Why go
- Gaudí and the Modernistas gave one city a skyline of buildings that exist nowhere else — the Sagrada Família above all.
- The Gothic Quarter's medieval maze and the Eixample's ordered grid sit side by side, and both are walkable.
- It is a serious food and drink city — from Boqueria market and pintxos bars to some of the world's best restaurants.
- Few big cities put a real city beach a metro ride from a cathedral.
History
Founded as the Roman town of Barcino, Barcelona grew rich as a medieval Mediterranean trading power and the capital of Catalonia. Industrial wealth in the 19th century funded the Eixample expansion and the Modernista movement — Gaudí, Domènech i Montaner — while a fierce Catalan identity survived centuries of tension with Madrid, including Franco's suppression of the language. The 1992 Olympics remade the waterfront and turned a working port into one of Europe's most visited cities.
Major sights
Sagrada Família
Gaudí's still-unfinished basilica, unlike any church on earth inside or out. Book a timed ticket well ahead — walk-ups are turned away.
Gaudí's mosaic terraces and gingerbread gatehouses on a hill with a city-and-sea view. The monumental zone is ticketed and timed; the surrounding park is free.
Casa Batlló & La Pedrera
Two Gaudí apartment houses on Passeig de Gràcia — the dragon-scale façade of one, the wave-stone and rooftop chimneys of the other.
Barri Gòtic & the Cathedral
The medieval old town — narrow stone lanes, hidden squares and the Gothic cathedral with its cloister of geese. Best simply wandered.
The great covered market off La Rambla — jamón, seafood, juices and a few standing counters for lunch. Go early, eat at the back.
Barceloneta beach
The city beach and the seafood quarter behind it — a swim, a paella, and the boardwalk toward the Olympic port.
When it rains
Picasso Museum
The artist's early work, strongest on his Barcelona years, in a run of medieval palaces in the Born. Book ahead.
A Modernista concert hall of stained glass and mosaic — take the tour, or better, catch a concert.
MNAC (National Art of Catalonia)
Romanesque frescoes and Catalan art in the palace on Montjuïc, with a terrace over the city — a full wet afternoon.
A vermouth bar
The Barcelona rainy-day institution: house vermouth on tap, olives and conservas, somewhere in Gràcia or the Born.
Airports
Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) 12 km to the centre
Barcelona, CT, ES — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 69 airlines (Iberia Airlines, Vueling Airlines, Ryanair, easyJet…) · direct flights to 163 destinations incl. New York, London, Palma de Mallorca, Vienna, Amsterdam… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 69 airlines, 163 direct destinations
- Iberia Airlines IB (A320, A319, A321, CRJ-200, 737-800, 767-300…) · 103 routes: Aalborg*, Algier*, Alicante*, Almeria*, Amman*, Amsterdam*, Arrecife*, Athens*, Aviles*, Banjul*, Bari*, Bergen*, Berlin*, Bilbao*, Bologna*, Bordeaux*, Brest*, Brussels*, Bucharest*, Burgos*, Cardiff*, Casablanca*, Catania, Copenhagen*, Dakar, Dortmund, Dresden*, Dubrovnik*, Duesseldorf*, Edinburgh*, El Aroui*, Fes*, Florence*, Frankfurt*, Fuerteventura*, Genoa*, Gothenborg*, Gran Canaria*, Granada*, Hamburg* … +63 more
- Vueling Airlines VY (A320, A319) · 95 routes: Aalborg, Algier, Alicante, Almeria, Amsterdam, Arrecife, Athens, Aviles, Banjul, Bari, Bergen, Berlin, Bilbao, Bologna, Bordeaux, Brest, Brussels, Bucharest, Cardiff, Casablanca, Catania, Copenhagen, Dakar, Dortmund, Dresden, Dubrovnik, Duesseldorf, Edinburgh, El Aroui, Fes, Florence, Frankfurt, Fuerteventura, Genoa, Gothenborg, Gran Canaria, Granada, Hamburg, Hannover, Helsinki … +55 more
- Ryanair FR (737-800) · 39 routes: Arrecife, Beauvais, Bergamo, Birmingham, Bologna, Brussels, Budapest, Charleroi, Dublin, East Midlands, Edinburgh, El Aroui, Fes, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Ibiza, Jerez, Liverpool, London, Malaga, Manchester, Menorca, Palma de Mallorca, Porto, Prestwick, Rome, Rome, Rygge, Santander, Santiago, Sevilla, Stockholm, Tenerife, Tenerife, Torino, Treviso, Valladolid, Vilnius, Warsaw
- easyJet U2 (A319, A320) · 14 routes: Belfast, Berlin, Bristol, Geneva, Liverpool, London, London, Lyon, Milano, Mulhouse, Newcastle, Nice, Paris, Southend
- Norwegian Air Shuttle DY (737-800) · 11 routes: Bergen, Berlin, Copenhagen, Gothenborg, Hamburg, Helsinki, London, Oslo, Sandefjord, Stockholm, Warsaw
- Wizz Air W6 (A320) · 10 routes: Bucharest, Budapest, Cluj-napoca, Gdansk, Katowice, Poznan, Sofia, Timisoara, Vilnius, Warsaw
- Air Europa UX (32S, 737-800, A330-200, A330-300, 737, ATR…) · 8 routes: Badajoz, Bucharest*, Madrid, Moscow, Palma de Mallorca, Paris*, Prague, Tenerife
- Germanwings 4U (A319, A320) · 5 routes: Cologne, Duesseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover, Stuttgart
- Alitalia AZ (A319, A320, A321, 737-800, Embraer 175, Embraer 190…) · 4 routes: Milan, Palma de Mallorca*, Rome, Tenerife*
- American Airlines AA (767-300, A319, A320, A321, A330-200, 767) · 4 routes: London*, Miami, New York, Philadelphia
- British Airways BA (A319, A320, 767-300, A321, 734, 767) · 4 routes: London, London, Miami*, New York*
- Lufthansa Cargo LH (A320, A319, A321, 757-200, A320, Embraer 195) · 4 routes: Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, Newark*
- Monarch Airlines ZB (A321, A320, 757-200) · 4 routes: Birmingham, Leeds, London, Manchester
- Air Arabia Maroc 3O (A320) · 3 routes: Casablanca, El Aroui, Tanger
- Air Berlin AB (A321, A320, 737-800) · 3 routes: Berlin, Duesseldorf, Vienna*
- Finnair AY (767-300, A321) · 3 routes: Helsinki, Miami, New York
- Jet2.com LS (737-300, 737-800, 737-800) · 3 routes: Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester
- Scandinavian Airlines System SK (A321, 737-800, 737-700, 737-800) · 3 routes: Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm
- Singapore Airlines Cargo SQ (777-300ER) · 3 routes: Milano, Sao Paulo, Singapore
- Swiss International Air Lines LX (A320, AR1, A319, A321) · 3 routes: Geneva, Mulhouse*, Zurich
- Transavia Holland HV (737-800, 737-700) · 3 routes: Amsterdam, Eindhoven, Rotterdam
- US Airways US (767-300, A330-200) · 3 routes: Miami, New York, Philadelphia
- Aer Lingus EI (A320) · 2 routes: Cork, Dublin
- Aeroflot Russian Airlines SU (A320, A321, 767-300) · 2 routes: Moscow, St. Petersburg
- Air Algerie AH (736) · 2 routes: Algier, Oran
- Air France AF (318, A320, A321, A330-300, A320) · 2 routes: New York*, Paris
- Air Transat TS (310) · 2 routes: Montreal, Toronto
- Czech Airlines OK (737-800, A319, A320, Embraer 190) · 2 routes: Palma de Mallorca, Prague
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KL (330, 737) · 2 routes: Amsterdam, New York*
- Pakistan International Airlines PK (310) · 2 routes: Islamabad, Lahore
- Qatar Airways QR (A330-200, 767-300) · 2 routes: Doha, New York*
- Royal Air Maroc AT (737-700, 737-800) · 2 routes: Casablanca, Tanger
- SATA International S4 (ERJ-145, Fokker 100, A319, A320) · 2 routes: Lisbon*, Porto*
- TAP Portugal TP (ERJ-145, Fokker 100, A319, A320) · 2 routes: Lisbon, Porto*
- Aegean Airlines A3 (A320, A321) · 1 route: Athens
- Aerolineas Argentinas AR (340) · 1 route: Buenos Aires
- Air Baltic BT (735, 73C) · 1 route: Riga
- Air Canada AC (767-300) · 1 route: Toronto*
- Air China CA (A330-300) · 1 route: Vienna
- Arkia Israel Airlines IZ (757-300) · 1 route: Tel-aviv
- Atlant-Soyuz Airlines 3G (A319) · 1 route: Banjul
- Austrian Airlines OS (A320, A321) · 1 route: Vienna*
- Avianca - Aerovias Nacionales de Colombia AV (330) · 1 route: Bogota
- Belavia Belarusian Airlines B2 (737-300, 735, Embraer 175) · 1 route: Minsk 2
- Brussels Airlines SN (A319, A320) · 1 route: Brussels
- Bulgaria Air FB (A319, A320) · 1 route: Sofia
- Cathay Pacific CX (A330-200) · 1 route: Doha
- China Eastern Airlines MU (737) · 1 route: Amsterdam
- Croatia Airlines OU (A319) · 1 route: Zagreb
- Delta Air Lines DL (A330-300) · 1 route: New York
- Egyptair MS (737-800) · 1 route: Cairo
- El Al Israel Airlines LY (737-800, 747-400, 767-300) · 1 route: Tel-aviv
- Emirates EK (A380) · 1 route: Dubai
- Ethiopian Airlines ET (A321) · 1 route: Frankfurt*
- Hainan Airlines HU (A319, A320) · 1 route: Brussels
- LOT Polish Airlines LO (734, Embraer 195) · 1 route: Warsaw
- Luxair LG (Dash 8-400) · 1 route: Luxemburg
- Niki HG (A320, A321) · 1 route: Vienna
- Olympic Airlines OA (A320, A321) · 1 route: Athens*
- Pegasus Airlines PC (737-800) · 1 route: Istanbul
- Royal Jordanian RJ (A320) · 1 route: Amman
- SkyWork Airlines SX (D38) · 1 route: Bern
- Tarom RO (737-700) · 1 route: Bucharest
- Transaero Airlines UN (734, 747-400, 767-300, 777-200) · 1 route: Moscow
- Travel Service QS (A319, 737-800) · 1 route: Prague
- Tunisair TU (A319, A320, A320) · 1 route: Tunis
- Turkish Airlines TK (A320, A321, 330, A330-200, 737-800) · 1 route: Istanbul
- Ukraine International Airlines PS (73J) · 1 route: Kiev
- United Airlines UA (757-200) · 1 route: Newark
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Sabadell Airfield 16 km to the centre
Sabadell, CT, ES
Igualada/Odena Airfield 48 km to the centre
Barcelona, CT, ES
Manresa Airfield 49 km to the centre
Manresa, CT, ES
Calaf-Sallavinera Airfield 64 km to the centre
Sant Pere Sallavinera, CT, ES
Aeròdrom d'Avinyonet 33 km to the centre
Avinyó Nou, CT, ES
Regional airports
Further out, but often the cheapest way in — the airports the low-cost carriers use. Each links to its own town's guide for getting from there into the city.
Girona-Costa Brava Airport (GRO) 76 km to the centre
Girona, CT, ES — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 4 airlines (Ryanair, Transavia Holland, Wizz Air Ukraine, Harmony Airways) · direct flights to 49 destinations incl. Alghero, Amsterdam, Beauvais, Bergamo, Billund… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Feeder airport · 76 km from Barcelona · Ryanair, Transavia Holland, Wizz Air Ukraine · Getting around Girona →
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 4 airlines, 49 direct destinations
- Ryanair FR (737-800) · 44 routes: Alghero, Beauvais, Bergamo, Billund, Bournemouth, Bratislava, Bremen, Brindisi, Bristol, Cagliari, Charleroi, Cologne, Dortmund, Dublin, East Midlands, Eindhoven, Groningen, Hahn, Ibiza, Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden, Krakow, Lappeenranta, Leeds, London, London, Maastricht, Malta, Manchester, Marrakech, Memmingen, Munster, Newcastle, Palma de Mallorca, Pescara, Pisa, Poznan, Rabat, Skelleftea, Tallinn-ulemiste International, Tampere … +4 more
- Transavia Holland HV (737-800, 737-700) · 2 routes: Amsterdam, Rotterdam
- Wizz Air Ukraine WU (A320) · 2 routes: Kiev, Lvov
- Harmony Airways HQ (A320) · 1 route: Brussels
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Reus Airport (REU) 87 km to the centre
Reus, CT, ES — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 4 airlines (Ryanair, Jet2.com, Transavia France, Harmony Airways) · direct flights to 16 destinations incl. Manchester, Bristol, Belfast, Birmingham, Brussels… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Feeder airport · 87 km from Barcelona · Ryanair, Jet2.com, Transavia France · Getting around Reus →
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 4 airlines, 16 direct destinations
- Ryanair FR (737-800) · 13 routes: Birmingham, Bristol, Charleroi, Dublin, East Midlands, Eindhoven, Hahn, Liverpool, London, London, Manchester, Palma de Mallorca, Prestwick
- Jet2.com LS (737-300) · 3 routes: Belfast, Manchester, Newcastle
- Transavia France TO (75W) · 2 routes: Bristol, Manchester
- Harmony Airways HQ (A319) · 1 route: Brussels
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Getting there by ferry
Moll de Drassanes
Ferry terminal · 2 km from the centre · Alsa
Barcelona-Terminal F2
Ferry terminal · 2.4 km from the centre
Terminal Marítima Internacional Sud
Ferry terminal · 2.4 km from the centre
Moll de Llevant
Ferry terminal · 3 km from the centre · Alsa
Barcelona-Terminal F3
Ferry terminal · 3.1 km from the centre
Terminal F1 Balearia
Ferry terminal · 4.7 km from the centre
Bus Nàutic
Ferry route · Alsa
Barcelona – Nador
Ferry route
Barcelona – Alcúdia
Ferry route
Barcelona - Alcúdia
Ferry route
Barcelona – Ciutadella
Ferry route
Barcelona - Ciutadella
Ferry route · Baleària
Barcelona – Palma
Ferry route
Barcelona - Palma
Ferry route
Where things are
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping
base map © OSM
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
Tourist season
May – June, September – October
Warm, swimmable and lively without the August furnace. Late May and September are ideal — sea still warm, crowds thinner.
Shoulder season
November – April
Mild Mediterranean winter — cool but rarely cold, quiet museums and lower rates. Good for city walking, less so for the beach.
Worth avoiding
August
Hot, humid and packed, with many locals away and some smaller places shut. The beach and Gaudí queues are at their worst.
Getting there & around
Getting there. El Prat (BCN) is 15–35 minutes to the centre by Aerobús, metro L9 or the R2 train; low-cost flights sometimes land at Girona or Reus, an hour-plus out. Sants station runs high-speed trains to Madrid (2h30) and to France; it is also a major Mediterranean cruise port. By water: 6 ferry terminals within 20 km (nearest: Moll de Drassanes, 2 km); routes include Bus Nàutic, Barcelona – Nador, Barcelona – Alcúdia.
Getting around. Walk the old town and Eixample — the grid is deceptively large but flat and pleasant. The metro is cheap, fast and covers the sights; buy a T-casual multi-ride ticket. Biki bikes and taxis fill the gaps. Watch your pockets on La Rambla and in the metro — pickpocketing is the city's one real nuisance.
Local transit
Metro, bus · Barcelona's metro and bus network. · Fares: T-casual or Hola Barcelona card · Airport: Metro L9 Sud or the R2 Nord train from El Prat
Tram · Barcelona · Schedules & GTFS data (official feed)
Tram · Barcelona · Schedules & GTFS data (official feed)
Public transit · Schedules & GTFS data
Public transit · Schedules & GTFS data
Trains & rail
Rail operator
Rail operator
Rail operator
National rail
Coaches & shuttles
About seven and a half hours; the AVE train takes two and a half. · Madrid guide →
Private aviation
On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.
Broker · Any aircraft via operators worldwide · Global charter broker with 30+ offices; private jets, group charters and cargo.
FBO, charter, management · Managed fleet · FBO network and management across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.
Fractional, jet card · Embraer Praetor, Bombardier Challenger & Global, Gulfstream · Fractional ownership and jet cards in North America and Europe.
Charter, management · Large-cabin & VIP airliners · Geneva-based operator known for large-cabin and VIP airliner charters.
Charter, management, FBO, MRO · Managed fleet worldwide · General Dynamics company: charter, completions and FBOs in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the US.
Tours & experiences
Bus Tour
Sightseeing
Walking Tour
Bus Tour
Bike Tour
Sightseeing