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.
Bucket list experience:
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Catalan cuisine has traditionally been creative, combining sea and land ingredients, sweet and savoury, and French influences with Mediterranean and Iberian. Seafood, vegetables, wild mushrooms, nuts and fruit, pork and poultry are the main local ingredients.
Classic Catalonian dishes include rich stews, rice dishes, the surf and turf mar i muntanya (sea and mountain) dishes; escalivada (mixed grilled vegetables) the unusual salads combining seafood and hazelnut or almond sauces; and the national dish, botifarra sausage with white beans. Nearly every bar or restaurant offers pa amb tomaquet – lightly toasted bread smeared with fresh tomatoes and olive oil and the favourite dessert: crema catalana. Also see our round-up of 15 traditional Spanish foods to try in Spain.
The nearby Penedes wine region yields the perfect white and red wines to match, along with cava, the city’s iconic bubbly. Chilled vermouth with tapas is the aperitif in Barcelona’s lively bodegas (small local bars).
Also see our round-up of traditional Spanish foods you must try in Spain.
Ever since Ferran Adria’s wowed the world’s gourmets at El Bulli, Catalan cuisine has never looked back. Now one of the world’s most innovative food spots, Barcelona is at the top of its game, with some 24 Michelin-starred restaurants.
The countless tapas bars and bodegas offer the chance to sample dozens of fabulous specialities in small, mix-and-match portions.
The city’s food markets are the perfect appetiser, overflowing with fresh seafood, wild mushrooms and truffles, cured hams and sausages, sweet seasonal fruit, sun-ripened vegetables and olive oils.
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Spain
Where to go and what to see in Barcelona – a 3-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer Dana Facaros.
Many of Barcelona’s top Michelin starred restaurants are in luxury hotels in the Eixample neighbourhood. There are excellent seafood spots along the beaches and in the old fishermen’s quarter of Barceloneta. Restaurants in the most touristed areas, especially around the Ramblas and Sagrada Familia, tend to be mediocre rip offs.
Check out Barcelona Food Experience for the latest on the city’s food and wine scene.
Although restaurants open earlier for tourists, locals in Barcelona eat lunch (often the main meal of the day) from 2pm to 4pm, and dinner, a traditionally lighter meal between 9pm and 10pm, or even later on weekends. Sundays are very quiet. If you run out of fuel, there’s always tapas to keep you going into between meals.
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Founded in 1933, Barcelona’s oldest cocktail bar hasn’t changed since; come for superb cocktails in an evocative, Art Deco atmosphere.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Stop for breakfast at this historic milk bar, with its classic Catalan ensaimada pastries, crema catalana, horchata (tiger nut milk), hot chocolate and more.
Best for ages: 4+ | Free
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
This vibrant market is a Barcelona institution, packed with almost a thousand stalls selling fresh produce or dine-in tapas.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Penedes, Catalonia, Spain
The home of sparkling cava, this beautiful wine region is made up of historic vineyards set in rolling Catalan countryside.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
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Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
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.
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Barcelona, Catalunia, Spain
Historic charm, contemporary chic and great food combine in this beguiling bolthole, on a picturesque square in Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter.
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Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
The MO boasts spectacular interiors, a world-class spa, double-Michelin starred restaurant and an unparalleled location on the beautiful Passeig de Gracia.
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Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
This sceney, architectural waterfront hotel comes with edgy design, a party-feel pool terrace and sweeping Mediterranean views.
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Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
Catalonia, Spain
Spain’s cultural heart has unforgettable architecture, a pioneering arts scene, creative cuisine and nightlife that buzzes till dawn.