Tours & activities in Barcelona
Darkside Free Tour of Barcelona
Discover Barcelona's darkest history on this 2-hour walking tour
ABOUT THE Darkside Free Tour of Barcelona
This 2-hour Forbidden Tour of Barcelona covers much of Barcelona’s darkest history. Your guide will tell you terrifying tales of torture, murder and scandal. Discover brothels, kidnappings and even vampires while exploring some of the most emblematic neighbourhoods of Barcelona. This walking tour will show you another side of Barcelona.
Your Forbidden Tour of Barcelona starts at the Jaume I metro exit and usually ends the Rambla del Raval.
A dark side to a sunny city
Barcelona today is known for sunshine, architecture and great food. However, on this walking tour, your local tour guide will show you that is hasn’t always been beach days and tapas in the Catalan capital.
Vampires and kidnappings
Stories of vampires sound like something of legends, but in fact, Barcelona’s 20th Century vampire was no myth. Enriqueta Martí, known as the Vampire of the Raval, roamed the streets of Barcelona looking for children, who she would kidnap and later devour.
Brothels and erotic shows
Barcelona is not usually known for its Red Light District, but in fact, the largest brothel in Europe was once right here. Your local tour guide will show you were Madame “Le Petit” once stood, and where controversial erotic shows are still held today.
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TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
The Forbidden Tour of Barcelona starts just outside the Jaume I Metro Exit in front of Hotel Suizo
- Discover the Basilica of Saints Justus and Pastor, whose schoolboys who were killed for their faith
- Hear about Madame 'Le Petit’ – once the biggest brothel in Europe
- Meet Enriqueta Marti – the Vampire of Raval
- Learn about Sala Bagdad and its infamous erotic shows
TOUR SCHEDULES
Today
This tour doesn‘t run today
Inclusions & exclusions
What’s included
- Local English-speaking guide
What’s not included
- Gratuities for the guide (optional)
Additional Information
- Our business is connecting great guides and smart travelers, and we're proud that so many local guides employ us to welcome travelers like you on their journey through some of the world's best cities. No two tours are alike, and the sites, stories, and length of the tour will vary depending on what your freelance guide decides is best. That's why the tours we promote never get stale or feel scripted, and why both independent guides and savvy travelers prefer SANDEMANs
- Wheelchair accessible
- This tour contains mature themes, and is not recommended for guests under the age of 16
MAP
Tour starts here
Tour usually ends here
Tour usually covers
Customer reviews
Forbidden tour of Barcelona with Leon
Did the forbidden tour of Barcelona with Leon today. Can not fault Leon himself or the tour at all. Was honestly so engaging and interesting to listen to and so informative at the same time. Leon is so full of knowledge in all aspects this tour covers and it is clear he has researched so much about it and is so passionate in the way he tells the stories and history. The tour went for approx 2.5 hours in total and covered multiple significant sites. The walking music was entertaining too. Leon is a wealth of knowledge and would be a shame to miss it while in Barcelona!
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Forbidden tour with Patrick
Did the ‘Forbidden Tour’ with Patrick which focused on the Ravel quarter. Patrick was an excellent guide - knowledable and interesting with an ability to pack so much information into 2.5hrs! We went to places I never would have thought to visit and learnt about all the scandalous characters and fascinating history of the district. Would highly recommend!
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Forbidden Tour w/ Leon Review
I completed the free walking tour with Jimi who mentioned Leon's "Forbidden Tour" of Barcelona's dark side and decided to give it a go. It was a refreshingly honest trip into the El Raval district and Leon will quite literally take you through the entire history of sex and torture in Spain. Perfect for amateur historians and fans of the macabre; not for the faint of heart or tourists hoping to take pretty pictures. Our tour lasted about 3 hours with a short break in the middle. Leon is a walking encyclopedia and would happily continue for 3 more hours if you were so inclined. I am a young solo female traveller and felt safe with our group. Highly recommend for a well-rounded understanding of Barcelona!
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Forbidden
5/5 Jimmy was a phenomenal tour guide at the forbidden tour. Extremely knowledgeable. Highly recommend taking this tour
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Forbidden Tour with Leon is exceptional!
Having travelled around many places and done multiple walking tours the Forbidden Barcelona tour with Leon is world class. As a word of warning this isn’t for the faint hearted as you will learn all about the dark history of Barcelona and the hidden secrets that most tours won’t tell you about or show you. Leon is truly exceptional in his knowledge and is clearly passionate about the city and the content! He’s truly a master of his craft and is extremely welcoming to top it off! Cannot recommend highly enough!
See more reviewsWhat is a Free Tour?
The Free Tour is the best introduction to Barcelona! A general overview tour including many of the highlights of the city, the Free Tour usually lasts around 2.5 hours and is provided by a local freelance guide in partnership with SANDEMANs NEW Europe, so tour content can vary depending on your guide’s particular area of interest and expertise.
The Free Tour is a walking tour with no need for public transport and is designed for independent travellers, not groups. You can book your spot in advance online or simply show up at the start point on the day. There is no payment necessary at the start of the tour but you are welcome to tip your guide at the end!
We believe in supporting local communities and are committed to giving a voice to some of Amsterdam's best local freelance tour guides, who passionately share the city's history and culture with their own unique and always-entertaining style. They'll never pressure you to tip; we believe that, if money is given, it should be voluntary and in direct proportion to the quality of the tour and the budget of the traveler.
Why join the SANDEMANs FREE Tour?
- Expert local guides
- Theme specific tours
- Location specific tours
- The Free Tour is guaranteed to fit within your budget
- The guides performing tips-based Free Tours are incentivized to perform every time
Participation in tours promoted by SANDEMANs NEW Europe is strictly on a voluntary basis. Neither SANDEMANs NEW Europe, nor the self-employed freelance guides who are the providers of the tours promoted by SANDEMANs NEW Europe, will be held responsible in any way for injuries to body or property incurred during tours. The tour guides reserve the right to deny participation in any tour, to any person, for any reason. Thank you for your understanding.
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