3 Days in Barcelona: The Ultimate Barcelona Itinerary

Barcelona is one of Europe’s most popular cities for visitors, and one of our favourite cities too. There’s loads to see and do, from the incredible architecture of Anton Gaudí, through to museums, UNESCO world heritage sites, markets, delicious tapas – and even a beach.

As you might imagine, it is not hard to fill your time when visiting Barcelona, even with three full days to play with. We’ve visited multiple times, and are always coming across new sites and things to do.

You should be aware that Barcelona is a fairly big city, with a number of fairly distinct areas. It does have a good public transport system, but obviously you want to spend more of your time sightseeing and less of your time on a bus or metro.

With that in mind, I’ve put together what I think is a good overview of some of the city’s main sights that will help you spend 3 days in Barcelona, either as part of a long weekend, or a longer European itinerary like this.

I’ve ordered the sights for each day by a logical order of how you might want to visit them and also put those sights first that you should visit earlier in the day before the crowds arrive, where possible.

Barcelona is very popular with visitors, and especially in the summer months attractions can become very crowded, so booking ahead where possible and turning up early are the key to a frustration free trip.

You might also want to consider looking into the Go Barcelona Pass, Barcelona City Pass, or Barcelona Card for your visit. These offer free and discounted admission, as well as skip the line access, travel options and various other perks that might make your visit easier.

For each attraction, I’ve highlighted which pass is best, and there’s a section on passes for Barcelona towards the end of the post. Jess has also written a comprehensive review and guide to using the Go Barcelona Pass, as well as a comparison of the main discount passes available in Barcelona, which are both worth a read.

Of course, an itinerary like this should just be a starting point for your plans, and at the end I’ve also added some optional sights that you might want to add in. You could also extend this itinerary over some more days if you really want to take your time exploring Barcelona. If you have less time, take a look at our suggested 2 day Barcelona itinerary.

Now, let’s take a look at our idea of the perfect way to spend 3 days in Barcelona.

A 3 Day Barcelona Itinerary

Barcelona Itinerary: Day 1

The first day of our exploration focuses on the city centre of Barcelona, and everything here is easily walkable. It covers some of the more famous works by Anton Gaudí, plus one of the city’s most famous streets.

 

Casa Batlló

One of the most famous of Gaudí’s houses in Barcelona, Casa Batlló is also one of the most popular, so we definitely recommend you put this at the beginning of your day.

Even from the outside this property is intriguing, with the famous balconies on the building’s façade, which are reminiscent of Venetian masks.

Inside, there’s a stunning spine-like staircase and organic-feeling rooms which you can explore at your leisure before emerging onto the incredible roof terrace which is shaped to represent a dragon – one of Gaudí’s favourite icons.

As already mentioned, this is a popular spot. You can skip the ticket line by booking your ticket online in advance on GetYourGuide here. We recommend GetYourGuide for individual tickets as they usually include free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance of your visit, which can be great if your plans change for any reason. Obviously you’ll want to check the cancellation policy of any ticket before booking though to be sure.

Casa Batlló is also included on the Go Barcelona Pass, giving you free entry to this, and many other attractions on the itinerary. It’s also included on the 3 Houses of Gaudi pass.

Alternatively, you can get discounted admission with a Barcelona Card if you buy your ticket on the door, or by booking in advance if you have a Barcelona City Pass.

 

Casa Milá

Casa Milá, also known as La Pedrera, is a short walk from Casa Batlló, and is another of Gaudí’s houses in Barcelona – the last of his major civil works.

This one also has a famous façade, this time of undulating limestone, the stone-like look which earned it the nickname “La Pedrera”, which means the Quarry. This façade is self-supporting, freeing up the rest of the building from requiring load-bearing walls.

As soon as you enter the building, it will intrigue you. From the ground floor courtyard looking up there’s an incredible view of the inside of the building, with light pouring in from the roof to the interior apartments. As you go up the floors, you’ll explore some of the apartments that are open to the public, as well as the magnificent brick-ribbed loft space.

The highlight for many though is the roof terrace area, with its famous chimneys, skylights, and stairways. From here there are excellent views across the city, including to some of Gaudí’s other works, most notably the Sagrada Familia.

Casa Milá is also a popular stop for visitors. It’s a good place to use the Go Barcelona Pass, which has skip the line access to Casa Mila, meaning you don’t need to queue to get in here. It’s also included on the 3 Houses of Gaudi pass.

Again, you can get discounted admission with a Barcelona Card if you buy your ticket on the door, or by booking in advance when you buy your Barcelona City Pass. Alternatively, buy your tickets online in advance here.

 

Las Ramblas

Time for a spot of walking, and maybe all this sight-seeing has you hungry? Why not head past Plaça de Catalunya, and onto one of the city’s most famous streets for a stroll – Las Ramblas. Take a drink from the fountain at the northern end of the street, which will guarantee you’ll return to the city.

Then, head down the street for a spot of people watching and a wide range of outdoor dining options. Sure, they might not be the cheapest or most “authentic” options, but hey, you can get a pitcher of Sangria and watch the world go by, and what’s wrong with that?

 

La Boqueria

About half way down Las Ramblas you’ll come to La Boqueria, the city’s oldest and most famous market. This used to be just outside the old city wall, and has always been famous as the market that would have the items you couldn’t find elsewhere.

Today, the market is still popular with locals and visitors alike, and still has the reputation for having one of the widest choices of the city markets, with everything from meat and fish through to fruit, sweets and even food stalls.

It’s a good place to get a freshly squeezed fruit juice, to have a snack or just to admire the 19th century Modernista design, which is certainly worth the visit alone.

 

Mirador de Colom (Columbus Monument)

From Palau Güell, I suggest you continue your journey south along Las Ramblas until you get to the end, where you’ll be greeted by the sight of a large column, atop which sits a statue of Christopher Columbus, the famous Italian explorer largely responsible for opening up the Americas to European exploration.

This was a venture he achieved under the sponsorship of the Spanish monarchs at the time, and the statue commemorates his first voyage to the Americas.

Originally built for the Barcelona Universal Exposition in 1888, today the statue serves as both monument and tourist attraction, with the bonus that you can head up inside it for good views of the southern side of the city, including along the port and an excellent aerial view up Las Ramblas.

There’s an entry fee to the monument. Tickets can be bought in person. You get a discount if you have a Barcelona Card and if you book in advance if you have a Barcelona City Pass.

 

Las Golondrinas Boat Tour

At the end of Las Ramblas where you find the Columbus Monument is the marina area of Barcelona. So far the day has involved a fair bit of walking, so this might be a good opportunity to rest and let the scenery float by, perhaps accompanied by a coffee or something stronger.

From the port area, a number of operators offer boat tours of varying length which will give you a different perspective of Barcelona harbour.

We took the 90 minute boat tour with Las Golondrinas, which is included for free with the Go Barcelona Pass (discounted for holders of the Barcelona Card or Barcelona City Pass).

There are a number of operators though with different tour lengths and routes, depending on what you want to see.

 

Barcelona Aquarium or Catalonia History Museum

If a boat ride isn’t for you, or you want to keep exploring once the ride is finished, there are a couple of great options at this end of town.

Depending on your interests, you could visit the Barcelona Aquarium or the Catalonia History Museum (the former is free with the Go Barcelona Pass and both are discounted with the Barcelona Card & Barcelona City Pass).

Alternatively, you can buy tickets for the Aquarium here, and the history museum here.

We’ve been to both, the former is an excellent Aquarium and a good option for families. The Catalonia History Museum will take you through the full history of the region and its people, from prehistory right up to the modern day. It’s a fascinating insight into the region, and will keep you occupied for some time.

And that’s the end of a full first day in Barcelona! Time for an evening drink and some food, before we kick off our second day of our three day Barcelona itinerary.

 

Barcelona Itinerary: Day 2

Our second day in Barcelona will have you exploring the more north-eastern part of the city and visiting some of Barcelona’s highlights, starting with the famous:

 

Sagrada Familia

Without a doubt Gaudí’s masterpiece, this massive basilica was the work that Gaudí was labouring over when he tragically died. Construction started in 1882, although by the time of Gaudí’s death in 1926 it was still less than a quarter finished. At time of writing, it’s still not complete.

This doesn’t mean you can’t visit though. Despite this being an active construction zone, the majority of building is open to the public.

It’s another popular stop, so again we suggest you pencil this in as the first stop of the day – perhaps taking in sunrise from the park over the road, before heading in.

Entry is timed, and tickets sell out well in advance, so you will definitely want to buy your ticket online in advance and pick a time slot that suits you. You can do that on the official website here, as well as on Tiqets here and GetYourGuide here.

Note, the official website tends to have the lowest prices, but we suggest also checking out GetYourGuide as the majority of their tickets include the option to cancel up to 24 hours in advance of your visit, which can be worth a slightly higher price in our opinion.

Note that as of 2022, tickets for entry prior to the last two hours of opening are a little more expensive, but do include an audioguide, which is well worth it.

Again, as it gets later in the day the building gets more crowded, so we definitely recommend visiting earlier in the day if you can. There’s also the option to take a guided tour of the cathedral.

Holders of the Barcelona Card get a discount on tickets, however to our knowledge this can only be redeemed when purchasing tickets in person, not online.

A number of passes include entry to the Sagrada Familia. The Go Barcelona Pass includes a guided tour, which is an excellent option for learning more about what you are seeing. The Barcelona City Pass also includes the Sagrada Familia, and lets you book your entrance time online before you go.

Another option is the Gaudi bundle, which includes pre-booked timed entry to the Sagrada Familia and Parc Guell, as well as an audioguide that covers both attractions.

See more on discount passes in Barcelona in the section on saving money in Barcelona below. We also recommend reading our guide to visiting the Sagrada Familia, which has everything you need to know to plan your visit.

 

Recinte Modernista Sant Pau

A relatively new opening to Barcelona visitors, the Recinte Modernista Sant Pau is quickly becoming one of Barcelona’s more popular attractions.

Originally built as a hospital, this series of buildings is one of the finest examples of Art Nouveau architecture in Europe, and has been awarded UNESCO world heritage status alongside the Palau de la Musica Catalana in the Gothic Quarter.

You can explore this complex and go inside a number of the buildings. It’s just a stunningly beautiful place to walk around and experience, both inside and outside, and is only a 15 – 20 minute walk from the Sagrada Familia. Well worth doing.

Free to Go Barcelona Pass holders, discounted admission for Barcelona Card holders. You can also buy tickets online in advance here.

 

Gaudí Experience 4D

Next on our itinerary is a trip up towards Park Güell. On the way, we suggest you might want to pop into the Gaudí experience, an interactive exhibition that will take you through the life and works of the architect responsible for so many of Barcelona’s sights. There’s an overview of some of his most notable works, as well as a 4D cinema.

Free with the Go Barcelona Pass, or you can buy a ticket online in advance here.

 

Park Güell

Situated on the hills towards the north of the city, Park Güell is another of Gaudí’s works. This is a little bit different though, being as it is a large park area with a number of installations to explore and visit.

Originally planned as a housing development of upper class properties offering spectacular views, the vision of sixty homes was never realised, with only two actually completed.

However, many of the features envisioned by Gaudí for the public spaces were created, including the entrance houses, main terrace area, mosaic serpentine bench, and colonnaded footpaths.

There is also a house museum you can visit on site which was Gaudí’s home for the last twenty years of his life. This has a separate entry fee, but if you are interested in seeing how he lived, is worth the visit.

Park Güell used to be free to visit, but its overwhelming popularity led to a ticketing system being put in place.

This has timed entrances, helping to keep the park more pleasant for everyone to visit. You can visit parts of the park without a ticket, but the key attractions, known as the Monumental Zone, do require a ticket.

You will want to book tickets for Park Güell online in advance, which you can do on GetYourGuide here, or on the official site here. This is definitely recommended to be sure you are not disappointed or have to wait when you arrive. If you do this, be sure you arrive at the entry time specified on the ticket as otherwise you won’t be able to get in.

Holders of the Barcelona City Pass can also pre-book their timed entry to Parc Guell online, and entry is also included as part of this card. Holders of the Go Barcelona Pass can visit Parc Guell as part of a free guided tour.

If you don’t want to invest in one of these passes but still want to visit both Park Güell and the Sagrada Familia, you might consider a Gaudi bundle, which includes pre-booked timed entry to both attractions, as well as an audioguide that covers both attractions.

And that sums up our second day of exploration in Barcelona! It might seem that there’s not so much on this day, but the attractions will take you a while to visit, and you will have to factor in transit times between them, so we’d suggest not trying to add too much more to today in case you run out of time.

 

Barcelona Itinerary: Day 3

The third day on our Barcelona itinerary has us starting in the Gothic Quarter, and then heading up above the town to visit a castle and a number of Barcelona’s most popular museums, finishing off with a spectacular free sound and light display. But first, we start with the:

 

Chocolate Museum

What better way to start the day than with chocolate? And given that your entry ticket to Barcelona’s chocolate museum is actually a real bar of chocolate, you can’t fail to be happy when you visit.

When you do, you’ll learn all about the history of one of the world’s favourite treats, including how it came to be so popular in Europe, how it is made, and some of the culture that grew up around it. Barcelona was one of the major ports for chocolate to arrive into Europe, and it played a key role in the economy of the city.

Also fun are the many chocolate statues and displays made of chocolate. Definitely a fun way to start a full day of exploration in Barcelona!

This one is free for Barcelona Card holders, or you can buy your ticket online in advance here.

 

Gothic Quarter

From the Chocolate Museum you’re going to head deep into the warren of narrow streets that is the Gothic Quarter.

This is the oldest part of the city, and is where some of the highlights of Barcelona are tucked away. I’d definitely recommend having a paper map handy when you start to explore – the high buildings and narrow streets mean GPS signals can get easily confused.

Whilst wandering the Gothic Quarter is an experience of itself, there are a number of attractions within that you should check out. First of these, coming from the Chocolate Museum, is the excellent Picasso Museum, which celebrates the early part of the artists life and work, as well as housing some of his later work. A must for fans. You can book a guided tour of the museum here.

From here, you can also visit the UNESCO world heritage listed Palau de la Musica Catalana. You can book tickets for this online here, or buy them in person at the box office. If you have a Barcelona Card, it’s good for a 20% discount on the tour price, but only when purchasing tickets in person.

A good option is also to visit the Palau de la Musica for a performance. You can see all the upcoming performances and book tickets for them here.

Heading further west in the Gothic Quarter, you’ll find yourself at Barcelona’s massive gothic Cathedral. This is free to enter, and worth popping into.

Next to it is the Gaudí Exhibition Centre, the first museum entirely dedicated to the works of Anton Gaudí. You can learn all about the architect and his architecture through images, models, audio-visuals and documents, and it’s a fascinating journey through his work.

 

Montjuïc Hill Attractions

We’re now going to head up Montjuïc Hill, which has a number of attractions atop it. Depending on your interests and how much time you have, you will probably want to pick a few of these rather than try to rush around all of them.

 

Montjuïc Castle

First on my list is the large fortress atop the hill, Montjuïc Castle. This huge fortress has played a key role in the history of the city over the last few hundred years, serving as a Spanish control over the potentially unruly Catalan city, as well as a prison and execution centre.

Today the castle is open to visitors and you can wander the huge walls, take in the views across the city skyline, and think back to darker times. There’s an entry fee, although it’s free to visit on Sunday afternoons.

 

Poble Espanyol

If you’re interested in learning about the different regions of Spain, and in particular their architecture and food, then a visit to Poble Espanyol should be on your list.

This is a huge open air architectural museum, built in 1929, which consists of 117 full-size buildings representing fifteen different regions of Spain, many of which are replicas of actual buildings. It’s also home to local artists, restaurants and shops, and you can see everything from glass blowing to jewellery making.

Again, you could spend a few hours just wandering around here as there is a lot to see and do. It also regularly hosts concerts, gastronomic festivals and other events.

Free to holders of the Go Barcelona Pass, discounted admission for Barcelona Card & Barcelona City Pass holders. You can also book a ticket online in advance here.

 

Joan Miro Foundation

Fans of Barcelona-born Joan Miró will definitely want to stop in at the Joan Miró Foundation on Montjuïc Hill. Created by the artist himself with the aim of promoting the work of young experimental artists, the museum displays a large number of Miró’s creations, stretching throughout his career.

The purpose built building is also an impressive and logically laid out structure, that will guide you through the artist’s works. There’s also a library on site which is home to Miró’s book collection.

There’s an entry fee, Barcelona City Pass holders get discounted admission. You can also book a ticket online in advance here.

 

National Museum of Catalunya Art

An imposing building with a spectacular view over the city, the National Museum of Catalan Art (MNAC) is a must-visit for anyone with an interest in the art of the Catalonia region.

It has art of various styles from across the centuries, including an impressive collection of romanesque church paintings.

The building itself is also quite spectacular, in particular the Oval Hall, a massive event space which houses one of Europe’s largest organs. You can also take the lift to the top floor to wander on the roof, which offers excellent views of the city.

There’s an entry fee, Barcelona City Pass holders get discounted admission. You can also book a ticket online in advance here.

 

Magic Fountain

The last entry on our final day of our three day Barcelona itinerary is the Magic Fountain, which you can see from the steps in front of the National Museum of Catalan Art.

This fountains runs a spectacular sound and light show in the evenings which is a real treat to watch as the water displays synchronise with the sound and light.

Built in 1929 for the International Exhibition, and restored for the 1992 Barcelona Olympic games, this is definitely one you won’t want to miss. The schedule depends on the time of year – you can see it here.

 

Barcelona Itinerary: Extras

There’s a lot to see in Barcelona beyond the above, and I wanted to highlight a few of our favourite spots. If you have a bit more time in Barcelona, or simply want to swap a few things around in the itinerary, the below items should definitely be in your list.

 

Take a Walking tour or Bike tour

If you buy a Go Barcelona Pass, you’ll find it comes with both a free walking tour of Barcelona and a free bike tour of Barcelona. We took advantage of the free walking tour, and chose a three hour tour around the highlights of the Gothic Quarter and Las Ramblas.

This was an excellent way to learn a bit about the history of the city and see some of the main attractions with a local. If you do a tour like this, we’d suggest scheduling it early on in your trip as it will help orientate you to the city – plus you can ask your guide for tips and advice on things like local restaurants, bars and nightlife.

See a later section of this guide for tips on walking tours in Barcelona we recommend.

 

Palau Güell

Just off Las Ramblas you’ll find the Palau Güell, one of the earlier works by Gaudí in the city, and one where you can see many of his architectural visions coming into focus.

This is strikingly obvious as soon as you see the building from the outside, with its hugely impressive twin front doors in Gaudí’s famous parabolic arch shape.

These were designed to be large enough to accommodate a horse drawn carriage, with one door being for entering the building, and the other for exiting.

Once inside you’ll have the opportunity to see many of the rooms inside, including the central hall and the bedrooms, and of course, the roof terrace. This latter place is a popular spot to see the sunset, depending on when you visit.

You can buy a ticket in advance here. It’s also included on the 3 Houses of Gaudi pass.

 

Camp Nou

Fans of FC Barcelona will probably have a visit to Camp Nou right at the top of their list. This is the home of Barcelona’s hugely successful football team, and during the day you can take a tour of the stadium to get a behind the scenes look at everything from the VIP suites to the players locker rooms. You can even sit in the seats the coach sits in during the game!

There’s also a well laid out museum which takes you through the history of the club, its impact on the city, and some of its notable players and achievements. Jess and I actually really enjoyed this visit, despite neither of us being huge football fans.

If you do decide to visit, we definitely advise coming early as it gets very popular. You’ll also want to check match times as obviously you can’t take a tour when the stadium is in use. Although fans may want to also catch a game here.

Camp Nou is free for holders of the Go Barcelona Pass, and there is a small discount for holders of the Barcelona Card. You can also book tickets here.

 

Parc de la Ciutadella

If you would like to visit a city centre park, a good option is the Citadel Park, or Parc de la Ciutadella, which isn’t too far from the Chocolate Museum.

Dating from the 19th century, and the earliest green space in the city, this 70-acre park has plenty of green space – perfect for a picnic, or to grab a breather from all your exploring.

Its best known feature is likely the large water feature, which was one of the earlier works in the city that Gaudí was involved with, although he wasn’t well known at the time and his involvement was fairly minimal.

It’s a grand construction, topped with giant golden horse drawn chariots, and is worth seeing. Entry is free.

 

Torre Bellesguard

A little way north of the city centre, Torre Bellesguard is a relatively recent addition to the works of Gaudí that you can visit in the city.

Built for a private owner between 1900 and 1909, the home is still occupied by a private owner, so only certain parts of the property can be visited, although this does include the spectacular attic and roof areas which were the highlights in my mind.

I would suggest that this is well worth doing – this is a much less popular attraction than many of the other Gaudí properties, and you will have a bit more room to breathe.

I particularly enjoyed visiting the roof terrace, which has spectacular views over the city, with the bonus that the whole roof is designed to look like a dragon.

Guided tours currently run on weekends, and there are also audio guided tours available. See times and languages on the official site here. You can book tickets (with optional tour) here.

 

Colonia Güell

Colonia Güell is 23 kilometres from the city centre of Barcelona, but can still be reached by public transport, so don’t let the distance put you off. It’s a purpose built 19th century industrial village, which you can explore with the help of an audioguide.

The village is definitely worth exploring, but the highlight of a visit to Colonia Güell is the church known as Gaudí’s Crypt. Whilst the final vision was never completed, this building was the place where Gaudí first incorporated all of his architectural innovations, and it serves very much as a blueprint for much of the Sagrada Familia.

The only part of the church to be completed was the crypt area, although this feels more like a church than a crypt, with a full nave, altar and pews. It’s a truly unique creation, and as it requires a bit more effort to get here than say the Sagrada Familia, is a lot less crowded – we actually had the whole Crypt to ourselves for large parts of our visit.

Entry is free with the Go Barcelona Pass, and you get the audioguide as part of your entry too. The Barcelona Card gives discounted admission. You can also book tickets online in advance here.

And that sums up our suggested itinerary for three days in Barcelona! As you can see, there’s a lot to see and do here, and you’ll have no trouble filling your time. Now, let’s take a look at some practicalities for your visit, as well as a map of this Barcelona itinerary.

 

3 Day Barcelona Itinerary Map

To help you visualise all the above, we have put together a map which you can see below or on Google Maps here. It also includes our recommended hotels.

 

3 Day Barcelona Itinerary Overview

• Day 1: Casa Batlló, Casa Milá, Las Ramblas, La Boqueria, Mirador de Colom, Las Golondrinas, Barcelona Aquarium
• Day 2: Sagrada Familia, Recinte Modernista Sant Pau, Gaudí Experience, Park Güell
• Day 3: Chocolate Museum, Gothic Quarter, Montjuïc Hill

 

How to Save Money on Your Barcelona Sight-Seeing

As you’ll have seen throughout this post, Barcelona has a number of options for saving money when visiting attractions in Barcelona.

The three main ones that we recommend visitors look at are the Go Barcelona Pass, the Barcelona City Pass, and the Barcelona Card.

These work a little differently, and depending on what you want to visit, you might find one works better for you than the other.

If you plan to visit everything on the main itinerary above, the Go Barcelona Pass is what we would recommend.

The combined price of the attractions which are included in the above Barcelona itinerary that are covered by the Go Barcelona Pass at time of writing is around €211, and a three-day pass is only €159 (as of April 2023).

Consider that it also includes the Barcelona Bus Turístic Hop on Hop off bus tour worth €30, plus a number of other attractions as well as a walking tour and bike tour, then we think the Go Barcelona Pass is excellent value for money and well worth considering for your Barcelona visit.

Read Jess’s full review and guide to using the Go Barcelona Pass to see if it makes sense for you.

If you don’t think you’ll visit enough attractions to make the Go Barcelona Pass worth it, then you might consider the Barcelona Card instead.

This is a cheaper option, and whilst it does offer free admission to a number of attractions, the majority of its benefit comes in the form of free public transport (including the airport train) and a range of discounts on popular attractions.

Another option if you just want to focus on the highlights, and then save on the other major attractions as you wish, is the Barcelona City Pass.

This pass includes both the Sagrada Familia and Parc Guell, and it lets you pre-book a timeslot for both of these, which is essential to a smooth queue free visit. It also includes a number of other features and attractions, including a hop on hop off bus ticket, and 10% off admission at the majority of the sites in this post.

So, which card to go for? Well, in the text above for each attraction I’ve made it clear where each card offers a benefit, so do take a look through and figure out which card might be best for you, and also check out the other features of the Barcelona City Pass, the Go Barcelona Pass and the Barcelona Card before making a decision, which may include discounted admissions, guide books, and so on.

Overall, if you’re planning on seeing everything in this guide, then the Go Barcelona Pass will likely be the best option. If you are focusing primarily on specific highlights like the Sagrada Familia and Park Guell, the Barcelona City Pass is a fantastic option.

Finally, if you’re just going to a few attractions and are more concerned with sorting out your transport and getting a bit of a discount, check out the Barcelona Card.

Note – in 2020 the Barcelona Pass rebranded as the Go Barcelona Pass which is now a virtual product only – there is no physical pass option. The products included are the same, but the name and branding changed. Our photos are of the older product, from when it was available as a physical pass.

 

Getting Around Barcelona

Barcelona is easy to get around, with an extensive bus, metro and light rail network. It’s also easily walkable for the most part, although you will likely want to take public transport for some of the slightly further out destinations.

If you are going to use public transport you have two options, depending on how much you want to travel.

First, you can buy individual tickets as you go. If you decide to do this, the most cost-effective way to do so is the ten ticket (T-Casual) card.  This is much cheaper than buying individual tickets and also lets you change transport options within an hour and fifteen minutes of starting your journey.

Note this was previously known as the T10 card. Unlike the T10 card though, this cannot be used by multiple travellers for the same journey – each traveller needs their own card.

The other option for public transport is the Hola BCN card, which gives unlimited access to the transport network in the city, and is available for durations from 48 hours to 120 hours. You can buy that online here.

There are a couple of other options for paying for your Barcelona transport.

First, if you purchase a Barcelona Card or a Barcelona Card Express, you get free travel on the metro, buses, trams and trains for the duration of the card. This includes the airport metro and train.

Second, if you purchase a Go Barcelona Pass or Barcelona City Pass, these both come with one day access to the Hop On Hop Off Barcelona Bus Tour, which covers nearly every major tourist site in the city.

Alternatively, you can purchase 1 or 2 day hop on hop off bus tickets directly here.

If you’re arriving into Barcelona by air, you can take a taxi or train into the city centre. There’s also an airport bus service, which is what we normally use. You can buy tickets on the day, but we normally reserve ours in advance so as not to have to worry about it. You can buy tickets for the Barcelona aerobus here.

 

Walking Tours of Barcelona

We love taking walking tours when we visit a city. It’s a great way to learn a lot about its history, culture and people, as well as get tips on what to see and where to eat.

There are a number of walking tour companies offering tours in the city. If you pick up one of the aforementioned passes, some of these include a walking tour, so definitely take advantage of that.

Otherwise, we usually recommend walking tour company Take Walks. We’ve taken tours with them in cities around the world, and enjoy the small groups and knowledgeable guides. They offer a number of tours in Barcelona, some of which we’ve included below along with other suggestions.

• This excellent value 2-hour walking tour of Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter on GetYourGuide
• This 3 hour tour of the old town of Barcelona and Gothic Quarter, which is included on the Go Barcelona Pass
• Complete Gaudí Tour: Interested in learning about Gaudi? This tour features some of the architects highlights, including Casa Batlló, Park Guell and the Sagrada Família. It even includes a Tower Climb of the latter. This is with Take Walks, one of our favourite walking tour companies.
• Barcelona Cooking Class: Want to learn how to cook some delicious Spanish cuisine? This Paella making party with a local chef includes a visit to Boqueria market and Sangria making!
• Skip the Line Express Sagrada Família Tour & Tickets – If you want a guided tour of the Sagrada Familia and are struggling to get official tickets, this is a great option
• If you prefer your tours to mix history with food, check out this 3.5 hour food walking tour of the Gothic Quarter which includes tapas tasting, drinks and dinner. This is another Take Walks tour.

Obviously, if you decide to take a walking tour you will need to tailor this itinerary to suit. We’d suggest doing it earlier in the trip so you can take full advantage of the tips your guide gives you.

Naturally, there are also many other walking tours to choose from. See this selection on GetYourGuide and these options on Viator for more ideas.

 

Day Trips from Barcelona

If you’re in Barcelona for longer, or would prefer to spend one of your days exploring the Catalonia region, then we have some fantastic day trip options for you to consider.

• A full day trip to Girona and Figueres – visiting Girona and Figueres is one of the more popular day trip options from Barcelona. Girona has spectacular old medieval streets to explore, Figueres was the birthplace of Dali, and it has a fantastic Dali museum.
• A luxury full day small-group tour from Barcelona which includes the Dali Museum, Girona, and lunch in Besalu
• A day tour to Montserrat – home to the Montserrat monastery, built at the top of the impressive Montserrat mountains. This is a wonderful place for hiking and epic photos. The full day tour includes wine tasting and lunch.
• A day tour of the medieval villages of Catalonia, which includes stunning Besalu as well as Rupit and Tavertet
• A full day small group tour to Montserrat that includes early Entrance to Montserrat Monastery as well as a Gourmet Cava Tour and lunch
• A hot air balloon tour – this tour includes a hot air balloon ride, transfers and breakfast
• A full day tour of the Pyrenees – this includes a visit to the stunning Nuria Valley which can only be accessed on foot or by rack railway. In summer it’s the perfect place for hiking, and in winter it’s a haven for snow sports. You can also book a full day hiking trip if you prefer.
• Speaking of skiing, if you visit Spain in winter you can take a day trip from Barcelona and go skiing! See our detailed guide to how and where to go skiing in Spain here
• A full day tour of the Costa Brava coastline – the rugged Costa Brava coastline is home to stunning beaches, ruined Roman cities and dramatic coves. This tour will take you to some of the highlights.

 

Where to Stay in Barcelona

Barcelona has no shortage of choice when it comes to accommodation, and we’ve stayed at a number of different locations in the city in both apartments and hotels.

Our preferred option when booking accommodation is booking.com (see their Barcelona listings here). They list everything from hotels to apartments to hostels, and we find they usually have the widest range at the most competitive prices.

To give you an idea of what’s available, here are some options we recommend:

• Hotel Barcelona Catedral – a 4* property in Barcelona in the heart of the Gothic Quarter. We’ve stayed here, and enjoyed the roof top pool and incredible central location.
• Hostel One Ramblas – a very well reviewed and very central hostel option
• The 8 Boutique B&B – a highly rated and well located bed and breakfast
• Duquesa de Cardona – a 4* property on the waterfront with a roof top bar
• Leonardo Hotel Barcelona Las Ramblas – part of the good value Leonardo chain, this 3* property is a few moments from Las Ramblas. We enjoyed our stay here, and the breakfast in particular was excellent.

Apartment rentals through sites like Plum Guide are also available. One thing to be aware of is that in Barcelona these need to be registered with the city. When they are registered they will be issued a license number. If you want to stay in an apartment rental in Barcelona, then we recommend picking one which has the license number on the listing.

If you would prefer to stay in an in apartment in Barcelona, then we recommend Plum Guide.

Plum Guide carefully curate their listings so their options tend to be of a very high quality whilst still being available at a range of price points. We’ve stayed at a number of their properties around the world, and you can see our review of the Plum Guide here. See their listings for Barcelona here.

If you can’t find what you want from the above choices, or you want some new options to try out, we wrote a whole post on the best alternatives to AirBnB which you should check out!

 

Practicalities for Visiting Barcelona

Safety: We’ve not had any problems in Barcelona, although the city carries a reputation for petty crime, in particular pick pockets. These are known to frequent tourist areas, especially Las Ramblas and the metro system. We believe that most crime is opportunistic in nature, so if you take basic precautions and are aware of some common Barcelona scams, you should be fine.

Power: Electricity is of the 220v standard, with the 2 pin European style plug. Travellers from countries like the UK and the US will need an adapter, and US travellers need to check their equipment supports the 220v standard – it will be written clearly on the power adapter.

See more on travel adapters and how to choose one for your trip in our guide to the best travel adapters.

Currency: Barcelona is part of the Eurozone, so the main currency is the Euro. You can get these from ATM’s, banks and currency exchanges, although credit cards are of course widely accepted.

Internet: Internet access is widely available in the form of WiFi all around the city and in hotels and coffee shops, so you shouldn’t have any trouble getting online. You can also pick up local SIM cards if you have an unlocked phone. If you are travelling from the USA, consider a Google Fi package which lets you use your data overseas.

For more options on getting online when travelling, check out our guide to getting online when travelling to help you figure out the best options.

Water: The water in the taps is safe to drink, but tastes heavily chlorinated. If you don’t like the taste, bottled water is widely available.

 

Further Reading for your 3 Day Barcelona Trip

Well, that was a lot of content to help you plan your trip to Barcelona! Hopefully you find it useful. As well as the above, we have a number of other resources we’d like to recommend to help you out, both content we’ve written ourselves, and resources we’ve found online. Between this post and these resources, you should be able to put together the perfect trip!

• If you’re visiting for a shorter time period, here’s a suggested itinerary for one day in Barcelona as well as our 2 day Barcelona itinerary.
• Our guide to the best photography spots in Barcelona
• Jess’s comprehensive review and guide to using the Go Barcelona Pass
• A post comparing the three main discount passes available in Barcelona, to help you decide which one will save you the most money
• A guide to taking a day trip from Barcelona to Girona and Figueres
• A guide to the best locations for getting a great view of Barcelona
• Some of our favourite street art in Barcelona
• Want to see some of Gaudi’s creations? Check out our definitive guide to the best Gaudi sights in Barcelona
• Thinking of heading out of town? Check out our definitive guide to the Spanish Pyrenees, as well as our guides to things to do in Girona, and things to do in Besalu!
• The Lonely Planet Pocket Guide to Barcelona
• Rick Steve’s Barcelona Guide
• The official Barcelona Tourism webpage

And that sums up our idea of how to spend the perfect three days exploring Barcelona! We hope you found this itinerary useful. Are you planning a trip to Barcelona? What do you want to see when you do? Let us know in the comments below!