Are you looking for things to do alone in Barcelona? Then you are in the right spot.
Barcelona is one of the best destinations to travel solo because there are so many amazing things to do by yourself. It is a vibrant city with lots of life, history, culture and, an atmosphere unlike any other. Barcelona was also the first city that I visited by myself.
With plenty of hostels and a fun atmosphere, Barcelona is a great destination to travel to on your own and meet other solo travelers too. But of course, they can be hard to find if you don’t know your way around.
Luckily for you, I have traveled to Barcelona solo – and also asked my friends from Plain2Plane to help with some additional tips to create this guide.
This guide will give you some of the best activities that you can do as a solo traveler in Barcelona. From free walking tours, bar crawls, viewpoints and day trips that you can take from Barcelona – this post has it all.
Let’s get to it!
13 Amazing Things to Do Alone in Barcelona
1. Join a Free Walking Tour
One of the best things about visiting a new city is heading out on a free walking tour to see the main sights within a few hours.
I have 2 different walking tours I can recommend for when you’re visiting Barcelona. If you’ve never been to Barcelona before then you will want to head out on a Barcelona Highlights free walking tour.
This tour will take you around the main attractions of Barcelona. This one is great for solo travelers who have limited time in the city.
Solo travelers who have visited Barcelona before may be interested in diving a bit deeper into Gaudi’s work across the city.
The Barcelona Gaudi & Modernism Tour takes you around the city for 3 hours, teaching you more about Gaudi’s work and the Modernism movement.
Both tours are really fun and great for budget travelers looking for the best free things to do in Barcelona. Another highlight of going on one of these tours is that you may also make friends with some other solo travelers on the tour. These tours are also cruise-friendly.
2. Tour Gaudi’s Masterpieces
Even if you do just a quick Google Search on Barcelona, you will quickly discover that Barcelona is Gaudi’s playground. With so many buildings created by Gaudi, it is hard to miss his presence.
Before you leave Barcelona, you need to take a trip around at least one of Gaudi’s buildings. The most popular choice is La Sagrada Familia which is still under construction after 140 years.
Whether you decide to go inside the Sagrada Familia or not, it is incredible to see it from the outside and if you return to Barcelona, you will be able to see the progress too.
My favorite Gaudi buildings to visit in Barcelona are Casa Batllo, La Pedrera, Casa Vicens, and Parc Guell.
My tip: A great idea to experience these sights is with a local guide. This is a great way to learn more about Gaudi’s work and often they will include skip-the-line access. This is really helpful, since they are always super busy.
3. Check Out the Bunkers del Carmel
The Bunkers del Carmel is one of the best viewpoints in Barcelona. It is a nice place to visit if you’re traveling on your own. If you’re looking for a beautiful view to post on Instagram with inspiration for a great Barcelona caption to match – then this is the best place to go.
This is also a beautiful great spot to watch the sunset. If you feel up for it, you may even want to pack a small picnic. You can watch the Barcelona sunset across the city whilst enjoying a lovely meal by yourself.
My tip: It can get quite busy at the bunkers so I recommend arriving a little before sunset. This way you can find a good place to stop. If you prefer a bit more peace and quiet may want to go for sunrise instead, as it tends to be much calmer than sunset.
4. Indulge During a Barcelona Food Tour
Going on a food tour is one of the best ways to experience the culture of a city. And there are lots of awesome food tours in Barcelona you can join in.
Some of the street food tours will take you to a local market. You will learn more about the ingredients that locals use to make some of the incredible tapas dishes you will try.
Often these tours will be in a small group, so you will have a chance to speak to other travelers and share this experience with them.
If you also want to sample some of the alcohol Barcelona has to offer, then I can recommend the Tipsy Tapas Tour. You can sample some tasty tapas dishes with a local guide combined with some alcoholic beverages.
5. Relax On the Beach
Take a break from sightseeing and head over to one of Barcelona’s beautiful beaches. They are truly unique.
Being in Barcelona can get a little overwhelming at times. It can get very busy, so the perfect way to take a break from this is by relaxing on the beach.
There are quite a few different beaches for you to visit in Barcelona, but my favorite beach is Barceloneta Beach. Bring a good book, some music, sunscreen, and your beach towel, and spend the day relaxing on the beach.
Head over to the W Barcelona Hotel for a refreshing cocktail and an awesome view.
Insider Tip: eat the best Paella in Barcelona at Paco Alcalde in Barceloneta Beach. This restaurant has been there for over 100 years!
6. Visit Barcelona Aquarium
Another cool thing to do in Barcelona alone is to visit the Barcelona Aquarium. You can learn more about the marine life and give your skin a break from the heat.
One of my highlights of visiting the aquarium is a section where you can walk through a tunnel with sharks and manta rays swimming around you and over your head.
This is a great way to spend a few hours exploring and seeing all the sweet sea creatures.
7. Take a Trip to Montserrat
Montserrat is a day trip that you cannot miss and it is one of the best things to do alone in Barcelona.
If you’re a confident solo traveler then you can opt for self-transfer to the top of Montserrat mountain to visit the monastery. It is quite an easy journey to make by getting the train from Barcelona and then taking the funicular up the top. Even on your way to Montserrat, the views are incredible.
There are also plenty of organized day tours that will include transport to the top of Montserrat. There are even wine tours that include a wine tasting and other viewpoints.
8. Visit La Boqueria Market
When in Barcelona, another great experience is wandering around La Boqueria Market. This is where tourists and locals will visit to purchase ingredients for their food.
The atmosphere of the market is incredible and it is worth visiting for sure. If you want to cook your own food, you can purchase some ingredients from the market.
Alternatively, you may want to browse the selection of herbs and spices to bring some back home with you or as souvenirs for friends or family.
Just so you know, this place gets suuuper busy. If you don’t like crowds, this is not the one for you.
9. Join a Bar Crawl Tour
For any night owl heading to Barcelona going on a bar crawl tour is a great way to make new friends and experience Barcelona’s nightlife at the same time.
There are plenty of different bar crawls available in Barcelona. The city is renowned for its nightlife after all.
It is also a great way to see Barcelona at night and be on a safe guided tour at the same time.
10. Try the “3 Countries in 1 Day” Trip
One of the most epic day tours from Barcelona is the 3 countries in 1 day trip. This tour is perfect for solo travelers who are in Barcelona for more than a few days. You get to tick off some countries from their bucket list.
This tour will take you to a small village in Spain before heading to Andorra and France. It is a bit of a long tour, but it is definitely worth it. I love that it will take you off the beaten track and you’ll be exploring some smaller towns.
The views along the way to each country are incredible. You’ll be able to see the Pyrenees mountains – which is a bucket list item on its own!
Guided day tours are one of my favorite thing to do in Barcelona (and anywhere really) if I’m alone.
11. Explore Barcelona’s Street Art
Y’all know that I am a sucker for pretty street art. So this one is no surprise.
Book a self-guided tour and see how many different pieces of street art you can find in Barcelona.
Research which pieces of street art you would like to visit and create yourself a map to follow on Google Maps. This is an awesome thing to do in Barcelona alone because you can go at your own pace. If you see an area that you like particularly, you can always spend some time.
Relax and head off on your mini adventure and see some beautiful street art while you’re at it!
12. Mercat del Encants
Being a part of the Barcelona culture for 700 years now, Mercat del Encants is an awesome way to spend some time in Barcelona and enjoy a little bit of shopping too.
This large market has over 300 shops where you can look for some souvenirs to take back home with you. Even if you’re on a budget and don’t want to spend any money, visiting the market for the atmosphere alone is totally worth it.
From books, photos, artwork, clothes, postcards, and films, you will find plenty of treasures in the market that are looking for a new home!
13. Parc de la Ciutadella
Before leaving Barcelona, spend some time relaxing in the Parc de la Ciutadella. During peak travel season, you will often find a lot of street performers around here to watch in the sun.
One of the main attractions in the Parc de la Ciutadella is the castle of the three dragons. This is a beautiful spot within the park and one that you cannot miss.
This is one of my favorite things to do in Barcelona alone.
My tip: if you’re hoping to get some photos of the park without tourists, then I recommend visiting early in the morning as it can get quite busy throughout the day.
Is Barcelona Safe for Solo Travelers?
If you’re traveling to Barcelona on your own then the first thing you will want to know is if it is a safe destination for solo travellers.
No matter what destination you’re visiting, there are always things that you need to be careful of to keep yourself safe. Barcelona is no different in that respect, even though it is a very safe location for travellers to visit.
While exploring Barcelona, the one thing that I would recommend keeping an eye out for are pickpockets. Especially around areas such as Las Ramblas, which are renowned for pickpockets.
Even though this not something that I have personally experienced when I visited Barcelona, many other travelers have had a bad experience with pickpockets. Luckily, there are plenty of different measures that you can take to prevent pickpocketing. Purchase a moneybelt and invest in some pickpocket-proof clothing.
If you’re a solo female traveler, avoid walking on your own late at night. If possible, try to go out with some friends that you met make during your solo adventure.
Hostels are a really great way to meet new people, If you’re looking to go on an adventure or enjoy some of the incredible nightlife in Barcelona, I recommend heading out with some other solo travelers.
Generally speaking, Barcelona is a really safe city to visit especially if you’re new to solo traveling. Explore, wander, and enjoy the nice things to do in Barcelona alone I mentioned here.
Cool Hostels in Barcelona for Solo Travelers
St. Christopher’s Inn
One of the best hostels to stay in Barcelona is the St. Christopher’s Inn. It is very much favoured by solo travelers.
Even though it is located in Las Ramblas, you will feel safe and secure in this hostel with its 24/7 security and reception.
Some of the main highlights of staying at this hostel are the different free activities that they provide to travelers. Each day there is something new that you can take part in to meet new people and get to know Barcelona’s culture a little better.
St. Christopher’s Inn offers free walking tours, Paella cooking classes, cocktail making lessons and different bar crawls. It also has a bar and restaurant on site with a billiards table so there is plenty of socialisation available at this hostel.
Safestay Gothic Quarter
Safestay is a well-known chain of hostels and there are lots of them across Europe. This hostel is in a great location as exploring the Gothic Quarter is one of the main highlights of visiting Barcelona.
Similar to St. Christopher’s Inn, Safestay offers plenty of different activities for travellers including paella nights with live music, bar crawls and free walking tours.
There is also 24-hour security so you will feel completely safe staying at this hostel in Barcelona. For any digital nomads, there is also a good workspace so that you can get your work done in peace before heading out to explore the city.
Conclusion: Things To Do in Barcelona Alone
To sum it up, we have checked out 13 awesome things you can do in Barcelona by yourself.
Barcelona is an incredible city with a lot of history and culture to soak up. Let’s not forget to mention that the weather in Barcelona is beautiful throughout most of the year.
It is one of my favorite cities in Barcelona, with cool Gaudi Architecture, bustling food markets and stunning beaches. Of course, it is also in a great location for some day trips, like Montserrat.
It is also a very safe city so you won’t need to worry about being on your own as long as you take the usual precautions that you would for visiting anywhere. Make sure that you keep your eye on your belongings at all times and consider investing in some pickpocket proof clothing too.
With that in mind, there are plenty of amazing things to do alone in Barcelona – whether you’re hoping to make new friends or you’re truly wanting to have some time to yourself.
I hope this solo travel guide gave you some inspiration of things to do on your own in Barcelona, and you’ll have a great time.
About the Author
Sabrina is a passionate travel blogger and content creator, based in New Mexico. She spends about half of the year traveling to various destinations together with her husband.
She provides slow-paced itineraries that focus on quality over quantity. Sabrina wants to help her readers to get more out of their travel experiences – while doing less. Read more.