How Many Days in Barcelona Is Enough for You to Enjoy It?

By Alice Ross | EUROPE

Sep 01
how many days in barcelona

Barcelona is undeniably one of the most desirable cities in Spain. The city’s architectural beauty, rich culture, as well as the profusion of nightclubs within walking distance from the city center are some of the top reasons why many travelers choose them as their destination.

Barcelona offers so much when it comes to sightseeing and entertainment that it choosing the best things to do here can be quite a challenge, and this is especially the case if your time is pretty limited. So, to plan your trip properly, the most important thing you need to know is how many days in Barcelona is enough to enjoy what it has to offer?

More...

How Many Days in Barcelona Is Enough for You to Enjoy It?

A lifetime might not seem to be enough to truly experience everything Barcelona has to offer. However, if you still want to have fun while there, you might want to plan a trip for at least 3 days. But what can you do for 3 days while there? Here is a quick suggested itinerary you can follow when you visit Barcelona.

Read more: Madrid vs. Barcelona Travel: Which One Is Better?

Day 1

Morning

Boqueria Market

Begin your three full days in the city by visiting the most famous market – The Boquería Market. This market has become a favorite by tourists for the last few years, so it's definitely a must-see. If you want to avoid a heavy flow of tourists, then you might want to go there earlier in the morning. It’s also a great place to get your breakfast from.

When you’re done with your little shopping spree, you can then check out Paseo de Gracia. This is where you will see two of the most iconic works done by the artists Antoni Gaudí. You can first check out Casa Batlló, which is the most reknown house of Gaudi located in the city. The exterior is amazing enough to look at, but you will not want to miss seeing what’s inside.

Once you’re done exploring the house, you can then move to Casa Milá, one of his masterpieces found in Barcelona. This is known as “La Pedrera” because of its exceptional stone exterior, you will find the interior captivating as well. If you want to see the best views of the city, then go up to the rooftop terrace.  

Casa Mila

Afternoon

As the afternoon comes, you can head to Casa Milá, which could be an ideal starting point if you want to explore the Gracia neighborhood. What used to be a small village has not been influenced by the rambling city that is Barcelona! Take your time to explore its scenic, small streets, and find out where it leads you.

Evening

End your first day by going on a food tour! There are a lot of tapas tours and wine tours that you join in the city. This would be a perfect time to sample some of the best Spanish dishes as well.

Read more: Spanish Dining Guide: How to Eat and What to Eat in Spain

Day 2

Morning

Sagrada Familia

Your trip to Barcelona wouldn’t be complete without visiting the famous church The Sagrada Familia, which you can do first thing on your second day! This church is another masterpiece of Gaudí, which started building in the year 1882 and will be done in 2026! The interior would surely remind you of castles in fairytales, with its soaring tree-like pillars and sparkling light made by the giant glass windows.

Next, you can visit Recinte Modernista Sant Pau. This enormous art nouveau place used to be a hospital! By exploring this place, you can go back in time and see the former hospital located within the historical recreation place, then wander around and be dazed by the spectacular gardens and art pieces.

Afternoon

Another place you shouldn’t miss when you visit Barcelona is Park Guell, which is again, built by Gaudí. He originally wanted to build a noble housing development. And while that idea never came to pass, the public areas of this development were finished and made into a fanciful park.

Park Guell

Evening

To end your second night, you may want to go to Carmel Bunkers, which is just a bit further north of Park Guell. Mesmerized by the old military structures, which was left from 1930s Spain’s Civil War, which can also be considered as one of Barcelona’s best-kept secrets. It is a good place to see the city’s sunset, although the place is beautiful at any time of the day!

Read more: A Quick Guide for Traveling From Barcelona to San Sebastian

Day 3

Morning

Gothic Quarter

Now on your last day, make sure to make the most of it! You can end can start your last day in the historic Gothic Quarter. With more than 2 millenniums of history, you will not run out of things to see here. See the city from the perspective of the famous local artists and chill out in a scenic plaza, explore the historic Jewish Quarter snaking streets and make your way to the splendid gothic cathedral – this area is filled with wonders waiting for you to discover it.

This would also be a great starting point if you want to explore some of the many interesting museums of Barcelona, a lot of which are situated in the neighboring Born district. satisfy your sweet palette at the Chocolate Museum, mesmerized at the works of the most iconic artists at the Picasso Museum, or go to any museum you think you will enjoy.

Afternoon

From there, you can go to Montjuïc Hill and see some of the several attractions there throughout the way. You can learn more about the different parts of the country by going to Poble Espanyol. If you are an art lover, then you may want to go to the National Museum of Catalan Art, or Joan Miró Foundation.

barcelona night

Evening

You can end your last night in Barcelona by exploring its nightlife. This city offers a great range of bars, clubs, discos, which all offer every type of music. You will surely enjoy its lively atmosphere that will make your last night in the city extremely unforgettable.

So, as you can see, how many days in Barcelona is enough depends on your availability. If you can do it longer, then go do it! But then again, spending 3 full days in the city will give you a good feel of what it truly has to offer. If you happen to have a shorter trip, say just a weekend trip to the city, then perhaps choose the ones that you like most and go to those places instead.

Hopefully, this article has helped you with planning your trip to Barcelona. If you have any questions about this topic, don’t hesitate to ask us in the comments below!

Rating: 4.5 (14 votes)

Follow

About the Author

Hi, I’m Alice Ross, a long-term traveler who left the corporate world to travel the world. I chose to live life on my own phase and live day by day while immersing myself in new experiences, new knowledge, and new people in a different walk of life I met along the way.

Leave a Comment:

Leave a Comment: