A weekend in Barcelona
As someone who lived in Barcelona many years, I really love this city. I’ve shown it countless times to my friends and there’s always something new to see. If you also want to fall in love with Barcelona, check out this guide for weekend itinerary in Barcelona!
Day 1 – Barcelona city center
Head to the heart of Barcelona. You can start your day at the station Diagonal (L3 green and L5 blue) and walk to Rambla de Catalunya, a nice lively street filed with restaurants and stores, or Passeig the Gràcia, one of the main streets, with high end stores and plenty of arquitectonic wonders. If you go down this street, you will see some of Gaudí’s most famous works, the Pedrera and the Casa Batlló.
Pedrera o Casa Milà
The Pedrera (also called Casa Milà) was Gaudí’s last civil work before starting the Sagrada Familia. The undulating façade is a classic, but it’s the roof that steals the show. You can see the city skyline from above, and the sculptural chimneys make for great photos. If you get the audio guide, it adds a lot of context to the visit. The tickets start at 29€, but it’s absolutely worth it.
Casa Batlló
La Pedrera is really close to Casa Batlló, a house that Gaudí was comissioned to restaurate. The interior is imaginative and immersive, and the way light enters the different rooms is stunning. The ticket one is more expensive (39€), but it’s a highlight of Gaudí’s work.
Plaça Catalunya
Keep walking down the Passeig the Gràcia until you reach the Plaça Catalunya. It’s a major central square and a good orientation point, a great place to hang out, and the start of any shopping trip in the city center.
La Rambla
The most iconic street in Barcelona, la Rambla connects Plaça Catalunya with the statue of Cristobal Colón. La Rambla used to be the place to buy live animals until it was forbidden, and now it has multiple kiosks and souvenir stores.
La Boqueria
Have a snack at the Boqueria, a market place where you can buy juices, different types of Spanish ham, empanadas and much more!
Palau Güell
Less famous than the previous buildings of Gaudí, this building on a side of La Rambla is one of Gaudí’s earlier works, which feels more intimate. The rooftop chimneys are fantastic – very whimsical and colorful. The tickets cost 12€, and include an audioguide that guides you through the constuction of the building and the life of the Güells.
Barceloneta
After all the culture you’ve seen, there’s nothing better than relax at the sea side when the temperatures are starting to drop. Head towards the Barceloneta, a nice region where you can find great beaches and tasty restaurants.
Day 2 – Highlights of Barcelona
Sagrada Familia
In the morning, start at the Sagrada Família (metro L2 purple and L5 blue). As a life-long fan of Gaudí, the basilica looks absolutely stunning to me, both inside and outside. The interior is like a forest of light and color, and you can access for 26€. As everything in Barcelona, you’ll be safer if you book in advance.
Part of the fun in Sagrada Familia is that it’s never finished – when you visit it’s likely to be still under construction. Recently the estimation was to finish it by 2026, but it’s already been postponed to 2033, so don’t book your tickets hoping to see it over.
Hospital de Sant Pau
Afterwards, you can walk up to the Hospital de Sant Pau. This hospital is a modernist masterpiece created by the architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner and a World Heritage by the UNESCO in 1997. You can visit the inside of the building for 17€.
Parc Güell
No visit to Barcelona is complete without a visit to Parc Güell. The colorful mosaic benches and surreal architectural elements make it a must-see. You can buy the ticket for 18€, and be sure to do it in advance.
Honorable mentions
White Rabbit Museum
The white rabbit museum had a surreal and immersive experience vibe. Good for photos and a break from classic sightseeing. It’s similar in concept to the WONDR museum in Amsterdam.
Egyptian Museum of Barcelona
Small but very well-curated museum of Egyptian culture. If that’s something that you love, don’t miss it out!
Casa Ametller
If you’re tired of visiting buildings by the same architect all day, know that there’s more great architects in Barcelona. A small gem of modernist architecture is located right next to Casa Batlló, the Casa Ametller, designed by Josep Puig i Cadafalch.
Museu Picasso
You can find some of the work of this outstanding artist in a museum in the Born neighbourhood of Barcelona.
How to reach Barcelona?
Barcelona has excellent connections via the airport, with frequent flights from the whole world. If you’re coming from another part of Spain, you can travel by car or by the high speed train AVE, which has its boarding station in Barcelona-Sants.
Where to eat in Barcelona?
There are many options to have an excellent meal in Barcelona. Here I will highlight some of my personal favorites.
Ca la Nuri: excellent place for paella, located right in front of the beach. If you plan to eat at Spanish time (that is, after 21:00), book a table.
Cervecería Catalana: the place for tapas, with delicious traditional options.
Christian’s restaurant: outstanding place in the heart of the city, it offers daily menus with traditional dishes.
Do you want to visit more of Spain?
If you’re already in Barcelona, you can travel easily to Spanish main cities using the fast train AVE. To get some inspiration of the places you can visit, check out these posts about 1 day in Toledo and 1 day in Zaragoza.