Barcelona in a Day Tour with Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, and Casa Batllo
Explore Barcelona's top attractions on this small group guided city tour with skip-the-line entry
Is it possible to see the most important sites of Barcelona in just one day? Yes it is! With this in-depth city tour, you’ll see Barcelona’s best attractions on foot and by bus, taking in the Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, Casa Batlló, and more! Follow your expert local guide on a walking tour through the Gothic Quarter, before being wowed by the incredible park and cathedral designed by famed artist Antoni Gaudí. It's the best way to see Barcelona in a day!
- Barcelona in a Day
- Gothic Quarter
- Mercado de la Boqueria
- Casa Battló & Milà
- Park Guell
- Sagrada Familia
- Front facades
- Pillars and Stained Glass
Start your day at Cathedral Square in the Gothic Quarter. With your small group of 18 or fewer people, you'll meet your friendly local guide and set off on your Barcelona in a day tour. After a walking tour through the ancient Roman ruins of the Gothic Quarter, you'll get to see some of Spain's most famous attractions—the casas designed by Gaudí, which include the striking Casa Batlló.
Antoni Gaudí certainly left his mark on the Catalan capital, and your city tour continues by bus to the fantastic, surreal gardens at Park Güell. After a break for lunch at one of the city's many restaurants and food stalls (not included), you'll get to see Gaudí's most famous creation—the incredible Sagrada Familia. The line to get inside this unique cathedral can be hours-long at times, but your skip-the-line ticket lets you straight in to start exploring, while your guide enlightens you with fascinating stories of it's history and construction. You'll part ways with your guide in the afternoon, having gained a deeper appreciation of Barcelona in just one day!
Barcelona in a Day City Tour Description
Your 6.5-hour tour includes:
Gothic Quarter walking tour
Skip-the-line entry and guided tour of Park Güell
Local jamón (ham) and cheese tasters at the market
Break for lunch (not included)
Skip-the-line entry and guided tour of Sagrada Família
Climate-controlled vehicle for certain stops
A fun, English-speaking local guide
Maximum group size of 18
The Gothic Quarter
Take a step back in time as you enter the oldest part of Barcelona. Many of the homes and buildings in this district are built directly on top of ancient Roman ruins, and your super-knowledgeable guide will tell you the area's history as they lead you through the labyrinth of twisting alleyways and cobblestone streets.
You'll also visit the neighborhood market, Mercado de la Boqueria where you will be treated to delicious local jamón (ham) and cheeses.
Barcelona's Great Architect
Next, you'll explore the exteriors of three beautiful buildings designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí: Casa Batlló, Casa Mila, and Casa Vicens. These buildings are notable for their Catalonian modernist style, an artistic movement born from, and in opposition to, the modernist movement of the 19th century. Your guide will explain how these buildings were instrumental in changing architecture worldwide.
The Casa Batlló features an intensively detailed façade of colorful ceramic tiles and is nicknamed the “house of bones.” You'll quickly see why when you're standing near it. Casa Milà looks as if it were carved from a single piece of stone, which is why it's nicknamed La Pedrera or "the stone quarry". You’ll also see Casa Vicens, one of Gaudi’s earliest works and one of the most richly decorated.
Park Güell
Next, you'll hop in a climate-controlled vehicle (a taxi or minibus, depending on group size) and head to your next destination, away from the hustle and bustle of the city at the surreal Park Güell. Your guide will have your skip-the-line tickets ready so you can bypass any crowds. This magnificent place was envisioned by Gaudí as a luxury residential area outside of Barcelona's city center.
As you stroll along the colorful walkways and staircases of the park, you'll learn all about Gaudí's colossal ideas for this complex, and why they never actually came to fruition. Nowadays, Park Güell is the most beloved park in Barcelona, and a fantastic place to see the city from above. Your guide will make sure you get postcard-worthy photos from the trencadís-adorned balconies that rise above its iconic Dragon Stairway.
Enjoy free time to eat lunch (not included) before heading to the last stop of the tour.
Skip-the-Line Entry at Sagrada Família
The last stop on your Barcelona in a Day Tour is the iconic Sagrada Família. Not only is it the most popular church in Spain, but it's also one of the most visited churches in all of Europe! It's not surprising that the lines to get in can take hours, so stick with your guide who will make sure you skip the line to see the interior of this stunning cathedral.
Listen to your guide's narrative about the history of this magnificent church as you admire the exterior of the building that represents two contrasting facades: Façade of the Nativity and the Façade of Passion. Learn more about the eccentric genius who envisioned this masterpiece and started its construction at the age of 30, back in 1882. Amazingly, the cathedral is still partly under construction, almost 150 years later! It's perhaps Barcelona's most iconic landmark, and the perfect place to end your city tour.
Explore More
After admiring the still-unfinished church, you can explore Sagrada Família on your own. Be sure to go to the Sagrada Família museum located downstairs below the church. With a plethora of scale models, original photographs, drawings, and documents, you can continue learning about the vast genius and brilliance behind this Barcelona gem.
What you get with this tour

See what people are saying
104 total reviews
Leave a reviewExcellent and Worthwhile Tour
Margaret Mary Goodman
This tour covered it all in a single day! Our tour guide Julian was super knowledgeable and very accommodating of our needs and questions. The tour of the Gothic Quarter takes you all around the area all outside - not entering any of the buildings (which was a little disappointing). Then the bus took us to Park Guell - with many buildings and structures pointed out along the way. Again we got so much great background and details from our guide and explored all the areas of the Park. We had a break to get lunch and then on to the Sagrada Familia and WOW! Our tour guide gave us so many interesting tidbits and facts about the history, the building, the architects. It was truly fascinating and amazing. Definitely an enhanced experience due to the knowledge of our guide. If you only have a short time in Barcelona this tour really allows you to cover it all.
Amazing and personal tour of Sagrada Familia, Park Guel, markets, and the local area.
James Dixon
Miguel was just fantastic! He expertly integrated the themes of Gaudi between Park Guell and The Sagrada Familia, helped us navigate the markets, and showed us many local attractions. He amazingly shifted from an insider view of a local to an expert view of an art history or architecture major. He helped us avoid the tourist traps of Las Ramblas and illuminated the religious, architecture, and natural significance of Gaudi's great works. Very few guides could blend such a wealth of knowledge with such personal warmth! Well done Miguel!
James Dixon
Frequently Asked Questions
Where to meet?
Meet your guide at Cathedral Square in front of the Hotel Colon. The address is Avinguda de la Catedral 7, 08002, Barcelona.
What to bring?
This is a full day walking tour, so wear comfortable shoes. Bring some cash with you, for lunch and drinks during your break. Avoid bringing large bags, the Sagrada Familia requires you to check them. Make sure that all participants have something to cover the knees and shoulders for the Basilica visit.
Would this tour be cancelled due to rain?
No, we run our tours rain or shine!
What if I have concerns about my mobility?
This is predominantly a walking tour. If you have any doubts about your mobility, we suggest taking a Private Barcelona Tour which can be more easily adjusted for your needs.
Does the Sagrada Familia ever close unexpectedly?
The church itself is almost always open for tourists, but on rare occasions parts of the Basilica close for special religious events. If an area normally covered on a tour is closed, our guide will still provide explanations of the closed areas from outside. Plus, we will show you an extra site or gallery to compensate.
Does this tour enter the homes built by Gaudi?
No, we walk by and stop in front of Casa Mila and Casa Battlo and your guide will offer explanation of these houses. Same goes for Gaudi's house inside the Parc Guell.
What's included in the price?
Price includes admission and skip the line entrance to Sagrada Familia and Parc Guell, round trip coach transportation to Parc Guell and back to Barcelona center, driver and an English-speaking expert guide.
Where to meet?
Meet your guide at Cathedral Square in front of the Hotel Colon. The address is Avinguda de la Catedral 7, 08002, Barcelona.
What to bring?
This is a full day walking tour, so wear comfortable shoes. Bring some cash with you, for lunch and drinks during your break. Avoid bringing large bags, the Sagrada Familia requires you to check them. Make sure that all participants have something to cover the knees and shoulders for the Basilica visit.
Where does this tour end?
This tour ends at Sagrada Familia, which is about a 35-minute walk from where you started.