In case you’re planning on spending 2 days in Barcelona, maybe over a weekend, then we’ve put collectively this itinerary that can assist you plan your good go to.
Barcelona is a metropolis that Jess and I’ve visited many instances. There’s a lot to see and do, definitely greater than would match into two days. Nonetheless, with cautious planning, you’ll be able to positively see lots of the town and lots of the highlights in a few days.
You probably have kind of time, take a look at 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 tips on how to spend two days in Barcelona. This focuses on the highlights {that a} first-time customer is prone to need to see, but it surely additionally features a few of our favourite sights that aren’t so fashionable.
In addition to the itinerary, we’re going to inform you all the things you want to know to plan your time in Barcelona. From the place to remain, to tips on how to get round, to how to save cash on points of interest, this information has you coated. 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 personal time within the metropolis. We predict it makes for a very good two days, however we respect that everybody has completely different pursuits. So you’ll be able to personalize it as wanted.
Moreover, we prefer to pack lots in after we journey, so in case you choose to see much less, or are visiting Barcelona as a household with kids, do tweak it to fulfill your personal journey model.
Lastly, you additionally need to verify the opening instances and dates for every attraction as some are closed sooner or later per week or might need annual closing durations. So be certain they’re open earlier than you set out.
Barcelona Itinerary Day 1
At this time you’re going to see one of many world’s most well-known cathedrals, in addition to numerous different sights across the metropolis! Let’s get began.
Hop on Hop off Bus
At this time, I’m going to suggest you get round utilizing the Hop on Hop off bus. A couple of of right now’s points of interest are spaced somewhat aside, and Barcelona’s Hop on Hop off bus is a straightforward method to get between them. It’s additionally an effective way to be taught concerning the metropolis as you go, due to the included audioguide.
In fact, you could possibly get between right now’s sights by public transport or different types of transport, as coated within the part on getting round Barcelona. However as lots of the metropolis passes for Barcelona embody not less than a day of hop on hop off bus journey, it’s price making the most of.
There are a few sightseeing bus companies 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 right now’s itinerary. Buses run not less than each 20 – half-hour, you will get on and off as many instances as you want, and repair usually begins at 9am.
You may ebook your tickets on-line upfront right here. Additionally included on the Go Barcelona move and Barcelona Metropolis Cross.
Sagrada Familia
Your first attraction cease right now 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 a restrict to how lengthy individuals can keep, so it could possibly get busier because the day progresses.
The Sagrada Familia is no doubt essentially the most well-known and spectacular construction from the thoughts of architect Anton Gaudi. He was accountable for an ideal 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 most important and most well-known.
In case you had been to solely go to one Gaudi construction in Barcelona, we’d suggest making it the Sagrada Familia.
There’s lots to see right here, and because the constructing remains to be below development, what you’ll be able to see modifications on every go to. Highlights for us embody the unbelievable “forest” of pillars holding the nave up, in addition to the massive exterior façades. Nonetheless, there may be greater than sufficient to see right here to final for not less than a few hours.
See our full information to visiting the Sagrada Familia, which has all the things you want to know to plan a go to.
You should ebook your entry to the Sagrada Familia upfront. You are able to do so on the official web site right here. Third get together websites additionally supply tickets and excursions, together with GetYourGuide, Tiqets and Viator. These generally is a good possibility if the official web site has restricted availability, or in case you’d choose to take a guided tour.
Lastly, the Sagrada Familia is included on a number of the metropolis’s attraction passes. You’ll need to verify precisely what the move contains, as some embody a guided tour at a particular 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 really helpful cease (and likewise the subsequent 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 in case you choose 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 model, and designed by architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner.
At this time, the situation is a UNESCO world heritage web site, and is dwelling to one of the crucial spectacular collections of artwork nouveau buildings in Europe.
We love wandering this location, it feels very completely different to the natural buildings employed by Gaudi, and because it’s much less fashionable, it additionally makes a pleasant break from the crowds of Gaudi’s points of interest.
There’s a price to go to, and it’s included on the Go Barcelona Cross. It’s also possible to ebook 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 absolutely realised. Two of the homes had been constructed, though they weren’t really designed by Gaudi. As a substitute, the architect was accountable for the park design. He additionally lived in one of many present properties 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 price to enter, and is the place you can find highlights just like the terrace and mosaic installations. It’s a very spectacular place to go to and nicely price spending not less than 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 price.
At the moment, Parc Guell is included on the Go Barcelona Cross, Barcelona Metropolis Cross and Gaudi Bundle.
It’s also possible to ebook 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 on 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.
Possibility 1: Camp Nou
Camp Nou has been the house of FC Barcelona since 1957. FC Barcelona are one among Europe’s most well-known and profitable soccer (soccer for these of you within the USA) golf equipment. They’re additionally one of the crucial supported golf equipment on the 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 doable, you’ll be able to take a behind the scenes tour of the stadium.
Now, I’ll be trustworthy, neither Jess nor I’ve an ideal curiosity in soccer. Nonetheless, we now have visited the Camp Nou stadium and we each loved it. The tour was attention-grabbing, it was enjoyable to see behind the scenes, and we bought an actual sense of the historical past of the staff and the eagerness the followers have.
In fact, if you’re an FC Barcelona fan, or have a normal curiosity in soccer, then you’ll most likely take pleasure in 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 staff altering room, tunnel and pressroom. There are additionally further, extra premium experiences accessible that grant additional entry.
Camp Nou is included on the Go Barcelona Cross. It’s also possible to purchase particular person tickets right here.
Possibility 2: Tibidabo
In case you aren’t so excited a few go to to a soccer stadium, or would identical to another possibility to think about, then we advise as an alternative contemplating a visit up Tibidabo.
Tibidabo is a hill to the north-west of the town, which affords 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 known as Tibidabo Amusement Park.
The park affords 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 method 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 price to journey the funicular, and you will get tickets on web site. The Tibidabo Amusement Park additionally has a price, which supplies 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 in case you don’t go to the amusement park.
That brings us to the tip of your first day exploring Barcelona, not less than by way of sight-seeing. Now you’ll be able to head again to the town, loosen up, or head out for dinner and enjoyable.
In case you are searching for one thing enjoyable to do within the night, you may take into account a dinner present with leisure. Flamenco reveals (typically with an accompanying meal or tapas) are a preferred possibility for guests to the town. For instance, take a look at this present with optionally available dinner and drinks, or this present solely possibility.
Barcelona Itinerary Day 2
Your second day in Barcelona has you exploring a number 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 residing in. So if you wish to get an concept of the kind of home that Gaudi constructed for really dwelling in, then it would be best to go to one (or each) of the 2 properties at the beginning 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 transform of an present 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 this time 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. It’s also possible to purchase particular person tickets right here. It’s positively one of many pricier points of interest in Barcelona, so in case you do embody it in your itinerary an attraction move is very prone to prevent cash general.
La Pedrera
A few blocks from Casa Batlló is Casa Mila, which is extra generally often called La Pedrera, or “The Quarry”. That is one other Gaudi property, well-known for the natural concrete facade that wraps across the constructing.
In contrast to 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 house the place there’s a good museum about Gaudi and his work, in addition to the gorgeous chimney-dotted roof which affords good views over the town and throughout to the Sagrada Familia.
There’s an entry price to La Pedrera, and additionally it is included on the Go Barcelona Cross. Alternatively, you should purchase tickets on-line right here.
In case you 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 might also want to save lots of time you probably have lots of actions booked later within the day. Each of them have uncommon exteriors which might be attention-grabbing to see even in case you don’t go to them.
La Rambla / Gothic Quarter Strolling Tour
Certainly one of 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 avenue to the south west.
Las Rambla was initially a stream on the border of the Roman metropolis wall which encircled the town. At this time it’s a fashionable place to take a stroll, have a drink or snack, and do some individuals watching. It’s additionally dwelling to La Boqueria, one of many metropolis’s most well-known public markets.
The Gothic Quarter remains to be very a lot medieval in feeling. In contrast to the large avenues and symmetrical structure 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 straightforward 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. We now have a listing of really helpful strolling excursions additional on in our itinerary, however a pair we suggest that embody the Gothic Quarter are:
In case you plan on taking a tour, you might need to regulate this itinerary to keep in mind the beginning time of the tour. I’d additionally add you can in fact go to the Gothic Quarter by yourself and simply wander round and not using a tour do you have to choose. Each are nice methods to discover.
Santa Maria Del Pi
Certainly one of 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 typically performs host to live shows and performances.
The explanation I prefer it although is the big octagonal bell tower. This tower is sort of 200 ft (60 metres) excessive, and you may go to the highest for incredible views over the Gothic Quarter. It’s a actually spectacular development, with partitions virtually 12ft (3.5 metres) thick on the base.
Visiting the church itself is free, however there’s a price to climb to the highest. The price is nicely price paying for my part because it features a guided tour, and after I took the tour the information gave lots of details about the historical past of the town and its structure.
Examine the web site for opening instances and costs. It’s also possible to 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 wonderful sweeping views throughout the town.
In case you are concerned with visiting a very good 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 be aware that in case you do plan a go to right here, you’ll must skip or shorten visits to a number of the prompt locations above to make sure you have sufficient time for a day go to. It’s positioned a few 5 minute stroll from the fountains.
You would stroll to the highest, however we predict a greater possibility is to take the Montjuic Funicular adopted by the scenic Montjuic cable automotive 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 automotive is ticketed individually however is included on the Go Barcelona Cross. It’s also possible to 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. It is a free sound, mild 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 method 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 plenty of sensible data that can assist you plan the proper 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 really helpful motels so you’ll be able to see the place they’re in relation to the town’s points of interest. It’s also possible to see this map on Google Maps right here.
The place to Keep in Barcelona
Barcelona has an enormous quantity of alternative in terms of lodging, and we’ve stayed at numerous completely different areas within the metropolis in each residences and motels.
Our most popular possibility when reserving lodging is reserving.com (see their Barcelona listings right here). They listing all the things from motels to residences to hostels, and we discover they often have the widest vary on the best costs.
To offer you an concept of what’s accessible, listed here are some choices we suggest:
- Hostel One Ramblas – a really nicely reviewed and really central hostel possibility
- The 8 Boutique B&B – a extremely rated and nicely positioned mattress and breakfast
- Resort 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 Resort 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 wonderful.
- Duquesa de Cardona – a 4* property on the waterfront with a roof prime bar
Residence leases by websites like Plum Information, Airbnb, and Vrbo are additionally accessible. One factor to pay attention to is that in Barcelona these must 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.
In case you would like to remain in an residence in Barcelona, then we suggest Plum Information. We’ve stayed at numerous their properties world wide, and you may see our evaluation of the Plum Information right here. See their listings for Barcelona right here. We additionally suggest Vrbo, see their Barcelona listings right here.
In case you can’t discover what you need from the above decisions, otherwise you need some new choices to check out, we wrote an entire put up on the finest options to AirBnB which you must take a look at!
Easy methods to 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 essentially the most half, though you’ll possible need to take public transport for a number of the barely additional out locations akin to Parc Guell, Tibidabo, and Camp Nou.
Alternatively, you’ll be able to go to these areas on the hop on hop off bus, as outlined in our itinerary. Extra on that shortly.
If you’ll use public transport you could have two choices, relying on how a lot you need to journey.
First, you should purchase particular person tickets as you go. In case you determine to do that, essentially the most cost-effective approach to take action is the ten ticket (T-Informal) card. That is less expensive than shopping for particular person tickets and likewise enables 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 supplies limitless entry to the transport community within the metropolis, and is obtainable for durations from 48 hours to 120 hours. You should buy that on-line right here.
There are a few different choices for paying on your Barcelona transport.
First, if you buy a Barcelona Card or a Barcelona Card Specific, you get free journey on the metro, buses, trams and trains at some point of the cardboard. This contains 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 sooner or later entry to the Hop On Hop Off Barcelona Bus Tour, which covers practically each main vacationer web site within the metropolis.
Alternatively, you should purchase 1 or 2 day hop on hop off bus tickets immediately right here.
In case you’re arriving into Barcelona by air, you’ll be able to take a taxi or practice into the town centre. There’s additionally an airport bus service, which is what we usually use. You should buy tickets on the day, however we usually reserve ours upfront in order to not have to fret about it. You should buy tickets for the Barcelona Aerobus right here.
Steered Strolling Excursions in Barcelona
We love taking strolling excursions after 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. In case you decide up one of many aforementioned passes, a few of these embody a strolling tour, so positively make the most of that.
In any other case, we often 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 numerous excursions in Barcelona, a few of which we’ve included under together with different ideas.
Clearly, in case you determine to take a strolling tour you have to 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 essential prices when touring is the value of entry to points of interest. Clearly, you probably have traveled a protracted method to go to Barcelona, you’ll need to see some sights and go inside them. Nonetheless, you don’t need to spend greater than you must when doing that.
Like many cities world wide, Barcelona has numerous 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 put up collectively evaluating the primary Barcelona attraction passes. We even have a full evaluation of the Go Barcelona Cross.
Which move will be just right for you will rely upon which sights you actually need to see. First, let’s take a look at the entire price. 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 particular person.
Our suggestion, in case you plan on visiting the vast majority of the points of interest we listing, could be the Go Barcelona Cross. This at present prices €104 per particular person (as of Could 2022), and contains the next from our itinerary:
- Sagrada Familia with guided tour
- Parc Guell with guided tour
- 1 day Hop on Hop off bus move
- 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 far more. You may see all of the points of interest it contains 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 instances, so you have to to plan your itinerary accordingly.
While we predict this card affords wonderful worth for many guests to Barcelona, we respect that not everybody will need to embody all the things. On this case, the opposite playing cards we advise are:
- The Barcelona Card. That is supplied by the town tourism workplace and contains free entry to some museums, free public transport, and a variety of reductions on fashionable points of interest
- The Barcelona Metropolis Cross. This contains 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 affords the very best price financial savings and essentially the most inclusions, however you must positively verify the financial savings and inclusions towards your itinerary to make sure it really works for you. You should buy 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, we now have numerous different assets we’d prefer to suggest that can assist you out, each content material we’ve written ourselves, and assets we’ve discovered on-line. Between this put up and these assets, you must be capable of put collectively the proper journey!
And that sums up our concept of tips on how to spend the proper two days exploring Barcelona! We hope you discovered this itinerary helpful. Are you planning a visit to Barcelona? What do you need to see whenever you do? Tell us within the feedback under!