Quick answerBarcelona is a city in Spain, with 1,713,247 people inside the city limits in 2025. The wider metropolitan area had about 5.5 million people in 2025. It is best known for the Sagrada Família, the Park Güell and the Gothic Quarter. Its official language is Spanish, and its currency is the Euro.
Barcelona is the second-largest city in Spain, with about 1.7 million people inside the city limits and about 5.5 million in the wider metropolitan area (2025). It stands on the Mediterranean coast in north-eastern Spain and is famous for the Sagrada Família.
Key facts
| Country | Spain |
|---|---|
| Population (city) | 1,713,247 (2025) |
| Population (metro) | 5,474,482 (2025) · Eurostat functional urban area |
| Elevation | 12 m above sea level |
| Time zone | Europe/Madrid |
| Language | Spanish |
| Currency | Euro (EUR, €) |
| Coordinates | 41.3825° N, 2.1769° E |
Overview
Barcelona stands on the Mediterranean coast in north-eastern Spain, about 120 kilometres south of the French border. With 1,713,247 residents inside the city limits in 2025, it is Spain's second-largest city, and its metropolitan area of 5,474,482 people is the second largest in the country. The city covers 101 square kilometres between the sea and the Collserola hills.
Barcelona is best known for the architecture of Antoni Gaudí, above all the Sagrada Família basilica, which has been under construction since 1882, and Park Güell. The old town, the Gothic Quarter, and the long avenue of La Rambla are the heart of the city, and the beaches along the waterfront draw millions of visitors. Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia, and Catalan is spoken alongside Spanish. The city hosted the Summer Olympics in 1992, which reshaped its seafront.
What Barcelona is known for
- Sagrada Família
- Park Güell
- Gothic Quarter
- La Rambla
- Beaches
Landmarks
- Sagrada Família
- Park Güell
- La Rambla
- Gothic Quarter
- Casa Batlló
- Camp Nou
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Barcelona?
Barcelona had 1,713,247 residents inside the city limits in 2025, according to INE, making it the second-largest city in Spain. Its metropolitan area had 5,474,482 people. The city covers 101 square kilometres on the Mediterranean coast in north-eastern Spain, between the sea and the Collserola hills.
Where is Barcelona and what is it known for?
Barcelona is on the Mediterranean coast in north-eastern Spain, about 120 kilometres south of the French border. It is the capital of Catalonia and is known for Gaudí's Sagrada Família and Park Güell, the Gothic Quarter, La Rambla and its beaches.
Quick quiz
Three questions from the facts on this page. No sign-up, no score is saved.
Keep exploring
- Spain — the country Barcelona is in
- Madrid — another city in Spain
- Valencia — another city in Spain
- Seville — another city in Spain
- All cities in Spain
- All countries — the full list
Sources & last updated
- Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), via Wikipedia — Barcelona
- Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE)
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.