If you’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 excellent go to.
Barcelona is a metropolis that Jess and I’ve visited many occasions. There is a lot to see and do, actually greater than would match into two days. However, with cautious planning, you possibly can undoubtedly see loads of town and most of the highlights in a few days.
If you may have kind of time, take a look at our information to spending a day in Barcelona, in addition to our 3 day Barcelona itinerary.
In this information, we’re going to share with you our thought of learn how to spend two days in Barcelona. This focuses on the highlights {that a} first-time customer is more likely to wish to see, but it surely additionally features a few of our favourite sights that aren’t so common.
As nicely because the itinerary, we’re going to inform you every thing you must know to plan your time in Barcelona. From the place to remain, to learn how to get round, to how to save cash on sights, this information has you lined. Let’s begin with the itinerary itself.
2 Day Barcelona Itinerary
As with all our itineraries, this one must be taken as a place to begin so that you can plan your individual time within the metropolis. We suppose it makes for a very good two days, however we respect that everybody has totally different pursuits. So you possibly can personalize it as wanted.
Additionally, we prefer to pack quite a bit in after we journey, so in the event you want to see much less, or are visiting Barcelona as a household with youngsters, do tweak it to satisfy your individual journey fashion.
Finally, you additionally wish to examine the opening occasions and dates for every attraction as some are closed someday per week or may need annual closing intervals. So be certain that they’re open earlier than you set out.
Barcelona Itinerary Day 1
Today 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
Today, I’m going to suggest you get round utilizing the Hop on Hop off bus. A number of of right now’s sights are spaced slightly aside, and Barcelona’s Hop on Hop off bus is a simple strategy to get between them. It’s additionally a good way to be taught in regards to the metropolis as you go, due to the included audioguide.
Of course, you can get between right now’s sights by public transport or different types of transport, as lined within the part on getting round Barcelona. But as most of the metropolis passes for Barcelona embody no less than a day of hop on hop off bus journey, it’s price profiting from.
There are a few sightseeing bus companies in Barcelona. We suggest the Barcelona Bus Turistic which is operated by town’s tourism workplace. For this itinerary, we’re particularly recommending you are taking the Blue route.
This begins in Placa de Catalunya, and visits all of the sights on right now’s itinerary. Buses run no less than each 20 – half-hour, you will get on and off as many occasions as you want, and repair usually begins at 9am.
You can guide your tickets on-line upfront right here. Also included on the Go Barcelona move and Barcelona City Pass.
Sagrada Familia
Your first attraction cease right now goes to be on the unimaginable 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.
Whilst there may be at present timed entry, there isn’t a restrict to how lengthy folks can keep, so it will possibly get busier because the day progresses.
The Sagrada Familia is doubtless probably the most well-known and spectacular construction from the thoughts of architect Anton Gaudi. He was answerable 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 biggest and most well-known.
If you have been to solely go to one Gaudi construction in Barcelona, we’d suggest making it the Sagrada Familia.
There is a lot to see right here, and because the constructing remains to be beneath building, what you possibly can see adjustments on every go to. Highlights for us embody the unimaginable “forest” of pillars holding the nave up, in addition to the large exterior façades. However, there may be greater than sufficient to see right here to final for no less than a few hours.
See our full information to visiting the Sagrada Familia, which has every thing you must know to plan a go to.
You must guide your entry to the Sagrada Familia upfront. You can accomplish that on the official web site right here. Third social gathering websites additionally provide tickets and excursions, together with GetYourGuide, Tiqets and Viator. These generally is a good choice if the official web site has restricted availability, or in the event you’d want to take a guided tour.
Finally, the Sagrada Familia is included on a few of the metropolis’s attraction passes. You’ll wish to examine precisely what the move consists of, as some embody a guided tour at a selected time, while others simply present entry.
Currently, the Sagrada Familia is included on the Go Barcelona Pass, Barcelona City Pass and Gaudi Bundle.
Sant Pau Recinte Modernista
After the Sagrada Familia, our subsequent really useful 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 in the event you want to stretch your legs.
This complicated was initially constructed as a backyard metropolis for the sick. It was constructed between 1905 and 1930 within the artwork nouveau fashion, and designed by architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner.
Today, the situation is a UNESCO world heritage web site, and is residence to one of the crucial spectacular collections of artwork nouveau buildings in Europe.
We love wandering this location, it feels very totally different to the natural constructions employed by Gaudi, and because it’s much less common, it additionally makes a pleasant break from the crowds of Gaudi’s sights.
There’s a charge to go to, and it’s included on the Go Barcelona Pass. You may also guide 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 experience 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 provide residents clear air and good views. The setting is a big park.
Unfortunately, the imaginative and prescient was by no means absolutely realised. Two of the homes have been constructed, though they weren’t really designed by Gaudi. Instead, the architect was answerable for the park design. He additionally lived in one of many present properties on the positioning for 20 years, from 1906 to 1926. This is now open to the general public because the Gaudi House 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 charge to enter, and is the place you can see highlights just like the terrace and mosaic installations. It is a really spectacular place to go to and nicely price spending no less than an hour exploring.
Whilst a lot of Parc Guell is free to go to, the primary sights of the Monumental Zone do have a charge.
Currently, Parc Guell is included on the Go Barcelona Pass, Barcelona City Pass and Gaudi Bundle.
You may also guide tickets for Parc Guell on the official web site right here and GetYourGuide right here. There can also be a mixed ticket which incorporates the Gaudi House Museum and Parc Guell right here.
Camp Nou or Tibidabo
Your remaining cease to 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.
Option 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 are additionally one of the crucial 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 can in fact attempt to see an precise match, but when that’s not potential, you possibly can take a behind the scenes tour of the stadium.
Now, I’ll be trustworthy, neither Jess nor I’ve an ideal curiosity in soccer. However, we’ve got 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.
Of course, if you’re an FC Barcelona fan, or have a basic curiosity in soccer, then you’ll in all probability 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 obtainable that grant additional entry.
Camp Nou is included on the Go Barcelona Pass. You may also purchase particular person tickets right here.
Option 2: Tibidabo
If you aren’t so excited a couple of go to to a soccer stadium, or would identical to another choice to contemplate, then we advise as a substitute contemplating a visit up Tibidabo.
Tibidabo is a hill to the north-west of town, which provides spectacular views throughout town and surrounds. The high 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 experience 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 best strategy 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 charge to experience the funicular, and you will get tickets on web site. The Tibidabo Amusement Park additionally has a charge, which provides you entry to all of the rides. You can save by shopping for tickets on-line upfront right here.
I might add that I nonetheless suppose it’s price going to the highest of the Tibidabo for the views and to go to the church, even in the event you don’t go to the amusement park.
That brings us to the tip of your first day exploring Barcelona, no less than by way of sight-seeing. Now you possibly can head again to 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 take into account a dinner present with leisure. Flamenco reveals (generally with an accompanying meal or tapas) are a well-liked choice for guests to town. For instance, take a look at this present with non-obligatory dinner and drinks, or this present solely choice.
Barcelona Itinerary Day 2
Your second day in Barcelona has you exploring a few of the metropolis centre sights. Let’s get began.
Casa Batlló
Whilst 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 thought of the form of home that Gaudi constructed for really dwelling in, then you’ll want to go to one (or each) of the 2 properties initially of this itinerary.
First, the Casa Batlló. This is discovered within the metropolis’s Eixample district, only a few 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 appear to be opera masks, the dragon-like rooftop, and the flowing natural really feel of the inside.
Today the home varieties 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 Pass. You may also purchase particular person tickets right here. It is certainly one of many pricier sights in Barcelona, so in the event you do embody it in your itinerary an attraction move is extremely more likely to prevent cash total.
La Pedrera
A few blocks from Casa Batlló is Casa Mila, which is extra generally often called La Pedrera, or “The Quarry”. This is one other Gaudi property, well-known for the natural concrete facade that wraps across the constructing.
Unlike Casa Batlló, this house 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 beautiful chimney-dotted roof which provides good views over town and throughout to the Sagrada Familia.
There is an entry charge to La Pedrera, and it’s also included on the Go Barcelona Pass. Alternatively, you should buy tickets on-line right here.
If you aren’t planning on investing within the Go Barcelona Pass, we’d in all probability suggest guests to Barcelona decide both Casa Batlló or Casa Mila to save cash. You can also want to avoid wasting time you probably have loads of actions booked later within the day. Both of them have uncommon exteriors which might be fascinating to see even in the event you don’t go to them.
La Rambla / Gothic Quarter Walking Tour
One of our favorite elements of Barcelona to wander round is the Gothic Quarter. This 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 town. Today it’s a common place to take a stroll, have a drink or snack, and do some folks watching. It’s additionally residence 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. Unlike the extensive avenues and symmetrical format of different elements of town, the Gothic Quarter options slim 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 have a listing of really useful strolling excursions additional on in our itinerary, however a pair we suggest that embody the Gothic Quarter are:
If you intend on taking a tour, you may need to regulate this itinerary to bear in mind the beginning time of the tour. I’d additionally add that you may in fact go to the Gothic Quarter by yourself and simply wander round with no tour do you have to want. Both are nice methods to discover.
Santa Maria Del Pi
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 purpose I prefer it although is the large octagonal bell tower. This tower is nearly 200 toes (60 metres) excessive, and you’ll go to the highest for improbable views over the Gothic Quarter. It is a very spectacular building, with partitions nearly 12ft (3.5 metres) thick on the base.
Visiting the church itself is free, however there’s a charge to climb to the highest. The charge is nicely price paying for my part because it features a guided tour, and once I took the tour the information gave loads of details about the historical past of town and its format.
Check the web site for opening occasions and costs. You may also purchase tickets on-line upfront by means of the official web site.
Montjuic and Magic Fountain
To finish your day of sightseeing, you’re going to go up Montjuic Hill. This hill is discovered simply to the southwest of town centre, close to to the port.
There is quite a bit to see on the high of Montjuic hill, from the seventeenth century Montjuic Castle by means of to the Joan Miro basis, Poble Espanyol open air museum, National Art Museum of Catalonia, tiered gardens, Barcelona Olympic village and extra. There are additionally wonderful sweeping views throughout town.
If you have an interest in visiting a very good museum in Barcelona, then we are able to undoubtedly suggest the National Art Museum of Catalonia (Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya). It has a big assortment of each artwork and historic objects. Just word that in the event you do plan a go to right here, you’ll must 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 may stroll to the highest, however we expect a greater choice 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 Pass. You may also purchase tickets upfront right here.
One factor we undoubtedly suggest planning for the tip of your day is to try to take within the Magic Fountain show. This is a free sound, mild and water show which occurs most evenings.
The fountain is discovered beneath the Palau Nacional on the head of Avinguda Maria Cristina. It’s a stunning strategy to finish a day within the metropolis in our opinion. You can see the timetable of the present right here.
That winds 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 Summary
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 Walking Tour, Santa Maria Del Pi, Montjuic and Magic Fountain
Map of Barcelona Things to Do
For ease of visualisation, here’s a information to the sights on the itinerary. We’ve additionally included some really useful motels so you possibly can see the place they’re in relation to town’s sights. You may also see this map on Google Maps right here.
Where to Stay in Barcelona
Barcelona has an enormous quantity of alternative in relation to lodging, and we’ve stayed at a lot of totally different areas within the metropolis in each flats and motels.
Our most popular choice when reserving lodging is reserving.com (see their Barcelona listings right here). They listing every thing from motels to flats to hostels, and we discover they normally have the widest vary on the best costs.
To offer you an thought of what’s obtainable, listed here are some choices we suggest:
- Hostel One Ramblas – a really nicely reviewed and really central hostel choice
- The 8 Boutique B&B – a extremely rated and nicely positioned mattress and breakfast
- Hotel Barcelona Catedral – a 4* property in Barcelona within the coronary heart of the Gothic Quarter. We’ve stayed right here, and loved the roof high pool and unimaginable central location.
- Leonardo Hotel 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 high bar
Apartment leases by means of websites like Plum Guide, Airbnb, and Vrbo are additionally obtainable. One factor to pay attention to is that in Barcelona these must be registered with town. When they’re registered, they are going to be issued a license quantity. If you wish to keep in an house rental in Barcelona, then we suggest choosing one which has the license quantity on the itemizing.
If you would like to remain in an house in Barcelona, then we suggest Plum Guide. We’ve stayed at a lot of their properties around the globe, and you’ll see our evaluate of the Plum Guide right here. See their listings for Barcelona right here. We additionally suggest Vrbo, see their Barcelona listings right here.
If you possibly can’t discover what you need from the above selections, otherwise you need some new choices to check out, we wrote a complete publish on the finest options to AirBnB which it’s best to take a look at!
How to Get Around Barcelona
Barcelona is straightforward to get round, with an intensive bus, metro and lightweight rail community. It’s additionally simply walkable for probably the most half, though you’ll possible wish to take public transport for a few of the barely additional out locations equivalent to Parc Guell, Tibidabo, and Camp Nou.
Alternatively, you possibly can go to these areas on the hop on hop off bus, as outlined in our itinerary. More on that shortly.
If you will use public transport you may have two choices, relying on how a lot you wish to journey.
First, you should buy particular person tickets as you go. If you resolve to do that, probably the most cost-effective method to take action is the ten ticket (T-Casual) card. This is less expensive than shopping for particular person tickets and in addition permits you to change transport choices inside an hour and fifteen minutes of beginning your journey.
The different choice 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 can purchase that on-line right here.
There are a few different choices for paying to your Barcelona transport.
First, in the event you buy a Barcelona Card or a Barcelona Card Express, you get free journey on the metro, buses, trams and trains throughout the cardboard. This consists of the airport metro and prepare. These playing cards additionally embody some reductions and sights.
Second, if you buy a Go Barcelona Pass or Barcelona City Pass, these each include someday entry to the Hop On Hop Off Barcelona Bus Tour, which covers almost each main vacationer web site within the metropolis.
Alternatively, you possibly can buy 1 or 2 day hop on hop off bus tickets immediately right here.
If you’re arriving into Barcelona by air, you possibly can take a taxi or prepare into town centre. There’s additionally an airport bus service, which is what we usually use. You can purchase tickets on the day, however we usually reserve ours upfront in order to not have to fret about it. You can purchase tickets for the Barcelona Aerobus right here.
Suggested Walking Tours in Barcelona
We love taking strolling excursions after we go to a metropolis. It’s a good way to be taught quite a bit about its historical past, tradition and other people, in addition to get recommendations on what to see and the place to eat.
There are a lot of strolling tour corporations providing excursions within the metropolis. If you decide up one of many aforementioned passes, a few of these embody a strolling tour, so undoubtedly make the most of that.
Otherwise, we normally suggest strolling tour firm Take Walks. We’ve taken excursions with them in cities around the globe, and benefit from the small teams and educated guides. They provide a lot of excursions in Barcelona, a few of which we’ve included beneath together with different options.
Obviously, in the event you resolve 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 Money with Barcelona Attraction Passes
One of the primary prices when touring is the worth of entry to sights. Obviously, you probably have traveled a protracted strategy to go to Barcelona, you will wish to see some sights and go inside them. However, you don’t wish to spend greater than it’s a must to when doing that.
Like many cities around the globe, Barcelona has a lot of totally 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 publish collectively evaluating the primary Barcelona attraction passes. We even have a full evaluate of the Go Barcelona Pass.
Which move will give you the results you want will rely on which sights you actually wish to see. First, let’s have a look at the overall value. Assuming you go to all of the sights on our itinerary, selecting Camp Nou as a substitute of Tibidabo, and utilizing the Hop on Hop off bus for a type of days, you’d be taking a look at paying round €200 per individual.
Our advice, in the event you plan on visiting the vast majority of the sights we listing, could be the Go Barcelona Pass. This at present prices €104 per individual (as of May 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 move
- Casa Batllo
- La Pedrera
- Camp Nou Tour
- Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau
- Montjuic Cable Car
- Gothic Quarter Walking Tour
It additionally features a nice many extra sights throughout town, together with strolling excursions, museum entry and way more. You can see all of the sights it consists of right here. We’ve used this card on a number of visits to 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 solely factor to pay attention to is that these excursions run at particular occasions, so you have to to plan your itinerary accordingly.
Whilst we expect this card provides wonderful worth for many guests to Barcelona, we respect that not everybody will wish to embody every thing. In this case, the opposite playing cards we advise are:
- The Barcelona Card. This is obtainable by town tourism workplace and consists of free entry to some museums, free public transport, and a variety of reductions on common sights
- The Barcelona City Pass. 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 sights within the metropolis.
Again, for many guests we really feel that the Go Barcelona Pass provides the perfect value financial savings and probably the most inclusions, however it’s best to undoubtedly examine the financial savings and inclusions in opposition to your itinerary to make certain it really works for you. You can purchase yours upfront of your go to right here.
Further Reading
Well, that’s the tip of our information to spending two days in Barcelona! Hopefully you discover it helpful. As nicely because the above, we’ve got a lot of different assets we’d prefer to suggest that will help you out, each content material we’ve written ourselves, and assets we’ve discovered on-line. Between this publish and these assets, it’s best to be capable of put collectively the right journey!
And that sums up our thought of learn how to spend the right two days exploring Barcelona! We hope you discovered this itinerary helpful. Are you planning a visit to Barcelona? What do you wish to see if you do? Let us know within the feedback beneath!
