Barcelona and music is an idyll that goes back a long way. Montserrat Caballé and Freddie Mercury immortalized it with Barcelona, an ode to the city that ended up becoming the unofficial anthem of the 92 Olympic Games. Also the Cheetah Girls dancing with a street artist along the Passeig del Born in their second film, Beth “on” the Sagrada Familia in the videoclip of their anthem Dime, or Shakira in the Barceloneta in Loca.
Barcelona has a sound of its own. And whether from a listening bar, a festival, or a live music concert at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, the city is full of plans of all kinds. Whether it’s classical music, DJs or emerging artists, there’s always something to experience (or listen to) in Barcelona. Here are some of our favorite plans for music lovers!
1. Visiting the three temples of classical music in Barcelona
To talk about the best destinations for live music lovers in Barcelona is to talk, inevitably, about the Palau de la Música Catalana, El Liceu and L’Auditori. Whether to listen to a concert, or simply to visit them, their buildings are like music to the ears (and eyes) of their visitors. And that’s not just an understatement. From operas to concerts by symphony orchestras or soloists, their extensive programs are only part of what these emblematic buildings mean to the city.
For example, did you know that the Palau de la Música Catalana was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997? And normal, because seeing how the huge glass top illuminates its concert hall is an almost out-of-body experience. These buildings could be considered the three pillars of classical music in Barcelona and visiting them is a treat for the senses of any music lover in the city.
2. Listen to a free organ concert at the Barcelona Cathedral.
The organ. That giant instrument, solemn and with a power capable of making the walls of any cathedral rumble… Also the one in Barcelona. To see it with your own eyes, highlight in your calendar the third Wednesday of each month, when you can enjoy for free one of the best live music events of the season: The Orgue Cycle of the Cathedral of Barcelona. A cycle of concerts that celebrates its 35th edition and that, until May 2025, will sound its imposing 16th century organ with programs ranging from Bach to Fauré. Heavenly music in the most literal sense of the word.
3. Get to know what is behind the music in its museums.
There are activities for music fans, and activities for music fans. And visiting the museums that Barcelona offers for music lovers is definitely something not to be missed. We are talking about the Music Museum, located in L’Auditori, where you can find plenty of historical instruments, ancient pieces and curiosities you probably didn’t know.
But if you love rock and are looking for a different museum, the Rock Museum Guitar Legends Hall is a perfect choice for you. And with history. Located in Ciutat Vella, this interactive museum was born from the passion of Juan José Castellano and his son for rock. Years ago they started collecting guitars of the artists he liked (dozens and dozens) until one day the doubt arose: “Hey, what if we make a museum?”. And this was the result. A dream created by and for lovers of the Guns N’ Roses genre.
4. Attending a series of concerts at MEAM
And speaking of museums… If there is one where art and music go hand in hand, it is the Museu Europeu d’Art Modern. And no, we don’t mean the typical canned music in the background, but wonderful live concerts that every weekend turn this 18th century palace into a blues club, a classical music hall or a jazz bar. Here, Fridays are called Friday’s Blues, Saturdays classical music evenings and Sundays Sunday Sounds. And the icing on the cake: admission to the show includes access to the exhibition. A plan that sounds – and looks – like luxury.
5. Tour Barcelona through a route through 50 album covers.
You probably know 81264 different routes through Barcelona (or not), but maybe you didn’t know about this one created by the website Rockpapeltijeras. An original map that traces a route through 50 album covers where different places in the city appear, perfect for music lovers.
From the album Come ( 1994), whose cover features Prince in front of the Sagrada Familia; to Viento del Este ( 2016), where we see Loquillo in front of the Torre Glòries in his neighborhood, el Clot; passing through many other names such as Los Amaya, The House of Love or Peret. A travel itinerary with very varied genres and artists with which to discover Barcelona (and a lot of new music) in a different way.
6. Lose yourself among musical treasures in the vinyl stores.
Few places have the same energy as a record store. A true sanctuary where the shelves overflow with vinyls, the owner recommends hidden gems and every corner hides the best gifts for music lovers. And the best part? In our city we could not miss these temples, perfect to get lost for hours and leave with a record under your arm.
Rarity hunters, collectors of special editions or lovers of the most underground sound, Barna has a store for every musical obsession. Revolver Records, with out-of-print vinyls and impossible-to-find boxsets; Ultra-Local Records, in Poblenou, considered the paradise of independent labels; or Death Moon Records, where the rawest rock and metal have their own mausoleum. And the list goes on and on.
7. Discover emerging artists in one of its alternative bars or mythical venues.
Discovering emerging artists in Barcelona is like finding tofu on the menu of a vegan menu: very easy. The Catalan city has hundreds of alternative bars where many bands and independent artists have taken their first steps in the world of music. From 23Robadors or Heliogàbal, where Rosalía gave her first concerts as a teenager; to Freedonia, where Orchards first presented their own songs.
But there are many (many, many more). There are no lists of mythical venues in Barcelona that do not include Sala Apolo, Razzmatazz or Salamandra, but it is also worth mentioning La Rouge del Raval or Casa Figari for jazz lovers. In addition to Soda Acústic, where artists can join their jam sessions and spectators can listen to very diverse musical genres: gypsy jazz, Balkan music, psychedelic afro funk… The hard thing is not to find a place in Barcelona where you can listen to your favorite musical genre, whatever it is.
8. Enjoy a classical music concert by candlelight.
If there is a way to make music shine (literally), it’s Candlelight. Their formula is simple, but infallible: paying tribute to artists who have left their mark on the history of music, from Vivaldi and Mozart, to Queen and Coldplay. How? By reimagining their most iconic compositions in classical arrangements performed among thousands and thousands of candles. It doesn’t matter if you’re one of those who are partial to a good piano concert or if your thing is rock played by a string quartet, here even the song you’ve burned the most on Spotify sounds different. Trust us.
🎟️ For more information and tickets.
9. Experience the purest sound in listening bars and HI-FI bars.
In a world where music is sometimes the background noise between notifications and rush, there are those who still bet on listening to it with pause, almost as if it were a ritual. That’s where these two musical experiences come into play: listening bars and HI-FI bars. The former, inspired by Japanese vinyl culture, offer an intimate atmosphere in which the cocktail in the hand is as important as the needle gliding over the record. The latter are an audiophile’s dream: high-fidelity sound systems, acoustics that are cared for to the millimeter and the idea of hearing every nuance as if you were in the recording studio.
Barcelona also joins this ode to good sound with spaces like Curtis Audiophile Café, in Gràcia, or Cloud 9 Sound System, in Sant Antoni. Of course, for those looking for the creme de la creme, Oblicuo HI-FI Bar, in L’Eixample, is an obligatory stop. Because there are nights to dance without brakes and others to savor every chord with the calm it deserves.
10. Follow the rhythm of its nightlife in one of its nightclubs.
You can’t talk about plans with music in Barcelona without mentioning its nightclubs. Or yes, but then we would be missing out on the opportunity to feel Barcelona’s nightlife in places like Opium, which has featured artists like Steve Aoki or David Guetta; Bling Bling, often considered the temple of reggaeton and house music; or Pacha for those looking for a good dose of electronic dance music.
But if your thing is more the previous, have a drink in a silly afternoon and you will decide later whether to continue the disco plan or not, Shôko is a perfect choice. A Mediterranean and Oriental fusion restaurant during the day, its DJs set the rhythm at night following the beat of urban music, from reggaeton to hip-hop (among many others).
11. Give it your all at your favorite summer festival
Barcelona in summer is that friend who always has a plan up his sleeve, and when it comes to festivals, things get serious. Primavera Sound and Sonar top the list of the best known, but there is life (and lots of it) beyond them.
If you’re looking for variety, the Cruïlla is like that playlist that can either play a Placebo anthem or get you dancing to Rubén Blades. If you like a chic plan, Les Nits de Barcelona turn the Jardins de Pedralbes into an open-air auditorium with artists like Diana Krall or Ludovico Einaudi. Not to mention the Brunch Electronik, the great Sunday plan in the Parc del Fòrum and Poble Espanyol where techno and house combine with amazing sunsets.
12. Find your new favorite dance or music genre with We call it
Versatility made plan for music fans. Whether you like a certain musical genre or are more into dance styles, We call it is a series of shows where you can (re)discover music.
What’s more, all the shows take place in carefully prepared environments. What does that mean? If you go to We call it Tango, you‘ll feel like you’re in Argentina without leaving Barcelona. The perfect plan for those undecided people who like music, but can’t make up their minds about the way they prefer it.
This article has been written by Marina Carrasco and Carla Palenzuela.