5 Hidden Gems in Barcelona

What Do You Need To See?

Barcelona is a beautiful city, attracting millions of tourists every year. Everybody knows about Sagrada Familia or Park Güell, but this city has much more to offer, with many beautiful sites unknown to most tourists. That’s why in this article, we will showcase 5 of our favourite hidden gems in Barcelona. We invite you to read on!

Barcelona’s Hidden Gems—Off the Beaten Path Tour of the Catalan Capital

So, which attractions in Barcelona are lesser-known but absolutely worth your time? Take a look at our list below.

Hospital de Sant Creu i Sant Pau

Hospital de Sant Creu i Sant Pau (ESP: Recinte Modernista de Sant Creu y Sant Pau) is a breathtaking architectural masterpiece built in the early 20th century. This hidden gem is located in the Eixample district of Barcelona. It’s so remarkable that it even made the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

What’s interesting about it is that the hospital is much older, having been established at the beginning of the 15th century. Nowadays, most of the wards have been relocated to other buildings, although some, like the Blood and Tissue Bank, still remain within the walls of this historical site.

Jardins de les Tres Xemeneies

Often called the Graffiti Park, or translated literally as the Garden of Three Chimneys, this is a wonderful place that you should visit. Formerly a nuclear power plant, this hidden gem combines the intriguing, industrial look with the works of the finest street artists from Barcelona. Add to that the fact that the place contains a skate park, ping-pong tables and playground, and you get a place which you can simply visit to relax after a long day of sightseeing.

The Carmel Bunkers

If you’re in for a mix of history and a breathtaking view of the city, you need to visit the Carmel Bunkers. In the past, they served as an anti-aircraft base during the Spanish Civil War. Interestingly enough, while it was a military setting, there was never a literal bunker on top of the Turó de la Rovira where the facilities were located.

Nowadays, it’s a great vantage point to observe the city and the sea, with a great view of the most important monuments. This hidden gem in Barcelona is great for the end of the day, when you can admire the sunset and look at the attractions you visited just a few hours before.

Naturally, you don’t have to go to Carmel Bunkers to enjoy a good view of the city—sometimes, a hostel with a rooftop terrace will do. Nevertheless, we still recommend it!

Teatre Grec

The Greek Theatre (ESP: Teatre Grec) is yet another hidden gem in Barcelona that you mustn’t miss. Don’t let the name fool you, though—the Greeks didn’t build it. However, they were a major inspiration.

Teatre Grec is a Greek-style amphitheatre in the Sants-Montjuic neighbourhood. It’s surrounded by trees and nature, which adds to this hidden gem’s charm. Next to it, there’s the Greek Garden, a beautiful and vast green space which will help you blow the steam off after a busy day in the city. This is why we believe that you should add Teatre Grec to your Barcelona bucket list!

Casa Vicens

Known as one of the first projects of the famous local architect Antoni Gaudí, Casa Vicens remains one of Barcelona’s hidden gems for quite a different reason than the other. Until 2017, it was closed to the public, meaning that many people simply didn’t have the opportunity to learn about it, thereby to visit it.

The Takeaway

Many more hidden gems are waiting to be discovered in Barcelona. That’s why, apart from visiting the places from our list, we have one final recommendation: explore the city yourself, plan a day or two out when you will simply wander the streets and outskirts of this town and look for off-the-beaten-path attractions. Trust us, you won’t be disappointed!

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