20 Things To Do In Barcelona At Night

Barcelona on Spain’s northeast coast has so much to offer it is difficult to fit everything in during a short visit. Some of its galleries and museums tend to close early, so if you want to call in, it is something you really must do by day. Fortunately, other places open much later, especially during the high season. There are plenty of guided tours, with most during the day, but there is nothing wrong with checking timings and heading to places much later in the day, evening or early night.

There is history at every turn in Barcelona. Simply walking around is a pleasure, day and night. The famous architect Gaudi has left a lasting impression on his beloved city. Catalan cuisine offers so much at all meal times. There is always plenty to do and these ideas of things to do in Barcelona at night will give you some ideas. They will give you a flavour of a city whose football side is world famous. Even if soccer is not your game, Barcelona FC is worth considering within your itinerary.

Barcelona At Night

20 Things To Do In Barcelona At Night

1- Ponder Over Sagrada Familia

Antoni Gaudi’s plans for a grand cathedral date back to the late 19th century.

He died in 1926, and almost a century on, Sagrada Familiar is still under construction.

It is a stunning landmark in Barcelona that receives millions of people each year.

The Pope consecrated this Roman Catholic Basilica in 2013, and before the COVID outbreak, the hope was that everything would be finished in 2026, the centenary of Gaudi’s death.

It makes sense to book in advance to avoid the queues that form every day.

If you head there late, the crowds will have disappeared, but it still makes sense to enjoy the information that a local guide can provide.

Sagrada Familia is open from April to September: Monday through Saturday (9 am to 8 pm) and Sundays (10.30 am to 8.00 pm). It’s open until 7 pm in March and October.

Sagrada Familia is at C/ de Mallorca, 401, 08013 Barcelona.

2- Embrace The Flamenco

The Flamengo combines several Spanish music traditions, folk and Romany being especially important.

While its origins are in Southern Spain, you can enjoy its rhythms and colours in Barcelona at a show.

History says that flamenco developed in the second half of the 18th century, using the influence of the Indian sub-continent, where many Romany people originate.

Over time, the dance has evolved dramatically, and dramatic is a word that suits the experience of watching professionals perform.

So, sit back with a cocktail in hand and take in the wonderful evening ahead. Here’s a popular one-hour flamenco show at City Hall.

3- Visit The Aquarium

The aquarium in Barcelona’s Port Vell has some 450 different species and is Europe’s largest aquarium.

It has an 80 m (262 ft) tunnel along which you can walk with the waters above and either side full of marine life.

The most impressive are the sharks, although none are huge.

Moray eels, rays and sunfish feature, and in total, there are 14 different pools, 11 dedicated to tropical regions where the water temperature can reach 27C.

The Great Barrier Reef, the Red Sea and the Caribbean pools offer variety, while one pool contains poisonous and aggressive species.

Depending on the season, the Barcelona Aquarium is open until 9 pm at del Port Vell, Moll d’Espanya, s/n, 08039 Barcelona. Skip the line and reserve your tickets here.

4- Take In All Casa Mila Has To Offer

Casa Mila is one of the Barcelona landmarks created by Antoni Gaudi and a building with a distinctive design that is easily recognisable as a Gaudi work.

Pere Mila commissioned the building in the early 20th century, living with his family on the main floor with the other apartments available for rent.

Some are still homes for families who have lived there for years, but tours are available.

One of the most popular is the one that takes you to an audio-visual show on the roof.

There is much to see and from this rooftop terrace, you will get fantastic views over the city.

Casa Mila is at Passeig de Gràcia, 92, 08008 Barcelona.

5- Learn More Of Barcelona FC’s History

The Nou Camp, home of Barcelona FC, has a capacity approaching 100,000.

Perennial champions, the club where the world’s best player, the Argentinian Lionel Messi, starred for several years, the tour of the stadium and its splendid museum is a “must” for any soccer fan visiting the city.

Better still, watch a game.

Although you probably won’t get a ticket for a game when Real Madrid is playing, there should be no problem for any other game.

Tours of the stadium tend to be during the daylight hours but there are many evening games.

You may actually look ahead to fixtures to decide when to visit Barcelona if watching a game is your wish.

Nou Camp is at C. d’Arístides Maillol, 12, 08028 Barcelona.

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6- Stroll Around Park Guell

Park Guell provides a green setting for the work of Antoni Gaudi.

The highlights include the Dragon Stairway, Nature Square and the Hypostyle Room.

The mosaic salamander on the Dragon Stairway is known the world over.

Barcelona can be hectic so walking in this peaceful garden, albeit in crowds, is a contrast.

You can take some great photos from the park, set at altitude.

The park is almost 100 years old and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.

Entrance tickets involve an allotted time, and tours provide a local guide. If you travel independently, you can stay as long as you want.

7- Enjoy A Sunset Cruise On A Catamaran

One way to get a different perspective of Barcelona is to see it from the sea.

If you do that late in the day on a catamaran, you will enjoy an incredible sunset in a relaxing breeze.

The boats have a maximum capacity of 30, with plenty of room.

Listen to background music as you sail and admire the skyline, which includes Sagrada Familia and Montjuic, the hill standing at 213 m (700 ft) with its castle and the Olympic Stadium built for the 1992 Olympics. Find out more here.

8- Ride The Montjuïc Cable Car

The cable car that leaves from the port to Montjuic Hill offers lovely views from high as well as opening up the hill’s attractions.

The cars are small, holding just eight passengers.

When you alight on the hill, you’re greeted by the Castell de Montjuic, an old military fortress that dates back to the middle of the 17th century.

The car’s journey is 750 m (2460 ft).

Barcelona hosted the 1992 Olympics with the stadium, where many events took place on the hill.

The World Fair in 1929 saw the hill being developed, and some of the remaining buildings are now museums.

Stroll in the park and enjoy the castle and the surroundings while you are there.

Montjuïc Cable Car is at Avinguda Miramar, 30, 08038 Barcelona. Here’s a night tour that includes a ride on the cable car to watch the sun setting from Montjuic Mountain.

9- Sample Tapas & Drinks

Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter is beautiful and a great district in which to enjoy the flavours of Barcelona.

Spanish tapas are fresh, rich and varied, some hot, some cold.

Using a local guide, you will learn plenty about the alternatives to taste.

You may like a glass of wine with the dishes, perhaps vermouth or cave.

If you book a tour, you can expect to visit four popular places and some include flamenco performances, and there is nothing to stop you from returning to your favourites later in your holiday.

A range of tapas is an excellent alternative to sitting in a restaurant to a three-course meal. 

10- Go Night Sightseeing And More

Visitors to Barcelona sometimes miss the experience of visiting local neighbourhoods to absorb the daily lives of locals.

A local guide can take you to local residential districts where the food and drink are exactly what locals have daily.

Tapas is top of the list, with plenty of variety to enjoy with a suitable red or white wine.

Depending on where the tour takes you, you may see the old city walls, the cathedral or even some wall paintings by Picasso.

There is plenty to get your imagination running wild.

11- Learn About Barcelona’s Dark History

A recent popular Netflix Spanish series, “La Catedral del Mer”, dubbed into English, tells of the origins of Barcelona.

It is a fictional piece, but if it may inspire you to learn more about the city’s history.

Historians confirm the series follows 14th-century local history reasonably well.

You can take a tour that covers several sordid aspects of life in centuries past.

Old neighbourhoods El Born and La Ribera are in central Barcelona, neighbourhoods whose history includes executions and torture.

The Spanish Inquisition was a grim time and the stories you will hear are factually correct. Learn more about the city’s dark history on this tour.

12- Enjoy A Pub Crawl

Anyone unfamiliar with a city can get help.

By night, that can be by enjoying a pub crawl with a local guide who can show you the best pubs and clubs in the heart of this vibrant city.

Starting around 8 pm, there is plenty of time to visit a few places over the next few hours and Barcelona stays open until late.

There will be various games along the way, equally a variety of drinks with shots often favourite at the end of the night.

Live music and dancing are features of a typical Barcelona night, with traditional pubs and modern music bars all part of the scene.

The last stop is a nightclub, so don’t plan an early start the following day. Book your spot here.

13- Take The Ghosts And Legends Tour

The Gothic Quarter is popular at night for sightseeing while enjoying tapas and drinks.

For others, it is to hear legends of local ghosts.

At night, this can be an eerie district where you can believe the ghostly legends.

Similarly, it is fun if you take an objective view of legends. It was a difficult life in this district in centuries gone by, with cruel murders and exorcisms part of daily life.

If ghosts do exist, you can imagine that it is here that restless spirits might exist. Find out more about the ghosts and legends tour.

14- Walk In La Rambla

La Rambla is a pedestrian street stretching from Placa de Catalunya down to the Christopher Columbus Monument in front of the port, Port Vell.

It was originally an open sewage route heading down to the sea, though it was mostly dry.

At 1.2 km (0.75 miles), it is a hive of activity, especially at night, with numerous places to explore, like cafes and stalls.

The late Canadian singer/poet Leonard Cohen was inspired to write one of his famous compositions, “Take This Waltz”, by the Spanish poet Federico Garcia Lorca.

Lorca once said La Rambla was “the only street in the world which I wish would never end.”

15- See The Colours in Mercado de La Boqueria

Mercado de la Boqueria has been trading since the early 13th century, a market originally selling meat at the old city gates.

A couple of centuries later, it was a pig market.

It was open-air and not enclosed for most of its life, but today, it is a wonderful covered market with an entrance to La Rambla.

The colours of fruit and vegetables, herbs and spices and the range of meat and fish products make it a “must visit” on any visit to Barcelona.

You may not want to buy anything, yet there are cafes to enjoy.

Just sit and watch the activity.

What you see today is the market that passed its centenary in 2014.

16- Go Shopping

If you look at the top fashion cities in the world, Barcelona is likely to make most top 10s.

Shopping malls, boutiques and markets are spread throughout its heart.

Souvenirs include everything from fashion to jewellery, porcelain and ceramics.

You may even want Catalan sauces, cheeses and cava.

Spain, in general, offers excellent value even if tourist areas tend to be more expensive than elsewhere in the city.

Do your research to find out where you can get the best value for the things you want to buy.

You will have plenty of fun shopping in Barcelona once the evening arrives and your sightseeing goes on hold until the next day.

17- Be Entertained By Live Music At Casa Batllo

Casa Batllo is another of Gaudi’s iconic buildings used these days as a venue for musical performances.

You need to check on the schedule of events during your visit, but the range of styles goes from jazz to flamenco, soul to rumba.

“Magic Nights” is the name of the programme which uses the open-air rooftop terrace for the performances.

There is a lift providing wheelchair access. Incidentally, Casa Batllo, designed by Gaudi in 1904, is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Its nickname is casa del ossos, “House of Bones”, due to its skeletal appearance.

If rain is forecast, performances will be cancelled, but rain is rare during the main holiday season.

18- Learn About Spanish Cooking

Paella is one of Spain’s iconic dishes, and it varies from region to region, but the basis of paella is the same throughout the country.

You can learn how to prepare and cook the Catalan version in an evening class in Barcelona.

You may well start by shopping for the ingredients you will use, but that is less likely if you book an evening class.

Perhaps you will be buying when you go to Mercado de la Boqueria?

Alternatively, you can learn about your favourite tapas or how to cook a typical three-course dinner for the family.

For an easy starter lesson, you may like this paella cooking lesson.

19- Have A Night At The Opera

Gran Teatre del Liceu is an opera theatre on La Rambla that dates back to 1847.

Its history includes fire and attempted sabotage but also many musical triumphs.

All the most famous operas have been performed at one time or another.

Its seating capacity is just short of 2,300 seated on six different levels.

There is a continuous programme of events after its closure during the COVID pandemic.

Opera and classical music lovers should check the schedule on the dates you intend to visit Barcelona and look forward to a memorable evening.

20- See The Picasso Museum

The museum of Pablo Picasso’s work is open early evening.

You can take a guided tour in the late afternoon, but if you do not require guidance, the museum remains open until 7 pm, six days a week, other than in mid-winter, so time for a visit before dinner.

The permanent collection of Picasso’s work has around 4,250 exhibits.

Picasso Museum, located between the Gothic Quarter and the city zoo, opened in 1963, with Barcelona playing an important role in his life.

Although he was born in Malaga on the Costa del Sol and spent much of his life in France, Picasso moved to Barcelona in his teens when his father got a job at the School of Fine Arts.

He regarded the following few years are critical in his artistic development even though Barcelona was never his home in his adult life. The museum is very popular, so if you’re keen to visit, skip the line and join this guided tour.

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