Vegan in Barcelona: A Perfect Day with Sightseeing and Food
Barcelona is a must-visit city in Europe for anybody but especially for vegans. There are so many amazing sights to see and there are also so many great vegan restaurants. So, being vegan in Barcelona is super easy and you’ll get to experience some truly incredible culinary highlights.
You can definitely spend more than a day in Barcelona, I spent five weeks there as a matter of fact and still didn’t get bored of it. But if you only have one day, here is what I recommend should be on your itinerary for the day to have the best vegan in Barcelona day.
Before you get started
I advise you to download the official Sagrada Familia App before you set off. You can only buy tickets through the app and it’s gonna save you the hassle of having to download it when you’re standing in front of it. And while you’re at it buy your ticket, it’s gonna be the first stop after breakfast. They’re time-slot tickets and otherwise, you might have to wait a long time for the next available one. In high season you should book the tickets days in advance.
Don’t forget to bring your own headphones. The Sagrada Familia App contains an audio guide you can listen to on your phone and it’s more comfortable to listen to it via headphones.
Vegan Breakfast in Barcelona
A good breakfast is important, so you are fit for the rest of the day. My favourite all-vegan breakfast/brunch place is Cafe Equilibrium. It looks super cosy inside and it seems to be quite popular, so you might have to wait a bit for a table (or make a reservation beforehand).
We had the omelette, the cheese toasty, the pancakes and a brownie. I really enjoyed my omelette with a side of baked beans. A cheese toast is in general not my thing, but my boyfriend Jack said it tasted very nice as well. The pancakes were just the right amount of fluffy and I loved that they came with so many different fruits. The browny portion was huge and the mint leaves on top are a nice contrast to the rich dark chocolate flavour.
After you enjoyed a nice breakfast, let’s get to our vegan in Barcelona tour.
Marvel at La Sagrada Familia
Let’s start with the sight Barcelona is most famous for La Sagrada Familia. This landmark will be the highest catholic church in the world once completed. The church was designed by Antoni Gaudi and construction started in 1882.
It is the most unique church I’ve ever seen from the outside and the inside. The entrance price is not cheap, in a matter of fact it’s the most expensive church I’ve ever visited but I think it’s worth it. If you only buy one entrance ticket in Barcelona it should be for Sagrada Familia because. you cannot experience this anywhere else.
If you love Gaudi’s work, there are many other buildings by Antoni Gaudi in Barcelona you might want to check out.
Walk down Passeig de Gràcia and La Rambla
Passeig de Gràcia is a big shopping street in Barcelona. The street might be worth it on its own if you like shopping. Even if don’t like shopping that much, like me, still walk down Passeig de Gràcia because two buildings by Antoni Gaudi are located on this street. Casa Milla and Casa Battló should, at least from the outside, not be missed. Those buildings are two of Gaudi’s most iconic works in Barcelona, besides the Sagrada Familia. You can visit both if you want but it won’t be cheap. If you decide to visit Casa Battló you might want to read if the expensive ticket for Casa Battló is worth it.
Before you get to the famous La Rambla, you have to cross Plaça de Catalunya. You can rest at the square for a moment while you watch the hustle and bustle of the city. In case you’re afraid of pigeons you should avoid this square at all costs, I’ve never seen so many pigeons in one place.
After crossing the street, you’ve reached La Rambla. This famous street in Barcelona is in my opinion completely overrated but you can make up your own mind. Especially on this street, you should watch out for pickpockets. If you’re vegan in Barcelona, or even if you’re not, you can get fresh fruit juice from one of the vendors at La Rambla or if you want to save some money you can take a quick detour to the Mercat de la Boqueria. The big market is just off La Rambla and there you can get same-looking fruit juices for a cheaper price.
Get lost in the Gothic Quarter and El Born
The Gothic Quarter is Barcelona’s oldest part of town and the best way to explore it is to get lost in the small alleys. Do not stick to the bigger streets, otherwise, you’re gonna miss the charm of the place. Right next to the Gothic Quarter is the El Born neighbourhood which is just as beautiful to explore.
In the northern part of the Gothic Quarter, there are four sights worth visiting. You can also walk underneath the Pont del Bisbe a bridge connecting two buildings. Stand in front of the cathedral of Barcelona. Check out an art piece by Pablo Picasso for free. Look into the pictures behind “the kiss”, a mural made out of thousands of tiny pictures.
Grab a Vegan Snack
Being vegan in Barcelona is amazing, it’s super easy to find a vegan snack. There are multiple vegan snack places in the gothic quarter. My favourite places for a vegan snack during the day are Santa Vegana and The Vegan Corner. There are way more vegan restaurants in this area but a lot of them are closed during the afternoon. Leave room for dessert though, because the best place is still to come.
If you like vegan chocolate bars you have to go to Hanai Vegana, they have the most amazing chocolate treats I’ve ever had. They taste like Twix, Snickers and all the other chocolate bars you might be missing since going vegan, but better. And the best part is that they are all made in-house. Don’t go there too late in the day as they might be sold out.
Feel tiny next to the Arc the Triumph
Everyone has heard of the Arc the Triumph in Paris and in Rome. You might have heard that Barcelona has an arc the triumph as well, but I actually didn’t know about it until I came to Barcelona. The arc the triumph in Barcelona is located near the Parc de la Ciutadella and on the way to the park it’s definitely worth stopping at the arc. Standing underneath it makes you feel so small, it’s difficult to even get the Arc the Triumph and yourself into a picture.
Parc de la Ciutadella
The city park is the perfect place to relax on the grass under a tree. You can relax a bit after the walking you’ve already done today. In case you want a thin blanket to sit on there are multiple salespeople offering colourful towels. After you’re well-rested head to the Cascada del Parc de la Ciutadella. This monument and fountain make for the perfect photo opportunity in the park.
Enjoy some beach time
In every coastal city, I feel compelled to visit the beach. The beach in Barcelona is the perfect place to relax in the sand, go for a swim, walk along the shoreline or do some exercise. Usually, I don’t do much sport, but seeing all the sporty people in Barcelona doing their exercise outside in the fresh air even made me want to start doing exercise.
Get an amazing vegan dinner in Barcelona
There are numerous amazing places for eating vegan in Barcelona. If you’re only spending one or two days in the city I recommend getting some vegan tapas. When I planned this itinerary for a perfect day of being vegan in Barcelona I went for dinner at Bubita Sangria Bar near the beach. By now it relocated to El Born, I’m sure the food there is just as amazing as at their old location, it just means some more walking to get there. You can get some traditional vegan Paella or choose from a wide selection of vegan tapas, they even have a vegan shrimp cocktail! Two other amazing vegan Tapas in Barcelona are Tulsi and Chez Kessler. We went to Tulsi twice and had some really tasty paella and tapas. Both times we sat outside and the lighting outside in the evening is horrible, so the pictures I took of the food would not do it justice, so I’m not gonna show any here, you just have to trust me it was really good. Chez Kessler is a good option if you want more elegant tapas, the tapas there looked like a gourmet restaurant.
Watch the Lightshow at the Magic Fountain
In front of Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya, which is worth the visit if you have the time for it, you can find the Magic Fountain of Montjuïs. Every evening in summer they do a light and music show at the fountain. The time of the show depends on the time of the year you visit, so check the times for the Magic Fountain show. The most comfortable place to see the fountain show is from the stairs because you can have a seat and don’t have to stand so long. For a good seated spot, you have to come early though. If you don’t want to get soaked in water it’s best not to stand too close to the fountain. You can bring your own drinks and snacks or buy some drinks from a vendor’s tray.
Map to Vegan in Barcelona
This itinerary is a lot and your feet will be aching in the evening but it is doable on foot. Here you can find all the stops of the tour. All the stops are on a route, so it’s best to walk to the recommended places in order.
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Best time to visit Barcelona
Barcelona is a. very popular destination so it can get crowded, like really crowded. That’s why I would recommend visiting Barcelona in spring or fall. The weather is still very nice, actually it’s even better than in summer since it’s not too hot and there are way fewer people.
I’ve never been to Barcelona in winter, but I’ve been to a festival in Barcelona and they know how to party! So I’m sure it’s a great place to spend new years.
Day trips from Barcelona you might like
You can easily spend multiple days in Barcelona and still explore something new every day. But in case you have seen enough of Barcelona and want to explore the surroundings, check out these day trips: