Barcelona in Three Days
Looking to plan a trip to Barcelona and wondering how to fit everything into your schedule? In 2019 Ash and I visited Spain for a week and started out in Barcelona. Below you will find our three-day agenda along with photos, links, tips and tricks.
Ash and I on the plane headed to Spain in September 2019.
In early 2019 Ash and I got together to decide where we wanted to go on our annual trip together. After making our decision, we partnered with our Travel Agent (Shane), and he quickly got to work helping us set up our flight and hotel itinerary. Once those things were in place, we started to get into the details of our days and working out what we wanted to see and do in each city. In Barcelona we had three days to take in the beach, the city, and all of the incredible culture.
Barcelona Day 1
View of Barcelona from the plane.
Our travel agent booked our trip through Monograms Vacations, so once we got off the plane and through customs, there was a representative waiting for us with a sign who escorted us to our transportation which got us to the hotel (fancy).
The airport is about 10 miles southwest of the city and if you are taking a taxi, it will cost you around 40 euro and take you about 30 minutes. To make the most out of your first day, try to fly overnight and land early (this is what we did). I also think that this helps with jet lag and allows you to adjust to the local time.
Once we got to our hotel, we checked in (our rooms were not available yet because it was around 11:30am) and dropped our luggage off with the front desk. We also made sure we had our change of outfit and comfortable walking shoes in our carry on so that we could easily change into what we wanted to wear to enjoy our first day.
We were strategic when picking out the location of our hotel and opted for something central which in Barcelona is La Rambla. This made it super easy for us to enjoy our first day completely on foot. We got a map from the concierge so that we could get our bearings of the city and hit the road.
Mercado de La Boqueria
After dropping off our luggage, we decided to wander the famous La Rambla towards the Mercado de La Boqueria for some lunch.
La Rambla is the most famous street in Barcelona and starts at Placa Catalunya (Catalonia Square) and ends by the seaside shopping center Maremagnum. La Rambia is a very popular tourist destination so keep a close eye on your belongings and bear in mind that the cost at local cafes and restaruants may be higher than other places.
La Boqueria is a large, covered, public market with a very diverse selection of goods. Hot tip-the entrance on La Rambia is relatively close to the Opera House so you could check that out as well if you wanted to. The market itself dates back to the 13th century and is home to over 300 stalls. You can find anything from meats, to vegetables, to seafood, to nuts. You can even book food tours of the market.
The market is open Tuesday through Saturday from 8:00am until 8:30pm and is closed on Sunday and Monday.
We simply walked the market on our own, stopping to enjoy whatever we thought looked tasty. We ended up with some empanadas and a fresh mango and coconut juice (delish).
The Gothic Quarter
After lunch, we spent some time just wandering around the streets. We found some lovely buildings and courtyards and got to see some peaceful parts of the city. Most of what is pictured is the Placa de Saint Felip Neri (I think).
Barcelona Cathedral
We continued our walk to the incredible Barcelona Cathedral. It was built between the thirteenth and fifteenth centuries and is striking to look at from the inside and outside. People are fascinated by the gargoyles on the roof (some domestic and some mythical animals). The cathedral also has a secluded Gothic cloister, where 13 white geese are kept (my literal favorite part of the whole experience). You can also take the elevator up to the rooftop, where you can see the two bell towers, pinnacles, and an incredible panoramic view of the city.
Entrance to the Cathedral is 11 euro but it includes: Chor entrance, Acces to the rooftop, Chapter hall, Virtual Audioguide, and Diocesan Museum of Barcelona. *There is some debate that if you go in the morning, you only have to pay for access to the rooftop.
There is a strict dress code enforced, so make sure you bring a scarf to cover your shoulders, and that you are wearing a long skirt or pants (no shorts). They also do not allow food, hats, flash photography, or luggage. You should also silence your phones and speak in a quiet voice.
The Cathedral is open weekdays from 9:30am until 6:30pm (last entry at 5:45pm), Saturdays from 9:30am until 5:15pm (last entry at 4:30pm), and Sundays from 2:00pm until 5:00pm (last entry at 4:30pm).
After the Cathedral, we spent a little more time exploring La Rambla, and headed back in the direction of our hotel. We partnered with the concierge to find a restaurant nearby that was more of a local spot, got a bite to eat, and then turned in for the night.
Here is a google map snip of our stroll through the city on day 1.
Barcelona Day 2
Casa Batllo
Day two was mostly all pre planned. We booked a tour in advance of our trip that took us to Casa Batllo and then to Sagrada Familia. There was a bus pick up just a few blocks away from our hotel and the guides were easy to spot. They gave us each a headset to use so that we could hear all the directions and facts that were being shared throughout the tour. Once everyone checked in, we got on the air-conditioned bus and headed to the first stop, Casa Batllo.
Casa Batllo is a building in the center of Barcelona that was designed by the famous architect Antoni Gaudi. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and gets around 1 million visitors every year. I suggest the earlier in the day that you can visit the better as it will be less crowded, and you will get the best photos. Also, don’t forget to visit the rooftop!
It is open daily from 9:00am until 8:00pm and takes about an hour and the official website suggests about an hour and fifteen minutes to take in the whole site. The tickets range anywhere from 29-39 euro depending on the day and time (and sometimes includes a glass of Cava).
Photo of the prices taken from the official Casa Batillo website.
Le Sagrada Familia
After we explored the incredible modern architecture at Casa Batllo, the guide corralled everyone back to the bus to take us to our next stop, the breathtaking Sagrada Familia.
This is another design by Antoni Gaudi and is the largest unfinished Catholic church in the world. According to Wikipedia: The Church is designed to have three grand façades: the Nativity façade to the East, the Passion façade to the West, and the Glory façade to the South (yet to be completed).
The Nativity Façade was built before work was interrupted in 1935 and bears the most direct Gaudí influence. It was dedicated to the birth of Jesus. The Passion façade is dedicated to the Passion of Christ, the suffering of Jesus during his crucifixion, the façade was intended to portray the sins of man. The Glory façade, on which construction began in 2002, will be the largest and most monumental of the three and will represent one's ascension to God. It will also depict various scenes such as Hell, Purgatory, and will include elements such as the seven deadly sins and the seven heavenly virtues.
I could literally just stare at the outside for hours and uncover all the different scenes, animals, and biblical stories in the stone facade. Each angle tells a different scripture. The inside is even more beautiful, with all of the colorful stained glass, the roof and columns designed to look like trees, it is so incredibly unique and exquisite.
Our guide did a great job of giving us some history and then letting us take it in on our own, but you can also book tours straight through the organization and they even offer audio tours with their tickets, so you can really make the visit as guided or as free roaming as you want.
Operating Hours:
November through February: Monday through Saturday 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. Sundays 10:30 am to 6:00 pm.
March and October: Monday through Saturday 9:00 am to 7:00 pm. Sundays 10:30 am to 7:00 pm.
April through September: Monday through Saturday 9:00 am to 8:00 pm. Sundays 10:30 am to 8:00 pm.
The opening times and days may occasionally be modified by the management due to special events taking place inside the Basilica.
Special opening hours
On 25 and 26 December, 1 and 6 January, opening hours will be from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm.
Before entering the church you will have to go through security and metal detectors where you will have your bags, rucksacks, luggage and personal items checked. Dangerous items, narcotics and any food or drinks will not be allowed in. Also, no hats are allowed inside the nave or the museum except for religious, health or belief-related reasons.
As it is a Catholic church, visitors must dress appropriately, following these restrictions:
No see-through clothing.
Trousers and skirts must come down to at least mid-thigh.
Visitors may not enter in swimwear.
Visitors will not be allowed to enter wearing special clothing to celebrate any sort of festivities, nor with any decorations designed to distract or draw attention for artistic, religious, promotional or any other purposes.
Photos of ticket prices taken directly from the official Sagrada Familia Website.
Photos of ticket prices taken directly from the official Sagrada Familia Website.
Lunch at El Jardin Del Norte
After our tour of the magnificent Sagrada Familia we had worked up an appetite. We walked a little way away from the hotel and stumbled across a nice place for lunch. Ash was adventurous and had a squid ink rice dish, I went with a taco, and we shared calamari.
El Jardin De Norte is open Monday through Friday 9am-430pm.
The address is Jovellanos 3, Barcelona, Spain, 08001.
Screenshot taken from Google Maps
Montserrat Monastery
We had such a great tour in the morning that we decided to book an additional guided tour with the company and take a trip to Montserrat. The tour included pick up and drop off via air-conditioned bus that was only a few blocks away from our hotel. It also included any entrance fees. Our guide was easy to spot and got us checked in and got our earpieces distributed so that we could hear him during the guided portion of the tour.
Once everyone was checked in, we started off on the drive. The tour was four hours long, but the drive to Montserrat from the city was about 38 miles and took about 50 minutes (one way). The tour cost 63 euro per person and left at 3:15pm.
The monastery was founded in 1025 and rebuilt between the 19th and 20th centuries. There are around 70 monks still in service at the abbey. It is situated at the highest point of the Catalan lowlands. The monastery hosts “la Moreneta”, also called Black Madonna which people come specifically to visit.
After the tour, you can visit the Museum, taste the monastery’s homemade liquor, take a walk to Saint Miguel's cross, go up the Sant Joan Funicular (which is super fun but costs extra and takes 7 minutes each way), or buy local products from the farmer's market (we got some local cheese covered in honey). It was a great way to spend half a day.
Dinner at La Flauta
Cod covered in honey.
Per the recommendation of our concierge, we walked down to La Flauta for some dinner after a long day of exploring. We had the cod covered in honey, bread pudding, and ice cream topped with espresso. It was divine.
Barcelona Day 3
Sailboat Brunch Cruise
To kick off our last day in Barcelona we decided to have brunch on the water! As part of our vacation package we had pre booked this excursion through our travel agent and it was definitely one of the highlights. The tour started at 9:30am and lasted for about 2 hours and cost $91 pp.
Our voucher instructed us to head to the departure point at One Ocean Club: Moll de la Barceloneta, 1, 08003 and to arrive 15 minutes early.
Screenshot taken from Yelp.com
We waited on the dock while the crew conducted their safety checks and then were escorted on board. We nibbled on coffee, orange juice, and croissants and waited for the other guests to arrive. We got super lucky and there ended up being one other duo!
Once everyone was settled, we set sail out of the harbor and got beautiful views of the Barcelona coastline. The water was bright blue, and we even saw a few jelly fish floating about!!
The crew let us walk around the boat freely, gave us unlimited wine, olives, bread with fresh meats, and the best sunny view money can buy!
San Miguel Beach
After our lovely ride on the boat, we could literally see the beach, so we decided to take off our shoes and take in the sand for a stroll before heading to the nearest bus stop for our hop on hop off experience.
The beach is one of the busiest beaches on the coast and has lifeguards, lounge chairs and umbrellas for rent, sports facilities, restaurants nearby, and Wi-Fi.
There is also designated parking nearby along with toilets and showers if needed. This makes it super convenient for all to enjoy! Keep in mind it is not like the traditional American beaches, as the texture is more rocky than sandy. That did not stop us from enjoying our walk or dipping our toes in the water!
Hop On/Hop Off Bus
One of the best things you can do to save time, money, and dead time in your schedule is utilizing the local Hop on Hop Off bus system. Most major cities have them, they are relatively cheap, usually have Audio guides in multiple languages, come with maps, take you through the whole city, and hit all the major sites (talk about saving on footsteps or cab rides).
The buses run from 9:00 am until 7:00pm (8:00pm during the summer). The buses arrive at the stops about every 5 to 15 minutes.
The tickets are 30 euro (28 if you buy online in advance) and you can hop off and on as many times as you want. We did the two day pass and paid 40 euro. The buses are open top double decker buses and the routes run on three separate lines. One line takes about 40 minutes and the other two take about two hours. They all overlap so you can navigate and switch between as many times as you want.
You will also receive a free brochure with vouchers offering discounts on Barcelona´s most popular attractions, including:
Gaudí´s famous buildings La Pedrera and Casa Batlló
FC Barcelona´s stadium Camp Nou
Barcelona´s renowned art museums MNAC and MACBA
Children´s favorites L’Aquàrium and Tibidabo
The flamenco show at El Tablao de Carmen
Barcelona´s outlet shopping centre La Roca Village
The hop-on hop-off bus also offers a free audio guide in eleven languages, with an individual set of headphones, as well as accommodations for those with limited mobility or hearing impairments.
Buses are equipped with free WiFi, so you can update social media or check email in between stops.
The Blue Route
The Blue Route has a total of twelve stops, which overview some of Barcelona’s most important cultural sites, form the Sagrada Familia to the Futbol Club Barcelona stadium.
Total time: About two hours, depending on how long you stay at each stop.
Stops: The Blue Route includes some of Barcelona’s most famous and well-loved stops, including:
Plaça Catalunya – The main square in the heart of Barcelona
Casa Batlló – The famous dragon-inspired house from Gaudí. His other building, Casa Milá/La Pedrera is just a short walk away.
Passeig de Gracia – Barcelona´s high-end shopping street.
Sagrada Familia – A church with an epic history and just as epic design.
Park Guëll – A unique park, offering great views of the city.
Tranvía Blau – From here you can visit the Tibidabo amusement park.
Camp Nou Stadium – The home of FC Barcelona.
And many, many more!
The Red Route
The Red Route has a total of twenty-one stops and is the most intensive of our routes, allowing visitors to see as much of Barcelona as possible.
Total time: About two hours, depending on how long you stay at each stop.
Stops: The Red Route has the most stops of any of our routes, overlapping some of the best stops from both the Blue and Green Routes, including:
Barrio Gótico – The heart of Barcelona. Get off here to visit the Picasso Museum and Palau de la Música.
Port Olimpíc – With its many beach bars, lounges and restaurants.
Port Vell – Shopping mall right at the end of the Ramblas.
Montjuic – Enjoy the spectacular views from this hill.
Poble Espanyol – Learn more about Spanish traditions at this small village.
And many, many more!
The Green Route
Available from April to November, the Green route takes you along Barcelona´s coastline with its city beaches, shopping centers and bars and restaurants.
Total time: About forty minutes, depending on how long you stay at each stop
Stops: The Green Route takes you up the beach to see some of Barcelona’s most beautiful locations, both natural and manmade, including:
Port Olymíc – Beach bars, lounges, shops and a long promenade make this the ideal stop for an afternoon break.
Parc Diagonal Mar – City park with a shopping centre nearby.
Platja del Bogatell – One of Barcelona´s city beaches.
Forum – Festival and events area.
And more!
Park Guell
We decided to hop off at the Park Guell and we were so glad that we did! The park has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984 along with several other works by architect Antoni Gaudi. The park opened to the public in 1926 and eventually became a municipal garden marked by two unmistakable gatehouses.
Some key highlights inside the park are the terrace with a curved bench that is shaped like a serpent, the diverse wildlife such as parrots, eagles, and hummingbird hawk moths, and you can even visit the Gaudi House Museum.
On the parks highest hill, you can climb the steps and see the three stone crosses as well as a stunning view of the Sagrada Familia, Torre Glories Montjuic, and the Mediterranean Sea. Below are some of the photos we took while exploring the park and the museum.
The park is open from 7am until 10pm depending on the season. It is highly recommended that you purchase tickets ahead of time as they do sell out and they only let in a certain number of people per day.
If you buy a ticket in advance make sure you arrive on time as you have a timed entrance and will only be allowed a 30 minute window after your scheudled arrival time. You can stay as long as you want but cannot reenter if you leave.
If you reserve a guided tour, make sure you arrive on time or a few minutes beforehand so that you do not miss the tour as they leave on the scheduled time.
Screenshot taken from www.parkguellonline.cat
Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya
The last stop on our hop on hop off bus tour was the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya. We only walked around the outside and enjoyed the captivating fountains and landscape but there is much to be seen on the inside!!
From the official Website: The Museum is open:
Winter opening times: October to April, Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 6pm; Sundays and public holidays, 10am to 3pm.
Summer opening times: May to September, Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 8pm; Sundays and public holidays, 10am to 3pm.
Mondays closed, except public holidays.
Annual closing: January 1st, May 1st and December 25th.
To Enter:
General Admission: €12. It allows access to the building, to visit the permanent collection, the temporary exhibitions and the Rooftop Viewpoint (valid for two days during a month from the purchasing date).
Basic Admission: €2 (this ticket does not accept discounts or gratuities). It allows access to the building, the rooftop viewpoint and the make the self-guided tour of the building's spaces (material available throughout the year). Free admission for under 16s and over 65s, if you buy a general admission ticket.
Some other general info:
There is a cafe, terrace bar, and a restaurant inside.
The museum is known for its collection of Romanesque church paintings as well as its Catalan art and designs from the 19th and 20th centuries.
Admission is free every Saturday from 3pm to close and every first Sunday of the month (but you must reserve your ticket online in advance to help control the crowds).
The ticket offices close 30 minutes before the museum closes. The rooms are emptied 15 minutes before.
Dinner at La Barca del Salamanca
For our last night in Barcelona, we wanted to eat somewhere special. While at our sailboat brunch, we saw some lovely restaurants on the waterfront and decided to go to one of those. We found one with a beautiful, covered terrace and views of the water and marina. Salamanca Restaurant has been serving Barcelona for over 50 years and is considered iconic. It is known for the food, the atmosphere, and the service. Below you can see some of the photos of our meal. We actually only ordered two desserts but the shots and accompanying pastries were a gift from our lovely waiter.
The restaurant is open:
Monday through Sunday 12:30 PM - 1 AM *However on Friday they close at 4pm and reopen at 6pm.
The address is: Mlle. Gregal, 13-14 - Port Olímpic, 08005, Barcelona
Screenshot taken off of www.bing.com
In Conclusion
There is an abundance of choices when it comes to things to do and sights to see in Barcelona. You can use a travel agent to help you sort through things, or you can get there and try to wing it. You can also use booking sites like Viator and Air B & B to book tours based on things that interest you. Your concierge at your hotel can also be a great resource when it comes to restaurants and places to see. They can even help you score tickets to local shows and attractions. Don’t sleep on that hop on hop off bus! It can be a real time and money saver! No matter what, you are bound to have a great time in this beautiful city.
Have you been to Barcelona? What were some of your favorite sites and tours?
