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Barcelona 3 Day Itinerary For an Epic Weekend Getaway
Have you been looking for the best Barcelona 3 day itinerary? I’ve got you covered!
Barcelona is one of the most visited cities in Spain and for good reason. In the capital of the autonomous region Catalonia you have stunning architecture, beautiful parks, a beach and much more.
I spent over a month in Barcelona and I love the city. One of my favourite things to do was visit the famous Sagrada Familia, I know very cliche, but you have to have seen this masterpiece of art.
In this article, I put together my favourite things to do so you can spend amazing 3 days in Barcelona.
Day 1 of the 3 day Barcelona itinerary: Gaudi, La Rambla, Gothic Quarter
Gaudi’s architecture
Let’s start the first day of this 3 days in Barcelona itinerary by exploring the most famous attractions in the city, the stunning architectural masterpieces by Antoni Gaudí.
Multiple buildings by Gaudi are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The most famous is the world-renowned Sagrada Familia. This stunning catholic church with mesmerising stained glass windows is truly one of a kind. The construction started in 1882 and it’s still not finished.
The second most famous work by Gaudi is Park Güell. It’s a beautiful park with some buildings by Gaudi and the iconic colourful bench with an amazing view of Barcelona especially at sunset.
There are more buildings designed by the architect Gaudi in the city but if you only spend three days in Barcelona, I recommend only visiting Sagrada Familia and Park Güell from the inside.
You can walk past Casa Milà and Casa Batlló and marvel at them from the outside, both are located on the Passeig de Gracia.
La Rambla
Tu be completely honest, I think La Rambla is a bit overrated. It’s a long street through Barcelona city centre with a big pedestrian walkway in between the car lanes.
There are overpriced stalls on the walkway and it gets crowded. You should also be wary of pickpockets on La Rambla.
But La Rambla is one of the main attractions in Barcelona you can do for free. So, go for stroll and see what all the fuss is about.
Gothic Quarter
The Gothic Quarter is the most famous neighbourhood in Barcelona. It’s the historic centre of Barcelona and it’s known for its small alleys.
In the Gothic Quarter, you can also find the Picasso Museum. The artist lived a few years in the city and you can learn about his art and life in the museum. For me, it was really interesting to see how Picasso evolved and found his unique style of art.
The Gothic Quarter is also a great place for a vegan snack in Barcelona. There are multiple vegan restaurants in Barcelona, where you can get anything from Tapas to Fast Food to Sushi.
Inside the Gothic Quarter, you can also find Barcelona Cathedral. In every other city, the cathedral would be on my top things to see list but in Barcelona as beautiful as the cathedral is it just can’t compete with Sagrada Familia.
Day 2 of the Barcelona 3 day itinerary: Ciutadella Park, Barceloneta, Magic Fountain
Ciutadella Park
After having some vegan breakfast in Barcelona, head to Ciutadella Park, the biggest and most beautiful park in the city. And in the park, you can find the beautiful fountain Cascada del Parc de la Ciutadella.
Next to the fountain, you can also find a statue of a mammoth. I was really surprised by that because I didn’t expect to walk past a mammoth in Barcelona.
On the way to the Ciutadella Park make sure to walk past the Arc de Triomf. I love how it’s positioned at the beginning of a pedestrian zone leading towards the park.
La Barceloneta beach
Whenever I’m in a city with a beach I have to visit the beach. To be completely honest, the beach in Barcelona will not be the most beautiful beach you can find in Spain.
But considering that the beach is within walking distance of a massive city, it’s a really nice beach. You can go for a swim or just a stroll next to the waterfront.
In case you’re travelling with your pet, you should skip Barceloneta Beach and head a little bit further North towards Nova Icaria Beach. There you can enjoy the ocean with your dog.
Magic Fountain of Montjuïc
The area in front of Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya is always worth a visit. The building is on top of a hill and in front of it are some stand-alone columns and multiple fountains.
If you have enough time, I can also recommend going inside the museum, it’s very interesting. The museum even has a rooftop viewpoint. But unfortunately, the rooftop was closed when I visited.
But the best part is the nightly Magic Fountain show, where the fountains are lit with different colours and it seems like they’re dancing to the played music.
Make sure to check the official timetable of the Magic Fountain since the times vary depending on the season and in case there’s a drought they’re cancelled altogether.
Close to the Magic Fountain is my favourite vegan Sushi restaurant in Barcelona, Veganashi. In case you get hungry from all the exploring.
Day 3 of the Barcelona 3 day itinerary: Take a day trip
I know taking a day trip is technically not a thing to do in Barcelona but there are just too many great day trip opportunities from Barcelona to skip them.
Option 1: Montserrat
A day trip to Montserrat from Barcelona is the most popular option. This means it’s also the busiest one.
A day trip to a remote monastery in the mountains might seem like a quiet and peaceful day trip but it is not. There are loads of people everywhere and big tour busses go there on a regular basis.
You can get to the top either by bus, by train or by cable car. The cable car is by far the most adventurous and scenic way to get there.
One way to enjoy the beautiful scenery and to escape the crowds is to go hiking at Montserrat.
Option 2: Girona
My favourite day trip from Barcelona was to Girona. To be honest I didn’t expect much but found myself in a charming little town with so much to offer.
I just loved the colourful houses next to the river and walking on the city walls of this medieval town.
Girona is also the perfect day trip for all Game of Thrones fans, multiple scenes of the TV show were filmed there.
Option 3: Andorra
From Barcelona, you can even do a day trip to Andorra, one of the smallest countries in Europe.
Taking a tour to Andorra is the best way to visit 3 countries in one day. Have a coffee in Spain, go for a walk in France and enjoy the mountain views of Andorra.
🤩 Visit three countries in one day with this epic tour
Option 4: Sitges
Sitges is a great day trip option from Barcelona if you don’t want to venture out too far. The city is a short train ride away from Barcelona and from there you can set off on a stunning coastal walk to Vilanova.
But there are also many amazing things to do and see in Sitges itself, like exploring the charming old town or visiting some interesting art museums.
This day trip is great if you had enough people in Barcelona and you’re looking for some quiet time in nature on the coast.
Option 5: Tarragona
Tarragona makes for an exceptional day trip from Barcelona due to its wide range of attractions.
Some of the best things to do in Tarragona are to explore the Roman ruins of the city like the Amphitheater, the Circus Maximus, and the Roman Forum.
You can also relax on one of its beautiful beaches or stroll through the charming streets of the old town. And don’t forget to check out the street art scene in Tarragona!
All in all, I had a great time in this charming coastal city and I think Tarragona is worth a day trip.
Best Time to Visit Barcelona
The best time to visit Barcelona is in Spring or Fall. In summer it’s too crowded in the city and in winter you can’t take advantage of the ocean.
Where to Stay in Barcelona for 3 days
Barcelona has plenty of accommodation options. There’s bound to be the perfect place for everyone.
- The ME Barcelona is one of the best hotels in the city. It has a rooftop pool and is in an excellent location near the popular Plaça de Catalunya, one of the main squares in Barcelona.
- Room Mate Pau is a beautiful hotel in the city centre with a modern interior design. You can even get your own affordable suite with a rooftop terrace.
- Factory Apartments Barcelona is a beautiful, spacious apartment in a great location. The only downside is the unreliable WiFi.
- On my last visit to Barcelona, I stayed at the Seventy Hotel which has a great rooftop pool. Read my review of the Seventy Hotel to find out if it’s the right fit for you.
Getting around Barcelona in three days
Even though Barcelona is a very big city it’s possible to walk to the main attractions.
There’s also a very good public transportation system which is easily navigated even for tourists who don’t speak Catalan or Spanish.
The metro lines connect the whole city and you can buy tickets from the machine at the stations.
Should you spend more time in Barcelona?
With a Barcelona three day itinerary you can see the best things Barcelona has to offer and you can even do a day trip. I think it’s a great amount of time to visit Barcelona.
If you spend 4 days in Barcelona you can do all the things from this Barcelona weekend itinerary and you have time to look for the best viewing point in Barcelona. You can also spend more time exploring the attractions.
In 5 days in Barcelona, you even have time to take a Spanish cooking class or you can do 2-day trips.
FAQs about 3 days in Barcelona
Is 3 days enough time in Barcelona?
It’s possible to experience the best things to see in Barcelona in 3 days.
How many days is best for Barcelona?
Three or four days is the perfect amount of time to visit Barcelona. You can do all the top things to do in Barcelona in 3 days and if you have 4 days you can do everything more slowly and add a few additional sights.
Barcelona what to do in 3 days?
In three days you can visit the top attractions in Barcelona, like the Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, La Rambla, Gothic Quarter, Ciutadella Park and others and you even have time for one day trip.
🤩 Get skip-the-line access to Sagrada Familia and Park Güell
Final Thoughts: Barcelona in 3 days
Barcelona is such an amazing city in Spain, you can easily spend a month there, like I did, without getting bored but I think three days in Barcelona is the perfect amount of time to get to know the city.
With 3 days in Barcelona itinerary, you get to see the best attractions in Barcelona and you have time for one day trip. And there are a lot of amazing day trip opportunities from Barcelona.
You can also very easily incorporate this 3-day itinerary for Barcelona into a bigger 10-day itinerary for Spain.
Read more about Barcelona:
- 10 Absolute Best Free Things to Do in Barcelona
- Barcelona 3 Day Itinerary For an Epic Weekend Getaway
- 10 Must-See Gaudí Buildings In Barcelona (With Map)
- Best Gaudi Tours in Barcelona
- La Sagrada Família: The Most Famous Church in Barcelona
- Is Barcelona Overrated? Why I Don’t Think It Is
- Barcelona Viewpoints to Get the Best View of Barcelona
- The 13 Best Vegan Restaurants in Barcelona
- Best Vegan Breakfast in Barcelona in All-Vegan Restaurants
- Vegan in Barcelona: A Perfect Day with Sightseeing and Food
- Best Day Trips from Barcelona by Train
- Girona Day Trip from Barcelona by Train
- Dali Inspired Day Trip From Barcelona To Cadaqués
- A Day Trip to Andorra from Barcelona
- Epic Day Trip from Barcelona to Sitges by Train
- Best Day Trip from Barcelona to Zaragoza by Train
