I get it: Barcelona is one of the most wanted destinations worldwide. Probably you are dying to come, or you have already visited the city. If you plan a vacation, I am sure you’re looking for things to do in the city. You’re looking for what to see, what to eat, where to go, where to stay, how to move around, etc. You might not know where to start to find guided tours in Barcelona that you’ll be interested in.
Even with plenty of options, finding the right way to explore the place and fit it into your itinerary traveling in Spain (and even more if you have only 3 days in Barcelona) you’re visiting might be challenging. I’ve realized it has to do a lot with your interests and what you are looking forward to exploring. After making the tours myself while exploring different towns and cities in Catalonia, these are the guided tours in Barcelona I recommend the most.
DISCLAIMER: Thanks to all the teams mentioned here for their invitations to make their tours. The tours described here were complimentary. All opinions are my own.
Guided Tours in Barcelona: Barcelona and the Indianos by Ruta de Autor
The team of Ruta de Autor
Ruta de Autor is a team specializing in making alternative Barcelona tours. Aymara and Lorena rethink the city around diverse issues that make up part of it from the historical, literary, social, and critique points of view. In this tour, they cover the characters known as Indianos, people born in Spain who moved to the American colonies to make a fortune and then back to mainland Spain to invest it. What is essential from this tour is to understand the American colonies’ role in the city’s economic development in the 19th century and how that legacy still makes part of the city’s urban space.
Part of the tour in La Rambla
This is not the only tour Ruta de autor offers. They also have guided tours in Barcelona to other areas and also bike tours. They all have a common purpose: seeing the city and questioning different issues. Any special tour request make sure to make it with time ahead. The team researches every topic they cover in depth. As much as you’ll walk or bike around the city, you will also be able to have a critique view of different topics.
For more info on this tour, visit Ruta de Autor.
Guided Tours in Barcelona as a local with Local Guddy
Sights from Barceloneta
Have you ever wondered how the locals live there? Have you ever wanted to see the prominent landmarks from a local point of view? That somehow summarizes the experience that Local Guddy gives. Local Guddy is a platform where locals offer different types of tours to travelers in their cities. Some of the experiences can be visiting landmarks, gastronomic experiences, or partying. If you’re traveling to a specific city, look for the expertise and guddy (guide) that better suits you.
I had the opportunity to make a Local Guddy guided tour in Barcelona. I chose the “Walking for the best BCN” offered by Federico. I met Federico first in Passeig de Gracia. Then, we walked to different places of the city such as Gaudi‘s buildings (Casa Batlló and La Pedrera), Plaça Catalunya, La Rambla, the Port, La Barceloneta, Parc de la Ciutadella, Arc de Triomf and Passeig Sant Joan. The great thing about this tour is getting to explore the city from the perspective of someone, the way they live it.
Another thing I love about Local Guddy is that you can enter your trip plans on the site. By doing this, the guides in the city you’ll be visiting can find you and offer their tours. I think Local Guddy is an essential tool to have in hand while you’re traveling. This will help you have a clearer view of the local life wherever you go. It is one of those tours in Barcelona you can’t miss.
Be surprised with the guided tours in Barcelona by Bounce Around Barcelona
Views from El Born
Bounce Around Barcelona is a company with its slogan “come as a guest, leave as a friend,” and that’s the exact feeling you get after taking any of their tours in Barcelona. Chris knows Barcelona so well that he can actually tell amazing and spicy stories about the prominent landmarks. The traveler is the one that chooses the way the tour goes. You have options such as walking tours, bike tours, or whatever you feel you should ask Chris for. Chris sat down with the participants before setting up a customized tour. These tours include the city’s main Gaudi spots or even more surprising details.
Sant Pau
I had the chance to make one of the Bounce Around tours. In this opportunity, we visited Sagrada Familia, Sant Pau Modernist Site, el Born, Palau de la Musica Catalana, and other Gaudi’s places such as La Pedrera and Casa Batlló. Everything is worth seeing and even better with Chris’s explanations.
What makes this tour unique is Chris’s attitude and love for the city and its history. His passion for everything you get to explore is contagious. If you’re looking for a customized experience where you can also see another face of the city, Bounce Around Barcelona is your option. After taking the tour, you’ll realize that, as their slogan state, you will leave as a friend.
Which was my favorite guided tour in Barcelona?
All of them are my favorite guided tours in Barcelona. I don’t have something negative to say about any of these tours. All of them had their magic and essence. These are my top options for someone visiting Barcelona for the first time.
Free Walking tours are a fantastic option to know the city in general. I vouch for making one of these tours in any city you visit. Creating a Free Walking tour will determine what aspects of the city you want to know the most.
If you have already learned that you want to know something specific about the history, taking one of the tours in Barcelona with a local or exploring the unknown are your best options.
Pin these guided tours in Barcelona!
Ania | Snow to Seas
Thank you for sharing some really in depth information about unique tours in Barcelona! I would definitely love to go on one Ruta de Autor. It really sounds like you can get a one-of-a-kind take on the city!
Nina Danielle
The locals one sounds right up my alley! Going to save this in case I get to Barcelona soon 🙂