The ISA Journal5 Must-See Landmarks in Barcelona

Olivia O’Toole is a student at University of Colorado Boulder and an ISA Featured Blogger. She is currently studying abroad with ISA in Barcelona, Spain.

1. La Sagrada Familia

La Sagrada Familia is a colossal Roman Catholic Church and Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí’s masterpiece. This is easily the most popular tourist attraction in Barcelona (even though it is still under construction). The extraordinary vaulted ceilings, vibrant stained glass, and unique architecture make for a once in a lifetime experience. Although there may be a wait to get inside, it is absolutely worth it!

2. Cathedral de Barcelona (Gothic District)

The Barcelona Cathedral on a beautiful, blue-sky day

The Cathedral is located in the Gothic District, right at the heart of Barcelona. It was constructed by the Romans during the Roman Empire and later augmented to represent a neo-gothic style. Go ahead, grab a café con leche (and maybe churros con chocolate if you’re feeling carefree) and enjoy the picturesque view and culture.

3. Port Vell & Barceloneta

Both Port Vell and Barceloneta beach are located right on the water (obviously) and offer a striking seascape, particularly at sunset.

Tip: Bring a blanket and some food from La Boqueria in Las Ramblas (See 5.) and have a picnic at sunset. Definitely a must-do.

4. Citadel park & Arc de Triomf

I stumbled upon Citadel Park when I was attempting to go on a run after far too many chocolate croissants. This park is huge! There is a zoo, a beautiful fountain (pictured above), a little pond for canoeing and so much more. And even better, if you walk two minutes down the street, you run into the Arc de Triomf. This is a great spot for beautiful pictures or just watching all the street performers.

The Arc is a beautiful place to take pictures!

5. La Boqueria (Las Ramblas)

This is my favorite place in Barcelona. It’s basically just a huge market with every single food item you could ever want. Fresh juice? Yes. Tapas? Definitely. Fish, meat and cheese? Absolutely. This is a great place to come if you want to snack and see the bustle of Las Ramblas, Barcelona’s most popular street (shopping, eating and sightseeing).

FYI: Barcelona is not immune to pickpocketers, in particular on Las Ramblas. Just like in any big city you are new to, hold your bags tightly!

This list is definitely not extensive (there is so much more to see if you have time), but these are a selection of my favorite places in Barcelona (and definite must-sees!).