Hey there Reader!

If you're in the middle of planning a trip to Barcelona, you might be wondering whether you need to book activities in advance or whether you can wing it and see how things go when you're here.

I usually prefer a mixture of the two, if you plan too much then you don't have any room for spontaneous activities or unforeseen delays. You might miss out on something you amazing you just found out about!

But, if you don't book anything then you might not be able to see or do what you want. Tickets for popular attractions in Barcelona can and do sell out, sometimes days or weeks in advance, so don't miss out on what you really want to do!

What You Should Book in Advance

I usually use GetYourGuide to book skip-the-line tickets and tours as you get the tickets straight to your mobile phone instantly, and you can compare prices, reviews and inclusions for similar tours so you can make the most informed decisions.

Not only that, but you can also cancel or rearrange most activities up to 24 hours before the tour begins, so if your plans change then you have some flexibility. (But check the cancellation policy carefully as some entry tickets are non-refundable, including some of the top attractions below)

Solo travellers may be able to bag individual tickets at short notice, but the larger your group, the further in advance you should book to guarantee your preferred entry time.

These are some of the most popular attractions that I highly recommend booking in advance:

The Sagrada Familia

It used to be possible to buy tickets for La Sagrada Familia on the day of your visit, which meant huge queues. However, now there is no ticket office at La Sagrada Familia, and all entry tickets MUST BE BOUGHT ONLINE.​

GetYourGuide is an official ticket agent for Sagrada Familia, so you know the tickets are legit. Unfortunately, Sagrada Familia entry tickets aren't refundable, and you have to choose a specific time to enter.

Once you have your trip booked, I'd recommend booking a month in advance, especially if you only have a short time in the city. Sometimes the cathedral is closed to the public for special events, or in busy times tickets sell out sooner than you might expect, so don't risk missing out!

In some cases, if there are no standard entry tickets left on the day you want you may be able to book a tour, as tour companies block a certain number of tickets every day, which will be more expensive but could be worth it to see inside this incredible building.

• ​Buy your Sagrada Familia Entry Tickets​
• ​Book a Sagrada Familia Tour​

Camp Nou and FC Barcelona Museum

Camp Nou is currently closed for major renovation works, but you can still visit the FC Barcelona Museum and catch a glimpse of the works from a construction viewpoint of the stadium as part of your visit.

The FC Barcelona Museum is one of the most-visited museums in Europe, so advance booking is definitely recommended.

If you're visiting in the off-season then booking a couple of days in advance should be sufficient, but if you're visiting over the summer or a weekend then take a look at availability at least a week before to get an idea of how busy it is.

Tickets are non-refundable.

• ​Book tickets for the FC Barcelona Museum​

Park Guell

Park Guell is another very popular attraction in Barcelona that frequently sells out, and is again non-refundable. I'd recommend booking at least a week in advance, but try to check the weather forecast before you book a time and day, as visiting on a sunny day is much better than a wet one!

Again, tickets are non-refundable, and you may be able to buy tickets with a guided tour even if the standard entry tickets are sold out.

• ​Get your Park Guell Entry Tickets ​
• ​Book a guided tour of Park Guell​

Casa Batllo and La Pedrera

These Gaudi houses are also popular attractions in Barcelona but don't usually sell out unless it is the peak of summer or a specific holiday. Certain times of day can sell out, so if you have a set time you'd like to visit then it's best to book in advance to get your preferred entry time.

Tickets are non-refundable.

• ​Book tickets for Casa Batllo​
• ​Book Tickets for La Pedrera (Casa Mila)​

Other Unique Experiences

Due to a limited number of spaces available, special tours or experiences such as cooking classes, food tours or live performances should also booked as far in advance as you feel comfortable.

In general, food tours, cooking classes and other similar group activities have more flexible cancellation policies than the entry tickets above, so if you need to cancel then you often can.

Changing the date could also be possible if there is availability on the new date you want.

Some of my favourite foodie experiences in Barcelona include:

• ​Devour Tours: Tastes and Traditions of Barcelona Food Tour​
• ​El Born/Gothic Quarter Wine and Tapas Bar Tour​
• ​Tapas Walking Tour with Food, Wine, and History​
• ​Paella Cooking Experience & Boqueria Market Tour​
• ​Half-Day Spanish Cooking Class & Boqueria Market Tour​

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Don't Forget to Join Our Facebook Group

Our Why Visit Barcelona Travel Tips group just hit 300 members, so come and join us! You can ask any questions you have about planning a trip to Barcelona, from when to visit, where to stay, how to get there, what to do - anything you can think of!

Of course, you can always hit reply and ask me your questions by email, but the group is a great place to chat about all things Barcelona, so I hope to see you there too!

Happy Travels!

Claire x

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