What is Barcelona Known For? A 2024 Travel Guide

Barcelona is known for its incredible art, architecture, culture, attractions, food, festivals, and amazing beaches.

It's truly a one-of-a-kind metropolitan city on the Mediterranean Sea, and I would know as I lived there for three years!

So what do I love about Barcelona? And what is the city known for? I've organized a list so you have all the necessary information before packing for your trip to this iconic city. 

Now, it's time to dive in!

What Food is Barcelona Known For?

First things first, Barcelona is known for its unique and delectable cuisine. The city has a culture of its own as it is located in Catalonia.

The residents of Barcelona are known as Catalans as opposed to Spanish, and not only do they have their own language, Catalan, but they also have their own distinctive food.

Barcelona has everything from cured meats and cheeses to specialty onions, tapas, and the best sparkling wine you've ever tasted.

Calcots

One of the most delicious and fun things to eat in Barcelona is calcots! These large green onions are prepared on the grill and served with a spicy tomato sauce.

Eating them is a tradition for Catalan families in Barcelona. If you're lucky enough to be invited to a calcot barbeque, you should go for the experience!

If you don't know any locals, don't worry. You can enjoy traditional calcots at a local restaurant in the Gothic quarter called L'Antic Forn.

When you eat a calcot, you have to do it right by holding it up in the air and ripping the meat of the onion all the way down with your teeth. Trust me, it's messy but entertaining.

Cava

While champagne is from France, cava is from Spain, specifically from the rural areas around Barcelona.

Just like champagne, cava is a tasty sparkling white wine. And depending on who you ask, many argue that it's even more delicious than champagne, and it's definitely cheaper!

You can find the perfect glass of cava for as little as $2, equivalent to 2€, at the Can Paixano (La Xampanyeria) in Barceloneta.

This hole-in-the-wall is a local favorite and a well-kept secret. It is always busy, and there are only a few seats. But you will want to visit and cozy up to the bar for a glass or a bottle of cava alongside some of the city's most authentic cured meats and cheeses.

If you love cava, you should take the train out to Cava Town, where the grapes are grown and hit some family-run wineries! It's only about an hour away from the city.

Pinchos

Technically, pinchos originated in the Basque country just north of Catalonia. However, the residents of Barcelona have taken the traditional tapas from the north and made them their own.

If you want to indulge and enjoy as many pinchos as your stomach can handle, you must head up to Carrer Blai in Sant Antoni.

 The entire street is filled with pincho bars, so you can pop from one to another and try them all. Pincho bars are a unique experience! When you walk in, you grab a plate and start picking pinchos to eat.

Each pincho has a toothpick in it with a corresponding price, and most range from $1 - $3. When you leave, the cashier counts your toothpicks!

Paella

You can't leave Barcelona without eating paella. This classic dish is made with saffron, seafood, and rice, and it's out-of-this-world good!

While you can get a personal portion, most locals get one big dish for the table and all dive in!

One of the city's best restaurants that serve paella is Xiringuito Escribà. It's located directly on the beach, so you can enjoy your seafood just yards away from where it came from.

La Boqueria Market

Finally, you must stop at La Boqueria Market on La Rambla in the center of the city.

With fresh fruit, sweets, cured meats, fresh fish, and a variety of other snacks, you can eat a fantastic fresh lunch and get some groceries for later!

One fantastic souvenir to bring home from Barcelona is saffron! High-quality boxes of every size are sold at the market for a fraction of what they cost anywhere else.

What Architecture is Barcelona Known for?

From Gothic churches and architecture to the unreal works of Antoni Gaudi, Barcelona has some of the most extraordinary buildings on the planet.

Sagrada Familia

La Sagrada Familia is the most famous building in all of Barcelona. This church was designed by the renowned architect Antoni Gaudi and has been under construction since 1882!

The story of Sagrada Familia is pretty wild, but it pales in comparison to the actual structure. It is one of the earth's most compelling and beautiful buildings, with incredible stained glass windows and surreal sky-high columns.

Park Guell

Also designed by the famous Antoni Gaudi, Park Guell is one of the most unique pieces of architecture ever built. The park overlooks the city and is made almost entirely of mosaic tile designs.

Expert tip: Park Guell gets extremely busy during the day, so when booking your ticket online, choose the earliest possible time to enjoy the exquisite art with fewer people obstructing your photos.

Gaudi Apartments

Throughout the city, several apartments were designed and built by Gaudi. You can and should visit Casa Batllo, Casa Mila, and Casa Vicens.

The best way to see and understand the incredible detail of each of these locations is to go with a guide! 

And luckily, you can find several walking tours around the city that solely focus on Gaudi's creations.

Gothic Quarter

The gothic quarter in and of itself is an architecture lover's dream. Every building was built between the 13th and 15th centuries.

Simply walking around the neighborhood and enjoying the beloved gothic architecture is a beautiful way to spend the day in Barcelona.

And you can visit the famous gothic church! The gorgeous Cathedral Saint Eulalia is located in the heart of the gothic quarter. It was built between 1298 and 1420, and houses the tomb of Saint Eulalia.

What Art is Barcelona Known For?

You can see absolutely every kind of art in the city of Barcelona. From museums and extensive street art, whatever your style is, you'll find incredible pieces throughout the city.

By taking a street art tour, you will see art from Banksy, Keith Haring, and many other Barcelona-based artists, such as Pez, Arte es Basura, Sixeart, and El Xupet Negre.

Barcelona is not only known for its modern artists. Many historically significant artists lived much of their life in the city, including Picasso, Joan Miró, and Salvador Dalí.

You can see many of their pieces at the MACBA: Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art, the Picasso Museum, the Joan Miró Foundation, and the Salvador Dalí house, just a few hours away.

What Attractions is Barcelona Known For?

If you can believe it, there are even more things to see and do in Barcelona that I haven't mentioned yet!

Not all cities have green spaces, but Barcelona is lousy with them. With Ciutadella Park directly in the heart of the city, you can enjoy a picnic in the grass any time.

Suppose you want to see the city from a viewpoint. In that case, you can head up to Montjuic and ride the cable car, enjoy the ferris wheel at Tibidabo, or hang out with friends at the Bunkers del Carmel.

And although it's not technically green, Barceloneta Beach is absolutely one of the major attractions that Barcelona is known for. The best part about Barcelona beach is that it is located only a 10-minute walk from the city center!

The city beach can get a little crowded in the summer months, but if you want a quiet space, you can head up the coast a few miles.

Barcelona is also known for its soccer team, FC Barcelona. If there's a game at Camp Nou while you're in town, you should see one of the best European teams!

What Festivals is Barcelona Known For?

In addition to Barcelona's unparalleled food, art, architecture, and beaches, the city is also known for hosting some of Europe's best festivals!

• Sonar
• Primavera Sound
• Brunch in the Park
• Festa Major de Gràcia
• Stiges Carnival

Remember to check out Pilot's festival page for everything you need to know about the best parties, what to pack, what to wear, and so much more before you go!

Let Pilot Plan With You!

Now you know about all the things Barcelona is known for, and you have a better idea of what you should add to your itinerary if you're visiting one of Spain's largest cities. 

Remember to keep your information for your trip in one place to stay organized. The best way to do this? A trip planning app