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How many days in Barcelona do you need? Create your ideal travel itinerary
4 is the proper number of days to spend in Barcelona. Find the best places to visit and other alternative itinerary options for exploring this vibrant city
Barcelona has so many iconic sights, you could spend two full days just spotting Gaudí’s masterpieces across the city. And that’s just Gaudí! While his creations are outwardly, they make only one piece of the puzzle: Barcelona.
Whether it’s the people watching along La Rambla, wandering around the Gothic Quarter, watching a Barcelona match in Montjuïc, or admiring the surreal shapes of Casa Batlló, the city is brimming with sights and experiences.
But here’s the question: how many days in Barcelona is enough? This short guide will help you plan a solid Barcelona itinerary, no matter how many days in Barcelona you have.
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How many days do you need in Barcelona?
Travelers to Spain need at least 4 days in Barcelona. It might sound too little for such a vast city, but it will give you enough time to get a good feel of it, especially if you have a well-planned itinerary.
Barcelona is a must-visit destination for travelers to Spain. It’s filled with beautiful landmarks, breathtaking architecture, delicious food, and many stories to listen to while on your trip.
Conveniently, most of these places are relatively close to each other, meaning you can explore them without rushing too much, especially if you use the train to reach all the main sights. Perhaps you’ll even plan to return later to explore more of the city or attend festivals like Sonar Barcelona after your first amazing trip.
If you’re done visiting Barcelona in three days, spending a fourth day visiting inner Catalonia is totally worth it. You’ll explore more about the local culture and the inner region’s beauty.
2 days in Barcelona: A short-stop itinerary
While 2 days in Barcelona might not be enough to explore every corner of the city, you can wrap things up by visiting the most iconic landmarks.
Here are some ideas for a Barcelona itinerary for a short visit:
- Visit the Sagrada Familia: Being one of the most iconic landmarks in Barcelona, and probably one of the most famous Gaudí works, and a crown jewel of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Works of Gaudí.. You need to take time to visit this church to learn about its history, take impressive photos, and if you want to explore more of it, pay a guided tour. Make sure to buy your tickets in advance; the Sagrada Familia is always filled with tourists all year long, and tickets are for limited time slots on a specific day.
- Explore the Park Güell: With over 17 hectares to explore and next to the Sierra de Collserola, the Gaudí works are a great option for investigating and taking pictures. The Gaudí House Museum is a great way to end your visit if you have enough time.
- End your day trying local food: Up for a night out? Barcelona gathers everything you could ask for from the Spanish food, from a delicious paella de mariscos to an escalivada, a traditional Catalan dish. Visit La Lolita, Pasta Market, or El Nacional for a not-so-expensive dinner with a beer or a wine. You can also head over to a rooftop bar for some drinks and tapas—that’s up to you!
- Stroll down La Rambla: Make the most of your second day in this incredible city by exploring one of the most iconic neighborhoods in Barcelona. Stroll in La Rambla to visit the Plaça de Catalunya or Port Vell, and enjoy some tapas. At the same time, you walk around, watch street performers, listen to live music, and relax at a pastry shop, and try some Crema Catalana or a Panellet before your trip home.
3 days in Barcelona: A weekend-break itinerary
Spending 3 days in Barcelona can give you enough time to see the city’s most iconic landmarks without feeling rushed.
The best way to start your weekend break is by ticking off all the spots from the two-day itinerary. However, Barcelona still has a huge list of things to do. Here’s what else you can add to your itinerary:
- Book a walking tour to the Gothic quarter: Known as the Barri Gòtic in Catalan and the historic center of the old town of Barcelona, this neighborhood goes all the way down from La Rambla to Via Laietana. While exploring the Gothic quarter, you’ll feel like traveling in time. Walk past the remains of the city walls, explore old squares, and end your visit at the Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar, also known as the Barcelona Cathedral, and the Museu d’Historia de Barcelona to learn more about the Spanish Civil War.
- Explore the Gaudí architecture: There’s much more to see than Sagrada Familia. Places like the Casa Vicens, the Palau Güell, Casa Batlló, and Casa Milà are a must-visit to explore the neo-Gothic and Oriental style of Gaudí, which helped pave the way for the local architecture.
- Visit Montserrat: Located in the Barcelona hills, Montserrat is a multi-peaked mountain home to the abbey of Santa Maria de Montserrat, the Montserrat Museum, and breathtaking views of the city. Since you’re on a three-day trip, it’s better to take the funicular rather than the hiking trails to the top to save some time.
- Watch Barcelona from Montjuïc: Located on a hill, Montjuïc is home to one of the most beautiful views of Barcelona. It is a must-visit spot, especially since it’s considered Barcelona’s birthplace. You can either take pictures of the breathtaking views, visit the Palau Nacional, or explore the surrounding buildings like the botanical gardens, the Fundació Joan Miró, the Montjuïc Castle, and the Montjuïc Cemetery.
7 days in Barcelona: A slow-travel itinerary
If you like to take things calmly, a longer trip to explore Barcelona sounds better to explore this vibrant city rather than jumping into an Uber or train to reach your next must-see spot.
For a 7-day trip, make sure to tick off from your itinerary all the landmarks and activities from shorter trips. With some extra time, you’ll have space for activities like hiking Montserrat or exploring the Gaudí architecture in detail.
However, you might run short on plans, so here are some ideas for you to consider:
- Take a day trip from Barcelona: If you need more things to do in Barcelona, the Catalonia region is worth visiting. Plan a day trip to Girona, Sitges, or Tarragona to dive deeper into this region’s culture. There, you can explore iconic landmarks like the Girona Cathedral, the Muralles de Tossa de Mar, and the Ferreres Aqueduct, or simply spend the day walking down the city center while enjoying a pastry at a local restaurant.
- Explore other museums: Barcelona is a city worth exploring for art. You can explore unique art exhibitions at the Barcelona Erotic Museum or dive into modern art pieces at the Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona. But if you want to explore one of the most prominent art museums, head over to the Picasso Museum.
- Spend a day on the beach: Barcelona has beautiful beaches where you can play volleyball, drink a ratafia, or simply enjoy the golden-colored sands after many days walking around the city. The San Sebastian Beach and Playa de Bogatell are top-tier options, but the Barceloneta Beach takes the crown thanks to its surrounding landscape.
- Watch a Barcelona game: If you’re a football fan, you can buy tickets for a Barcelona match. Since the official Camp Nou Stadium is closed for renovation, you must visit Montjuïc to enjoy a game at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium. If you visit Barcelona once the Camp Nou reopens, you can even plan for a complete stadium tour, including the FC Barcelona Museum.
While these are the main attractions in Barcelona, you can always leave some room for spontaneity when creating a Barcelona itinerary.
Sites like the Arc de Triomf, La Pedrera, and the Parc de la Ciutadella are worth mentioning, but if you don’t have enough time on your first incredible trip, you can always go back for a new adventure in Barcelona.
Keep a reliable connection in Barcelona with Holafly
If you have thought about the perfect length of your trip, some things to consider are the best time to visit Barcelona and how you’ll get an internet connection in Spain.
You can connect to the Barcelona Airport WiFi as soon as you land. Still, once you leave the airport, you’ll need a different alternative to explore the city using Google Maps f or find you hotel, or get a ride.
Our call here is to use our eSIM for Barcelona. You’ll find options ranging from five to seven days, which cost $20.90 to $29.90. This means you’ll pay up to $4.27 to get unlimited data, up to 500 MB of data sharing, and 24/7 customer support.
But, what if Barcelona is just one of your stops on your long trip around Europe? You can rely on the Holafly Connect monthly subscription. You’ll get access to unlimited data plans, unlimited data sharing, and up to 5G connectivity in over 170 destinations, including coverage in Barcelona.
Plans range from $39.90/month with 10 GB, but if you want the unlimited experience, pricing is $64.90/month, which is way better than paying for data roaming in Spain or expensive pocket WiFi alternatives.
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I first started my content creation journey as a freelancer in 2019, before connecting with Holafly in 2021. At Holafly, my travel and tech interests come together in one place as I craft high-quality articles about the eSIM and related markets. My content aims to help travelers stay connected, wherever they are.
