Nestled on the shores of northeastern Spain, Barcelona is the cosmopolitan capital of Catalonia and the artistic and cultural hub of the Mediterranean coast. From the Sagrada Familia to Park Gaudi, Barcelona is all about creativity. The city’s gothic streets are a place where tradition and modernity exist harmoniously, and the same can be said about the tattoo scene.
You can do just about anything in Barcelona whether it’s museums, rooftop bars, demanding hikes, or beachside relaxation you’re after. The city lives up to its reputation, and lucky for ink lovers, Barcelona is home to some of Spain’s best tattoo artists just waiting to put you in the hot seat.
Whether you’re traveling abroad for your next big piece or braving your first ever tattoo, Barcelona is a great place to go. Still, remember that tattoos are a big commitment, and doing your research is just as important as choosing a design. Check out our pick of the best tattoo shops in Barcelona below.
Meatshop Tattoo
Tucked away in a historical building in Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter, Meatshop Tattoo has been in the business for over five years and they specialize in delivering custom tattoos to all of their clients. You’re guaranteed to leave with an original piece, whether it’s dot work, illustration, Art Nouveau, or a delicate tattoo you’re after. Meatshop Tattoo is one of the city’s only studios with a consistent five-star rating and is one of the best tattoo shops in Barcelona.
Meatshop Tatttoo hosts six resident artists, several of which are specialists in manga and anime-style Japanese art. Benjamin “Benny” Hill is just one of their acclaimed tattooists. Born in Manchester but raised in Barcelona, Benny is a self-taught artist who started tattooing in Istanbul in 2014 before becoming a resident at Meatshop Tattoo in 2017. His work is mostly Japanese illustration with a modern twist, switching between technical fine lines and bold outlines.
Meatshop Tattoo adheres to the highest health and hygiene standards as well as the strict regulations around the legal tattooing age in Spain. You must be 18 to get inked at Meatshop Tattoo, regardless of parental consent, and the studio only accepts cash payments. If you’re coming from abroad, the staff are more than happy to help assist you in planning your next tattoo project. Use the contact form on their site or get in touch directly for more information.
Rating: 5/5
Price range: $$$
Address: Passatge del Crèdit, 8, 08002 Barcelona, Spain
Contact: +34 937 97 47 77, meatshoptattoo.com
Opening times: Open daily, 12 pm to 8 pm.
Steelworks
Just a three-minute walk from Palau de la Música Catalana, the world’s only Art Nouveau concert hall to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Steelworks Body Piercing & Tattoo Studio has been running since 1996 and was one of the first in Barcelona.
The Gothic Quarter, or Barri Gòtic, wasn’t what it is now when Steelworks opened their doors over 25 years ago. With its narrow medieval alleyways, boutique shops, trendy bars, and hidden galleries, the old-Europe district is often s first choice for Barcelona’s visitors and is considered the cultural hub of the city. However, the Gothic Quarter was a grungey and poverty-stricken neighborhood in the 1990s.
Owner and visionary of Steelworks, Marta, says ‘it wasn’t the norm to come across so many people with tattoos and piercings. Still, Steelworks has worked its way out of the trenches, taking inspiration from tribal artwork in Asia and Africa to deliver unique designs to their loyal customers. Marta is joined by resident artist Santi Cuevas, a specialist in dot work and geometry, along with Gonzalo M.M. and his neo-traditional American style.
The trio is waiting to cater to all requests with exceptional hygiene practices and an extensive piercing menu. They even stock a selection of fine handmade jewelry. Shop owner, Marta, is the resident body piercer.
Rating: 4.8/5
Price range: $$
Address: Carrer de les Magdalenes, 5, 08002 Barcelona, Spain
Contact: +34 934 12 36 70, steelworksbcn.com
Opening times: Tuesday to Saturday, 11 am to 2.30 pm, 4.30 pm to 8 pm.
Siha Tattoo Barcelona
Siha is a contemporary tattoo shop, nestled on Carrer de Ferlandina in the heart of Barcelona. With over 10 years in the business, Siha has well-adapted to the times and the parlor’s team of experienced artists cater to a host of styles. Large color blocking pieces, intricate Japanese illustration, tribal back covers, and colorful neotraditional flash art, you name it, Siha can deliver.
Jota is just one of the expert resident artists at the shop. Specializing in large tribal artwork, Jota is the man to turn to for entire body cover-ups, color blocking, and unique designs. He’s earned quite the reputation worldwide, accumulating over 150,000 social media followers and working as a guest artist all over Europe as well as maintaining a residency at Siha. You can find Jota’s work in original paintings and logo tees on Siha’s shop site.
Siha is located less than five minutes from the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art in the edgy Raval neighborhood. El Raval is within walking distance of the Gothic Quarter and Eixample and is one of the city’s most creative and multicultural districts.
Siha is a private studio but they welcome walk-ins and you can purchase their merch online or in-store.
Rating: 4.7/5
Price range: $$-$$$
Address: Carrer de Ferlandina, 32, 08001 Barcelona, Spain
Contact: +34 933 15 58 41, instagram.com
Opening times: Tuesday to Saturday 12 pm to 8 pm
Ondo Tattoo Barcelona
With over seven years in the business, Ondo is one of the best tattoo shops in Barcelona executing custom designs with a specialism in black and white body art. Manager, Alberto Ortega, claims that a combination of black and white ink gives all of the tattoos performed at Ondo the highest quality finish.
Ondo was opened by acclaimed artists, ‘El Uf’, Fran, and Oscar Hove in 2014. El Uf describes himself as a “simple guy from Barcelona”, once a graffiti artist on the city streets and now a professional tattooist chosen as one of 360 of the world’s best artists to tattoo at the renowned London Tattoo Convention.
Bringing horror stylings to his studio, El Uf is joined by nine other resident experts with backgrounds in illustration, street art, and self-taught tattooing. From Welok and Braid’s expert realism to Oscar’s full-body Japanese traditionalism and Mariona’s dot work, you’re certain to find a style to fit yours.
Ondo is a two-minute walk from the Barcelona Pavillion, a modern architectural feat designed by Ludwig Mies van de Rohe and Lilly Reich for the official opening of the German section of Barcelona’s 1929 International Exposition. At the foot of the National Art Museum of Catalonian, another minute or so from Ondo is the majestic Magic Fountain of Montjuïc which is also worth a visit with its colorful lights and evening music.
Montjuïc is a leafy and peaceful neighborhood with magnificent views over the city and Port of Barcelona. Take a stroll around the museum gardens before wandering into Ondo Tattoo where walk-ins are always welcome.
Rating: 4.6/5
Price range: $$-$$$
Address: Carrer dels Morabos, 24, Local 2, 08004 Barcelona, Spain
Contact: +34 935 08 15 72, ondotattoo.com
Opening times: Mondy to Saturday, 11 am to 8 pm
Sacrifice Barcelona
Elegantly executed inside with artwork hanging on the walls and a clean, warm environment, you won’t have to sacrifice your comfort or personal needs at this studio. Sacrifice hosts nine resident artists, each with their own distinct style from colorful manga illustrations to photo-realism, neotraditional, and delicate mandalas.
Toni Donaire runs the studio along with Rodigo Kalaka and Melow Pérez. Donaire is known for his work in local satirical magazine, ‘El Jueves’, and the Spanish Flash animated television series ‘Cálico Electrónico’. Yet, Donaire is now one of Barcelona’s top tattoo artists, highly regarded for his neo-traditional style and designs that draw inspiration from ethnic art and ancient mythology.
Sacrifice is located just a few minutes walk from Casa Vicens, Gaudí’s first house in Barcelona in the Gràcia district. Gràcia is the perfect neighborhood for a studio like Sacrifice, steeped in natural beauty and paying homage to independence, creativity and its own alternative atmosphere. The district is located in the geographical center of Barcelona, just one stop from the Passeig de Gràcia on the metro, at the foothills of the Collserola mountain range.
Sacrifice is just a one-minute walk from Lesseps station on metro line 3. Call ahead for bookings or email the studio as the artists at Sacrifice are always in high demand.
Rating: 4.8/5
Price range: $$-$$$
Address: Avinguda de la Riera de Cassoles, 64, 08012 Barcelona, Spain
Contact: +34 620 76 75 55, [email protected]
Opening times: Monday to Saturday, 10 am to 8 pm
Gypsy Garden Tattoo
Best known for vibrant colors and large detailed designs, you’ll find a variety of styles at Gypsy Garden Tattoo from old to new, street-art influences, gory horror stylings, and colorful Japanese illustrations. The studio in the southern Sant district of Barcelona is owned by resident artists JotaPaint, Guindero, and Ypsonfarto, who are joined by four other expert tattooists in this diverse team.
Ypso praises the versatility of the artists, saying ‘we all come from other studios, we give each other feedback, and we even share clients.’ Creativity is at the heart of everything they do at Gyspy Garden and the crew is always spread out, sketching wild designs, and even painting works for private sale.
Ypso, like many of the other artists, has a background in urban art, which goes hand in hand with tattooing. ‘Graffiti and tattoos are the essence of the street, of freedom’ he says.
Gypsy Garden Tattoo is one of the highest-rated studios in Barcelona and they regard themselves as a tattoo community, gallery, and event directory. Find these guys tucked away on Carrer del Tenor Masini. You can shop their prints online and in-store.
Rating: 4.9/5
Price range: $$-$$$
Address: Carrer del Tenor Masini, 22, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Contact: +34 637 68 53 12
Opening times: Monday to Saturday, 11 am to 6 pm
Family Art Tattoo
Family Art is an expansive studio in the heart of Barcelona with a long history in tattooing, piercing, and microblading. With a team of over 20 guests and resident artists, you’ll be spoilt for choice and it is no surprise Family Art is one of the best tattoo shops in Barcelona by rating.
The studio has earnt respect on the streets of Barcelona with 10s of thousands of social media followers and over 700 five-star reviews. The studio strives toward executing an ideal working environment for the talented professionals that are part of the family here and delivering personalized tattoos to the people of Barcelona and its visitors.
Just some of the artists who stand out include Niklas Westin, who specializes in colorful tribal art from different ethnicities, Koan and his illustrative comics, Victor Chill with his modern and realistic Japanese style, Javier Obregon with his man-meets-machine full body pieces, and Irene with her delicate florals, manga etchings, and watercolor technique.
And if you’re coming with a botched job from another studio, Family Art not only specializes in cover-ups, but they also deliver state-of-the-art tattoo removal for whatever reason you need a tattoo gone. Using the Ink Hunter Master, they can remove tattoos by laser in just a few sittings without damaging the skin. Get in touch and book in advance if you’re after tattoo removal services or plan your next tattoo project.
Rating: 4.9/5
Price range: $$$
Address: Carrer del Regomir, 18-22, Local, 08002 Barcelona, Spain
Contact: +34 932 95 55 52, familyarttattoo.com
Opening times: Monday to Saturday, 11 am to 8 pm
Can you get a tattoo under 18 in Barcelona?
Spain has more than one central Government and the age to get a tattoo can vary depending on the province you’re in. Some regions of the country allow minors as young as 14 to get tattooed with signed parental consent, while in Barcelona, the minimum legal age is 16. However, many studios will only tattoo individuals over the age of 18, regardless of parental consent. This is because tattooing minors is looked down upon within the professional community.
How do you care for a new tattoo?
When you get a new tattoo, you should remove the bandage applied by your artist the following day, and apply a thin later of antibacterial creams, such as Bepanthen, twice a day after cleaning. Wash your tattoo gently with soap and pat dry with a tissue before applying ointment. You don’t need to re-bandage your tattoo, but you should avoid submerging it in water or exposing your skin to direct sunlight, for at least two weeks after getting your new ink.
How much do tattoos cost in Barcelona?
The least you’ll pay for a tattoo in Barcelona is around €30-45 ($30-41) for a small piece taking less than 15 minutes for the artist to complete. Prices can go up to €400 ($410) per hour depending on the artist’s reputation and experience, as well as your chosen design, but on average, prices start at €100 ($102), with an added €100-150 ($102-153) per hour thereafter.
