How to spend a weekend in Barcelona: 3 Day Itinerary

A weekend in Barcelona is the perfect amount of time to get a taste of this beautiful, coastal Spanish city.

Overview of Barcelona

Barcelona is the second biggest city in Spain and very famous for its Gothic architecture, unique Catalan culture, and beach lifestyle.

Barcelona is a part of Catalonia, a region in the north of Spain close to the French border. Although Catalonia is part of Spain, the region has a centuries old dispute with Spain over becoming an autonomous region. Today, there is still a bit of tension among some Catalan people, and you will see many Catalan flags displayed throughout the city of Barcelona, which is the region’s capital.

What language do they speak in Barcelona?

Although Castilian Spanish is widely spoken, the official language of Barcelona and the rest of Catalonia is Catalan. Catalan is a completely different language from Spanish, although it is still a Latin based language. The words are very similar to French, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish, but Catalan is still its own language. There are other regions of Spain that also speak dialects of Catalan, such as the Alicante and Valencia regions and in the Balearic islands.

What to pack for a weekend in Barcelona

In the summer, Barcelona is a vibrant beach town and can be very hot! Look for some nice sundresses, linen pants, and comfortable shoes, as you will be walking a lot!

In winter, Barcelona still tends to be a bit warmer than the rest of Europe. Check the weather before you go but maybe bring a sweater and a thicker coat to throw on for extra cold days.

Where to stay in Barcelona

There are endless options when looking for lodging in Barcelona. Staying in the Gothic quarter is a nice option, as you’re staying close to many of the sights. Eixample is also a nice neighborhood which isn’t too far from everything you want to see.

Casa Lolita is a really nice option. Centrally located and modern, while still not too expensive.

For hostels, I recommend St. Christopher’s Barcelona. It’s very social and easy to meet people, but you can still get some peace and quiet if you don’t want to be in a party hostel.

How to get around Barcelona

Public transport, such as the metro, is very easy to navigate in Barcelona. Most of the city is walkable, and if not, you can always hop on the metro or take an Uber.

Public transport is safe, but be careful of your valuables in crowds and when walking around the extremely tourist areas.

Day 1

Morning

Visit the Gothic Quarter

Start your morning by eating some breakfast or grabbing a coffee in the Gothic Quarter and wandering the neighborhood. Visit the Cathedral and admire the Gothic architecture and unique shops in the heart of Barcelona.

Walk along Las Ramblas

While in the Gothic Quarter, head over to the main street of Las Ramblas, a popular street that stretches from the Plaça de Catalunya to the Port Vell. Take your time looking through the various stalls and shopping in nearby stores along the way.

Afternoon

Shop around in La Boqueria

Right off of Las Ramblas is a massive food market called La Boqueria. You will find vendors selling fruits, Spanish ham, seafood, chocolate, and anything else you can imagine. Near the back of the market there are little booths that are like small restaurants, so you can stop and have a bite to eat inside the market before continuing your sightseeing in Barcelona. In Spain, it’s traditional to eat lunch later in the day, such as 2 or 3 pm.

Visit the Picasso museum

After lunch, check out the Picasso museum. Pablo Picasso was a Spanish artist and this museum holds an impressive collection of 4251 pieces of his work. The museum is definitely an interesting site when visiting Barcelona.

Evening

Traditional tapas dinner

Finally, after resting up a bit, head out on the town for a traditional Spanish tapas dinner. Tapas are small plates of food, made for sharing between family or friends. Do as the Spanish do and have a late dinner (9 pm onwards) and try some traditional Spanish tapas, such as croquetas, patatas bravas, and the famous Catalan dessert: crema catalana.

Day 2

Morning

Admire Casa Batlló

Visit Casa Batlló, one of Barcelona’s most famous buildings. It was designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, who also designed other iconic buildings and sights in Barcelona. Gaudí was a leader of the Modernism movement, and his works are inspired by nature and religion.

The Casa Batlló is also known as the “House of Bones”, as it has a somewhat skeletal appearance. You can visit the inside of the building to take in Gaudí’s unique style of architecture.

Visit La Sagrada Familia

Next, you’ll head to an even more famous work by Gaudí: the Sagrada Familia.

La Sagrada Familia is one of the most famous landmarks in Barcelona and an icon of modernist architecture. Construction for this massive basilica began in 1882. However, Gaudi was only able to see a small portion of the church completed before his death in 1926. Since then, several architects have continued Gaudí’s work on the basilica, and it is still under construction today.

The completion date of La Sagrada Familia is currently projected to be in 2026, which will mark the 100th anniversary of Gaudí’s death. There have been several setbacks though, due to complexity of the construction process, loss of funding, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, the project is still ongoing and visitors can witness the progress of the construction as they visit the basilica.

Afternoon

Have lunch near the cathedral

After visiting the cathedral, hang around the area for a nice lunch. Maybe this time, find a paella restaurant and enjoy this traditional Spanish rice dish. If you don’t want to look like a tourist, you MUST east paella during the day, and NEVER at dinner.

Wander around Parc Guëll

Next, head to another famous work of Gaudí: Parc Guëll. Parc Guëll is a park in the northern part of the city filled with many colorful architectural elements. As you walk through the park, you’ll find stairs of mosaics, vibrant statues of salamanders and iguanas, and the House of Gaudí.

Tip: Book your tickets for the park in advance to be sure that you receive entry. Spots are allocated by time slots.

Evening

Dinner in Gracia

Finally, after visiting the park, you can head to the nearby neighborhood of Gracia for cute bistros and restaurants to choose from.

Day 3

Morning

Head over to Barceloneta

On your third day in Barcelona, head to the coast and soak up some sun on the beach!

You can get to the beach via Uber, public transport, or simply walking depending on where you’re staying in the city! Locals and tourists alike come to the Barceloneta beach to enjoy the sea and sunshine.

Although the beach in Barcelona is nice, it’s still a city beach! If you want to see real Mediterranean beaches, take a day trip from Barcelona to the nearby coastal towns.

Afternoon

Seafood lunch in Barceloneta neighborhood

Visit one of the beach restaurants or head further into the neighborhood to have some fresh seafood right on the seaside.

Climb up to Parc Montjuic

Montjuic is a former fortress and museum that tells a lot about the history of Catalonia! It’s a great way to learn a bit more about the Catalan culture, plus you’ll be treated to views over the whole city.
You’ll need to take a cable car to get to the top, which costs 15 euros round trip.

Book cable car here

↓ Check out the view! ↓

Evening

Enjoy dinner in El Raval neighborhood

Finally, to end your 3 days in Barcelona, head to El Raval neighborhood for a nice dinner. This up and coming neighborhood has been gaining popularity in recent years and boasts spectacular restaurants to enjoy one last Spanish meal before you leave.

If you have more time to spend in Barcelona, definitely take some time to do a day trip and explore a bit outside the city!