Barcelona is the heart of Spain’s Catalonia region, located along the beautiful coast of the Balearic Sea. Barcelona has perfect weather to go along with awesome art and architecture. There is so much in Barcelona, no photographer will be let down with these 36 awesome places to shoot.
We think we nailed every amazing spot in Barcelona, but let us know if there is a hidden gem we missed. Join our Facebook Group to share your favorite location or your shots from the spots we listed.
Also, be sure to check out our other Instagram and Photo Guides.
Check out this map of each location to make your planning even easier and then check out the spots below!
La Pedrera aka Casa Mila
When you more than two hours in Barcelona, you quickly realize the city is all about Gaudi. Barcelona is full of buildings from Gaudi, most of which are open for expensive tours.
La Pedrera was built in the early 1900’s for Mr. Mila, thus the alternative name of Casa Mila. La Pedrera was eventually restored and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984 before being opened to the public in 1996.
Like all the Gaudi sites, the entrance fee is steep, at 24-31 Euros. We had fun when we visited, but were pretty underwhelmed with the tour. While it wasn’t much more than looking at some unique building styles, if photography is your thing, there are numerous awesome photo opportunities
One of the most iconic shots everyone wants to get at Casa Mila is from the inner courtyard shooting straight up. Go prepared with a wide angle lens and tripod. You have free range as you explore the house and I had no problem getting whatever shot I wanted without too many crowds (one benefit of the high entry price).
Other than the courtyard, the rooftop is the big photographic draw of La Padrera. I didn’t understand most of it, but the roof is covered in weird structures that are great for different compositions.
The great shot below comes from awesome photographer Lidian Andrikos.
Local Siina Nurminen shows one of the great shots you can get from the roof-top architecture.
from local Instagrammer Susanna.
Also, don’t forget the crazy mirror doors at the entrance!
Parc de la Ciutadella
The Parc de la Ciutadella is the oldest green space in Barcelona and home to the zoo, a lake, museums and greenery.
The big draw for photographers, however, is the big fountain designed by Josep Fontsere (potentially with help from a young Gaudi). You can the immense scale of the fountain in the below image from Instagrammer Cimone in the City.
You can see a view of more of the structure and the actual fountain in the image below from traveler Tiago F.
And, finally, here is a view of the whole fountain from Instagrammer @irisvandermars.
Parc de Montjuic
Montjuic is the hill overlooking Barcelona. The big attraction at Parc de Montjuic is the Castle of Montjuic standing at the top of the hill.
The famous fountain at Parc de Montjuic can be seen in the image below from Sara Sainz.
Montjuic is also home to the famous cable car, called Telefèric de Montjuïc. It is the easy way to reach the top of the mountain. You can see the view from the cable car in the image below from Masla Maslova.
Tibidabo
Tibidabo is the tallest mountain in the Collserola range in Barcelona. The peak is easy to spot due to Sacred Heart Church (Sagrat Cor) that sits atop the peak, and the giant ferris wheel of the Tibidabo amusement park just beneath the church.
You can see the beautiful church in the image below from Enzo.
A picture up close with the famous Ferris wheel is a must. Local Instagrammer @cristinagnz nailed it in the image below!
You can see the beautiful old carousel in the image below from popular Instagrammer Monica Rams.
Casa Vicens
Casa Vicens is another Gaudi house. In fact, it is the first house that was designed by Gaudi. It is also considered one of the first houses built in the Art Nouveau style. The house was completed in the late 1800s.
The exterior looks like something from a different world, as you can see in the image below from traveler Tere.
Like all Gaudi houses, the roof offers great architecture for photography, as you can see in the image below from Amateur Photographer Marta.
You can see some of the unique and beautiful interior of Casa Vicens in the image below from Nanani World.
Bunkers at Carmel
The renovated Bunkers del Carmel may not boast the canons from the Spanish Civil War, the they still offer one of the best views of the city. The Bunkers sit atop the hill of Turó de la Rovira and were built in 1938.
You can see the view in the image below from Laura Lee at thetravellette.com.
Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya
The Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya, or MNAC, is located on Montjuic Hill. The Museum is known for its collection of Catalan art and Romanesque church paintings.
Probably the biggest draw of the MNAC for photographers is actually the building it resides in. The Palau Nacional is a 1929 Italian style building that is massive. You can see the impressive building and its popular water feature in the below image from Nani Forrellat Armengol.
The size of the building is seen in the huge spaces on the inside as well, also full of beautiful Italian architecture. You can see it on full display in the beautiful image below from iPhone photographer Domi.
The Kiss of Freedom
The Kiss of Freedom is a mural in Barcelona. It is made up of 6,000 mosaic tiles, each of which is a photograph of a local resident displaying what freedom means to them.
You can see the mural below in the image from travel blogger Adelle Abroad.
Casa Batllo
Casa Batllo is yet another Gaudi masterpiece in Barcelona. The predecessor building was constructed in 1877 by Emilio Sala Cortes, who was one of Gaudi’s architectural professors. In 1904, Gaudi was hired to completely redo the house and turn it into what it was today.
In the image below, I included the street lights, which were also designed by Gaudi.
The most photogenic portion of the interior is the funky wave like ceiling leading down to stained glass and columns sitting below a massive chandelier, all of which can be seen in the below image from Instagrammer Fran.
In the image below from local Marybel, you can see the beautiful light that comes in through the window and the framing of the columns with the arches.
Finally, you can’t go wrong putting all the focus on these beautiful windows looking outside. Just look at the shot below from Mireia Colome.
Arc de Triomf
The Arc de Triomf was built as the main access gate for the 1888 Barcelona World Fair. The site has now been turned into Ciutadella Park, which is a lovely place to spend an afternoon. We enjoyed standing under the Arc and walking through the park while our kids chased giant bubbles.
The arc beautifully frames the subject and you get a better sense of the scale of the arc in the image below from ChefVera4U.
Palau de la Musica Catalana
Despite being a UNESCO World Heritage Site, I still think the Palau de la Musica Catalana is an underappreciated architectural gem. Built in the early 1900s, the concert hall is still active today.
The most popular photo spot at the Palau de la Musica Catalana are the beautiful tiled columns you can see in the image below from Instagrammer Marie.
Instagrammer @janinitita shows the beautiful columns again in the next shot.
As fun as the columns are, they can’t compare to the magnificent interior and the unique chandelier featured in the below image from Tapha Gueye.
Casa de les Punxes
Casa de les Punxes, also called Casa Terradas, is one of the few big tourist homes in Barcelona not designed by Gaudi. It was designed by architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch. The house is currently privately owned and used for office space, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get good pictures.
If you are there during flower season, you can capture a beautiful image like the one below from Instagrammer @luisobcn26 (BARCELONA – Right now).
Even if you don’t get inside, the exterior of the Casa is well worth a shot, as can be seen in the image below from Ikusi Makusi.
If you get in Casa de les Punxes, the roof is one of the top attractions. You can see one of great compositions available in the image below from Sofia Canela.
Parc Guell
Parc Guell is another Gaudi masterpiece, but this one is not a house. This huge park is located on Carmel Hill. The park is a combination of gardens, architectural elements and some public spaces.
The image below shows some of the architectural features I enjoyed during our visit.
In the shot below, travelers Elise and Jeam from @elise_malen55 show of the best view from the park.
You can see the famous bench that provides the perfect spot to capture the view in the image below from local photographer @katy_barcelona_photos.
Another fantastic place to shoot at Parc Guell is the unique columns and covered patio area, which you can see in the below image from travel couple @anotherboardingpass.
Placa del Pi
Placa del Pi is a fun little square located just off Las Ramblas. The main focus of the square is the dominating Santa Maria del Pi church. The square is also home to frequent arts and crafts fairs and other local events.
Despite everything else going on in the square, I was most drawn to this little doorway.
Placa de Catalunya
Placa de Catalunya is a giant square located at one end of La Rambla. Placa de Catalunya is considered the center of Barcelona and the place where old meets new.
You can see the enormity of the square the small section shown in the image below from Instagrammer Selona.
You are certain to find lots of street vendors and pigeons around the square. You can see both on display in the fun image below from Instagrammer @yasminachan.
We had a lot of fun hanging out at Placa de Catalunya in the evening. I took advantage of the time to capture the stillness of this fountain looking toward La Rambla.
La Boqueria Market
La Boqueria is the largest market in Barcelona and is located just off the popular Las Ramblas street. We were a little disappointed in the lack of shopping in the market, which is pretty much all food. That being said, the food stalls make for much better photography opportunities than shopping stalls.
The vibrant colors from the fresh fruit make this image pop from Doctor Veronica.
I had a fun time shooting all the different stalls, but I think the below image was my favorite, with the butcher framed by the hanging legs of meat.
Placa de la Rosa dels Vents
Placa de la Rosa dels Vents is a scenic square along the sea where the famous W Barcelona Hotel can be found.
It is also home to a popular sculpture garden that is a great setting for sunset, as you can see in the below image from popular Barcelona Photographer @xopet1969.
You can see the prominent W Barcelona Hotel in the image below from Instagrammer Eugeni.
Placa Reial
Placa Reial is a popular square in the Gothic Quarter just off Las Ramblas. It is especially popular at night due to the popular restaurants and night clubs.
I got up early in the morning to shoot the square with none of the crowds.
You can see how crowded the square gets in the image below from Michaela Sabine P that really shows the vibrancy of the square.
Another great shot of Placa Reial comes from photographer Monika Replin.
Gothic Quarter
The Gothic Quarter is the historic center of the old city of Barcelona. It is one of the most popular places to roam Barcelona due to its mideival streets and great atmosphere.
It stretches from Las Rambla to Via Laietana, and from the Mediterranean seafront to the Ronda de Sant Pere. You can find great shots almost anywhere in the Gothic Quarter, and many of the places featured in this list are located in the Gothic Quarter.
Beyond the big squares and churches, just the streets of Gothic Quarter are full of amazing scenes, like the one below from photographer Marc Mora.
I had terrible lighting conditions, but couldn’t pass up shooting Mallory walking down the narrow streets.
If you really want to show off the Gothic Quarter, find a striking red dress like Helena Dambacher.
Sant Pau Recinte Modernista
The Sant Pau Recinte Modernista is a 90 year old hospital that is the largest Art Nouveau complex in the world. It has been added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list.
The beautiful architecture is well worth the visit.. You can see the huge building in the image below from Ena Colic.
Another shot showing the building with a water feature in the foreground can be seen below from Mara Ose.
The interior of the Sant Pau Recinte Modernista is also impressive with large windows, stained glass, murals, mosaics and more. You can see some of the interior in the image below from Jacie Law.
Cofradía de Pescadors
The harbor in Barcelona isn’t the most popular place for tourists, but the old and huge clock makes a great backdrop for a fun photo that will be a bit unique as it hasn’t already flooded Instagram. You can see the great clock in the image below from photographer Victoria Gaitan.
Mirador de Horta
Mirador de Horta is an observation point on the Collserola Ridgethat can be found at the 9.5 km mark on the road to Horta. A giant rope swing at Mirador de Horta makes it a fun location to grab some shots with Barcelona in the background.
I love the shot below from Laura Tejedor that shows off her face but still has her swinging toward Barcelona.
Mirador de Horta is also a great place to catch the sunset over Barcelona. You can see they way the golden light makes the city pop in the image below from Instagrammer Pat.
La Sagrada Familia
La Sagrada Familia is certainly the most famous location in all of Barcelona so it is a must visit. Construction of La Sagrada began in 1882 under the direction of Gaudi. Construction of the beautiful church has been ongoing since that time, with a scheduled completion date of 2026. La Sagrada is the burial site of Gaudi as well.
The best place I found to photograph La Sagrada was at the park across the street where there is a little pond to use as the foreground. I reached out to Instagrammer Laura to feature the image below as it is much better than anything I managed to get.
There is also a lot of great foliage near the pond that can make for a good foreground.
I suggest booking in advance and going early in the morning to avoid the crowds. The morning light also shows off the amazing stained glass windows inside La Sagrada.
The other big highlight on the interior is the roof at the center of the interior. Getting a shot looking straight up is a must.
Finally, there are so many intricate details all over La Sagrada that you could spend hours exploring and taking detail shots. Best lighting is going to be morning or evening to capture depth on all the features.
Allada Vermell
Carrer Allada Vermell is a charming little street in Barcelona. The most famous spot along the street is the apartment covered with hanging plants, which you can see in the image below from Instagrammer Siri.
Laberint D’Horta
This park is a unique spot in Barcelona. The beautiful historic garden is loaded with beautiful features, but the most famous is the maze of hedges. There is a balcony that gives you a nice aerial view, as you can see in the image below from Yurianne Artimez.
A shot inside the hedges shows off their scale and makes a great natural backdrop, as you can see in the image below from travel blogger Jenny Chu.
In another cool shot from Jenny Chu, you can see more features of the park.
As you can see in the image below, from Instagrammer @theangels80, the Laberint D’Horta is just full of amazing photo ops.
Barcelona Cathedral
The Barcelona Cathedral, actually named the Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia, the the highlight of the Gothic Quarter. Construction on this cathedral began in the Thirteenth Century and was completed in the Fifteenth Century.
If it weren’t for the insane La Sagrada Familia, the Barcelona Cathedral would probably get lot more attention. You can see how impressive the cathedral is in this amazing shot from The Empty Barcelona, which I found featured on Nobody Out Here 2020.
With crowds around in non-Corona Virus times, you are a bit more limited in the shot you can capture. I took the below image from the only place not teaming with people during my visit.
You can get a good view of the cathedral spires from many streets nearby that offer some good foreground of the old city. You can see one such spot in the image below from local Ainoa.
If you get a tour up to the roof of the Cathedral, you can capture the amazing shot below, which was done by Irish So.
Placa de Sant Felip Neri
Placa de Sant Felip Neri was one of my favorite locations in all of Barcelona. This small Baroque square just kind of opens up out of the narrow streets in the Gothic Quarter. When we walked in, the evening light was shining in and the square was mostly deserted.
As you can see in my image below, the church still bears the marks of bombings that occurred during the 1938 Spanish Civil War.
The light is really played up with the green leading lines in this beautiful portrait from freelance photographer Xuan Yin.
We took a family shot that really shows of the serenity of the square.
The pathway to Placa Sant Felip Neri is also quite the scene for a good composition as well, as you can see in the below image from Mónica Muñoz-García, co-Founder & Partner of The Innova Room.
Beaches
The different beaches of Barcelona are really just different portions all along the same stretch of coastline. Notwithstanding, each beach has its own unique feel and photographic opportunities.
Sant Sebastia Beach
Sant Sebastia Beach is closest to the W Barcelona and offers a great shot of sand, water and the W. It is the best beach to get a shot with the W in the background and not lose too much scale, as you can see in the below image from Pavlina Maresova.
I had the joy of shooting sunset from the far end of Sant Sebastia Beach.
Barceloneta Beach
Barceloneta Beach is the next one down and is probably the most well known of all the beaches, which are collectively referred to at times under the umbrella of Barceloneta Beach.
Like all the beaches, it is a great place to catch the sunset. I love this creative shot from NEWM.
The curve of the beach provides a great opportunity to capture Montjuic in the background, like Brent Huntley (me) did in the image below.
You can see how popular Barceloneta Beach gets during the summer in the shot below from Nicole Higgins.
Somorrostro Beach
The next beach over is Somorrostro. You can see much of Somorrostro beach in the image below from Ruth S. Contreras.
Somorrostro Beach is separated from Barcoloneta Beach by a rock jetty that can help add some intrigue to your shot. The below image is another of mine, taken during a winter evening without the usual crowds.
Nova Icaria Beach
Nova Icaria Beach, the next one down, has a concrete jetty that can be fun to shoot, as seen in the image below from Instagrammer It’s Monica.
Bogatell Beach
Next up is Bogatell Beach, which is a popular swimming and sunbathing spot. You can see the sun on the waves in the image below from Alyssa Niculescu.
In the shot below from Instagrammer Laura, you can see how the sand goes on and makes this a great beach for relaxing.
Mar Bella Beach
Mar Bella, the popular and final beach, is the party scene of all the beaches. If you want crowds of people in skimpy clothing, this is your beach. But even if that isn’t what you are after, you can catch an amazing sunset without the crowds, as showing in the image below from Jonathan Escobar Marin.
The daytime scene at the beach can be seen below in the image from Eslin Estephania Pino.
La Rambla
La Rambla is the most popular tourist street in Barcelona. It runs from La Placa Catalunya along the edge of the Gothic Quarter. The center of the street is a tree-lined pedestrian way that is a great spot for making a good photo.
You can see how picturesque the street is in the image below from travel blogger Kasventures.
Pretty much any street off La Rambla is going to be a narrow street that is a great composition, as you can see in the image below from Mercedes Zelahl.
Placa Sant Jaume
Placa Sant Juame is an important square at the center of the admistrative heart of the old town. It is the location of public gatherings and protests, but also of peaceful beauty, as you can see in the below image from Mochilera de Primera.
The details around the square provide many great shots, like the one below from Helena Dambacher.
El Born
El Born is a neighborhood in Barcelona is a beautiful neighborhood in Barcelona featuring narrow medieval streets full of cafes and designer boutiques.
You can get a real feel for the mix of old and new in the image below from Sara Monti.
A completely different feel from El Born can be seen with another shot from Instagrammer Laura.
We hope you enjoyed these awesome photo locations in Barcelona!
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