Barcelona is a big city with lots of things to see and do. In this blogpost I have chosen my top 5 things to do, that are located outside of the city center. At the end you will find our YouTube video with all the content. Enjoy!
1. Poble Espanyol
First on the list is Poble Espanyol. Poble Espanyol mean Spanish Village. This village was built for the 1929 Barcelona International Exposition, and consists of 117 full-scale buildings representing different places in Spain. It’s divided into North, South, Centre and Mediterranean.
Poble Espanyol is located on the lower portions of Montjuic mountain. You can walk here from Plaza Espanya or take bus 13.
Entrance is €13.50 for adults and €9 for children 4 to 12 years old. They open at 10 in the morning and are open until late. Each part of the Spanish village has its unique buildings and style. There are also restaurants and cafés to try local food from the different regions.
The views from up here are also something really special. There are plenty of more things to see, so go check it out when you are in Barcelona.
2. Montserrat
Montserrat, outside Barcelona is a striking mountain range that towers over the Catalan landscape. Just a short distance from the bustling city, it offers a serene escape with its breathtaking views and ancient monastery. Whether seeking spirituality or outdoor adventure, Montserrat in Barcelona is a must-visit destination.
You can get to Montserrat via train or on one of the many bus tours. I will put the information in the description box below. You can also drive. Parking is €7.50.
Many people also come to Montserrat to see the Black Madonna, called La Moreneta in Spanish. You can buy a special ticket to visit this holy wooden Madonna.
Outside the monastery there are also some shops, cafés and restaurants. On most days you can also buy products like cheese, honey and nuts from local producers right outside the monastery. We bought a delicious cheese and nuts.
3. Hike to Tibidabo
Tibidabo is a prominent mountain overlooking Barcelona, offering breathtaking views of the city and the Mediterranean Sea. On top you can find a stunning church crowned with a statue of Jesus Christ. You can drive here or take the funicular train but we decided to make a hike that we found on the Alltrails App. It’s 6.4km in distance and should take around 2 hours to complete. After finding the starting point, we set off.
We were treated with some really nice nature and surroundings. After about an hour we reached the top. The church is called Temple Expiatori del Sagrat Cor. The crypt was built between 1903 and 1911, and the main church was built between 1915 and 1951. That’s why they look different in style and colour. The crypt is build in Romanesque style and on top the monumental neo-Gothic church.
For €5 you can climb the tower all the way up to the Jesus Statue. Initially there is an elevator but the last part is via stairs. The tower offers some great 360 degree views. There is also a theme park and a restaurant when you visit Tibidabo. We make our way down the mountain again to complete the hike. A nice hike to do when you visit Barcelona. Not too challenging.
4. Eat Pinchos on Blai
As number 4 on the list we are going for Pinchos at Carrer de Blai. It’s located in Poble Sec just outside Barcelona City Center.
A pincho, is a small snack, typically eaten in bars. They are related to Tapas, the main difference being that pinchos are usually ‘spiked’ with a skewer or a toothpick, often to a piece of bread.
We visited a place called Pincho.j which had good reviews. They had a huge selection of pinchos and we started off with a few different pinchos. Manchego cheese, gambas, chorizo and goat-cheese.
Later on we ordered the melon with jamon, octopus with pickled vegetables and some more prawns. To finish off, we had the cheesecake. The bill came to €32 for 3 glasses of wine and 10 pinchos. Very tasty and affordable for high quality pinchos.
The best place in town for Pinchos is Blai street, so come and try it next time you are in Barcelona.
5. CosmoCaixa Science Museum
Number 5 on the list is CosmoCaixa Science Museum. It’s a really good science museum with lots to see. Located at the outskirts of the city, you can reach it with these buses. Entrance is only €6 and free for children under 16 years of age.
The museum features a variety of exhibitions, permanent and temporary, that showcase the environment, nature, science, and space.
One of the highlights is the Amazonian rainforest. In this thousand square meter fragment of tropical jungle you can discover some of the most representative species of the Amazon: alligators, ants, boas, fish, tropical birds and plants.
There is also a great dinosaur exhibition. Beautifully lit in orange. Information signs is available in Catalan, Spanish and English throughout the museum.
Lastly, there is also the science experiments section. Lots of fun for both kids and adults. I would really recommend this museum.
Here is a link to our YouTube video from our Top 5 list of things to do outside the Barcelona City Center:
