10 Things to Do Off the Beaten Track in Barcelona

The Museu de la Xocolata is a chocolate museum that shows off a wide variety of stunning creations crafted from this delicious treat. You'll find miniatures of landmarks like Sagrada Família and Casa Amatller recreated with expert attention to detail.

Much of the collection involves representations of iconic Barcelona buildings crafted in chocolate, but you'll also find illustrations from various stories as well. You can explore this museum by heading just a few steps west of Parc de la Ciutadella.

Market dels Encants is a relatively large flea market in town where you'll find a wide variety of things to enjoy including plenty of vintage delights. Whether you're looking for old bikes, cosmetics, furniture, clothes, books or anything else, you'll find it here.

Keep in mind that when you visit, you'll want to arrive early if you want to get your hands on the best bargains at the market. Still, many of the unsold goods tend to drop in price around noon, so it's worth another check around that time. You'll find this market just a few steps southwest of the Glòries Metro Station.

Barcelona ghost tours are among the most appealing things to do in town for travellers who are interested in the city's spooky past. You'll find quite a few different ghost tours available, but they'll all take you on an unforgettable journey through some of the most infamous spots in town.

Some of the ghost tours turn the experience into a game where you and your friends can work together to solve clues and discover whether local urban legends are true. While ghost tours can be found throughout town, many are centred around the Gothic Quarter.

The Hash Marihuana and Hemp Museum is one of the more unusual museums in town showcasing the fascinating history and variety of cannabis. More than 9,000 related artefacts can be found here including photos, videos, paintings and even the plants themselves.

This is one of the largest collections of cannabis plant-related objects in the world, so be sure to dedicate around 2 hours to your visit if you want to see everything. You'll find this museum in the Gothic Quarter just a short walk northwest of Plaça de l'Ictineo.

Casa Vicens is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and art nouveau house designed by legendary architect Antoni Gaudí that you can explore. While originally designed as a house, it now functions as a museum showcasing architectural style both inside and out.

While this house may not be a common stop on most popular landmark tours, you'll certainly notice it if you walk by with its garish colours and checkerboard patterns along the exterior. You'll find it just a few steps northwest from the Fontana Metro Station.

Parc del Laberint d'Horta is a centuries-old park that has a lot to offer including green spaces, gardens and an intricate hedge maze. The maze tends to be the primary draw here, and it's what gives the park its name, with Laberint meaning labyrinth.

Inside the park, you'll find 2 garden areas: the neoclassical garden and the romantic garden. Within the neoclassical garden, you can enjoy 3 unique terraces. The park is easily accessible in the northern area of Barcelona in the Municipality of Horta-Guinardó.

The Palace of Catalan Music is a legendary modernist and historic theatre that's too often left out of popular landmark tours. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it's open for tours that let you explore just about every bit of this architectural wonder.

Be sure to check the local calendar before visiting, as you may be able to see the theatre in action with a live musical performance in the concert hall. You'll find the theatre just east of Plaça de Catalunya and a short walk from the Urquinaona Metro Station.

The Basilica of Santa Maria del Pi is often overlooked in favour of the Barcelona Cathedral, but this church has much to offer in terms of architectural splendour. It dates back to the 15th century for the most part and sports a notably Gothic appearance within the Gothic Quarter.

While much of the original work has faded over time, the church is remarkably well-maintained with replacements added when necessary. You can find this church just a short walk southwest of the cathedral near the Liceu Metro Station.

Montjuïc Cemetery is a prominent cemetery in the hills of Barcelona where you'll find bizarre and strange statues that are as fascinating as they are unsettling. Many of the statues depict angelic creatures as well as caricatures of death. The graves themselves can be quite modernist in design.

When you visit this cemetery, keep in mind how massive it is. If you want to tour it all, it'll take about 3 hours, so make sure you plan accordingly. You'll find this cemetery on the east side of La Marina del Prat Vermell near the coast.

Tibidabo Hill is one of the best places to visit if you're looking to take in the scenic views of Barcelona and the surrounding areas. The hill is over 500 metres tall and is one of the tallest points in the area with views that stretch well into Catalonia and out off the coast.

When you visit, you'll find several things to do as well including touring a historic church and visiting a fun amusement park. You'll find the hill a few miles to the northwest of Barcelona's city centre in Sarrià-Sant Gervasi.