Barcelona 3-day itinerary
Spain
Where to go and what to see in Barcelona – a 3-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer Dana Facaros.
Best things to do & places to stay:
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Credit Don Pablo / Shutterstock.com
Vibrant, confident, cosmopolitan – few cities in Europe can touch Barcelona for sheer style and exuberance. A progressive cultural and fashion scene is offset with a relaxed Mediterranean atmosphere, long sandy beaches and boat-filled marinas.
There are world-class museums, venerating Spanish artists such as Picasso and Miro, though its perhaps best known for its fluid-looking, ornate ‘Modernista’ architecture pioneered by the incomparable Gaudi.
Barcelona also takes its food and drink very seriously – with plenty of chic, experimental cuisine served across tapas bars, gastronomic restaurants and hip concept cafes, not to mention a lively all-night bar scene.
This colourful, beautiful metropolis will delight whether you’re 18 or 80.
The central square, Placa de Catalunya, divides medieval Barcelona (the Barri Gotic (with the Cathedral), the uber-trendy El Born, Las Ramblas and edgy Raval) from the 19th-century Eixample or ‘extension’, filled with Modernista gems, including the towering Sagrada Família.
The big hill of Montjuic to the south hosts gardens, museums, and the Olympic stadium.
On the Mediterranean Sea, there’s Port Vell (with the Aquarium), the fisherman’s quarter of Barceloneta, the Olympic village, nightclubs, marinas, and sandy beaches.
Our writer’s recommended itineraries for this destination
Spain
Where to go and what to see in Barcelona – a 3-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer Dana Facaros.
The bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Absorbing collection of early and late works by Picasso, in a beautiful Gothic palace. The collection includes Picasso’s 58 paintings inspired by Velazquez’s Las Meninas.
Best for ages: 18+ | £11
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Gaudi’s extraordinary, iconic masterpiece – and the most spectacular church of the 21st century.
Best for ages: 8+ | £23 | Any
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
The former home of the Batllo family, Gaudí’s shimmering, colour-drenched townhouse is a Modernista masterpiece.
Best for ages: 8+ | £32
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Marking the culmination of his experimentation with natural forms, Gaudi’s landmark apartment building resembles a giant cliff face battered by the sea. Inside, a remarkable Gaudi-style apartment, an attic filled with architectural exhibits, and the extraordinary roof and chimneys.
Best for ages: 8+ | £25
Other worthwhile experiences in this destination if you have the time or the interest
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Barcelona’s aquarium, one of Europe’s biggest, has 11,000 sea creatures, plenty of sharks and an underwater tunnel.
Best for ages: Any | £20
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
This massive pile is Catalan Gothic at its most grandiose, full of wonders: lavishly ornate chapels, Renaissance sculpted choir stalls, and crypt of patron saint Eulalia. The cloister is especially charming.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Barcelona’s beautiful, palm-lined shore, from the 18th-century Barceloneta district to the ex-Olympic village, is a two-mile sweep of beach and boardwalk packed with trendy cafés and clubs, great for walking, cycling and rollerblading.
Best for ages: Any | Free | Any
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Take to the top of the Montjuic hill for spectacular city views (there’s also a stop for Montjuic Castle). Go in the other direction over the port to the San Sebastian tower.
Best for ages: 10+ | £10 | 7 mins one way
Our selection of the best Viator tours of this destination, plus helpful tickets and transfers
Barcelona
€39 | Rating 4.8 / 5 [125 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Barcelona
€30 | Rating 5 / 5 [24 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Barcelona
€30 | Rating 4.34 / 5 [247 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Barcelona
€28 | Rating 4.90 / 5 [519 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay in this destination
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
A strikingly modern concept, Room Mate Emma delivers good looks on a budget, in an enviably central location.
Official star rating:
Barcelona, Catalunia, Spain
Historic charm, contemporary chic and great food combine in this beguiling bolthole, on a picturesque square in Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter.
Official star rating:
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
A stylish, central hotel in the hip El Born district, with 1920s features and one of the best rooftop pools in town.
Official star rating:
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Large but stylish and hip modern hotel with all the bells and whistles, in the heart of Barcelona’s shopping district.
Official star rating:
With a mild Mediterranean climate, Barcelona is a year-round destination, at its most beautiful (and least likely to rain) from May to June and September to October. July and August (especially the latter) can be hot and crowded with tourists; in August especially, many locals (including many restaurant and shop owners) go on holiday and abandon the city to the tourists.
Barcelona’s winter is fairly mild, and a good time to see museums, take in the opera and concerts, and meet more of the locals. June and September are the prime months for festivals and the clement weather.
The easiest way to access the city from the international airport is by taxi (about 25-30 minutes, €25-30). An airport shuttle bus, the Aerobus Express, leaves the airport every 20 minutes between 5am and 12am for the central hubs of Placa Espanya and Placa de Catalunya. RENFE trains run every 30 minutes from the airport to Barcelona Sants (the main train station) and Passeig de Gracia, both of which are on main metro lines.
Barcelona has a safe, reliable and well-integrated system of metros, buses and trams. Taxis are affordable and plentiful, but traffic can make journeys frustratingly slow. Because of the city’s compact size, and clement weather, walking and cycling (there are many places to hire a bike) are often the best option. Avoid driving: parking is difficult and expensive.
The Barcelona Card is available at all tourist offices, it’s good for 2, 3, 4 or 5 consecutive days of public transport and discounts on 80 museums, tours and attractions. Bike Rental Barcelona delivers bikes to the place of your choice. Perfect for getting around town.
RENFE trains from Passeig de Gracia and Sants stations serve outlying towns, notably the attractive beach resort Sitges.
If this is your first visit, stay central – the picturesque streets around landmark Las Ramblas and Placa de Catalunya, heading towards the sea, are the most pleasurable to just wander, stumbling upon tiny galleries, museums, shops and tapas bars. Aim for a hotel on a quiet side street or check if yours has decent soundproofing.
The labyrinthine-like Barrio Gotic (Gothic Quarter) and hip El Born districts around here each have a handful of stylish hotels, surrounded by atmospheric streets, bars and boutique shops, while more are opening up in the edgy Raval area, home to some of the city’s best bars. The less-touristy Eixample district has the city’s grandest hotels, rooftop restaurants or pools, and shopping, and puts you closer to charming, old-fashioned Gracia, with its restaurants, bars and village feel.
To be near the beaches, stay around the Vila Olimpica and Barceloneta – but be aware that it’s a taxi or metro ride to the central sights from there.
Top restaurants are found across town but with a greater concentration in the Eixample. For simple but delicious seafood try Barceloneta and nearby waterfront.
For the edgiest bars, head to the Raval. In the Born, the creative set drink in design-savvy bars. Sophisticated urbanites quaff cocktails in slick Eixample bars, or by the sea in the Vila Olimpic. Near the latter, the ex-industrial district of Poble Nou is currently evolving into the Next Big Thing.
Barcelona has more shops per inhabitant than any city, and massive sales in January and July. For designer labels, antiques and upscale boutiques, head to Passeig de Gracia. Trendy, independent boutiques line the narrow streets of the Barri Gòtic, Born and Raval. Specialist shops still thrive in Barcelona. Get (inevitably) lost in the Barri Gotic and discover shops from a by-gone era dedicated to traditional wonders like hats, cigars, feathers and candles.
La Boqueria market is excellent for food, including the all-important jamon. Placa Espanya’s bull ring is now Les Arenas shopping mall; bargain hunters have the massive Encants flea market at Les Glories Catalanes.
Antiques & Boutiques, run by two very lovely British women, offer personal shopping, with an emphasis on Catalan designers and small exclusive boutiques, and bespoke tours of the city.
What to buy
Independent designer fashions and shoes, handmade quality leather goods, homewares from interior designer Mecca Vincon, and locally produced foodstuffs including hams, wines and cheeses.