We have recently returned from a glorious trip to Barcelona. It was a pre-cruise stay. However, we don’t just use departure ports as a means of passing through. We fly in a day or two before and plan activities and a meal. As we often sail out of Barcelona, we also plan to try a new activity every time to get to see as much of Barcelona as we can. And I wanted to share our Recomended Barcelona Cultural Tours: Food Tasting, Historical Walks & A Sagrada Familia Visit. A 1-Day Itinerary: How we spent a glorious day in Barcelona.

And here’s the thing about travel. It doesn’t matter how often you visit a city or region; there is always something new to do. Despite visiting for years, we still have a long list of things we want to see and do in Barcelona. When our boys were little, tours were often focused on football, finding great food and always ice cream.

We had a rule growing up that every family member had to try a new food every day on our travels. Of course, this meant avoiding chain restaurants, thank goodness, and looking for authentic cuisine. Perfect for us parents, and kids love a mission.

How To Choose The Right Tour For Barcelona

Have a plan and book ahead. Gone are the days of just turning up at an attraction or historical site. Tourism has exploded, so it’s essential to be organised and book ahead. A friend of ours recently planned to visit Park Güell on a trip to Barcelona; however, he did not book, and guess what, it was sold out.

It’s also important to research options. We booked our tour through Devour and Walks, sister companies that offer walking tours, historic tours and food tours. There was a lot of choice, but we already had a plan in mind after recently taking part in a sunrise tour of Casa Batlló. We had seen Sagrada Familia so many times from the outside, but the queue for tickets is huge, which is no fun on a hot Barcelona day, so we never got inside.

The plan was to take an afternoon tour of Sagrada, chill at our wonderful hotel (if you are heading to Barcelona, I thoroughly recommend the H10 Madison) for an hour and then take a food and walking tour. I figured we would be heading out for dinner, so why not make a night of it and do a tapas tour? Let me tell you, it’s the way forward.

Getting Lunch Near Sagrada

Once we had checked in and stored our cases, we set off walking to Sagrada Familia. The H10 Madison is perfectly situated in the heart of the Gothic Quarter. And a 30-minute walk to Sagrada, which was perfect as the aim was to get some steps in and stop for lunch before our tour.

If you plan to eat when you visit Sagrada, we had tapas and salad at Jamon Y Vino Paella, a Spanish restaurant specialising in tapas, meat, and seafood, located just around the corner from the Cathedral, and it was excellent. Although a top tip: sit inside; the decor is really cool.

Why A Tour Of Sagrada Familia Is Better Than An Entry Ticket

After a delicious lunch, we met our guide, Alberto, at the designated meeting spot. He was easy to find, as he was carrying a Walks bag and a clipboard. I had visions of being unable to find our guide and missing the tour. However, Alberto was waiting for us, and everything went very smoothly.

And here is the value in the tour: Alberto knew his stuff. So, rather than walking around enjoying this truly spectacular site. We were able to learn a great deal about Antoni Gaudí and Sagrada Família. I would tell you more, but honestly, finding out all about Sagrada as we stood marvelling at its beauty was special and I don’t want to ruin all the surprises.

Sagrada Familia receives around five million visitors who purchase entry tickets each year, and an additional 12 million visit outside. It’s busy, and the beauty of booking a tour is that it is all planned; you can skip the queue. Your guide will take you directly into the Cathedral, making this alone worth the entry.

We Found Out So Much About Sagrada Familia

Plus, when someone with passion and extensive subject knowledge takes a tour, you see it through their eyes. This enabled us to understand the history of the interior and the facades of Sagrada. Now had I not taken the tour, I would have recognised the statues of the nativity and the stations of the cross. However, the significance of that and the colours of the stained glass windows would have passed us by. We actually found out a great deal more information than we would have if we had taken a self-tour.

Although I will add, check the tour size, ours was about 20 people, and that was perfect. We had earphones, so we could hear Alberto no matter where we stood. Whereas we have booked tours through the cruise line in the past with up to 50 people, and its just too much.

Barcelona Tapas, Wine And History Tour

After walking back to the hotel, having a 20-minute chill and coffee, it was time to jump in the shower and get ready for our next tour. Now, I must tell you that at this point, I was questioning my choices. We had packed our adventures in, but also knew we could rest tomorrow when we boarded the ship.

And the Tapas Wine and History Tour with Devour Food Tours was incredible. We met our guide Luke in the Gothic Quarter, just around the corner from our hotel. The tour took us through the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona in a small group; there were 8 of us and Luke.

This enabled us to chat and share experiences as Luke took us on a historical tour of the old town. The tour was well-structured and lasted 3.5 hours. Although, honestly, it flew by, it only felt like an hour. During the tour, we stopped at four local family-run tapas restaurants chosen because of their historical roots and longevity, some of which have been in operation for generations.

The menus were carefully chosen and paired with Spanish wine, Cava and Vermouth. Although beer and wine were also an option. As we ate each selection of tapas, we were told about the foods and their relevance to the region. And also why they were paired with each drink, so it was not only a great way to take in the city. But the perfect way to enjoy dinner in a historic city.

Moving between each taverna, Luke pointed out lots of historical features of the Gothic Quarter and how they fit into Spanish History. His passion and vibrancy brought history alive; he wasn’t just delivering a topic, he made it all so interesting and exciting. Exactly what you want when discovering a city.

Donig A Tour Is The Only Way To See A City

We have spent many breaks in Barcelona; it’s one of our favourite cities. However, we have spent a lot of time self-exploring, which is great, but to have a guide who knows and loves a region is priceless. We learned a great deal, met new people, and shared a truly wonderful experience. For us, this is the way forward and the best way to explore a city. I mean, you can sleep later, right?

Please note that we were given the tours as a gift.