Barcelona Historic Centre: Old Town & Gothic Quarter Walking Tour
Join us today where history and culture meet the Mediterranean and be enchanted by the contrast between the winding streets of the Gothic Quarter and the orderly Eixample, where past and present coexist seamlessly.
Basic Information
Total time
2h 30m
Language
English (check the calendar for availability)
Price
Our “Pay What You Wish” tours don’t have a fixed price — you decide how much the experience was worth. At the end of the tour, please make a fair contribution that reflects your satisfaction and appreciation for your guide’s work. Most guests give between €10 and €50 per person.
Meeting point
Behind the City Hall of Barcelona, Placa de Sant Miquel Nearest public transport: Metro Jaume I (L4 – Yellow Line), Metro Liceu (L3 – Green Line)
Additional info
☂︎ This tour is organised by Walkative Barcelona guides. Look for the guide with the yellow umbrella.
❗Our tours run in all weather conditions. High or low temperatures, rain, or snow are never a reason for us to cancel. We’re always here for you! The only reasons for cancellation are extreme weather conditions (such as heavy storms), a guide’s sudden illness, or if there are fewer than 5 registered participants. In such cases, we will always notify you using the contact information you provided when booking the tour.Booking rules
Booking is obligatory. Our “Pay What You Wish” tours are meant for individual travellers and small groups. Large groups (8 or more people) cannot join these tours, as they significantly affect the experience for others and the guide. For school trips, organised tours, or groups of friends, please book our paid option (18€ per person) or arrange a Private Tour. For more information or to schedule a group visit, please contact us directly.
About the tour
They say Barcelona was founded by either mythological Hercules or Carthaginian general Hamilcar Barca, father of Hannibal, one of the greatest military commanders of all times. So much the legends, the truth is that the city was a political center of the Catalan region for at least 2000 years since the Romans built their city there. Walking around the Barri Gotic, the Gothic Quarter you still see old walls and the grid of streets typical for Roman cities. An excellent harbour and a beautiful setting made Barcelona develop fast. The Old Town bears traces of all the powers that ruled it through the ages: the Romans, the Visigoths, the Moors and the Aragones. The concept of the city changed at the turn of the 19th and 20th century when Barcelona went through rapid urban development, architectural remodeling and became a center of a fascinating architectural style called Catalan modernism known around the world because of the works of the ingenious Antoni Gaudi. Standing against Francisco Franco Barcelona was devastated and severely punished. It was here, living opposite Franco, that George Orwell wrote his memoirs “Homage to Catalonia.” The development of the city was accelerated by the organization of the 1992 Summer Olympics (the Barcelona effect!). Today it is one of the most popular cities in the world combining rich history, culture, amazing works of artists like Pablo Picasso and Joan Miró and all the joys of the Mediterranean coast.
Walk with us through the labyrinth of small, winding streets and tranquil plazas of the Barcelona Old Town to discover its fascinating history, culture, dining and drinking scene. Take a chance to see the residence of Aragonese kings, seat of the Catalan government, ancient churches and palaces as well as one of the oldest synagogues in Europe. The Old Town went through some substantial restoration works in the late 19th and early 20th century and from a humble district changed into a major tourist destination. Hence, next to original Roman and medieval structures you will see some modern and neo-Gothic ones, like the beautiful Bishop’s Bridge or the facade of Barcelona Cathedral. All forming a unique and charming mix waiting there to be admired!
Highlights
- 1
Placa de Sant Miquel, behind the City Hall of Barcelona
A famously oval square filled with impressive architecture
- 2
Gothic Quarter
A maze of narrow streets, Roman ruins, and medieval charm that tells the city’s 2,000-year-old story
- 3
Casa Batlló
Gaudí’s colorful masterpiece, inspired by nature and myth, where bones, scales, and light dance together in a unique architectural symphony.
- 4
Casa Amatller
A Modernist gem by Josep Puig i Cadafalch, blending neo-Gothic detail with the elegance of early 20th-century bourgeois Barcelona.
- 5
Casa Lleó i Morera
An Art Nouveau marvel by Lluís Domènech i Montaner, celebrated for its lavish mosaics, sculpted lions, and floral motifs.
- 6
Plaça Catalunya
The heart of the city — a lively square connecting old and new Barcelona, always buzzing with people, pigeons, and energy.
- 7
Las Ramblas
The city’s most famous promenade, full of life, colors, flowers, and street performers — the pulse of everyday Barcelona.
- 8
King’s Square
A perfectly preserved medieval square that once hosted royal audiences and echoes with tales of the Crown of Aragon.
- 9
Bishop’s Bridge
A neo-Gothic bridge connecting two historic buildings — mysterious, photogenic, and wrapped in urban legend.
- 10
Sant Jaume Square
The political heart of Catalonia, framed by City Hall and the Palau de la Generalitat — where past and present meet in debate.
- 11
Plaça Nova
An ancient square by the Roman gates of Barcino, where centuries of history converge with lively modern culture.
- 12
Barcelona Cathedral
A stunning Gothic cathedral dedicated to Saint Eulalia, crowned with spires and filled with light, legends, and singing geese.
13Palau de la Generalitat
Seat of the Catalan government since the Middle Ages, an architectural treasure symbolizing Catalonia’s enduring identity.
Map
Behind the City Hall of Barcelona, Placa de Sant Miquel Nearest public transport: Metro Jaume I (L4 – Yellow Line), Metro Liceu (L3 – Green Line)
Our customers said about us
Barcelona
5.0Gaudi, Sagrada Familia & Modernism
Adria gave an informative and very interesting tour with personal insights. He was very helpful with answering questions and purchasing metro tickets etc Highly recommend
