Itinerary
What to See in Barcelona in 3 Days
Three days and 21 stops: Gaudí and Ciutat Vella, Park Güell and Montjuïc, and Domènech i Montaner's modernism down to the Poblenou beaches.
With three days you can see Barcelona without missing anything important and with time for its neighbourhoods. The first two follow the weekend itinerary; the third discovers non-Gaudí modernism, Santa Caterina Market and the seafront opened for the '92 Games.
Before you go
- Book Sagrada Família, Park Güell and Palau de la Música in advance, as they require a timed entry.
- On Sundays, La Boqueria and Santa Caterina are closed, and Sagrada Família opens at 10:30. The Picasso Museum is closed on Mondays.
- A multi-journey travel card pays off: on the third day, use the metro to get from Sant Pau to the centre.
- Watch out for pickpockets on La Rambla and the metro: wear your backpack on your front and keep your mobile phone tucked away.
Day 1
Gaudí, Ciutat Vella and the Sea
The day at a glance
- 9:001. Sagrada Família
- 11:002. La Pedrera (Casa Milà)
- 11:303. Casa Batlló and the Mansana de la Discòrdia
- 13:004. Plaça de Catalunya and La Rambla
- 13:305. Mercat de la Boqueria
- 15:006. Barri Gòtic: Cathedral, Sant Felip Neri and Plaça del Rei
- 16:457. El Born and Santa Maria del Mar
- At sunset8. La Barceloneta and the Seafront
Day 1 · Morning
1. Sagrada Família
From 26 € with audio guide; with towers, 36 €
Carrer de Mallorca, 401
9:00 · 1 h 30 min
Best to book a timed ticket
Gaudí's masterpiece, under construction since 1882 and still unfinished. Outside, the Nativity and Passion façades are striking; inside, the forest of columns and the light from the stained glass windows, which shines in blue and green tones first thing in the morning.
Tip: Buy a timed-entry ticket on the official website or from an authorised seller. Going at 9:00 is the best way to see it with fewer crowds. The towers are optional and cost extra.
Next stop: 22 min walk (1.6 km) or metro L5 from Sagrada Família to Diagonal (2 stops)
2. La Pedrera (Casa Milà)
Essential Visit: 29 €
Passeig de Gràcia, 92
11:00 · 15 min outside; 1 h 30 min if you go inside
Gaudí's last civil building: a stone façade that ripples like the sea, without a single straight line, and wrought-iron balconies that look like seaweed. Up top, the roof terrace features chimneys shaped like warriors.
Tip: One day is not enough to go inside both of Gaudí's houses on Passeig de Gràcia. If you have to choose, La Pedrera has the most photogenic roof terrace and Casa Batlló has the most spectacular interior. This route suggests going inside Batlló and seeing La Pedrera from the outside.
Next stop: 7 min walk (0.5 km)
3. Casa Batlló and the Mansana de la Discòrdia
From 29 € (varies by day and time)
Passeig de Gràcia, 43
11:30 · 1 h 15 min
Best to book a timed ticket
The house of the dragon: a scaly roof, mask-shaped balconies and a trencadís façade that sparkles in the sun. It shares the block with Puig i Cadafalch's Casa Amatller and Domènech i Montaner's Casa Lleó i Morera: the three great names of modernisme, right next door to each other.
Tip: Open every day from 8:30 to 22:30. If you are short on time, skip the interior for now and come back at night: the price and queues are usually lower.
Next stop: 10 min walk (0.8 km)
Day 1 · Midday
4. Plaça de Catalunya and La Rambla
Free
Plaça de Catalunya
13:00 · 30 min
The square is the city's meeting point and the border between the Eixample and Ciutat Vella. From here, La Rambla heads down to the sea past kiosks, old façades and the Gran Teatre del Liceu.
Tip: The terraces on La Rambla itself are expensive and of poor quality: to eat, carry on to the market or head into the side streets.
Next stop: 9 min walk (0.6 km)
5. Mercat de la Boqueria
Free entry
La Rambla, 91
13:30 · 1 h
Barcelona's most famous market, standing here since the mid-19th century with its iron roof and modernist entrance arch. Fruit, cured meats, fish, and bars where you can stand and eat freshly cooked food.
Tip: Closed on Sundays and public holidays. The stalls at the entrance are the most touristy: the bars inside and at the back are quieter for eating.
Next stop: 10 min walk (0.8 km)
Day 1 · Afternoon
6. Barri Gòtic: Cathedral, Sant Felip Neri and Plaça del Rei
Streets free; Cathedral, paid entry
Pla de la Seu
15:00 · 1 h 30 min
Cobbled alleys built over the ancient Roman Barcino. The Gothic Cathedral has a cloister with thirteen white geese, one for each year of Santa Eulàlia's life. Just steps away, the walls of Plaça de Sant Felip Neri still show shrapnel from a 1938 bombing, and Plaça del Rei was the courtyard of the palace of the Counts of Barcelona.
Tip: Enter via Carrer del Bisbe to see its stone bridge. Visiting the Cathedral requires a ticket during tourist hours; check their website for free entry during worship times.
Next stop: 14 min walk (1.0 km)
7. El Born and Santa Maria del Mar
Church free during worship hours; rooftop tour, paid
Plaça de Santa Maria, 1
16:45 · 1 h
The "cathedral of the sea", built in just over fifty years (1329-1383) through the efforts of the Ribera neighbourhood residents: the purest Catalan Gothic, with towering naves and almost no decoration. Around it, Passeig del Born and streets full of small shops and vermouth bars.
Tip: Late in the afternoon you can enter for free (check times on their website). If you like Picasso, the museum is three minutes away on Carrer de Montcada: entry is free on Thursdays from 16:00 to 19:00 with a booking.
Next stop: 19 min walk (1.4 km)
Day 1 · Sunset and night
8. La Barceloneta and the Seafront
Free
Platja de la Barceloneta
At sunset · As long as you like
The old fishermen's quarter, laid out in a grid in the 18th century, and the closest beach to the centre. The seafront is the best place to end the day watching the sun set over the port.
Tip: For dinner, the neighbourhood offers traditional rice dishes and tapas in its inner streets; on the beachfront, you are mostly paying for the view.
Day 2
Park Güell, Gràcia and Montjuïc
The most colourful Gaudí in the morning, Gràcia's neighbourhood life at midday, and Montjuïc mountain to end with the city at your feet.
The day at a glance
Day 2 · Morning
1. Park Güell
General: 18 €
Carrer d'Olot, s/n
9:30 · 1 h 30 min
Best to book a timed ticket
Gaudí designed it as a housing estate for wealthy families and it ended up as a park. The dragon stairway, the hypostyle hall of columns, and the large square with the undulating trencadís bench are among the most photographed spots in Barcelona.
Tip: The monumental zone requires a timed-entry ticket: buy it in advance. First thing in the morning there are fewer people and better light for the views.
Next stop: 25 min walk (1.9 km)
2. Casa Vicens
Self-guided visit with audio guide: 18 €
Carrer de les Carolines, 20-26
11:30 · 1 h
The first house Gaudí built, featuring carnation tiles, brickwork, and oriental touches. It is less known than Casa Batlló or La Pedrera, making for a much quieter visit.
Tip: If you are on a tight budget, the facade alone is worth the detour: it is on the way between Park Güell and the centre of Gràcia.
Next stop: 11 min walk (0.8 km)
Day 2 · Midday
3. Gràcia: Plaça del Sol and Plaça de la Vila
Free
Plaça del Sol
13:00 · 1 h 30 min
Gràcia was an independent village until the late 19th century and still feels like one: narrow streets, squares with terraces, and small shops. It is the best spot of the day for an unhurried lunch.
Tip: In August, the neighbourhood celebrates its main festival, with streets decorated by locals. For food, head away from the squares: the surrounding streets offer more choice.
Next stop: Metro L3 from Fontana to Paral·lel and Montjuïc funicular, about 25 min (the funicular is included in the metro ticket)
Day 2 · Afternoon
4. Fundació Joan Miró
Paid entry; check prices on their website
Parc de Montjuïc, s/n
15:30 · 1 h 30 min
The museum Miró himself wanted for his city, housed in a white building designed by his friend Josep Lluís Sert, full of light and terraces. Paintings, sculptures, and tapestries from all his periods.
Tip: The terraces with sculptures offer views of the city: don't miss them. Check their website for the day's opening times, which change depending on the season.
Next stop: 11 min walk (0.8 km)
Day 2 · Sunset and night
5. Mirador del Palau Nacional (MNAC)
Exterior free; museum, paid entry
Palau Nacional, Parc de Montjuïc
17:30 · 45 min
The Palau Nacional was built for the 1929 International Exhibition and today houses the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, featuring the world's best collection of Romanesque art. From its steps, you can see the whole city stretching as far as Tibidabo.
Tip: The steps and the esplanade are free and are the perfect spot to watch the sunset. If you want to go inside the museum, arrive earlier: you'll need at least two hours.
Next stop: 6 min walk (0.4 km)
6. Font Màgica and Plaça d'Espanya
Free
Plaça de Carles Buïgas
At dusk · 30 min
The fountain by Carles Buïgas, also from 1929, featuring water, light, and music shows. Walk down from the Palau Nacional via the stairs between the waterfalls to the Venetian towers in Plaça d'Espanya.
Tip: The shows are not daily and change depending on the season: check the Ajuntament website beforehand. For dinner, Poble-sec is a ten-minute walk away.
Day 3
Modernisme, La Ribera and the Poblenou Seafront
Non-Gaudí Modernism, the city's most beautiful market, and an afternoon of park and beach away from Barceloneta.
The day at a glance
Day 3 · Morning
1. Sant Pau Recinte Modernista
Paid entry; check prices on their website
Carrer de Sant Antoni Maria Claret, 167
10:00 · 1 h 30 min
The former hospital by Lluís Domènech i Montaner, a small city of brick pavilions, ceramics, and domes connected by gardens and tunnels. It operated as a hospital until 2009 and is a World Heritage site.
Tip: The self-guided tour starts at the Pavelló de Sant Salvador. From the entrance, you can see Avinguda Gaudí, which ends at the Sagrada Família.
Next stop: Metro L5 from Sant Pau | Dos de Maig to Verdaguer and L4 to Urquinaona, about 20 min
2. Palau de la Música Catalana
Self-guided tour: 20 €; guided tour: 24 €
Carrer del Palau de la Música, 4-6
11:45 · 50 min
Best to book a timed ticket
Domènech i Montaner's other masterpiece: a concert hall with an inverted stained-glass skylight, sculptures emerging from the walls, and mosaics everywhere. A World Heritage site, just like Sant Pau.
Tip: You can only see the inside on a scheduled tour (self-guided or guided), or during a concert: check the programme to see if an evening performance suits you.
Next stop: 6 min walk (0.4 km)
Day 3 · Midday
3. Mercat de Santa Caterina
Free entry
Avinguda de Francesc Cambó, 16
13:00 · 1 h
The Sant Pere neighbourhood market, featuring a colourful undulating ceramic roof designed by Enric Miralles and Benedetta Tagliabue. Quieter and more local than the Boqueria.
Tip: Closed on Sundays. The bars inside are a great option for eating fresh market produce.
Next stop: 14 min walk (1.0 km)
Day 3 · Afternoon
4. Arc de Triomf and Parc de la Ciutadella
Free
Passeig de Lluís Companys
14:30 · 1 h
The brick Arc de Triomf was the gateway to the 1888 Universal Exhibition, held in this park. Inside, you'll find the monumental waterfall worked on by Gaudí while he was still a student, the boating lake, and the Parlament de Catalunya.
Tip: Enter via Passeig de Lluís Companys from the Arc de Triomf: this way, you reach the waterfall following the axis of the exhibition.
Next stop: 19 min walk (1.4 km)
5. Port Olímpic and Frank Gehry's Peix
Free
Passeig Marítim del Port Olímpic
16:00 · 30 min
The 1992 Olympic Games opened Barcelona to the sea: this seafront used to be an industrial area. Frank Gehry's golden fish, next to the two towers, has become one of its symbols.
Tip: Follow the seafront promenade northwards: the Poblenou beaches are quieter than Barceloneta.
Next stop: 17 min walk (1.3 km)
Day 3 · Sunset and night
6. Platja del Bogatell
Free
Passeig Marítim del Bogatell
At sunset · 45 min
A wide, less touristy beach, with a promenade for walking or cycling by the sea. A great spot to rest your feet after three days in the city.
Tip: If it gets chilly, the seafront promenade is still a great plan: enjoying the sea view as evening falls doesn't require a swim.
Next stop: 19 min walk (1.4 km)
7. Rambla del Poblenou
Free
Rambla del Poblenou
20:00 · As long as you like
The old factory district, the "Catalan Manchester", retains chimneys and warehouses that are now studios and offices. Its rambla is a local promenade, with terraces and ice cream parlours, away from the touristy vibe of the centre.
Tip: To get back to the centre, the L4 metro stops right on the rambla (Poblenou).
If you have time to spare
- Bunkers del Carmel. The old anti-aircraft batteries at Turó de la Rovira, the viewpoint with the best view of the city. Free; best at sunset.
- Museu Picasso. Picasso's early works collection, housed in five medieval palaces on Carrer de Montcada, in El Born.
- FC Barcelona Museum. The museum and Barça stadium tour, perfect for those travelling with football fans.
More itineraries in Barcelona
Photos from Wikimedia Commons: Sagrada Família (Julian Lupyan, CC0); La Pedrera (Casa Milà) (Thomas Ledl, CC BY-SA 4.0); Casa Batlló and the Mansana de la Discòrdia (Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0); Plaça de Catalunya and La Rambla (Sunnya343, CC BY-SA 4.0); Mercat de la Boqueria (Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0); Barri Gòtic: Cathedral, Sant Felip Neri and Plaça del Rei (Joe Mabel, CC BY-SA 4.0); El Born and Santa Maria del Mar (Kent Wang, CC BY-SA 4.0); La Barceloneta and the Seafront (subherwal from London, United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0); Park Güell (Danbu14, CC BY-SA 3.0); Casa Vicens (Joe Mabel, CC BY-SA 4.0); Gràcia: Plaça del Sol and Plaça de la Vila (KRLS, CC BY-SA 4.0); Fundació Joan Miró (ca:user:amadalvarez, CC BY-SA 3.0); Mirador del Palau Nacional (MNAC) (Felix König, CC BY 3.0); Font Màgica and Plaça d'Espanya (Ronny Siegel, CC BY-SA 4.0); Sant Pau Recinte Modernista (Jesús Arpón, CC BY-SA 3.0); Palau de la Música Catalana (Tudoi61, CC BY-SA 4.0); Mercat de Santa Caterina (Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK, CC BY 2.0); Arc de Triomf and Parc de la Ciutadella (Isiwal, CC BY-SA 3.0); Port Olímpic and Frank Gehry's Peix (Till Niermann, CC BY-SA 3.0); Platja del Bogatell (Jordiferrer, CC BY-SA 3.0); Rambla del Poblenou (Xavier Badia i Castellà, CC BY-SA 3.0).