The Gothic Quarter: Private Half-Day Tour with Barcelona Cathedral

Explore Barcelona's iconic Ramblas and the historic Gothic Quarter filled with spectacular architecture in Gothic style, including the remains of the Roman-era city walls, many medieval landmarks and Barcelona Cathedral, famous for its statues of gargoyles and other mythic creatures. Uncover the rich history of the gothic centre of Barcelona, which has developed since the Roman period to become the thriving capital of Catalonia that it is today.

On your private half-day tour, you will: 

• Explore the Gothic Quarter (El Barri Gòtic in Catalonian), one of the most exciting parts of the city as it’s home to some of Barcelona’s most famous attractions;
• Take a stroll down the world-famous La Rambla promenade, 
• See the remains of the ancient Roman city walls that rose to a full 60 feet and boasted 78 towers;
• Learn about the stories behind Barcelona landmarks and their long history;
• Try your luck at haggling in La Boquería marketplace, and see where locals shop for their produce and meats;
• Visit Placa Reial, a vibrant and beautiful square in the heart of the city, with Gaudi-designed lampposts and an incredible fountain that draws in locals and visitors alike;
• Walk through the Jewish Quarter of Barcelona, a small but vibrant district with several synagogues and other religious sights that honour the important role of Jewish merchants in medieval Barcelona;
• Discover sleepy churchyards, medieval alleyways and crumbling Gothic Palaces;
• Learn about the Roman beginnings of the Old Town, and see remnants of this lost past;
• Finish your tour with a guided visit to the majestic Barcelona Cathedral and its famous rooftop filled with gargoyles and mythical creatures.

The Gothic Quarter – also known as Barri Gòtic, is the area that stretches from La Rambla to Via Laietana, and from the Mediterranean seafront to Ronda de Sant Pere and is the centre of the old city of Barcelona. It is known as the Gothic Quarter, as it used to be the location of a Roman village and some of the remnants still remain. 

You will visit the Jewish Quarter, known as the Call, a collection of streets in Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter that was established by a group of Jewish merchants in the 13th century. This section of the area was established because this group of people weren’t welcome anywhere else on the mainland along with everyone else, they built their own space to live, build churches or synagogues and freely practice any religion they wanted in peace.

Your tour will end with entrance tickets and a guided tour of Barcelona Cathedral. The Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia is a gorgeous Gothic cathedral in the old centre of the bustling Catalan city; it is also the seat of the Archbishop of Spain. 

Construction of the Cathedral began at the end of the 13th century during the reign of King James II of Aragon and took around 150 years to complete. While the structure and internal decoration of the Cathedral were completed by the 15th century, its neo-Gothic façade was added at the end of the 19th century, covering the rather plain original exterior; the roof (which your tickets give you access to) was also adorned with an impressive range of gargoyles. 

Enjoy this masterpiece as the capstone to your highlights tour!

Tour duration
3 hours

Type of tour
Walking tour: no transportation is included

Attractions along this route:

Gothic Quarter
Barcelona’s oldest and most atmospheric district.

La Rambla
A bustling tree-line promenade through the heart of Barcelona.

Plaza Reial
This elegant square is a must-see in the Gothic quarter.

Plaça de Catalunya
The historic central point of Barcelona.

La Boqueria
This thriving market is bursting with Catalan culture and fantastic food.

Barcelona Cathedral
A magnificent Gothic cathedral in the old centre of Barcelona, and the seat of the Archbishop of Spain.

Placa del Rei
Meaning 'Kings Square' this 14th century medieval public square is in the Barri Gòtic of Barcelona.

Plaça de Sant Jaume
Plaça de Sant Jaume is the administrative heart of both the city and surrounding Catalonia.