Heading to Spain? 3 days in Barcelona will allow you to experience the beauty of Gaudi’s work, enjoy local food, admire architecture & more!

This guide to 3 days in Barcelona is based on a trip from August 2023.

Traveling to Barcelona

Airport

The Barcelona International Airport (BCN) is located approximately 20 minutes (by car) to the city center. From the airport, you can choose to take a rideshare service (like Uber), catch a taxi, take the metro, or organize a transfer through your hotel accommodations.

We chose to take the metro as this was the cheapest option. The journey by metro is approximately 30 minutes.

Ubers or taxis will be more expensive, but they are a good option especially for any travelers unfamiliar with the local public transportation system.

Getting Around Barcelona

The best way to get around Barcelona would be by walking. Most items on this itinerary are within easy walking distance.

I would not recommend renting a car for your 3 days in Barcelona. Parking is limited and the roads are tight. Plan on taking Uber, taxis, or the metro instead.

All taxis will have an official “taxi” sign. As of 2023, all taxis took credit cards. The taxis also have visible meters with the fare price throughout the trip, so there are no surprises regarding the cost.

Where to Stay in Barcelona

We stayed at the Cotton House Hotel which is a Marriott Autograph Collection hotel. I cannot recommend this hotel enough! The staff was incredibly friendly, the hotel was beautiful, and the rooms were incredibly clean.

The hotel has a unique lobby, a garden patio, a cozy library, and a stunning spiral staircase.

There is a very large variety of hotels, Airbnb’s, and hostels available in Barcelona depending on your needs and budget. Here are a few other highly rated options in Barcelona –

• Budget: Onefam Paralelo Hostel
• Intermediate: Room Mate Carla
• Luxury: Mandarin Oriental

Day 1 in Barcelona: Cathedrals, Markets, & More

For your first day in Barcelona, you’ll be exploring the city by foot to see all the beautiful attractions, architecture, and more!

Casa Batlló

Begin your day by starting at Casa Batlló, one of Gaudi’s famous masterpieces. The building is immediately eye-catching due to the very unique design.

Josep Batlló, a prominent businessman, acquired the building in 1903 and gave complete artistic freedom to Antonio Gaudi. The house was originally supposed to be demolished and rebuilt, but Gaudi decided to drastically change the façade and interior design of the building.

Casa Batlló ceased to belong to the Batlló family in the 1950s. The new owners opened the building to the public in 1995. Currently, Casa Batlló is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We chose to view the architecture from outside the building and did not pay for tickets to tour the building. If you choose to enter the building, you will need to book a scheduled time slot for the specific day you choose to enter.

You can purchase tickets here. Ticket prices are approximately 30 euros, but it does differ slightly by date and time.

After visiting Casa Batlló, take the time to stroll down the street of Pg. de Gràcia as many high-end shops are located along this street. Even if you do not plan on doing any shopping, it is a great opportunity to admire the gorgeous buildings!

Mercado de La Boqueria

Your next stop at Mercado de La Boqueria will be the perfect opportunity to grab a quick bite to eat or some fresh-squeezed juice for a mid-morning snack. The walk from Casa Batlló to Mercado de La Boqueria is approximately 20 minutes.

Mercado de La Boqueria is a fresh food market offering a variety of fruits, vegetables, meat, seafood, and more. The market is located on La Rambla which is a very populated street in central Barcelona.

The market dates back to 1217 when the presence of tables selling meat was confirmed. The market was made of temporary open-air stalls used by local farmers from towns around Barcelona to sell their products.

The market is free to enter, but you can purchase a guided walking tour through sites like TripAdvisor or Viator. We walked through the market on our own, purchased some fresh juice, and then continued on which was adequate time for us.

This market can be VERY crowded. If you do not like crowds, this may be an attraction you would like to skip.

Cathedral of Barcelona

Next, walk less than 10 minutes to the Cathedral of Barcelona. The cathedral dates back as early as the 3rd century. The gothic architectural style of the cathedral is very intricate and beautiful to admire.

To enter the cathedral, you will need to purchase a ticket. Tickets can either be purchased in advance here or they can be purchased onsite at the ticket office next to the cathedral. We purchased tickets onsite and the line to purchase was not long and we were able to secure an upcoming time slot easily.

If you do purchase ahead of your visit, you will need to choose a date and a timed entry slot. Make sure the ticket you purchase includes access to the rooftop as this was my favorite part of the visit to the cathedral.

Playa Mar

Next, take a stroll to the beach for some beautiful views of the ocean. From the cathedral, it is about a 30 minute walk to Playa Mar, so this is a great opportunity to take a leisurely walk and stop for a bite to eat along the way.

Take some time to relax and take in the ocean views!

Arco de Triunfo de Barcelona

From the beach, either take a 30 minute walk or an 8 minute taxi ride to your next destination. The Arco de Triunfo de Barcelona is a memorial arch in Barcelona. It was built as the main access gate for the 1888 Barcelona World Fair.

This will conclude the itinerary for day 1 in Barcelona! After visiting the Arco de Triunfo, I recommend spending the evening strolling through the beautiful streets, enjoying a nice dinner, and grabbing some gelato!

Day 2 in Barcelona: Park Güell & Sagrada Familia

For your second day in Barcelona, you will be visiting 2 sights that require timed entry tickets, so it will take some planning in advance. The sights are also farther apart, so you may want to take taxis or the metro to avoid some walking. We took a few taxis this day to save some steps.

Park Güell

The first stop of the day will be to Park Güell, one of the famous works of Antoni Gaudí. This is a public park which was built in the early 20th century. The park is famous for its unique architecture and stunning views of Barcelona.

The construction originally began as a housing project, however only 2 houses were built and this plan fell through. The project transitioned into creating a private garden, which was later opened to the public in 1926.

Gaudi actually lived in one of the houses within Park Güell which you are able to tour when visiting.

You will need to purchase a timed entry ticket, which can be done here. We purchased the individual entry tickets and did a self guided tour of the park.

I would recommend securing the earliest time slot for the day you choose to visit. This will give you an opportunity to do some exploring before the park gets crowded.

We arrived around 30 minutes before the park opened and were some of the first people in line. We immediately headed straight to the famous overlook area and were able to get some time at the overlook without crowds. We definitely did not need to arrive 30 minutes before opening, but I would recommend arriving 10-15 minutes early.

You do have a 30 minute grace period, so you can enter up to 30 minutes after your reserved time. After 30 minutes, your ticket will no longer be valid.

Once you are inside the park, there is no time limit so you can explore at your leisure. I would allow between 1-1.5 hours to explore.

La Sagrada Familia

Your next stop will be to an incredible church with some amazing history! The construction of La Sagrada Familia began in 1882. The next year, Antoni Gaudi took over the project, which he worked on until his death in 1926.

After 140 years of work, the Basilica is still under construction and is scheduled to be completed in 2026. The project is funded by the public, so the cost of entrance tickets goes towards completing the Basilica.

La Sagrada Familia is 566 feet tall making it an absolutely incredible sight to see. The total height will be less than that of Montjuïc hill in Barcelona, as Gaudí believed that his creation should not surpass God’s.

You will need to purchase a timed entry ticket before you arrive, which can be done here. We did the basic tickets which were sufficient for us, but there are tickets with add-ons if that interests you. I would recommend choosing a time slot in the late morning or early afternoon to give you plenty of time to make your way to this stop.

You will want to download the Official Sagrada Familia app before you visit. The app will give you access to your tickets and an audio guide. FYI: make sure you bring headphones so you can listen to the audio guide while you visit!

The church is beautiful on its own, but I would highly recommend listening along to the audio guide as it will walk you through the history and architecture. The audio guide is available in a 45 minute version or an express 25 minute version. I would recommend taking the time to listen to the regular 45 minute audio guide.

Security is taken very seriously at Le Sagrada Familia. You will need to go through security (similar to the airport!!!) before entry. You will walk through a metal detector along with having to place your belongings through a detector as well. No liquids are allowed in so you will need to drink or toss any liquids before entering.

You do need the timed entry ticket, but you can stay as long as you would like once you enter. We stayed for approximately 1 hour, but you could easily stay longer.

Even with the timed entry tickets, Le Sagrada Familia does still get very busy, so be prepared for crowds.

Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya

Next, venture over to the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (abbreviated to MNAC). The walk from Le Sagrada Familia to MNAC is a trek, so we took a taxi.

Taxis can either drop you off at the top of the museum or you can be dropped off at the bottom and take the stairs or outdoor escalators to the top. We chose to take the stairs & escalators to reach the top. It is definitely a long walk so be prepared if you choose to walk!

My husband and I are not very interested in art, so we solely visited for the spectacular views of the city and did not buy tickets to enter the museum. Even if you are not interested in the art museum, you will at least want to visit for the views!

If you are interested in entering the museum, tickets can be purchased here.

Entrance to the museum is free after 3PM on Saturdays and on the first Sunday of the month, Even though admission is free these days, you will still need to reserve a ticket in advance to secure a spot.

After visiting the museum, this will conclude the itinerary for day 2 in Barcelona. I recommend enjoying the evening by wandering the streets and stopping for dinner & drinks.

Day 3 in Barcelona: Day Trip to Montserrat

For your 3rd day in Barcelona, you will be taking a day trip to the stunning mountain town of Montserrat Spain. Montserrat is located in Catalonia Spain and translates to “saw mountain” due to the mountain’s jagged appearance.

Montserrat is famous for the Benedictine monastery that sits atop the mountain. Inside the monastery is the famous statue of the Virgin of Montserrat. Many people visit Montserrat as a religious pilgrimage.

The views are incredible and the history is fascinating, so this is a must do day trip!

Getting to Montserrat

The two most popular ways to travel to Montserrat from Barcelona are via train or through a guided tour with transportation included.

We chose to take the train from Barcelona. The train journey takes approximately 1 hour.

This was my first time on a European train ride, but luckily my husband had previously spent time in Europe and was familiar with the train system.

You can find a detailed guide to navigating the train system from Barcelona to Montserrat here. This guide also explains the different ticket options and prices, so you can determine which ticket is best for your trip.

You will have to get off the train and take either a cable car or a rack train to get up to the monastery. We chose to take the cable car as this is the most scenic route.

If you choose to take the cable car, you will need to get off the train at the Aeri de Montserrat stop. The ride takes approximately 5 minutes which you will have to stand for. I do not recommend taking the cable car if you have a fear of heights.

If you choose to take the rack train, you will need to get off one stop after Aeri de Montserrat called Monistrol. This ride is less scenic and takes approximately 15 minutes.

The rack train is ideal for people who prefer to sit or are uncomfortable with heights.

If you would prefer to avoid navigating the train system and would rather sit back and relax, you could book a guided tour with transportation included instead.

This Montserrat Half Day Experience from Barcelona is highly rated on Trip Advisor, includes bus transportation, and has a max group size of 22 people.

Things to do in Montserrat

The Basilica of Montserrat

The Basilica is a temple which is home to the Holy Image of Our Lady of Montserrat. The temple was built in the 16th century.

You will need to purchase tickets to visit the Basilica and choose a timed entrance. Tickets are currently 6 euros and can be purchased here.

We did not realize we needed a timed entrance ticket, so we bought tickets while we were at Montserrat and did not have any issues getting a time slot. However, I would still recommend booking in advance to ensure you get your desired time.

The Boy’s Choir

Montserrat is home to one of the oldest boys’ choirs in Europe. The choir dates back to the 14th century.

The Boys Choir sings every day, except Saturday. When we visited, the Boy’s Choir was on vacation, so we unfortunately were not able to see them preform.

Typically. the choir performs for 1 hour beginning at 1PM, but times may vary based on religious holidays.

If you choose to listen to the Boy’s Choir in the Basilica, you will need to buy tickets in advance, which can be done here.

The Montserrat Museum

The Montserrat Museum is home to 6 different collections and houses more than 1,300 pieces.

The museum mainly showcases art, but there are also Egyptian artifacts and an entire exhibition devoted to Our Lady of Montserrat.

Tickets to the museum are currently 8 euro. When purchasing tickets online, you will need to choose the date of your visit, but there are no timed entrances. Tickets can be purchased here.

If you purchase train tickets to Montserrat, check the ticket you purchased carefully as Museum admission may already be included in your ticket.

Funicular Rides

Another activity at Montserrat, would be to take a funicular ride from the Monastery up to higher points of the mountain.

Depending on the train ticket you purchase, the funicular ride may already be included in your ticket. If not, you will need to purchase tickets for the Sant Joan funicular, which can be done here.

Round trip tickets are currently 16.50 euros for adults. The funicular ride takes 6 minutes and is very scenic. When we visited, we had to wait in line for the funicular for approximately 30 minutes.

Reaching the top of the mountain will bring you to stunning panoramic views and scenic hiking trails.

Tips for visiting Montserrat

• Wear good walking shoes as there are multiple trails and opportunities for hiking at the top of the mountain.
• Pack your own food. There are restaurants and cafeterias on Montserrat, but they are overpriced and the food is nothing special.
• Tickets! Tickets! Tickets! Pretty much every attraction requires a ticket. Make sure you purchase any necessary tickets before arriving.
• Pay close attention to the train schedule and departure times. Make sure you allow yourself plenty of time to get to the train stations, so you do not miss your desired train.

Barcelona Restaurant Recommendations

Barcelona has so many wonderful restaurants to experience! Here are the restaurants we ate at during our 3 days in Barcelona.

Salterio

Salterio is a very unassuming café located in the Gothic Quarter. This small restaurant has a front of house kitchen and offers a fully vegetarian menu.

We stumbled upon this restaurant just by walking by and this ended up being by far our favorite meal. Their menu has an extensive tea list, homemade sangria, tapas, and freshly filled and toasted Arabian breads.

The sangria was fabulous and all the ingredients were fresh! This hole in the wall café was very charming and definitely worth having a meal at.

Bar Rodrigo

Bar Rodrigo is a tapas bar located next to the Barcelona Cathedral. The menu is very extensive and offers a large variety.

The food at Bar Rodrigo was nothing spectacular. However, sitting outside and being able to enjoy a glass of sangria while viewing the Barcelona Cathedral was a very unique experience.

We did not eat a full meal here, but stopped for tapas and sangria.

Sensi Tapas

Sensi Tapas is an upscale tapas restaurant located in the Gothic Quarter. The tapas are perfect for sharing and their menu items have unique twists on classis dishes.

The restaurant is small and is very popular, so you will need to make a reservation in advance.

3 Days in Barcelona: Final Thoughts

Barcelona is a spectacular destination to experience stunning architecture, rich history, and a vibrant food scene.

If you only have 3 days in Barcelona, this will give you enough time to see the main highlights of the city and include one day trip.

Barcelona is a destination you must visit when in Spain!

If you are interested in more European travel guides, check out my guide to 2 days in Lisbon, Portugal.