Best Things to Do in Barcelona at Night
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Barcelona is no doubt known for its history, architecture, and beaches. But the other side of Barcelona is a late-night tapas, party-at-a-beach-club, sunset hike extravaganza. And that’s just the start of it!
As a part-time local, I can confidently say that Barcelona turns into another city at night. A unique one that myself and visitors fall in love with every time.
Below, I’ve listed some of my favorite things to do in Barcelona at night. Whether you’ve been living here for a few years or are visiting for your first time, don’t underestimate this city when the sun sets.
Similar to the daytime, there’s something for everyone in Barcelona at night. Let’s get to it!
1. The Magic Fountain
The magic fountain’s glamorous shinning lights makes it a magical experience at night. It illustrates a display of colorful light, music, motion and water acrobatics.
The great part about the show is that it is completely free for the public. It attracts million of visitors each year, becoming one of the most popular attractions in Barcelona.
The best place to see the show is at the steps leading to MNAC museum. You can also enjoy the show at the pedestrian bridge on the Plaza de España area. Make sure to bring your camera because the view is spectacular.
The Magic Fountain of Montjuïc located at the foot of Montjuïc Mountain. You can capture a mesmerizing photos of the mountain and the fountain at the same time. You can also find some hiking trails to the summit of the mountain.
To know: Barcelona tends to see frequent annual droughts. In this case, the fountain will be turned off. The fountain has been off for a few months this year because of water restrictions. Check the timetables to see if its open before going!
2. Hike to Bunkers del Carmen
Bunkers del Carmen is a hike to abandoned Spanish Civil-War era bunkers with panoramic views of the city and easily one of my favorite sunset views around.
It’s about a 20 minute walk once you arrive. The road is paved but it’s entirely uphill and can be steep in areas so you’ll want to prepare for a moderately challenging trek with good shoes.
Plan to get there just before dusk and spend an hour or so enjoying the views and sunset. Even better – bring some snacks for the crew to enjoy!
The location is a bit tricky so make sure you have a plan to get there and back.
3. Visit a Top 50 Bar in the World in El Born
One of the first bars I ever went to in El Born – Dr Stravinky’s! There’s not much I can say about it because honestly, you have to experience it to believe it. It’s one of the most unique bars I’ve ever been to.
Their unique cocktails use “centuries-old preparation techniques” – all in house ingredients – and frequently make the list for “World’s Best” Top 50 Bars.
I bring friends new to the city here every chance I get.
Pro tip: The drinks are strong, so sip slowly and get there early. There’s limited seating and usually a line to get in after 9pm.
4. Visit Casa Batllo & Casa Mila at Night
Casa Mila, or La Pedrera, and Casa Batlló are great architectural objects designed by Gaudí and located in the heart of Barcelona – on Avenida Gracia. They are both included in UNESCO World Heritage list.
Casa Mila is designed in the typical Art Nouveau style of Gaudí and is made of natural stone. Its facades are recognizable because of smooth lines, somewhat similar to sea waves. At the same time, not only the facades of the building are interesting, but also its interiors. Casa Batlló is another significant creation of Gaudí.
Why choose a standard day visit when you can choose a unique Night Experience when the view of buildings is absolutely magical. You’ll want to grab your tickets ahead of time as they tend to sell out here, and the event only runs from March or April into the summer.
Night visiting of Casa Batllo lasts 2 hours and contains viewing of the interiors and a live concert. A glass of drink is also included. You can choose among different types of music, be it soul, flamenco, jazz, etc. If you like live concerts, the Magical Nights of Casa Batllo is definitely for you.
During the 1.5 hours experience of visiting Casa Mila, you will be able to view the building’s façade, patio, attic and roof; the apartments will be closed for observing though. The light show on the rooftop will absolutely conquer you as it is mystic and gorgeous at the same time.
From my friend Julia from Badenguide
5. Take a Cooking Class
It took me a few years to commit to taking a cooking class in Barcelona – I had never even tried paella before this. I wish I had done it sooner!
My cooking class with Gastronomic Arts Barcelona came with drinks, tapas, and a chef so knowledgable I felt like I was under-qualified to be listening to him!
From “de-spining the squid” to making sure the rice was perfectly crispy at the bottom of the pan, our chef walked us through each and every step, shared the history of the ingredients and tips for making the perfect paella dish.
If you’re visiting in October or November when it gets a bit rainy, or mid-August when it’s just too hot to be outside all day, an evening cooking class is the perfect activity to look forward to.
view pricing and availability for my favorite cooking class ►
6. See a Flamenco Show
Flamenco is a traditional Spanish art form that originated in the south of Spain. While many people assume Flamenco is just dancing, Flamenco combines singing (cante), guitar playing (toque), dance (baile), and handclaps (palmas).
It is a special experience watching Flamenco, and you can feel the emotion and passion in the musicians and dancers. There are several excellent tablaos or theatres where you can watch a Flamenco performance in Barcelona to see for yourself.
If you’re new to Flamenco or have kids with you, a shorter show is a great introduction to Flamenco, although there are minimum age requirements for some shows (usually under 4 years old) as babies and toddlers could disrupt a performance.
There are also options to combine watching the Flamenco performance with drinks and tapas or dinner. You can even give Flamenco a try yourself with a 30 minute masterclass before the Flamenco show at City Hall, so there is something to suit every taste and budget.
Some of the best places to watch Flamenco in Barcelona include Los Tarantos in Plaça Reial, Tablao Flamenco Cordobes on La Rambla, and Palau Dalmases in the Gothic Quarter.
view pricing and availability for the best Flamenco in BCN ►
7. Explore the City at Night
Generally, you can safely walk around Barcelona at night with no problem! The city is so different after sunset.
There are some areas I'd recommend avoiding, particularly if you're traveling solo. Overall, I feel really safe walking around at night as there are always some people around. If you do want to see the city at night, I'd recommend staying in Gothic, el Born, or Passeig de Gracia.
8. Hit the Famous Nightclubs
You probably already know Barcelona is famous for it's nightlife and party-til-dawn beach clubs. Clubs like Carpe Diem and Opium stand out for their ambiance and lively atmosphere that attracts locals and tourists alike.
There are lines of beach clubs along Barceloneta and tons of trendy and unique bars on every little corner of El Born's narrow alleyways.
Staying out until 5-6 o'clock in the morning in Barcelona is a pretty normal night out. If that's your style, you won't have trouble finding around-the-clock parties. And if it's not your style (like me) don't worry.
I love hopping around my favorite bars, eating late-night tapas and street food, and trying new fancy cocktails and catching a cab home around midnight.
9. Cava and Tapas on Your Favorite Terrace
Now on to my absolute favorite things to do in Barcelona at night - late-night dinners on the terrace with my best friends!
It's no secret that Barcelona is known for it's food and nightlife. It doesn't have to be clubs and beach parties though. Some of my favorite nights begin and end at some of the best restaurants in the city.
La Pepita in Gracia, Gilda in the Gothic Quarter, and Lokal Bar in Eixample are just a few of my go-to places that really capture the essence of Barcelona's dining scene. offer fantastic settings to enjoy authentic Spanish cuisine and local wines.
10. Tapas Crawl
If you’re looking for a fantastic night out, a tapas bar crawl around El Born is a must-do. El Born is a historic neighbourhood, buzzing with life and the perfect spot for foodies. Its charming old streets are scattered with cool tapas bars that you'll love to explore.
The best part is exploring and finding what vibe you like but if you’re looking for some guidance, here are some recommendations.
Start at El Xampanyet, a legendary place where you can sip on cava and munch on mouth-watering anchovies.
Then, wander over to Cal Pep for their iconic seafood tapas. For a cosy vibe, pop into Bar del Pla and try their famous patatas bravas. Finally, for those looking to try some Basque pintxos, head to Euskal Etxea!
A tapas bar crawl round El Born is ideal for friends, couples, and solo travelers who want to soak in the local vibe and experience a truly Spanish way of eating. I took two tapas tours solo and made new friends on each one, so I can absolutely say it's a great idea for you. Travel Around Spain the gastronomic way!
view pricing and availability for my favorite tapas tour in the city! ►
11. Sunset Cruise
As a traveler who seeks out water just about everywhere I go, there's no more unique way to enjoy Barcelona's skyline than on a sunset cruise.
Sunset cruises give you a whole new perspective of the city. They're the perfect escape, and most include drinks, snacks, and chances to swim.
Live jazz sunset cruises seem to be popular here. Sip cava, listen to live jazz, and watch the sun dip over the Mediterranean. Not a bad way to spend an evening!
view pricing and availability for the best sunset cruise ►
12. Visit Sagrada Familia
There's no specific "night experience", but the last Sagrada Familia entrance tickets are sold for 7:15pm. This is a great way to start an evening sightseeing tour! Most people want to visit the most visited site in the city early in the morning and it gets busiest midday.
Going at night is a great way to avoid some of those heavy crowds. 7:15 entry time is also perfect for waking up from your siesta, getting your time in at Sagrada, and then heading out to a restaurant for dinner. Most restaurants don't open back up until 8pm, so this is perfect timing for that!
If you do want to go to dinner after, I'd recommend going for a short walk over to Gracia or Eixample where the restaurants will be much less touristy than those around the cathedral.
view pricing and availability for skip the line Sagrada Familia tickets ►
13. Night Bike Tour
If you aren't comfortable walking around Barcelona at night for whatever reason, a night bike tour is a great way to stay safe with a group and not be alone on your feet.
Also, the streets with cars, bikes, and people can be super overwhelming in the middle of the day. If that makes you nervous, the bike tours in the middle of the day might not be for you.
The old architecture of Barcelona lights up in a whole new way when the sun goes down. The streets are [generally] quieter, so you'll get to see popular sites like Casa Batlló and the Gothic Quarter cathedral with much fewer people than if you were to go during the day.
view pricing and availability for a night bike tour through the city ►
14. Barcelona’s Music Museum and the Picasso Museum
What's better than a night at the museum? Try out Night in the Picasso experience or a late-night visit to the Music Museum.
Best of all? Night in the Picasso is free (make sure you reserve ahead of time) and Music Museum tickets start at just 4.5 euros - free for children under the age of 16!
15. Ghost Tour
Gothic Quarter is the oldest town in Barcelona, so you can bet there's some serious ghostly history lurking around!
One of my favorites is 43, Francesc Giner St - the first and probably most famous poltergeist legend in the city.
You also might see the Montjuic Cemetery, a haunted castle, and learn a bit about the Medieval history of the streets.
Even if you're not one for spooky legends, ghost tours are still a cool way to see any city at night.
view pricing and availability for a Barcelona ghost tour ►
Summary: Barcelona at Night
Barcelona isn't just a city of stunning architecture, rich history, and beautiful beaches—it's a city that truly comes alive at night. From the mesmerizing display at the Magic Fountain to my favorite views at Bunkers del Carmen, there's no shortage of unique experiences waiting for you after the sun sets.
Savor tapas on a terrace with your best friends, explore the narrow streets of El Born, or dance the night away at a beach club. Barcelona offers a nightlife that caters to every taste and preference.
Ready to make the most of your evenings in Barcelona? Explore Barcelona's nightlife the best way and discover why so many, including me, fall in love with this city night after night.
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