Barcelona is home to the most Instagrammed landmark in Spain.
Can you guess what it is?
No, it has nothing to do with football – it’s the basilica of the Sagrada Familia in the city of Barcelona.
The most famous work of master Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí is incredible for two reasons:
- It’s the most visited site in all of Spain
- It’s still under construction, and has taken longer to build than the Egyptian pyramids
Can you imagine that a country’s most photographed landmark is still a building site?
In the stunning city of Barcelona, it barely gets a second thought before you take an obligatory selfie of you, your loved one and/or your friends and family.
Below, we’ve gathered together the 10 most beautiful places in Barcelona for taking a selfie.
(We’ve included the hashtags too, for some instant Instagram inspiration.)
1. Sagrada Familia – #sagradafamilia (2.6 million posts)
The Basilica de la Sagrada Familia is Spain’s most visited site, and its hashtag has the most posts of any landmark in the country.
The church’s structure is due for completion in 2026.
But visitors can access the nave, crypt, museum, shop and the Passion and Nativity steeples – only trips up the steeples require a prior reservation and ticket purchase.
The Sagrada Familia is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places in Barcelona, and selfies are sublime from all angles.
The most popular spot for a selfie however is from the Plaça de Gaudi. From here, you can snap a stunning photograph of the church’s entrance over a body of water and green pine trees.
2. El Petó de Joan Fontcuberta – #elbeso (60k posts)
The mural popularly known as ‘El Beso’ (The Kiss) is by far Barcelona’s most popular public work of art on Instagram.
It also provides the backdrop for one of Barcelona’s most romantic selfies.
Photographer Joan Fontcuberta gathered together 4,000 photographs celebrating the tricentenary of the Spanish War of Succession in 2014 – Fontcuberta arranged the photographs to form an image of a seductive kiss.
The mural is officially called ‘El mundo nace en cada beso’ (the world is born in every kiss).
You can find it in the Plaza de Isidre Nonell, in the Ciutat Vella district of Barcelona.
3. Catedral de Barcelona – #barcelonacathedral (48k posts)
The Barcelona Cathedral gets much less attention than the Sagrada Familia – but it’s still one of the most beautiful places in Barcelona on Instagram.
You can snap a stunning selfie in front of the steps leading to one of Europe’s most famous gothic cathedrals.
The Carrer del Dr. Joaquim Pou is also a popular photographic destinations in Barcelona. The intricate spire of the Barcelona Cathedral dominates the southern end of the street.
When the morning sun illuminates the gothic spire from behind, the results are stunning.
4. El Pont del Bisbe – #pontdelbisbe (4k posts)
The Pont del Bisbe is one of those photo opportunities that most visitors have a selfie of without even knowing its name.
The 1928 marbled bridge covers a gap of mere metres over the Carrer del Bisbe in Barcelona.
But it does so in such style, and with such a medieval flair, that it cries out for a photograph opportunity. The Pont del Bisbe is just metres behind the Barcelona Cathedral and is a must-see on any trip to Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter in the Ciutat Vella.
5. Parc Güell – #parcguell (280k posts)
Parc Güell is high up on the list of the most beautiful places in Barcelona.
And there are so many selfie spots we could write an article dedicated to Gaudí’s most famous outdoor public park.
Here are a few beautiful spots to take a photograph in brief:
- Viaducts. Gaudí loved to built organic forms into his architecture, and this is exemplified by the path under the viaducts in Parc Güell with its columns, arches and rays of light in between.
- Sala Hipóstila. The columns in the Sala Hipóstila are much more classical in feel, but with stunning mosaics on the ceiling and a play of light to make a magnificent backdrop for a selfie.
- Plaza de la Naturaleza. Located directly above the Sala Hipóstila in the Plaza de la Naturaleza – probably the most famous photo spot in Parc Güell. The curved serpentine bench is the longest in the world and offers panoramic views over the fairytale Casa del Guarda and Barcelona city itself.
If you’re planning to photograph stunning spots in Parc Güell, make sure to get in before the crowds or in the off-season for uninterrupted panoramas in one of the most beautiful places in Barcelona.
6. Tibidabo – #tibidado (415k posts)
Tibidabo is the highest hill in the Serra de Collserola which overlooks Barcelona.
You can’t go wrong with a photograph facing either the Sagrat Cor church or the panoramic view of Barcelona behind.
7. Parc de la Ciutadella – #parcdelaciutadella (111k posts)
The Parc de la Ciutadella is central Barcelona’s greenest space.
The park borders the Ciutat Vella district and is home to the city zoo, the Palau del Parlament de Catalunya and many museums.
Undoubtedly the most famous feature is the fountain (font de la cascada) designed by Josep Fontserè – and, so the rumour goes, a young Antoni Gaudí. The fountain and gold-leaf Greek goddess of the dawn, Aurora.
8. Arc del Triomf – #arcdeltriomf (10k posts)
Yes – Barcelona has its own version of the French Arc de Triomphe.
The intricate archway is one of the most beautiful places in Barcelona, and a fantastic destination for a photo. The Arc del Triomf is located just steps from the Parc de la Ciutadella and the pedestrian Passeig de Lluís Company means you won’t have your background obscured by car traffic.
9. Palau de la Musica Catalana – #palaudelamusicacatalana (37k posts)
The Palau de la Música Catalana was designed by Barcelona’s second-most famous architect – Lluís Domènech i Montaner.
Domènech i Montaner built the stunning concert hall situated in the Ciutat Vella district, and just streets from the Arc del Triomf. The stage itself is the most majestic photo opportunity, but the art nouveau pillars and entrance are more than worthy of a selfie.
The Palau de la Música Catalana is open for visits, guided tours as well as concerts.
10. Bunkers del Carmel – #bunkersdelcarmel (60k posts)
Bunkers del Carmel is by far the most popular spot for a selfie with panoramic views over Barcelona in the background.
The Bunkers del Carmel allow for a 360º city view on a 262m hill in the Horta-Guinardó district of Barcelona. It is so called for the anti-aircraft weaponry stationed there during the Spanish Civil War.
The site was unknown until recent years, and the buildings left behind are unkempt and popular with graffiti artists.
Nevertheless, for a selfie over Barcelona that captures the city’s beauty and urban style, you can’t go wrong with the Bunkers del Carmel.
(For a more romantic viewpoint, try the Mirador de Mundet popular for its swing hanging from a tree branch.)
That concludes our list of the 10 most beautiful places in Barcelona for selfies!
