Last updated: June 18 2025
Your Barcelona travel itinerary must include visiting architectural marvels and indulging in Spanish tapas. If you’re a fan of wondrous architectural design, then Barcelona is the place to visit. Top sights to see include La Sagrada Familia, Parc Güell, and my personal favourite, Palau de la Música.
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Barcelona is enthralling and enchanting. This magical city was on my bucket list after I read The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón (a must-read for anyone who loves stories about books mixed with romance and a touch of murder).
You can’t enjoy Barcelona without indulging in tapas. There are restaurants on every corner serving these delightful, shareable, finger foods. Don’t worry if you’re vegetarian or vegan, Spanish cuisine encompasses all sorts of ingredients. You’re sure to find something to suit your diet.
If your Barcelona 3 day travel guide allows it, I recommend taking a side trip to Valencia. I’ve included a short Valencia travel guide here too. Valencia is where medieval architecture meets the super modern City of Sciences. It’s also the birthplace of paella which must be on any gourmand’s list of dishes to try.
Dive into my Barcelona travel tips for where to stay, sightseeing recommendations, and foodie suggestions.
Know Before You Go
Some essential information to add to your Barcelona travel itinerary before you go.
Main languages spoken: Spanish (or Castilian Spanish) in addition to languages spoken in autonomous regions (such as Catalan in Catalonia, a region largely associated with Barcelona).
Currency: the EURO
Voltage and plug adapter: Spain runs on 230V and uses the round pin plugs. Stock up on some adapters handling voltage range between 220 – 240V. See my post on essential items to pack in your carry-on for tips on what plug adapters to buy.
Major Train Station: Barcelona Sants
Major Airports: Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN)
When is the best time to visit Barcelona?
The best time to visit Barcelona is April or October. The city is a bit cooler during this time and there are generally less crowds. These are also the best months for participating in festivals.
Getting to Barcelona
There are lots of direct flights going into Barcelona. If you’re already in Europe, flying budget airlines like EasyJet or Ryanair are good and cheap options.
High-speed rail is also an easy and convenient option. Reserve tickets online and you might even score some business class or first class tickets on the cheap!
How to take the airport shuttle to downtown Barcelona
Save time and headache by catching the Aerobus airport shuttle to get from the airport to Barcelona’s city centre. A one-way ticket costs about 7,45 EURO.
Check the site for official timetables, maps, and to buy tickets in advance. The shuttle runs everyday and is very frequent. It’s a cost-effective way to get to downtown if you don’t have a lot of luggage.
Where to Stay in Barcelona
As much as I love exploring a new place, I prize a good night’s sleep after a long day. Chic & Basic Zoo gave me that in addition to being in a great location.
Hotel Name: Chic & Basic: Zoo
Location: Passeig de Picasso, 22, Ciutat Vella, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
If you like chic, functional, but hotels with zany nicknames, then this one’s for you. It’s a boutique hotel company with several locations across Barcelona. They’ve all got creative nicknames, and the one I stayed in was called Zoo, because it was near the park with the Barcelona zoo.
Don’t worry! There weren’t any freaky animal sounds at night. The hotel is quiet, clean, comfy, and, like the name says, chic and basic and in a great location.
I’m all about a good sleep after a day of exploring, so this place is out of the way but only a few minutes walk to Las Ramblas. It’s also close to Barceloneta beach if you’re looking to spend a day at the beach in the city.
What to See and Do in Barcelona
Your list of things to do in Barcelona in 3 days should include touring some architectural gems. Make sure to include them in your Barcelona travel itinerary!
Immerse in Spanish classical music at the Palau de la Música
Music is something I always try to incorporate into my trips. I walked into the Palau de la Música on the spur of the moment to see what show I could catch that evening.
I’m glad I did because I thought I had walked into King Triton’s palace that evening! It’s a gorgeous venue with stained glass ceilings and ornate sculptures. The amorphous look of the building makes it seem as if it was molded from sand and baked until solid.
I caught a flamenco show with guitarists and dancers that night. The music: passionate. The dancing: heart-pounding! It was absolutely mesmerizing to be in this concert hall and to witness the fervent performance. The Palau de la Música is a wondrous sight and definitely a highlight of my trip.
Marvel at La Sagrada Familia
I think it’s a marvel, but there are plenty who think this marvellous architectural wonder is a blight on the Barcelona skyline. Regardless of your stance, I think witnessing Gaudi’s masterpiece that’s been under construction for over 140 years is a cultural privilege.
The cathedral is designed with multi-coloured stained glass, which let in a kaleidoscope of light into the cavernous space. The forest of columns ressemble lungs breathing in the sanctity of the sanctuary.
La Sagrada Familia is like a giant sand castle rising from the ground. Notice the brutalist designs of the lizards and other creatures on the exterior parts of the church. Gaudi apparently didn’t work from blueprints, but from his imagination. It’s one of the reasons it’s taking such a long time to complete. Make sure to buy tickets in advance to skip the line up!
Celebrate the whimsical at Parc Güell
Another famous place designed by Gaudi that should be on your Barcelona travel itinerary. It has a famous lizard under the park surrounded by columns. Mosaics adorn the walls and everything is fluid and water-like.
Buy tickets in advance! Parc Güell is located in the suburbs and getting to the park will require a tough-ish hike up some huge hills and stairs. Make sure to wear the right shoes.
Stroll down the festive streets of Las Ramblas
Ah, the most famous road in Barcelona. Las Ramblas extremely touristy, but, all the same, it’s still festive and quite fun. This street is great for shopping for trinkets and it’s lined with bars.
I would not recommend eating at any of the restaurants here. They will charge you a fortune for mediocrity.
Whether or not you add Las Ramblas to your list of things to do on your Barcelona travel itinerary, remember to watch out for pickpockets and petty theft. It gets pretty rowdy at night here too, so definitely keep an eye out for mischief and stay safe.
Sip craft beer in El Raval
This was the artist’s quarter when I visited here back in 2019. It’s a bit off the beaten path with craft beer pubs; great for a pub crawl if you’re up for that. It’s a nice street to get off the hustle and bustle of Las Ramblas.
Where to eat in Barcelona for Fresh Seafood
No Barcelona travel itinerary is complete without indulging in some fresh seafood. Don’t fret if you’re not a fish person; there are lots of dishes to try in Barcelona.
But get your lunch before siesta time!
Most restaurants in Spain close their kitchens for a siesta around 2 or 3 PM. They usually don’t reopen again until 5 pm, or even later.
Most restaurants will keep their bars open, so you can always sit down and have a beer, but they usually don’t serve food during this time.
You might find some restaurants with the sign la cucina non-stop meaning the kitchens are open for the entire day. These types of restaurants are usually located in tourist areas.
Savour fresh fish at St. Josephs Market (La Boqueria)
St. Joseph’s Market (or La Boqueria) is a seafood amusement park! Don’t fret if you’re not a huge fish fan. The fish here is fresh, which means no fishy smelling fish. Hint: if your fish ever tastes fishy, it’s rotten. Dump it out.
You should at least admire the fish even if you’re not a fan of seafood. The displays are marvellous! There are giant squids and swordfish displayed like expensive Persian rugs. The octopus are glistening orange; the oily anchovies and shining dover soles are curated like relics in a display case.
Oh, and watch your belongings! It’s an easy place to get pickpocketed while you’re savouring that fried calamari. This place also sells meat, tapas, and candy. There’s something for everyone. Make sure to look for some restaurants with bar seating and order some fish dishes.
Check out La Boqueria official site for a map of the market and take a chance at Quiosc Modern if you’re a seafood fan. I had lychee foie gras and pan con tomate for appetizers. Then I savoured a beautiful, whole pan seared flounder. It was heaven.
Remember to check out the market stalls and look for jamón ibérico. I recommend suspending any diet restrictions (if possible) and trying the local jamón ibérico (cured pork). This is a delicacy in Spain and your Barcelona travel itinerary wouldn’t be quite complete without tasting Spanish ham.
Take a side trip to Valencia
I’ve included a Valencia travel guide here too. A side trip to Valencia on your Barcelona travel itinerary to taste paella makes a nice side trip. Spain’s Renfe
high-speed rail makes it easy to travel between major cities.
How to get to Valencia
Major train station: Estación Joaquin Sorolla and Estacio del Nord (Both serve high-speed trains but they go to different parts of Valencia. Confirm exactly which train station you should be heading to before departure.
Major airport: Valencia Airport (VLC) (aka known as Manises since it’s in the Manises area).
Where to Stay in Valencia
If you’re on a tighter budget, but still want some privacy, then Zalamera BnB is for you.
Hotel Name: Zalamera BnB
Location: C/ de Pelai, 44, Extramurs, 46007 València, Valencia, Spain
A charming bed and breakfast with cute and functional rooms. You can book a private room with a shared washroom at a great rate. It’s in a great location just steps outside of downtown Valencia, but close enough to get to the city centre and to the train stations. Take your breakfast and coffee on the balcony and enjoy the early morning bliss.
When I stayed here in 2019, the AC in the room kept turning on and off, and the automatic lights kept coming on outside the patio. They might’ve fixed those issues, but it was a bummer that I didn’t get the most relaxed sleep.
Other than that, the location is perfect. The room itself is charming and functional. It had a single bed, and a basic, but stylish shelving for clothing, a little desk.
The private room I had looked out on the terrace. It was a private room with a shared washroom outside, so I shared the main washroom with another guest who also booked a semi-private room.
The best part was: the other guest never seemed to be there! So, I had the washroom all to myself anyway. This could be an option for you if you’re looking for inexpensive accommodation but want some privacy as well.
Things to do in Valencia for travellers who love Arts and Sciences
When planning your Valencia travel guide, make sure to include activities for arts and science lovers. The City of Sciences is one of Valencia’s signature sights.
Discover the City of Sciences
The City of Sciences is a sprawling complex dedicated to the arts and sciences. The place looks like a cross between Harry Potter and Star Trek.
Check out the giant eye-like venue which is actually a music hall rising out of an artificial pool. There’s also a beautiful greenhouse (like Professor Sprout’s botanical garden) but designed galactic-style.
Climb up the hillside and see the whole City of Sciences from above. There are pathways leading all around the city dotted with cafes. It’s great for when you need a break from all the walking.
Partake in a religious festival in downtown Valencia
I was lucky to walk into a large festival of the Lady of the Forsaken, where a dozen men carried an enormous altar on their backs, and paraded it around the city. It’s an amazing sight to see the tall altar come out of the church doors, down the steps, and onto the streets.
Spectators waited along the path where the statue will pass and tossed flower petals onto the statue. It’s an emotional sight. I highly recommend finding out if there are festivals taking place when you plan your Valencia travel guide.
What to eat in Valencia
Paella is a must-try dish and should be on your Valencia travel guide plan.
Try paella valenciana by the beach or in downtown
Valencia’s dish of the region is paella and I wish I could get the name of the restaurant where I had it. It was absolutely delicious and satisfying.
Unfortunately, the restaurant has either closed down or changed its name. Either way, I highly recommend trying a paella dish in highly-rated restaurants where the rice is perfectly flavoured and perfectly crispy where it’s meant to be.
There will be lots of tourist paella restaurants around. Touristy restaurants serve paella that’s overly salty with undercooked rice. Find a joint located a bit away from tourist areas and it’s a surer sign you’ll get some satisfactory paella dishes.
Valencia and Barcelona are special cities to visit. And like all special places, you could spend months, or even a year at a time in one place and still not see all that you could. But that’s the gift of travel: enjoying the moment while you can.
Read my other Spain travel guides for planning your dream trips or bucket-list journeys to Spain! Check out my other travel guides too for more tips and tricks on planning your ultimate dream getaways.
