The 16 Best Photo Spots in Barcelona
Barcelona is one of the most photogenic cities in the world, and if you are looking for the best photo spots in Barcelona, we’ve got you covered. Between the jaw dropping architecture of Gaudí, colorful street art, sweeping city views, and beautiful parks, pretty much every corner of this city is worth pointing a camera at.
We spent a good chunk of time exploring Barcelona with our cameras, and came back with a list of our absolute favorite spots to shoot. Whether you are a professional photographer, a content creator, or just someone who wants to come home with great photos, this guide covers the most photogenic places the city has to offer.
From the iconic to the unexpected, here are 16 of the best photo spots in Barcelona that we think belong on every photographer’s list.
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The Best Photo Spots in Barcelona: Info for Taking Pictures Around the City
Before diving into the list, here are a few things worth knowing that will help you get the most out of photographing Barcelona.
⭐️ What Makes Barcelona So Photogenic?
Barcelona is one of those cities that is impossible not to enjoy – whether you’re a photgrapher or not. The architecture alone is extraordinary, with Antoni Gaudí’s iconic buildings scattered throughout the city like something out of a dream.
Add in the colorful street art, the wide tree lined boulevards of the Eixample neighborhood, the golden light that hits the city in the late afternoon, and a beachfront that stretches along the Mediterranean, and you have a city that is endlessly interesting to photograph for all types of travelers.
What makes Barcelona especially special for photographers is the variety. In a single day you can shoot modernist architecture, lush hilltop parks, a buzzing street market, and a stunning sunrise over the sea. Not many cities in the world offer that kind of range.
🌇 The Best Time to Take Photos in Barcelona
Golden hour in Barcelona is absolutely stunning, and we strongly recommend building your days around it. The late afternoon light hits the city’s warm stone buildings and terracotta rooftops in a way that makes everything glow. Sunrise is equally beautiful and has the added bonus of near empty streets, which is a big deal in a city as busy as Barcelona.
Midday light in summer can be harsh and unflattering, so if you are shooting between 11am and 3pm, look for shaded streets, indoor locations, or spots with interesting shadows and contrast.
Early morning is also the best time to visit the most popular spots like Sagrada Família and Park Güell before the crowds arrive.
⭐️ Steal our strategy! We choose our sunrise and sunset spots first, and then build our itinerary depending on the opening times of each spot, so we can always ensure to arrive first (or be the last ones).
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❣️ What is the Prettiest Part of Barcelona?
Barcelona has beauty scattered all throughout. The prettiest area certainly depends on what you are looking for.
For architecture, the Eixample district is unbeatable, with Gaudí’s masterpieces concentrated along Passeig de Gràcia. For old world charm and narrow streets, the Gothic Quarter is super photogenic. For views, the hills above the city offer some of the most breathtaking panoramas you will find in Spain. And for a more relaxed and colorful vibe, the Barceloneta neighborhood and the waterfront are fantastic.
If you want to go deeper into everything the city has to offer beyond photography, our complete Barcelona travel guide covers the best things to do, eat, and experience throughout the city.
The Best Photo Spots in Barcelona
Ready to explore? Here are 16 of the best photo spots in Barcelona, from the iconic to the unexpected.
1. Sagrada Familia
Sagrada Família is the undisputed icon of Barcelona, and one of the most beautiful religious sites you will ever see in your life. It is stunning from every angle, inside and out, but it is also almost always packed with tourists which can make getting a clean shot tricky.
Our favorite trick is heading to the small lake behind the cathedral, where you get a completely unobstructed reflection shot of the full facade without fighting through crowds. It is free to access and one of the most underrated photo spots in Barcelona. The cathedral can be enjoyed from many different angles, but this one is our personal favorite.
Want to also see the inside? Booking a skip the line tour in advance is strongly recommended.
2. Ayre Hotel Rosselon Rooftop
Want another insane view of Sagrada Familia without a tons of people around? Ayre Hotel Rosselon is just a block away from the cathedral, and has a great rooftop getting you right in front of Sagrada Familia.
Make sure to reserve in advance, as there are limited spots, and you must book a one hour time slot. This place gets reserved days out, so try to book as soon as you know when you’ll be able to go. Entrance is free, but you just need to buy a drink.
When we went they weren’t very strict on times of arrival or of time slots particularly, but they do reserve the tables for your party. Drinks aren’t nearly as expensive as we were anticipating. We got a jar of sangria for just 9 euros and it was delicious. Talk about the best of both worlds!
Ayre Hotel has one of the best rooftop bars in Barcelona.
3. Park Guell
Park Güell is one of the most visited photo spots in Barcelona, and for very good reason. The park is famous for Gaudí’s stunning mosaic structures and vibrant tiled designs, and the balcony overlooking the main terrace is the most iconic shot.
That said, there are photo opportunities tucked into every corner of the park if you are willing to explore beyond the main area.
The park is open from 9am to 10pm for tourists. Tickets are 10 euros, must be purchased before 6pm, and are valid for one entry only. Book in advance to avoid disappointment, especially in peak season.
Looking for guided tours of Park Guell? Here are a few different options to choose from:
4. Casa Vicens
Casa Vicens was Gaudí’s very first house, and it is an absolute masterpiece. The exterior alone is worth stopping for, with its intricate tilework and striking design that feels completely unlike anything else on the street.
We strongly recommend going inside though, as the interior has just as much to offer photographically. Our personal favorite shot is right at the entrance on the outside of the building, but inside you will find plenty of other beautiful moments to capture as well as a fascinating insight into where Gaudí’s architectural journey began.
5. Casa Batllo
Casa Batlló is one of those buildings that genuinely stops you in your tracks while walking down the street. The facade is extraordinary, covered in shimmering mosaic scales and sculpted balconies that look like they belong in a fairy tale. It is one of the most photographed photo spots in Barcelona and completely deserves its reputation.
Entry is on the pricier side, and we opted to photograph the exterior rather than go inside due to our limited budget at the time. That being said, by all accounts the interior is just as spectacular and packed with photo opportunities if you want the full experience.
Casa Batllo has a stunning outside design.
6. Casa Mila
Just a short walk down Passeig de Gràcia from Casa Batlló you will find Casa Milà, another of Gaudí’s iconic creations. The stone facade is beautiful to photograph from the street, but the real prize is the rooftop.
From up there you get a fantastic view of Sagrada Família in the background, framed by the building’s distinctive chimney sculptures, and it is one of the most unique photo spots in Barcelona.
Casa Mila is one of Gaudi’s masterpieces.
7. Carrer del Bisbe
Carrer del Bisbe is one of those spots that catches you completely off guard the first time you see it. This narrow Gothic Quarter street features a stunning neo-Gothic bridge connecting the Palau de la Generalitat with the Casa dels Canonges, and it is one of the most photographed streets in the entire city.
Best of all, it is completely free to visit and just a short walk from the cathedral. Perfect for an early morning shoot before the city wakes up.
8. Carrer Padua 75
This one is purely a photo opportunity, but absolutely worth a quick stop. The facade of this building is striking, with a beautiful green and red color contrast and intricate architectural details that make for a really eye catching shot. It sits conveniently close to Park Güell, so we recommend swinging by on your way there to grab a quick photo without going out of your way.
This building is perfect for an Instagrammable photo opp.
9. Parque De La Ciutadella
Parc de la Ciutadella is one of the largest and most beautiful green spaces in Barcelona, and the whole park is wonderfully photogenic. Our personal favorites are the Arc de Triomf at the entrance, which makes for a grand and classic Barcelona shot, and the large two tiered fountain in front of the ornate monument behind it. It is also a great spot to slow down, wander, and find your own angles beyond the obvious ones.
10. Bunkers El Carmel
Bunkers del Carmel is one of our absolute favorite photo spots in all of Barcelona. Located just above Park Güell, this hilltop former anti-aircraft battery is completely free to visit and offers one of the most breathtaking 360 degree views of the city you will find anywhere.
From up here you can see everything, from Sagrada Família rising above the rooftops to the deep blue Mediterranean stretching out behind the city.
We strongly recommend timing your visit for sunset and then staying as the city lights up below you. It is one of those views that is genuinely hard to leave, and we unapologetically stayed for way longer than we had anticipated.
Bunkers El Carmel has one of the best views in all of Barcelona.
11. Tibidabo
Tibidabo is hands down the best viewpoint in all of Barcelona, sitting at the very top of the Collserola hills with a panorama that stretches across the entire city and out to the sea.
We unfortunately did not make it up there on our visit after locking our keys in the car on our last day, but it is absolutely first on our list for next time. If you have the chance to go, do not make the same mistake we did and leave it to the last day!
12. La Barceloneta
Barcelona’s famous beachfront neighborhood is a fantastic spot for sunrise photography. Head down early and you can capture the warm light hitting the Mediterranean, the interesting and slightly surreal Homenatge sculpture on the beach, and the iconic Hotel W rising dramatically at the end of the shoreline.
It is a completely different side of Barcelona from the Gaudí architecture and Gothic streets, and well worth the early wake up call.
La Barceloneta îs a great place to watch the sunrise.
13 Palau de la Musica Catalana
Welcome to one of the most stunning concert halls in the world. The Palau de la Música Catalana is a jaw dropping UNESCO World Heritage Site, dripping in color, stained glass, and intricate mosaic detail both inside and out. Make sure to get a shot both inside the main hall and on the side balcony for two very different but equally beautiful photos.
14. “The World Begins With Every Kiss” Mural
This gorgeous mural by Joan Fontcuberta is more than it appears at first glance. From a distance you see two pairs of lips kissing in what looks like a painted mural. But up close, you realize it is actually made up of over 6,000 individual photographs woven together into one giant mosaic.
It is a fascinating and beautiful piece of public art and one of the most unique photo spots in Barcelona. Definitely worth getting both the wide shot and the close up detail.
The kissing mural is one of the most Instagrammable spots in Barcelona.
15. Eixampeling Cafe
Welcome to the most Instagrammable Cafe in Barcelona. Eixampeling Cafe is not only an exceptional brunch spot with delicious food, but the cafe is covered in colorful flowers and vibrant neon signs. We suggest getting here as soon as they open as the line to get in can take a while.
Note: Recently we noticed that the cafe was temporarily closed. Make sure to check and see if it’s back in operation before going!
Eixempeling Cafe is Super Instagrammable, and has amazing food.
16. Hospital de Sant Pau
This might sound like a strange addition to a photo guide, but Hospital de Sant Pau is genuinely one of the most beautiful buildings in all of Barcelona. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and another modernist masterpiece, the complex is made up of several stunning pavilions each more ornate and colorful than the last.
We stopped for a quick photo at the entrance and immediately wished we had dedicated more time to it. If you want the full experience, there are several excellent guided tours worth booking in advance.
This may just be the most beautiful hospital in the world!
How We Capture the Best Photo Spots in Barcelona:
All of our photos were taken by us. Here are the different things we use:
- Mirrorless Camera:Sony Alpha 7riii
- Drone: We use the Mavic Mini 4 Pro because it’s super light and has great quality (we use the drone only outside the city center)
- Standard Lens for a dynamic range (we use the Sony GM 24-70)
- Wide Lens to capture great panoramas and the buildings (we use the Sony GM 14 F1.8)
- Telephoto Lens to capture the architecture up close (we use the Sony GM 70-200)
- Tripod to get pictures while no one is around or for multiple shots from far away (We use the JOBY Rangepod Tripod)
- Action Camera: We use the Insta 360 X3 because it’s small & waterproof
- Presets: We use our own Scratch Your Mapa Presets (this one with the Into the Wild Preset Collection)
Capturing the Best Photo Spots in Barcelona: Final Tips & What’s Next
Now that you know the best photo spots in Barcelona and what gear to use, here are a few final tips to help you make the most of your time behind the lens.
And if you are still planning your trip, don’t miss our complete Barcelona travel guide for everything you need to know about the city beyond the photo spots, including the best things to do, eat, and experience while you are there!
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👀 What’s Next?
Now that you know the best photo spots in Barcelona, let’s help you explore more of the city and the country!
Here are our other Spain travel guides to check out:
📖 Barcelona Travel Guide
💃🏻 Celebrating Feria de Abril in Sevilla
☀️ Things to Do in Sevilla
📖 Granada Travel Guide
🌊 Places to Visit in Costa Blanca
📖 Madrid Travel Guide
🌊 El Hierro Travel Guide
🌋 La Palma Travel Guide
✈️ How to get to Valencia
🚗 How to get around Valencia
🤩 24 things to do in Valencia
🪂 48 Unique Activities in Valencia
☔️ 22 Things to Do in Valencia When it Rains
🍴 Valencia food guide
🍅 Tomatina festival Guide
🔥 Las Fallas Festival
🌳 La Gomera Travel Guide
🌄 Gran Canaria Travel Guide
🏖 Fuerteventura Travel Guide
🏝 Isla de Lobos Travel Guide
🍷 Lanzarote Travel Guide
🤩 50 Epic Spots in Lanzarote
⛴ La Graciosa Travel Guide
🌅 Tenerife Travel Guide
📖 The Ultimate Canary Islands Travel Guide
These 16 Instagrammable spots in Barcelona are just the tip of the best spots to photograph in the city. There are tons of other hidden gems awaiting. So grab your camera, and be ready to up your Instagram feed with all of the gorgeous places that Barcelona has to offer.
Want to see what else this city has to offer? Don’t miss out on our Complete Barcelona Travel Guide! Planning on visiting other cities in Spain? We have plenty of Spain travel guides, including the area of Costa Blanca and Madrid that you can also check out, as well as a bunch of Canary Islands travel guides.
Need help planning the perfect trip? Now with Scratch Your Mapa Travel Planning you can save time and money, while exploring more! Want to know more? Take a look at our travel planning packages.
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