Tapas translates to 'rations'. The most typical go-to food is not a big meal, instead it's a combination of small plates that usually consists of olives, bread, (often fried) seafood, meats, potatoes or beans and various veggies. It's diverse, it's tasty and who feels like having a big meal in the blasting sun when you can have a quick tapas with vermuth or beer and continue your running your errands.
Tapas translates to 'rations'. The most typical go-to food is not a big meal, instead it's a combination of small plates that usually consists of olives, bread, (often fried) seafood, meats, potatoes or beans and various veggies. It's diverse, it's tasty and who feels like having a big meal in the blasting sun when you can have a quick tapas with vermuth or beer and continue your running your errands.
-
Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008, Woody Allen)
-
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (2006, Tom Tykwer)
-
All About My Mother (Todo sobre mi madre) (1999, Pedro Almodóvar) Won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
-
Uncharted (2022) — A high-budget treasure-hunting action/adventure film starring Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg
-
Xtreme (2021) — A Spanish-language action thriller film that is set in Barcelona and was filmed there.
-
Gun City (Spanish title: La sombra de la ley) (2018) — A period action/thriller set in 1921 Barcelona, dealing with anarchists, police and crime. Wikipedia
Whether you are getting cozy in your hotel room after all those tours and Sangrías or whather you are already back home and want to 'revisit' Barcelona, here is the list of movies, documentaries and youtube channels that will transport you back!
Films
-
City of Shadows (2025) Netflix series, a dark criminal case that takes place in Barcelona showing investigations within the most emblematic Gaudi buildings
-
Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008, Woody Allen)
-
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (2006, Tom Tykwer)
-
All About My Mother (Todo sobre mi madre) (1999, Pedro Almodóvar) Won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
-
Uncharted (2022) — A high-budget treasure-hunting action/adventure film starring Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg
-
Cheetah Girls 2 (2006) - Disney musical comedy about girlgroup competing in Barcelona with many iconic Barcelona sights as a part of a movie set.
-
Xtreme (2021) — A Spanish-language action thriller film that is set in Barcelona and was filmed there.
-
Gun City (Spanish title: La sombra de la ley) (2018) — A period action/thriller set in 1921 Barcelona, dealing with anarchists, police and crime. Wikipedia
-
Mission: Impossible II (2000) – Action scenes shot at Sagrada Família and Parc de Montjuïc.
-
Manuale d’amore (2005) – Italian romantic comedy with Barcelona as one of its backdrops.
-
A Gun for Ringo (1965) – A spaghetti western shot largely in Catalonia’s landscapes.
Documentaries
-
Catalunya Barcelona (10-episode series) — A comprehensive series tracing Barcelona’s and Catalonia’s history from 1714 through to recent times via interviews with residents and historical figures. Catalunya Barcelona: A Series
-
Las Calles Hablan — A documentary exploring street-art culture in Barcelona: the artists, their work, the city as their canvas. Street Art Barcelona
-
Bangkok Barcelona On Foot (2023) — While not purely about Barcelona’s history, this film tells a journey that ends in Barcelona, giving a modern, human-perspective on arriving in the city. Films For Action
Channels
-
Barcelona Cultura (Official culture channel — Spanish/Catalan) Run by the city’s cultural institute; showcases events, exhibitions, performances, and cultural life in Barcelona. Barcelona.cat
-
Soy Cámara — the CCCB cultural essay channel with Barcelona-centric cultural analysis and interviews (often in Spanish/Catalan)
-
BarcelonaTo (Spanish travel & local experiences) A local content creator exploring Barcelona’s neighborhoods, food, lifestyle, and urban culture.
-
Eat See TV – Popular travel vlog team that covers multi-day Barcelona adventures, with emphasis on local food, culture, and sightseeing tips — all in English.