Barcelona Itinerary: What To See in Barcelona in 3 Days
Barcelona is a magnificent city with a unique look and feel.
After an amazing four days in Madrid, we arrived in Barcelona via train.
How To Get Around Barcelona
The majority of Barcelona is easily walkable on foot, with a few trips on the subway to hit the sights on the outskirts of the city. No need for a multi-day pass, buy your single-trip tickets as needed to save some cash.
Must See Gaudi Buildings in Barcelona
If you’ve done any research into Barcelona the name Antoni Gaudí has undoubtedly come up. His unique architectural style can be found all around the city. His most famous work, the still-unfinished La Sagrada Familia, is the top attraction in Barcelona. The planned completion will happen on the centennial of Gaudí’s death in 2026. We decided to visit the inside on a future visit after 2026, but tickets and tours of the interior are available online.
A quick subway ride away is Park Güell (read our full post on the park here). The park is mostly free to enter. Wandering through the park’s whimsical magnificence is a great way to spend an afternoon.
Casa Milá and Casa Batlló are a mere three blocks apart along Pg. de Gràcia. Both are impressive from the exterior, with expensive tours available of the interior of both buildings.
For those extremely interested in Gaudí, many guided tours are available from our partners Get Your Guide or Viator.
Walking Tour of Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter
By far, the best walking tour of The Gothic Quarter of Barcelona is the Barri Gòtic Walk in Rick Steve’s Barcelona Guidebook. Borrow the book from your local library when planning the trip, or pick up your own copy online.
The walk will take you past all the famous churches of Barcelona, most notably the 14th-century Cathedral of Barcelona. We were lucky enough to catch a group doing Sardana Dancing, a Catalan Cultural Dance in front of the cathedral.
Be sure to step inside the church cloister to visit the geese and to see more of the 600-year-old architecture.
Also included on Rick’s tour is a lesson about the vast Roman, Moorish, and Catholic history of the city. Don’t forget your Bishop’s Bridge selfie.
Theme Parks in Barcelona
We always make time to visit theme parks. If you’re open to a day trip from Barcelona, The wonderful park of PortAventura will please every member of the family. (Read about our visit here).
If you’re not planning to leave town a visit to the Tibidabo Amusement Park will better suit your schedule. The park is located on top of a hill overlooking the city. You must experience the ride on the Tibidabo Funicular to the top of the hill to take in the skyline views of the city and the Mediterranean Sea.
At the top, you can ride a few rides. The Ferris wheel was a particular favorite. Also on the hilltop is the Temple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a small church with a bold and colorful interior.
Montjuïc Castle and Montjuïc Cable Car
Speaking of things with a great view, taking the Port Vell Aerial Tramway to the top of Montjuïc, a mountain overlooking the city is a must-do.
The cable car departs from the port, whisking you up to the mountain. From there you can walk to the Montjuïc Castle, or catch a second cable car to finish the journey. The views of the city and harbor are well worth the ticket price.
Montjuïc Castle could more accurately be described as a fort. Inside is a military museum with much history and a break from the sunshine. Climb on top for yet another dynamic view of the city and sea.
Take in Some Barcelona Art
The well-known and very positively reviewed Picasso Museum is a great stop for art lovers. The unique museum layout located inside an interesting building helped the museum stand out. If you’re not into post-impressionistic and cubist art, maybe put this on the things to see on a rainy day list.
Another famous art son of Barcelona is Joan Miró. A hillside museum dedicated to the artist is located on Montjuïc. If you’re not interested in a museum visit, two impressive public art installations are free to check out. The Mosaic de Joan Miró is located at the center of La Rambla, a wide pedestrian-centric street on the border of the Gothic Quarter. The Woman and Bird is a 21-meter tall mosaic structure at the center of Parc de Joan Miró. Both mosaic masterpieces will give you a taste of the artist's unique work and style.
Barcelona is one of our favorite cities in Europe. Vibrant and exciting with surprises around every corner, Barcelona is a stand-out city.
Things To See in Barcelona:
La Sagrada Familia
Park Güell
Casa Milá
Casa Batlló
Gothic Quarter
Cathedral of Barcelona
Bishop’s Bridge
PortAventura
Tibidabo Amusement Park
Temple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Montjuïc Castle
Port Vell Aerial Tramway
Picasso Museum
Joan Miró Museum plus the Mosaic de Joan Miró and Woman and Bird sculpture in Parc de Joan Miró
