Barcelona is a sprawling city of enchantment and allure, nestled along the sun-kissed shores of the Mediterranean Sea, and has an overwhelming number of things to see and do for every type of visitor.

With so many things to do, it can be easy to spend three days enjoying Barcelona, only to get home and realize you missed some of the must-see attractions the city has to offer. Fear not, though, because this blog post has you covered.

I’ve combed through hundreds of sights, restaurants, and bars, and curated the best of Barcelona into this 3-day itinerary. This itinerary is packed with all the must-sees, and I’ve included options on how to stretch out your vacation if you have more time, or tweak it depending on your situation (families, architecture-fans, etc).

Day 1: Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, and Tibidabo

No trip to Barcelona would be complete without visiting the most amazing architectural marvel in the city, the Sagrada Família. Tickets should be booked in advance as they do sell out, and you can do that on their website, or get fast track tickets on Viator. Definitely go up to see the towers if you can. You’ll have to book even further ahead for this option.

The front of the cathedral (which, when you arrive, seems like the back) will be better lit in the morning and backlit in the afternoon, but the afternoon sun will pierce the colors inside for incredible photos. I’m not sure how strong the sun will be in the morning.

After your visit, grab lunch at a local tapas bar like Sagradas Tapas or Hasta Los Andares, or at the Mercat de Santa Caterina.

Then head further north to Park Güell. Again, you’ll want to book tickets in advance: Viator - Park Güell Guided Tour. If you know you want to do both this and the Sagrada Família, or the other Gaudí homes, you can get a bundle with this tour, or the Barcelona City Pass. If you plan to take the Aerobus from the airport to downtown (which is really easy and a great ride), the Aerobus option saves you quite a bit of money. Otherwise, the Towers is a great option.

Before sunset, head up to Tibidabo, a prominent hill located on the outskirts of Barcelona. Its stunning panoramic views of the city and surrounding landscape make it a perfect place to catch the sunset. On the hill is also Tibidabo Amusement Park, one of the oldest amusement parks in the world. From the top of the Talaia Vantage Point, you can get a great panoramic shot of the Temple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (or Temple Expiatori del Sagrat Cor). This stunning basilica crowns the summit of Tibidabo and is visible from various parts of Barcelona.

We didn’t have time to go up here, but the moment I’m back in Barcelona, we will be summiting both the basilica and the amusement park ride.

For the perfect end to a first day, go to Sips, the 3rd best bar in the world in 2022 for some cocktails. If you’re hungry after, grab a pizza from Bellillo Pizzeria Napoletana to eat while standing in line for DeLaCrem gelato. Trust me, it’s worth it.

Day 2: Gaudí Houses and La Rambla

Prepare for a continuation of all things Gaudí, starting with Casa Milà (La Pedrera). Book your tickets in advance: Viator - Casa Milà Skip-the-Line Ticket. If you have the Barcelona City Pass, you can also get 10% off this and Casa Batlló.

Casa Milà was constructed between 1906 and 1912. The building’s most distinctive features are its undulating stone facade, wrought iron balconies, and the rooftop adorned with chimneys that resemble sculptures. The house exhibits Gaudí’s penchant for organic shapes and innovative structural solutions.

Double up the house explorations with Casa Batlló, only 500m away from Casa Milà. Casa Batlló is a residential building designed by Gaudí and built between 1904 and 1906. The building is similarly characterized by its imaginative and organic design. The facade resembles a living, breathing work of art, with undulating curves, colorful mosaics, and balconies that resemble masks or skulls, earning it the nickname “House of Bones.” Inside, Gaudí's creativity shines through intricate details, curved lines, and innovative use of space and light.

After that, grab a late lunch in the Eixample district. Some options:

Ciutat Comtal — delicious tapas, great for a night eating out
Batea — a Michelin guide restaurant right next to Ciutat Comtal, great option for seafood
Compartir — a more formal spot, great for a date (review here)
El Nacional — a beautiful venue but poorly rated food in each of the individual restaurants. We ended up coming in then leaving

At the northwestern end of the central pedestrian walkway known as La Rambla, is Plaça de Catalunya, a central square that serves as a hub for both locals and tourists. It marks the boundary between the old city center and the modern Eixample district. Walk from there down La Rambla, which is usually filled with street performers, artists, musicians, and living statues, creating a vibrant and interactive environment, and pop into La Boqueria Market.

One of the oldest markets in Barcelona (started in 1217), La Boqueria is a historic public market that CNN named the best fresh produce market in the world. There are so many goodies here, and you have to eat at some of them (like El Quim). This Eater guide, and Barcelona Hacks has suggestions on which stalls to go to.

At the end of La Rambla is the Columbus Monument, and from there you can take an evening stroll along the Port Vell area and enjoy the beautiful waterfront views.

Finish with a dinner in or near the Gothic Quarter. Some recommendations:

El Xampanyet
L’Alcoba Azul - Tapes

If you’re looking for a great way to end the night, visit the World’s Best Bar of 2022, Paradiso. You should get there a little ahead of when you want to enter, put your name down on their virtual queue system via a QR code at the entrance, then wait for them to call you in. The vibes and drinks are impeccable. The food is more like bar food than dinner, so I’d recommend eating somewhere else first.

Day 3: The beach, the city, and the hill

Spend your morning at Barceloneta Beach. Relax on the sandy shores, take a swim, or rent a bike to explore the waterfront area.

Most of the best Paella restaurants in the city are close to the beach (not along La Rambla), so make the most of your time here and go for a legit paella. After doing hours of research on the best paellas in Barcelona, we decided to eat at El Xiringo de la Barceloneta. It did not let us down: the paella was phenomenal. Skip their Instagram Flan, though — it was not good.

After lunch, make your way through the Parc de la Ciutadella to see a serene park and the Arc de Triomf, at the northern end. From there, spend your afternoon exploring (or shopping) the streets of the Gothic Quarter, making sure to see the Barcelona Cathedral, and Placa Reial amongst the ancient streets.

Late afternoon, head up to Montjuic Park, a large hill overlooking Barcelona. Take a cable car ride to the top and enjoy panoramic views of the city. Visit the Palau Nacional, which houses the National Art Museum of Catalonia. You can also watch the sunset from here.

If you’re in Barcelona in the winter, I would prioritize Montjuic over the Parc de la Ciutadella and go up while there’s still light.

For dinner, try Quimet & Quimet, a well-loved tapas bar in El Poble-Sec.

3-Day Barcelona Itinerary Overview

Day 1: Sagrada Família, Park Güell, Tibidabo, Sips
Day 2: Casa Milá, Casa Batlló, Plaça de Catalunya, La Rambla, La Boqueria, Mirador de Colom, Port Vell, Paradiso
Day 3: Barceloneta, Paella, Gothic Quarter, Barcelona Cathedral, Parc de la Ciutadella, Arc de Triomf, Montjuïc Hill

5-Day Barcelona Itinerary Overview

If you have 5 days instead of 3, I would definitely spread out the activities more, and spend more time exploring the Gothic Quarter. Your itinerary might look like this:

Day 1: Sagrada Família, Park Güell*, Sips
Day 2: Casa Vicens**, Casa Milá, Casa Batlló, Plaça de Catalunya, La Rambla, 360º Terrace*/**
Day 3: La Boqueria, Gothic Quarter, Palau de la Musica**, Barcelona Cathedral, Parc de la Ciutadella, Arc de Triomf, Chocolate Museum**
Day 4: Montjuïc Hill*, Mirador de Colom, Port Vell, Paradiso
Day 5: Barceloneta, Tibidabo*

*Locations that have a great view of the city so should be considered for sunrise or sunset.

**Locations not included in the 3-Day Itinerary

Customize Your Itinerary

This itinerary is definitely a lot, so if you only have 3 days, here are some suggestions for what you could skip and save for your next trip:

One of the Casas (houses) on Day 2. Gaudí was very prolific, and there is much of his to see, so if you’re over it, skip one of these houses.
Montjuïc Hill (it’s pretty out of the way)
Parc de la Ciutadella, Arc de Triomf on Day 3. They’re all nice to visit, but not really necessary — there are Arc de Triomfs in at least 4 other European cities, and they all look pretty similar.

To further tweak this itinerary for you:

If you love markets: Add a few other markets like Mercat de Santa Caterina or Mercat de Sant Antoni to your days.
If you love bars: Add Two Schmucks to your trip.
If you love food: I would prioritize a reservation at Disfrutar, Lasarte, or ABaC, or spend more time relaxing at a tapas restaurant people watching and enjoying your meal than hopping to the next thing to see.
If you have kids: Consider a trip to the aquarium or the zoo, both of which are near the Gothic Quarter.
If you need more Gaudí: Add visits to Casa Vicenes, Palau Güell, Church of Colònia Güell, and/or Casa Calvet to your trip.

Where to Stay

I wrote another blog post on where to stay in Barcelona, which includes detailed notes on the different neighborhoods, such as the Gothic Quarter, Gràcia, and Eixample, and recommendations based on your budget. Read it here!

Tips for your trip

Barcelona is notorious for pickpocketing/petty theft, so just be careful everywhere you go. Make sure to walk in groups at night, and don’t go to sketchy areas without other people. Watch your bags and phones, especially in crowded areas like La Rambla, Sagrada Família, or La Boqueria.
Barcelona is very cashless. All the taxis take credit card, as do all the stalls in La Boqueria, even for a 2.50€ juice. We didn’t have to use cash once. Apple Pay is your friend.
If you want to use data while abroad (and don’t need a local phone number), I highly recommend Airalo, instead of paying for international roaming. In Spain, it’s $4.50 for 1 GB for 7 days, or $6.50 for 2 GB for 15 days, which is far cheaper than AT&T’s roaming plan, which is $12/day and has worse service. If you’re not sure how much data you will use, I find that 1-2 GB is enough for a week, with active use of Google Maps and social media (for myself, Instagram in particular). Airalo also offers Europe-wide plans, if you’re traveling to more than just Spain in one trip. Use JANICE4259 for $3 off your first purchase.

3-Day Itinerary // Barcelona, Spain