Barcelona is one of the most impressive cities in Europe, with its beautiful architecture, great food scene and picturesque Gothic Quarter. With 3 days in Barcelona, you have time to visit some of the city’s most iconic spots and step off the beaten track. This three days in Barcelona itinerary includes visits to several of Anton Gaudí’s creations, the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona and other bucket list destinations, as well as some of the city’s best restaurants, food markets and viewpoints!
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Where we stayed in Barcelona
We have been to Barcelona several times and stayed in a few different places! The one I would recommend however is ME Barcelona! It is a lovely hotel with a rooftop pool right in the centre of the city! It is quite expensive though so if you want somewhere a bit cheaper I recommend Hostel Sol y K. This is a hostel which means you have a shared bathroom but the rooms are private and really nice! It’s located in the Gothic Quarter so you are close to a lot of restaurants and only a short walk from the beach!
How to get to Barcelona
We travelled to Barcelona by train from Copenhagen, travelling through Germany. This was super easy and we booked it on The Trainline which made the trip very simple to keep track of! They offer some really good value train tickets and I think it is the best way to book trains in Europe! You can find their deals here or trains within Spain here!
We then hired a car which we used to get to and from Girona! This was great as we were able to make day trips to places along the Costa Brava such as Cadaques! We then drove back to Barcelona where we stayed a few more nights before heading home!
To get to Sweden we took a Flixbus to Montpellier in France, then up through Germany to Copenhagen and then Gothenburg! This trip was long but so worth taking the bus as we loved the few days we had to spend in different cities along the way!
The Barcelona City Card
Something I do recommend when visiting Barcelona is buying the Barcelona city card! You can choose the duration of the card so it is perfect for 3, 4 and 5-day trips to Barcelona! With the card, you get entry to over 25 museums and attractions, free public transport (super useful if you plan to visit Tibidabo) and 50% off tickets to other attractions which include all of Gaudís’ attractions, flamenco shows and more!
You can buy the ticket in advance here!
Another great option is the Go City Explorer Pass. This is the best option if you are spending 3 days in Barcelona and don’t want to visit so many attractions but still want to benefit from some booking discounts! With this ticket, you can choose between 2 to 7 attractions in Barcelona and get a discount on booking together! This includes Gaudís’ attractions, flamenco shows, an Estrella Damm brewery tour and tasting, L’Aquàrium de Barcelona, and more!
You can book it here!
The last option is the Hola Barcelona Public Transport Travel Card. With this card, all public transport in Barcelona and its suburbs is included. Although Barcelona is a walkable city it is quite big so if you plan to move around a lot this is a great deal!
You can book it in advance here!
3 Days in Barcelona Itinerary
Day 1
This three-day Barcelona itinerary is about getting to know the city. Spend the day strolling around the streets, visiting some of the most iconic buildings, and taking in the atmosphere.
Breakfast at Crois Croissant Gourmet
Start the day with breakfast at Crois Croissant Gourmet. This is a lovely spot for breakfast, with a well-priced and unique croissant bar! The croissants here are some of the best I have ever had! I recommend the vegan charcoal croissant with the pistachio cream filling if they have it! We took the breakfast menu which includes coffee, juice, picking the flavour of the croissant, and picking the flavour of your filling.
Take a tour of La Sagrada Familia
Next, head to La Sagrada Familia. This is only a 20-minute walk from Crois Croissant Gourmet and takes you through a beautiful neighbourhood, the roads lined with apartment buildings with ornate terraces. I recommend booking tickets to La Sagrada Familia well in advance as they are often sold out if you wish to buy them on the day (especially in the summer months). Make sure to also spend some time walking around the park afterwards.
Here are some links to the tour we booked and a few that will be useful if you want to visit any other of Gaudís wonders as you can get a discount if you visit more than one!
- Entry to La Sagrada Familia with an audio guide
- Entry to La Sagrada Familia with audio guide and entry to the towers
- Entry to La Sagrada Familia and tour of Park Güell
- Entry to La Sagrada Familia, Park Güell and Casa Battló
Is La Sagrada Familia worth visiting?
The short answer is yes! It is an incredible piece of architecture with so much more detail than you could ever imagine. The first time we were in Barcelona we decided not to go in and looking back, it was definitely a regret. From the outside, you can’t tell nearly how grand and unique the inside will be.
I also recommend taking a tour of the Nativity tower. This takes you up the tower to the left of the entrance where you get up and close to the beautiful fruit mosaics that are still being built. It is amazing to get a closer look at the building (and the view out of the tower is amazing)!
Wonder around Mercat de la Concepció
Following your visit to La Sagrada Familia, stop off at Mercat de la Concepció on the way back to the inner city. This is an indoor food market with a beautiful glass roof, filled with fresh meat and produce. This market is open every day except Sunday from 8 am to 3 pm! At the entrance is a beautiful array of flowers covering the sidewalk so it is hard to miss!
This is one of the lesser-known food markets in Barcelona so doesn’t get nearly as busy as its counterparts such as Mercado de la Boqueria.
Lunch at Casa Amelia
Following the food market, head into Casa Amelia. This is one of the best restaurants in Barcelona for tapas with a contemporary twist. The restaurant is located on a little side street by Mercat de la Concepció and is the perfect place to sit outside on a cool but sunny day! Expect great service and delicious food – especially the paella which is served at the table by one of the chefs!
Stroll around Ciutadella Park
Next, head to Parc de la Ciutadella. This is the central park of Barcelona, a beautiful green space breaking up the dense cityscape. It is home to Barcelona Zoo, one of the best things to do in Barcelona with children, as well as the Museum of Zoology and Geology. You can spend the afternoon here, strolling around the lake, or hiring a rowboat and enjoying the water!
Also, make sure to stop by Umbráculo del Parque de la Ciudadela. This is Barcelona’s palm house, a tropical zone filled with some beautiful, luscious plants.
Watch the sunset at Tibidabo and the Temple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
In the evening we are heading outside of town to Tibidabo and the Temple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This is one of the most magically, strange places I have ever been! If you have 3 days in Barcelona, definitely make sure to add this to your itinerary. It takes a while to travel to but it is so worth it!
So, what is this strange place we are heading to? Well, Tibidabo is an amusement park located on the top of a mountain just outside the city of Barcelona. It is about a 30-minute train ride from the city, followed by a cable car up to the top. At the edge of the amusement park is The Temple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This is a beautiful stone church that overlooks the city. It is becoming a more well-known location thanks to Instagram but is still fairly quiet in the afternoons.
Make sure to visit just before 5 pm if you want to visit the church, enjoy the amusement park and watch the sunset from Tibidabo. This is an unmissable experience on a clear night.
How do you get up Tibidabo?
The best way to get from Barcelona to El Tibidabo is to take the S1 or S2 from Placa Catalunya to Peu del Funicular. From here you can take the funicular up the mountain and then take bus 111 to Tibidabo Panoramic Viewpoint (11 minutes +transfer time). Alternatively, you can take a taxi from Peu del Funicular (13 minutes) or walk (30 minutes).
Getting back to Barcelona from Tibidabo after sunset
The buses are much more irregular after sunset so I recommend planning your trip in advance. You can either book a taxi between Tibidabo and Placa Catalunya, or be prepared to walk to the top of the funicular.
Dinner at El Nacional
After sunset, head back into the city for dinner at El Nacional. This is one of the coolest restaurant spaces in Barcelona, with high ceilings, much like a contemporary food market. Inside, you will find 4 different “restaurants” and 4 different bars, each with its own cuisine and unique twist.
I recommend eating at La Llotja. Their speciality is fish and the food here is incredible. You don’t need to book in advance to eat or take a drink at El Nacional but it is possible to reserve a table at La Llotja or La Braseria if you want.
Day 2:
Breakfast at Cafe Equilibrium
Cafe Equilibrium is a lovely vegan cafe in the centre of the city. Their menu is quite contemporary, with avocado toast, a super bowl and a tofu omelette, but it is a really cosy place to start the day!
Visit Gaudí’s Casa Battló
Casa Battló and Casa Mila are two of Gaudí’s most well-known buildings, both located in the heart of Barcelona. We chose to visit Casa Batlló rather than Casa Mila on this trip after hearing about it from several friends.
It is a beautifully designed building. The theme is fluidity, with all rooms alluding to under the sea or architectural illusions. We spent about 2 hours wandering around the house. This included the guided tour and some extra time looking around by ourselves.
Whether you are interested in art and design or not, it is worth visiting Casa Battló. Looking at the different shapes and forms you can tell how much Gaudís designs have influenced current architectural styles!
You can book tickets online here you can skip the queue and go straight inside at your allotted time. We actually bought tickets online while we were standing in the queue and then went straight inside – but I think on busier days this is not that possible.
Here are several links (like those above) for booking entry to Casa Battló and other of Gaudís’ buildings!
Lunch at Mercado de la Boqueria
Mercado de la Boqueria is an incredible food market in the city centre filled with a variety of locally produced, fresh food. It is an incredible place to explore the local Spanish flavours. Not only do they sell fresh produce, but they also sell all sorts of ready-to-eat food! From smoothies and fruit boxes, cheese platters and meat platters, to massive empanadas – they have it all! We took this opportunity to pick some of our favourite foods and take them to a nearby park for a picnic!
Tips for visiting Mercado de la Boqueria are to go with an empty stomach and an open mind! There are so many traditional and unusual dishes to try here at a great price! It can get really busy around lunch time so try and visit a little bit before or after!
If you want a bit more of an experience I can recommend this cooking class in combination with a visit to Mercado de la Boqueria! It is a great way to taste fresh produce and learn a bit more about Spanish cuisine! Book it here.
Discover the history of Barcelonas’ Gothic Quarter
Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter, known as Barri Gòtic in Spanish, is a beautiful part of the city. It is home to some of the city’s oldest and most decadent architecture and historic landmarks left over from the Romans. The gothic quarter is sometimes referred to as the “heart of the city”. Barcelona’s Gothic Cathedral, Bisbe Irurita Street and Plaça del Rei are among some of the spots you have to visit!
Relax on La Barceloneta beach
La Barceloneta Beach is located on the edge of Barcelona and is a part of the neighbourhood of the same name, Barceloneta. This is one of the best places to visit in the summer in Barcelona. Whether you are looking for water sports and other things to do, somewhere to relax in the sun, or a great selection of seafood restaurants. Here, the restaurants are open until late so it is a great place to come and eat in the evenings, sitting by the shore of the beach and listening to the waves come in. We ended up here every evening drinking sangria or eating tapas.
Dinner at Santa Caterina Market
Santa Catarina is another great fresh food market in central Barcelona! Here, the produce and variety are as good as their counterparts, but without nearly as many visitors! This food market is located just outside of Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter so a welcome break after a few busy hours exploring!
To one side of the market, you have the bar and restaurant Restaurante Cuines Santa Caterina (The Kitchens of Saint Katherine). This is a lovely place for tapas and a drink while watching the bustling food market next door! The market is open every day except Sunday from 7.30 am and closes at 3.30 pm, except on Fridays when it closes at 8.30 pm.
Day 3:
Breakfast
We head back to Crois Croissant Gourmet on the third day of our trip to Barcelona for a second taste of their delicious croissants! However, if you want to spend the last day of your trip trying out a new cafe, here are a few recommendations!
The Picasso Museum
The Picasso Museum in Barcelona is a great stop if you are interested in the work of Picasso and how he changed the world we live in. They have over 4000 pieces of his work and the museum is an architectural wonder of its own accord! The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday 10 am – 7 pm and tickets cost 12 EURO for the permanent and temporary collections. Entry is free for those under 18. Entry to the Picasso Museum is also included in the Barcelona city card which I recommend buying in advance here!
The Picasso Museum offers free tickets on certain days. These are every Thursday evening between 6 and 9 pm, the first Sunday of every month and several times a year during their open days.
You can buy tickets here!
Lunch at Faire
Faire is a great contemporary restaurant in the heart of Barcelona. They are one of the best places to head for a vegan brunch in the city with 10 vegan options, while they also serve a mix of egg dishes and great coffee! Their dishes are all super vibrant and look just as good as they taste! They are open Thursday – Sunday: 9 am – 4 pm.
Explore Gaudí’s Park Güell
Park Güell is home to so many of Gaudí’s sculptures and architecture. It is also one of the best places to visit in Barcelona! It is a beautiful place to walk around and enjoy nature as well as look over some of Gaudí’s most known sculptures. You have to pay to enter some parts of the park. This is mainly where the more famous spots are, as well as to see the mosaic wall that looks over the city. If you want to do this, it is best to book in advance. This is one of the most popular things to do in Barcelona so tickets book up quickly! We didn’t book ahead and when we arrived at the park at the opening time all slots for the day were already taken.
The park can get quite crowded later in the day so I suggest visiting around 8 am when it first opens!
Here are several links (like those above) for booking entry to Casa Battló and other of Gaudís’ buildings!
Dinner at BORO Bar
The last stop on this itinerary and the perfect way to end your 3 days in Barcelona is dinner at BORO Bar! BORO Bar is another great contemporary tapas bar – their menu is a mix of Spanish and new flavours such as miso and wasabi! You have to try the risotto – a creamy mixture of perfectly cooked rice and fresh herbs – or the octopus which was cooked to perfection!
3 Days in Barcelona Itinerary Overview
This 3 days in Barcelona itinerary covers everything that you should see and do on your first visit to Barcelona! I believe in slow travel and like to make the most of every moment so have tried not to cram too much into each day! Make sure to spend time wandering around the streets of Barcelona, try out the cozy underground restaurant you just happen to pass, and don’t try too hard to stick to the 3 day itinerary if something else magical pulls you away!
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