When traveling to gorgeous city like Barcelona, finding the best Instagram spots is crucial 🙂
Barcelona’s photo opportunities are endless. You can get some seriously cool snaps from Gaudi’s gothic architecture and incredible art nouveau designs to sandy beaches and towering palm trees.
We love this city for its beautiful architecture, delicious food and drinks, interesting history, and warm people.
Pro tip: Get the earliest tickets available for the best photo opportunities.
While it is fun to show off these locations on social media, there is much to learn about the history of these places and the stories behind them. Spend some time learning about the history as well.
20 Best Barcelona Instagram spots
With the most colorful architectural marvels, charming old city neighborhoods, and stunning beaches, Barcelona is a dream for your Instagram account! If you want a mix of colorful buildings, medieval churches, cobblestoned alleys, and beach views, Barcelona is definitely worth visiting! If you’re planning a trip, check my 3 days in Barcelona itinerary, perfect for first-time visits.
This guide is for the 20 best Instagram spots in Barcelona.
Most Instagrammable Gaudí buildings in Barcelona
Barcelona is synonymous with Gaudí’s architecture, and some of the best Instagram spots in Barcelona are Gaudí’s incredible buildings.
La Sagrada Familia
Head to Placa de Gaudi and across the lake to get the best shot of La Sagrada Familia and its stunning exterior. The inside is as beautiful as the outside, and while it can be hard to get photos because of the crowds, you can still snap some pics for your Instagram carousel post. If you have the time, go up one of the towers, or both, for some stunning city views.
The Passion Towers give you a better view of the ocean, and the Nativity Towers give you better views of the mountain range behind Barcelona.
Fun fact: when La Sagrada Familia is completed, it will have taken longer to build than the Egyptian Pyramids and only 50 years less than the Great Wall of China.
Park Güell
Park Guell is one of the most impressive public parks in the world.
The park is one of Barcelona’s most visited and photographed attractions, particularly the Serpentine bench. I recommend timing your visit for the sunset, it’s a little bit less crowded than the mornings, and you won’t be shooting directly in the sun.
The park’s focal point is the main terrace, surrounded by a long bench in the form of a sea serpent. The colorful ceramic serpentine bench twists snakelike around the plaza. The view from the plaza is spectacular! You can see as far as the Mediterranean Sea.
Other Instagram photo spots in Park Guell:
Dragon Staircase
Hypostyle Room
Laundry Room Portico
The Viaducts
The Greek Theater
Austrian Gardens
The two pavilions
Fun fact: Gaudi was commissioned to design this insanely cool park by his best friend, Eusebi Güell.
Casa Mila (La Pedrera)
The rooftop terrace with chimneys shaped like Star Wars figures is the best Instagram spot at Casa Mila.
Fun fact: Casa Mila has a natural ventilation system on the roof with fans, chimneys, and skylights.
Casa Batlló
The House of Masks is one of the best and most colorful works of Gaudí, and it is one of my favorites. You will absolutely love the details! Buy a morning ticket, 08:00 – 08:45, to enjoy the privilege of entering among the first and creating beautiful photos.
Fun fact: The entire exterior of this Gaudi design is tiled with pieces of glass and ceramic in a mosaic style.
Casa Vicens
Case Vicens it’s a unique oasis of calm with Oriental and Moorish influences. The building is covered with spectacular green and white tiles.
Fun fact: Casa Vicens is the first house that Antoni Gaudi designed as an architect.
El Born & Gothic Quarter
Walking through Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter and El Born is a thrilling experience. Its winding streets are full of secrets and surprises that will take your breath away.
These are home to the Cathedral de Barcelona and Pont del Bisbe, two of my favorite Instagram spots in Barcelona.
Pont del Bisbe
Uniting the Casa dels Canonges and the Palau de la Generalitat, the Pont del Bisbe is a large marble structure with lovely Gothic-style columns. It’s also covered in exciting designs that add to the overall feel.
Fun fact: The architect secretly incorporated a hidden skull with a dagger inside. Legend says anyone who crosses the bridge and sees the skull will fall prey to an evil spell.
Cathedral de Barcelona
Cathedral de Barcelona is a unique gothic cathedral to visit. Remember to go inside and up the rooftop for incredible views of Barcelona.
Fun fact: 13 white geese roam the cathedral courtyard to represent the belief that Barcelona’s co-patron Saint Eulalia was just 13 when she died.
Palau de la Musica Catalana
The colorful Palau de la Musica Catalana in Barcelona is an architectural jewel and a perfect Instagram photo spot. I loved the mosaic pillars. The concert hall is still fully functioning and is a 2,146-seat venue with an ornate glass roof!
Fun fact: Take a tour inside this stunning concert hall. It’s just as beautiful as it is around its exterior.
Boqueria Market
This is one of the oldest markets in Europe and a fun place to snap some cool photos for your Instagram! It is also a great place to grab a bite and people-watch.
Fun fact: The history of the La Boqueria market dates all the way back to 1217! That’s one old market.
Las Ramblas and Port Vell
Another fun area with many great photo spots. Walk along Las Ramblas to the Columbus monument and end your stroll at Port Vell.
Fun fact: La Rambla gathers five streets in one, that’s why it’s also known as Las Ramblas: these are Canaletas, Estudios, San José, Capuchinos and Santa Mónica.
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More Instagram spots in Barcelona
Here is a list of more beautiful Instagram spots in and around Barcelona.
W hotel and Playa de la Barceloneta
You can get some pretty cool beach views with the W Barcelona Hotel in sight from the other side of Barceloneta, but the palm trees make it that extra bit cooler!
Fun fact: The Barceloneta neighborhood is arguably the best place to try fresh, local paella and seafood tapas.
El Carmel Bunkers
This spot is one of the best viewpoints in Barcelona. Come early and watch the sunrise. Sunset picnics are very popular among the locals. Regardless, take advantage of the stunning views of the city for a great Instagram photo!
Fun fact: After the Spanish Civil War, when the bunkers were built, they became a shelter for around 7% of Barcelona’s population by the end of the 1950s.
Montjuic
At the bottom of the stairs from the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya, look back, and you’ll be greeted with a fabulous photo opportunity.
Fun fact: Head here in the evening. The Montjuic Magic Fountain has been putting on a show since 1929 for the International Exposition of Barcelona.
Mount Tibidabo
Explore Mount Tibidabo’s famous theme park. You can hike to the top, or take the tram followed by the funicular train.
Fun fact: “Tibidabo” means, I will give to you. The phrase is taken from the Bible. It also can be found inscribed on the central dome of the Vatican’s Cathedral of St. Peter.
Hospital de Sant Pau
Visiting a hospital sounds weird, but the architecture of Hospital de Sant Pau looks beautiful!
Fun fact: It is the largest architectural project of “modernism”, the Sagrada Familia being its only rival in size.
Camp Nou Stadium
Camp Nou Stadium is a must-visit for all the soccer fans!
Fun fact: Camp Nou is not just the largest football stadium in Spain but also the largest football stadium in Europe.
Park de la Ciutadella
Parc de la Ciutadella is a great relaxing place. You could even take a rowing boat out on the lake. The grand water fountain is the best place to get that Insta-worthy pic.
Fun fact: The Parc de la Ciutadella provides a habitat for thousands of birds. In fact, over 100 bird species breed or feed in the park.
Arc de Triomf
Head out to the Arc de Triomf metro station; you’ll see it quickly.
Fun fact: The Arc de Triomf was designed and built as a gateway to the 1888 Universal Exhibition.
Placa De Reial
Placa Reial is a classic shot of Barcelona with its quaint fountain in the middle, palm trees towering over it, plus people buzzing around at all hours of the day and night. Perfect.
Fun fact: This square contains Gaudi’s first city-commissioned work, two decorative street lamps.
"The world begins with every kiss" Mural
The mural was created by Joan Fontcuberta, and you can find it in the Gothic quarter at Plaça d’Isidre Nonell.
Fun fact: Often mistaken for amazing graffiti, if you look closely, you’ll notice it’s actually made from hundreds of square tiles.
I’ve included a map that you can save for your next trip to Barcelona!
There you have it! My list of the best Barcelona Instagram spots.
If I missed something, let me know in the comments below. And if you visit some of these, tag @mynextpin on Instagram! 🙂
