I live in Barcelona and I love my city. I am proud that more than 20 million tourists visit it every year and take away beautiful memories of the Sagrada Familia and other buildings by Antoni Gaudí, the beaches, La Rambla and the nightlife, but all these travelers are not going to see some secret corners that are my favorites. I’m going to give you a walk through them so you can take them into account. when you visit Barcelona. Save this article!

Gardens of the Girona Tower

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We go to Pedralbes, the residential and sumptuous neighborhood in the upper part of the city. The Monastery of Pedralbes and the Palau Reial are found in tourist guides, but the gardens of the Torre Girona go somewhat unnoticed. They currently belong to the Polytechnic University of Catalonia and They are dedicated to the recovery of biodiversity.

In these romantic-inspired gardens, water is the protagonist element. A large central pond, adorned with a beautiful gazebo, it is home to a community of ducks and geese. Around it there are dense and wild wooded spaces, walks with cherry and Louisiana orange trees (a rare species), cedars and other large trees. And in the middle of the trees, you will be surprised by a large Olmec head almost three meters high, Exact replica of the original that is preserved in the Museum of Anthropology of Xalapa (Veracruz, Mexico). What a photo you can take!

Parc Joan Brossa in Montjuïc

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Going up to Montjuïc is a classic, but few travelers know Parc Joan Brossa. This park, inaugurated in 2003 and inspired by the Catalan poet and artist after whom it is named, is one of my favorite places to surround myself with green and breathe fresh air. It is located on the side of the mountain and, unlike other parks in Barcelona, ​​you will not find large crowds or monumental fountains here.

What really fascinates me about Parc Joan Brossa is how it alternates open spaces with all types of flowering plants and wooded corners along with children’s games and sculptures that pay homage to Brossa’s surreal universe. From some points you can enjoy panoramic views of the city and the sea. It is the perfect place for an impromptu picnic or to read under the shade of the pine trees.

Cloister of the church of Santa Anna in the GOTHIC neighborhood

There is nothing that relaxes me more than crossing the bustling streets of the center and hiding in one of the most unusual and peaceful places I know: the cloister of the church of Santa Anna. It was built between the 12th and 15th centuries and is hidden one hundred meters from the Plaza de Catalunya, between La Rambla and Portal de l’Àngel.

What I like most is its cloister with Gothic arches around a small garden. If you visit on Corpus Christi Day (in 2026 it will be June 4), you will be able to see l’ou com balla (the egg dances), a tradition that has been celebrated in the city since 1637 and which consists of putting eggs on the jets of the fountains, which will not allow them to fall. A simple and magical show.

To visit the chapels and the cloister you have to buy an entrance fee of two euros, but you pay with pleasure knowing that the parish uses the money to provide shelter, food and care to homeless people, among other things. Precisely, in front of the façade of the church, on a bench in the little square of Santa Ana, he is lying Jesus Homeless, a sculpture by Canadian Timothy Schmalz. It denounces a reality that tourists may not want to see, but that is there.

Prim Square in Poblenou

Yes, this photo is also from Barcelona. I have always felt a special attraction for the Poblenou neighborhood. It has a industrial and bohemian spirit, with old factories converted into galleries, cocktail bars and art workshops. In the middle of this network, there is an authentic corner that takes you further back in time, to when it was a fishing village, Plaça de Prim.

With its low white houses, it still retains the air of fishing village that Poblenou had before becoming one of the most modern areas of the city. Its origin dates back to the 19th century, when fishermen and workers used it as a meeting place.

Today, enjoy an afternoon in the sun, in the shade of the three tremendous ombus that occupy the cobblestone square, and with the quiet bustle of the neighbors, it is a different experience that fits within a cosmopolitan city.

Sant Felip Neri Square in the GOTHIC NEIGHBORHOOD

Another hidden gem that I always recommend is Plaza de Sant Felip Neri. This corner transports you to other times as soon as you enter. The cobblestone square is surrounded by ancient baroque buildings and, in the center, there is a simple fountain that invites you to sit on its edges and observe.

But what moves me most about this place is its history: the façade of the church that gives its name to the square is marked by shrapnel of the Franco bombing that devastated it in 1938 and took the lives of 42 people, most of them children. The scars on the stones tell a painful story and, at the same time, speak of the resistance and memory of Barcelona.

Every time I guide someone through these little-known corners, I feel like I share the true essence of Barcelona, that which goes beyond the world-known monuments. If one day you are lucky enough to walk through my city, I invite you to save this article and discover these places at your own pace. Barcelona is much more than its tourist icons; It is a city full of little secrets that await the curious and attentive traveler.