Exploring Barcelona is an incredible experience full of unique and artistic architecture, vibrant culture, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, delicious tapas, and so much more. We had an amazing time discovering the picturesque tree-lined streets, exploring local bars, and browsing through local shops. The streets of Barcelona seamlessly blend Antoni Gaudí's colorful and vibrant architecture with the classic European buildings. Whether you're a history buff, art snob, or foodie, Barcelona is sure to inspire you! We've created this perfect 3-day Barcelona itinerary based on our first hand experience so you can experience everything this charming city has to offer!
How to Get to Barcelona
The easiest way to arrive in Barcelona is to fly into Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) located just south of the city. Whether you opt for a taxi, an Uber/Lyft ride, or public transportation, it's easy to get to the city center.
Getting Around Barcelona
A taxi ride from the airport to the city center will take about 20-minutes. During our stay, we mainly relied on taxis or walked to get around. We also noticed that Uber and Lyft came with higher prices and lengthier wait times compared to local taxi services. Although we didn't take advantage of the public transportation, it's worth noting that like many major Spanish cities, Barcelona has an expansive and convenient public transportation network.
Where to Stay in Barcelona
We stayed in the L'Eixample neighborhood during our time in Barcelona. An upscale, residential neighborhood, L'Eixample is full of tree-lined streets, boutique shopping, and located near major attractions. This safe neighborhood has many local cafes, tapas bars, restaurants, and nightlife.
Luxury Apartment through AirBnB
Our Barcelona trip started with 2-nights in this luxury 2-bedroom apartment unit on Valencia Street, booked through Airbnb. The unit was stunning and the location was perfect for our first time in Barcelona. Within a 20-minute walk, we were near many Barcelona attractions. With Casa Batlló just a 3-minute walk away and the iconic La Sagrada Familia an 18-minute walk away, this apartment was a great combination of comfort and convenience.
We ended our trip with one night at H10 Casa Mimosa, a stylish four-star hotel just an 8-minute walk from our initial Barcelona apartment. This boutique hotel features private terraces with views of Casa Milà and the gardens. We loved starting the day with their breakfast and relaxing on our terrace with a cup of espresso.
Photo Credit: H10 Casa Mimosa via H10hotels.com
Located on the Paseo de Gracia and in the heart of the L'Eixample neighborhood, the Majestic Hotel is an elegant 5-star hotel. With its rooftop terrace, pool, and spa, the Majestic hotel is the perfect combination of luxury and convenience.
Photo Credit: Hotel Majestic via Majestichotelgroup.com
Things to Do in Barcelona
Visit the Sagrada Familia
The Sagrada Familia is a world famous Barcelona icon known for being an unfinished basilica even after 140 years. If you've explored other basilicas around Europe, you've never seen anything quite like this Gaudí creation. The Sagrada Familia combines Gothic architecture with inspiration from the natural world. As Barcelona's number-one tourist attraction, it's a good idea to purchase tickets ahead of time to avoid the line. We opted for the guided tour and spent about 2 hours exploring. We definitely recommend setting aside at least 2 hours for this must-see attraction.
Photo Credit: Sagrada Familia via Brtiannica.com
Explore Park Güell
Designed by Antoni Gaudí, Park Güell is a vast park with gorgeous scenery, amazing views of Barcelona, and colorful mosaic buildings. Park Güell is a great place to explore the unique works of Gaudí with stunning views of Barcelona. The wavy mosaic balcony with the Barcelona skyline is a very popular photo-op and one of Barcelona's iconic images. Purchase tickets ahead of time to skip the line and give yourself a couple of hours to explore!
Visit Casa Batlló
Located in the center of Barcelona, Casa Battló,is another work of Antoni Gaudí. This UNESCO World Heritage site and its unique facade is sure to catch your eye. We didn't have enough time to explore inside, but you can purchase tickets ahead of time to experience the whimsical interior of Casa Battló.
Get Drinks at the Dow Jones Bar
For a unique experience, visit the Dow Jones Bar where drink prices run like the stock market. Prices change in real time based on popularity which are shown on screens similar to the stock exchange. Play the market and opt for in-demand drinks at a premium or take a risk with wallet friendly shots. When the market crashes, all drinks hit the lowest price causing a rush to the bar.
Where to Eat in Barcelona
Casa Lolea - $$
Casa Lolea, a vibrant Spanish tapas bar, is popular for their sangria, which you can even find in the U.S. We ate here on our first night and loved the patatas bravas, beef carpaccio, and salmon blinis!
ELJ APO NÉS - $$
This sushi bar is located in L'Eixample near the luxury shopping. Everything we ordered was delicious but our favorite was the foie gras nigiri!
Vinitus - $$
This tapas and wine bar was a great spot for lunch with an array of options including a fresh seafood bar! We recommend the croquetas and the seafood pasta!
Epicerie - $
We started our day with a quick latte and croissant at Epicerie on our way to the Sagrada Familia. This was a great way to start our morning before a long day of exploring!
The Perfect 3-Day Barcelona Itinerary
Day 1:
Pastries and coffee in the L'Eixample neighborhood
Shop and explore along Passeig de Gràcia
Tapas lunch at Vinitus
Visit Casa Battló and Casa Milà
Enjoy dinner at ELJ APO NÉS
Day 2:
Explore Park Guell
Light tapas lunch
Walk along La Rambla
Have dinner at Casa Lolea
Play the stock market at the Dow Jones Bar
Day 3:
Pastries and coffee at Epicerie
Take a tour of the Sagrada Familia
Explore the market at La Boqueria
Paella dinner
Takeaways
Barcelona was a great city to start our journey through Spain. Three days is a perfect introduction to Barcelona and you can definitely prioritize sites to fit during this timeframe.
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