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If you’re looking for the perfect 3 day Barcelona itinerary, look no further. Barcelona is one of Spain’s most popular tourist cities and my personal favorite city in Europe. Between the delicious tapas, gorgeous scenery, and stunning architecture, this eclectic city draws people from all over the world. If you are looking to spend a weekend or even a few days in Barcelona, you’ve come to the right place.
This post is structured for someone who is visiting Barcelona for the first time; however, even if this isn’t your first visit, you may read about some things that you never knew existed! If this is your first visit, I have included all of my travel tips and must-do activities, plus a few of my favorite things I stumbled across along the way. Ready to check Barcelona’s top attractions off your bucket list? Keep scrolling…
- For all my solo travelers, check out this tripod I bring with me to get awesome photos on my trips!
Explore Barcelona!
Top-Rated Tours & Activities
Intro to Barcelona
Barcelona Neighborhoods
The 2 main neighborhoods to explore in Barcelona are Eixample (the new city) and The Gothic Quarter (the old city, or ciutat vella).
Antoni Gaudi: The Barcelona Architect
You will see me refer to Antoni Gaudí multiple times throughout this post. He is an architect who designed many of Barcelona’s most famous buildings. Quite frankly, his creativity and artistic ability is unmatched. He is famous for incorporating nature, religion, and reason into many of his designs.
I love when everything about a building (or a piece of art, or…anything, really) is designed to tell a story or have a deeper meaning. Gaudí incorporated meaning into literally everything he did, which is part of why his buildings have become so legendary.
Barcelona Food to Try
Although Spain is known for a variety of foods, the most famous are tapas and cava. Tapas are small plates of various types of food that are meant to be shared, and cava is white wine/champagne hybrid.
For a list of my favorite restaurants in Barcelona, check out the following 2 posts:
- Must-Try Restaurants in Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter
- The Best Restaurants in Barcelona’s Eixample Neighborhood
Some (Personal) Barcelona Nostalgia:
If you have read my About Me section, you know that Barcelona was the first trip I took completely solo. Little did I know back then how my first solo trip would change my life. It was the catalyst to me becoming a travel blogger and why Gina on a Plane exists!
Related post: Madrid vs Barcelona – Which City Should You Visit?
Barcelona Day 1: Explore Eixample! – Passeig de Gràcia, Casa Batlló, and Plaça de Catalunya
Eixample (pronounced “ayy-sham-pleh”), aka the New City, is one of the most popular Barcelona neighborhoods. It is home to most of Antoni Gaudí’s famous buildings, making it a must-explore part of the city.
One of the things I immediately noticed about Eixample was how clean it was.There is some graffiti and scaffolding, but considering the amount of tourists, I was very impressed with how nice this part of the city looked.
Passeig de Gràcia
Passeig de Gràcia is the main street in Eixample and a beautiful area to walk through. It is home to a lot of shopping (including high-end shopping), restaurants, bars, and 2 of Antoni Gaudí’s most famous buildings…which we’ll get to in a minute.
As you’re walking through this part of the city, take some time to marvel at the elegance of its architecture. The buildings have the most gorgeously intricate details, from the balconies to the designs on the facades.
This probably sounds cliché, and perhaps a bit dramatic, but I have always felt irrevocably happy when I walk through this part of Barcelona. Maybe it’s luck, but every time I have been there, the sun has been shining, people have been friendly, and I smell tapas around every corner. Oh, and I usually buy something. That probably has something to do with it too. /shrug
Casa Batlló, Casa Mila (La Pedrera), and Casa Amatller
Casa Batlló and Casa Mila (aka La Pedrera) are 2 of Gaudí’s most famous casas, or houses. Casa Amatller was not designed by Gaudí, but is still artsy-looking and worth checking out.
- Pro Tip: Gaudí’s 3rd house, Casa Vicens, is a little further from the other 2 in Barcelona’s Gràcia neighborhood. It’s about a 30 minute walk from Casa Batlló. If you’re up for the walk, check out this tour of Casa Viscens…or, you can go on this tour that allows you to see all 3 houses!
Casa Batlló
Casa Batlló is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the more famous of Gaudí’s 2 houses on Passeig de Gràcia…therefore, it’s the one I would recommend you tour if you don’t have time to see both.
Gaudí used nature as an inspiration to almost all of his designs, and Casa Batlló is no exception. The exterior of the building is arguably the most unique design I’ve ever seen (I mean, hello, the balconies look like skulls!). When you walk through, you’ll notice the blue curved stained glass that resembles the ocean, the swirled designs on the ceiling that resembles a snail’s shell, and the tiles on the rooftop that resembles a dragon’s scales. Click this link to book the Casa Batlló self-guided audio tour.
Casa Batlló – Magic Nights Option
If you want to enhance your experience, you can book the Magic Nights tour through Casa Batlló’s official website which includes a tour starting at 8pm and a concert on the rooftop at 9pm after. You also get a free glass of cava while you enjoy the concert! I did this my first time in Barcelona and absolutely loved it.
- Pro Tip: The nighttime tour from Get Your Guide will NOT give your rooftop or concert access
Casa Mila (La Pedrera)
Casa Mila (aka La Pedrera) is the other building designed by Gaudí on the main street of Passeig de Gràcia. Also a UNESCO World Heritage site, this building is beautiful (but differently so) from Casa Batlló. Casa Mila also serves as a museum to some of Gaudí’s drawings and work.
If you have time, you could absolutely tour this building as well. I have never toured Casa Mila, so I can’t give my personal input, but I intend on seeing it the next time I go to Barcelona. When I do, I will update this post. Click this link to book your Casa Mila with audioguide tour.
Casa Amatller
The other popular building on this street – and the only one NOT designed by Gaudí – is Casa Amatller. It was once the home of chocolatier Antoni Amatller, so naturally, the main thing to do here is get chocolate. Faborit, the cafe on the first floor, serves coffee, tea, salads, and smoothies…but the main thing to try is their mancerina de chocolate, which is bread served with hot melted chocolate. Yes, you read that correctly. It is EVERYTHING.
Of course, you can also tour this house as well! Click here to book the Casa Amatller guided visit (with chocolate gift).
Plaça de Catalunya
Plaça de Catalunya is a large square that is regarded by many as the City Center and is famous for connecting Eixample with the Gothic Quarter. It’s the starting point for both Passeig de Gràcia, Eixample’s main street I mentioned earlier – and Las Ramblas, the main street in the Gothic Quarter that I’ll talk about more later. Plaça de Catalunya is home to fountains and sculptures, and is a venue for various festivals and performances throughout the year.
Barcelona Day 2: La Sagrada Familia and The Gothic Quarter
La Sagrada Familia and the Gothic Quarter are 2 of my favorite things on this Earth. But before you fall in love with them too, grab some breakfast at Miss Simona (a stone’s throw from La Sagrada and one of the top-rated brunch restaurants in Barcelona).
La Sagrada Familia
La Sagrada Familia is a church designed by (you guessed it!) Antoni Gaudi, and is an absolute must-do when going to Barcelona. It is a true work of art, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and Spain’s most iconic building. It is arguably the most unique-looking church you will ever visit in your lifetime. At the time of this post, it is still being built, and looks to be finished by ~2026.
- Fun Fact: When La Sagrada Familia is finished, it will be the tallest church in the world!
As you can see, La Sagrada Familia is….somewhat drab(?) on the outside in terms of color. It’s also not your typical Gothic, baroque, or Romanesque-style architecture that you typically see in European churches. Instead, it’s…Gaudi being Gaudi. Still, a lot of people have a moment of “WTF?!” when they first see La Sagrada Familia, especially if they haven’t learned about its history.
BUT…then you go inside. The colors. THE COLORS!!! I’m screaming. I’ll never forget the moment I stepped inside this church for the first time. The stained glass windows illuminate the entire church, making it a stark contrast to the neutral tone of the building’s exterior.
Check out the tour options below from Get Your Guide:
You can also purchase a ticket that comes with tower entry that allows you to go up inside one of the towers, either on the Passion Facade (views of the Mediterranean Sea) or the Nativity Facade (views of the city). I went in the Nativity Facade my second time in Barcelona. I thought it was cool, but if you’re looking to save money, I would not consider it a must-do tbh.
- Pro Tip: Once you’re done your tour, check out Bar-Terraza Ayre Rosselló, a rooftop bar with views of La Sagrada Familia
The Gothic Quarter
I am obsessed with the Gothic Quarter – or El Gòtic, as they call it in Spain. The Slytherin in me loves the dark accents of the architecture, the narrow alleyways with rustic string lights, and the eerie-yet-beautiful aesthetic. I am fascinated by things that have dualities, hence why I love the angels-and-demons vibes that you get all over this part of the city.
Before I go on, I want to point out that the Gothic Quarter can technically be thought of as 3 different neighborhoods: Las Ramblas, El Born, and the main Gothic Quarter. However, when people refer to the Gothic Quarter itself, they’re referring to all 3.
When you’re ready to come here, put “the Barcelona Cathedral” in to your GPS and use this as your destination point. Not only will this take you to one of the most stunning gothic churches you’ve ever seen, but it’ll bring you to the heart of the Gothic Quarter so you can start exploring.
After spending a day in Eixample, you’ll notice that the Gothic Quarter is much…grungier – but in the most beautiful way. This part of the city is much older and therefore dirtier, but I promise you, it only adds to its charm. Personally, I think you could spend a whole day here. My first time in Barcelona, I came back here my final evening before I left and I was still finding alleyways and buildings I hadn’t seen yet.
I love this part of the city so much that I devoted an entire post to it. Check out The Best Things To Do in Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter for everything I consider a must-see/must-do.
Barcelona Day 3: Park Güell, Barceloneta Beach, and Mount Tibidabo
Spend your last day in Barcelona walking through more colorful masterpieces, seeing the city from high up, and of course, at the beach!
Park Güell
Let’s hear it for Antoni Gaudí again. Park Güell is another Gaudí masterpiece known for its iconic rainbow serpentine bench that curves gracefully around the main terrace, offering both a cozy resting spot and beautiful views of the city below. The greenery of the trees and plants allows the colorful architecture to seamlessly merge with the natural environment. There’s also a “Gaudí house” in the center that you are able to tour (I’ve linked the tour options below).
Clearly, this is not your average park. For the best Park Güell experience, you’ll want to get there early in the morning. As you can imagine, this place gets crowded…and going in the morning will allow you a much calmer experience, not to mention much better photos!
For Park Güell tickets, check out the options from Get Your Guide below:
Barceloneta Beach
Ahhh, the beach. What better way to spend your last day in Barcelona than lounging at the beach after walking around the park?
Barceloneta Beach is located in the Barceloneta neighborhood, which is a known for its fishing district. Along the beach, you’ll find restaurants, bicycle parking areas, ice cream, beach volleyball, and more. Bring your towel (here’s a link to my favorite sand-less beach towel!) and relax.
Also, I should probably tell you that part of Barceloneta Beach is a nude beach, and you can’t always tell where those parts end and begin. You can choose to partake, or put your sunglasses on and keep walking. I suppose there are worse things in the world though, like having tan lines….
Mount Tibidabo
Mount Tibidabo is a hill overlooking the entire city of Barcelona. On top of it sits the Tibidabo Amusement Park (great if you’re traveling with kids!), along with a church called the Sagrat Cor, aka The Sacred Heart of Jesus. IMO, you get much better city views from here than you do from the Nativity Tower in La Sagrada Familia.
FYI, if you’re exhausted by day 3, I wouldn’t consider Mount Tibidabo an absolute must-do…but it IS pretty cool to see Barcelona from such a high vantage point. I mainly say this because it’s a bit out of the way from the other attractions I mention in this post.
The Sagrat Cor is a gorgeous church with a massive statue of Jesus on the top. You are able to see it sitting on the mountain as you walk through some of the streets in Eixample. I loved walking through this church and looking at the views of the city from this high up.
IMO, the best way to get to Mount Tibidabo is to Uber. You can also take the T2A “Tibibus” from Plaça Catalunya, although the bus system in foreign countries always gives me anxiety so I never do this. /shrug
Where To Stay in Barcelona
Check out the links below to explore some of Barcelona’s top-rated hotels.
Barcelona Hotels
Below, I have provided links to the hotels I have stayed at and loved while in Barcelona. There are recommendations to fit all budgets.
Hotels in Eixample
- Ona Hotels Mosaic (3 stars)
- Hotel Claris (5 stars)
- YEAH Barcelona Hostel (2 stars)
Hotels in The Gothic Quarter
- Lamaro Barcelona (5 stars)
How to Get Around Barcelona
The best ways to get around Barcelona are to either walk or take the metro. Transportation-wise, this city makes it so easy to get around and is another reason why it is my favorite. The main parts of Barcelona are incredibly walkable, and the metro is very easy to figure out, which I love.
You are able to get a metro card at any of the metro stations and use it for a set number of days (up to 5). If you’re an expat or staying longer, you can buy a monthly card starting at only €20.
Barcelona: The Summary
If Barcelona was a person, she would be one of the most multifaceted people you know. A little bit gothic, a little bit sparkly, and a whole lot of fun. Whether you’re going to explore the famous buildings, walk through the Gothic Quarter, eat your weight in tapas, or hit the beach, you are sure to find happiness in this Spanish city.
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