In a nutshell
- You’ve already seen the top attractions in Barcelona and are now looking for genuine insider tips that are not yet too crowded? Then you’ve come to the right place.
- We’ll introduce you to 11 Barcelona hidden gems off the beaten tourist path — spots that not everyone knows about yet.
- From lesser-known beaches and great viewpoints to really good food, these are our personal favorites that we keep going back to.
Gràcia
The Gràcia neighborhood is one of the most authentic neighborhoods in the city. Locals feel right at home here, which makes it one of the best Barcelona hidden gems you can find.
Because it’s a bit farther from most Barcelona attractions and the beach, it’s much less touristy than, say, the Barri Gòtic.
Gràcia is perfect for a leisurely stroll. You’ll find charming little shops, narrow alleyways, and beautiful squares. Our personal favorite is the Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia. There you can get the best ice cream in the city at Anita Gelato and delicious tiramisù at Nabucco Tiramisu.
If you’d like to discover even more spots like these, we recommend a guided tour of Barcelona with a local.
You’ll find the best coffee at Syra Coffee. The liveliest spot is the Plaça del Sol, one of the most well-known squares in the neighborhood. There are bars here and even a children’s playground — ideal if you’re visiting Barcelona with the whole family.
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Casa Vicens
On a side street in the Gràcia neighborhood, you’ll find Casa Vicens, designed by the famous architect Antoni Gaudí.
At first glance, the townhouse doesn’t look like a typical Gaudí building. That’s because it’s one of his earliest works, where he was still experimenting with Moorish-inspired elements rather than organic forms.
Compared to other Gaudí-designed houses like Casa Batlló, Casa Vicens is much less well known — making it a genuine off-the-beaten-path pick in Barcelona. You can explore it in a far more relaxed atmosphere.
The building is impressive from the outside, but there are even more highlights waiting inside. The interior courtyard is especially beautiful, and the interior spaces also host exhibitions by various artists.
Book tickets for Casa Vicens online
El Beso
The artwork “El mundo nace en cada beso” (The world is born with every kiss) — or El Beso for short — by Joan Fontcuberta is a popular photo spot in Barcelona.
Make sure you take a closer look. The image is made up of countless individual tiles with photos showing different people expressing what freedom means to them.
All these photos together, as different as they are, ultimately form a kiss. A truly beautiful message.
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Playa de Bogatell
Barcelona is famous for its city beach, Barceloneta. Since it’s so centrally located and easy to reach, it also gets seriously crowded.
For something a little more low-key, we recommend the Playa de Bogatell beach in the Poblenou neighborhood — one of our favorite Barcelona hidden gems.
It’s located a bit outside the city center, but using public transportation in Barcelona, you can get there in about 20–30 minutes.
At Playa de Bogatell, you’ll mostly be among locals, who often meet there after work to play volleyball or simply relax. Wonderfully laid-back!
By the way: Poblenou is also a real under-the-radar pick for places to stay in Barcelona. It’s increasingly becoming a trendy neighborhood, and you’ll also find some unique hotels in Barcelona here.
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Bunkers del Carmel
An absolute standout for any Barcelona city trip is the Bunkers del Carmel, a former defensive installation from the Spanish Civil War. It sits on a hill in the northeast of the city, well away from the main tourist trail. If you feel like venturing even further afield, the surrounding area offers plenty of worthwhile destinations for day trips from Barcelona.
You can walk from Park Güell to the Bunkers in 20 to 30 minutes, or there’s a bus that goes almost all the way to the top.
From up there, you get a stunning panorama over Barcelona — especially at sunset.
Word has gotten out by now, so it’s no longer a complete secret. Still, it’s nowhere near as crowded as other viewpoints in the city.
That’s partly because there are no restaurants or souvenir shops up here. We love that!
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Cementiri de Montjuïc
A somewhat unusual recommendation, but the cemetery on Montjuïc hill is truly a one-of-a-kind place. Here you can find some peace away from the busy city and learn more about Barcelona’s history.
The cemetery has a very special, almost mystical atmosphere: sorrowful angels, stunning modernist monuments, and sculptures crowd the slopes of the small hill. From here you get a great view of the harbor and the sea.
A small green space serves as a memorial to the victims of the Franco regime and the International Brigaders who gave their lives fighting against fascism.
The Cementiri de Montjuïc tells the story of Barcelona in its own unique, deeply personal way. A real Barcelona hidden gem!
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Moco Museum
We’re big fans of the Moco Museum — for us, it’s one of the most exciting museums in Barcelona.
If you’re into contemporary art and pop culture, this is your place. Alongside world-famous works by Banksy, Andy Warhol, and Salvador Dalí, you’ll also find seriously cool experimental, digital art.
Thanks to the modern and interactive exhibition elements, the museum works really well even for people who don’t usually enjoy going to museums.
And the best part: it’s still not nearly as crowded as many other museums in the city.
Book tickets for the Moco Museum Barcelona online
Pizza at Can Pizza
Pizza? You read that right. But why eat pizza in Barcelona? Isn’t Spain the land of tapas and paella?
Simple: the pizza at Can has even received international awards and is one of the best sourdough pizzas we’ve ever had.
The atmosphere at the restaurant is cool and relaxed — but watch out: don’t fill up on the delicious olives beforehand, because the pizzas are huge!
Can Pizza is right around the corner from the Sagrada Família, making it the perfect spot for dinner after your visit to Gaudí’s masterpiece.
Parking Pizza - Parking Pita
Have you ever eaten in a parking garage? If not, Barcelona is the place to try it. Where cars used to park, two connected restaurants now sit side by side: Parking Pita and Parking Pizza.
The delicious pitas at Parking Pita are filled with various vegetables, meat, or both. At Parking Pizza, alongside excellent Neapolitan pizza, you’ll also find pasta, antipasti, salads & more.
The vibe and industrial-style décor of both restaurants are truly something special.
The stools are a fun touch — you can actually open them up to store your belongings inside while you eat. Theft-proof and space-saving at the same time.
Brunch at Cremat 11
Our top pick for a seriously delicious breakfast is Cremat 11 in El Born, our favorite neighborhood in Barcelona.
We highly recommend the pancakes and avocado toast. If you want to order both, come hungry — the pancake portions are especially generous.
Our tip: Cremat 11 is extremely popular, especially on weekends, and since you can’t make reservations, your best bet is to show up right when they open.
Paella Cooking Class
Anyone can eat paella in Barcelona — but how about making it yourself? We can wholeheartedly recommend a really great paella cooking class that we’ve taken ourselves.
The class kicks off with a group shopping trip to the famous Mercat de la Boqueria, where you pick up the fresh ingredients for the paella. Then it’s time to get cooking. With the help of a professional chef, you’ll learn all the tips and tricks for nailing it.
We absolutely loved the class! The atmosphere was super relaxed and the food was incredibly delicious.
You can put what you’ve learned into practice right at home, since you’ll be given the recipes to take with you at the end.
Book the paella cooking class with Boqueria market tour online
69 Euro
