From two days to two weeks: planning your trip to Barcelona
Barcelona is packed with fascinating places to visit. It’s a good idea to plan ahead in order to make the most of your time in the city.
Our programme: mix and match
We’ve split each day into three sections, which you can mix and match in order to visit attractions at whatever time, and in whatever order, you see fit.
Whether you’re the sporty type, an art lover, a history buff, a fan of architecture or always on the hunt for new experiences, you’re bound to find something for you! Our program takes account of opening hours, notably the fact that many museums are often on Mondays.
Each quarter is shown in a different colour to make it easier to optimise your visits.
Your visit to Barcelona: Week 1
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gòtic
Plaça Sant Jaume Plaça Reial Plaça de Sant Miquel |
Horta Guinardó
Park Güell Entrance pavillion Salamander Sala Hipostila Mosaic bench (Walk around park). |
Born
Picasso Museum Santa Caterina market Church of Santa María del Mar (and neighbouring streets) |
Montjuïc
Catalan National Museum of Art CaixaForum Joan Miró Foundation Olympic Stadium Joan Brossa gardens Montjuïc castle |
Barceloneta
Casa Llotja del mar Barceloneta market (and neighbouring streets) Barceloneta beach |
Passeig Marítim
Vila Olímpica Torre Agbar |
Gòtic
Cathedral de la Santa Creu i Santa Eulàlia Sardanes dancing on square |
| Trip to Montserrat
40 miles outside Barcelona. |
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| 2 | Eixample
Passeig de Gràcia Casa Batlló Pedrera Palau Robert |
Parc de la Ciutadella
Gardens Zoo |
Maritime museum
Raval |
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| 3 | Sagrada Familia
Basilica Sant Pau Hospital |
Ramblas
Palau de la Virreina Boquería market Antic Hospital de la Santa Creu |
La Ribera
Palau de la Música and neighbouring streets |
Les Corts
Barcelona FC stadium and museum Plaça de la Concòrdia (and surrounding area) |
Le port
Maremagnum Aquarium |
Walk to the Forum bathing area |
Your visit to Barcelona: Week 2
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colònia Güell
14 miles outside Barcelona |
Eixample
Antoni Tàpies Foundation |
Raval
CCCB MACBA Rambla del Raval Palau Güell |
Trip to Sitges
25 miles outside Barcelona |
Gòtic
Barcelona History Museum |
Sarrià Sant Gervasi
CosmoCaixa |
Walk or cycle :
Carretera de les aigües Panoramic views of the city |
| 2 | Gràcia
Casa Vicens Plaça del Sol Plaça de la Llibertat (and neighbouring streets) |
Rambla Catalunya
Enric Granados |
Pedralbes
Palau Reial de Pedralbes Pedralbes monastery Parc Oreneta |
Suburbs of Vallvidrera
(Sarrià Sant Gervasi) |
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| 3 | Horta Guinardó
Horta labyrinth park |
Tibidabo
Theme park |
Sant Antoni and Poble Sec quarters | Walk around Sarrià | Walk around Poblenou
The 22@ Bogatell beach Nova Icària |
Sant Cugat del Vallès
12 miles outside Barcelona Historic centre and monastery |
Things to see and do in Barcelona
Central area
| Eixample | Pedrera and casa Batlló | Two of Antoni Gaudí’s most famous works can be found on the Passeig de Gràcia. |
| Palau Robert | Grand, neo-classical building housing free, and often interesting, temporary exhibitions. | |
| Born | Picasso Museum | A surprising museum, covering the artistic career of the Spanish painter. |
| Parc de la Ciutadella | A park frequented by the inhabitants of Barcelona, who come to wander at relax. Barcelona zoo is located within the park. | |
| Palau de la Música | Unique concert hall, a masterpiece of Catalan Art Nouveau. | |
| Raval | CCCB | Barcelona Centre for Contemporary Culture, housing various exhibitions and events in relation to current affairs. Very pleasant internal courtyard. |
| MACBA | Museum of contemporary art. The esplanade is also popular with skaters. | |
| Musée Maritime | Housed in the former Royal Arsenal building. Includes an impressive reproduction of a 16th Century royal warship. | |
| Palau Güell | A UNESCO world heritage site, Gaudí’s first important commission. | |
| Gòtic (Gothic quarter) | Ramblas | Barcelona’s celebrated central avenue, running from Plaça Catalunya to the statue of Christopher Columbus. |
| Cathedral of Santa Creu I Santa Eulàlia | An imposing 14th- and 15th-Century cathedral, with an interior to match the exterior. Don’t miss the cloisters, which remain cool even in the height of summer, with their beautiful orange trees. | |
| MUHBA | Barcelona History Museum: an interactive museum covering the history of the city over two millennia. | |
| Barceloneta | Barceloneta | Former fishing quarter, with pretty and authentic streets running down to the beach. |
| Aquarium | One of Europe’s largest, with an 80m-long transparent tunnel which is sure to be a hit with children of all ages. | |
| Gràcia | Casa Vicens | One of Gaudí’s first works: a private dwelling with Moorish influences. NB: outside only. |
| Sagrada Familia | Sagrada Familia | Gaudí’s famous unfinished basilica. An absolute must. |
| Sant Pau hospital | Immense hospital complex famed for its standout modernist architecture. |
A little further out
| Horta Guinardó | Park Güell | Be swept away by the genius of Gaudí in this incredible park, with its magnificent, colourful mosaics and its unexpected architectural gems. |
| Montjuïc | CaixaForum | A permanent exhibition of contemporary art, housed alongside temporary exhibitions (often very interesting) in a former textile mill, redeveloped by the Catalan architect Puig I Cadafalch. |
| Catalan National Museum of Art | Neo-classical palace, finished in 1929, covering 1000 years of Catalan art. The collection of modern art by a number of famous artists (including Casas, Fortuny, Mir, Dalí, Gargallo and Picasso) is a must-see. | |
| Joan Miró Foundation | With over 400 works on display, the museum traces the painter’s career, from 1920s surrealism to politicism in the 1960s. | |
| Olympic Stadium | An impressive building, emblematic of the 1992 Olympics. | |
| Joan Brossa gardens | Dedicated to the eponymous poet, these playful gardens will appeal to children, and offer spectacular views of Barcelona. | |
| Pedralbes et Les Corts | Barcelona FC Stadium and museum | Camp Nou and the Barcelona FC museum: legendary sites, worthy of a visit from any discerning football fan. |
| Monastery of Pedralbes | Dating from 1327 and built in the Catalan Gothic style, this magnificent and tranquil monastery also houses an important art collection. | |
| Palau Reial de Pedralbes | Historic 19th-Century palace, built in the Italian style and set in extensive gardens. | |
| Sarrià Sant Gervasi | CosmoCaixa | Fascinating interactive science museum. |
| Vallvidrera suburb | Former village on a hill, incorporated into Barcelona in 1921. A charming area with very few tourists. | |
| Tibidabo | Theme park | Located over 500m above Barcelona, this park, which is over 100 years old, includes around 20 attractions for all ages. The site also offers spectacular panoramic views of Barcelona. |
| Carreterra de les aigües | 12.5 mile promenade in the hills above Barcelona, offering cooler temperatures and lovely views. |
Day trips within 40 miles of Barcelona
| Outside Barcelona | Sitges | Hip seaside resort, which has retained its village-y charm. |
| Montserrat | Mountain range with unusual curved geology, a significant inspiration for Gaudí. Also the site of a Benedictine abbey. | |
| Colònia Güell | 1890s industrial colony created by Antoni Gaudí. One of the most important examples of Catalan popular modernism. | |
| Sant Cugat del Vallès | Small town outside Barcelona with a beautiful historic centre. |
