Sites visited in our Barcelona Architecture Tours
Sites included in our Comtemporary architecture tour of Barcelona

Barcelona Architecture Tour:
Modern & Contemporary

PRIVATE BARCELONA ARCHITECTURE WALKING TOUR

The New Barcelona

Are you a contemporary architecture fan? Have you heard that some of the best contemporary architects in the world have been building a new Barcelona these last years and don’t want to miss them? Are you ready to go beyond the Gaudi sites and discover what’s new in the local architecture scene? Or maybe are you interested in urban development and how Barcelona is integrating sustainability values in its districts and architectural projects?

From the Olympic Games in 1992, Barcelona has been inviting world famous architects to embellish the city and equip it with modern facilities, contributing to create a fascinating modern and contemporary landscape in Barcelona… But their works aren’t usually too centrally located: you need to go out of the beaten track and do some research to find their locations. If you don’t have the time to do all this planning and want to take the most out of your short time in Barcelona but still see as much architecture as possible, then leave it in our hands!

If architecture is your passion and names such as Arata Isozaki, Jean Nouvel, Frank Gehry, Jacques Herzon, Miralles and Richard Rogers are definitely not strange to you, come with us exploring the latest architecture that is transforming Barcelona now. Plus this contemporary architecture tour of Barcelona will also introduce you to who are the Spanish emergent architecture promises! And if you are curious about sustainable architecture and urban planning, don’t miss our walking itinerary option.

HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR ARCHITECTURE TOURS OF BARCELONA

THE BARCELONA ARCHITECTURE WALKING TOUR COVERS:

VISITED AREAS:
– Glories square
– Poblenou 22@ District
– Diagonal Mar
– Forum of Cultures

Sites visited in our barcelona architecture walking tour

BUILDINGS THAT CAN BE INCLUDED, DEPENDING ON YOUR INTERESTS:

  • National Theater (Ricardo Bofill)
  • Auditorium (Rafael Moneo)
  • AGBAR Tower (Jean Nouvel)
  • Els Encants flee market venue (Fermín Vazquez)
  • Design Hub building (BMB)
  • Sustainable architecture examples
  • Parc Central del Poblenou (Jean Nouvel)
  • Me Hotel (Dominique Perrault)
  • Park by E. Miralles & B. Tagliabue
  • Blue Building by Herzog & Demeuron
  • Conventions Center (Josep Lluís Mateo)
  • And more…

THE BARCELONA ARCHITECTURE CHAUFFEURED TOUR COVERS:

VISITED AREAS:
– Olympic Village
– 1992 Olympic Ring
– 1929 World Fair
– Gran Via 2

Sites in our Architecture tour, Barcelona Spain

BUILDINGS THAT CAN BE INCLUDED, DEPENDING ON YOUR INTERESTS:

  • W Hotel (Ricardo Bofill)
  • Barceloneta Market
  • Gas Company Building (E. Miralles & B. Tagliabue)
  • St. Jordi stadium (Arata Isozaki)
  • Telecommunications antenna (S. Calatrava)
  • Mies van der Rohe Pavilion
  • Caixaforum renovation (A. Isozaki)
  • Arenas bullring refurbishment (Richard Rogers)
  • Trade Show Pavilion and Hotel (Toyo Ito)
  • Courthouse facilities (David Chipperfield)
  • Hotel (Richard Rogers)
  • And more works by other local architects.

WHY THIS IS THE BEST BARCELONA MODERN ARCHITECTURE TOUR

Understand how the 1992 Olympics marked a turning point for the city architecture.
Learn why Barcelona is one of the leading cities in sustainability.
See the works of the best international architecture stars.
Discover promising architects from Spain and their creative projects.
Adapt your tour to your energy levels, budget and interests.
And much more, in a private architecture tour just for you and your party!

TOUR FAQ

  • THESE TOURS RUN: Every day.
    SOME SITES CLOSED:
    – Sundays: Las Arenas Mall is closed and it can only be seen from outside.
  • TOUR LENGHT: 1.5 hours the Express tour, 4 hours the Walking and Chauffeured tours.
  • RECOMMENDED STARTING TIME:
    • MORNING TOURS: Anytime between 9AM and 11AM
      AFTERNOON TOURS: Anytime between 1PM and 2PM (Summertime until 4PM)
  • WHERE DO WE MEET? In Plaça de les Glories Catalanes for the walking tour. Your accommodation within the Barcelona city limits, for the chauffeured tour.
  • WHERE DO WE END? In the Forum area, for the walking tour. Anywhere of your choice within the Barcelona city limits for the chauffeured tour.
  • IS THERE A LUNCH STOP? No. You are welcome to book one extra hour to allow for a lunch stop on tour.
  • HOW DO WE MOVE AROUND? The walking tour is mostly walking, with the possibility of one tram ride depending on your energy levels and timing. In Chauffeured tours we use new air-conditioned Mercedes cars or vans with dedicated private driver.
  • ARE YOUR GUIDES ARCHITECTS? No. They are all licensed professional tour guides and they all hold a university degree in other backgrounds. However, we only choose for this tour the guides in our team with a special passion for architecture. They have enough knowledge and vocabulary to please architects visiting Barcelona, but can adapt to people that require less technical explanations.
  • DO WE GO INSIDE THE BUILDINGS? With some exceptions where we might be allowed into the entrance hall, all the buildings are seen from outside. We do walk around the parks, though.
  • HOW DOES THE EXPRESS TOUR WORK? The express tour is designed to give you a quick taste of the local contemporary architecture. We’ll discuss with you what are your favorite sites to set the right expectations and we’ll customize a walking tour that covers your main goals within 1.5 hours. The itinerary might include one taxi or tram ride, but it wouldn’t make sense to plan for more rides timewise.

REVIEWS FROM TRAVELERS LIKE YOU:

Woman on our Barcelona modern architecture tour

“Marta prepared a custom, 6 hour tour of modern architecture of Barcelona that was extremely well researched and organized. I LOVED the tour and Marta’s passion for her culture and the city in addition to being fun and easy going. I could have gone for another 6 hours!”

G_Z_10 (Vancouver, Canada)

TAILOR THIS ARCHITECTURE TOUR TO YOUR UNIQUE NEEDS

These tours work best for people who has a strong interest in contemporary architecture and that are happy to devote a whole morning exploring the New Barcelona.

If you are traveling with kids, this tour is not really child friendly because they are likely to get bored (but we can make a break for them at the park playgrounds of the walking itinerary). Instead, teens and young adults that are considering an architecture or design career might find it interesting.

If you have walking issues, the walking itinerary will be too tough for you but it can be done with a driver if necessary too.

If you use a wheelchair, both itineraries are wheelchair-friendly.

If you’d rather spend a whole day touring, ask us to combine both itineraries in a full day tour.

If you have more than one day in Barcelona, check out our other Barcelona architecture tours.

PRICING

This is a 100% private architecture tour, exclusive for you and your party. There is a base rate total per tour (no matter how many people you are), plus a per person rate to cover the entrance fees.

BASE RATE (paid once per tour):

EXPRESS

1.5-HR TOUR
€250
  • Custom itinerary
  • Licensed Tour Guide
  • Walking tour (optional rides)
new!

WALKING

4-HR TOUR
€350
  • Glories to Forum
  • Licensed Tour Guide
  • Walking + 1 tram ride

CHAUFFEURED

4-HR TOUR
€675
  • Waterfront to Gran Via 2
  • Licensed Tour Guide
  • Car or van with driver

CHANGE YOUR TOUR DATE UNLIMITED TIMES *
*Notifying us at least one week in advance. Click to learn more >>

WALKING ITINERARY:
No expected entrance fees.

CHAUFFEURED ITINERARY – OPTIONAL AND PAID ON SITE:
Mies van der Rohe Pavilion: €10/person – OPTIONAL

* Site ticket costs are given as an orientation only, as they can change without notice. Discounts might apply for students and/or seniors.

More questions?   Inclusions  —  Exclusions  —  FAQ  —  Contact   —  Cancellation Policy

OFTEN BOOKED TOGETHER:

MONTSERRAT & COLONIA GUELL TOUR

ALTERNATIVES TO THIS CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE TOUR OF BARCELONA:

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