3 Days In Barcelona Itinerary: Culture, Art & Churros!

You’ll want to think about how long to spend, how to structure your days and whether to stick to the city or include additional day trips such as to Montserrat, Girona or a road trip in Costa Brava.

There’s no wrong or right answer but I’ll tell you this: there’s a LOT to do in Barcelona. It’s not a city where you can get up late, take a siesta like the locals AND squeeze all the main attractions and hidden gems into a flying 2 day trip.

Getting to Barcelona

By air: Barcelona Airport connects cities around the world but is particularly well-connected with other European capitals. I use Skyscanner to find the best-value flights, using the ‘search by month’ tool to find the cheapest dates.

By train: Rail may not be the cheapest mode of transport in Spain but it’s the quickest. Book trains using Omio.

By bus: Journies between Barcelona and other European cities like Paris, Brussels and Munich are super affordable thanks to Flixbus.

Use Omio to compare the duration and cost of any journey by bus, train and flight.

Best season to visit Barcelona

The great thing about Barcelona is that it’s a year-round city. Summer (June-August) can be scorching and although it’s a popular time to visit, would be my last choice due to how crowded the city becomes. Book attractions in advance and take advantage of skip-the-line tickets (GetYourGuide is good for these).

Spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November) are lovely times to visit Barcelona with warm weather and fewer crowds. Winter (December-February) isn’t a bad time to visit, either. If you’re lucky, it will be mild and sunny with far fewer tourists.

Take a free walking tour

Free walking tours are my favourite way to begin a trip. The guides are chatty and friendly, plus everyone’s new to the city so you can ask stupidly obvious questions with no shame. Tips aren’t forced but they’re encouraged; give €5 or more if you’re able.

Take your tour with Free Walking Tours Barcelona (11am and 3pm) or Sandeman’s New Europe Tours (11am and 2pm). I’ve taken Sandeman’s tours in several European cities and I’m always impressed. It’s best to book on their websites to avoid disappointment.

For a surcharge (around €14), they also run a bunch of more specific tours covering topics such as Gaudí, dark history and tapas. These are great value when you consider what many other tour companies charge.

Wander Las Ramblas & the Gothic Quarter

Explore this central area of Barcelona before or after your walking tour. Las Ramblas, the most famous avenue in Barcelona, may be busy and touristy but it’s the beating heart of the city. Spend some time wandering around but aim not to eat or shop: things are far cheaper elsewhere.

With over 2,000 years of history, the Gothic Quarter, not far from Las Ramblas, is another must for 3 days in Barcelona.

Once you’ve wandered the streets, admiring quaint balconies and sunny squares, you’ll understand why so many people rave about Barcelona. Knowing the area inspired the work of Picasso and Gaudí only adds intrigue.

Although admiring the architecture and soaking up the atmosphere could fill your time, there are plenty of things to do in the Gothic Quarter such as visiting the 15th-century Gothic Cathedral and Palau Güell, designed by Antoni Gaudí for Eusebi Güell, the tycoon responsible for Park Güell (more on this place tomorrow).

But the highlight of the Gothic Quarter for foodies may be taking a trip to…

Finally, seek out some tapas and hit the bars like we did. Keep reading for my rundown of your best food and nightlife options.

Barcelona itinerary – day 2

Grab ya trainers (sneakers, runners, whatever you call them!) for a bit of pavement pounding today. Although you’ll already have seen two majestic Gaudí buildings on day 1, we’re off to see two more. When in Barcelona!

See another sunset, this time from the Spanish Civil War bunkers perched on top of a hill. From Park Güell, you can walk 20 minutes higher through the park and emerge beside them.

Grab a picnic / some beers and admire the sky as it turns pink and orange.

Address: Carrer de Marià Labèrnia, s/n, 08032 Barcelona, Spain.

Barcelona itinerary – day 3

For your final day in beautiful Barcelona, consider the following activities…

End your 3 days in Barcelona with a panoramic view of the city. I’d recommend heading up one of the following:

Montjuïc – there’s a castle on top of Montjuïc with incredible views of the city. In the summer they even put on open-air cinema nights, plus it’s home to the swimming pool where Kylie Minogue filmed Slow. To get there, catch the Funicular (included in your Metro ticket) or opt for the more touristic cable car (€11), or simply the 150 bus.

Tibidabo – on top of this mountain there’s an amusement park with a giant Ferris wheel. It’s €28 entry but if you don’t want to shell out, you can visit the impressive church, wander the beautiful gardens (bring a picnic!) and check out the panoramic views. Jump on the T2A bus from Plaça de Catalunya.

Best tapas in Barcelona

• Can Condina – my first tapas of the trip was possibly the best. We had patatas bravas, chorizo, croquettes, cheese and Padron peppers. A good spot for beers in the evenings, too.
• Jai Ca – here I had my first taste of snails which I actually didn’t mind. This cafe always has an authentic, buzzy vibe and a huge variety of affordable dishes. Great for a quick eat.
• Samsara – this restaurant is a tad different: fusion tapas with some dishes you won’t have tried before (like seafood and white chocolate together!). Everything we had was frickin’ delicious especially the bite-sized salmon lasagne and the aubergine, goats cheese and balsamic salad. Even though it felt fancy, it was affordable at €25 for five dishes and wine.

Obviously, Brunch & Cake steals the show but I would also recommend:

• Granja Petitbo – breakfast here was divine. I can vouch for the eggs benedict which gave my hangover the kick it needed.
• Alsur Cafe – we almost went here before choosing Brunch & Cake instead but the pancakes and waffles looked super tasty.

Tips for 3 days in Barcelona

• Factor in time to get around. Barcelona isn’t a city where all the attractions are right beside each other. In the above itinerary, I’ve tried to create sensible routes but sometimes a 20-minute journey between sights can’t be avoided.
• Wear a handy bum bag with secure zip. My phone was somehow taken from my closed bag on a train, and during my visit in 2014 someone snatched my friend’s bag from under the table where we were having lunch.
• In case theft does happen, get travel insurance! I use True Traveller (UK & European travellers only) as they’re affordable with great coverage. For other nationalities, I recommend Hey Mundo for holidays & backpacking, and Safety Wing for long-term and digital nomad travel.
• Sangria is for tourists; try vermouth instead!
• The official language is Catalan although the locals also speak Spanish. Grab a Catalan phrasebook or Spanish dictionary/phrasebook to blend in.
• Don’t fancy feeling like a sardine at La Barceloneta Beach? Try San Sebastiá or Bogatell instead.
• It’s not all about Gaudí! Urban art fans can explore the quirky Barcelona street art scene.

Have you been to Barcelona and do you have any other favourite hangouts / attractions? I’ll be adding to this guide whenever I next visit so I’d love to know… Shoot me a message in the comments 🙂