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.
Website >
Overview >Bucket list experience:
Miro Foundation
Credit Fundacio Joan Miro
Last updated: 10 November, 2022
One of the most influential artists of the 20th century, Barcelona native Joan Miro commissioned his good friend Josep Lluis Sert to design a museum for contemporary art bathed in natural light.
Inside (and out on the terraces, overlooking Barcelona) are Miro’s own playful, surreal, brilliantly colourful paintings, sculptures and textiles, as well as works by other major artists (notably Alexander Calder’s Mercury Fountain).
The Foundation also hosts some of the city’s top temporary exhibitions.
Want more recommendations in this destination?
Destination Guide >Recommended itineraries by our writers that include this experience
Price from: £10
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 13+
When: All year around
Getting there & doing it
There are several ways to get there: the most exciting is the historic cable car from Barceloneta up to Montjuïc, suspended high over the port, with spectacular views: from the Montjuïc station it’s then about a 15-minute walk. Alternatively, take the funicular (Telefèric de Montjuïc) up the hill from the metro Paral-lel; or catch buses 50, 55 or 193 (Parc Montjuïc bus) from the Plaça Espanya, or taxis (about 15 minutes from Plaça de Catalunya).
In summer, it’s a good idea to book tickets in advance with Telentrada. Or pick up the Articket BCN, which offers seven art venues within one good-value ticket. For lunch or snacks, there’s a reasonably priced bar-restaurant inside the museum with a pretty garden terrace. Allow around two hours for your visit.
When to do it
Like all of Barcelona’s top museums, it’s less crowded in winter, or early or late in the day. Although it’s not a big deal, it’s also better on a sunny day with the light streaming through.
Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
Hotel Bagues
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
A chic, intimate boutique hotel set in a former jewellers, right on the Ramblas, perfect for shopping and sightseeing.
Official star rating:
Hotel Neri
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:
Hotel Serras Barcelona
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Exceptional boutique hotel with beautiful sea views and roof terrace, a short walk from Barcelona’s historic sights.
Official star rating:
Mercer Hotel Barcelona
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
A thoughtfully-designed, modern boutique hotel in a striking building with historic features, hidden away in the heart of old Barcelona.
Official star rating:
Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
Barcelona
Catalonia, Spain
Spain’s cultural heart has unforgettable architecture, a pioneering arts scene, creative cuisine and nightlife that buzzes till dawn.
Website >
Overview >Our writer’s recommendations of other bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first
Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art (MACBA)
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Gleaming white museum housing a cutting-edge collection of international and Catalan contemporary art.
Best for ages: 18+ | £10
La Boqueria food market
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
Picasso Museum Barcelona
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
Casa Batllo
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
Other worthwhile experiences near this experience if you have time or interest..
Experience
Cable car to Montjuic Hill
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
Website >
Overview >
Experience
Olympic and Sports Museum
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
A fun, interactive museum covering the history of the sport and the Olympics (especially Barcelona’s in 1992).
Best for ages: 18+ | £5
Website >
Overview >
Catalan National Art Museum (MNAC)
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Showcases a thousand years of Catalan art history, with rich Romanesque, Gothic and Modernista sections and plenty of Grand Masters in between.
Best for ages: 18+ | £10
Experience
The Magic Fountain
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Just above Placa Espanya, the fountain (another relic of the 1929 International Exhibition) explodes into a fabulous aquatic ballet of colour, music and light (Summer: Friday-Sunday 9.30-11pm. Winter: 7-9pm).
Best for ages: Any | Free | 20 minutes
Website >
Overview >