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We offer you the best suggestions to get to know Barcelona city in just one day visiting its main landmarks : the main monuments, museums, markets, and viewpoints with the most spectacular views of the city.
If you are staying in a rural house and want to spend a day visiting the city of Barcelona, in this article you will find some of the 12 top Barcelona city landmarks that you should not miss if you only have a few hours to discover a great city like Barcelona.
1. Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar
The Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar, also known as the Cathedral of La Ribera, is one of the most emblematic and representative examples of Catalan Gothic art. It is, in fact, the only pure Catalan Gothic style church because, unlike many other cathedrals of the Middle Ages, it was built in just 55 years, from 1329 to 1384. Inside, some of its architectural elements will leave you speechless, such as the stained glass windows, the rose window, and the sepulchres. Don't forget to go up to the rooftops of the basilica where you will enjoy spectacular views that will help you understand the mediaeval urban layout and the structure of the city centre.
2. National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC)
There are two reasons to visit the MNAC: the first is that it is located in the Palau Nacional de Montjuïc (National Palace of Montjuïc), an emblematic building from the 1929 International Exposition. The second is that it is one of the best museums in Barcelona and an essential place if you want to learn about Catalan art, from the Romanesque to the mid-20th century. Although you will also find works by artists such as Velázquez, Titian, Picasso, or Rubens, among others. It also houses temporary exhibitions that are well worth a visit.
3. Sant Pau Modernist Complex
Another must-see in Barcelona is the Sant Pau Modernist complex, the most important modernist architectural complex in Europe. Designed by architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner as a garden city for the sick, it was built between 1905 and 1930 and for more than 80 years housed the facilities of the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau. The architectural complex is made up of 12 pavilions with colourful Byzantine, Gothic, and Moorish decorations, surrounded by green areas. In 1997, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
4. The Sagrada Familia
Going to Barcelona and not visiting one of Antoni Gaudí's buildings is like going to London and not visiting Big Ben and Buckingham Palace. The most important and well-known building of Antoni Gaudí in Barcelona is the Sagrada Familia: his most singular and complex project. He dedicated more than 40 years of his career to it and it is still not finished. In the city of Barcelona, you will find other Gaudí monuments that are a must-see: Casa Batlló, Park Güell, and La Pedrera. If you like modernism, you will surely find our article about Gaudí's main monuments in Catalonia very interesting.
5. Mies van der Rohe Pavilion
The Mies van der Rohe Pavilion is the flagship monument of modern rationalist architecture. It was built for the 1929 International Exhibition with glass, steel, and different types of marble, conceived to host the official reception of King Alfonso XIII and Queen Victoria Eugenia alongside the German authorities. Although the pavilion was demolished after the exhibition, it was rebuilt in 1980.
6. Pedralbes Monastery
The Pedralbes Monastery is a jewel of Gothic architecture, a three-storey single-nave church, with stained glass windows and a 15th-century cloister. Although it was founded by Queen Elisenda de Montcada in 1327, it was not opened to the public until 1983. Currently, a small community of eleven Poor Clare nuns continues to live in the new premises annexed to the monastery. The visit, therefore, allows us to get to know the female religious life. It is also worth visiting the Monastery Museum, which contains works of art, liturgical objects, and furniture worth seeing.
7. Center for Contemporary Culture of Barcelona (CCCB)
Located in the Raval neighbourhood, the CCCB is one of the best museums in Barcelona. You will find temporary exhibitions, debates, festivals, concerts, and conferences. It opened its doors in 1994 in the Casa de la Caridad, a former hospice built in 1802 that had been a mediaeval monastery. The facade and part of the patio of the building are preserved. The rest was rebuilt with glass and steel by Piñon and Viaplana, architects of the Maremagnum shopping centre.
8. Carmel Bunkers
The Carmel Bunkers offer one of the best views of Barcelona. These are anti-aircraft batteries from the Civil War, which served to defend Barcelona and neutralise the attacks of the Italian aviation and the German Condor Legion. In recent years, due to the success of the film ‘Tengo ganas de ti' - an adaptation of the best-seller by Federico Moccia - which was filmed in this area, the now known as Carmel Bunkers became a pilgrimage site for young couples. Hashtag: #BunkerCarmel.
9. Glòries Tower Viewpoint
If you want to enjoy a spectacular view of the city, you cannot miss the opportunity to go up to the viewpoint of the Glòries Tower, formerly known as the Agbar Tower. You will be able to contemplate the Collserola mountain, the Mediterranean Sea, Montjuïc, Ciutat Vella, and even distinguish from afar the outline of neighbourhoods such as Gràcia or Horta, which have different street patterns because they were independent towns. Right next to the viewpoint, you will find the new part of the city: the 22@ district. And as an illustrious neighbour, the Sagrada Familia. Not bad, right?
10. Horta Labyrinth Park
The Horta Labyrinth Park is the oldest garden preserved in the city. It is a space conceived in a neoclassical key in the purest style of Italian gardens, which was later expanded with romantic elements. During the walk, in addition to testing your orientation, you will find several sculptures related to Greek mythology, a waterfall, and some fountains. A must-see at the foot of the Collserola mountain range.
11. Palau de la Música Catalana
Another jewel of modernism. The Palau de la Música Catalana, built between 1905 and 1908 by architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner, is the only concert hall declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It is worth visiting the concert hall, of overwhelming beauty, or spending some time admiring the façade and playing at recognising the busts of composers such as Bach, Beethoven, or Wagner.
12. Boqueria Market - La Rambla
One of the most emblematic and popular places in the city is the Boqueria market, one of the most famous in the world and the largest in Catalonia. Located in the heart of La Rambla, in Barcelona's city centre, and a few metres from the Gran Teatre del Liceu, the Boqueria is a symphony of smells, colours, and flavours that is worth seeing.
If you feel like visiting a smaller city full of places to discover, we recommend you visit the city of Girona.