Ciutat Vella (Old Town) Tours and Activities

The historic heart of Barcelona is the Ciutat Vella, or Old Town, home to most of the city’s tourist attractions and encompassing the districts of El Raval, Barri Gòtic, La Ribera, and Barceloneta. With its iconic architecture, world-class museums, and historic sights, the Ciutat Vella is where most visitors spend the majority of their time.
The Basics
Las Ramblas, Ciutat Vella’s main thoroughfare, separates El Raval from the Gothic Quarter (Barri Gòtic), a popular starting point for a walking tour of the city. Often covered in walking, biking, and Segway tours, attractions in this part of town include historic Plaça del Rei, the 14th-century Royal Palace (Palau Reial Major), Barcelona Cathedral, the glitzy shopping street of Portal de l’Àngel, lively La Boqueria food market, and several Gaudí masterpieces, including Güell Palace (Palau Güell).
East of the Barri Gòtic are the fashionable district of La Ribera and the small neighborhood of El Born, also home to a number of popular attractions. Key sights include the Palace of Catalan Music (Palau de la Música Catalana), a UNESCO World Heritage Site designed by modernist architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner; the Gothic Santa Maria del Mar Cathedral; the Picasso Museum; and the vast Ciutadella Park (Parc de la Ciutadella), the city’s largest green space.
Things to Know Before You Go
How to Get There
When to Get There
You haven’t really experienced the Old Town until you’ve seen it by day and at night. Come during daylight hours to see the street performers along Las Ramblas. In the evenings, head to the narrow streets of the Gothic Quarter or El Born for tapas and wine bars.
L’Eixample, the Other Half of Barcelona’s City Center
If there’s another neighborhood that can rival the Old Town in terms of importance to the Barcelona psyche, it’s L’Eixample. Added in the late 19th century, this modernista enlargement of the city was and is home to several prominent attractions, including the Sagrada Familia, Casa Batlló, La Pedrera (Casa Milà), and Passeig de Gràcia.
The Basics
Las Ramblas, Ciutat Vella’s main thoroughfare, separates El Raval from the Gothic Quarter (Barri Gòtic), a popular starting point for a walking tour of the city. Often covered in walking, biking, and Segway tours, attractions in this part of town include historic Plaça del Rei, the 14th-century Royal Palace (Palau Reial Major), Barcelona Cathedral, the glitzy shopping street of Portal de l’Àngel, lively La Boqueria food market, and several Gaudí masterpieces, including Güell Palace (Palau Güell).
East of the Barri Gòtic are the fashionable district of La Ribera and the small neighborhood of El Born, also home to a number of popular attractions. Key sights include the Palace of Catalan Music (Palau de la Música Catalana), a UNESCO World Heritage Site designed by modernist architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner; the Gothic Santa Maria del Mar Cathedral; the Picasso Museum; and the vast Ciutadella Park (Parc de la Ciutadella), the city’s largest green space.
Things to Know Before You Go
- The Old Town, home to many of Barcelona’s top attractions, is a must for all visitors.
- Wear comfortable walking shoes; the neighborhood is large, and many streets are cobbled or uneven.
- Pickpockets can be a problem in the Old Town, so leave your valuables in your hotel and stay aware of your surroundings.
Many visitors to Barcelona base themselves in the Old Town, and just about everything is within walking distance. If you’re taking public transportation, the metro stops at several major stations in the neighborhood, including Paral·lel (line 2), Liceu (line 3), Drassanes (line 3), and Jaume I (line 4).
When to Get There
You haven’t really experienced the Old Town until you’ve seen it by day and at night. Come during daylight hours to see the street performers along Las Ramblas. In the evenings, head to the narrow streets of the Gothic Quarter or El Born for tapas and wine bars.
L’Eixample, the Other Half of Barcelona’s City Center
If there’s another neighborhood that can rival the Old Town in terms of importance to the Barcelona psyche, it’s L’Eixample. Added in the late 19th century, this modernista enlargement of the city was and is home to several prominent attractions, including the Sagrada Familia, Casa Batlló, La Pedrera (Casa Milà), and Passeig de Gràcia.
Address: Bounded by Rambla, Universitat, Laietana and Ferran, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
10 Tours and Activities to Experience Ciutat Vella (Old Town)
Sort by:Featured

Best of Barcelona Private Tour: Sagrada Familia and Old Town with Hotel Pick-up
73
Experience Barcelona like a VIP on this private sightseeing tour that includes skip-the-line access at the city’s most popular attraction, La Sagrada Familia. Enjoy the comfort of traveling by private vehicle to top attractions like Passeig de Gràcia, the waterfront, Montjuïc, and the Gothic Quarter. Take in Barcelona’s famous Modernisme architecture, and learn about the city from a knowledgeable guide.
…More
From
$285.06
Price varies by group size
From
$285.06
Price varies by group size
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Face masks provided for travelers
Learn More

Barcelona in One Day: Sagrada Familia, Park Guell & Old Town with Hotel Pick-up
130
Get a taste for the top attractions in Barcelona during this small group excursion for a maximum of 8 people covering the many highlights of the Catalan capital. Tour Passeig de Gracia, an elegant boulevard that hosts a wealth of modernist architecture like La Pedrera and Casa Batlló, before discovering Antoni Gaudí's Park Güell and La Sagrada Familia. You'll also explore the incredible history of Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter before finishing with sublime city views from on top of Montjüic. Hotel or apartment pick-up and drop-off are included.
…More
From
$109.59
Price varies by group size
From
$109.59
Price varies by group size
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Face masks provided for travelers
Learn More

Sagrada Familia and Montserrat Small Group Tour with Hotel pick-up
152
Visit two Barcelona must-sees in one day without any rushing for trains or buses, and with a guide to provide background and stories on each site and wider Catalonia on this full-day, small-group tour for a maximum of 8 people. Beat the lines at the Sagrada Familia to admire Gaudi’s mastery, and after a stroll around Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter, be transported to Montserrat to explore the mountainside monastery. Hotel or apartment pick-up and drop-off are included.
…More
From
$116.99
Price varies by group size
From
$116.99
Price varies by group size
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Face masks provided for travelers
Learn More

Barcelona Old Town and Gothic Quarter Walking Tour
64
Explore several thousand years of Barcelona history in a single day during this small group guided Gothic Quarter walking tour. Travel back in time to the Roman and medieval eras as you discover this atmospheric neighborhood’s winding streets and many layers of history. Walk alongside one of the world’s best-preserved Roman walls and enjoy stops at the medieval Plaça del Reial, Barcelona Cathedral, La Boquería Market, and Las Ramblas.
…More
From
$19.71
Price varies by group size
From
$19.71
Price varies by group size
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Face masks provided for travelers
Learn More

Private Barcelona Old Town and Gothic Quarter Walking Tour
15
Embark on an amazing walk through the historical places of Barcelona to discover the richness of its past! Discover the origins of Roman Barcelona over 2,000 years ago. Enjoy the architecture and monumental buildings of the Gothic Quarter and feel as if you're in the Middle Ages. Walk along the famous Ramblas and discover why Barcelona is so beloved by visitors.
…More
From
$86.20
Price varies by group size
From
$86.20
Price varies by group size
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Face masks provided for travelers
Learn More

Best of Barcelona: Sagrada Familia and Old Town Tour with Hotel Pick-up
26
Sample all that Barcelona has to offer during this small group tour for a maximum of 8 people in the Catalan capital. Start along upscale Passeig de Gracia, exploring the street’s high-end boutiques and modernist buildings like La Pedrera and Casa Batllo. You’ll continue your day at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Sagrada Familia, learning about the inspiration for this jaw-dropping building and its one-of-a-kind creator, Antoni Gaudí. You’ll also enjoy visits to other iconic attractions including Las Ramblas, Montjüic Mountain, the Gothic Quarter, and much more. Hotel or apartment pick-up and drop-off are included
…More
From
$109.59
Price varies by group size
From
$109.59
Price varies by group size
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Face masks provided for travelers
Learn More

Barcelona Highlights Small Group Tour with Hotel Pick Up
45
Get a taste for the top attractions in Barcelona during this small group tour for a maximum of 8 people of the Catalan capital. Enjoy spectacular city views and a glimpse of the 1992 Olympics complex during a stop at Montjüic. Then explore the incredible history of Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter and tour Passeig de Gracia, an elegant boulevard with a wealth of modernist architecture like Gaudí's La Pedrera and Casa Batlló. Finish your day in Eixample at the stunning Sagrada Familia. Hotel or apartment pick-up and drop-off are included.
…More
From
$80.04
Price varies by group size
From
$80.04
Price varies by group size
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Face masks provided for travelers
Learn More

Private Barcelona Ghost Tour: Gothic Quarter Exploration Game
5
Embark on a haunted quest around Barcelona by solving clues to see if a famous Catalan urban legend is true or not, all on your smartphone. Unlock new stories as you discover on your own the Gothic Quarter, Las Ramblas, Barcelona Cathedral, Catalunya Square, and more.
You are invited to discover the captive souls, the spirits and the mysterious skeletons of Barcelona with an interactive city exploration app. You will be guided step-by-step to the cursed buildings where they carry out their eternal punishments while you learn all of their stories. Brace yourself and come explore Haunted Barcelona, all with the help of your smartphone.
Each clue will lead you from one place to another, giving you exact directions, so you won’t need a map, a GPS or a guide. When you solve it and guess the answer, the secret story of that place is unlocked.
Along the way, you’ll find horror stories that will give you the chills. Dare you go on this tour?
…More
From
$9.06
Price varies by group size
From
$9.06
Price varies by group size
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Regular temperature checks for staff
Paid stay-at-home policy for staff with symptoms
Learn More

FOTO TOUR (Español e Inglés)
We offer a different tour. Around 2 hs where you will visit some spots of Barcelona, learn secrets, history and taste some tipical products. And in addition you will take with you edited proffesional photographies.
We will visit gothic, raval, born and barceloneta. But this is not a conventional tour. As you will learn also about social contrasts and culture with proffesional photographers and filmmakers. Join us?
…More
From
$65.68
From
$65.68

Gaudi Private Tour & Sagrada Familia Skip The Line Entrance
38
Architect Antoni Gaudí created many of Barcelona’s most cherished, recognizable buildings—and this private tour offers the perfect introduction to his masterpieces. Pick between multiple daily departure times, meet your guide in the city center, and set off on foot. You’ll visit two of Gaudí’s world-famous buildings—Casa Batlló and Casa Milà, also known as “La Pedrera”—before touring the Sagrada Familia Basilica, complete with skip-the-line tickets and audio guides.
…More
From
$114.28
Price varies by group size
From
$114.28
Price varies by group size
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Learn More
- Things to do in Catalonia
- Things to do in Tarragona
- Things to do in Girona
- Things to do in Mallorca
- Things to do in Toulouse
- Things to do in Zaragoza
- Things to do in Ibiza
- Things to do in Montpellier
- Things to do in Valencia
- Things to do in Arles
- Things to do in Nîmes
- Things to do in Marseille
- Things to do in Avignon
- Things to do in Balearic Islands
- Things to do in Midi-Pyrénées