61 Inspiring Barcelona Quotes Celebrating Catalonia’s Jewel

Situated on the northeastern coast of Spain, Barcelona exudes culture, creativity, and energy. This city, renowned for its architecture, streets, and history, captivates both travelers and locals.

In this collection, we explore Barcelona through inspiring quotes reflecting its unique spirit. From Antoni Gaudí’s works to the vibrant atmosphere of La Rambla, these Barcelona quotes glimpse into Catalonia’s jewel.

Barcelona Bucket List: 10 Unmissable Must-Sees!


Before we get into quotes about Barcelona, here are 10 Barcelona’s must-sees:

1. Sagrada Família: Explore the iconic Sagrada Família, a masterpiece by Antoni Gaudí, known for its intricate design and captivating interior.

2. Gothic Quarter: Get lost in the historic Gothic Quarter, filled with medieval streets and architectural wonders dating back centuries.

3. Park Güell: Experience Gaudí’s creativity at Park Güell, a park adorned with colorful mosaics and unique sculptures offering panoramic views of Barcelona.

4. La Rambla: Take a stroll along La Rambla, Barcelona’s famous boulevard bustling with activity, from street vendors to performers.

5. Barceloneta Beach: Relax on the sandy shores of Barceloneta Beach, where you can enjoy the Mediterranean sun and swim in the clear blue waters.

6. Picasso Museum: Discover Picasso’s early works at the Picasso Museum, housed in medieval palaces in the Born district.

7. Montserrat: Journey to Montserrat, home to a Benedictine monastery and breathtaking mountain views.

8. Tapas Tour: Delight in Barcelona’s culinary scene with a tapas tour, sampling a variety of small plates at local eateries.

9. Camp Nou Stadium: Immerse yourself in the atmosphere of Camp Nou Stadium, home to FC Barcelona, for a glimpse into the world of football.

10. Magic Fountain of Montjuïc: End your day with the mesmerizing light and water show at the Magic Fountain, located at the base of Montjuïc Hill.

1. “Just close your eyes And let’s pretend we’re dancing in the street In Barcelona…”Ed Sheeran

2. “I wrote every day between the ages of 12 and 20 when I stopped because I went to Barcelona, where life was too exciting to write.”Colm Tóibín

3. “Barcelona is my life, and I do not plan to leave.” — Gerard Pique

4. “Barcelona didn’t try to live at the same pace as other global cities. It moved to the ticking of its own clock and everyone accepted it.” — Sarah Dayan

5. “Allow me to state here how much I love Barcelona, an admirable city, a city full of life, intense, a port open to the past and future.” — Charles-Édouard Jeanneret

6. “But if there was no Barcelona, why would you get out of bed in the morning?” — Ray Hudson

Barcelona Cathedral / Barcelona Quotes

Intrepid Quips Tidbit:

Barcelona Cathedral, also called the Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia, was built over several centuries, starting in the 13th and finishing in the 15th century. Its intricate facade and towering spires dominate the Gothic Quarter. Once you are inside, you will be amazed by impressive stained glass windows and ornate chapels dedicated to various saints. Make sure to climb to the rooftop for panoramic vistas of the city.

7. “I went directly to Barcelona: fountain of courtesy, shelter of strangers, hospice to the poor, land of the valiant, avenger of the offended, reciprocator of firm friendship, a city unique in its location and beauty. And although the events that befell me there are not pleasing, but very grievous, I bear them better simply for having seen Barcelona.”Miguel de Cervantes

8. “Barcelona is a beautiful city. I love the buildings and the architecture and always enjoy being close to that. It makes sense as an art person to work in places like that, it always feels nice and creative.”Kim Bodnia

9. “Here in Barcelona, it’s the architects who built the buildings that made the city iconic who are the objects of admiration – not a bunch of half-witted monarchs.” — Julie Burchill

10. “Barcelona is an open and multicultural city. It’s brimming with a very special creative energy. If you pay attention, you may be easily inspired by the places and people living there.”Rosalia

11. “I’d love to be popular in Barcelona. That sounds like a fun job.” — Bobby Heenan

12. “Barcelona I still long to hold her once more, oh My boots of leather From Europe I gather you know, know Every time you have to go Shut my.” — George Ezra

13. “Barcelona is Gaudí’s.” — Kamand Kojouri

Park Güell / Barcelona Quotes

Intrepid Quips Tidbit:

Antoni Gaudí, an acclaimed Catalan architect, left a lasting impact on Barcelona’s architectural landscape. His renowned works, such as the Sagrada Família and Park Güell, are iconic symbols of the city’s cultural heritage. Gaudí’s distinctive style, characterized by organic shapes and intricate details

14. “You’d have a hard time finding anything better than Barcelona for food, as far as being a hub. Given a choice between Barcelona and San Sebastián to die in, I’d probably want to die in San Sebastián.” — Anthony Bourdain

15. “Barcelona is one of my favorite cities in the world. The fashion and people are just so effortlessly cool.”Leigh Lezark

16. “Barcelona is a city of contrasts, a city that offers a blend of traditional and modern, where the old and new coexist harmoniously.” — Unknown

17. “Human work cannot exceed the Divine, so the Sagrada Família will be 170 metres high, 3 metres less than the mountain of Montjuïc.”Antoní Gaudi

18. “We crossed spacious streets, with buildings resembling palaces, in La Rambla promenade ; the shops were well illuminated and there was movement and life… I did not decide to go to sleep, even though I wished to, so I could rise early and contemplate, in daylight, this city, unknown to me: Barcelona, capital of Catalonia.”Hans Christian Andersen

19. “Even the moon was embarrassed by the beauty of Barcelona.” Andrew Barger

20. “Barcelona… a city that bears the scars and dreams of a turbulent history.” — Carlos Ruiz Zafón

Roman Gate and Placa Nova, Barri Gothic District / Barcelona Quotes

Intrepid Quips Tidbit:

The Barri Gòtic district, also known as the Gothic Quarter, is a historic neighborhood in Barcelona, Spain. It is one of the city’s oldest and most atmospheric areas, featuring narrow medieval streets, ancient buildings, and remnants of Roman walls and columns. The Gothic Quarter is home to several significant landmarks, including the Barcelona Cathedral, Plaça del Rei, and the Picasso Museum.

21. “Barcelona is my California.”Baaldo

22. “By day the old area of Barcelona is bustling, full of shouting, hammering, drilling and shutters being pulled up and down. You listen out for sounds. If you want a replacement gas cylinder you wait for the sound of the delivery man hitting a cylinder with a piece of metal in the street.” — Colm Tóibín

23. “With her enchanting songs, her rare beauty, and clever tricks, this wild ‘wanderess’ ensnared my soul like a gypsy-thief, and led me foolish and blind to where you find me now. The first time I saw her, fires were alight. It was a spicy night in Barcelona. The air was fragrant and free.”Roman Payne

24. “Barcelona is the type of city where you can leave your accommodation in the morning and explore all day. On a typical day, you may be taking the subway, waiting in lines at busy tourist attractions, wandering through museums and romantic neighbourhoods, and sitting down for food and drinks at one of the many tapas bars before heading out to an upscale restaurant. Your outfits will work best if they can take you from day to night.” — Anastasia Pash

25. “Lost and rollin’, driftin’ loosely on my own through Barcelona.” — Weezer

26. “And Barcelona. You should see Barcelona. It is still comic opera. First, it was the paradise of the crackpots and the romantic revolutionists. Now it is the paradise of the fake soldier. The soldiers who like to wear uniforms, who like to strut and swagger and wear red-and-black scarves. Who like everything about war except to fight.” — Ernest Hemingway

27. “Barcelona is not a city; it’s a way of life.” – Unknown

Aerial View of Barcelona / Barcelona Quotes

28. “Marseilles, Barcelona, Trieste, Istanbul – each romances the Mediterranean in its own fashion, mostly by embracing the sea in sweeping C-shaped bays that date back to antiquity.” — Andre Aciman

29. “The expiatory church of La Sagrada Família is made by the people and is mirrored in them. It is a work that is in the hands of God and the will of the people.” — Antoni Gaudí

30. “Life is full of problems, although life was wonderful in Barcelona in those days, and problems were called surprises.”Robert Bolaño

31. “Barcelona didn’t try to live at the same pace as other global cities. It moved to the ticking of its own clock and everyone accepted it.” Sarah Dayan

32. “Italy has great food and Barcelona has great energy.” — Stefon Harris

33. “Barcelona is a city that leaves a lasting impression, a place where the past and present merge seamlessly.” — Unknown

34. “In the Sagrada Familia, everything is providential.” — Antoni Gaudí

La Sagrada Familia / Barcelona Quotes

35. “Barcelona is a woman’s town, women everywhere. Barcelona is a woman’s eyes, raven gipsy hair I got drunk in Barcelona and then she walked away from.”Tom Russell Band

36. “We were young, weren’t we? And Barcelona seemed not only beautiful and cultured, but, above all, the most fun city in the world.”Mario Vargas Llosa

37. “In Barcelona, things seem so different. For example, I know that it’s traditionally the least Spanish city, but you’d never know they had a monarchy, coming here as a tourist – as opposed to the U.K., where the Queen is probably the best-known animal, vegetable and/or mineral when it comes to overseas visitors.”Julie Burchill

38. “After a while, dawn tinged the sky with amber, and Barcelona woke up. We heard the distant bells from the basilica of Santa Maria del Mar, just emerging from the mist on the other side of the harbor.”Carlos Ruiz Zafón

39. “You feel like half of your life is a vacation when you go to these Barcelona music festivals and have all day to soundcheck or go to the pool.”Hamilton Leithauser

40. “Barcelona is an enchanting seaside city with boundless culture, fabled architecture, and a world-class drinking and dining scene.” — Tyler Cowen

41. “Barcelona is a city of art and architecture. I can wander around for hours and just appreciate the creativity and genius of Antoni Gaudí.” — Greg Norman

Casa Mila in Barcelona / Barcelona Quotes

Intrepid Quips Tidbit:

Casa Milà, commonly known as La Pedrera, stands as a significant modernist structure in Barcelona. Designed by architect Antoni Gaudí, it was built between 1906 and 1912. The building is renowned for its unconventional facade, marked by undulating stone walls and intricate wrought-iron balconies. Today, Casa Milà functions as a residential apartment building however you can explore parts of its interior and rooftop terrace.

42. “At Barcelona, we had the pleasure of seeing the Fandango danced. It exceeds in wantonness all the dances I ever beheld. A good Fandango lady will stand five minutes in one spot, wriggling like a worm that has just been cut in two.”Henry Swinburne

43. “I spend a lot of time in L.A., and when it rains there you get the entire rainfall for the year in two days, raindrops the size of mangoes. And in Barcelona, the Mediterranean storms come up from the sea, thunder and lightning; its like the end of the world.” — Carlos Ruiz Zafon

44. “Allow me to state here how much I love Barcelona, an admirable city, a city full of life, intense, a port open to the past and future.” — Le Corbusier

45. “Barcelona is a city that invites you to wander and get lost in its streets, discovering hidden gems at every turn.”Unknown

46. “Barcelona. It was the first time that we met. Barcelona. How can I forget. The moment that you stepped into the room. You took my breath away.”Freddy Mercury 

47. “I like what Barcelona is doing. This city almost perfectly combines its natural advantages with cultural attractions, IT parks and first-rate educational opportunities. The same applies for Dublin, which manages to achieve a blend of complexity, tolerance and artistry and makes a point of not devoting every part of the city to the tourism industry. Sometimes creativity also means forgoing short-term profits and simply saying no.” — Charles Landry

Plaza de España / Quotes About Barcelona

Intrepid Quips Tidbit:

Plaça de Espanya, or Plaza de España, is a major square in Barcelona, Spain. It was built for the 1929 International Exhibition and is located at the foot of Montjuïc hill. The square is notable for its monumental fountain, Venetian towers, and the Palau Nacional, which houses the National Art Museum of Catalonia.

48. “You bet your life I’ll move my feet when I hear guitars out on the street at night time in Barcelona.” — Michael Tellinger

49. “The Cemetery of Forgotten Books” is like the greatest, most fantastic library you could ever imagine. It’s a labyrinth of books with tunnels, bridges, arches, secret sections – and it’s hidden inside an old palace in the old city of Barcelona.” — Carlos Ruiz Zafon

50. Most of you have never been and never will go to Barcelona. So I have to tell you what I now know about Barcelona ’cause I met a woman there.”Will Oldham

51. “Barcelona was a most illustrious city for its princes and most noble – its knights; its richness and great prosperities where known all over the world for being marvellous and vigorous, and therefore, exposed to envy.” — Lucio Marineo Suculo

52. “Deep in the pavements kicking through the streets, to wonder like Picasso in the Barcelona heat. Passion is the fashion, and life is poetry.”The Cheetah Girls

53. “Las Ramblas, I’ll meet you. We’ll dance around La Sagrada Familia drinking sangria.”Ed Sheeran

54. “Barcelona – the centre of the wise, model of purity, quarry of Kings.”Baltasar Gracian

Casa Milà, Popularly Known as La Pedrera / Barcelona Quotes

55. “After visiting, I understand why there are so many songs about Barcelona.” — The Cheetah Girls

56. “And call me a pig, but isn’t it brilliantly refreshing how early the Dutch eat dinner? When they’re still laying out the cutlery in achingly hip Barcelona, they’re hanging the Closed sign on the restaurant doors of old Amsterdam.” — Julie Burchill

57. “When [my friend] had her kid, she was like, “9:30?! I’m not living in Barcelona. I need dinner at 6.” I never got that until now. Four years ago, when I met her, I thought that was extreme. I was like, “I love Barcelona!” Now, I’m so mad when someone suggests an 8 pm reservation because that means we won’t eat until 8:30 or 9 pm. Forget it!”Drew Barrymore

58. “Barcelona is Gaudí’s and Rome is da Vinci’s.” Kamand Kojouri

59. “Valencia makes you sick and Barcelona makes you laugh.” — Ernest Hemingway

60. “To travel across Spain and finally to reach Barcelona is like drinking a respectable red wine and finishing up with a bottle of champagne.”  James A. Michener

61. “The haunting of history is ever present in Barcelona. I see cities as organisms, as living creatures. To me Madrid is a man and Barcelona is a woman. And it’s a woman who’s extremely vain. One of the great Catalan poets, Joan Maragall, wrote this famous poem in which he called Barcelona the great enchantress, or some kind of sorceress, and in which the city has this dark enticing presence that seduces and lures people. I think Barcelona has a lot of that.”Carlos Ruiz Zafón

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