First Time in Barcelona Things to Do: 5 Day Itinerary
Barcelona is a wonderful city filled with rich culture, history, delicious food and drinks! It is a welcoming place with a mix of modern and historic influences (Roman roots!) that makes for a great city to explore. For a first-time flavor of Barcelona, we recommend 4-5 days. Of course, you can spend much more time here or modify it to pick your favorites! We can’t wait to share our love for Barcelona with you!
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Here’s a quick preview:
Day 1: Exploring City by Foot and evening at Mt. Tibidabo
Day 2: Morning Adventure followed by the Gothic Quarter and Walking Tour
Day 3: Explore Gaudi’s Architecture: La Sagrada Familia, Casa Mila, and Casa Batlo
Day 4: Barcelona Beach and Castle in the Sky -Montjuic complete with a Water Show
Day 5: Soak in the City and Park Guell
Modifications -learn to adjust to taste!
Day 1: Exploring City by Foot and Evening at Mt. Tibidabo
Relax after your flight, and check-in to your accommodations.
Explore the local area on foot!
Barcelona is a city that is so walkable! Be sure to take in the architecture and Mediterranean air while you capture the beauty around you.
Some great options:
La Rambla
This is the central pedestrian street in Barcelona and goes for ¾ miles (1.2 km) between the Barri Gotic (Gothic Quarter) and El Raval (the suburb). It is very popular among tourists and you will see tons of souvenirs being sold on the sidewalks.
Worth a walk down the road or two during your stay. We suggest you look for food in other neighborhoods if you are looking for more authentic Barcelona fare.
La Boqueria
The full name is Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria nicknamed La Boqueria dates back to 1217! It is now famous as a large public market serving a wide range of fresh fruits, vegetables, olives, ham, and many delicacies to try.
It is a common tourist stop and you have to visit at least once! It is located off the La Rambla making it pretty easy to access.
If you want a guided tour, check out the La Boqueria and Beyond tour here!
Mt. Tibidabo
For the evening we have a beautiful sunset and views planned for you! Mt. Tibidabo is 1680 feet tall (512 meters high) making it the largest peak in Barcelona city limits! It offers amazing views of the coastline and city. On top of this peak, sits a church called the Cathedral of Sacred Heart (free to visit) and also an amusement park!
Day 2: Morning Adventure followed by the Gothic Quarter and Walking Tour
Morning Adventures: Choose your Favorites:
If you want to do both, we recommend starting at Camp Nou then making your way back to La Rambla and La Boqueria both of which are very close to the Gothic Quarter.
Explore La Rambla and La Boqueria
We wanted to give you an option for the morning. If you want to spend more time exploring La Rambla and La Boqueria this is your chance (see above for details)! Especially if you happened to fly in yesterday it probably was a bit of a groggy day.
Camp Nou
This stadium has been home to FC Barcelona since 1957 and holds the largest stadium capacity in Spain and Europe. It has hosted many famous matches and games including the FIFA 1982 World Cup. It's about a 30-minute train ride from the city center. It is a must for anyone interested in sports or if you want to understand what some consider a religion -football (American soccer)!!
You can also attend a game and the atmosphere is quite spectacular! Check the website for updates. After the guided tour, you get access to the museum, many exhibits, and a visit to the stadium!
Our next stop is to the Gothic Quarter.
Gothic Quarter
Walking Tour
We highly recommend taking a Gothic Quarter tour as it is the oldest part of Barcelona filled with rich culture and history everywhere you look.
The Gothic Quarter (Barri Gothic) used to be the historical center of Barcelona filled with history, stories, and culture. The area has small narrow streets leading to large squares and has many medieval landmarks! The best way to explore this area is to take a walking tour to really bring the stories to life and take you back in history! If you get there before your tour starts-here are our highlights you can consider as you wander the area.
Explore on your Own:
If you choose to explore on your own or want to spend more time in the area consider some optional stops (each stop does have entry fees 4-10 euros if you would like to go inside):
Barcelona History Museum
The Grand Royal Palace (Palau reial major)
Chapel of Santa Àgata
Barcelona Cathedral
There is always something going on in the city center and squares (markets, festivals, strikes, etc…)! People-watching, taking in the picturesque architecture, or grabbing some drinks and food is another entertaining way to enjoy the area!
Dinner/Tapas
Check out our favorite tapas post for both vegetarians and meat eaters!
Day 3: Explore Gaudi’s Architecture: La Sagrada Familia, Casa Milà, and Casa Batlló
Antoni Gaudí
Gaudí is a famous Catalan architect whose influence and famous works you will see all around Barcelona. There is a common theme of nature and avoidance of using straight lines in all his work. He is said to be a part of the Modernist movement and his work is globally celebrated even today. Seven of his works are even designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Once you check out his work-you too will be a fan!
La Sagrada Família
The most famous of Gaudí’s works is the iconic La Sagrada Familia. This church has been under construction for over 100 years and is still yet to be finished! The groundbreaking was in 1882 and is supposed to be done in 2030? (pick your favorite year…). Gaudi was chief architect and devoted his life to the project and as a result he is buried in the church’s crypt.
It is truly magical entering the church and taking time to explore the architecture and small exhibit museums nearby. As always, check for prices and updated hours online.
We highly recommend taking a guided tour to understand the stories and admire the intricacies of the work. Consider this one!
Take a Lunch Break
After lunch, we are going to see what we like to describe as private tours of millionaire homes from the 1900s. We know this was the time to show off your money by having the best-designed homes, and who better to take on these projects than Gaudi?!
Casa Milà (La Pedrera)
From 1906 to 1910, Gaudí worked on Casa Milà also known as “La Pedrera” (the Stone Quarry) , which served as a private residence. The highlights include a wonderful rooftop terrace designed to evoke “a snowy mountain feel.” From here you can see La Sagrada Familia, Mt. Tibidabo, and many other wonderful landmarks!
We highly recommend the guided audio tour you can do at your own pace as you admire the architecture and take all the photos you want. Most people spend about 1.5 hours here.
You can even consider a skip the line tour that includes an audio guide.
Just about a 5 minute walk away is yet another Gaudi masterpiece -Casa (in Spanish house) Batllo.
Casa Batlló
The building itself was built in 1877. It is a colorful masterpiece with various shapes and sculptural work that leave a lasting impression! Usually, most people spend an hour here. Be sure to check for updated hours, events, and ticket prices online.
Tapas/Dinner
Time to enjoy a feast! Check out our favorite tapas for inspiration!
Day 4: Barcelona Beach and Castle in the Sky -Montjuic complete with a Water Show
La Barceloneta (Beach)
This used to be a fisherman’s village and the town as we noted was constructed in the 18th century. This is a great place to eat fish and tapas! The area is known for its white sandy beaches and nightclubs. You can even spend some time walking around Port Vell. There is a nice mix of architecture, food, and beaches making it a very lively neighborhood.
Harbor Cable Car
This is a 1450 meter long aerial tramway that connects Barceloneta to Montjuïc (a prominent hill). There are several different companies you can take. No matter which you take, the idea of taking an aerial ride is sure to be thrilling and filled with amazing views!
Montjuic Hill
There are many walkways alongside the hill filled with beautiful vantage points, many beautiful gardens, architecture, and free things to do. If you get tired of walking, hop on a bus and continue checking out all Montjuic has to offer.
Here are some highlights of Montjuic Hill you may consider:
Castell de Montjuïc
This castle was built in the 1604s as an old military fort. You can take in the views outside for free but do have a small entry fee if you would like to go inside.
The Olympic Ring
Visit the Olympic Ring for free that was once home to the 1992 Olympic Games. There is even a dedicated museum there to learn more!
A great place to picnic, play sports, and take in the views.
Poble Espanyol (Spanish Village)
A small entrance fee is required. The area was built for the 1929 World Fair held in Barcelona to showcase over 100 buildings of Spanish architecture and culture from various regions of Spain. It has since undergone many renovations including making it more interactive in 2018. It is worth a visit to check out this unique location and get a flavor of Spain. Please check for updates for hours online.
Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC)
It is beautifully crafted from the outside and contains a wide range of artwork and paintings and also highlights Catalan art and design.
Check for updated hours and entry fees online.
The Magic Fountain of Montjuic –The Magic Fountain of Montjuic
This is a feat to see- water, music, lights make for a spectacular highlight for locals and tourists alike! Best of all, it's free! It hosted its first performance in May 1929 during the Universal Exhibition. Please check for updated hours online!
Tapas/Dinner
Day 5: Soak in the City and Park Guell
Soak in Barcelona
Spend the morning doing your favorite things or visiting your favorite plazas and places. Other things you can consider including:
Take a cooking class–popular is Paella cooking (vegetarian options available too!)
Take a food tour -tapas crawl tend to be popular
Walk around and feel the pulse of the city
Check out fun neighborhoods such as El Born
Check out markets such as Santa Caterina
Evening at Park Güell
Park Güell is a 45-acre garden complex designed and built between 1900-1914 for private residences became a public park in 1926. The architect behind this is….Gaudi!
The iconic terrace you will see in all of Barcelona's photos with the ceramic tiles overlooking Barcelona is here! A great place to catch a sunset. Additionally, the park is beautiful with such wonderful design elements.
We highly recommend taking a guided tour (~usually about 1 hour), there are many options, pick your favorite.
Fly away or train to another city! Check out Spain page for inspiration on how to spend time in Madrid, Seville with day trips, and eating tapas! And our general Spain Q and A for tons of tips!
Modifications
If you have more time, feel free to break up the days a bit and take in the city a bit more- we can easily spend hours eating and chilling here!
You can even consider a day trip. Popular ones from Barcelona include:
Montserrat Monastery (dates back to the 11th century!) - for this you can take DIY transport or take a tour bus package
Costa Brava (1240 miles of beaches alongside cliffs) and historic towns ranging back to the 16-18th century (we highly recommend a package tour group) -check this out
Girona- Preserved Jewish medieval quarters in Spain along with Arab baths and Romanesque art in a beautiful town. (We highly recommend taking a group tour)
If you have less than 5 days, consider shortening the Gaudi day and picking either Casa Batlo or Casa Mila and instead adding Park Guell. Consider combining days based on your interests. You know us, we love to soak in the city and have jam packed days walking over 10 miles a day and enjoying it all! We know everyone travels differently, so stick to your style!
Our not to be missed top 5 highlights for your first time visit in no particular order: La Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, Gothic Quarter, La Boqueria, and The Magic Fountain of Montjuic.
Gracias (thank you) for reading and spending time with us!
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