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Table of Contents
Overview Of The Barcelona Itinerary For 3 Days
My Experience Living & Working In Barcelona
Interesting Facts About Barcelona
How To Get To Barcelona: By Plane, Bus & Train
Getting To Barcelona City Center From El Prat Airport
How To Buy Tickets For Attractions In Barcelona
Barcelona Itinerary 1. DAY: Old City & Barceloneta Beach
Barcelona Itinerary 2. DAY: Sagrada Família & Montjuïc Hill
Barcelona Itinerary 3. DAY: Gaudí’s Monuments & Tibidabo
How To Get Around Barcelona
Where to stay in Barcelona: My Top Tips for Accommodation
Where To Eat & Drink In Barcelona
More Activities In Barcelona
Road Trips From Barcelona: What To See In Catalonia
Barcelona Itinerary For 3 Days: FAQs
Guide To Order Food In Spanish Language
More Tips For Traveling In Spain
Take this Barcelona itinerary for 3 days and start your sightseeing tour in one of the most exciting European cities today. I was happy to be living, studying, and working in Barcelona for 2 years. I can’t express enough how much the city offers and what atmosphere it has.
You have to experience it yourself. Barcelona has won my heart, and I enjoy coming back every single time. I’m sure this Barcelona itinerary for 3 days will help you fall in love with this city as many people do when visiting it.
Overview Of The Barcelona Itinerary For 3 Days
1. DAY: OLD CITY (GHOTIC QUARTER) & BARCELONETA BEACH
- La Rambla Street
- Basilica de Santa Maria del Pi
- Plaza de Sant Felip de Neri
- Plaza de Sant Jaume
- Plaza del Rei (Historical Museum of Barcelona & Barceló)
- Barcelona Cathedral
- Arc de Triomf
- Parc de la Ciutadella
- Port Olimpic
- Barcelona Promenade
- Barceloneta
- Port Vell
2. DAY: SAGRADA FAMÍLIA & MONTJUïC HILL
- Sagrada Família
- La Boquería Market
- Plaza España
- Poble Español de Monjuïc
- National Palace & Olimpic Stadium
- Monjuïc Castle
- Magical Fountain Performance
3. DAY: GAUDÍ’S MONUMENTS & TIBIDABO
- Casa Battló
- Casa Mía (La Pedrera)
- Parc Güell
- Tibidabo
- Camp Nou + FC Barcelona
My Experience Living & Working In Barcelona
Barcelona, not only is a huge city, but it has so much to offer. From history to culture, art, food, beautiful views, and a lot more. So be prepared; this walking/sightseeing tour is going to be pretty intense. But I guess you want to see it all in Barcelona, so you’re in the right place.
With my Barcelona itinerary, you’ll see it and experience it all.
This Barcelona itinerary for 3 days was designed by myself thanks to my life, work, and studies in the city. I learned many interesting facts from locals and explored all the places on my own.
After gathering all this information, I’ve put together this itinerary with all sightseeing points from my own experience and insights I gained as a local living in Barcelona for 2 years.
Interesting Facts About Barcelona
- Barcelona has 2 official languages – Spanish (Castellano) & Catalan
- The city didn’t have a single beach until the Olympics were held there in 1992
- Some claim the city was founded by Hercules, which would make Barcelona 400 years older than Rome
- It is the largest city on the Mediterranean Sea and the second largest in Spain (after Madrid)
- Picasso studied in Barcelona at the School of Fine Arts
- It has the busiest port in Europe (almost 3 million cruisers yearly)
- International day of books and its celebration originated in Barcelona
- Barcelona has the largest metropolitan park in the world – Parc de Collserola
- It is home to the busiest pedestrian streets in the world
- The city has the first beach ice bar in the world
How To Get To Barcelona: By Plane, Bus & Train
Depending on where you are, you can reach Barcelona by plane, train, or by bus.
Barcelona has 2 airports: El Prat Airport & Girona Costa Brava Airport. I mention the Girona airport because some European low-cost airlines fly here if your main destination is Barcelona. So if you book a flight to Barcelona with Ryanair, you’ll likely land at Girona Costa Brava Airport. Then you can take RENFE train or a local bus from Girona to Barcelona city.
Getting To Barcelona By Plane
The main international airport in Barcelona is El Prat. It’s located 15 kilometers from the city center.
You can check international connections to El Prat Airport at the Skyscanner, Hopper, Kayak, or eSky websites.
Getting To Barcelona By Bus
If you’re traveling in Europe and want to take a bus, Flixbus is always a great choice. It’s a budget-friendly bus company that has great deals and comfortable seats.
Getting To Barcelona By Train
Alternatively, you can reach Barcelona by train. The 3 main train stations in the city to which you’ll arrive are Barcelona Sants, Estació de França, and Passeig de Gràcia. You’ll most likely arrive in Barcelona Sants station.
How To Get To Barcelona City Center From El Prat Airport
You have 4 options to get to Barcelona city center from El Prat airport:
- Aerobus
- Metro L9
- RENFE train
- Taxi
You can take the blue Aerobus that brings you directly to the main square in Barcelona, Plaza Catalunya. It runs every 30 minutes and will take you to the center in 35 minutes.
To take the metro, you must hop on metro line 9 (L9). It runs between El Prat and Zona Universitaria. You can get off at the station called Torassa. It connects with the L1 metro line that will take you to Plaza Catalunya (center). The metro ride takes about 30 minutes.
Alternatively, you can also take the RENFE train from the airport that stops at the stations Barcelona Sans, Passeig de Gràcia and Clot. It’ll take you to the city within 25 minutes.
Or you can take a taxi directly to your hotel. Taxi prices range between 30 EUR and 35 EUR and the ride takes anywhere between 25 and 40 minutes, depending on the traffic.
How To Buy Tickets For Attractions In Barcelona
I strongly recommend you buy skip-the-line tickets for some attractions in Barcelona. These mainly include: Sagrada Familia, Casa Batlo, La Pedrera, Camp Nou, and Gaudi Park.
When you go through this Barcelona itinerary, I tell you for which attraction it’s better to get a skip-the-line ticket.
Barcelona is a huge city that gets thousands of visitors every day. Having skip-the-line tickets not only assures you that you’ll get into these attractions (admission tickets are often fully booked). But it’ll mainly save you time as you won’t have to stand in the crowd and wait for a ticket. Also, these skip-the-line tickets are often cheaper if you purchase them online, rather them buying them on the spot.
You can buy the skip-the-line tickets at Get Your Guide or Viator agency.
Barcelona Itinerary 1. DAY: Old City & Barceloneta Beach
On the first day, we’ll explore the old town of Barcelona, its origin and history. Nothing will give you a better understanding at the beginning of our tour than its old town. In the afternoon, we’ll take it easy, chill in one of the most beautiful parks, and get some beach vibes in the evening.
Our starting point will be the main square: Plaza Catalunya.
Nearest Metro Stop: Plaza Catalunya
1. La Rambla Street
From Plaza Catalunya, walk down through La Rambla street. Turn left to see the Basilica de Santa Maria del Pi.
2. Basilica de Santa Maria del Pi
We are now entering the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona. The Basilica de Santa Maria del Pi was built between 1319 and 1391 in the Catalan Gothic style. It’s one of the largest Cathedrals in Catalonia. Before its construction, it’s believed that this part was all covered in a pine forest.
Location: Plaça del Pi, 7, 08002 Barcelona
3. Plaza de Sant Felip Neri
The square is named after the Basilica de Sant Felip Neri, which stands there. You’ll see buildings damaged by bombing during the Spanish Civil War.
Take a moment to sit down in silence and reflect. Imagine the time back in 1938, when fascist planes and their bombing raid bombarded the square, and 42 people lost their lives. Many of them were children hiding next to the basilica.
4. Plaza de Sant Jaume
Besides other things, this square is the political centre of Barcelona due to the 2 buildings standing on it: City Hall & Palau de la Generalitat.
Both institutions date back to medieval times and have been ever since governing and guiding people living in Barcelona and Catalunya. The square used to be the Roman Forum of the city.
5. Plaza del Rei
I’ve brought you here since you need to see the historical museum. I am not so much a museum fan, but from time to time, I visit some, and the historical museum in Barcelona with its archaeological site is really exciting.
You’ll learn a lot about the city’s history and origins. You’ll walk through the actual Roman ancient settlement of Barcelona: Barcino. See how it looked like in the past. Barcino (the ancient settlement) is the place from where Barcelona was built. It’s the largest Roman excavation outside of Rome. It is very impressive.
6. Barcelona Cathedral
The official name of this Cathedral is The Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia. Saint Eulalia was persecuted, tortured, and murdered by Roman soldiers when Emperor Diocletian was fighting new colonies like Barcino. She didn’t want to renounce Christianity and was eventually murdered by Roman soldiers at 13. Nowadays, you can see her crypt inside the Cathedral.
What you also can’t miss is the garden of the Cathedral. You’ll spot 13 geese walking around. These actually live there and represent the martyrdom of Santa Eulalia. See the miracle of a dancing egg on the fountain Sant Jordi.
Try to find the Gargoyle at the exterior of the Cathedral (its wall). It’s a Gothic symbol and was built to protect the church from evil spirits and scare them off.
Location: Pla de la Seu, s/n, 08002 Barcelona
Walking Tour of Ghotic Quarter
If you want, you can book one of these walking tours of the Old Town. This part of Barcelona is very interesting, and it’s a good idea to learn more about its history. These are the places from where Barcelona was evolved.
Book Walking Tour of the Ghotic Quarter
Afternoon Sightseeing In Barcelona
This is where our walking tour of the old town ends. Now I suggest you find a nice bar or a restaurant, where you’ll have lunch or take some tapas. After, get to your accommodation, and you can change for the rest of the day and for the evening.
Depending on where your accommodation is, you’ll have to get to Arc de Triomf, which is where we’ll continue our Barcelona itinerary for today.
7. Arc de Triomf
Like many other landmarks in Barcelona, this beautiful Arc was built for the World Exhibition back in 1888 and served as the entrance to the World’s Fair. It’s built in typical New Moorish style (red bricks), which you can experience a lot in Andalusia (southern part of Spain).
Enjoy the little promenade, which will take you to our next stop – stunning Parc de la Ciutadella.
Location: Passeig de Lluís Companys
Nearest Metro Stop: Arc de Triomf
8. Parc de la Ciutadella
I love this park with its beautiful gardens. Now, just take your time and walk through. If you feel like it, you can prepare yourself and buy some stuff for a picnic beforehand.
9. Port Olimpic (Many Restaurants)
Olimpic Marina is the place to have fun and experience the nightlife of Barcelona. With its casino, bars, restaurants, and discos, you’ll have endless options to do.
You’re also reaching the beach of Barcelona for the first time here, yay. I am so excited for you. You can also buy some food, head to the beach, and have a picnic there watching the sunset.
Or you can eat at one of the restaurants near the Port. I have to admit I am not fun of these touristy places and this is one of them so I would prefer the first option. But it’s completely up to you.
10. Barcelona Promenade To Barceloneta Beach
Once you have enough, you can enjoy the walk through the sea promenade. This was one of my favorite walk spots in Barcelona. Just enjoy the sea breeze and the atmosphere under the palms.
11. Enjoy Barceloneta
At the end of your walk, you’ll reach another great part of Barcelona, which is called Barceloneta. If you haven’t had dinner yet, Barceloneta has many restaurants as well. Or just sit down for a drink and enjoy the evening.
Nearest Metro Stop: Barceloneta.
12. Port Vell ⇒ Colombus Monument ⇒ La Rambla
Another option is to keep going. I highly recommend walking alongside the Port Vell until you reach Rambla de Mar. It’s close to the Aquarium of Barcelona with other options for evening drinks and cocktails.
After, you can walk towards the Colombus Monument, and you’ll reach La Rambla street, where we started our Barcelona itinerary today. Get to Drassens metro station and head back to your accommodation.
Nearest Metro Stop: Drassens
Barcelona Itinerary 2. DAY: Sagrada Família & Montjuïc Hill
Good morning to Barcelona. I hope you slept well and your legs don’t sore too much, because today, we have a lot to see again. We’ll start exploring more landmarks from Gaudí, the pride of Barcelona, and enjoy a beautiful performance in the evening.
Let’s have a great breakfast and then head straight back to the city.
1. Sagrada Família
Today, we’ll start with the most significant landmark of Barcelona: Sagrada Família.
This masterpiece designed by Autonio Gaudí is still not finished. In fact, its construction started back in 1882, and well, it’s still in progress. The estimated date of construction is 2026. In the past, it used to serve as a school.
Nowadays, it has 18 towers, and Autonio Gaudí is buried there. Explore more about its history and interesting facts during the tour inside. It’s worth seeing the interior. I’m curious what feelings you’ll get once you’re there.
Location: Carrer de Mallorca, 401, 08013 Barcelona
Nearest Metro Stop: Sagrada Família
Skip-the-Line Ticket for Sagrada Familía
I strongly recommend you buy skip-the-line ticket to visit Sagrada Familía. They normally not even let you in if you don’t have a ticket already booked in advance.
It happened to me, we wanted to go with my friends and the tickets were fully booked for the next 3 days, there was no chance to get in. You can either book a guided tour, or just get a fast-track ticket and explore it on your own:
Book Ticket for Sagrada Família here
After the tour, take a metro to Liceu. Once you are in Liceu metro station, walk up, and you’ll be back at La Rambla street. Walk towards the Boquería market.
2. La Boquería Market
Now, it’s time to get some fresh fruits or local specialties. Enjoy the special chaotic atmosphere of this market and see how Spanish people do their grocery shopping or even sit down and eat in the middle of the day.
I can’t stop admiring the Spanish tapas culture. This is one place where you can also experience it. You can have some quick lunch or just grab something nice before you continue your walking tour.
Location: La Rambla, 91, 08001 Barcelona
Nearest Metro Stop: Liceu
After, take a metro (Drassens station at La Rambla) to Plaza España. Walk further down La Rambla street until you reach Drassens metro station.
3. Plaza España
Welcome to Plaza España. The first thing you can do here is to go inside the shopping centre and up to the very top. Then, enjoy the views of Plaza España and the National Palace from the rooftop.
Interestingly, this shopping museum used to be a bull-fighting area until it was banned in Catalunya on 18th July 2010.
Nearest Metro Stop: Plaza España
After, walk towards the magical fountain. Before you go further up to the National Palace. Stop at Poble Español: Spanish Village.
4. Poble Español de Montjuïc
If you are only visiting Barcelona and won’t have the chance of seeing more from Spain, it’s time for you to visit this Spanish village (Poble Español). It’ll take you back in time, to many regions of Spain.
You’ll immerse yourself in each region’s architecture and culture and learn more about Spain and its attractions. Try some local products on the way or enjoy a café with churros in one of the cafeterias. Spanish village is very charming, and I highly recommend you visit it. It’ll give you a better understanding of Spain, in general.
Skip-the-Line Ticket for Poble Español:
Book Poble Español Skip-the-Line Ticket
5. National Palace & Olympic Stadium
After the Spanish village, take your time to walk towards the National Palace. Nowadays, it hosts the Catalan Museum of Archaeology. You’ll get stunning views of Plaza Espana from the top. Try to spot Sagrada Família as well. Then go further up to the Olympic Stadium.
Local authorities built the stadium for the Olympic Games held in Barcelona back in 1992. The stadium itself was originally constructed for the World Exhibition in 1929. Still, Parc de la Ciutadella, together with Arc de Triomf gained a lot more importance. Therefore, it was again reconstructed for the Olympic Games.
Nowadays, many concerts are held in the area. Walk through and enjoy its atmosphere.
6. Montjuïc Castle
After, walk up to the Montjuïc Castle. It is about 20 minutes walk, or you can also take the bus n.150.
Montjuïc Castle is an old military fortress. It translates from Catalan and Latin to English as Jewish mountain. The name was given to it mainly because of the Jewish cemetery standing on the side of the castle.
Montjuïc Castle used to serve as a fortress against foreign troops coming from the sea and prison during the Spanish Civil War. Later on, it became a military museum, and nowadays, it serves as a municipal facility.
Walk through its beautiful gardens and then have a drink at the La Caseta del Migdia outdoor bar. You can also walk slightly further to the Mirador del Migdia, a viewing platform to get nice views of the port and sea.
7. Plaza España & Magical Fountain Performance
Head back down to Plaza España once you have explored this military area (either on foot or with the bus n. 150).
Have a dinner around Plaza España. In the evening, enjoy the sounds of the magical fountain under the National Palace.
As of 2023, I found out that authorities stopped doing the Magical Fountain performance. However, they might reopen it for the summer. So check their official website.
Performance Times of the Magical Fountain
- 1st November – 5th January: from 20:00 to 21:00 (Thurs-Sat)
- 6th January – 4th March: closed for maintenance.
- 5th March – 31st March: from 20:00 to 21:00 (Thurs-Sat)
- 1st April – 31st May: from 21:00 to 22:00 (Thurs-Sat)
- June – 30th September: from 21:30 to 22:30 (Wed-Sun)
- October: from 21:00 to 22:00 (Thurs-Sat)
The opening times of the Magical Fountain change, so check the updated opening times before going.
The performace of Magical fountain is free of charge :). You can just come, don’t have to book anything in advance.
After the performace, you can take metro back to your accommodation, again from the metro station Plaza España.
How To Get To Montjuïc Hill
If you don’t want to walk all the way up from Plaza España to Montjuïc Castle, you have other 2 options:
1. Montjuïc Funicular
When you take the metro at Drassens station, you will get off at Parar-lel station. There is a connecting funicular, which takes you to Montjuïc hill (close to the Olympic stadium).
So you’ll still have to walk those 20minutes from the Olympic stadium to Montjuïc Castle or take the bus n. 150. You don’t have to pay anything extra for the funicular, you can use your regular metro ticket for it.
2. Teleferic de Montjuïc
Is a cable car that will take you straight up to Montjuïc Castle. You’ll also get off at Parar-lel metro station, where the cable car station is located. However, this option is quite pricy and touristy.
I wouldn’t make the journey with this cable car, walking is more exciting, and I can see more things. But if you like such things and don’t mind paying extra, then go for it for sure.
Tickets For Montjuïc Cable Car
You can book tickets for the cable car below or also including a guided tour of the Montjuïc Castle. After, you can head down to see the Magical Fountain by yourself once the tour is finished.
Barcelona Itinerary 3. DAY: Gaudí’s Monuments & Tibidabo
For today, I’ve reserved some of the most famous landmarks and places to see during your Barcelona itinerary. Now you have explored the old town and learned a lot about the history of Barcelona, Barcino as the original settlement of the city, and saw important sites like the old fortress and monuments built for the World Exhibition.
Our last day will be full of adventure and extra must to see places in Barcelona. You honestly can’t leave the city without seeing them. So let’s head into our Barcelona itinerary, day 3.
Today is the day when you’re going to visit the most famous monuments, for which you definitely need the skip-the-line ticket and to buy them in advance. Otherwise, it’s very difficult to get in.
First of all, take metro to the metro station called: Passeig de Gracia
1. Casa Batlló
One of the most famous masterpieces of Gaudí, Casa Batlló, stands on the famous shopping street in Barcelona, Passeig de Gracia. It used to be a regular house, bought by Josep Batllo back in 1900. He asked Antonio Gaudí to reconstruct and redesign the entire building in 1904.
And Gaudí made it to another masterpiece, the building that stands there until today. Come and admire its beauty, including Gaudi’s own ventilation system, decoration of the house made from recycled material, aquatic experience, mystery balconies, and much more.
This house is also named ‘The House of the Dragon’ because the symbols on its roof symbolize Saint George and its legend, the saint patron of Catalonia.
Location: Passeig de Gràcia, 43, 08007 Barcelona
Nearest Metro Stop: Plaza España
Skip-the-Line Tickets for Casa Batlló
Casa Battló Skip-the-Line Ticket
2. Casa Mía = La Pedrera
Another building you shouldn’t miss while walking through Passeig de Gracia is Casa Mía. Gaudi didn’t really like straight lines. In fact, he always avoided them in his architectural style, which is perfectly reflected in Casa Mía.
It is mainly famous for its rooftop terrace and its exciting chimneys called ‘The Garden of Warriors.’
You might be wondering why it has two names? Well, because a family named Mía used to live inside the house in the past. The current name, however, is La Pedrera, which means stone quarry.
This name was given to it by locals, who simply disliked the design of this building. La Pedrera was the last building Gaudí constructed before he decided to focus only on Sagrada Família. It took him 4 years to complete, and its construction started in 1906.
Location: Passeig de Gràcia, 92, 08008 Barcelona
Skip-the-Line Tickets for Casa Mía
As with Casa Battló, you’ll need a pre-booked ticket for Casa Mía. It’s very busy so you can get the tickets here below:
Book Casa Mía Skip-the-Line Tickets
3. Parc Güell
What would our Barcelona itinerary look like without visiting Parc Güell, perhaps the most famous place in Barcelona (apart from Sagrada Família).
Parc Güell was actually supposed to be a modern housing estate. Gaudí’s plan was to have modern facilities such as laundry rooms, markets, church, etc. However, this plan changed after the construction of the first buildings since they didn’t attract investors. That’s why the authorities decided to open it as a public park back in 1926.
Antonio Gaudí lived in this park until he died. Interestingly, he lived in a house, which he didn’t design.
PRO TIP: I highly recommend you explore a lot more from Parc Güell than just the site with monuments and buildings. Walk further up and see native plants and trees, enjoy views of the entire Barcelona and feel that special atmosphere.
Nearest Metro Stop: Vallcarca (from there you’ll have to walk slightly up to reach the park)
Parc Güell Skip-the-Line Tickets
Here I also suggest you get skip-the-line tickets. They have time slots, and tickets are sold very quickly. So get them in advance so that you don’t have to wait and be disappointed.
You can either book a guided tour or just a single admission ticket below:
Book Park Güell Skip-the-Line Ticket
4. Tibidabo
If you really want to get the best views of Barcelona, Tibidabo is a great place for it. This amusement park not only offers stunning views, but it has a fun park with many roller coasters.
However, the most important landmark standing on the opt of this hill is the Church of the Sacred Heart, where the statue of Jesus Christ looks at the city and the Mediterranean Sea with his open arms. As if he was welcoming every visitor of this place.
Tibidabo is part of the Collserola Parc, which, as I told you at the beginning of this itinerary, is the largest metropolitan park worldwide. Other things you might check out in this area are Barcelona’s Planetarium and Science Museum, Fabra Observatory, and the Collserola Tower.
Location: Ctra. de Vallvidrera al Tibidabo, 111, 08035 Barcelona
Nearest Metro Stop: Peu del Funicular
How To Get To Tibidabo: The Easiest Way Without Extra Cost
First, get back to the Passeig de Gracia metro station. From there, you’ll have to change to the S-train (it’ll be either S1 train direction Terrassa, orange line, or S2 train direction Sabadell, green line).
Get off at the stop Peu del Funicular. From there, hop on the cable car. Once you get off the cable car, walk outside, and on your right, there’ll be a bus station. Take a bus going up to Tibidabo. All rides are included in your metro ticket.
You can visit Tibidabo and the Basilica free of charge. Only if you want to go to the amusement park with the roller coaster, you have to pay. Tickets are available to buy on the spot, no need to book anything in advance.
5. Camp Nou & FC Barcelona Museum
What would a visit to Barcelona be without experiencing Camp Nou stadium and seeing a museum of one of the most famous soccer teams in the world? So in the afternoon, as your last stop, check out the largest football stadium in Europe, Camp Nou.
Learn about its history, have a panoramic tour, and experience the routine of FC Barcelona players, their changing rooms, and everything behind the scenes.
Evening In Barcelona
Today in the evening, it’s your decision what you want to do. Now, you’ve really explored the most important parts and seen the famous landmarks of Barcelona.
You can go to the beach once again and swim for a while. Or go to your favorite area and have a nice dinner or check out some tapas bars. You might walk on the seaside promenade again towards Barceloneta and enjoy some cocktails there. Barcelona offers plenty of things to do.
PRO TIP: One more thing I highly recommend you do is to go up to the Carmen Bunkers. You’ll get breathtaking views of Barcelona, can even watch the sunset, and enjoy the moments in this beautiful city. Go to a supermarket, buy some food and drinks for a picnic and enjoy it up with those views. You’ll no regret it for sure.
Wrap-Up: Barcelona Itinerary For 3 Days
This is my Barcelona itinerary for 3 days for you, covering the most beautiful landmarks, places, interesting history, and Spanish/Catalonia culture, and some insights I gained during my life in this city. I hope it’ll be useful for you.
You can take it as an itinerary for your long weekend in Barcelona. Or you can also make a 4-day Barcelona itinerary out of it and explore the city in a more relaxed way. Let me know what your favorite part of Barcelona was.
How To Get Around Barcelona
Barcelona is a huge city, and the best way to get around is by metro. Sometimes, you might want to take a bus as well, but the metro is the best and fastest option. I was always using the metro in Barcelona.
You can buy a ticket with 10 rides, which will cost you slightly more than 10 EUR. But since you’re gonna see almost everything from Barcelona, it isn’t the best option.
The best thing you can do for your Barcelona itinerary for 3 days is to get Barcelona Public Transport Ticket. You’ll save so much money on transportation and can travel unlimitedly during 3 days in Barcelona. Check it out below. It’s the best value. Just choose the number of days and you’re good to go:
Book Barcelona Transportation Card here
Where to stay in Barcelona: My Top Tips for Accommodation
Barcelona has many beautiful neighbourhoods with great hotels. So first, I recommend choosing the neighbourhood where you want to stay. After, look for hotels within the part of Barcelona.
The main neighbourhoods in the city, in which you can stay are:
- Old City (Ciutat Vella/Gothic Quarter)
- Barceloneta
- Plaza Catalunya/La Rambla
- Sagrada Familia
- Plaza Espana
Best Hotels In Barcelona
Here are my top accommodation tips for your stay in Barcelona:
FLOR PARKS HOTEL – old town
APARTHOTEL ARAI 4* SUPERIOR – old town
H10 PORT VELL 4* SUP – Barceloneta
DALIA RAMBLAS – La Rambla
IBEROSTAR SELECTION PASSEO DE GRACIA 4 SUP – Plaza Catalunya
CONDES DE BARCELONA – Passeo de Gracia (close to Plaza Catalunya, Casa Batlo, and Casa Mia)
SERCHOTEL ROSELLÓN – Sagrada Familia
CATALONIA BARCELONA PLAZA – Plaza Espana
Where To Eat & Drink In Barcelona
As with hotels in Barcelona, it’s also important to choose a good neighborhood to eat and drink in. Some of them, especially the most touristy places, are overpriced and have less quality. But then some neighborhoods offer good quality local cuisine for less.
I would avoid eating at La Rambla, Olympic Port, and Barceloneta (the row of restaurants leading to the beach). These places are often big touristy traps with low food quality.
If you want to enjoy great and local Spanish cuisine, I recommend eating in Gracia, Old Town (Ghotic Quarter), Eixample, and El Clot.
I recommend the following bars & restaurants in Barcelona:
- Bar Salvatge – in Gracia (for great wine and tapas)
- Berbena – in Eixample near Casa Mia (Catalan cuisine)
- Lomo Alto – in Eixample near Casa Mia (great steaks)
- L’Arrosseria Xàtiva – in Gracia (Mediterranean, seafood & paella)
- L’Antic Bocoi del Gòtic – In Old Town (Catalan restaurant)
You can also stop by in these bakeries in Barcelona:
- Forn Boix
- Forn de pa Sant Jordi
- Bakers Panadería
More Activities In Barcelona
Barcelona is huge, offering endless activities and things to do. For sure I haven’t included everything in this article (as you could be reading it 3 days). I covered the highlights and must to see places. But if you’re interested in doing more activities, check out Get Your Guide.
Get Your Guide agency offers various activities in and around Barcelona. Their great guides will show you around or you can go by yourself and just book admissions. Check them out by clicking on the image below.
Road Trips From Barcelona: What To See In Catalonia
If you want to spend a week in Barcelona, I highly recommend exploring other sites in Catalonia. Check out my article about the best road trips from Barcelona. You can make these as day trips from Barcelona.
Top places included in the list of road trips from Barcelona:
- Andorra
- Montserrat
- Tarragona
- Girona
- Figueres + Besalu
- Tossa de Mar
- Empuriabrava
- PortAventura
Barcelona Itinerary For 3 Days: FAQs
If you have more questions about your visit to Barcelona, you can always reach out to me on Instagram or email me. I can help you plan your Barcelona itinerary and the entire trip.
Let’s dive a bit deeper. Below, I’ve answered the most frequently asked questions about Barcelona.
How Many Days In Barcelona Is Enough?
Generally, 3 days is the perfect time to explore Barcelona city. It gives you enough time to see Gaudi’s sights, Tibidano, Camp Nou, and other major sights in Barcelona.
If you have more time in Barcelona and want to make some day trips, I suggest spending 1 week in Barcelona.
You can rent a car and after your 3-day Barcelona itinerary, visit interesting places in Catalonia. These can include Montserrat, Costa Brava, Girona, Figueres, or even drive to another country, Andorra. For day trip ideas from Barcelona, check out my article about the best road trips from Barcelona.
Best Time To Visit Barcelona
The best time to visit Barcelona is in spring and autumn. So the best months to visit Barcelona are April, May, September, and October.
Barcelona still has great weather during these months, yet it’s not too hot. The temperatures range between 20°C to 25°C, which is perfect for your walking tour of the Old Town and your Barcelona itinerary.
Another advantage of visiting Barcelona in spring and autumn is fewer crowds. You’ll get to enjoy the sights more as there are usually fewer visitors.
You can also visit Barcelona in the summer (June, July, and August). But the biggest disadvantage is too many tourists, and it’s also very hot.
Is Barcelona Cheap Or Expensive?
Barcelona is one of the more expensive cities in Spain. Yet you’ll find it cheaper than other major European cities. You can expect your costs to be around 85 EUR to 120 EUR per day, depending on the number of activities you do and the hotels/hostels you’ll stay at.
Barcelona has many faces. You can expect to pay a lot if you eat and stay around the center. However, if you are on a budget, Barcelona offers many cheap places to eat and sleep. On average, as a backpack traveler, you can plan to spend between 40 EUR to 60 EUR a day.
Is Barcelona A Walkable City?
Barcelona is partly a walkable city. You can see a lot in Barcelona on foot, depending on the part of the city you’re in.
For example, the most walkable part of Barcelona is the Gothic Quarter (Old Town), which you can visit on this Barcelona itinerary day 1. Another great walkable part is from Arc de Triomphe, via Ciutadella Park, to Port Olympic until the Barceloneta beach.
If you want to visit other major sites such as Sagrada Familia, Plaza Espana, Parc Guell, or Tibidano, it’s very far from the city center on foot. So I suggest taking a metro or train.
Do I Need Spanish In Barcelona?
While it’s not necessary to speak Spanish for your visit to Barcelona, it’s certainly a big advantage.
But you don’t have to be worried. Most locals in Barcelona speak English, e.g., in restaurants, hotels, attractions, and transportation services.
With that said, if you’re interested in learning a few Spanish words before your trip, I also help my clients learn languages for travel. So check out my article about how to learn a language for travel in 7 basic steps.
Guide To Order Food In Spanish Language
I’ve designed Spanish Sheets for you that will teach you how to order food in a restaurant in Spanish language like a local. Get these Spanish sheets now for free and learn how to order food in Spanish. After, once you travel to Spain, practice ordering food in a restaurant. It’s honestly so much fun and locals will appreciate it a lot.
Get Spanish dialogue for free, excercises, fun activities, and information about Spanish dishes inside:
More Tips For Traveling In Spain
If you want to explore more places in Spain after this Barcelona itinerary for 3 days, I’ve designed a 14-day Spain itinerary for you. It’ll show you the highlights, and most beautiful corners of Spain, so check it out. The start of this itinerary is in Barcelona.
If you have more time in Spain, check out my southern Spain itinerary with which you can explore the highlights of Andalusia.
To experience authentic Spanish culture, check out these 6 best famous Spanish festivals. I highly recommend you add at least one to your Spanish itinerary.
Check out my article about how many countries to visit in Europe in 2 weeks with full itinerary. It’ll show you the best of Europe in 14 days.
Explore more of Europe with my travel itineraries and get the most of your time here.
