Barcelona is a true cultural Mecca known for its dazzling art, elaborate architecture, and avant-garde cuisine. For these reasons, Barcelona is one of the top tourist destinations in the world. Despite the Disneyland sized crowds, you won’t be disappointed.
La Sagrada Familia
Known as the cathedral that’s been under construction for over a century, La Sagrada Familia is Barcelona’s most popular tourist sight. It will be a zoo, but you can buy tickets online for a specific entrance window. I highly recommend buying the individual Sagrada Familia ticket, which includes the towers and an audioguide. These tickets are more expensive (32€), but they will allow you to access the cathedral during the first available window and avoid the crowd.
La Sagrada Familia (July 2019) 
Morning Light at La Sagrada Familia (July 2019) 
La Sagrada Familia Nave (July 2019)
Park Güell
Park Güell is my favorite spot in Barcelona. Perched on a hill above the city, it offers breathtaking views of the skyline with the Mediterranean Sea as the backdrop. This park, designed by Gaudí, looks like a real life Candyland and was intended to become a private community for affluent Barcelonés. That idea never took off but as as results, you can now enjoy these beautiful mosaic sculptures and homes.
Park Güell (July 2019) 
Turó de les Tres Creus (July 2019)
Montjuïc
Montjuïc was home to the 1929 International Exposition and 1992 Summer Olympics. You can still visit the Olympic ring and take a cable car to the top of the Montjuïc castle to see the Magic Fountain Light Show (Thurs-Sun during summer months). There are also several museums here, including the Joan Miro Foundation, Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya, and the Caixa Forum, a former factory-turned-exhibition space.
The Magic Fountain of Montjuïc (July 2019)
Gothic Quarter
The Gothic Quarter is one of the most picturesque neighborhoods in Barcelona. Its narrow medieval streets are lined with small bars/restaurants, street vendors, and some of the most beautiful architecture in Europe.
One of my favorite buildings in the Gothic Quarter is Casa Batlló, built by Gaudí, which has a an iridescent ceramic roof shaped a like a dragon’s spine. There are several other Gaudí buildings that are worth visiting, including Casa Milá and Palau Güell; however, each time I walk through this neighborhood, I find a new edifice that captures my eyes. Get lost and if you’re lucky, you’ll stumble across Palau de la Música Catalana and Pont Gòtic.
La Boqueria (Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria)
Spanish markets are always worth a stop. La Boqueria is a nearly 180 year-old covered market on the Rambla. It’s absolutely worth a visit but like many things in Spain it’s closed on Sundays.
La Boqueria (July 2019)
La Rambla
La Rambla is tree-lined pedestrian street stretching from Plaça de Catalunya to Port Vell. It goes right through the heart of Barcelona’s tourist center, so be on the lookout for pick-pocketing thieves.
Barceloneta Beach
Today, Barcelona is known as a world-famous beach destination, but just 30 years ago, its beaches were non-existent. Thanks to the 1992 Olympics, Barceloneta was revitalized and this man-made beach was overhauled using sand from the Sahara Desert.
Barceloneta is the most popular beach in the city and day or night, you’ll find revelers soaking up to the sun or filling some of the most famous night clubs in the city: Opium, Pacha, and Carpe Diem.
Camp Nou
FC Barcelona offers daily tours of the Camp Nou. If you’re a football fan it’s worth a visit, but the biggest and most successful football club in the world is in Madrid. ¡Hala Madrid!