4 day visit to Barcelona

Barcelona is one of the most vibrant and interesting cities in the world, settled in between the mountains and the Mediterranean in northeast Spain. It’s a must-see European city, beautifully saturated with the best of Gaudí architecture, Spanish beaches, nearby hikes and elevated vistas from the mountaintops, tasty tapas, and a slow-moving, relaxed lifestyle that I’ve come to admire (although I will admit, as an American it can be a bit frustrating at first contact with the culture shock).

Barcelona is a significant port for Spain, and it is part of the “Catalonia” territory. In recent years, note that there has been a bit of unrest in Barcelona and Catalonia as many Catalonians wish to secede from Spain to become its own country. However, with a mix of good planning and constant vigilance, there is no reason for this to impact your Barcelona expedition.

I lived in Barcelona for two months as a student and have returned twice since. This city holds a special part of my heart, and as I assemble this itinerary, please note that it is with the perspective of not just a brief-visited tourist, but a part-time local. As such, and as always, it goes without saying to treat every area with a high level of respect for the true locals – as some of these places are jewels not yet saturated by the waves of tourism.

Day 1: Explore the city

One day is NOT enough to see this city; when living here for two months, that wasn’t even enough. BUT you can still get a lot done in a day in Barcelona.

I’d recommend staying near la Barceloneta, since it’s very close to the beach, a variety of restaurants and bars, Parc de la Ciutadella, the Olympic Village, etc. BUT the metro system in Barcelona is quite simple and reaches everywhere. If you’re comfortable trying the metro you can really stay anywhere and get most places in the city within 20 minutes. During one of my visits I stayed at the Park Hotel, which is close to Barceloneta metro stop (thus easy to get anywhere else around the city) and right next to Parc de la Ciutadella. It has a nice rooftop pool, but I would rate the room as just average (which is fine if you’re planning on being out all day and night anyway). 

On another visit I stayed at Gran Hotel Torre de Catalunya (now Hotel NOBU), which is close to Sants station (very convenient when coming in and out of the airport, and traveling by train somewhere else). This is also closer to Plaça de España, the National Travel Museum of Catalonia, and Montjuic (which houses a castle and has a bunch of gardens). This hotel offers cozy accommodations and beautiful views of the city. It’s farther out from the city center, but as stated previously, Barcelona is easily traveled by the metro.

NOTE: You can take the metro from the airport into the city. This is great if you’re on a budget. It does take about an hour to get into the city center by metro though, so plan accordingly. (A taxi would take 30 minutes, with light traffic.)

So now let’s get into the fun stuff! Let me take you around my favorite city in the world.

Start your day with some churros and a cafe con leche. Yes, it is very typical to eat chocolate for breakfast in Spain (one of the many reasons I love this place). Of course, with all the walking the Spaniards do, you can’t see an ounce of it on them. 

I suggest making your way over to Parc de la Ciutadella to start your day. Walk along the passage of Arc de Triomf enjoying the street performers along the way. See the beautiful fountain in the park, head to the top for a view, and walk through the lovely gardens. 

Next, you’ll want to make your way over to La Sagrada Família—a must-see if you’re visiting Barcelona. You might want to make reservations ahead, or you’ll be forced to come back at a later time in the day. I don’t want to oversell something so marvelous, or it could water down your experience, so I’ll just say this: Make sure you come here. It WILL be a highlight of your life. 

After you’ve marveled at the wonder that is a beautiful masterpiece of cathedral, head over to Passeig de Grácia. This street is full of upscale stores and restaurants. Catch a glimpse of more of Gaudí’s creations, such as Casa Battló, La Pedrera, and Casa Milá, or venture inside. 

Back track just a little bit, to C de C Cafe on Carrer de Consell de Cent. It’s close to the Girona station. This is my FAVORITE cafe in the entire world. I’m not even exaggerating. You can spend 8 euros for bread, three glasses of wine, an entree, and dessert. It. Is. AMAZING. I used to come here after class when I was studying abroad. You will be full, happy, and slightly tipsy as you prepare for the rest of your Best Day Ever in Barcelona. 

Next we’re heading to Las Ramblas. The starting point is Plaça de Catalunya. PLEASE NOTE: This area is extremely touristy and is full of tourist traps. Be very aware of your possessions at all times and your surroundings. Tricksters will try all kinds of ploys to distract you and steal your items. Just 1) Be aware, 2) Don’t draw attention to yourself, and 3) Walk with purpose like you know where you’re going, not like you’re a tourist, and you have nothing to worry about.

Lots of shops and gift spots in this area. I’d suggest taking a walk and getting lost down some side streets—you never know what you’ll find! Maybe your favorite cafe or bar in the world?

Make sure you stop at La Boquería where you can pick up some fresh fruits to snack on and get the real Spanish market experience. There’s nothing quite like seeing the entire pig leg they just scraped your jámon off of. 

Las Ramblas heads nearly east, towards the sea. If you take side streets on the left side to go north, you’ll find yourself in the Gothic Quarter. I highly recommend this area if you like history and architecture. There’s something enchanting about this part of the city that draws me back here every time I visit. 

The beautiful Cathedral of Barcelona is in the Gothic Quarter. While it’s nothing compared to the Sagrada Familía, it’s still quite astounding in its beauty compared to my churches at home. 

At this point it should be early to mid-afternoon and it’s time to hit the beach. While you’re close to Barceloneta, it’s super packed with tourists. You can either squeeze into a space on the beach there, or visit my personal favorite beach spot: Platja de Llevant. If you want more of a “local” setting than a tourist spot than it may be worth the 20 minute metro ride. It’s one of the northernmost beaches in the city and it’s a bit more peaceful and relaxing with less crowds and a reduced risk of pickpocketing. With that being said, I still wouldn’t leave my things alone on the beach—always have someone in your group stay behind to watch your possessions while you float in the Mediterranean. 

Next, we’re going to Parc Güell. This is where people take that trademark photo of Barcelona you’ve seen on Instagram a million times, taken with the stained glass and the Guadí creation in the background, with the city view and ocean behind it. 

It used to be a local spot but it’s become very touristy. It is a giant park so there are many spots to see. It boasts incredible views of the city while enjoying some Gaudí architecture. 

NOTE: The Park is free. What is NOT free, is going into the area where you can get that nice picture I mentioned above. In my opinion, it’s not worth it to pay for this. There are plenty of spots in the park with good photo ops. Just don’t think you have to pay to get into the park, because you don’t, and it’s misleading when you walk up to the entrance that’s selling tickets. 

At this point, I would recommend going to Montjuic. This is a giant park full of gardens, the Olympic Stadium, and Castell de Montjuic at the very top. 

You need to get to Plaça de España and walk up to the Fónt Mágica (magic fountain) in front of the National Art Museum of Catalonia. This is a giant museum that I would also recommend going to, if you have time. There is a beautiful view of the city from the steps of the museum. If you walk behind the museum, you can begin ascending Montjuic. Note that there is also a bus that takes you into Montjuic so you wouldn’t need to walk as far. 

On some nights, Fónt Mágica presents a pretty spectacular light show. It might be worth it to see if this is happening the night you’re there.

There are so many beautiful gardens on this mountain, you could spend hours exploring. I recommend Jardíns de Laribal and Jardí Botanic, although you can’t really go wrong with any of them. 

The sunset is beautiful from Montjuic over the mountains to the west, so if you time it right you may get lucky. 

For dinner, I’d recommend getting some paella. There’s no shortage of paella in Barcelona, and when in Spain, eat as much paella, and drink as much sangria, as you possibly can! 

There is also no shortage of nightlife in Barcelona. I recommend Chupitos for a fun pregame. “Chupitos” = shots. It’s a shots bar (I believe there are three in Barcelona) with various flavored shots. Highly recommend the s’mores shot and the Harry Potter shot. They also have pitchers, and while I hate to admit I have no idea what was in mine, those were delicious and strong. 

There’s also a bar called Dow Jones, which imitates the stock market for the prices of your drinks. Also a very fun place to start your night. 

Over by Barceloneta are several clubs, including Opium and Shoko, where you can pass the night away. Maybe you’ll even catch the sunrise on La Barceloneta.

Day 2: Excursion to Montserrat

If you didn’t party too hard and you can wake up early enough, stop for breakfast at Brunch and Cake to fuel up for your hike. 

Montserrat is accessible by train only an hour away and is a must-see if you’re visiting Barcelona. It offers an escape from the city with incredible views from the mountains. 

The monastery was founded in the year 1025 and there are many stories surrounding the Virgin Mary’s visit here. 

To get there from Barcelona, head over to the metro station at Plaça España. Look for line R5 towards Manresa. It can be a bit confusing to find this track so give yourself plenty of time before the train departure time or you’ll have to wait another hour for the next train. Some additional information is located here.

The train ride to Montserrat takes an hour. Once you get there, you’ll purchase a round-trip ticket on the funicular, which will take you to the top of the mountain. 

When you arrive, there is a cafe at the top if you want to stop for coffee or food. You can visit the basilica and then take in the gorgeous views of the Catolonian mountainside. 

There are various trails on the mountain, all offering amazing views.

Days 3 & 4: Excursion to la Costa Brava

La Costa Brava is stunningly beautiful and incredibly relaxing. There are several seaside towns including Roses and Cadaquès. Roses is easier to get to, but Cadaquès has better views and a better vibe in my opinion. Cadaquès is tucked between mountains and a bay that exits out to the sea. 

One of the reasons I find Cadaquès so unique is this “bay.” It allows the entire city to access the water; at any moment you’re walking through the city, you’re basically walking along the water, or have a water view. I love it, because I just can’t get enough of the view of Mediterranean waters against the many sailboats and white-painted, orange-roofed houses that symbolize Cadaquès. 

What’s more, this tiny little village has a relaxing seaside feel. You get fresh catches for all meals of the day, stumble upon adorable shops and artists’ havens, and will even find Picasso’s home here. It’s a common place for artists to settle because of its serene beauty and endless supply of marvelous views. 

There are a few ways to get to Cadaquès from Barcelona. 

I decided to take a bus from the city. You can find a direct route from Barcelona to Cadaquès at Estación de Autobus at Nord station. It does make several stops on the way, but it will take you to the bus station in Cadaqués, which is about a 10 minute walk to the city center. 

If you have extra time, you may choose to take a train to Figueres, and then the bus to Cadaquès. Figueres has the Dali Museum, which is definitely worth it to see. 

If you take the direct bus from Barcelona, it’s about a two and a half hour ride. Once you pass Roses, the views are incredible, winding between the mountains. It’s a marvel how these bus drivers can drive on such small winding roads. 

Once to Cadaquès there are a variety of things to do. I was content just hanging out on the beach with a book, or finding a shady spot farther away from the city center, that offered me spectacular postcard views of Cadaquès from farther out. 

I’d also recommend getting lost in the side streets that take you uphill towards the church. From the front of the church is one of the best views of Cadaqués (that’s the cover photo on this page). 

If you haven’t already, before you leave Spain make sure you eat plenty of tapas and paella; have flan; eat some patatas bravas; and drink all of the sangria and Spanish wine you can find! 

Random Tips:

* Barcelona and Spain have a relatively low level of crime. However, the industry of pickpocketing is alive and thriving. ALWAYS keep an eye or a hand on your bag or pocket. Be very vigilant at all times that a stranger will try and pickpocket you, because if you look like a tourist, you WILL be targeted. Do not fall for schemes like “can you hold my baby for me?” Among others. Most common areas for pickpocketing: the metro, bus/train stops, and Las Ramblas.

* Be prepared to spend a couple of hours at lunch. Spanish restaurant service is nothing like American restaurant service. You might have to ask for your bill several times before getting it. It’s important to remember that the culture is slow and relaxed.