NorahSeven minute reading time.
When I traveled to Barcelona, it was the end of July and at least 100 degrees. I was fully expecting to hate the city, but the exact opposite happened. I fell in love. Barcelona is one of the most vibrant, dynamic, lovely cities I have ever visited. I cannot recommend it enough, and this Barcelona itinerary I will walk you through what I would recommend if you only have a day in the city.
Disclaimer: It is no secret, but Barcelona natives absolutely hate tourists. If you have kept up with the water gun saga, you can see why. If you are traveling to Barcelona as a tourist, keep quiet at night, respect local areas, support local businesses, and in general be a kind, respectful human. You should already be doing this everywhere you visit, but especially in an area that has a complicated relationship with tourism.
Stop 1: Sagrada Familia.
Start your very full Barcelona itinerary bright and early at Sagrada Familia. This stunning cathedral will take your breath away, but is also one of the busiest areas in the whole city. I recommend hitting this area early to avoid insane crowds and hopefully beat some of the midday heat. Sagrada Familia offers tickets to go inside and experience the cathedral in all its glory, but definitely book those tickets sooner rather than later.
After Sagrada Familia, stop in any one of the cute restaurants in the surrounding area for a bite to eat and a quick coffee. I would recommend Brunch & Cake for yummy brunch food.
Stop 2: La Rambla.
La Rambla is a giant, touristy street through the center of the city that has lively music, fun shops, and divine restaurants. I would recommend walking along the street, making quick stops (or longer stops, if you buy tickets) at Casa Mila and Casa Batllo if you would like to see more Gaudi work.
As you walk along La Rambla, be sure to keep an eye out for your belongings. Anywhere that has tourists will also have pickpockets.
At the end of La Rambla is La Boqueria, a giant food hall that has a bunch of yummy dishes to try. I would the area to be very authentic to Spanish cuisine, and there were many different food stands.
Disclaimer: I am vegetarian, and the friend I was traveling with is gluten free. We found some special options, but they were definitely limited in this area.
Stop 3: Picasso Museums OR Erotic Museum OR an afternoon siesta.
By this point, you have walked quite a bit. The midday sun is also pounding on your back, so take some time to get out of the heat and enjoy the shade.
If you are interested in art, the Picasso Museum is amazing. With over 900 works of his original art and some fascinating exhibits about his life, I thoroughly enjoyed the museum. My favorite exhibit was the pigeon room, which involves a funny story and spectacular art work.
If you are interested in history, I highly recommend the Erotic Museum. It is directly across the street from La Boqueria, and offers such a fascinating look at sex over the ages. The museum covers a variety of different cultures and time periods, and I found it be incredibly informative and interesting.
If you are very tired, and want to avoid the heat, use this time to do as the Spanish do and take an afternoon siesta. I firmly believe in the power of a good nap, and completely endorse fitting one into even the busiest Barcelona itinerary.
Alternatively, if you want to rest but do not necessarily want to be in your room, you could relax on the beach at Barcelonita. This lovely little beach is an awesome spot within the city.
Interested in more Spanish beaches? Check out this post I have about my top tips for visiting Mallorca!
Stop 5: Park Guell.
At this point, you are close to the beach. For the next part of your itinerary, you want to go to another area in the city. To get across the city, you can metro (about three euros, and pretty easy to navigate). If you are feeling like you want to explore more of the city, you can also walk. It will be about an hour, but you will be traveling through one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
No matter how you get there, your goal is to arrive at Park Guell. This was one of my favorite spots on my Spain trip, so make sure you prioritize it. There are paid tickets, but I recommend going later in the day to have less crowds and more ideal weather. There are three entrances to the park, and the most famous section of the park is right at the bottom entrance. This is where you will find some of the most spectacular views of the city, and also the most crowds. I recommend continuing on through the park-there are some really awesome hidden gems and quiet areas in an otherwise busy area.
Stop 6: Dinner.
For dinner, please get tapas. Tapas are small, shared plates (think a bunch of appetizers) that are meant to be split with your party. They are phenomenal, and you simply must get the potatos bravos and the tomato bread. These tapas are so good they will simply amaze you! For vegan tapas, I recommend Bubita Sangria Bar.
Stop 7: Carmel Bunkers for sunset.
Your one day in Barcelona is almost complete, but not without one last stop. Do not skip this stop, as it was my favorite part of my whole Spain trip.
The Carmel Bunkers are located high up on one of the hills in the city, and offer sweeping and majestic views of the whole city. I was struck speechless by how beautiful this viewpoint was, and going at sunset is especially lovely.
One small note: The actual bunkers are closed at sunset, and there is a large gate blocking them off. There are plenty of viewpoints right below the gate with basically the same view, but I saw SO MANY people jumping the gate. Going back to not being rude, obnoxious tourists: don’t be this person. Respect the rules of the city, and enjoy the park in an area where you are allowed to be.
There are a couple different ways to get up to the bunkers, depending on how much effort you want to exert. I walked straight up the trail along the hill, but there is also a small parking lot close to the top that would involve less uphill walking.
Stop 8: Going out!
I personally did not experience the nightlife in Barcelona, but if that is your seen there are countless clubs and bars to explore. Your last stop on this Barcelona itinerary will be some sort of nightlife adventure. Make sure to try the Sangria, and make sure to respect the locals and be quiet as you head home.
I hope you enjoy Barcelona as much as I did, and I hope this Barcelona itinerary can help with planning! Happy adventures!
