Scour the streets of Barcelona to spot the film-worthy sites included in some of the best movies filmed in beautiful Barcelona.
For filmmakers, capturing the vibrancy, color, and history of a city can be a huge challenge. Many directors and writers have sought to bring Barcelona to life on screen. Only a select few have successfully shared the city’s sights and sounds with the world.
One of one of the best issues about watching movies is which you could recognise the odd avenue nook, acquainted surroundings or perhaps a favorite metropolis.
When someplace has a sentimental worth, it’s satisfying to remind your self of this place. Whether it’s the place you and a pal have visited, you’ve got been there with a accomplice or your loved ones, it holds a spot in your reminiscence.
Barcelona as a metropolis is held by all guests to this excessive regard, with it being the place reminiscences are made by all.
One of one of the best methods to reimagine and provides a brand new life to those reminiscences, when you can’t go to the place, is by watching it on movie. This method you’ll be able to level out the place you’re acquainted, so as to think about your self in the scene.
Barcelona apartment experts Waytostay use their local know-how to curate a location guide for the best films featuring Barcelona’s sites. Ready to explore? Lights, camera, action!
Here are our favorite movies that are based in Barcelona
All About My Mother (1999) d. Pedro Almodovar
This is arguably one of the most famous film set in Barcelona. All About My Mother follows the tragic yet darkly comic tale of Manuela, a mother returning to Barcelona to rediscover the father of her late son. If you find yourself on the Passeig de Gracia, pop in to the Teatro Tivoli. Rebuilt in the early 20th century, this charming theatre and its backstage areas were used for many scenes. Time your visit to catch a matinee performance, or pop back later to take in a show.
The unique surroundings of the Cementerio de Montjuic appear in the closing scenes of the film. The cemetery is home to more than 150,000 of the city’s past residents, stretching across the southerly face of Montjuic. If you’re keen to avoid a climb, there’s a direct bus. The cemetery is open to the public from 8am to 6pm daily. Filming took place in section nine of the cemetery, close to Plaça Sant Francesc. It’s also the perfect spot to enjoy Barcelona, with a panoramic view of the port and the sea.
The Passenger (1975) d. Michelangelo Antonioni
Antonioni’s 1975 thriller The Passenger stars Jack Nicholson in his first role after winning a Golden Globe for Chinatown. The film may only pass through Barcelona as Locke (Nicholson) flees both justice and his past. It manages to squeeze a remarkable variety of locations into that visit. Make sure to also pop into L’Umbracle de la Ciutadella, a 19th-century tropical greenhouse; don’t miss the magical interior of Palau Guell. One of Gaudi’s most famous contributions to the city centre, this beautiful building is just a few moments from the bright lights of La Rambla, which also features in the film.
L’Auberge Espagnole (2003) d. Cedric Klapisch
Visiting Barcelona for a holiday is one thing, but what happens when you hang around a little longer? L’Auberge Espagnole follows the story of Xavier, a French Erasmus student on a year abroad learning to cope with a new city. The film captures the energy of the city superbly. Parc Guell and the rooftops of Barcelona are shown in blazing sunshine, while the streets of the city are brought to life.
There are scenes among the crowds on La Rambla and in the quieter corners like the Carrer de les Caputxes. Remember to visit the open plazas and sands of La Barceloneta, the city’s coastal neighborhood. Once a thriving fishing port, the area remains an energetic place; it’s perfect for enjoying the sunshine, taking a dip, or grabbing a bite to eat.
Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008) d. Woody Allen
Similarly to Allen’s other films Midnight in Paris and To Rome With Love, the Golden Globe-winning Vicky Cristina Barcelona is a love letter to a great European city. He introduces the audience to Barcelona through the eyes of Vicky and Cristina, two bright-eyed visitors. Many of Barcelona’s most famed buildings and spaces make an appearance, particularly the incredible works of Antoni Gaudi. The unique shapes and colors of La Sagrada Familia, Parc Guell and La Casa Mila (or ‘La Pedrera’) appear prominently – the latter two are also just a short hop apart on the L3 Metro.
A visit to the remarkable rooftop of La Casa Mila is a must. Fancy a spot of lunch? Visit the charming Els Quatre Gats – one of Picasso’s old stomping grounds and a little modernist marvel, tucked away in the Gothic Quarter. Jump on the L3 Metro and head for Lesseps to take the short walk to the iconic gates of the Parc.
Barcelona (1994) d. Whit Stillman
As the title might not-so-subtly suggest, Whit Stillman’s nuanced fish-out-of-water story hands centre stage to the Catalan capital. Following a dashing US military type arriving into a less-than-welcoming late Cold War Barcelona, the film nonetheless extols the virtues of the city as a place of culture and energy. A variety of Barcelona’s historic delights are on display throughout, including the city’s remaining Roman Walls and the towering Columbus Monument at the lower end of La Rambla.
Some uniquely beautiful buildings also feature, particularly the stunningly opulent Palau de la Música, home of the region’s vibrant folk music scene. If you catch a show, the Palau is only a short walk from the center of the Old City. You can also take a delightful post-show walk along some of the city’s most charming streets.
What are your favorite films set in Barcelona? Share any special spots that have been made famous on-screen.
Places to look out for:
Gothic Quarter, Santa MarÃa del Mar, Port OlimpÃc, Las Ramblas, Parc Güell, La Pedrera, Sagrada Familia and Tibidabo.
