I think you’ll agree that having time for yourself is the reason you’re on holiday in the first place.
So why spend hours and hours planning the thing? That’s why I’m here. In 10 minutes I’m going to show you the places to visit in Barcelona in 3 days from the main attractions to local secrets.
And just how exactly do I know?
Well, for starters I’ve been in the city six years. So if you need extra advice please leave me a comment below and I’ll get back to you with custom local advice within 24 hours.
Before You Arrive in Barcelona
When spending 3 days in Barcelona there is some essential information to know first.
You’re going to be inundated with options and there’s also a very good chance you’ll be standing in long lines and paying premium prices: with my links below you’ll make sure you get the best prices and skip lines.
Make sure you read:
- How to get from Barcelona airport to city center quickly.
- How to select the right discount travel card.
- Where to buy discounted attraction tickets and skip lines.
- How to find the best area to stay in Barcelona.
- The list of the best hostels and holiday apartments in Barcelona.
3 Days in Barcelona – Day 1
Sagrada Familia
What itinerary doesn’t have it? If you had just one day in Barcelona the world-famous Basilica of the Sagrada Familia would be the first stop.
This art nouveau behemoth is called ‘the most extraordinary interpretation of Gothic architecture since the Middle Ages’. I can’t disagree. Get there for 9:00 am since the average tour lasts an hour and a half.
Long lines? Most tourists on a 3 day itinerary get tickets as part of the Barcelona City Pass discount card. It includes skip-the-line access to Sagrada Familia and Park Guell, airport transport, the Bus Turistic, and 20% discount codes to almost every other city attraction.
Snack
Since time is of the essence and we don’t have a lot of time it’s great to hit up a place just a few steps from the Sagrada Familia at Enrique Tomas in Carrer Marina 261.
Here we try my favourite Spanish tapas dish: jamon iberico (Serrano ham/prosciutto).
The service is quick and you won’t end up wasting much time. I recommend going for the Jamon Bellota Premium which is top of the line stuff. They’ll cut it right off the leg at the moment.
For those living in the EU you can also get a great vacuum sealed portion of ham to take home as a delicious souvenir.
The best part? Spend 10 euros or more and mention Barcelonahacks.com for a free coffee!
Casa Batllò
Continuing our homage to master architect Antoni Gaudi we take the purple line (L2) and a few short minutes later get off at Passeig de Gracia.
Here we find the beautifully eccentric mansion called Casa Batllo and revel in its visceral, skeletal qualities. The tour takes an hour. This is my dream house and by the time you’re done with it it’ll be yours too.
Lunch
We’re in tourist trap hell and will need to dodge a few bullets here.
For this reason I suggest lunch at El Nacional (24 Passeig de Gràcia). This multi-zone culinary space serves traditional recipes from nearly every region in Spain.
Fish lovers can’t go wrong at La Paradeta (318 Consell de Cent). Here chefs cook fresh fish that you’ve selected yourself from a market counter. Wash it down with a Blanc Pescador white wine.
La Pedrera (also called Casa Milà)
We’ve barely scratched the surface of things to see when we head to another gem in Barcelona’s architectural crown.
La Pedrera is another Gaudi work and is arguably his best.
You’ll see this wobbling limestone apartment block on all the postcards but don’t miss the view from the incredible rooftop. Get a photo of yourself and the haunting chimneys standing on guard.
Park Guell
Any list of what to do and see in Barcelona has to include the city’s most beautiful park.
We take bus 24 from Passeig de Gracia and 30-40 minutes later we’re left at the gates. We could also take the green metro line to Lesseps but then we’ll have a steep walk waiting for us.
Visiting the park in its entirety should take a couple of hours but fear not: the reward at the end (if lucky) is a fantastic panoramic view of the city sunset!
Dinner
We deserve a good bite so let’s do this properly – leave a comment with where you’re staying and I’ll recommend you some of the best restaurants in Barcelona.
For those with a little more energy I suggest we walk downhill to the picturesque, bohemian neighbourhood of Gracia and sit in the lively square called Plaça del Sol for some tasty tapas at Sol Soler (21 Plaça del Sol).
We night cap it with some drinks at any of the cafe-bars in a nearby square called Plaça de la Virreina.
3 Days in Barcelona – Day 2
Breakfast
In winter we’re starting the day with a delicious breakfast in the city center eating delicious churros con chocolate on historic Petrixol Street.
If it’s summer we’re heading to the even more historic La Boqueria Market for fruit smoothies and tostadas. If you’re looking for something a bit more savory head to the market’s Bar Pinotxo – the classic breakfast here is blood sausage and garbanzo beans.
Las Ramblas and the Gothic Quarter
No Barcelona itinerary is complete without a stroll on the world-famous pedestrian boulevard La Rambla. There we find enough shopping, street performers, bars, and museums to last a lifetime!
For more info check out my essential Rambla guide.
After we head into the heart of the old city and wander around the quirky Gothic Quarter.
If we feel like a beer (we feel like a beer) we’ll go to my favorite bar: Bar Jardi, a terrace oasis in the middle of the city chaos. It’s on 17 Carrer Portaferrissa. We look for the camel outside the bar and find it at the back of a store called El Mercadillo.
Lunch
Before leaving the Gothic Quarter we go grab another Spanish culinary classic: pintxos!
These bite-sized toothpicked tapas are famous in the Basque region but El Pintxo del Petrixol (9 Carrer de Petritxol) holds the traditions dear. It’s also according to a Catalan friend ‘the only restaurant near the Rambla that doesn’t serve garbage’.
Another option nearby is La Fonda (10 Carrer dels Escudellers) which is a great place to get some of the best paella in the city at a great price.
La Barceloneta
Over Barcelona in 3 days you don’t think we’d leave out the beach did you? Let’s take a walk down the Port Vell (Old Port) and check out the Columbus Statue, the giant crab, and hundreds of anchored boats.
Feeling lazy? No problem, we hop on bus 59 from La Rambla and get beach-side in no time.
Barceloneta is a great neighborhood to explore inner alleyways where elderly residents sit outside playing cards while young people gather to socialize in kitschy bars.
It’s not one of the best beaches in Barcelona but we’ve only got a couple days so let’s be time-effective. A few hours suntanning here and now, finally, the holiday begins!
After we can’t stop by without saying hello to Mrs. Leo, a little spark-plug of a woman in her 70’s who owns a bar where on weekend afternoons Andalusian flamenco and live Spanish guitar is the name of the game! Bar Leo is at 34 Carrer Sant Carles.
Dinner
There are quite a few options to eat in Barceloneta.
I’d recommend going for quality tapas at Bitacora (at the back of the restaurant there’s a cool little terrace) at 1 Carrer Balboa.
There’s also the ridiculously cheap wine bar La Champagneria at 7 Reina Cristina. We also can’t miss the minuscule fried fish restaurant Can Maño.
All places are fifteen minutes or less walking from the beach.
Optional After Dinner Night Out
I won’t pretend to know what kind of music you like but if you’re looking for a big night out I suggest checking out my list of the best clubs in Barcelona.
My first choice is Razzmatazz, a massive five room club. If this is the case we’ll be pre-gaming at Ovella Negra at 78 Carrer Zamora. It’s the ideal pub for all sorts of revelry and it’s easy to get to know locals playing a game of Spanish billiards.
The second choice is Sala Apolo, a former theater that’s been transformed into one of Barcelona’s most famous clubs! We take the green metro line to Parallel.
Pre-drinks in the area go down at Bar Marsella, a dusty ol’ bar that served Hemingway and Salvador Dali in the not so distant past. It’s located at 65 Carrer de Sant Pau. People go here for the absinthe, but if you’re not in the mood for the green fairy they have enough beer to get you through the night.
When we finish we head to bed: the metro opens at 5 am (though it runs all night on Saturday).
3 days in Barcelona – Day 3
Lunch
If you’re feeling a bit rough after the night out pass on that hotel breakfast.
We need grease and one of Barcelona’s best burgers is just what the doctor ordered. Kiosko Burger (Avinguda del Marquès de l’Argentera, 1 bis) is a great place to start but it’s no tourist sin! Get the one with traditional manchego cheese.
See? We’re doing Spanish things.
Shopping or Camp Nou?
We’ve got two choices now and I’ll leave it up to you, my distinguished guests.
There’s tons of world-class shopping in Barcelona city center. The largest shopping areas are Passeig de Gracia, Plaça Catalunya, Las Ramblas and Portal del Angel.
If we’re allergic to shopping (I really am!) we really have to ask ourselves what Barcelona itinerary wouldn’t include a tour of historic Camp Nou stadium – home of Messi and that little squad called FC Barcelona.
From Plaça Catalunya we get there in 15 minutes with the green metro line getting off at Les Corts.
Montjuic
We get to Montjuic Hill with the 150 bus from Plaça Espanya or by cable car from the Parallel metro station. I’d recommend taking the bus, that way you’re left right at the top of the hill.
At the top we find the castle with its majestic view of the harbour, the Miro Foundation, the ’92 Olympic Stadiums and the botanical garden.
The Magic Fountain
Always high on the list of things to do in Barcelona, this beautiful fountain of towering water sprays to the rhythm of contemporary music – the view of Plaça Espanya is really something!
We find the fountain a short fifteen minute walk away at the foot of Montjuic. Make sure to check the Barcelona Magic Fountain show schedule first.
Dinner
We’re looking to keep it local for the third night so we hit up Can Margarit (21 Carrer de la Concordia) for some authentic Catalan fare. Here it’s all about rustic charm, cask wines, rabbit, squid, and cod.
For something a little more upscale that’s a modern take on Spanish classics we go to Plata Bistro (23 Carrer de Sepúlveda), which is just a short walk from the fountains. You can book your table with a simple message on their Facebook page.
Looking for something a little cheaper?
Head for Calle Blai and its endless supply of one euro tapas and beer bars. I recommend La Tasqueta de Blai (Carrer de Blai 17).
After Dinner
In the Gotico area we’ll head to Manu Chao’s bar. This incredibly eclectic French singer who sings in 7(!) languages sometimes shows up to play guitar.
The bar is called Mariachi and is located at 14 Carrer Codols. Of course, I’ve been a little pushy with my ideas haven’t I? We’d actually be good going to any of Barcelona’s best bars.
That’s 3 perfect days in Barcelona down!
3 Days in Barcelona – Extras
Tibidabo
Tibidabo (I will give you in Latin) is a 3 in 1: a basilica with a gigantic statue of Christ, the highest panoramic view of the city, and a retro theme park counting 25 rides. The latter is truly unique for the antique rides like the airplane one from 1928.
This is a must for Barcelona travelers with kids.
We get there in 45 minutes from Plaça Catalunya with bus T2A.
If we don’t feel like the long bus ride we can just as easily spend a few hours in centrally-located Ciutadella Park. The city’s largest green space has a zoo, a lake for row-boating, and holds a ton of events throughout the year.
The Born
Despite its history of jousting this area full of unique bars and boutique shops is one of Barcelona’s best neighborhoods. We get there by metro getting off at Jaume 1 (yellow line).
We can’t walk through without seeing Barcelona’s second Gothic behemoth: La Santa Maria del Mar. We could also check out the more than 4000 pieces at the Picasso Museum (15-24 Carrer Montcada).
When we get hungry we’ll fill up at one of my favourite tapas spots Bormuth (31 Carrer Rec).
I haven’t mentioned it before but you should be drinking vermouth on your itinerary. This a red or white aromatised wine is a massive part of Barcelona’s drinking culture. We get a couple here with the tapas and boom! This is so good, how can we ever go back home?
For those a little more rough and ready I suggest we go for a walk in the ‘gentrified gem’ El Raval.
It’s not as pretty as the Born but it has never claimed to be. There are tons of good value bars and ethnically diverse eateries here.
Fine Tune Your Itinerary in the Comments
We’ve done 3 days in Barcelona and it’s time to go home but wait! If you’re missing that special something that would really tie all of this together please get a hold of me in the comments below for custom advice.
As I said earlier if you need any extra advice fire away! And please let me know how your Barcelona holiday went by leaving a comment below.
Also don’t be afraid to join the 3 day itinerary discussion in my new Facebook group called I’m Off to Barcelona – here you can ask any questions, air out grievances, chat with fellow travelers, and more – anything goes!
Julia says
We’re (4 of us) arriving at 9:30am on 6/26 staying 3 night/4 days at Weflating Park Guell, 36 Garcia. then aborad a 7 day cruise. What’s the best way to get to my apartment? Also, how do I get to cruise port?
I’m planning to visit
Sagrada Familia
Park Guell
Las Ramblas
Mercat de la Boqueria
Casa Batllo
Casa Mila
Recinte Modernista Sant Pau
Montjuïc Castle
Magic Fountain
should I visit Park Guell on my first day? Is City Pass + T-10 good option? Thank you for your advice.
Ash says
Hi Julia,
To get to your apartment I’d take the Aerobus to Plaça Catalunya and then grab the green line of the metro up to Lesseps. From here it’s just a quick walk. To get to the cruise port you’d take the same green line from Lesseps back down to Drassanes metro… then from here you’ll take the Port Bus to your dock.
As for Park Guell… it sounds like a great option for the first day since it’s right near your apartment. If you want to take it easy after traveling it sounds perfect.
Based on your plans it sounds like City Pass + T-10 is a good option… but only if you’re interested in taking the Bus Turistic. If you’re not there’s no shame in buying the tickets individually as you still can skip lines.
Ash
Julia says
Ash,
Thank you so much for your advice. Since I’m staying near Park Guell, do you think I should get Hola BCN card for unlimted ride (72 hours each person) or T-10 is enough ?
Do I pay Aerobus seperately?
Here’s what I’m thinking – do I need to reorder any place to visit?
Day 1 –
Park Güell, Gaudi Experience + something else?
Day 2-
Sagrada Familia, Recinte Modernista Sant Pau
Day 3-
Casa Batlló, Casa Mila, Las Ramblas,La Boqueria, Mirador de Colom (Columbus Monument)
Day 4- I only have about half day becasue I have to get to port by 6:00pm
Gothic Quarter,Parc de la Ciutadella,
Brad says
Hello! Thank you for the great resource! I’m traveling to Barcelona in late July with my 14 year old daughter and we have 5 full days. She picked Barcelona based on things she learned in her Spanish classes. I have a couple questions:
1. I did get the City Pass. I’m confused if should I schedule SF and PG on different days or the same day. Any advice?
2. Do you have any specific advice for a 14 year old? She’s probably more about “experiences” over long afternoons at a museum if that makes sense. (Not that we can’t go to any museums).
3. Have you posted a 5 day itinerary somewhere? Or could you suggest one for us? We definitely want some beach time.
Thanks again Ash!
Ash says
Hi Brad,
Thanks for writing in! 🙂
Let’s see… I always recommend Sagrada and Park Guell on the same day since they’re (kind of) in the same area of town and they’re fairly well connected. Just make sure to schedule about 90 minutes for each attraction and maybe 90 minutes in between so you can do it properly, without rush, and leaving room for transport mistakes and coffees/ice cream etc.
I’ve got a post on visiting Barcelona with kids though it’s more aimed at kids maybe between 4-12 than teenagers, but you may find some ideas there. She might also like going up to the Bunkers of Carmel or maybe even Montserrat because these are great experiences.
You’ll see above that I’ve basically got 4 days mapped out for you but if you want to add another day I would seriously consider a day trip like Montserrat or perhaps a beachside town like Sitges. If you’ve really got a lot of time you could also consider the Costa Brava… these are the best beach experiences and far superior to the city.
Ash
Susie says
What a great site! My husband and I will be in town from 4/18-4/24. What is the best bet to get reasonably priced tickets to the soccer game on Easter Sunday? They are super expensive right now. Also, we are thinking of taking a side trip for 2-3 days and would love some suggestions. Right now we are considering: Monserrat, Girona, Costa Brava ( Portbou- maybe). It seems everyone we ask has different ideas based on what they have done. We’d love to get out of the city and maybe do a little hiking and/or beach time.
I know this is a lot- thank you for any advice!
Susie
Ash says
Hi Susie,
So many people have asked me about tickets for the match and everybody has the same unfortunate story… too expensive! Unfortunately after looking and asking all over myself I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s a big match late in the season and as such there’s no trick – only that you’ll probably be having to pay a premium 🙁
I would ask at your hotel when you arrive or check back on the official Barça website daily to see if any are released… otherwise I’m not sure what to say. The resellers online are ridiculously expensive due to the market.
For day trips I would ask you first which you truly want… mountain or beach? I’m more of a beach person and love the Costa Brava… of course, it won’t QUITE be beach season but if you catch some sun it can be beautiful to see this part of the world before it gets spoiled by the influx of tourists. I particularily like Tossa de Mar and Cadaques… though even a place like Lloret de Mar offers great hotel value, a beautiful coast, and even has seaside hiking opportunities as it’s a great spot to start walking the famous Caminos de Ronda hiking path.
I would lean towards the beach if the forecast was right.
Ash
Erin says
Hi! My fiance are going to Barcelona for 3 days in July (thank you for all these recommendations)! We are staying at Alexandra Barcelona Hotel — are there any restaurants nearby that hotel you recommend we try (particularly for dinner)? Or do you recommend we go to Barceloneta or Gracia for a couple nice dinners? We love all types of food and are not picky. We definitely love our seafood and tapas too. 🙂
We have a majority of the things on your list planned already – tour of Sagrada Familia & Parc Guell, Casa Battlo, Las Ramblas, La Boqueria, will also try to make it to Gracia!
Erin
Ash says
Hi Erin,
The good news is you’re right in the middle of so many good restaurants I can hardly contain my excitement for you 😉
I recommend going to all the neighbourhoods if time permits but around you there is El Nacional, Bodega Joan, and Ciudad Condal… what I really recommend for couples, especially those looking for Spanish food but a bit more refined and (dare I say?) Instagram-worthy is to try out a new restaurant on La Rambla called El Louro.
I’ve got a form where you can book (recommended) your own table and the info as well as some great photos of the food is on a recent Facebook post of mine here.
For seafood I’d recommend Somorrostro in Barceloneta or La Paradeta (multiple locations).
Hope this helps!
Ash
Julie Block says
Hi Ash,
We will be arriving around 10:45am at the airport on June 27th and leaving for Sevilla on the morning of June 29th. That gives us a day and half. We are staying at Calle Arago 281 in the a Dreta de l’Eixample area of Barcelona. We will be coming straight from the airport to the apartment to drop off our personal things. I asked you earlier if the Barcelona city pass would be worth it and now with having a better idea of what we want to do and the exact address of where we are staying am asking for your thoughts again.
I am usually super organized and know what I want to do and see, but am having trouble grouping the things together in a way that makes geographic sense. We are 6 active adults who love good local food, history and exploring what makes each place we visit special.
I had previously asked you a few questions and it has helped me narrow down things a little bit. Things we definitely want to do:
Familia Sagrada guided tour
Parc Guell
Casa Batllo
Las Ramblas Market
La Pedrera
*** great coffee and authentic spanish food
What is the best way to group these in the time that we have so we are not constantly backtracking? I was thinking of getting tickets for Sagrada Familia and Parc Guell on Ticket bar for Friday (our only full day) seeing Parc Guell at 9:00am but not sure how long to allow. Then purchase tickets for Sagrada Familia after. The only options for the guided tour are noon and 2:00pm. I would appreciate your thoughts and can we walk from Parc Guell to Sagrada? Is there somewhere to stop and eat along the way? A place for breakfast that opens early near our apartment? etc. Am I being too ambitious with all of the things I have listed or have I left off anything you would highly recommend?
Lots of questions 🙂 Thank you so much in advance.
Ash says
Hi Julie,
Given your attractions, the possibility of using the discounts at other places, your hotel’s location near the Aerobus stop… I would say getting the City Pass would be a great and convenient option. But only if the Bus Turistic is something that interests you. If you don’t want that then I’d just by the tickets individually.
As for grouping the attractions you’ve got good instincts… I usually leave 90 minutes to do Park Guell properly and then at least an hour in between for coffee, direction hiccups etc… getting the tour at 2 am would be the best option so you’re not rushed. You could walk it in about an hour or so… if you’re big walkers there’s no shame! Best of all it’s downhill 😉
For a place to eat near Sagrada I always recommend El Celler del Vermut since it’s a really local place with all the classic tapas (and vermouth!) that somehow maintains a local vibe even though it’s right around the corner from Sagrada. I used to live right up the street and went quite often.
I would do these (Sagrada + park) on one day and then do another day with Casa Batllo, La Pedrera, and Bouqeria Market… I’d start at La Pedrera and work my way down hill walking and it can all be done without transport. Super easy as they’re all about 10-15 minutes’ walk apart.
A great and popular lunch spot near you is Brunch & Cake 🙂
And no… you’re not being too ambitious! This is super standard and not too heavy, totally doable in my opinion.
Ash
Carrie says
Thank you so much for all the information! We are a family of 4 (kids are 14 and 10) and are arriving the evening of June 4 and leaving on a cruise on June 8, so we have 3 full days to explore! We are staying at Hotel Petit Palace Boqueria. There are so many eating options near our hotel that I’m having a hard time choosing! So, any suggestions would be great! My 14 year old is kind of picky, although he’s getting better. As far as sites, Camp Nou is a must as my son is a HUGE fan. We also want to see:
Sagrada Familia
Park Guell
Las Ramblas
Mercat de la Boqueria
Casa Batllo
Park Guell
Tibidabo
Montjuic
and possibly Gaudi Experience and Museu d’Historia de Barcelona (for the underground ruins) if there’s time.
Is this doable with also having some “down time” to relax a bit? And which discount card do you recommend? I’ve been going crazy researching the card options and trying to decide if we need the transport option… Help! Thank you!!
Ash says
Hi Carrie,
Thanks for writing in 🙂
Let’s see, first of let me say that you’re SUPER central and so there will be a lot of walking and the transport won’t be as urgent for you as others staying further out. I would rather you focus on the discount card for attractions than looking at the unlimited transport passes.
My original feeling was to tell you to get the City Pass because it’ll get you into Sagrada and Park Guell and then give you 20% discounts on tons of other stuff, including many of the things listed. But this is only if the Bus Turistic is something that interests you… if it doesn’t you’ll be throwing away €30 of value and it’ll be hard to make up.
The Barcelona Card also won’t help you much as this is mostly for museum discounts and of course the unlimited transport.
If you’re not into the Bus Turistic keep in mind there’s no shame in booking the attractions individually using the links here since they also will get you skip the line access.
As for restaurants you’re unfortunately in tourist trap hell… but luckily an amazing restaurant has opened up on La Rambla called El Louro. I went there myself for a sampling and it was so good and so central (usually what my readers want) that I asked them to set up a no money down reservation form for my readers.
I have more info about it in this Facebook post. Other options nearby which I love are Sports Bar (crap name, amazing authentic Naples pizza), El Nacional, and Quinze Nits.
Also, you’re right near La Boqueria Market so it’s a great place to get traditional savory Spanish breakfasts.
As for the feasibility this is totally fine for 3 days… I would just schedule them so you’re visiting stuff in the same area (Sagrada-Park Guell, Ramblas-Boqueria-Batllo, Camp Nou-Montjuic… try and get these done as early as possible so you can squeeze in Tibidabo on one of the days.
Easy peasy in my opinion 😉
Ash
Xiomaris says
Hi, this is a great itinerary and very helpful! I’ll be in arriving in Barcelona Sat, Apr 27th noon and leaving Tue, Apr 30th morning, so I have 2.5 days, is there an optimal way to re-arrange this itinerary to start with a half day first? Should I do “day 3” first? Thanks in advance for the advise!
Ash says
Hi Xiomaris,
Thanks for the kind words and I’m glad to help 🙂
I would simply do day 1 as planned above but cut Park Guell and move it to the next morning. If you do it really early (like 730, maybe too ambitious? haha) you can even get the Monumental Zone for free. Even if you’re there for 9 am you can head into the Gothic Quarter a bit later and still be ‘on time’ to get it all done.
Added bonus is that Park Guell is best visited in the morning!
My two cents 🙂
Xiomaris says
Hi Ash,
Thank you for the suggestion, I’m a bit worry that arriving at 1pm is late for doing DAY 1 even if taking out the Park Guell, I love your current itineraty and would like to do most of the stuff suggested on it
– my top or must places to visit are:
Sagrada Familia, Las Ramblas, Parc Guell, Casa Batllo, the beach and food
– since arriving mid-day on Saturday, does this itinerary makes sense or which adjustment could be made:
SATURDAY – DAY 1 – ARRIVAL 13:00
LUNCH
SHOPPING OR CAMP NOU?
MONTJUIC
THE MAGIC FOUNTAIN
DINNER
DOMINGO – DAY 2
SAGRADA FAMILIA
SNACK
CASA BATLLÒ
LUNCH (El Nacional (24 Passeig de Gràcia)
LA PEDRERA (ALSO CALLED CASA MILÀ)
PARK GUELL
DINNER/DRINKS (ANY REST SUGGESTION NEAR TRYPP APOLO?
AFTER DINNER
MONDAY – DAY 3
BREAKFAST
LAS RAMBLAS AND THE GOTHIC QUARTER
LUNCH
LA BARCELONETA
DINNER
– are there any attractions close during weekends?
– which one is best Barcelona PASS or Barcelona CITY PASS?
apologies for all the questions! thanks for any help and light you can give me!
Ash says
Hi Xiomaris,
You’ve done very well here… your Day 1 itinerary is completely doable if you arrive to the city at 1 pm. This is a good idea and leaving the major sites until day 2 will no doubt save you some chaos haha.
Day 2 looks perfect to me as well… if you’re looking for some great food near Tryp Apolo you can walk up to Calle Blai with it’s amazing pintxo bars like Tasqueta del Blai or you can walk over to Lolita Taperia for some amazing updated tapas classics.
All of the attractions you mention are open on weekends so I wouldn’t worry about that.
As far as passes go it looks like you’d really benefit from the Barcelona City Pass since you’ll be able to take full advantage of the discounts… that said, this would ONLY be if you’re interested in the Bus Turistic as well. If you’re not there’s no shame in buying single tickets as they will also allow you to skip lines.
Ash
Xioma says
Hi Ash, thank you so much again! I got the Barcelona City Pass, and have to move things around as the Sagrada Familia entry was all days pass 4pm
I’m still fine tuning the itinerary and trying to get the final tickets, could you check and let me know any suggestions? Thanks again for all this great help!
SATURDAY – DAY 1 – ARRIVAL 1PM
1PM TRYP APOLO
LUNCH
BUS TOURISTIC 2hrs
6PM SAGRADA FAMILIA (how long does this takes?)
MONTJUIC (is adding this one here too ambitious, should i move to next day)
9PM show THE MAGIC FOUNTAIN
DINNER
DOMINGO – DAY 2
9AM PARK GUELL
CASA BATLLÒ (which times is good to make sure i can make it in time?)
LUNCH
LA PEDRERA (same what time is good to plan for commuting?)
TOUR GATHERING 5pm to 7pm
MONTJUIC (is this one better here?)
DINNER/DRINKS
MONDAY – DAY 3
BREAKFAST
LAS RAMBLAS
THE GOTHIC QUARTER
LUNCH
LA BARCELONETA
DINNER
Rhonda says
Hi Ash,
This is an excellent website filled with great ideas, information, and tips! I could use some advice planning our time in Barcelona from late May to early June. We have 8 full days plus our arrival day, so plenty of time to enjoy beautiful Barcelona! We have already booked day trips to both Montserrat and Girona/Costa Brava. Also looking at a trip to Sitges, any thoughts?
We’ve booked Runner Bean Gothic walking tour and figured after it we’d visit the cathedral, MUHBA, Palau Guell and other things in area. Also booked Gaudi Modernism tour and plan on the tour of Sagrada Familia right after. Is the Hospital de la Santa Creu something we should consider? Any suggestions how to arrange other days to see Modernism houses, Parc Guell, Picasso, Montjuic, Parc Cuitadella, Palau de la Musica Catalana, seafront, etc. Also wondering if we should avoid museum free days as we’ll be there the first weekend in June. Another thing we’re wondering is whether we should we do Montjuic sights during one day and go back for fountain show another day. How far in advance should we book things like Park Guell? It’s hard to know what the weather will be and we’d hate to get closed out if we don’t book far enough in advance.
Any suggestions would be appreciated. We’re using the site for eating and entertainment ideas. Thanks so much!
Ash says
Hi Rhonda,
Since you’ve got a lot of time the day trips sounds great to me… that said, if you’re doing the Costa Brava the beaches there are outstanding and will make Sitges seem quite inferior. If you needed to cut one of the three it would be Sitges.
The Hospital San Pau is great but it’s something you could just see from the outside… it’s a quick 10 minute walk from Sagrada. I would bunch all your attractions in terms of area something like this:
Park Ciutadella-Picasso-Palau de la Musica
Montjuic-Magic Fountain (same day, they’re super close together)
Cathedral-MUHBA-Palau Guell
If you want to save money then the free museum days are a great option… for the Picasso museum you’re forced to book in advance though so having a timetable means you won’t have to wait in lines. I wouldn’t worry so much about the lines in the other ones.
I would book ASAP for things like Sagrada and Park Guell… I’ve already seen some time slots sold out over the next bit. The weather is usually amazing in June so I wouldn’t worry too much about the weather.
Ash
Rhonda says
Hi Ash,
Thanks so much for your advice! Do you have a suggestion for another day trip if we drop Sitges from our itinerary? Otherwise, we can spend more in depth time in Barcelona exploring.
We’ve heard about summer concerts in the parks and plazas, but haven’t been able to find anything. Where could we find information for perhaps Parc de la Cuitadella? Also, we would love to see some traditional events like Castells or Sardanes? Will there be any between 5/27 and 6/4? Thanks again!
Rhonda
Ash says
Hi Rhonda,
If you drop Sitges you could include another beachside town like Castelldefels… there’s also Montserrat which is a nice mountain escape.
You’ll be in the city during Primavera Sound which is the biggest indie festival but unfortunately you’ll be there in between some of the big barrio parties 🙁
There is a Sardana performance every Sunday at 6:30 PM in Placa de Sant Jaume. Also, there is a calendar of some of the main casteller performances here:
http://www.cccc.cat/contents/june-50
Ash
Karen says
We will be in Barcelona this Friday evening- Monday morning. I am wondering if the “free on 1st Sunday” attractions will be uncomfortably busy with long lines. (Picasso Museum, History Museum, Catalan Art Museum). I’m getting confused trying to figure out what to do on which days, and when will be best to book tours of Sagrada Familia and Casa Mila. Also looks rainy on Saturday, so trying to plan around that.
Ash says
Hi Karen
For the Picasso Museum you need to book in advance online so there won’t be an issue with lines… for the other ones they’re not as popular and so it shouldn’t be that bad, maybe 15 minutes if you’re at peak times but certainly not a big deal.
I would just group the attractions by area (Sagrada + Casa Mila, Picasso + History Museum… then Catalan Art Museum maybe with the Magic Fountain show) and allocate about 4 hours per pair… shouldn’t be a rush at all!
Ash
Nina To says
Hello,
This is Nina again. I forgot to tell you . All the above site . We just want to look outside , and enjoy the site seeing and architecture . We will be there in June. How is the weather in June ? Is it the rainy season ?
Ash says
Hi Nina,
OK I misunderstood… if you’re just looking on the outside this will give you much more time! You can still follow my advice all the same 🙂
As for the weather it’s generally very warm, doesn’t rain very much, and is quality summer weather. There is no rainy season really 😉
Ash
Nina To says
Hello,
This is beautiful website and very helpful. Could you give us some advice. We will stay at Centric Garcia Apartment in Barcelona for 1 day on Thursday before boarding to cruise ship on Friday. We will arrive at BCN airport at 8 AM .Our group has 30 peoples. We would like to visit Sagrada Familia, Casa Batllo, La Pedrera, La Ramblas, and the Magic Mountain. What is the economic way of transportation from the BCN airport to Centric Garcia Apartment and all the above attraction. We would like to stay together as one group. Which of the above attraction in order should we follow and how to get to the above attraction step by step, and what mode of transportation from Centric Garcia Apartment to cruise terminal our cruise ship is MSC Bellisma. From cruise terminal how we get to the Airport ? We would like to eat lunch and dinner near our apartment any suggestion please let us know. Can you buy T-10 at BCN airport ? Can we use for all our trip to the main attraction site ?
Thank you so much !
Nina
Ash says
Hi Nina,
Thanks for the kind words, I’m glad to help 🙂
The cheapest transport to your hotel would be to grab the airport train to Passeig de Gracia and then grab the metro from here up to Diagonal metro station. From here it’s just a 10 minute walk. You will be able to do this with only 2 trips on the T-10. The T-10 you can buy from the train station at the airport.
You can also use the T-10 to get to the attractions later.
I would visit Sagrada first, ASAP, since you can grab the metro a Diagonal just a few stops over to Sagrada. If you get it done in the morning you’ll have plenty of time in the afternoon for the other stuff.
Then I’d visit Casa Batllo and La Pedrera. Do La Pedrera first so you can do a downhill walk to Batllo (about 7-8 minutes away)… then from Batllo you could walk down to Las Ramblas and explore there (make sure to see the market). It’s just another 8-10 minutes. You could have all of this done around 5-6 pm.
After having maybe a little rest back at the hotel and a coffee you could do the Magic Fountain in the evening.
For the cruise port to the airport you have a few options and I’ve lined them all out here in the transport section:
https://www.barcelonahacks.com/barcelona-cruise-port/
From your hotel besr bet is to get back to Diagonal metro station and then take the green line down to Drassanes. From here you can grab the Port Bus.
Please make sure you buy all your tickets in advance though… with such a huge group there’s no other way to guarantee you’ll all be in at the same time.
Here are the links:
https://www.barcelonahacks.com/barcelona-attraction-tickets/
Please let me know if you have any more questions 🙂
Ash
Nina To says
Thank you so much Ash ! I have few more questions to clarify some of these questions below . How much does it cost for T-10 card? Does the machine accept credit card ? Does the metro , the port bus, or the bus accept t-10 card ? From Sagrada , we can walk to Casa Batllo and other attractions right? Could you show me how to get back to the hotel from La Ramblas? From our hotel we can take metro to Magic Fountain? Could you show us how to book a shuttle bus from the cruise port to the airport? Do you know how much dies it costs? Our plane depart at 2PM. I am not sure that we have enough time to use the metro.
Is pick pocketing really bad in Barcelona? I am do glad and very bless to find your website. The food guide and restaurant section is very helpful .
Many thanks for your helpful advice.
Ash says
Hi Nina,
The T-10 costs €10.20 and yes cards are accepted at the machines. It is good for use on the metro and bus but NOT the Port Bus which is a separate entity.
From Sagrada it would be about a 35 minute walk to La Pedrera which is doable on a sunny day… but by no means is it just around the corner. From your hotel you can take the metro to the fountains, yes. From Las Ramblas simply walk back up Passeig de Gracia to the Diagonal metro station which you will be familiar with… it’ll be a quick walk to the hotel from there.
For a shuttle bus from the cruise port I’ve heard you can do it for as low at about €11.00 per person but unfortunately I have no experience with this… you can probably find one with a decent Google search though. I would also look at Tourist Active for this.
Pickpocketing is worse than a lot of other European cities so I’d keep an eye out and follow the instructions in my guide on avoiding pickpockets. That said, it is by no means anything to scare you out of doing anything… I am sure you’ll be fine 🙂
Ash
Laurie Erickson says
Ash – What a great website!
We are headed to Barcelona in May. I am curious as to why the Picasso Museum would be closed May 20, but open other Mondays. We are staying near Carrer de Muntaner and Mallorca. Can you make dining suggestions and provide any other insights? Thank you in advance – we are a group of 6 from 20-65 years of age, celebrating life!
Laurie
Ash says
Indeed, I was under the impression that it was closed on Mondays only in low season. It is not very common but they do close for private events on occasion so this could be the reason… I will ask around to see if I can get any more info for you.
Within walking distance to your hotel there is the famous Cerveceria Catalana which is a very solid tapas place. You can also get to Bodega Joan which I’ve been working with for years on a paella tasting menu for my readers.
Another really great option if you love seafood is O’Retorno – it has perhaps the best octopus in the city. This is a Galician restaurant so it’s more seafood than anything but you’ll find all the meat classics as well. I go here 3-4 times a year after an international language meetup in the area and everybody just can’t get enough!
Hope this helps 🙂
Ash
Gigi Cabrera says
Hi, We’ll be in Barcelona from July 20-24 but arriving 7PM on the 20th and leaving at 1PM on the 24th. We basically have 3 full days in Barcelona but would like to squeeze in a day to go Montserrat. Appreciate your help in helping us plan and get the most of our Barcelona trip.Thanks.
ZS says
Hi,
We are visiting Barcelona over the Easter period we arrive on Wednesday 17th April and leave Sunday 21st. Any tips as to what may be closed etc. We are staying at the H10 Casanova and would appreciate any help. We are travelling with our son who is 13.
Great site, already picked up some helpful tips already.
Thanks
Ash says
Hi ZS,
Thanks a lot for the kind words about the blog, it makes my work worth it 🙂
I’ve just finished updating my Easter post which contains info about all the hours, events etc. You should get all the info there.
https://www.barcelonahacks.com/easter-in-barcelona/
Please let me know if you have any other questions 🙂
Ash
ZS says
Thanks Ash, Can you suggest any places to eat around the H10 Casanova?
Cheers
Zoe
Ash says
Hi Zoe,
O’Retorno, Cerveceria Catalana, El Nacional, and Viet Kitchen are my favourites in the area 🙂
Ash
Louise Leventhal says
This looks like a great itinerary, thank you. I’m arriving late morning on a Thursday, and leaving late on the Sunday – would you suggest swapping the days around at all to avoid weekend tourists. Any other things to add in for my 20 year old son? (apart from Camp Nou). Thank you 🙂
Ash says
Hi Louise,
If you can get into things right on Thursday and do day one then you’ll probably have a slightly smaller crowd to contend with… so if you like there’s no shame swapping it around. That said, if it’s in high season you probably won’t be able to escape the crowds either way.
For younger people I always recommend the CCCB or MACBA as these are very interesting cultural centres/museums… most 20 year olds are quite smitten with the nightlife and beach here but I’d feel a bit weird asking his mother what kind of clubs he likes haha… if he’s looking for something social though there’s always a ton of international meetups at Meetup.com.
Ash
josie says
Do you have a kid-friendly food tour to recommend? Kids are 8 and 10.
Ash says
Hi Josie,
I’ve been on quite a few and the only one that I saw kids on was the Devour food tour called Tastes and Traditions of Barcelona. The kids really seemed to enjoy it as you get to go see how ovens work in a bakery and have something sweet as well.
The other ones seemed heavy on the wine drinking and more for adults 😉
Hope this helps,
Ash
Niki says
Hello!
My husband and I will be visiting Barcelona from the 10-13th of March for our honeymoon.
So far I have booked the hop on hop off bus tour and bought tickets to skip the line at the Sagrada Familia.
What are some other things you would recommend for honeymooners while we are there besides visiting the top rated places that are already on this blog?
Ash says
Hi Niki,
That sounds like a nice trip you’ve got planned, I’m jealous 😉
Let’s see… definitely Sagrada and HOHO are great choices for the tousti aspects. What I would also recommend as can’t-miss attractions are Park Guell and Casa Batllo.
For honeymooners I really couldn’t have drawn it up any better than with my ideas in my post of romantic ideas for visiting Barcelona. I’m partial toward The Bunkers and the squares in Gracia… though the massage option is never a bad idea either!
Ash
Claudia says
Hello!
We´ll visit Barcelona in April and would like to go to Tibidabo.
How can we reach the 196 bus, is there a Metro nearby? Which is the best stop to get in?
The same with the bus to Parc Guell…?
Ash says
Hi Claudia,
There are a few different ways to get to Tibidabo and the 196 bus… if you’re set on this path then you can take the metro to Vallcarca and then from there it’s about a 15 minute walk to the bus.
That said, depending on where you’re coming from this may not be the best option. I suggest (if you haven’t already) reading my post on Tibidabo and looking at all the options which are more targeted at tourists coming from the city centre.
For the bus to Park Guell… my question would be… from where? There are a few and the answer would depend on this.
Ash
Claudia says
Thank you for your reply!
We´re coming from Placa de Sants…..
Unfortunately the tram blu is not going at the time we are there..
Ash says
Sorry… here’s my post on Tibidabo:
https://www.barcelonahacks.com/tibidabo-amusement-park/
Jean says
We are planning to go to Barcelona this coming May. We will arrive around 12 noon on a Monday and leave around 3PM on a Thursday. What famous places do you recommend for us to visit in 2 days, Tues. and Wed. to see and have selfies? We won’t really have time to go inside museums, etc. Is a 2 day hop on hop off bus recommendable?
Ash says
Hi Jean,
For somebody looking to cram in a bunch of sights without going inside to visit I highly recommend the 2 day HOHO because it’s educational and it’ll really show you a ton. For selfies you’ll get some amazing ones up at Park Guell.
That said, I would definitely ensure you visit the Sagrada Familia from the inside and even take a guided tour. Just really can’t miss stuff. You should also check out the Cathedral and have a wander around the Gothic Quarter. Also along Passeig de Gracia for the amazing shopping and Gaudi mansions (Casa Batllo and La Pedrera) would round out the can’t miss stuff.
And do go to the market La Boqueria along La Rambla.
Ash