What to do in Barcelona at night
If you’re visiting the vibrant Catalan capital anytime soon, you may be wondering exactly what to do at night in Barcelona?
Well, that’s where I come in. I’ve gone ahead and asked some of my fellow travel bloggers to list their favourite fun things to do in Barcelona at night, to hopefully inspire you to get out after dark and experience a difference side to beautiful Barcelona.
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1. Font Màgica | Magic Fountains
By Vicki Franz from Vickiviaja
Font Màgica de Montjuïc is one of the most beautiful sights of Barcelona and one of the best things to do in Barcelona at night. Therefore it should definitely be part of every Barcelona itinerary. Depending on the season, there is light, and water shows several times a week, which you can admire here at the magic fountains.
Be sure to check the performance times beforehand and be there on time in order to get a space in the front row – because it gets crowded. The performance lasts around an hour, but of course, you don’t have to watch it completely. However, I recommend planning at least half an hour to be enchanted by the beautiful play of water and colours.
The Magic Fountains are located at the foot of Montjuïc, one of the city’s most famous mountains, near the harbour. The Font Màgica show can, therefore, be perfectly combined with a visit to Montjuïc Castle.
The best way to marvel at the magical water show is to take the metro or bus to Plaza España. From there, it is only a few meters walking to the fountains. The Magic Fountains should definitely be top of your list on what to see in Barcelona at night.
2. Take a Food Tour
By Amber Hoffman from Best Spain Food Tours
Barcelona, is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Spain. From beaches to stunning architecture, it has something for every traveler. It’s also one of the best food cities in the world.
For travellers coming to Barcelona for its world class food, the eating doesn’t stop when the sun goes down. In fact, dining in Spain, especially in Barcelona, really gets going at night.
With hundreds of bars and restaurants to choose from in Barcelona it can be difficult to find the best food to eat. One way to solve this problem is by taking a food tour.
There is an abundance of food tour operators in Barcelona offering a wide range of tour options. With private tours, group tours, food focused tours and wine focused tours, travellers to Barcelona can easily find the right tour to experience dining or drinking in Barcelona.
The night time food tours not only expose travellers to Barcelona’s incredible cuisine, but they offer a glimpse into how residents of Barcelona dine out. After a day of museums and sightseeing, make sure to save some energy to explore the city at night on a Barcelona food tour.
3. Flamenco at Jazz Si Club:
By Caitlin Galer-Unti from The Vegan Word
While flamenco may not be from Barcelona (its origins are hundreds of kilometres away in Andalusia), you can catch a top-notch flamenco performance at Jazz Si club in the Raval area. The club also hosts live jazz and blues nights if you’re a music aficionado and makes for a great night out.
Avoid those flamenco flyers being pushed on you by touts as you walk down the Ramblas; the performances tend to be aimed solely at tourists and overpriced.
Instead, if you’re a music fan, head to this cosy bar tucked away down a side street and mostly frequented by locals. It’s associated with a music school and has been running for more than 25 years, putting on live jazz, blues and flamenco nights, along with the occasional salsa evening, daily since.
Beforehand, you may want to grab dinner at vegetarian eatery Sesamo nearby, which serves up some of the best veggie eats in the city (for a full guide to vegan Barcelona, see here).
Prices at Jazz Si are affordable, with entry starting at 6€ a head with a drink included. You can check their website for a list of upcoming gigs here: Taller De Musics.
Definitely one of the best Barcelona night-time experiences!
4. Dinner at Teresa Carles
By Wendy Werneth of The Nomadic Vegan
With its cosy atmosphere and dim lighting, Teresa Carles is perfect for a romantic dinner for two. And it’s an especially great choice if one or both of you is vegan or vegetarian.
This long-standing restaurant has been serving up delicious food since 1979, and it’s one of the most popular vegetarian eateries in Barcelona. Despite the chic and stylish decor, prices here are surprisingly affordable. Reservations are definitely recommended, as it does fill up quickly.
Centrally located just around the corner from Plaça de Catalunya, it’s convenient for stopping in after a long day of sightseeing. The staff are very attentive and friendly, and the menu includes a huge variety of options.
Two of my favourites are the nachos and the guilt-free chocolate cake! And if you love the dining experience at Teresa Carles, check out some of the other restaurants owned by the same family. In Barcelona there’s Vegetalia, and elsewhere in Spain there’s Paradis in Lleida and Baobab in Zaragoza.
5. Drinks at Dr. Stravinsky
By Lauren Cirkot from Always Find Adventure
Dr. Stravinsky, recently named #25 on a list of the top bars in the world, is the must-experience cocktail bar when you’re in the labyrinth of streets in the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona. Yet another one of the best things to do at night in Barcelona.
This is a great place to either start your night of bar hopping, or getting a pre-dinner drink, or if you’re lucky, an after-dinner drink. The ambiance feels almost like a speakeasy, with the floor-to-ceiling shelves that have bottles of herbs flavouring different liquors, velvet curtains, and dimmed lighting. The bottles and flasks at the bar and upstairs make you feel like you’re in a vintage laboratory.
The cocktails are carefully crafted and very original. The owners pride themselves on using natural and homemade ingredients and mixers to flavour their drinks, including their own tonic water, kombucha and kefir. Some drinks even include herbs, broccoli, or a pinecone!
Your drink will be strong but delicious, and it’s worth it for the experience. I recommend arriving there on the earlier side because as the night goes on, the line starts to form.
6. Check out a concert in Barcelona at the Palau de la Musica
By Noel Morata from Travel Photo Discovery
One of the fun things to do in Barcelona at night, is to go to a local concert and the best place to do that is the amazing concert hall called the Palau de la Musica.
Located in the historic part of the city, this architectural masterpiece glows at night with gorgeous stained glass, lit up details that magically invite you to enter and it even gets better inside. The interiors are rich with ornate craftsmanship and lovely details that evoke an otherworldly experience and when you do enter the concert hall, there is a gigantic stained-glass chandelier that truly is out of this world.
Check out what’s being performed immediately when you arrive so you can make a reservation because events fill out quickly at the Palau de la Musica, including a local dance program that makes an appearance regularly and is really spectacular.
When you have the time, take a break at the lovely cafe serving local favourites and delicious little Catalan bites. It is also a beautiful space and fun to people watch during intermission. When you are visiting the rest of Barcelona, check out my post here on the best viewpoints of Barcelona from above here for inspiration and spots to view the city and take some fun selfies.
7. Opera at El Liceu
By Elisa from World in Paris
One of the classiest things to do in Barcelona when it gets dark is to attend an opera show at el Liceu de Barcelona. El Liceu is the opera theatre of the Catalan capital, and it is located on the Rambles de Barcelona, not far from Plaça Catalunya or Plaça Reial.
El Liceu was in the 19th century the place to go of the Catalan bourgeoisie, the place to see and to be seen. Today the theatre is a more popular option, with affordable prices and a more relaxed dress code.
Historically El Liceu is a Wagnerian opera theatre, meaning that they are world known for their opera performances written by Richard Wagner. Of course, visitors can also see operas by other important composers, the picture corresponds to Puccini’s Turandot. Actually, the agenda at El Liceu is always well-curated and very interesting!
After the show, we recommend having a last drink at Café de l’Opera, just in front of the theatre. This is the perfect place to exchange impressions about the show, other cultural events, and local gossip.
8. A night out in Barceloneta
By Mal Hellyer from Raw Mal Roams
A visit to Barcelona cannot be complete until you spend a night out in this fascinating city! I used to live in Barcelona and have many great memories of some epic nights out. I recommend the Barceloneta beach area. It’s an awesome location central to some best restaurants, bars and clubs including Opium del Mar, Shoko and Pacha and it’s right on the most popular beach in Barcelona.
Start the night in one of the chic seafood restaurants with some great sea views. As the night progresses, make your way to Shoko for a casual drink. They’ve got some outdoor sitting right on the beach, which is heated and covered up in the winter. The vibe is great both for couples and group of friends. At about 11 pm, the clubs start filling with people and about midnight, you should get ready to hit the dance floor. Check in advance, for any special events and themed parties the night clubs may be holding.
9. Visit Bunkers del Carmel
By Lucile from LucileHR.com
A view of Barcelona from above is one of the things you shouldn’t miss doing when you’re in the area. And there’s no better place to enjoy a magnificent 360-degree view of this city than in Bunkers del Carmel.
Bunkers del Carmel is the perfect spot to chill after exploring Barcelona. The area is basically the ruins of bunkers, where artillery was installed during the Spanish Civil War. Located atop the hill of Turó de la Rovira, you can enjoy panoramic scenes, including the sea, the Montjuic Hill and Sagrada Familia.
Despite the majestic view of Barcelona it can offer, Bunkers del Carmel remains unspoiled. It can be the perfect place if you want some solitude or a moment of meditation. It is also an ideal spot to experience a romantic sunset. It’s open 24/7, so a picnic in this location will be a fantastic idea.
You can easily access this viewpoint as there are several options for public transport. By Metro, you can take the yellow line to Alfons X or Guinardó or the blue line to El Carmel or El Coll stations. By bus, you can take V17. Another option is to take bus 24 from Passeig de Gracia or Plaza Catalunya and get off at Carrer de Muhlberg. From there, enjoy a 15-minute walk to the Bunkers.
If you are looking for a unique experience in Barcelona that doesn’t cost a penny, visiting the Bunkers del Carmel is a must.
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Very nice post, I need to do more of these things and places at night time in Barcelona
This was an awesome post! I really enjoyed sharing my tip here and reading the other’s suggestions. Will save this for the next time I’m in Barcelona 🙂