Short Breaks To Spain: 4-Day Barcelona Itinerary
Barcelona is the perfect destination for a weekend getaway. The weather, architecture, delicious food and friendly people make Barcelona a bucket-list city. Here’s a 4-Day Itinerary in Barcelona to ensure you see the best attractions and enjoy some of the most amazing foods in Spain.
My best tip for city breaks and weekend travels is a hop on/off bus. We’ve all seen the movies of older people or the corny tourists on hop on/off buses, but they’re the smart ones. Barcelona is a large city with the main attractions spread throughout. Instead of spending hours walking or paying for expensive taxis, tourist buses take you directly to the attractions which reduces the time you spend in the Barcelona heat. The company I recommend is Bus Turistic.
When it comes to the top attractions to see in Barcelona, it’s all about Antoni Gaudi. You don’t have to see every single attraction to have a wonderful trip, but to skip out on experiencing Antoni Gaudi’s work would mean your trip was incomplete. If you’re short on time, the #1 must-see is La Sagrada Familia. I can guarantee once you’ve seen one, you’ll want to see all and the best way to see all, is through a hop on/off bus!
Day 1 – Barcelona Beach Day
The first day is slow-paced as it’s the day you arrive at Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport. I recommend arriving as early as possible to allow a full day of exploring. Drop your bags at your hotel for free bag storage and head to Plaça de Catalunya. Hop onto BusTurístic Red Route for a day at the beach! You can purchase a 24h or 48h ticket in advance on the website or right at the bus stop. The Red Route will take you to Port Olímpic where you can see the GoldFish sculpture and walk down to Praia de Somorrostro Beach for a day in the sun!
Where To Eat
Port Olímpic: Check out Restaurant Agua for a fresh seafood lunch!
After exploring, you can return to your hotel for the 2-3 pm check-in. In the early evening, you can walk back through the vibrant Plaça de Catalunya on your way to Barcelona City Hall to experience a Flamenco Dance. This traditional dance is filled with so much passion, that it’s a must-see.
Tip: The front-row tickets are worth the extra Euro as you can see the way the performers’ feet move throughout the dances.
Day 2 – Antoni Gaudi
The second day is all about Antoni Gaudi. This is when you’ll walk to Plaça de Catalunya and hop on BusTuristic’s Blue Route. The best time to see Sagrada Familia is early morning. I recommend taking the bus to Sagrada Familia first to avoid the crowds and then hop back on to head to Park Güell.
Where To Eat
Park Güell: Walk to Bar Restaurante Casi or Comida de Olla for tapas and sangria for lunch!
After lunch, hop back onto the bus and head to Casa Batlló and Casa Mila. I recommend getting the Silver Ticket for Casa Batlló as it comes with a virtual reality tablet which brings the house to life.
Each location will take about 2hrs to explore.
Tip: At Park Güell, exit from the same location you entered to prevent getting lost in the city like I did.
Day 3 – Free Things To Do In Barcelona
On your third morning, you will walk back to Plaça de Catalunya and hop onto BurTuristic’s Red Route. This route will take you to Ciutadella Park where you will explore the most magical green oasis for free! A short walk from the park is Arc de Triomf. Here you can capture your iconic Barcelona photos and watch street performers.
Crazy Things To Do In Barcelona: A Photoshoot! You can book a local photographer through Airbnb Experiences and they will capture you at the tourist attractions. Some photographers even teach you how to pose!
Where To Eat
Arc de Triomf: Check out Sr. Ceviche for seafood tapas or La Froga for a cheaper option for lunch!
Walk back to the bus pickup spot and allow it to whisk you away to Plaça d’Espanya and then Montjuïc for the free magical views. At Montjuïc, you can tour The National Art Museum of Catalunya (free Sundays 3pm) or watch the light show at the Magic Fountain. The perfect way to end day 3.
Day 4 – Barcelona Street Food
The fourth day will be the most chilled because it’s either your last full day or you’re flying out today. I recommend leaving your bags at the hotel and flying out in the evening. First stop, La Rambla. Stroll down the strip and interact with the local vendors and street performers. This is also a great time to buy your favorite souvenirs. Along La Rambla, a street corner will lead you to the bustling Mercado de la Boqueria. I recommend getting there before 1 pm, to avoid the shoulder-to-shoulder packed crowd.
The must-haves from La Boqueria are the squid and egg from El Quim and the fresh juices and oysters from the many vendors!
Balance The 9-5 & Travel
The best way to maintain a 9-5 and still pursue travel is to make the most of bank holidays. A 4-day holiday can be stretched from Friday – Monday if you include the bank holiday. If you’re willing to use a day or two of paid holiday, it’s cheaper to travel on Sunday and return Wednesday morning in time to log into work. There are great flight deals around Europe for Sunday mornings.
Where To Stay In Barcelona For The First Time
If this is your first time visiting Barcelona, I recommend staying in the city center as it allows you to easily walk to La Rambla and Plaça de Catalunya to catch the hop on/off bus. When visiting European hotels, a balcony with great views makes the trip feel extra special.
Here Are 3 Barcelona Hotels With A Balcony:
- Catalonia Passeig de Gracia
- NH Collection Barcelona Podium
- Hotel Pulitzer Barcelona
How To Get Around Barcelona
- Taxi – You can find a taxi right outside of Barcelona-El Prat Airport. Barcelona taxi prices from the airport to the city center will cost about €35-50. Once you get into the center, taxis can be found everywhere, especially at tourist attractions. The easiest way to get a taxi is to hail one down.
- Uber – The Uber app works throughout Barcelona and the best part is it allows you the option to book an Uber or a yellow & black taxi cab!
- Hop On/Off Bus – Tourist buses can be found at Plaça de Catalunya for your convenience. I recommend Bus Turistic for the roofless upper deck seats and air-conditioned lower deck. They offer a 24h and 48h ticket that starts not when you buy the ticket, but when you first hop onto the bus.
- Aerobus – Barcelona provides an amazing airport transfer shuttle called Aerobus. The shuttle takes you between Barcelona-El Prat Airport and Plaça de Catalunya. Tickets can be purchased ahead of time on the website or right before your trip at the kiosks at Plaça de Catalunya.