For those who’re planning on spending 2 days in Barcelona, maybe over a weekend, then we’ve put collectively this itinerary that will help you plan your good go to.
Barcelona is a metropolis that Jess and I’ve visited many occasions. There’s a lot to see and do, actually greater than would match into two days. Nevertheless, with cautious planning, you may positively see quite a lot of the town and most of the highlights in a few days.
If in case you have roughly time, try our information to spending a day in Barcelona, in addition to our 3 day Barcelona itinerary.
On this information, we’re going to share with you our concept of how you can spend two days in Barcelona. This focuses on the highlights {that a} first-time customer is prone to need to see, however it additionally features a few of our favourite sights that aren’t so standard.
In addition to the itinerary, we’re going to let you know the whole lot it is advisable to know to plan your time in Barcelona. From the place to remain, to how you can get round, to how to save cash on points of interest, this information has you lined. Let’s begin with the itinerary itself.
2 Day Barcelona Itinerary
As with all our itineraries, this one ought to be taken as a place to begin so that you can plan your individual time within the metropolis. We predict it makes for two days, however we recognize that everybody has completely different pursuits. So you may personalize it as wanted.
Moreover, we wish to pack lots in once we journey, so should you want to see much less, or are visiting Barcelona as a household with kids, do tweak it to satisfy your individual journey type.
Lastly, you additionally need to verify the opening occasions and dates for every attraction as some are closed someday per week or may need annual closing intervals. So make sure that they’re open earlier than you set out.
Barcelona Itinerary Day 1
At present you’re going to see one of many world’s most well-known cathedrals, in addition to a lot of different sights across the metropolis! Let’s get began.
Hop on Hop off Bus
At present, I’m going to suggest you get round utilizing the Hop on Hop off bus. A number of of immediately’s points of interest are spaced a bit of aside, and Barcelona’s Hop on Hop off bus is a straightforward approach to get between them. It’s additionally an effective way to be taught in regards to the metropolis as you go, because of the included audioguide.
After all, you possibly can get between immediately’s sights by public transport or different types of transport, as lined within the part on getting round Barcelona. However as most of the metropolis passes for Barcelona embody at the very least a day of hop on hop off bus journey, it’s price benefiting from.
There are a few sightseeing bus providers in Barcelona. We suggest the Barcelona Bus Turistic which is operated by the town’s tourism workplace. For this itinerary, we’re particularly recommending you’re taking the Blue route.
This begins in Placa de Catalunya, and visits all of the points of interest on immediately’s itinerary. Buses run at the very least each 20 – half-hour, you may get on and off as many occasions as you want, and repair usually begins at 9am.
You may e book your tickets on-line upfront right here. Additionally included on the Go Barcelona go and Barcelona Metropolis Cross.
Sagrada Familia
Your first attraction cease immediately goes to be on the unbelievable Sagrada Familia cathedral. In our opinion it is a must-see sight within the metropolis. We suggest coming right here earlier within the day, and it is likely one of the first stops on the Hop on Hop off bus route.
While there may be at present timed entry, there isn’t any restrict to how lengthy individuals can keep, so it will probably get busier because the day progresses.
The Sagrada Familia is no doubt probably the most well-known and spectacular construction from the thoughts of architect Anton Gaudi. He was liable for an important many works within the metropolis (see our information to Gaudi in Barcelona for a lot of extra), however the Sagrada Familia is by far the biggest and most well-known.
For those who have been to solely go to one Gaudi construction in Barcelona, we’d suggest making it the Sagrada Familia.
There’s a lot to see right here, and because the constructing continues to be beneath building, what you may see modifications on every go to. Highlights for us embody the unbelievable “forest” of pillars holding the nave up, in addition to the large exterior façades. Nevertheless, there may be greater than sufficient to see right here to final for at the very least a few hours.
See our full information to visiting the Sagrada Familia, which has the whole lot it is advisable to know to plan a go to.
You should e book your entry to the Sagrada Familia upfront. You are able to do so on the official web site right here. Third occasion websites additionally supply tickets and excursions, together with GetYourGuide, Tiqets and Viator. These could be a good possibility if the official web site has restricted availability, or should you’d want to take a guided tour.
Lastly, the Sagrada Familia is included on a few of the metropolis’s attraction passes. You’ll need to verify precisely what the go consists of, as some embody a guided tour at a selected time, while others simply present entry.
At the moment, the Sagrada Familia is included on the Go Barcelona Cross, Barcelona Metropolis Cross and Gaudi Bundle.
Sant Pau Recinte Modernista
After the Sagrada Familia, our subsequent beneficial cease (and in addition the following cease on the hop on hop off bus blue route), is the Sant Pau Recinte Moderniste. Alternatively, it’s round a 20-minute stroll between the 2 areas should you want to stretch your legs.
This advanced was initially constructed as a backyard metropolis for the sick. It was constructed between 1905 and 1930 within the artwork nouveau type, and designed by architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner.
At present, the situation is a UNESCO world heritage web site, and is house to probably the most spectacular collections of artwork nouveau buildings in Europe.
We love wandering this location, it feels very completely different to the natural constructions employed by Gaudi, and because it’s much less standard, it additionally makes a pleasant break from the crowds of Gaudi’s points of interest.
There’s a payment to go to, and it’s included on the Go Barcelona Cross. You can too e book tickets on-line upfront right here.
Park Guell
Your subsequent cease in your first day exploring Barcelona is Park Guell. This is likely one of the subsequent stops on the Hop on Hop off bus, a 20-minute journey by public transport from Sant Pau, or a 30-minute stroll.
Park Guell is one other of Gaudi’s works within the metropolis. It was initially conceived as a housing growth which might supply residents clear air and good views. The setting is a big park.
Sadly, the imaginative and prescient was by no means totally realised. Two of the homes have been constructed, though they weren’t really designed by Gaudi. As an alternative, the architect was liable for the park design. He additionally lived in one of many present houses on the location for 20 years, from 1906 to 1926. That is now open to the general public because the Gaudi Home Museum.
Most guests to Park Guell come to discover the Park, and it’s so-called Monumental Zone. This a part of the park has a payment to enter, and is the place you will see highlights just like the terrace and mosaic installations. It’s a very spectacular place to go to and effectively price spending at the very least an hour exploring.
While a lot of Parc Guell is free to go to, the primary points of interest of the Monumental Zone do have a payment.
At the moment, Parc Guell is included on the Go Barcelona Cross, Barcelona Metropolis Cross and Gaudi Bundle.
You can too e book tickets for Parc Guell on the official web site right here and GetYourGuide right here. There’s additionally a mixed ticket which incorporates the Gaudi Home Museum and Parc Guell right here.
Camp Nou or Tibidabo
Your last cease in your first day in Barcelona will rely in your pursuits. The hop on hop off bus route continues round Barcelona, with the choice to go to each of those areas.
Choice 1: Camp Nou
Camp Nou has been the house of FC Barcelona since 1957. FC Barcelona are one in all Europe’s most well-known and profitable soccer (soccer for these of you within the USA) golf equipment. They’re additionally probably the most supported golf equipment on this planet, with followers hailing from each nook of the globe.
As such, many guests to Barcelona have an curiosity in visiting Camp Nou, to see the place their favourite gamers play. You may in fact attempt to see an precise match, but when that’s not potential, you may take a behind the scenes tour of the stadium.
Now, I’ll be trustworthy, neither Jess nor I’ve an important curiosity in soccer. Nevertheless, now we have visited the Camp Nou stadium and we each loved it. The tour was fascinating, it was enjoyable to see behind the scenes, and we received an actual sense of the historical past of the group and the eagerness the followers have.
After all, in case you are an FC Barcelona fan, or have a basic curiosity in soccer, then you’ll most likely get pleasure from it much more.
A go to to Camp Nou features a go to to the FC Barcelona Museum, in addition to areas just like the stand, the pitch, the away group altering room, tunnel and pressroom. There are additionally further, extra premium experiences out there that grant additional entry.
Camp Nou is included on the Go Barcelona Cross. You can too purchase particular person tickets right here.
Choice 2: Tibidabo
For those who aren’t so excited a couple of go to to a soccer stadium, or would identical to an alternate possibility to think about, then we recommend as an alternative contemplating a visit up Tibidabo.
Tibidabo is a hill to the north-west of the town, which provides spectacular views throughout the town and surrounds. The highest of the hill is topped by the spectacular Sagrat Cor church, and there may be additionally an amusement park right here referred to as Tibidabo Amusement Park.
The park provides a small variety of rides, together with a simulated airplane journey which dates from 1928 in addition to a big Ferris wheel. Woody Allen followers will recognise the park from the film Vicky Cristina Barcelona, a part of which was shot right here.
The simplest approach to attain the Tibidabo summit is by the Tibidabo Funicular. Conveniently, the hop on hop off bus has a cease on the station. There’s a payment to journey the funicular, and you may get tickets on web site. The Tibidabo Amusement Park additionally has a payment, which provides you entry to all of the rides. It can save you by shopping for tickets on-line upfront right here.
I might add that I nonetheless assume it’s price going to the highest of the Tibidabo for the views and to go to the church, even should you don’t go to the amusement park.
That brings us to the tip of your first day exploring Barcelona, at the very least by way of sight-seeing. Now you may head again to the town, loosen up, or head out for dinner and enjoyable.
If you’re in search of one thing enjoyable to do within the night, you would possibly think about a dinner present with leisure. Flamenco reveals (typically with an accompanying meal or tapas) are a well-liked possibility for guests to the town. For instance, try this present with non-compulsory dinner and drinks, or this present solely possibility.
Barcelona Itinerary Day 2
Your second day in Barcelona has you exploring a few of the metropolis centre points of interest. Let’s get began.
Casa Batlló
While the Sagrada Familia is spectacular in each design and scale, it’s clearly not a construction that’s designed for dwelling in. So if you wish to get an concept of the kind of home that Gaudi constructed for really dwelling in, then you’ll want to go to one (or each) of the 2 properties firstly of this itinerary.
First, the Casa Batlló. That is discovered within the metropolis’s Eixample district, just some minutes’ stroll from Placa Catalunya.
This home was really a rework of an current home, accomplished by Gaudi in 1904. It’s well-known for the balconies which seem like opera masks, the dragon-like rooftop, and the flowing natural really feel of the inside.
At present the home kinds part of the Gaudi UNESCO world heritage web site and is a very talked-about vacationer attraction. As such, we suggest beginning your day right here in order to keep away from the worst of the crowds which have a tendency to construct up because the day progresses.
Entry to Casa Batlló is included on the Go Barcelona Cross. You can too purchase particular person tickets right here. It’s positively one of many pricier points of interest in Barcelona, so should you do embody it in your itinerary an attraction go is extremely prone to prevent cash total.
La Pedrera
A few blocks from Casa Batlló is Casa Mila, which is extra generally generally known as La Pedrera, or “The Quarry”. That is one other Gaudi property, well-known for the natural concrete facade that wraps across the constructing.
Not like Casa Batlló, this residence constructing nonetheless has residents, so a go to right here solely grants you entry to sure areas. These embody the vaulted roof area the place there’s a good museum about Gaudi and his work, in addition to the gorgeous chimney-dotted roof which provides good views over the town and throughout to the Sagrada Familia.
There’s an entry payment to La Pedrera, and additionally it is included on the Go Barcelona Cross. Alternatively, you should purchase tickets on-line right here.
For those who aren’t planning on investing within the Go Barcelona Cross, we’d most likely suggest guests to Barcelona decide both Casa Batlló or Casa Mila to save cash. You may additionally want to save lots of time if in case you have quite a lot of actions booked later within the day. Each of them have uncommon exteriors which are fascinating to see even should you don’t go to them.
La Rambla / Gothic Quarter Strolling Tour
One among our favorite components of Barcelona to wander round is the Gothic Quarter. That is within the oldest a part of Barcelona, which was based by the Romans in 15BC. The Gothic Quarter is bordered by the ocean to the south east, and the well-known La Rambla road to the south west.
Las Rambla was initially a stream on the border of the Roman metropolis wall which encircled the town. At present it’s a standard place to take a stroll, have a drink or snack, and do some individuals watching. It’s additionally house to La Boqueria, one of many metropolis’s most well-known public markets.
The Gothic Quarter continues to be very a lot medieval in feeling. Not like the extensive avenues and symmetrical format of different components of the town, the Gothic Quarter options slender streets with looming buildings on both facet. It’s largely pedestrianised, nice to wander round, and fairly simple to get misplaced in.
We suggest taking a strolling tour of the world if you wish to be taught extra about its fascinating historical past. Now we have an inventory of beneficial strolling excursions additional on in our itinerary, however a pair we suggest that embody the Gothic Quarter are:
For those who plan on taking a tour, you may need to regulate this itinerary to consider the beginning time of the tour. I’d additionally add that you could in fact go to the Gothic Quarter by yourself and simply wander round with no tour do you have to want. Each are nice methods to discover.
Santa Maria Del Pi
One among my favorite spots in Barcelona which isn’t usually too busy is that this church within the Gothic Quarter. The Church of Saint Maria of the Pine is a fifteenth century Gothic church, with a peaceable inside. It usually performs host to concert events and performances.
The rationale I prefer it although is the big octagonal bell tower. This tower is sort of 200 ft (60 metres) excessive, and you’ll go to the highest for unbelievable views over the Gothic Quarter. It’s a actually spectacular building, with partitions virtually 12ft (3.5 metres) thick on the base.
Visiting the church itself is free, however there’s a payment to climb to the highest. The payment is effectively price paying in my view because it features a guided tour, and after I took the tour the information gave quite a lot of details about the historical past of the town and its format.
Test the web site for opening occasions and costs. You can too purchase tickets on-line upfront by the official web site.
Montjuic and Magic Fountain
To finish your day of sightseeing, you’re going to move up Montjuic Hill. This hill is discovered simply to the southwest of the town centre, close to to the port.
There’s a lot to see on the prime of Montjuic hill, from the seventeenth century Montjuic Citadel by to the Joan Miro basis, Poble Espanyol open air museum, Nationwide Artwork Museum of Catalonia, tiered gardens, Barcelona Olympic village and extra. There are additionally glorious sweeping views throughout the town.
If you’re thinking about visiting museum in Barcelona, then we will positively suggest the Nationwide Artwork Museum of Catalonia (Museu Nacional d’Artwork de Catalunya). It has a big assortment of each artwork and historic objects. Simply word that should you do plan a go to right here, you’ll have to skip or shorten visits to a few of the instructed locations above to make sure you have sufficient time for a day go to. It’s positioned a couple of 5 minute stroll from the fountains.
You could possibly stroll to the highest, however we predict a greater possibility is to take the Montjuic Funicular adopted by the scenic Montjuic cable automobile which runs from Estaciò Funicular on Avenida Miramar as much as the Castell de Montjuic.
The Funicular is a part of the metro service, and departs from Paral·lel station. The Montjuic cable automobile is ticketed individually however is included on the Go Barcelona Cross. You can too purchase tickets upfront right here.
One factor we positively suggest planning for the tip of your day is to try to take within the Magic Fountain show. This can be a free sound, gentle and water show which occurs most evenings.
The fountain is discovered under the Palau Nacional on the head of Avinguda Maria Cristina. It’s a stunning approach to finish a day within the metropolis in our opinion. You may see the timetable of the present right here.
That finally ends up the itinerary part of this information. We’ll now cowl a lot of sensible info that will help you plan the right journey to Barcelona.
2 Day Barcelona Itinerary Abstract
Right here’s a fast abstract of this 2-day Barcelona itinerary for reference.
- Barcelona Itinerary Day 1 – Hop on Hop off Bus, Sagrada Familia, Sant Pau Recinte Modernista, Park Guell, Camp Nou or Tibidabo
- Barcelona Itinerary Day 2 – Casa Batlló, La Pedrera, La Rambla / Gothic Quarter Strolling Tour, Santa Maria Del Pi, Montjuic and Magic Fountain
Map of Barcelona Issues to Do
For ease of visualisation, here’s a information to the points of interest on the itinerary. We’ve additionally included some beneficial resorts so you may see the place they’re in relation to the town’s points of interest. You can too see this map on Google Maps right here.
The place to Keep in Barcelona
Barcelona has an enormous quantity of selection in terms of lodging, and we’ve stayed at a lot of completely different areas within the metropolis in each flats and resorts.
Our most well-liked possibility when reserving lodging is reserving.com (see their Barcelona listings right here). They checklist the whole lot from resorts to flats to hostels, and we discover they normally have the widest vary on the best costs.
To offer you an concept of what’s out there, listed here are some choices we suggest:
- Hostel One Ramblas – a really effectively reviewed and really central hostel possibility
- The 8 Boutique B&B – a extremely rated and effectively positioned mattress and breakfast
- Lodge Barcelona Catedral – a 4* property in Barcelona within the coronary heart of the Gothic Quarter. We’ve stayed right here, and loved the roof prime pool and unbelievable central location.
- Leonardo Lodge Barcelona Las Ramblas – a part of the nice worth Leonardo chain, this 3* property is a couple of moments from Las Ramblas. We loved our keep right here, and the breakfast particularly was glorious.
- Duquesa de Cardona – a 4* property on the waterfront with a roof prime bar
Condo leases by websites like Plum Information, Airbnb, and Vrbo are additionally out there. One factor to pay attention to is that in Barcelona these have to be registered with the town. When they’re registered, they are going to be issued a license quantity. If you wish to keep in an residence rental in Barcelona, then we suggest selecting one which has the license quantity on the itemizing.
For those who would favor to remain in an residence in Barcelona, then we suggest Plum Information. We’ve stayed at a lot of their properties world wide, and you’ll see our assessment of the Plum Information right here. See their listings for Barcelona right here. We additionally suggest Vrbo, see their Barcelona listings right here.
For those who can’t discover what you need from the above selections, otherwise you need some new choices to check out, we wrote an entire submit on the finest options to AirBnB which it’s best to try!
How you can Get Round Barcelona
Barcelona is simple to get round, with an intensive bus, metro and light-weight rail community. It’s additionally simply walkable for probably the most half, though you’ll seemingly need to take public transport for a few of the barely additional out locations comparable to Parc Guell, Tibidabo, and Camp Nou.
Alternatively, you may go to these areas on the hop on hop off bus, as outlined in our itinerary. Extra on that shortly.
If you’re going to use public transport you’ve got two choices, relying on how a lot you need to journey.
First, you should purchase particular person tickets as you go. For those who resolve to do that, probably the most cost-effective method to take action is the ten ticket (T-Informal) card. That is less expensive than shopping for particular person tickets and in addition allows you to change transport choices inside an hour and fifteen minutes of beginning your journey.
The opposite possibility for public transport is the Hola BCN card, which provides limitless entry to the transport community within the metropolis, and is out there for durations from 48 hours to 120 hours. You should purchase that on-line right here.
There are a few different choices for paying in your Barcelona transport.
First, should you buy a Barcelona Card or a Barcelona Card Categorical, you get free journey on the metro, buses, trams and trains during the cardboard. This consists of the airport metro and practice. These playing cards additionally embody some reductions and points of interest.
Second, if you buy a Go Barcelona Cross or Barcelona Metropolis Cross, these each include someday entry to the Hop On Hop Off Barcelona Bus Tour, which covers practically each main vacationer web site within the metropolis.
Alternatively, you may buy 1 or 2 day hop on hop off bus tickets instantly right here.
For those who’re arriving into Barcelona by air, you may take a taxi or practice into the town centre. There’s additionally an airport bus service, which is what we usually use. You should purchase tickets on the day, however we usually reserve ours upfront in order to not have to fret about it. You may purchase tickets for the Barcelona Aerobus right here.
Urged Strolling Excursions in Barcelona
We love taking strolling excursions once we go to a metropolis. It’s an effective way to be taught lots about its historical past, tradition and folks, in addition to get recommendations on what to see and the place to eat.
There are a variety of strolling tour corporations providing excursions within the metropolis. For those who decide up one of many aforementioned passes, a few of these embody a strolling tour, so positively reap the benefits of that.
In any other case, we normally suggest strolling tour firm Take Walks. We’ve taken excursions with them in cities world wide, and benefit from the small teams and educated guides. They provide a lot of excursions in Barcelona, a few of which we’ve included under together with different strategies.
Clearly, should you resolve to take a strolling tour you will have to tailor this itinerary to go well with.
Naturally, there are additionally many different strolling excursions to select from. See this choice on GetYourGuide and these choices on Viator for extra concepts.
Saving Cash with Barcelona Attraction Passes
One of many predominant prices when touring is the worth of entry to points of interest. Clearly, if in case you have traveled an extended approach to go to Barcelona, you’re going to need to see some sights and go inside them. Nevertheless, you don’t need to spend greater than it’s important to when doing that.
Like many cities world wide, Barcelona has a lot of completely different attraction passes that may prevent cash in your sight-seeing. Barcelona has fairly a couple of to select from which provide various things, and we’ve really put a submit collectively evaluating the primary Barcelona attraction passes. We even have a full assessment of the Go Barcelona Cross.
Which go will give you the results you want will rely upon which sights you actually need to see. First, let’s have a look at the entire value. Assuming you go to all of the points of interest on our itinerary, selecting Camp Nou as an alternative of Tibidabo, and utilizing the Hop on Hop off bus for a kind of days, you’d be paying round €200 per individual.
Our suggestion, should you plan on visiting nearly all of the points of interest we checklist, can be the Go Barcelona Cross. This at present prices €104 per individual (as of Might 2022), and consists of the next from our itinerary:
- Sagrada Familia with guided tour
- Parc Guell with guided tour
- 1 day Hop on Hop off bus go
- Casa Batllo
- La Pedrera
- Camp Nou Tour
- Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau
- Montjuic Cable Automotive
- Gothic Quarter Strolling Tour
It additionally features a nice many extra points of interest throughout the town, together with strolling excursions, museum entry and rather more. You may see all of the points of interest it consists of right here. We’ve used this card on a number of visits to the town and it has at all times saved us cash.
We additionally like that it features a guided tour of each Parc Guell and the Sagrada Familia, which is an extra worth. The one factor to pay attention to is that these excursions run at particular occasions, so you will have to plan your itinerary accordingly.
While we predict this card provides glorious worth for many guests to Barcelona, we recognize that not everybody will need to embody the whole lot. On this case, the opposite playing cards we recommend are:
- The Barcelona Card. That is provided by the town tourism workplace and consists of free entry to some museums, free public transport, and a spread of reductions on standard points of interest
- The Barcelona Metropolis Cross. This consists of entry to the Sagrada Familia and Parc Guell, entry to the Hop on Hop off bus, a few audio guides and 10% low cost on further points of interest within the metropolis.
Once more, for many guests we really feel that the Go Barcelona Cross provides the perfect value financial savings and probably the most inclusions, however it’s best to positively verify the financial savings and inclusions towards your itinerary to make certain it really works for you. You should purchase yours upfront of your go to right here.
Additional Studying
Nicely, that’s the tip of our information to spending two days in Barcelona! Hopefully you discover it helpful. In addition to the above, now we have a lot of different assets we’d wish to suggest that will help you out, each content material we’ve written ourselves, and assets we’ve discovered on-line. Between this submit and these assets, it’s best to have the ability to put collectively the right journey!
And that sums up our concept of how you can spend the right two days exploring Barcelona! We hope you discovered this itinerary helpful. Are you planning a visit to Barcelona? What do you need to see while you do? Tell us within the feedback under!
