🇪🇸 Barcelona in 3 Days: Detailed Itinerary
First things first...
🛏️ Where to stay
For this itinerary, the best place to stay would be somewhere near
📍Gothic Quarter or 📍Eixample
My recommendation is the Occidental Diagonal 414 in Eixample. This hotel boasts rooms with magnificent views of the city and the mountains. I've stayed here myself so I can personally vouch for it.
Use this link to book👇
Or, check out any of the Room Mate or Catalonia chain of hotels in the city👇
Now, on to the itinerary!
Day 1
Rise and shine! ☀️
11:00 AM
Walking Tour
As with any European city, you must start the trip with a walking tour.
👉 Walking tours are a fantastic way to learn about the history and culture of the city, while at the same time having a good laugh (most guides are experts on entertaining a crowd - you'll never be bored).
📌 How it works
🎟️ Walking tours in Europe are usually FREE, and you don't need to buy any tickets or make reservations in advance. Simply show up and tell the guide that you'd like to join.
🚶♂️Your guide will lead the group around a specific area by foot, usually stopping for a coffee / bathroom break midway. Generally, tours will end very close to where they started. You are free to leave the group anytime inbetween.
💸 At the end of the tour, you a may tip your guide (the standard amount is usually €10-20 per person). This is not compulsory, but trust me, by the end of the tour you'll have liked it so much that you won't mind handing over this amount with a smile.
🌟 Our recommendation - Sandeman's
While any walking tour company would do, we suggest looking for the Sandeman's Walking Tour - their tour of Barcelona Old Town usually starts near Jaume I subway station, right opposite Hotel Suizo👇
Just show up there around 10.40 AM and put your name down for the 11 AM tour. The tour lasts about 1.5 - 2 hours, so carry water and snacks if you need to.
ℹ️ More about Sandeman's
1:30 PM
Eat 🍽️
After the tour, stop for lunch at
3:30 PM
Cathedral of Barcelona
While you're in the Gothic Quarter, check out the Cathedral of Barcelona.
You can choose to go inside, but we recommend having a leisurely sit at the public square right next to it - because we have more walking to do after this. Rest your tired feet, and do some people watching.
5:30 PM
La Rambla
Now that you're well rested, time for a stroll down the La Rambla. Don't eat or buy a lot of things here, as most of these will be tourist traps and have inflated prices.
Be careful of your belongings here. Pickpocketing is rampant in Barcelona, and this is one of the many hotspots for pickpockets.
6:30 PM
Boqueria Market
As you walk along La Rambla, you'll find the Boqueria Market. The prices here will be inflated, as this is a tourist spot, but you can still eat and buy things for the experience.
Eat 🍽️
Finally, end the day with a delicious meal and some drinks.
Day 2
10:30 AM
La Sagrada Familia
The Sagrada Familia giant basilica that has been under construction since 1882, and one of Gaudi's most famous architectural works. It is also one of the largest unfinished churches in the world. Some say it can make even the hardest atheists feel religious.
When in Barcelona, you cannot miss the Sagrada.
🎧 Don't worry, you don't need to read up much on it before you go. Make sure you purchase the audioguide and carry your headphones to understand the structure and its history.
🩳 Please be respectful and wear clothing that isn't too revealing, and covers your shoulders and your thighs.
💡 Personally, I would say don't climb the Nativity or Passion towers. It comes at an additional cost, and isn't really worth it. They take you up on an elevator, you spend a few minutes at the top, and then climb back down again through many narrow winding stairs - an underwhelming experience.
🎟️ Buy your tickets well in advance (at least a few weeks)
Get the app to conveniently access your tickets and download audioguides👇
After your visit to the Sagrada, make a pit stop at your hotel, grab your bathing suit and towel, and spend the rest of the day lounging at the beach.
3:00 PM onwards
Barceloneta Beach
In the evening, you can end the day at the beachside bars with drinks, tapas or fresh seafood.
Seafood lovers, try this place👇
Day 3
Today, it's all about Gaudi! You're going to hit 3 of his major works across the entire day - all of which are declared UNESCO World Heritage sites.
10:30 AM
Parc Guell
Carry lots of water and wear good walking shoes. Parc Guell is huge, and will take several hours to cover on foot.
Buy tickets & audioguide here👇
1:30 PM
Eat 🍽️
4:30 PM
Casa Battlo
Make sure you buy the audio guide so you get the full experience.
Buy tickets & audioguide here👇
6:30 PM
Casa Mila (Le Pedreda)
Make sure you buy the audio guide so you get the full experience.
Le Pedreda also offers a night tour with a light and sound show, so if you're interested you can also go for that.
Buy tickets & audioguide here👇
8:30 PM
Eat 🍽️
End your Barcelona trip with some Valencian paella, at this highly rated restaurant near your hotel
➕ Optional activities if you extend your stay
Casa Vicens
Buy tickets here 👇
Dali Museum, Figueres (Day Trip)
Art lovers can visit the Dali Museum in Figueres, just a short train ride away from Barcelona.
Note: Figueres is a very small town, with not a lot of public transport options. Once you reach the station, it's a 20 min walk to the Museum. The other option is to take a taxi, but these are few and far between so you may need to wait a while.
Buy tickets here 👇
Book a high speed train to Figueres 👇
More Beaches in Barcelona
Thanks for reading! Hope you found this useful.
If you're also travelling to Madrid, check out:
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