Things to Do in Barcelona – Miniguide

miniguide

The best things to do in Barcelona, curated by locals. Events, restaurants, nightlife and the spots worth knowing – updated weekly.

Events

Thursday, Jul 30

arts-culture

Women Will Come 2026

An exhibition retelling the city’s history through women and their fight for change

arts-culture

Light Filtered Through the Cracks

MACBA’s exhibition looks back to when video became a tool for political intervention

arts-culture

Minor White

An exhibition on one of the most influential figures in 20th-century American photography

arts-culture

Declaration of Love to Lenin, Juana Dolores Romero Casanova

This incredible artist’s first exhibition held at La Virreina

arts-culture

Joaquín Tusquets de Cabirol. Eloquent Form

An exhibition on the work of the Catalan photographer whose images capture postwar life

arts-culture

Echoes: Videos from the Han Nefkens Foundatio4n Donation

An exhibition on a donation of 18 video artworks by Han Nefkens Foundation

arts-culture

Elisava

A sun-soaked photography project capturing the Poblenou coastline

arts-culture

Patrim’25: Look in Silence. That Blues Look

A snapshot of emerging artistic talent from the Universitat de Barcelona’s Faculty of Fine Art

arts-culture

“Small, Middle and Big” Family Space

A family space for children to play, rest, read, draw and imagine together

lgbt

Circuit Festival 2026

One of the world’s biggest LGBTQIA+ party gatherings returns

arts-culture

Grec Festival de Barcelona 2026

Grec Festival returns as Barcelona’s great summer celebration of performing arts

arts-culture

Summer Nights at Casa Amatller 2026

Discover Casa Amatller at night with an audio guide and glass of cava

style-design

Hidden Boutiques of Barcelona: A Curated Shopping Tour

Discover the city through its independent boutique scene

film

Barcelona 2026

Whit Stillman's witty comedy explores friendship, politics and culture in early-80s Barcelona

arts-culture

Shakespeare in the Park

Parking Shakespeare returns to the Parc de l'Estació del Nord

music

Zeta

Venezuelan experimentalists fuse punk intensity with Afro-Caribbean rhythms and psychedelia

film

Open-Air Cinema at L’illa Diagonal 2026

Open-air cinema at L’Illa Diagonal brings an easy feel to our summer calendar

film

Cinema Lliure a la Platja 2026

This cinema cycle brings free open-air screenings to the beach

Friday, Jul 31

film

By the Stream

Hong Sang-soo’s likeable drama from 2024

arts-culture

Art & Wine

Step-by-step painting with copious amounts of wine and good music

food-drink

Bude Open Cupping

A chance to compare coffees and notice aroma, acidity, body and flavour

music

Talents Jazz a La Pedrera

Talents Jazz returns to La Pedrera every Friday with new musicians

film

Sala Montjuic 2026

Open-air cinema, live music and picnics under the starry night sky

film

El Mensaje 2026

Iván Fund’s lyrical road movie about faith, family and connection

film

Mecal Air Barcelona 2026

Mecal Air turns summer nights into relaxed open-air short-film cinema sessions

Saturday, Aug 1

fitness-wellness

Outdoor Fitness Workout

An energising group-training session at Barcelona’s seafront

music

Gonçalo Feijão

Portuguese double bassist and composer Gonçalo Feijão comes to Jamboree

fitness-wellness

Sunset Walk & Picnic

A walk along the beachfront with a picnic on the sand at Mar Bella to finish

Sunday, Aug 2

arts-culture

Opening of the Baluard Garden

Soak up some of the city’s history at the Jardí del Baluard

food-drink

Barcelona Vegan Fair 2026

A celebration of plant-based living, bringing together food, culture, activism and more

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Places

food-drink

Xiringuito Escribà

The Escribà family’s beachfront paella house on Bogatell, cooking rice over wood fires since 1992 – the pastry dynasty’s savory venture.

food-drink

Bonsai

A matcha-obsessed Eixample café sourcing first-harvest ceremonial powder from Japan, stone-ground to order – with proper coffee alongside.

food-drink

Cal Trapella

Opened by three friends, Cal Trapella offers a cosy refuge in which to devour the homemade tapas on offer.

food-drink

2D2Dspuma

Brewery, distributor and bottle shop in one – with a taproom pouring Catalan and far-flung craft beer right beside the shelves.

food-drink

7 Portes

The 1836 institution where paella was invented for a dandy who wouldn't peel shrimp.

food-drink

A Casa Portuguesa

A little corner of Portugal in Gràcia – cheeses, patés, wines, port and Ginjinha to carry off with a pastel de nata. Or two.

food-drink

Alain Pizza

This takeout and delivery-only pizzeria makes Roman-style gourmet pizza at fast food prices.

food-drink

Bar Cañete

Step inside it feels like traveling through time to Spain’s glory days…

food-drink

Bar Treze

This tapas bar sits among Sarrià’s burgeoning scene along its main street, Major de Sarrià.

food-drink

Betlem

A gastrobar based out of a locale with a history going to back to 1892.

style-design

Blaw

You’ll find a lot more than just slick streetwear and limited-edition footwear in this menswear boutique.

food-drink

Boa-Bao

Boa-Bao takes diners on a culinary journey through flavors of Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines and beyond…

style-design

Bon Vent

A family-run boutique with hand-selected items for the home.

food-drink

Brunch & Cake

A brunch and dessert shop born from the founder’s 40-day cake pilgrimage across Europe and North America.

food-drink

Bún Bò Viêtnam

Their mission is to bring simple, fresh and traditional Vietnamese cuisine to Barcelona.

food-drink

Can Solé

Serving up paella and seafood dishes for over a hundred years.

food-drink

Casa Rafols

Based out of a historic old hardware store, this restaurant is now home to the same quality and creativity of cuisine, service and décor as its sibling, Casa Lolea.

food-drink

Cloudstreet Bakery

The flame of the old oven adds a distinctive touch to the dough.

nightlife

Coco Vail Beer Hall

The space is an embodiment of the founders’ passion for American craft beer and food.

food-drink

DelaCrem Obrador

You can now get your natural ice cream fix at second DelaCrem, now open on the tree-filled, wide avenue of Passeig de Sant Joan.

food-drink

El Nacional

This high-end food court has become the talk of the town.

food-drink

El Patio Latino

Five generations have been providing the neighborhood with traditional fare.

food-drink

El Puestu

Specializing in “vins i platillos”(wines and small dishes), the menu features bold but simple dishes that rely heavily on the quality of each ingredient.