Civitatis reviews in Barcelona: free tours, prices and whether it's worth it
Verdict: Civitatis is a solid pick for guided tours and free tours, especially in Spanish, backed by a huge volume of reviews, but for plain monument tickets it usually costs more than the official price and other platforms.
ⓘ Note: we are not Civitatis We are not Civitatis or its official website. This is an independent review based on public sources; some links are affiliate links (GetYourGuide, Tiqets, Headout).Tickets and tours to book
24 options · Prices checked on 18 October 2026
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Barcelona: Sagrada Familia Skip-the-Line Entry Ticket & Tour
4.8 (15,271 reviews)
from €73.80Check dates
Barcelona: Gaudí’s Park Güell Tour with Fast-Track Ticket
4.7 (7,822 reviews)
from €25.99Check dates
Barcelona: FC Barcelona Museum "Barça Immersive Tour" Ticket
4.3 (14,965 reviews)
from €30.10Check dates
La Pedrera-Casa Milà Skip-the-Line Tickets with Video Guide
4.6 (6,095 reviews)
from €22.50Check dates
Barcelona: Private City Tour by 100% Electric Eco Tuk Tuk
4.8 (1,890 reviews)
from €23.70Check dates
Verdict: 8 out of 10
Full disclosure first: Civitatis competes with the platforms we work with and pays us nothing. It still comes out well. It has the biggest choice of Spanish-language tours in Barcelona, its ratings run into the tens of thousands, and its free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead is the industry norm. Where it falls short is unguided entry tickets: there it usually charges above the official price, and it doesn't always say who actually runs the tour.
| Criterion | Score | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Price and transparency | 6/10 | Free tours with nothing to pay upfront, but tickets above the official price and the local supplier often unnamed |
| Flexibility | 8/10 | Free cancellation up to 24 h before on most products; no refund after that |
| Public reputation | 9/10 | 4.5/5 from 196,000+ reviews on Trustpilot; 9.2/10 across its Barcelona tours |
| Experience | 8/10 | Its Barcelona free tour has 54,000+ reviews at 9.4/10; quality depends on each tour's supplier |
| Reliability | 8/10 | Registered company since 2008, known investors and replies to almost every negative review |
| Overall | 8/10 | Mean of the five criteria (7.8), rounded to 0.5 |
Good fit for
- ✔ Spanish speakers who want their tour in Spanish, with plenty of dates and groups.
- ✔ First-day visitors who want a free tour to get their bearings and pay what they think it was worth.
- ✔ Anyone who values free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead across nearly the whole catalogue.
Not a fit for
- ✘ Travellers who just want a monument ticket: the official site or other platforms are usually cheaper.
- ✘ Anyone who needs to know in advance which local company runs the tour.
- ✘ Anyone who takes "free" literally: free tours expect a tip.
Fact sheet
| Company | CIVITATIS TOURS, S.L. · tax ID B-86899440 · Calle Gran Vía 39, 3ª, 28013 Madrid · registered at the Madrid Companies Registry, per its legal notice |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2008, by Alberto Gutiérrez Pascual; it moved from a guide directory to online sales in 2013. Andrés Spitzer has been CEO since 1 January 2026 |
| Base | Madrid; active in thousands of destinations (4,270+ and 97,000 activities, according to Wikipedia) |
| Travel-agency registration | Not published on the pages we checked |
| What it sells in Barcelona | About 145 tours and activities: free tours, Gaudí guided visits, day trips (Montserrat), shows and the Barcelona Card |
| Price range | From €0 (free tours, tip extra) to €159 (Sagrada Família with towers and a guide) |
| Where to book | civitatis.com and its app; it doesn't sell through GetYourGuide, Tiqets or Headout |
| Public ratings | 4.5/5 from 196,487 reviews according to Trustpilot (77% 5★, 5% 1★); 9.2/10 from 147,000+ reviews of its Barcelona tours, according to its own site |
What it sells and what it costs
Civitatis is a marketplace: each local supplier sets its own price and the platform takes a commission. So there's no single rule. On guided tours and free tours it's competitive; on monument tickets the comparison nearly always goes against it. Here's how it stacks up against official prices and our partner platforms:
| Product | Civitatis | Official / other platforms | Honest read |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barcelona free tour (Old Town) | €0 + tip | Paid walking tours on GetYourGuide from €18 | Civitatis is cheaper upfront; once you tip, the gap narrows |
| Spanish Civil War free tour | €0 + tip | GetYourGuide paid tour from €28 | Civitatis wins if a free tour is enough for you |
| Casa Batlló skip-the-line | From €35 | Official from €29; Tiqets, GetYourGuide and Headout from €29 | Civitatis is dearer |
| Guided Sagrada Família | From €72–92.40 depending on the page checked | Official with guide €30; Tiqets from €44; Headout from €52; GetYourGuide from €54 | Civitatis is dearer than all three |
| Sagrada Família with towers and guide | From €159 | Official guided + towers €40; GetYourGuide from €99 | Civitatis is dearer |
| Montserrat from Barcelona | From €50.15 | GetYourGuide from €37.60 (tour with transfers) or €52.80 (with rack railway) | Similar; depends on inclusions |
| Barcelona Card | From €59 | Official from €35.10 online; Tiqets from €39; GetYourGuide and Headout from €59 | Same as GetYourGuide and Headout, dearer than official |
Civitatis prices per civitatis.com, official prices per each monument's website and platform prices per their product pages, all on the day of review. "From" prices change with date, language and duration; always compare like with like.
The best and the worst
The best
- Spanish-language choice. In Barcelona it lists free tours of the Old Town, Gaudí and Modernisme, the Gothic Quarter by night, the Civil War, and mysteries and legends.
- Review volume. Its Barcelona free tour has more than 54,000 reviews at 9.4/10; few sources have a sample that big.
- Reasonable cancellation. Most products can be cancelled free up to 24 hours ahead.
- Visible support. According to Trustpilot, it replies to 97% of negative reviews.
- A clear company. Legal name, tax ID and registry details are in its legal notice.
The worst
- Pricier tickets. Casa Batlló at €35 against €29 official; a guided Sagrada Família at more than twice the official guided ticket.
- Unnamed suppliers. On several pages, such as the Barcelona Card and the free tours, the "who provides it" section is empty.
- "Free" causes confusion. Negative reviews keep mentioning surprise at the tip; Civitatis replies that "free" means a voluntary contribution.
- Slow refunds. Some Trustpilot users say refunds take 5 to 15 days.
- Template replies. Several reviewers describe generic responses, and Trustpilot notes they may be AI-assisted.
The small print
- Cancellation: generally free up to 24 hours ahead. Later cancellations and no-shows aren't refunded. Check each product page, because the supplier sets the terms.
- Tipping: free tours are listed at €0 with a note that the tip isn't included. Bring cash and budget about €10–15 per person; one reviewer reports being asked for €15 a head.
- Group size: the Ciutat Vella rules adopted in 2023 set groups below 20 people and banned loudspeakers.
- Rain: walking tours are outdoors; check the product page for what happens if one is called off for bad weather.
- Children and accessibility: these vary by supplier; ask before booking if you have a pushchair or wheelchair, since the old town has narrow stretches.
- Included tickets: on Sagrada Família tours, the price covers the company's own guide plus entry; it isn't the Basilica's official guided visit.
Traps and how to avoid them
How to book at the best price
Free tours: Civitatis works well. For a first lap of the city with nothing to pay upfront, especially in Spanish, its catalogue is one of the widest. Book on civitatis.com and bring tip money.
A walking tour with a fixed price. If you'd rather know what you're paying, an Old Town and Gothic Quarter tour starts at €18, rated 4.8/5 from 1,900+ reviews on GetYourGuide; for recent history, the Civil War and Franco dictatorship tour costs from €28.
Sagrada Família. The cheapest option is the official ticket with a guide (€30). If it's sold out or you want flexible cancellation, the Tiqets guided visit starts at €44 and GetYourGuide's version with towers at €99; both were below Civitatis on the day we checked.
Casa Batlló. The Tiqets entry ticket starts at €29, the same as the official price.
Montserrat. Prices are close here: GetYourGuide's tour with the rack railway costs from €52.80, against €50.15 on Civitatis. Choose on inclusions and language.
Alternatives
If you want walking tours from local companies that put their own name on the product, see our Runner Bean Tours and Hidden City Tours reviews. For city cards, Turisme de Barcelona's shop is the cheapest.
Frequently asked questions
Is Civitatis legit?
Yes. It is Civitatis Tours, S.L., a Madrid company founded in 2008, with its tax ID and registry details published and well-known investment funds behind it. It holds 4.5/5 from 196,000+ reviews on Trustpilot. The most common complaints are slow refunds and confusion over free-tour tipping.
Are Civitatis free tours really free?
Booking costs €0, but the guide is paid through tips. Civitatis describes it as a voluntary contribution. Budget about €10–15 per person and bring cash.
Civitatis or GetYourGuide for Barcelona?
For Spanish-language free tours, Civitatis has more choice. For monument tickets and Sagrada Família tours, GetYourGuide and Tiqets were cheaper on the day we checked. Both allow free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead on most products.
Can I cancel a Civitatis booking?
Generally yes, free up to 24 hours before. After that, or if you don't show up, there's no refund. Some users report that the money takes 5 to 15 days to come back.
Who runs Civitatis tours?
Local companies and guides; Civitatis is the intermediary and takes a commission. Some product pages don't name the supplier, so ask before paying if it matters to you.
Is Sagrada Família cheaper on Civitatis?
No. The official ticket with a guide costs €30; Civitatis tours started at €72–92.40, and Tiqets or GetYourGuide had guided visits from €44–54.
Prefer a walking tour with a fixed price?
No tip maths: a 2.5-hour Old Town and Gothic Quarter tour from €18, rated 4.8/5 from 1,900+ GetYourGuide reviews.
See dates and prices