How many days do you need in Barcelona?

From its incredible cuisine and 5km stretch of beach, to awe-inspiring Catalan Art Nouveau art and architecture, there are so many reasons to visit Barcelona. As a result, it’s nigh impossible to put a timeframe on how many days in Barcelona is enough. While our honest answer (as long as you can!) isn’t that helpful, here we share rewarding ways to enjoy 2, 3 and 4 days in the capital of Spain’s Catalunya region, which we hope will be helpful while you plan your trip to this impossibly cool and cultured city. 

How many days do you need to see Barcelona?

Chances are, however long you spend in Barcelona on a first-time trip, you’ll be left longing to return. So, let’s go with 3-4 days as a decent first-time minimum. 

That said, with planning, and through focussing on what you most want from you trip, it’s possible to come away with a flavorsome feel for the city in just a couple of days. So, below we also cover how to experience Barca in all its arty glory in just two days.

Struggling to plan your own Spanish vacation? See our Spain itineraries for inspiration, among them a sensational Spain itinerary for 10 days, and 14 days.

Short on time? No problem — take a look at our Spain itinerary for 7 days, or contact our local travel experts to have them curate your perfect vacation for any duration.

2 days in Barcelona

Bursting with history, art, architecture, amazing food, and beautiful beaches, here’s how to make the most of two days in Barcelona.

Suggested itinerary

If you’re limited to a couple of days in the city, we suggest focussing on the glorious Gothic Quarter and Gaudí’s masterpieces on day one, followed by soaking up some of Barca’s beautiful parks and beach on your second day. And all interspersed by appreciating the best tapas bars in Barcelona.

Day 1

On day one, rise early to discover Gaudí’s masterpieces before peak crowds descend on the likes of his splendid UNESCO-designated Sagrada Familia.

Hailed the most extraordinary church in the world, Sagrada Familia presents an inventive blend of Gothic and Art Nouveau styles. Though construction began back in 1882, it’s still not finished, with a completion date set for 2030 (at the earliest).

Once completed, the central tower will reach a height of 172.5 meters, making it the tallest church in the world. Inside is no less magnificent, thanks to stained glass windows that create a kaleidoscope of colors, conjuring the feel of an enchanted forest. 

After being wowed by Sagrada Familia, take a stroll along the luxurious Passeig de Gràcia – Barcelona’s equivalent of the Champs-Élysées or Fifth Avenue. Alongside being home to swathes of designer stores, it also showcases some of Barcelona’s best modernist buildings.

Take Casa Batlló (the House of Bones), for example. From its bone-like columns, to the curved roof that resembles a dragon, Gaudí’s most colorful creation exudes fantastical fairy tale vibes inspired by the sea.

After also taking the time to view Gaudi’s futuristic “La Pedrera” (Stone Quarry) building, enjoy lunch at the El Nacional food hall before spending the afternoon in Barca’s glorious Barri Gòtic (Gothic Quarter).

With the medieval La Seu cathedral at its heart, this district invites visitors to step back in time. While most buildings were created in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, it also contains the remains of the city's Roman walls.

Alongside appreciating its architecture, be sure to explore Barri Gòtic’s galleries and antique shops. If you’re into art, you might want to head to La Ribera to visit the Picasso Museum.

Day 2

On your second day in Barcelona, set out early to explore Park Güell — Gaudí’s fantastical park. Again, it’s best to book tickets in advance.

Another of the city’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites, this is Gaudí’s most ambitious project after Sagrada Família.

if you can draw yourself away from being captivated by the park’s extraordinary Dragon Stairway, serpent sculptures, and giant gingerbread houses, its hilltop location serves stunning views.

Come the afternoon, hit Barceloneta Beach to relax or walk along the pretty promenade. 

Then, when you’ve had your fill of sand and sea, explore Port Vell harbor before heading to La Rambla, which happens to be among the world’s greatest streets to wander. 

Aside from shopping or stopping for lunch of coffee, head to the La Rambla’s lower end to see the colossal Columbus monument.

3 days in Barcelona

With an extra day in the city, we suggest you soak up more of what the city’s most known for. Namely, magnificent art, mind-blowing scenery, and…food.

Suggested itinerary

Devote your additional day in Barcelona to experiencing the magic of Montjuïc Hill and its (ahem!) Magic Fountain before visiting more of the city’s world-class museums and eateries. 

Day 3

Spend the morning at Montjuïc Hill — one of Barcelona’s most scenic spots, thanks to its hilltop views, gardens and historic landmarks, with museums also on hand to satisfy art lovers. 

To reach the top of the hill to soak up said views of the city, harbor and Mediterranean Sea, you could walk (around 20 minutes to the park; 40 to Montjuïc Castle) or else take the cable car or funicular.

On arrival, take time to explore Montjuïc Castle, a 17th-century fortress that was formerly used for military defense, the Mirador de l’Alcalde terrace, and Montjuïc Olympic Park, which hosted the 1992 Summer Olympics.

We also recommend strolling Jardins de Joan Brossa — a peaceful park that boasts a bounty of sculptures — and Jardins de Mossèn Costa i Llobera, one of the largest cactus gardens in Europe. Meanwhile, Montjuïc Botanical Garden showcases plants from around the world.

If culture’s your thing, head to Fundació Joan Miró, a museum dedicated to Catalan surrealist artist Joan Miró, and Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya to see Romanesque, Gothic and Catalan modernist art.

When you head back down the hill, stop off to see the Magic Fountain on Plaça d’Espanya at the base of Montjuïc, though the free evening light, water and music show is off the table at the time of writing (mooted to start up in August 2025).

After lunch, head to the nearby open-air museum space of Poble Espanyol. Built in 1929, it boasts replicas of 117 real-life scale buildings from different Spanish regions.

Next, spend you last evening in the city enjoying tapas and drinks in the Poble-sec area, or else return to Barceloneta beach for sunset drink at a beach bar followed by dining on paella or fresh seafood.

4 days in Barcelona

With an additional 24 hours in Barcelona, you could include a day trip in your itinerary, depending on your interests and budget.

Suggested itinerary

From heading to Sitges to enjoy a day by the beach, to walking on the wilder side in Montserrat, here are a few options for what to do on day four of your Barcelona break. 

Day 4

Just 40 minutes by train from Barcelona, the seaside town of Sitges is an easy day trip to take from the city.

On arrival, explore the pretty old town, rest up on the beach, and visit Casa Bacardí to learn about local Bacardi rum heritage. If that wasn’t enough, you could visit Garraf Natural Park to enjoy a walk in nature.

Alternatively, take a one-hour train from Plaça d’Espanya to Montserrat, where a cable car can take you up the mountain.

Alongside visiting Montserrat Monastery, museum and hermitage caves, the mountain boasts footpaths and trails for all abilities. 

If you arrive early enough and are into more challenging hikes, tackle the route to Sant Jeroni before returning to Barcelona for dinner.

A third suggestion for day 4 is to visit elegant Girona. Used as a Game of Thrones location, it’s one of Spain’s most beautiful medieval cities and can reached by train in around 1.5 hours.

Best area to stay in Barcelona

The best place to stay in Barcelona will, of course, depend on your personal preferences, not to mention your budget. 

With that in mind, here are a few suggestions of areas to consider, covering different tastes. 

Plaça de Catalunya: best for first-time visitors

First-timers would do well to check out accommodation in Plaça de Catalunya.

Located in the heart of the city, at the top of La Rambla and within walking distance of the Gothic Quarter, staying here means you’ll be close to tons of top attractions and lively places to eat and drink.

Barri Gòtic: best for buzz, atmosphere and sight-seeing

Home to stacks of historic sights, Barri Gòtic is also a hub for culture. Its narrow winding streets are lined with beautiful old buildings that house hotels, boutiques, bars and restaurants.

As a result, accommodation in Barri Gòtic is often of the charming variety, but expect to hear noise from said bars and restaurants.

Sarrià-Sant Gervasi: best for families

Things to know before going Barcelona

Daily budget

Good news — whether you’re looking for a luxurious break or need to stick to a budget, both ends of the spending scale are well covered in Barcelona, thanks to a huge range of accommodation and places to eat.

Given that the daily budget needed for a stay in Barcelona will depend on your travel style, here we share ballpark average costs for three-night mid-range stays in the city.

• Minimum budget: budget €600-€700 ($660-$770) to stay in budget hotels, hostels or Airbnbs, eat in casual spots, and get around on foot, with some use of public transport.
• Comfortable mid-range budget: budget €900-€1,050 ($1,000-$1,155) to stay in a good 3-4-star hotel, dine in a mix of casual and upscale places, and visit multiple attractions.

Need to keep your spending in check? Discover fabulous free things to do in Barcelona.

How to get around Barcelona

Boasting an efficient, affordable public transport system, Barcelona is very easy to get around. Here’s an overview of the city’s main transport options. 

Metro

With single tickets costing €2.55, if you’re spending a few days in the city, you might want to invest in a Hola Barcelona Card. 

With cards covering 48 or 72 hours, this will give you unlimited travel, including use of the airport metro. 

Key Metro lines to be aware of are the red L, which covers Plaça de Catalunya and Arc de Triomf, the green L3 (La Rambla, Passeig de Gràcia and Park Güell), and the blue L5, which covers Sagrada Familia and Hospital de Sant Pau.

Trams

For trips to beaches and the suburbs, trams are usually the best option. 

For example, T4, T5 and T6 trams go to Sant Adrià, Fòrum, and lots of beachside locations.

Buses

Best for reaching places not covered by the metro, key bus routes include Bus 24 (this runs from Plaça Catalunya to Park Güell), and Bus 150, which covers Plaça d’Espanya to Montjuïc Castle.

Trains 

Planning to enjoy a day trip? You’ll most likely need to take a train from Passeig de Gràcia Station to reach Sitges and Montserrat, while Sants Station is the main hub for long-distance and high-speed trains.

How to get to Barcelona

Being a major international hub, Barcelona is served by frequent direct flights from major U.S. and U.K. cities, as well as convenient one-stop options via European hubs. 

The main airport — Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport — is located about 15 km from the city center.

From the US

Several airlines operate nonstop flights from the United States to Barcelona from several cities, including New York (JFK and EWR), Boston, Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington D.C.  

For other U.S. cities, you’ll likely need to make a one-stop flight via a European hub like London, Paris, Amsterdam or Madrid.

The flight time from the East Coast is around 8-9 hours, while flights from the West Coast take 11-12 hours.

From the UK

Traveling from the UK? Flights to Barcelona are short (e.g. 2-2.5 hours from London) and frequent.

Routes from multiple London airports, Manchester, Edinburgh, Bristol and Glasgow are served by several airlines, including budget airlines like Ryanair, easyJet and Jet2.

For more context, read up on getting to Spain.

Plan your trip with Rough Guides

While planning your trip to Barcelona, read our guide to how to plan a trip to Spain. 

The in-depth Rough Guide to Barcelona will also be your best friend when it comes to deciding what to see, how to get from A to B, and where to sleep, shop, eat and drink, with the Pocket Rough Guide to Barcelona ideal for shorter trips.

Or, if you don’t fancy the  hassle of planning your own trip, consider booking one of our customisable Spain itineraries.

Whether you’re looking to spend all your time in Barcelona, or fancy seeing more of the country on, for example, a Spain itinerary for 7 days, Spain itinerary for 10 days, or 14 days, our local travel experts can curate your perfect vacation for any duration.