barcelona tourist attractions

Aside from Spain’s second largest city, Barcelona is also packed with wonderful sites to see and activities to experience, which can make the opportunity to visit a bit overwhelming. In a world of many choices, it is helpful to have someone narrow down the list, starting with accommodations. To make your visit to Barcelona as homey as possible book one of these short term rentals scattered throughout the city. If you prefer to be right downtown, or would rather walk out your front door and onto the beach, you’ll find the property you’re looking for.

With your shorter accommodations list, now take a look at eight of the most visited Barcelona tourist attractions:

1. Barcelona Aquarium –  Located right by La Barceloneta and easily accessible by public transportation, the aquarium makes for a great day trip. Check out their various aquariums, especially their sharks that you can go cage diving with! There are fun shark sleepover parties for the kids as well.
2. Poble Espanyol – Located on Montjuic Mountain, the Poble is a multi-faceted destination with an architectural museum, contemporary art gallery, historic village, lively nightlife, and fantastic gastronomy experiences to be had. There are great events happening all year round in this beautiful historic village surrounded by a Barcelona forest.
3. F.C. Barcelona Museum – If you are a football fan then you definitely want to head to the Barcelona Museum for an educational experience in Spain’s most famous football team, as well as the history of the sport in the country.
4. Zoo Barcelona – If you’re traveling with little ones then they will have a blast at the downtown Barcelona Zoo. From elephants and giraffes to dolphins and giant anteaters, there is so much to keep you busy at the zoo, making it a perfect day trip of learning about the world’s diverse species.
5. Museu Picasso – For a more grown-up adventure head to the Picasso museum where you can explore some of this brilliant artist’s most famous works. For art buffs, this museum’s collection is key to understanding the artist’s formative years.
6. IMAX Port Vell – This theater has two giant screens and three different projections systems. Each screen is seven stories high and they are the largest ones in the entire country. The Omnimax experience is one you don’t want to miss.
7. Fundació Joan Miró – This museum features and celebrates the works of this Barcelona native whose first drawings date back to the turn of the century. The foundation has become a notable reference on the international art circuit, featuring the famous works of many contemporary artists.
8. Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya – Celebrating the art of Catalonia, this museum was constructed for the International Exposition of 1929. It’s medieval and Romanesque collections are very informative of the city’s history and culture.

While we’ve only scratched the surface of all the Barcelona tourist attractions, these will keep you busy for a good portion of your trip to one of Europe’s favorite beach cities. While exploring a new city can be exhausting, you’ll be able to completely relax once back at your short term rental with a comfortable living space all to yourself.