Article mis à jour le 3 Feb 2025

My itinerary for visiting Barcelona in 3 days

I was lucky enough to live in the beautiful Catalan capital for 3 years, and I have some incredible memories! Today I’d like to present you with an itinerary that will enable you to visit Barcelona in 3 days, with all my good addresses. You’ll see that “Barna”, as the locals call it, has a lot to offer!

How to prepare your 3-day weekend in Barcelona?

🏨 Where to stay during your 3 days in Barcelona?

Hotels can get expensive in the summer. But I’ve found two establishments that offer good value for money:

• Hotel Lleó: centrally located, with a rooftop swimming pool! It’s the ideal place to enjoy Barcelona in good conditions. I find the breakfast a bit expensive, so I’d recommend taking it in a café next door.
• BacHome Gallery B&B: if you want to indulge yourself without breaking the bank, this 4* hotel is ideally located and very charming.

How to get there?

• By plane: Barcelona El Prat airport is one of the largest in Europe. Cheap tickets are often available, especially on low-cost airlines. I recommend that you compare the best offers and book your flights on Ulysse. You can save €10 on your first Ulysse flight booking by registering via our link!
• By train: It’s also possible to travel to Barcelona by train for a more environmentally-friendly option. From Paris, the journey takes 6 hours 47 minutes. From Lyon, direct trains take 4h58. From Montpellier, the journey takes just 3h10.
• By car: If you live close to the Spanish border, consider taking your own car or carpooling.

What’s the budget for a 3-day visit to Barcelona?

• Flights: excluding hold baggage, allow €70 on average for a return ticket.
• Hotels: €150 per night for a 3-star hotel, depending on the season
• Restaurants: average €30/person per day, with a snack bar at lunchtime and a restaurant in the evening
• Airport/city-center shuttle: there’s a shuttle called Aérobus that takes you from the airport to the city center in just 35 minutes. You can buy tickets in advance on the official website. But you can also book a private driver to get you into town quickly.
• Activities: this depends on what you want to do. For some of the city’s legendary activities, such as visiting the Sagrada Familia, Parc Güell, Casa Batlo or Camp Nou, I recommend that you book your tickets in advance. You can get them from Get Your Guide or Civitatis.

💰 Total budget for 3 days in Barcelona: €770 or €385 per person.

How to get around?

For the more active, almost everything can be done on foot! Otherwise, taking the metro is the best option, as the whole city is very well served. I strongly recommend that you take out this unlimited pass in advance of your trip. You can pick it up at any metro station.

If you’re traveling alone or in pairs, you can also rent a scooter to get around the city while you’re sightseeing. I recommend YEGO scooters, which are extremely practical. Their website explains everything very well.

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What to do in Barcelona in 3 days? my must-sees

DAY 1 of the Barcelona itinerary

➡️ Parc Güell

You can’t visit Barcelona without seeing Antoni Gaudi‘s architectural beauties, so let’s start with Parc Güell, high above the city. To get there, take line 3 and get off at Lesseps station, then walk about 1 km. Get your thighs ready, because it’s uphill! A few years ago, the park was free of charge, but with the growth in tourism and the huge number of visitors, it has become a paying park. You can buy your tickets on Get Your Guide. You can even get a ticket with a guide for a few extra euros.

➡️ La Sagrada Familia

Just a few kilometers from the emblematic Parc Güell lies THE most famous monument in Barcelona: the Catalan Eiffel Tower, the Sagrada Familia. On foot, it’s just half an hour (downhill) from Parc Güell. If you prefer to go by metro, you’ll need to take line 3 to Lesseps, then change at Diagonal to line 5 and get off at Sagrada Familia. I strongly advise you to buy tickets in advance. Personally, I’ve only been inside once, and while it’s impressive, the exterior is just as impressive. You can buy your tickets with audioguide on Get Your Guide.

➡️ Plaza de Toros Monumental

The aim of our first day in Barcelona is to start high above the city and end at the beach. So let’s keep going downhill! Close to the Sagrada Familia, you’ll find the old bullring: it’s easily accessible on foot, as it’s just 15 minutes away. The Monumental bullring is worth a visit for its bizantine architecture (not by Gaudi this time, but by Joaquim Raspall). Built in 1914, they have not hosted bullfights since the abolition of bullfighting in Catalonia. Today, they are used for events, exhibitions and other purposes.

➡️ Arc de Triomphe

Another 15 minutes’ walk downhill from the bullring is Barcelona’s Arc de Triomphe. At 30 m high, this arch represents another of the city’s central landmarks: the entrance to the Parc de la Ciutadella. I therefore invite you to pass under the arch and continue your descent to reach the famous park.

➡️ Parc de la Ciutadella

Here you are, on the penultimate stage of your busy first day, relaxing in the Parc de la Ciutadella. With its 30 hectares, allow around an hour to see the main features of the park. Dating back to 1888, it boasts century-old trees, a magnificent waterfall and a lake, where you can rent a boat for a little stroll (to give your arms a workout, too).

➡️ Barceloneta

Finally, end the day with a sunset on Barceloneta beach and a well-deserved cool sangria after all those kilometers! Order “patatas bravas” or “pan con tomate”, the local specialties. La Barceloneta (“little Barcelona”) is not only the best-known beach, but also one of Barcelona’s oldest districts, built in 1753.

(c) Lucrezia Carnelos

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DAY 2 to visit Barcelona

➡️ Avenida de Gracia

One of the city’s main thoroughfares, Avenida de Gracia has two obligatory stops: Casa Batllo and La Pedrera. Along with Parc Güell and Sagrada Familia, these are the other two architectural must-sees designed by Gaudi. I’ve never been inside the Pedrera, but I have visited the casa Batllo, which I really enjoyed. As with all tourist attractions, I advise you to get your tickets early.

Don’t forget that every April 23 is an important date in Catalonia, the day of Sant Jordi (Saint John). If you get the chance to visit on this date, make the most of it. It’s a festival that Catalans take very seriously, with tradition dictating that men give a rose to their beloved and women offer a book in return. For this day, the Casa Batllo is covered in roses, and stands selling roses and books fill the streets. It’s all very poetic and romantic!

➡️ Plaza Cataluña

The Avenida de Gracia arrives (or begins, depending on which way you look at it!) at Plaza Cataluña, one of Barcelona’s central squares. This is where the aerobus will drop you off from the airport when you arrive. The square is surrounded by stores, bars, hotels and restaurants, including the Hard Rock café and the famous local Lafayette gallery, Corte Inglés.

➡️ Barrio Gótico

Not far from Plaza Cataluña lies one of Barcelona’s most beautiful districts: Barrio Gótico (Gothic Quarter). It’s home to Barcelona Cathedral, which is a must-see, if only from the outside! Another much-loved but lesser-known spot (it took me 2 years to discover it) is the Mural del Beso (Kissing Wall). It’s located at the end of an alleyway opposite the cathedral, and I think it’s a magnificent work of art, made up of thousands of photos.

➡️ Las Ramblas de Cataluña

The city has several ramblas. The most central are the Ramblas de Cataluña, which open onto Plaza Cataluña. I invite you to walk down them to soak up the atmosphere. You’ll pass La Boqueria, the iconic market where, depending on the time of day, you can eat or taste. Admission is free, and the market is open Monday to Saturday from 8:30 am to 8:30 pm. You can even take a cooking class or experience local culinary delights. If this sounds like something you’d like to do, make sure you book in advance.

Once you’ve walked all the way down the ramblas (don’t panic, it’s only 500 m long), you’ll come to the statue of Christopher Columbus, one of Barcelona’s most emblematic monuments. The explorer, pointing to the horizon, stands 60 m high. It’s a mirador, offering a 360° panoramic view of the city. An elevator takes you to the top for €8. I’ve never been up there, but I recommend going for the sunset.

➡️ Ramblas de Mar

Just a few hundred meters from the statue of Christopher Columbus, you’ll find the Ramblas de Mar, which I invite you to discover to round off this second day. It’s a wooden footbridge leading to a large shopping center built on the water, the Mare Magnum. Here you’ll find a host of boutiques, bars and restaurants with views over the water, where you can dine or simply enjoy a drink. A rather modern part of Barcelona, contrasting with Gaudi’s historic monuments.

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3 days in Barcelona: the last leg

For this last day, we’re going to have to make a choice for the start of the program…

➡️ Plan A: Tibidabo

Tibidabo is one of my favorite spots in Barcelona, perfect for families, friends or couples. It’s the highest hill in the Serra de Collserola mountain range, with its 512 m peak overlooking the city. Here you’ll find breathtaking views over the whole city (preferably in good weather). Also, the Sagrat Cor (Sacred Heart) church, which is truly impressive, and an amusement park. To get to Tibidabo, you have several options: take the T2A bus from plaza Cataluña. The bus runs every day from 10.15 a.m., and a one-way ticket costs €2.95. Take the tramvia blau and then the funicular. Take the tramvia from Av.Tibidabo station (line 7). Go as far as Dr Andreu station and you’ll find the funicular that takes you up to Tibidabo. Go as far as Dr Andreu station and you’ll come across the funicular that takes you up to Tibidabo. This option is more expensive than the first (€12 return).

For further information and prices, visit the park’s website.

➡️ Plan B: Camp nou & Montjuic

If you’re a sports fan, and more specifically a soccer fan, you’ll definitely want to visit the famous Camp Nou! I can’t tell you much about this visit as I haven’t been there myself, but I did go to see an FC Barcelona match, and the atmosphere is really something. Book your tickets in advance to visit the museum and the stadium.

To continue the sporting atmosphere, you can head for Montjuic, the city’s 213m-high green hill. At the top of the hill is Montjuic Castle, and behind it you’ll find the Olympic stadiums and swimming pool built for the 1992 Olympics. To get there from Camp Nou, take the L3 to Palau Reial and get off at Plaza España. The whole area can be visited on foot, but if the exertions of the first two days take their toll, there’s a cable car if you want to rest your legs.

(c) Ken Russo

➡️ Arenas de Barcelone

Just opposite Montjuïc is Barcelona’s Arenas shopping center. This is the former Plaza España bullring, which was restored following the abolition of bullfighting. Perfect not only for shopping, but also for dining with a view over plaza España. For this third day, choose from one of the many restaurants located on the top floor of the bullring.

Full details and opening times on their website.

🚇 To get there, take the L3 or L1 and get off at plaza España.

➡️ Plaza España / Magic fountains

To round off this last day in style, I invite you to admire the fountain show held on the main plaza España. It’s a free water, sound and light show. It takes place all year round (except January and February), generally from Thursday to Sunday from 9pm to 10pm. But if you want to see something, you’d better be there by 9pm. Days and times vary according to the time of year, so be sure to check in advance on the following website.

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🌮 Where to eat in Barcelona?

My good addresses

Brunch :

• Brunch and Cake
• Granja Petitbo
• Ugot Bruncherie

Coffee / snacks :

• Faborit café (they have a swing on their terrace)
• Topping Circus (for competitive pancakes and waffles)
• Bolbarcelona

Rooftop :

• Hotel Ayre (view of the Sagrada Familia)
• Crowne Plaza
• Hotel 1898

Burger / pizza / Italian :

• Timesburg (burger)
• Organika (pizza)
• Luigi (Italian)

Drinks :

• Paradiso (incredible, original cocktails)
• Ovella Negra (young, local atmosphere)
• Antic Teatre (artistic atmosphere)

🥑 Little bonus: for avocado fans like me I recommend A Vocados restaurant, there are several in Barcelona, you can choose between a la carte and brunch and there are plenty of veggie and gluten-free options.

All these addresses have been personally tested and approved!

🥳 Where to party in Barcelona?

Barcelona is also world-famous for its partying and nightlife. At night (as well as during the day) always be vigilant with your belongings. My roommate at the time had her mobile stolen twice and my ex was robbed outside a club… Personally nothing has happened to me in the 3 years I’ve lived there, so there’s no need to fear, just stay careful and don’t frequent the wrong places. I strongly advise against visiting the Raval district at night.

The place to go out, but very touristy (you’ll rarely see any locals), is the Port Olimpic. Here you’ll find all the nightclubs, including Pacha, Opium, Shoko and Catwalk. I still remember the first time I went to the Catwalk… There were dancers in doll costumes putting on a show. I went there when I wasn’t yet living in Barcelona and had just gone for a weekend with my best friend to party. When I moved here, I discovered lots of other places to go out. My favorite is Razzmatazz, a huge nightclub that’s also a concert venue. It has 5 rooms with 5 different atmospheres. Mind you, the place is so big that you can get lost in it if you’re a lot of people!

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Whether you’re going there for festive, chill, cultural, disconnection, beach, fun, shopping or gastronomic tourism… As you can see, the city has many facets! Barcelona is so beautiful: I hope you enjoy it as much as I do ♥️. I hope this itinerary for visiting Barcelona in 3 days has helped you plan your weekend.