FREE Barcelona 3-Day Itinerary

FREE Barcelona 3-Day Itinerary

I visited Spain in October 2023. In 7 days, I visited Segovia, Toledo, Madrid, Valencia, Barcelona, and Montserrat. Here is a sample 3-day itinerary to see the top sights in Barcelona in addition to doing a day trip to Montserrat!
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Where to Stay in Barcelona 

Hotel Claris
@jenuine_reviews
Luxury hotel - We stayed here for 2 nights. The free breakfast was INCREDIBLE. Great selection of pastries, meats, cheeses, veggies, and also had an a la carte menu for hot foods (eggs, pancakes, etc). You also get free entry to the nearby Egyptian museum
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Hotel Condes de Barcelona
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Mid-range hotel - close to Casa Mila and Casa Battlo
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Hostalin Barcelona Passeig de Gràcia
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Budget hotel - Close to Casa Mila and Casa Battlo
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Day 1: Barcelona

MORNING ACTIVITIES

AFTERNOON ACTIVITIES

Park Güell
@jenuine_reviews
3:30 PM - This park is a must-visit! Stunning park designed by Gaudi! We did a professional photoshoot here.
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La Sagrada Familia
@jenuine_reviews
6:15 PM - You must book tickets in advance since they will sell out! Visiting La Sagrada Familia is a must-do in Barcelona. The architecture is beyond stunning! Download the app in advance for the audio guide
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DINNER

Sagradas Tapas
@jenuine_reviews
I had this spot bookmarked for a good restaurant near Sagrada Familia, but we ended up going back to the hotel to change and ate at a restaurant near our hotel
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El Nacional Barcelona
@jenuine_reviews
This spot has a gorgeous ambiance with a lot of restaurants in the space. We ate at La Braseria. The wait was around 45 mins, so I def recommend making a reservation. We got the bread, cheese, ham, baked suckling lamb, duck magret, bread with chocolate, and honey-roasted pineapple. The cheese and ham were solid, but nothing special. The lamb had a nice, gamey taste and was pretty tender. The duck magret had a good sauce, but was a little chewy. The bread with chocolate was a little weird, but interesting to try.
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Day 2: Barcelona/Montserrat

Plaça d'Espanya
@jenuine_reviews
8:30 AM - Take the train from Placa d'Espanya to Montserrat. We were able to buy train tickets on the day of. There was a guy manning the stations to help you to choose the right tickets. We wanted to ride the cable car to Montserrat, so we got round-trip tickets from Placa d'Espanya to Aeri de Montserrat
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Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey
@jenuine_reviews
10 AM - This is the top sight to see in Montserrat. We just paid for tickets to go inside the basilica since we couldn't get early tickets to see the Black Madonna. The line to see the statue looked long and didn't seem worth it. When you go inside the basilica, you can see the statue from far away, so I thought that was good enough
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Creu de Sant Miquel
@jenuine_reviews
11 AM - Hiking in Montserrat is another must-do. After researching different hikes, the hike to St. Michael's Cross seemed to be the easiest one with the best views. It is about 15-20 mins one way, and the views were indeed spectacular!
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Mirador dels Apòstols | Apòstols viewpoint
@jenuine_reviews
12 PM - This viewpoint is incredible. Highly recommend!
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Alternative plan: you can book a half-day or full-day tour. Some options:

We took the cable car/train back to Placa d' Espanya to spend the rest of the day in Barcelona.

LUNCH

Mercado de La Boqueria
@jenuine_reviews
2 PM - Delicious market with a great variety of foods! I read that El Quim de la Boqueria was good, but it was hard to get a seat, so we just got quick bites from the stalls. We tried octopus, fried anchovies, percebes (goose barnacles - super expensive), and chocolates. My favorite was the octopus!
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AFTERNOON ACTIVITIES

Palau de la Música Catalana
@jenuine_reviews
3:30 PM - Expensive for what it is, but the inside was pretty spectacular (It was 17 euros for the self-guided visit)
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Plaça de Catalunya
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4:30 PM - Popular plaza
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Cathedral of Barcelona
@jenuine_reviews
5 PM - We only saw the outside, since it was closed when we went. Note that access inside closes at 5:45 PM on weekdays and at 4:30 PM on Sat/Sun
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Arco de Triunfo de Barcelona
@jenuine_reviews
5:30 PM - Iconic archway in Barcelona
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Ciutadella Park
@jenuine_reviews
6 PM - Stunning park! Beautiful when the sun is starting to set
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DINNER

Tapeo
@jenuine_reviews
7 PM - We made a reservation in advance. Got the leeks, oxtail, fideuá with sea urchin and prawns, and grilled squid. The food was delicious! The leeks were outstanding and had a great flavor. The fideuá was so yummy, but I didn’t taste any sea urchin. There wasn’t a lot of shrimp either. The oxtail was so tender that it practically melts! It was a little too salty though. The grilled squid was very tender. The food here was a little pricey for what you get, but quality was there
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EVENING ACTIVITY

La Pedrera-Casa Milà
@jenuine_reviews
9 PM - We booked the night experience in advance. You get to visit the Flower Courtyard, the Whale Attic, and the rooftop. There is an immersive show with projections on the rooftop. The experience ends with a small snack and a glass of cava. This experience was expensive (38 euros), but I thought it was neat!
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Day 3: Barcelona

MORNING ACTIVITIES 

Casa Batlló
@jenuine_reviews
9 AM - If you're a fan of Gaudi, you must visit this place!
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Casa Amatller
@jenuine_reviews
10 AM - If you don't want to check out the museum, at least check out the chocolate store!
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LUNCH 

Mercat del Ninot. Barcelona
@jenuine_reviews
11:30 AM - Check out the market and maybe grab a snack
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Cerveceria Catalana
@jenuine_reviews
Another option for lunch with delicious tapas! The wait was only a few minutes to sit at the bar. We tried the potato omelette, razor clams, shrimp, octopus, and cuttlefish and meatballs. I enjoyed everything! The octopus was tender and was perfection. This was my fave! The omelette had a great flavor. It was slightly oily, but I loved it
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AFTERNOON ACTIVITIES

Montjuïc Castle
@jenuine_reviews
1 PM - This is a hilltop fortress with nice city views. The most convenient and time-saving way to get here seems to be by car. Hours of operation: March 1-October 31 from 10-8 PM (box office closes at 7:30 PM). November 1-February 28 from 10-6 PM (box office closes at 5:30 PM) After visiting the castle, you can explore the nearby gardens
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DINNER

CruiX
@jenuine_reviews
7:30 PM - This is a Michelin Bib Gourmand with 2 tasting menus
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Click below for the full Spain itinerary! 

Thank you for reading! Follow @Jenuine_reviews on Instagram for more food and travel inspirations! Feel free to message me on Instagram or send me an email at Jenuine_reviews@yahoo.com with any questions, comments, or suggestions! 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hello! My name is Jennifer! I’m a pharmacist with a passion for traveling and trying new foods! As a busy healthcare professional, vacation time is limited, so I create jam-packed itineraries to make the most of my traveling experiences! I spend hours of research to make organized itineraries to optimize my time to see the most popular attractions in each place and to find the best food to eat! I'd love to share my experiences and tips with you! If you have any questions, you can contact me via direct message on Instagram (@jenuine_reviews) or send me an email at Jenuine_reviews@yahoo.com!
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