Tara Moayedi is here. Today will be discussing Barcelona. Barcelona is one the most popular cities to visit in Europe. I found this city so charming and peaceful that I can pick it a place to settle and live in. That’s why I recommend to keep “Barcelona 3 Magical Days Travel Itinerary” handy. The lifestyle and the type of people and attractions, makes Barcelona less stressful compared to other large cities.
The food!!! OMG!!! Food is delicious in here and you will find an excellent experience for every single meal you will have in Barcelona. Some people enjoy the food even more than visiting some of the very famous sites like Gaudi sites or The city is huge and transportation could be time consuming, that’s why I am listing the areas to visit based on the locations from each other to make the best out of your time.
For other European travel itineraries check out these blogs
London, City of All Inclusive Beauties
Barcelona 3 Magical Days Travel Itinerary
Paris, The Most Charming City on the Planet
It’s fairy land; Switzerland
Italy, Ultimate Dreamy Destination
Netherland’s Best Tourist Attractions: Land of Flowers, Windmills
Barcelona: 3-Day Itinerary Guide for First Time Visitors
Day 1: Casa Batlo, Casa Amateur, Casa Mila, Las Ramblas , Barri Gotic (Gothic Quarter)
Start your day with Gaudi designed famous buildings:
Casa Batlo, Casa Amateur, Casa Mila
Antoni Gaudi was a unique and creative artist and these buildings are some of his masterpieces. Visiting at least one of his masterpieces is a must in your “Barcelona 3 Magical Days Travel Itinerary”.
Casa Batlo
Colorful, charming building. Cost of the entrance ticket is 25 euro, if you are interested in his artwork and want to see the inside, if you are traveling on budget, even the outside view is amazing. Ticket line could be long, You can pay extra 10 euro for vip skip the line access. Casa Batlo opens at 9 am but if you like to enter earlier than the others, another ticket option is 39 euro and you may enter 8:30 am before the crowd.
Casa Amatller
Casa Amatller is close to Casa Batlo. Another beautiful design by Gaudi which was designed for a famous chocolatier Antoni Amatller. Inside is still a chocolate store and there is a nice cafe inside to order coffee and chocolate on bread.
Casa Mila
Casa Mila is a UNESCO listed heritage site and a few blocks away from other two buildings designed by Gaudi. Casa Mila is the last designed building by Gaudi and attracts millions of tourists each year, but interestingly not as popular as Casa Batlo. Entrance fee is the same as Casa Batlo .
Las Ramblas
Walking down the LAS RAMBLAS street is a must-do activity in “Barcelona 3 Magical Days Travel Itinerary”. It is a crowded but unbelievably full of energy and good spirit. Different shops, restaurants and performers make this place exceptional. Mercado De LA Boqueria is a famous food court in this street with so many options, from fresh fruit, juice, fish and meat, to full meal and grab-n-go bites. I highly recommend it during summertime and you will be glad you did.
Barri Gotic (Gothic Quarter)
Let’s go and walk in history. This is the oldest part of Barcelona. Strolling down this area on cobblestoned paved streets is amazing and will take you back through time. You will see some Medieval era and Roman buildings. So many small boutiques and cute little café restaurants to grab tapas. There are two famous and popular churches in this area and it will definitely be worth spending some time and appreciate the history of these masterpieces.
Barcelona Cathedral and Santa Maria del Mar are the other one. Some people recommend putting your map away and start wandering with joy and love. I cannot explain the feeling of walking down the Gothic quarter unless you experience it yourself.
Day 2: Park Güell, La Sagrada Familia, Mount Tibidabo
Park Güell
Park Güell is an icon of Barcelona, It was requested by Eusebi Guell to be designed by Antoni Gaudi between 1900 to 1914. Antoni Gaudi also loved to go to the park in 1906 with his father and niece. It requires an entrance fee and has a limited capacity. Park opening hour is around 8 am but I recommend you arrive earlier, to enjoy the neighborhood as it has so much to offer. Entrance ticket is 10 euro and I recommend you to purchase the ticket in advance.
There are several amazing areas in the park that will transfer the good spirit to you. The closest metro stations to Park Güell are Lesseps, Alfons X and Vallacara and is about 15 minutes walk to Park Güell.
La Sagrada Familia
La Sagrada Familia is the most iconic attraction of Barcelona. It is listed as a UNESCO Heritage site and still not finished as it has been under construction for decades. Interior is much more attractive than the exterior, much more colorful, modern and artistic. This the most different and unique church you have ever seen in your life. You should not miss this places when planning for your “Barcelona 3 Magical Days Travel Itinerary”.
Basic entrance ticket is 20 euro but there are extra options for audio guide or fully guided tour. Entrance, plus tour and one tower is 33 euro. Also it is possible to climb the towers if that is interesting to you. Two towers are: Nativity and Passion. Nativity gives you the view of the city and Passion tower has a better view of Mediterranean Sea.
Tip: This is the only place that I highly recommend you purchase the ticket from here. It is very likely if you don’t purchase the ticket in advance, you would not be able to get a one from their on-site ticket office or it will be extremely long line and frustrating (We found this in a hard way !!!!). Consider about 1-2 hour for this visit if you managed to skip the entrance line.
MT. TIBIDABO and THE SAGRAT COR
The local legends of Barcelona believe this Mountain was the first place that Jesus was tempted by evil. They constructed the famous SAGRAT COR church. You will be amazed by the view of the whole city of Barcelona. For the best and highest view of Barcelona, climb the town of Sagrat Cor. You can reach Tibidabo by car, bus or funicular railway. There is also an amusement park on top of the mountain which makes your trip much more memorable especially if you are traveling with kids.
Day 3: Montjuic Hill, Gothic quarter, Camp Not, Go to the beach
For the 3rd day, I will be giving you some options and you can pick some or all for your last day in Barcelona. Montjuic Hill, Gothic quarter, Camp Not, Go to the beach.
Montjuic Hill
Montjuic which means Jewish Mountain. There is a castle at the top which gives you a great view of the city and it is now a military museum. This hill is the opposite side of the city from Tibidabo and the city of Barcelona lies in between them. There is a magical fountain on this hill which the color dances and changes in color by music. Kids would love this and it’s fun to watch. There are some 1992 Barcelona Olympic swimming pools on this hill as well and are open to the public in summer. We found this area to be more attractive in late afternoon.
Close by to this area is the Barcelona National Museum of Art. We did not have time to explore it but I have heard from art lovers, this is another must stop location for them.
Camp Nou
If you are a soccer (Football) fan and even do not like FC Barcelona, Still visiting Camp Nou or New Camp will be memorable in your “Barcelona 3 Magical Days Travel Itinerary”. It is Europe’s largest stadium and 3rd largest in the world. If you use Hop on-Hop off the bus in Barcelona, they have a stop in front of this stadium as well. You can take a tour inside or even watch a game depending on your time and schedule.
Beach
Once you come to the south end of Las Ramblas, TA DA!!!! It’s in the Barcelona beach area. The sidewalk by the beach is beautiful with views of the Bach and parked boats. You may be willing to spend a couple of hours enjoying the beach and the view of Mediterranean Sea.
Even if you don’t have time or simply are not in the mood for a beach, you MUST try one of the beachside restaurants. They make some of the best Paella, I was the best Paella I have ever had and still today I have not been in another restaurant serving paella that can be even close.
More Time in Barri Gotic
If you are like me, I fell in love with Bari Gotic and wanted to go back. The fact that Barri Gothic, Las Ramblas and the Beach are close to each other, makes it tempting to not see this area again. If I walk down this area everyday, it is still charming and stunning. You then exit the area and simply walk down the Las Ramblas again or make a quick stop in Mercado De La Boqueria. (I simply cannot stop thinking about that yummy place).
Tips & Useful Information
Is Barcelona city pass or tourist tickets a good idea?
Unless you are not planning to stay more and stick with the itinerary I provided, you would not need a city pass. It is a bit pricier than simply getting the tickets individually. A 3-day Barcelona pass costs 120 which will be higher than what I mentioned in this itinerary.
The Barcelona Card is also another option, it offers 3-day unlimited use of transportation and couple museums entry free and a small discount for visiting Casa Batlo and Casa Amatller and Park Guell.
What to pick for Transportation?
I recommend using hop on-hop off bus pass, as they have stops in most of Barcelona’s main attractions and also you will be provided with very useful info about history, culture and so many other attractions of Barcelona.
If you plan to use Barcelona public transportation (metro, bus, tramway) for more than 10 journeys, then I recommend a 72 hour valid ticket for 24 euro.
Barcelona Vacation Tip and Tricks
