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
„Pay what you wish” tours do not have a fixed price. It is up to you to evaluate your guide’s work and reward it. Some people give 10€, others 50€ depending on their satisfaction and abilities.
Additional info
☂︎ This tour is organised by Walkative Barcelona guides. Look for the guide with the yellow umbrella.
❗Our tours run no matter the weather. High or low temperatures, rain or snow is not a reason for us to cancel our tours. We are always here for you. The only reason for cancellations are extreme weather conditions (like heavy storms…), guide's sudden sickness or no minimum number of people (5) to run the tour, but we will always let you know using the data you provided during registration for the tour.Booking rules
Booking is obligatory. Our pay as you wish tours are designed for individual travellers and small groups. We don’t accept parties of more than 7 people on them. If you travel in a party of 8 or more (school groups, bigger groups of friends etc.), please choose a paid option of 18€ per person or book a Private Tour. For more information on the latter, please contact us.
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.
