Els Quatre Gats

Be immersed in the world of Picasso as you discover Bohemian Barcelona on this 2-hour walking tour. Explore the neighborhood where Pablo Picasso lived, imagining it at the turn of the last century. Learn about the history of this famous, eccentric Spanish painter as your guide tells you anecdotes about Picasso's friends and the events that influenced his life and artistic career. Visit Els Quatre Gats restaurant, the meeting place of intellectuals in Picasso's time. Admire the friezes on the façade of the Architects’ Association building, Picasso’s only piece of public art. See the Llotja de Mar, the art school where he studied, and the museum housing the most important collection from Picasso’s youth and formative years. During the 2nd hour of your tour, you will be guided through the Museu Picasso. See the world’s most important collection of works from Picasso’s youth and formative years, showcasing the evolution of his style from the more classical towards the his invention of Cubism. Set in a historic mansion, the Picasso Museu is near the site of Picasso’s last studio before he left the city for Paris. Highlights of the museum also include some of his later works, such as a series of interpretations of Velázquez’s Las Meninas dating from 1957, as well as ceramics and engravings.

This ExperienceFirst tour is a journey through Picasso’s life in Barcelona, where he lived starting at the young age of 14. The first stop on our Picasso tour is outside the Els Quatre Gats Restaurant, a Modernist building that was a tavern when Picasso lived in Barcelona. It was also a gathering spot for artists, the very first place he exhibited his genius. With your local guide, continue to the Sala Parès, once a paint shop, now a gallery. Picasso and other Barcelonian artists once exhibited their paintings here. We may even step inside to see how it’s changed over the years! Our next stop is at Carrer d'Avinyó 44, where Picasso frequented the brothel once located there. The women who worked there inspired his famous piece, Les Demoiselles d'Avinyó, now one of the finest examples of his Cubists works. As the walking tour comes to a close, we’ll pass by La Llotja, a historical building that once hosted the Fine Arts Academy where Picasso studied as a teenager. It’s still used today as a cultural center. It’s now time to finish your Picasso walking tour. This brings us to the picturesque Carrer Montcada, a medieval street at the entrance of Picasso Museum (or Museu Picasso de Barcelona in Catalan). Your guide will tell you what to look for during your self-guided visit to the museum. Here, you’ll discover the special relationship Picasso had with Barcelona and see how the city changed and shaped his art.

Spanish author Carlos Ruiz Zafón’s global bestseller “The Shadow of the Wind” has captivated thousands of readers worldwide, and on this 2-hour walking tour, you will step into its pages and discover the parts of Barcelona so vividly captured by the novel. Turning fiction into reality, the tour departs from the famous Ramblas Sta. Monica at the Arc del Teatre, before heading down to Placa Reial and Baixada de la Llibreteria. You will visit places still imbued with the magic of Barcelona at the beginning of the 20th-Century. Walk through the shadowy Gothic Quarter and Ribera, reliving events experienced by Daniel Sempere, Julian Carax, Fermín Romero de Torres, and other characters from the novel. Explore a labyrinth of mysteries, as tour participants become characters at the Forgotten Books Cemetery and Santa Maria del Mar. Wander along Calle Montcada, and discover the Santa Lucia Asylum, Xampanyet tapas bar, and Els Quatre Gats restaurant. See the house and bookshop of "Sempere and Sons," and head past the old library of Ateneu Barcelonès.

Out of all the great artists in Spain's Art History, there is a name that has gained world-fame and recognition above all others: Pablo Picasso. Cubism, the artist's unique style, is as acclaimed as it has been criticized. But one thing we know for sure: no-one remains indifferent to Picasso's glorious art and personality. On this tour, you will learn about Picasso's life in Barcelona and how the city where he spent his youth shaped his unique personality. In short, this tour will help you understand why Picasso is Picasso. Together with your guide you will walk through iconic places of the Barri Gòtic, like the bohemian café Els Quatre Gats, where Picasso and other intellectuals met and spent their evenings. During the tour, you will also see some works of Picasso in the open air, places that inspired the artist to create some of his major masterpieces, and even works by other artists that received inspiration from Picasso. After a one-and-half hour walking tour in the Gothic and Born quarters, the neighborhoods where Picasso spent most of his life in Barcelona, you will arrive at the Picasso Museum with a reserved spot.

Explore Barcelona on guided e-bike tour and see more in less time with the help of a bike propelled by electric motor. Glide from some of the most popular attractions in the city to hidden treasures, including secret bars and cafés. Take a break with the included wine and tapas. Starting by the Born neighborhood, your guide will give you a short briefing about the bikes and Spanish cycling rules, before leading you to the la Ciudadela. Discover the former fishing village of Barceloneta, now one of the city’s most atmospheric neighborhoods. Soak up the vibrant life of the city’s beaches. Ride past Art Noveau architecture and shops and bars that date back to the beginning of the century. Open your senses to the rich Spanish flavors and leave with photos and memories of mystery, romance and adventure on a tour ideal for electric bike first timers and experts alike.

Start this walking tour on the famous Las Ramblas, near to the first stop, Palau Güell. Meet your guide and make your way to the central fountain of Plaza Real to admire the elegance of the Gothic square. See the beautiful arches, Gaudi’s lampposts, or just watch the locals going about their daily lives. Next, make your way to La Boqueria Market. Take in the sights and smells of the market, one of the oldest in Barcelona. Wander through the narrow passages of the Gothic Quarter, and hear of many the legends and stories from these streets from your guide. Enjoy a short coffee break in a café where famous artists such as Picasso convened.  Continue with a walk along the most elegant avenue of Barcelona, the impressive Paseo de Gracia. Admire the most aristocratic palaces of the city, Casa Mila (La Pedrera) and Casa Batlló, two masterpieces of Gaudi architecture. Learn about the exciting Art Noveau era of the city, Gaudi’s life, and his strange death. Then, stop for lunch and enjoy some typical Barcelona tapas, accompanied by a glass of red wine in a traditional restaurant of a beautiful promenade.  After a relaxing break, a taxi will take you to Park Güell, where Gaudi’s art coexists with nature. Enjoy skip-the-line tickets access to the park, and join your guide in wandering its beautiful paths. After a walk in the park, a taxi will take to your last stop. Visit the most iconic example of Gaudi’s work, the Sagrada Familia. Your guide will show you the different facades of the cathedral, and give you an introduction to the history of the building. Say farewell to your guide and receive your skip-the-line tickets to access the cathedral, as well as an audio guide so you can explore its interior at your own pace.

Start your Barcelona adventure by meeting your informative and friendly guide at the designated meeting point in the city. Upon arrival, you will share a brief meet and greet with your guide before setting off on your journey.  Your tour will start at Porxos d’En Xifre, this is where the Ruiz Picasso family had their first lodgings in Barcelona upon arrival from Paris. Arriving on the 21st of September 1895, when Pablo was thirteen, the family settled in this place, marking the beginning of what was to be his journey as a great artist.   Continue on your discovery of this artist by taking a trip to the Picasso Museo. Here, you can enjoy the convenience of skip-the-line tickets as you stroll through the beautiful building, in complete awe of the 4,251 works that make up the permanent collection. Furthermore, the Picasso museum, opened in 1963, also reveals his deep relationship with Barcelona: an intimate, solid relationship that was shaped in his adolescence and youth and continued until his death. After your visit to the museum, you will get the chance to explore the neighborhood of Born, considered by the locals to be one of the city's most Bohemian areas. One of the last stops on the tour will be Sala Parés, in Carrer Petritxol, a place that put on an exhibition of a series of pastel drawings by Picasso jointly with Ramon Casas in 1901. End your tour with a delicious coffee or tea in the Els Quatre Gats, at Carrer Montsió, where you can have a chat to your guide about all things Barcelona and Picasso.

Discover's Barcelona's Gothic Quarter while stopping for delicious local tapas. Discover the authentic taste of the region with carefully selected tapas, from classic patatas bravas to grandma-style croquettes. Get a chance to be like a local and drink directly from a porró. Explore the vibrant flavors and culinary traditions rooted in the local culture. Listen as your local guide shares not only interesting facts about specific sites but also stories that have shaped the city over the centuries. Have the opportunity to interact with locals and merchants at the lively Mercat de la Boqueria, where colors and aromas intertwine in a unique sensory experience. Get ready for a unique experience where history, architecture, and gastronomy come together to offer you a comprehensive view of authentic and beautiful Barcelona. PRO TIP: Turn it into a full day adventure with our combo tour that visits Montserrat in the afternoon to skip the morning crowds!

This is not your average Picasso walking tour. You won’t just discover the secrets that inspired his work from the early days of his career but also the scandals that still haunt his memory today. Accompanied by an Art Historian, travel back in time as we follow in the footsteps of a young Picasso around the vibrant streets and alleys of Barcelona’s old town, using Picasso as a lens through which to uncover the history of Barcelona. We will delve into why Picasso has been entitled the ‘Father of Modern Art’, and his influence on contemporary artists. We will unearth why Picasso is on the verge of cancellation culture, and how he remains controversial 50 years after his death. We will also explore Picasso’s legacy on the city today - visiting a gallery which sells original Picasso pieces, checking out Picasso-inspired graffiti and also bringing to light the contemporary artist who is Barcelona’s modern-day Picasso, with his fair share of controversy too. After the tour, you will have a newfound understanding of Picasso, his legacy and why he has been named the father of Modern Art, as well as a new way to understand the local Catalan culture. Please contact us if you would like to make this a private customized experience for a group, party, or family. Don’t just take our word for it Check out our 5* reviews!