Top 10 Unusual Things to Do in Barcelona – Our Insider Guide

From dragon running to secret labyrinths, from cocktail-making to foodie tours in unexplored neighbourhoods, you’ll find it all here in our ultimate list of the best unusual things to do in Barcelona. We’ve divided it into sections – free things to do, things to do with kids and cool things to do – to make sure we’ve got you covered, whatever extraordinary, off-the-beaten-path experience you’re looking for. Your stay in Barcelona will be one that you won't forget. 

We've put this right at the top of our list of unusual things to do in Barcelona because we know you'll want to make sure you come back to this endlessly exciting city! Near the top of the Rambla, the city's most famous street, is a fountain. It’s a fairly fancy fountain – with four spouts, plenty of gilt and four lanterns at the top – and yet it often goes unnoticed in the constant ebb and flow of crowds. But, if you have fallen in love with Barcelona, make sure you drink from it to ensure your dream of returning to the city comes true. (If you’re a Barça fan, this is also the fountain for you:  it's where fans gather to celebrate when the world-renowned football team wins a big match!)

Only in Catalunya do dragons and devils run wild through the streets, sparking off cascades of fire amid screaming crowds! The correfocs – "fire-runs" – are the highlight of traditional neighbourhood festivals across the Catalan capital, but the biggest and best is the one held in honour of Barcelona’s patron saint, La Mercè, in late September. The dragons parade through the streets, surrounded by outlandish, devilish figures carrying torches that spit huge showers of fire. You can hang back and just watch the show – or be adventurous and join in with the locals who try to "stop" the devils, dancing in the sparks. (Just make sure you’re well covered up and not wearing anything synthetic!)

Barcelona is filled with secret corners where time seems to stand still, but there’s nowhere more peaceful than the lovely Monestir de Pedralbes. In summer, you can visit its beautiful cloister – the largest Gothic cloister in the world – for free on Tuesday and Friday evenings to soak up its tranquillity during the "Golden Hour", that magical time just before the sun sets. The golden light gently illuminates the ancient arcades, which have barely changed since they were built in the 14^th century. Meander through the garden, scented with herbs, and sit by the tinkling fountain, where koi swim lazily in a little pool.

• Monestir de Pedralbes, Baixada del Monestir 9, +34 932 56 34 34. (FGC Train: Reina Elisenda)
• Golden hour opening (mid-June to mid-Sept): Tuesday and Fridays 6pm-9pm.
• Free admission

Escape the heat in the Parc de Creueta del Coll, where in summer the small lake is transformed into a delightful pool. It’s perfect for families, thanks to the shallow waters, small kayaks and deckchairs for rent, and grassy areas for spreading out your towel. There's also a small café-kiosk serving drinks and tapas, as well as a picnic area with tables if you want to bring your own snacks. Fans of unconventional art will also enjoy the enormous, claw-like sculpture by Eduardo Chillida suspended over the park.

• Parc de la Creueta del Coll, Passeig de la Mare de Déu del Coll 77. (Metro: El Coll | La Teixonera)
• Swimming pool open mid-June to early September.

If you’re looking for unusual things to do with kids in Barcelona, sleeping with sharks at the aquarium on the seafront is an offbeat experience they'll never forget! Open to children aged 8 to 12, they'll learn all kinds of fascinating information about shark behaviour, play games and enjoy dinner together before hopping into their sleeping bags right next to the giant tank of exotic fish.

• Aquàrium Barcelona, Moll d'Espanya, tel: 93 221 7474 (Metro: Barceloneta)
• Booking required at least a week in advance

Barcelona is the new European capital of the cocktail, according to the influential World's 50 Best Bars ranking. In fact, no fewer than two Barcelona bars made it into the top five in the latest list, with Sips beating every other bar in the world for the coveted top spot. So, where better to take a cocktail-making course than Barcelona? Paradiso, which earned the number four spot, is a fabulous speakeasy-style bar that offers cocktail masterclasses, or you can combine cocktails with plants at the charmingly quirky Kaktos Botanical Society.

• Sips, C/Muntaner 108 (Metro: Provença)
• Paradiso, C/Rera Palau 4 (Metro: Barceloneta)
• Kaktos Botanical Society, C/Comte Borrell 147, tel: +34 628 35 33 40 (Metro: Urgell)

If you're looking for a truly unique and unusual experience in Barcelona, this one is for you. At the beginning of every year, usually from January to March, Catalans gather to eat calçots, a peculiar kind of cross between a leek and an onion, in a beloved local ritual called the calçotada. The calçots are laid out on barbecues and cooked over embers until the skin blackens, then served up in newspaper wrappings. You peel off the blackened outer skin to reveal the tender white flesh inside, then dip it into the tasty romesco sauce (a nutty concoction made with roasted tomatoes, garlic, almonds and peppers), throw your head back and enjoy!

If you’re craving a break from the city hubbub, there’s no better place to come than the cool, quiet oasis of the Laberint d’Horta. Easy to reach by metro, these glorious gardens, with their shady paths and tranquil nooks, provide the perfect escape from the crowds. There are pools with languid koi and trickling fountains, but the highlight is the gorgeous labyrinth which dates back to the late 18^th century. The maze – which is surprisingly tricky – was inspired by the myth of Theseus: navigate it successfully and you will be rewarded with love, in the form of a statue of Eros at the centre.

• Laberint d’Horta, Passeig dels Castanyers 1 (Metro: Mundet)
• Open 10am-dusk daily

Barcelona is a city with a thousand stories: whether you want to explore its undiscovered culinary secrets or seek out ghosts, find its wildest, most eccentric street art or discover how it inspired your literary heroes, you’ll find a tour to suit you. Among our recommendations for great tours offering a different perspective on Barcelona are Nick Lloyd’s outstanding Spanish Civil War tours and the Poble Sec tapas tour from The Barcelona Taste, which takes in some of the best up-and-coming bars and restaurants in a neighbourhood usually off the grid for tourists.

Barcelona, with its fabulous Mediterranean setting, has almost five kilometres of sandy beaches and a sunny climate all year round. Water sports from sailing to stand-up paddling aren't unusual things to do in Barcelona, but why not get the adrenaline pumping with something even more thrilling? You can try flyboarding, in which you will be literally flying over water like James Bond, thanks to the water-powered jetpack attached to your feet. You might also fancy hoverboarding, which is similar, but allows you to skim over the waves on a board. A fantastic option if you want a cool alternative to Barcelona's many beachfront activities!

• Flyboard Club Barcelona, C/Villaroel 1, +34 635 50 75 27
• JetScoot Port Fòrum, Moll de la Ronda s/n, +34 649 10 13 99 

Looking for more inspiration? We've got you covered: check out our ideas for what to do on a rainy day in Barcelona, discover the most famous buildings in Barcelona and find tips on the best area in Barcelona to stay!