THE PERFECT 4 DAY BARCELONA ITINEARY

Barcelona is Spain’s second largest city and is a very popular destination amongst tourists. If you are thinking of going there and only have 4 days to spare, here is the perfect itinerary to make the most of your trip and see all the highlights that Barcelona has to offer.

DAY 1:

Depending on your flight time, you would first obviously check in at your hotel. Whenever I travel to Europe, I prefer to get a red eye so I can arrive in the morning or early afternoon. I love being able to still have at least half of the day to explore as this also helps with the jet lag. Before you venture out on your own, I would suggest to take a free walking tour because it’s the best way to get a feel for the city and its history. If you do a quick google search, there are many options so feel free to check out whichever company offers a tour that fits your preferred time slot. They usually last 2-3 hours and is completely free. You would just have to tip the tour guide at the end but the amount is completely up to you!

After the tour, you will most likely be tired due to the time difference and walking. To end the first night, I would recommend to have dinner at Bo de B, a local and cheap sandwich shop, located near the Gothic Quarter. The sandwiches cost only 4€ and they taste delicious!! They also offer salads and plates but make sure you try the sandwich because it’s what they’re known for. Save some room for dessert and go to Granja Dulcinea afterwards, which is only a 10 minute walk. Established in 1941, this chocolate shop serves amazing hot chocolate with churros and it’s the perfect welcome treat to Barcelona! Get some rest as you’ll have a full day tomorrow!

DAY 2:

Day 2 begins with a tour to Sagrada Familia, which is probably Barcelona’s most known attraction. Designed by the famous architect Antoni Gaudi, you will surely be in awe of this amazing unfinished Cathedral. A quick tip before heading to Sagrada Familia is to get tickets in advanced or purchase on your phone as you will receive a discount compared to purchasing them in person. Sagrada Familia opens at 9 am and if you’re a true tourist, you would most likely get there at the opening hours. Block out about 2 hours for the tour and make sure you get the audioguide, so you can be informed of all the design elements in the interior and exterior of the cathedral.

After your tour, head over to Ayre Hotel Rosellón,which is only a 4 minute walk from Sagrada Familia. Head to the rooftop for amazing views of Barcelona and Sagrada Familia. Though the view of the cathedral isn’t the best since it’s still under construction, you will still enjoy it as not many people know about this location. Grab a bite before heading to Park Güell, a beautiful public park with tons of greenery and gardens to admire. Park Güell is also considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is free and open to the public but there are restricted areas where you have to pay an entrance fee. It costs 10 € for the restricted area and I would recommend paying it if you have the time and desire to see more of Gaudi’s work.

After spending the afternoon at Park Güell, I would head back to the center of Barcelona and do some shopping at Plaza Catalyuna and browsing through Gothic Quarter, Plaça Reial and Las Ramblas. You can then also go to La Boqueria Food Market and spend the night there enjoying tapas from all the different food vendors.

DAY 3: 

Day 3 is dedicated to admiring the arts, history and culture of Barcelona. Start the day off by visiting Hofmann Pastisseria, which in my opinion is the best bakery in Barcelona. Order the mascarpone croissants with a cafe con leche and thank me later! Make your way to the Picasso Museum afterwards, which is a only a 3 minute walk away. Enjoy the exhibits at the museum and then make your way towards Ciutadella Park and Arco de Triunfo to enjoy the beautiful green space and and take in the nice weather and music from local aspiring musicians. After relaxing at the park, head over to Casa Lolea Barcelona for a tapas lunch that you won’t regret!

The rest of the afternoon will be dedicated to Casa Batlló, a modernist building designed by Gaudí and Casa Milà, popularly known as La Pedrera, another work by Gaudí. Both museums will require at least a 1-2 hours. Like the Sagrada Familia, make sure you get tickets in advanced or you can also buy them when you get there but make sure you purchase them on your mobile to save some money. Afterwards, feel free to spend the night browsing through Plaça de Catalunya and find a nice restaurant for dinner.

DAY 4:

For your last day of Barcelona, you will start the morning exploring Plaça d’Espanya, one of Barcelona’s main squares and Montjuïc, a castle on a hill that offers fantastic views over the city and now also holds the military museum. Before going to Montjuïc, stop by  Las Arenas de Barcelona Shopping Centre and take the escalators all the way up to the top where you can enjoy 360 degrees Panoramic of the city.  The rest of the afternoon will be dedicated to a beautiful, leisure walk towards  Rambla de mar, also known as Port Vell, which is a waterfront harbor. 

After all that walking, you will probably work out an appetite for a delicious, local lunch at tapas bar, La Cova Fumada. There will most likely be a wait but I promise it’s worth it! Order any or all of the tapas on the menu but don’t you dare leave without trying the bomba! As you are now by the beach area of Barcelona, I would urge you to enjoy the view and the sand or water depending on the time of year you’re visiting. The last meal will be at Xiringuito Escribà, a Mediterranean seafood restaurant since 1992, with sea views, an open kitchen & house paella. Barcelona is known for its paella and if you’re going to have paella, you have to get it from Xiringuito Escribà. Please also note that is is highly recommended to make reservations to dine here as this is a very popular place! 

In these 4 days, you will have seen most of what Barcelona has to offer. This itinerary offers something for every type of traveler whether you want to explore the food scene, admire the architecture and history of the museums, browse at the main squares or simply browse through the stores.