Everyone who visits Barcelona wants to see the Sagrada Família or Park Güell or La Boqueria. But if you want to experience more than the must-sees, where should you go? Barcelona is a rich and vibrant city, and the more time you spend there, the more you’ll find to see and experience, from plazas to restaurants to museums. Here are just a few suggestions to start off with some Barcelona hidden gems.
🏖️ 5 best beaches in Barcelona for every occasion: live the Mediterranean summer in the city
🌃 6 best things to do in Barcelona at night 2023: enjoy these unique experiences
6 options for your itinerary
Would you like to enjoy the most hidden and emblematic places of the Catalan capital? Between the blocks of the neighborhoods of Barcelona, there is more than one square, market, terrace and some other museum that may be of interest to you if what you are looking for is to find those essential spaces that you must pass by during your trip and that maybe you hadn't considered in your list of destinations. We review them.
🍻 Best beach bars in Barcelona: the 5 seafront spots you cannot miss this summer
1. Plaça Reial
Anyone who spends much time wandering around the old city of Barcelona will likely discover a new favourite restaurant or bar tucked out of view in a plaza off of the main streets. One of the most notable of these is Plaça Reial, and while it can't be called crowd-free, it’s certainly a good step up from the very touristy terraces that are found on the nearby Rambla. Its 19th-century arcades are lined with restaurants and bars, making it a good destination for those looking for a midday tapas break or a late supper. For those interested in architecture, it is also a good place to see some early work of Antoni Gaudí, who designed the square's lampposts. Plaça Reial is busier at night than during the day: popular nightlife and live performance venues, including flamenco-focused Los Tarantos, are part of the reason for that.
2. El Museu d'Història de Catalunya
The beaches of Barceloneta may be flocked with tourists, but just near the waterfront is a building any traveler interested in history cannot miss: the Catalonian History Museum. There is no better place to answer any questions you may have about the history of Catalonia, and the permanent exhibit is presented in a tactile and engaging way. Standard tickets are just six euros, making it quite affordable.
Barcelona is a city with a long and storied history, dating back to its establishment as the Roman settlement of Barcino in 15 BC, and that history continues to have a strong effect on public life, politics, and culture today. Tourists who may wonder about the importance of the Catalan language or the political rift between Catalonia and Spain should certainly pay a visit to the history museum.
3. Mercat de Sant Antoni
Barcelona has several markets, including the famous La Boqueria fruit market off La Rambla, but the Sunday book market at Sant Antoni is a rare gem. Just down the purple metro line from the Sagrada Família, the market opens every Sunday morning.
In addition to books both used and new, stalls sell music, movies, trading cards, stickers, and more, usually for quite cheap, so even if you're not looking to buy there's plenty to see. The blocks surrounding the metro stop and market also have a wide variety of restaurants and cafés, perfect for a next stop after leaving the market.
🗺️ Best things to do in Barcelona: complete guide for the best travel experience
4. Museu Picasso
The Picasso Museum, to which the artist himself donated more than 900 works of art dating back to the very beginning of his artistic career, can be found in the El Born neighborhood of the old city of Barcelona. The collection on display focuses on the early stages of the artist's development, during which he spent several years in Catalonia.
The largest piece on display is Picasso's version of Las Meninas, which consists of 58 separate paintings the artist created as his adaptation of one of the most famous pieces of Spanish art, the painting of the same name by Diego Velázquez. The surrounding neighborhood hosts several other museums, including the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MoCo), another necessary visit for any enjoyer of art.
5. Mercat del Born
Speaking of the El Born neighborhood, those interested in history should also visit the old market there, a recognizable landmark of the neighborhood and current archeological site. While no longer an active market, the space inside the facade is being excavated to unearth ruins of the city that were destroyed following the War of the Spanish Succession. It is freely open to the public. After visiting and reading about the area's history, you can continue on to Ciutadella Park, which is now located over what was once a massive castle, and also contains the city's zoo.
6. Antic Teatre
Barcelona has many bars and other nighttime spots to drink, but Antic Teatre is special. It's an outdoor bar and performing arts space that can be found, tucked somewhat out of view, near the Urquinaona tram stop. And while visitors can buy drinks, coffee and tapas there (and at quite affordable prices), its primary purpose is as an artistic hub.
Performances at Antic Teatre include cabarets, theatrical productions, one-man artistic shows, and more. The schedule can be checked and tickets bought online. It's a place where you'll never know what you will get, but what you get certainly will not be boring.
