city centre, Cava & Hotel Mastinell is found on the Mastinell winery grounds. The hotel’s unique building consists of large, round, bubble-like windows overlooking the vineyards, while its roof has a trencadís mosaic design as an ode to Antoni Gaudí.
Read more: The little-visited Spanish city that rivals San Sebastian’s food culture
