Barcelona, Spain’s second-largest city, is bursting with famed art, architecture, cuisine, nightlife, and sight-seeing. In the Gothic Quarter, you’ll find cozy tapas bars, a sprawling gothic cathedral, and the works of Picasso in his very own museum. Along the waterfront, experience sunny beaches and booming nightclubs, and up on the hilltops overlooking the city you can walk directly through the gardens of Antoni Gaudi.
If you only have a few days in Barcelona, it can be overwhelming to decide which areas to explore, what foods to try, and what activities to do. For that reason, our team has put together a recommendation of how to optimize your time in this vibrant metropolis!
Day 1: Gothic Barcelona and La Ramblas
Start your day in La Rambla, a main strip of restaurants, shops, and grab a fresh-squeezed juice at La Boqueria mercado!
Enter the twisting, ancient streets of the Barri Gotic (Gothic Quarter)
Make your way to the Barcelona Cathedral, a grandiose centerpiece of Barcelona
If you’d like to continue wandering through the district, a must-visit is the Museu Picasso
Continue to explore the different shops and tapas bars in the area at your leisure
In the evening, enjoy dinner at one of the many restaurants in nearby neighborhoods Raval (earthy-international) or Born (avant-garde)
Day 2: Barcelona’s Modernisme Movement
Start your day at Manzana de la Discordia, on Passeig de Gracia where you can see three famous buildings designed by the best-known architects of the moveent
Next, walk to Antoni Gaudi's famed building La Pedrera (or Casa Mila) - if you choose, you can spend more time here and walk through the buildings
From Passeig de Gracia, choose to walk (approx. a half hour) to the magnificent Sagrada Familia, or catch the metro Blue Line at the Diagonal Station near La Pedrera
Designate at least one hour at Gaudi's intricately surreal church - if you’re feeling adventurous, go up in the spires for a vertigo-inducing look at the church and the city!
If you still have hours in the day, a visit to Gaudi's Parc Guell on Carmel hill is a must!
After a full day of sightseeing, wind down with a glass of red wine and tapas in the city center
Day 3: Barcelona’s Montjuic
Venture out bright and early to Montjuic, the hill rising southwest of the city center and home to stellar views of down below
Montjuic is home to the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya and Fundacio Joan Miro, as well as the Olympic stadium and Pavello Barcelona
Take in panoramic views of the city and the Mediterranean coastline before heading back down to the city center
Enjoy the afternoon at your leisure, people-watching and soaking in the sunshine of Spain
In the evening, indulge in a Catalonian feast to cap off a fulfilling three days
If you still have energy, end the night in a bass-thumping nightclub on the waterfront, and dance the night away!
Ready to see all that Barcelona has to offer? Schedule your FREE Travel Consultation today and the ELx Travel team will plan your visit to Spain!