Four days in Barcelona: The perfect itinerary for the Catalan capital
Barcelona is a must visit destination for any traveller. Its history, culture, architecture, bustling culinary scene, Mediterranean climate and nightlife makes it our favourite European city destination. We visited the enchanting city in January 2024, and this is how we spent our four days.
Visit La Sagrada Familia
The Sagrada Familia, located in the Eixample Right District, dominates the skyline of the city. We couldn’t pass on the opportunity to have breakfast at the many cafes surrounding this wonderful building.
After purchasing an audio guide and learning more about the basilica, it became more breathtaking. There’s far more to this building than what first meets the eye. Anton Gaudi designed this building in 1882 to depict the life and death of Jesus Christ. It really is a sight to behold. To tell a story through architecture makes this building awe-inspiring. If you visit, be sure to make time to do a guided or audio tour. Book in advance, especially in peak tourist season. Our entry and audio tour cost €34.50pp (approx. £29pp). This is the only way to fully understand the impeccable attention to detail.
Visit Spotify Camp Nou
If you are a football fanatic like Dylan, make sure you add this to your itinerary. FC Barcelona is more than just a club (mes que un club), it’s an institution for sporting success. We prebooked our tour and museum entry directly on the FC Barcelona website, costing us €28pp (approx. £23.50). Being a Leeds United fan, Dylan had never seen so many trophies in one place. Unfortunately, we visited whilst the construction of the new stadium was taking place, so we missed out on the stadium tour. However, the museum was a great experience, and we are planning a trip back to do the stadium tour when the construction is complete, hopefully in early 2026.
Visit Parc Güell
Parc Guell is about a 30-minute walk from the Sagrada Familia, located in La Salut. If you don’t fancy the uphill walk, you can get a taxi, metro or bus. The park really is an interesting place. We booked tickets through GetYourGuide for €10pp (approx. £8.50pp), however, the admission tickets have now risen to €18pp.
The whole area is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It was designed by Gaudi and looks like something out of a fairytale with quirky buildings and gingerbread houses. Gaudi lived in the ‘Casa Rosada’ which you can visit within the park. It’s lovely to walk around but we think the price rise has made it a little overpriced. The city views are amazing but if you want a good photo without people photobombing the background, you’ll have to wait a while. Make sure you take a bottle of water with you if visiting in the summer as the café is pricey for food and drink.
Visit Barceloneta and Barcelona Cathedral
To escape the hustle and bustle of the centre and unwind after sightseeing, visiting Barceloneta is a must. This neighbourhood of Barcelona is where you will find the beach. As we went in January the beach and promenade were quiet and this made it the perfect place to relax in the winter sun. The promenade itself is littered with tapas bars and eateries, a favourite of ours being Tapa Tapa.
Whilst walking the narrow, winding streets of the Barri Gotic, we stumbled across this beautiful cathedral. Known by many as the Barcelona cathedral, its actual name is The Cathedral of The Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia. Built during the late 12th and 13th centuries, this building is a prime example of gothic architecture. At sunset, on the Avenida de la Catedral, there was a lovely singer which created a romantic atmosphere. If it’s date night you are after, soak up this romantic atmosphere over some tapas and vinos at one of the restaurants on the Avenida.
Visit Parc de la Ciutadella
After having breakfast just outside the Arco de Trionfo, we decided to cross the road and take a morning stroll through this splendid park. Little did we know that a fortress once occupied this area. This park acts as a great place if you just want a relaxing morning, or as a refuge for relaxation after a day of exploration. There are some great things to see whilst walking such as the fountain, lake and the Catalan Parliament headquarters. So do what we did, grab an ice-cream and a coffee and unwind.
Visit the Barcelona Zoo
Located in the Parc de la Ciutadella, this zoo is one of the oldest in the world and has been open since the 19th century. You can pay on arrival at one of the kiosks, it cost us €21 (approx. £18) each. You can also book directly through this website for the same price. It seems expensive, but this zoo is huge and worth the money. We would recommend this if you are looking to do something other than shopping or sightseeing. The grounds are exceptionally maintained and split into 11 different spaces, allowing you to travel the world and view a vast array of animals all in a day.
Walk down La Rambla
The most famous street in the city, La Rambla de Barcelona, links the Placa Catalunya with the Old Port. This Street is pulsating with restaurants, bars and places to shop, however, it is synonymous with pickpocketing. Make sure you are aware of your surroundings and always look after your belongings. For us pickpocketing was not an issue. We were, however, caught in the tourist trap and ended up paying a fortune for food and drink. If you do wish to eat and drink here, make sure you ask to see a price list first as we paid €30 just for two beers.
If you walk down a side-street close to the bottom of La Rambla, you will stumble across El Bosc de les Fades. This is our favourite Cafe-bar in Barcelona. It’s one of the most unique bars we have ever been into. It is centred around nature and fantasy and is a feast for the senses with various rooms and waxworks allowing different experiences. The backdrop noises of rain and thunder were extremely relaxing. Check it out, you won’t be disappointed!
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