Learning how Antoni Gaudí's religious psychosis helped inspire one of the most breathtaking…read morechurches in the world was not on my 2026 bingo card, but here we are. The Sagrada Família is genuinely one of the most stunning places I've ever stepped foot in. Every inch of the basilica feels intentional, emotional, and larger than life. The way the sunlight pours through the stained glass windows makes the entire inside glow like a dream. I paid for a guided tour, and honestly, it was 100% worth it because it really put the history and symbolism of the church into perspective. There's so much detail and meaning behind every design choice that I would've completely missed on my own. And the wildest part? It's still under construction to this day. Knowing this masterpiece has been evolving for over a century somehow makes it even more impressive. Whenever they finally finish it, I'll absolutely come back... but at this point who knows when that'll be. Barcelona has so many amazing things to see, but this was easily the crown jewel of the trip.

I have visited more churches/cathedrals than i can count but this was so unique. Love those huge…read moregothic churches but they are dark inside. This was stunningly and lots of light. The colored rays from the stained glass was breathtaking and like nothing I've even seen. I hear it changes at different times of day. The outside can be seem from miles away due the the size but once right there the details are so interesting. We signed up for guardi excursion and they got us in quicker as the lines are ridiculous. But they limited our time. I would have stayed much longer. Its nearly finished after all these year and one of the reasons I chose Spain as a travel destination. If you are in Barcelona definitely dont miss visiting here. No matter your relationship with religion this is a work of art. Stunning even though crowded. as with most things the pictures just cant do it justice. I feel so blessed to have been able to finally see it in person. I don't know that Spain and Portugal are places we would return but this was on top of our list for Spain. Designed by Antoni Gaudi construction was began in 1882 and not funded by Vatican or government so depends of ticket and donations. Plus construction was slowed by need to acquire adjacent properties that were anxious to sell. crazy it took over 140 yrs. So its a rare mixture of new and old. Be very aware tickets sell our weeks ahead. This was an added excursion with our go ahead tour. If i were to return to Barcelona I'd def visit all the Gaudi locations again.

The Cathedral of Barcelona, which is also called the Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia,…read morewas built in the Gothic style from 1298 to the 15th century. It is an active church that provides masses, confessions, and other sacraments. It also provides tours for 16 euros and up (as of the time of this review). I understand that some people think that a church should be free to enter, but I also understand that many tourists are not practicing Catholics and that the church needs to bring in revenue to pay its bills. My tour guide took my husband and me to the exterior of this church and explained its architecture and history. We did not pay for an interior tour. It is a lovely church to see.

The cathedral was beautiful and the rooftop views were simply stunning. Definitely worth a visit…read morewhen visiting Barcelona.

Stun-ning. No other word for this hidden gem of an architectural site that was once a hospital when…read moredesigners cared about the aesthetics of a hospital and not solely function. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site for good reason. The campus alone is one example after another of exquisite brickwork, mosaics, color, and Catalan ingenuity. If you loved Casa Battlo and Parc Guell, and you didn't know about this heritage site, do yourself a favor and swing in for even half-an-hour to buzz through and photograph the exquisite buildings collected herein. 10 min walk from Sagrada Familia. Mamma mia. Jaw dropping inside and out. How wise of Spain to recognize -- and preserve, and share -- this breathtakingly artful site.

Beautiful architecture in the exterior and interior of the building. The pictures do not do this…read moreplace justice. I was amazed by the amount of detail in the architecture, the ceilings and moldings. This sight is a must for anyone who enjoys architectural art.

When researching popular tourist destinations in Barcelona, Casa Batlló came up on many a list. I…read morelike to take in museums and other historical structures whenever I visit a new city, so this sounded perfect. That being said, I purchased tickets for us to explore during our first full day in the city. Casa Batlló is one of several structures in Barcelona designed by Antoni Gaudí. I believe this was originally designed as a private residence, and has since become a showcase of the type of work Gaudí produced. The visits are self-guided, and once you enter you are given an audio guide that you can use throughout the house that provides information about the space you're in. The house itself is gorgeous. It's so intricately designed with different themes throughout the space. The audio guide really helped here as it told the history behind each room. I found myself snapping tons of pictures, or just standing there and taking it all in. As expected, there were a couple of gift shops, and some interactive exhibits scattered throughout the house as well. Note that not all spaces are open to all guests, it depends on the type of ticket you buy; that being said, even if you get the base ticket you will see a lot. Also, this place naturally attracts Instagrammers - be aware there are lots of people posing for the camera, Overall, Casa Batlló was an awesome experience. It was my first taste of Gaudí's influence on the city, and I would definitely return for another visit.

Strolling after our Senior Dinner and there he was behind us, one of Anthony Gaudi's whimsical…read moreperfection!

Worth a stop. I am a fan of arches. We happened here as walking around the town. I don't know the…read morehistory of the arch nor did I care our tour gave us so much history I was glad you just walk around and explore on my own . Don't know if it was somehow trying to copy the arch in Paris either way it was cool . There's a very interesting part very close by with fountains and parakeets and all kinds of cool stuff so if you come to the arch definitely check out that Park beside the zoo . This was Popular location lots of people ... tourists and street performers. Popular photo spot.

Very cool landmark - not as grand as the one in Paris, but way easier to get a good photo without a…read moremillion people in the background. The red brick design gives it a unique vibe, and it's a nice walk around the area. Heads up: watch out for the photo scammers. They'll snap your pic, print it on a fake "newspaper," and then try to get you to buy it or "donate." Just say no and keep moving. Great quick stop if you're nearby -- and perfect if you're headed to Parc de la Ciutadella right after.

The Gothic Quarter is the oldest section of Barcelona. My husband and I hired a guide to take us on…read morea private tour of Barcelona, and one of my favorite parts of our tour was walking around the Gothic Quarter. We enjoyed seeing the remains of a Roman wall, the Barcelona Cathedral, the Mercado de La Boqueria, the Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar, cobblestone alleyways, public squares, stores, restaurants, and more. If you are planning a vacation for Barcelona, then I highly recommend that you stroll through the Gothic Quarter.

Most of my adventures through the Gothic Quarter in Barcelona were of historic buildings and…read morechurches which are surrounded by retail shops and unique tapas and cafe eateries. The wife and I got the pleasure to take a four hour food and wine tour throughout the Gothic Quarter providing us the opportunity to taste true Barcelona at four different locations. The area has a dark, wet and slightly unsettling gloomy atmosphere with lots of unsanctioned wall graffiti, although gave it added character to the area.

We heard it was cool fountain with lights and music similar to Balagio fountain in Las Vegas. We…read morewalked a longggggg way to see only to find its not every night and we had passed through some areas we thought questionable sketchy. So the next night we took taxi to and from. Lots of people but we could still see and enjoy. Later several left and we crossed the street to be close and found spots right upfront. I loved it. Beautiful. Fun watching children play there and enjoying the music.

Font Magica is located next to Espanya's square. The Place of Espanya is one of Barcelona's most…read moreimportant square, built on the occasion of the 1929 Barcelona International Exposition, held at the foot of Montjuic district. The square of Espanya is a central transport hub in Barcelona. A few steps away from Square of Espanya, you will find the Font Magica. I came to Font Magica when it was New Year's Eve. So many tourists and citizens of Barcelona gathered at the Magica because they had known a customary venue when people gather on New Year's Eve. After I checked them by internet, I came to here. Around Font Magica is scalable in the view axis through the two brick towers, which are based on St.Mark's tower in Venice. The Palace behind Font Magica is the museum, National d'Art de Catalunya ( MNAC) After about 300 meters from the towers in the direction, you can find the palace National d' Art de Catalunya. You can see the event in free. At that time, I left the staying hotel at 20;30p.m on December 31, and I arrived at the Espanya square on foot. As soon as I arrived at here, there were so many people around the place. I tried to access near spot of Front Magica, but because of so many people, I couldn't get close to Magica fountain. So, I took my video clips of the event at a fairly distant distance. But I was so excited with this new year's Eve. I want to share this experience with you.

If you are an architecture buff like my husband and I, consider a visit to Antoni Gaudi's Casa…read moreMila, aka La Pedrera. We did the nighttime tour on the first night of our honeymoon and it was spectacular. A great start to our trip and a truly architecturally magical evening we will never forget. From the light show on the truly unique rooftop facades to ending in the courtyard with a glass of cava.

This house has easy online ticket purchase and plenty of open hours. The view from the roof is…read moreawesome, and the architectural models upstairs are fascinating. I'm honestly not the biggest fan of Gaudi so I don't find this house to be a must-see in Spain for travelers, especially for €25 entry.

Plaça d'Espanya, which means Plaza of Spain, is a public square that was built for the Barcelona…read moreInternational Exposition in 1929. A tour guide briefly took my husband and me to this plaza, and he told us a little about its history. The plaza is located at a roundabout junction of major roads, and during our visit, some construction was occurring on the roadside, but the former bullring that is now a shopping center looked quite impressive. We also enjoyed seeing the two tall towers and a fountain.

Other reviews have mentioned the history of this roundabout, the monumental fountain and the…read morebuildings adjoining the square. Aside from the aforementioned joining of roads, I'll just add that it's a an impressive joining of public transit routes for both bus lines, the metro, and around a 13-15 minute walk, a short bus ride or two stops on the metro over to Sants station (Pl. Espana stop to Sants Estació stop), which is the main train station in Barcelona. Additionally, airport shuttle buses (Aerobus) stop at Plaça d'Espanya about once every 20 minutes or so. You can buy a ticket on the bus (used to be cash only but I believe they take card now). The neighborhood directly around the square is a mix of residential and commercial, there is a good mix of casual mom and pop restaurants and mostly smaller establishments though that's just from some very cursory strolling in the area.