Using all my years of experience enjoying Barcelona (including 4 years living here), I have put together this Barcelona 2 day itinerary to cover the highlights of Barcelona, so you can get a taste of what the city has to offer. Although there are so many things to do in Barcelona it’s impossible to see everything, I’ve tried to narrow it down so you can get the most out of just 2 days in Barcelona, including some of the top attractions and my favourite places to eat and drink. I hope you enjoy this city as much as I do – and this itinerary will certainly help you do that!
How Many Days to Spend in Barcelona?
It is hard to say how many days in Barcelona are enough, but generally speaking, the more time you have, the better! If you can, I highly recommend spending at least 3 or 4 days in Barcelona to properly explore, but with two days in Barcelona, you can certainly have a wonderful time.
If you’re not sure how long to spend here then make sure you read this article to help you decide on the best option for you, from 1 day to a week or more!
The Best Things to Do in Barcelona in 2 Days
For my 2 day Barcelona itinerary, I’ve assumed that you will be spending a weekend in Barcelona and planned the activities accordingly. However, if you come to Barcelona on different days of the week, then be sure to check opening times as places like the Boqueria Market are closed on Sundays.
I’ve tried to mix up this itinerary to include some of the more typical Barcelona attractions, while still exploring beyond the most typical tourist sites and getting to know some of the different neighbourhoods in Barcelona. I’ve spent years getting to know Barcelona so I want you to have the best possible experience here!
You’ll notice that I haven’t included any museums in this itinerary – for your first trip to Barcelona, I’d recommend spending as much time as you can outside on the streets and soaking up the atmosphere, even though there are some incredible museums in Barcelona to suit every taste.
Football fans may also be horrified by no mention of Camp Nou, so feel free to make changes to my Barcelona activities if you prefer!
PLANNING TO VISIT CAMP NOU?
Camp Nou is currently undergoing construction work so the stadium tours are not running but the FC Barcelona museum is open, with an option to view the stadium from a Construction Viewpoint. Barça were playing their home games at Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium while the major work was going on, and they have now returned to Camp Nou Stadium, although with limited seating until the works are completed. Tickets for matches are available here which shows you the venue where matches are played, and you can book a museum visit here.Barcelona 2 Day Itinerary: Day 1
Take a Walk Down La Rambla
A walk down the Rambla is a must for first-timer visitors to Barcelona. It is the most famous street in Barcelona, but it gets crowded and busy, so make this your first stop in the morning. La Rambla is also a popular street for pickpockets in Barcelona, so watch your belongings at any time of day!
Later in the morning and all afternoon and evening, La Rambla fills with stalls, living statues and throngs of people, so if you take your time, you are bound to see it getting more lively! Start off at Plaça Catalunya and walk down towards the sea.
Keep an eye out along the way for iconic buildings such as the Teatre Liceu and Casa Bruno Cuadros, which is decorated with umbrellas, fans and a Chinese dragon! Don’t miss the mosaic by Joan Miró, which is on the floor of La Rambla.
A surprising hidden gem that is worth seeing on La Rambla is the Ale Hop store near the bottom of La Rambla (get the exact location here), which has an incredible Modernist ceiling in the back section of the shop – it’s well worth popping in on your way past!
La Rambla is currently undergoing construction work, so even early in the morning you might have noise from machinery. The work is due to be completed in 2027, and the aim is to make Las Ramblas more pedestrian-friendly, encourage more connection between the Raval and Gothic neighbourhoods and regain its importance for local people, not just visitors.
La Boqueria Market
This famous food market is firmly on the tourist trail, but for good reason and it’s one of the best free things to do in Barcelona, despite the crowds. There are still local residents doing their shopping here, but they do have to fight their way through the tourists, so be mindful of that as you walk around!
If you want to take photographs of the stalls, it is polite to ask first or buy something from the stall owners. Make sure you stray off the main walkways as the market stretches way beyond the first two rows! You could pick up some food for breakfast or a picnic-style lunch here, or at least some fruit for a snack.
If you want to learn more about the food and markets in Barcelona, then consider a guided tour of the market followed by a cooking class – they are great fun and delicious too! Check the times of the tours as they aren’t always available in the mornings.
Port Vell & the Columbus Monument
At the bottom of La Rambla is the statue of Christopher Columbus, pointing out to sea (not towards the Americas). You can go up to the top of the monument for €9 to enjoy lovely views of the city, or simply stroll by it. From here, turn left and walk along the port front.
Port Vell means Old Port, but it was actually built for the 1992 Olympic Games, when the whole of the beach and waterfront was redesigned and rebuilt. Now you can admire the boats docked here, including some insanely big super-yachts!
Keep an eye open for the giant lobster sculpture, and The Barcelona’s Head sculpture designed by American Pop Artist Roy Lichtenstein for the 1992 Olympic Games.
Lunch at La Xampaneria
Can Paixano, affectionately known as La Xampanyeria, thanks to the delicious cava they sell, is always stuffed to the brim with locals and tourists alike. If you like it cosy (read: jam-packed) and don’t mind standing up to drink or being trampled on a bit, the cheap cava and delicious sandwiches are worth the scrum.
You can pop in here just for a glass of cava, but order 2 glasses or more and you have to order some food too. As well as tasty sandwiches with a variety of fillings like brie cheese and bacon, there are also plates of tapas such as cheese, morcilla black pudding and croquetas (cheese and ham croquettes).
All the tapas are served in generous portions, and it is a great value meal with a bottle of cava less than €10 and very affordable food.
If that sounds like too much, then head to the nearby neighbourhood of Barceloneta where you can find lots more tasty options. For delicious tapas, try La Bombeta or Bar Jai-Ca which are probably equally busy, if a little less raucous. At least they have seating, although you may have to wait for a table on the weekend.
Hit the Beach at Barceloneta
Barceloneta is the old fishermen’s neighbourhood, with straight narrow streets and blocks of small apartments. You can visit the market here which is less crowded than La Boqueria or walk through the streets to the beachfront. The sail-shaped W Hotel is an iconic Barcelona landmark that stands at the end of Barceloneta and makes for a great photo spot.
I love to just look at the sea, although there are plenty of beaches here in Barcelona, the water isn’t that clean, and as you’re only in Barcelona for 2 days I would suggest leaving the sunbathing for another time, but sitting for a while on one of the benches to enjoy the sunshine is very pleasant indeed.
There are several bars and restaurants on the Barceloneta seafront to enjoy a drink while you admire the view. However, if you’re not bothered about seeing the sea, you could skip Barceloneta altogether and go straight to Ciutadella Park.
Stroll Through Ciutadella Park
This large park is one of the few green expanses in Barcelona. The park’s name comes from the large citadel and prison which was built here by Philip V of Spain after the War of Spanish Succession. A large area of the city was demolished to make space for the citadel, designed to stop the Catalans from rebelling against Spanish rule.
Now this large green space is filled with picnicking families and groups of friends, and if you’re lucky, you might catch some live music, a meditation session or enjoy some people watching!
Stroll around to the lake and the Cascada Monumental Fountain (Gaudí designed the hydraulics but not the exterior), keeping an eye out for some unusual statues like that of a woolly mammoth. The park is also home to the Museum of Natural Sciences of Barcelona and the Barcelona Zoo.
The area in front of the fountain, and the park’s bandstand, Glorieta de la Transsexual Sònia, are dedicated to a transsexual woman, Sonia Rescalvo Zafra, who was murdered there on 6 October 1991. Now this is used for music performances and other activities like tango or tap dancing classes, as well as providing some lovely photo opportunities.
If you prefer more manicured gardens, make sure you walk by the Parliament building; the gardens in front of that are well-kept and lovely in the spring and summer. If you’re interested in Catalan politics, you can also book a tour of the Parliament, which is one of the many free things to do in Barcelona.
Visit the Arc de Triomf
From Ciutadella, walk up Passeig de Lluís Companys to the Arc de Triomf. It isn’t quite as iconic as the Parisian version, but I love the red brick of this one. It was built as the main entrance for the 1888 Universal Exhibition hosted by the City, and now stands tall, usually surrounded by people taking photographs, human statues, someone releasing bubbles for kids and a street musician or two. From here, take a walk through El Born district.
Explore El Born
The Born neighbourhood is a maze of streets, filled with boutique shops, eateries and bars. It’s one of my favourite areas in Barcelona, and I love getting lost and discovering something new every time I go there!
The old Mercat del Born is now part of the MUHBA History Museum of Barcelona since renovations uncovered 17th-century ruins beneath the foundations. Entry to the museum is free as you walk around the balcony to view the ruins beneath you, or there are tours that take you down into the site to learn more.
The Basilica de Santa Maria del Mar is a lovely church that inspired the novel Cathedral of the Sea by author Ildefonso Falcones, and you can go up on the roof for wonderful views of Barcelona – if you get there before 5.15pm when the last tour leaves.
If you’re too late for the tour, you can enjoy walking around or having a glass of wine in one of the bars in front of the church or just wander the streets and discover some of the hidden gems tucked away in the streets around the church.
Dinner and Drinks in Gracia
While you could easily find somewhere to eat in El Born, I would suggest venturing slightly off the beaten track and exploring a new neighbourhood.
Gracia was its own town before it got swallowed up in the “expansion” of the city and was joined to Barcelona by the Eixample district. It still has its own personality and has much more of a local atmosphere than the areas closer to the centre.
There are various Plaças where you can have a drink and a bite to eat, but if you want to try something typically Catalan, head to La Vermu for an aperitivo drink of local vermouth then to my favourite place for traditional Catalan food – El Glop.
Choose from a wide menu including grilled meats and a variety of rice dishes, but I suggest you skip the paella and go for the Black Rice – a rich rice dish made with squid ink, cuttlefish, clams and prawns. Order it with a side of aioli garlic sauce and a starter of bread with tomato and you will not regret it! Booking in advance is recommended.
Afterwards, if you still have the energy for a cocktail, try El Ciclista or Bobby Gin for a Barcelona-style huge gin and tonic. Alternatively, head down to the Eixample and sample some unique drinks at Sips (voted best bar in the World in 2024), Hemingway or Tandem – three fabulous cocktail bars all within a couple of minutes walk of each other.
I’ve got a busy day planned for tomorrow though, so don’t overdo it – you want to be up early and ready to go for the rest of your Barcelona itinerary!
2 Day Barcelona Itinerary: Day 2
Your second day in Barcelona is all about Gaudí. Gaudí’s architectural style has left a lasting mark on the city, and his influence is everywhere. He’s not the only Catalan architect, though, and this Barcelona itinerary will also give you a chance to see some of the other incredible buildings designed by other Catalan masters.
Park Güell
Parc Güell is one of Gaudí’s masterpieces, originally designed as a kind of magical housing estate commissioned by Gaudí’s patron Eusebi Güell. Only three of the houses were built, yet the gardens surrounding them are beautiful and include some stunning mosaics, the famous Gaudí dragon statue and the terrace with some of the best views of Barcelona you’ll find.
It costs 13 euros to enter the park (discounts for children and senior citizens are available), and you will need to reserve a time slot in advance. Don’t miss exploring the rest of the park, and head up as high as you can go for the best views of Barcelona. ➡️ Book tickets online here.
I’d advise getting there as early as you can before it gets too busy when you might be able to get photographs of the famous dragon statue without other people in the photo. An early start also means you’ll be able to fit more into your day!
Once you’ve finished here, take the metro down to Diagonal. Change lines and head to La Sagrada Familia. You can also walk if you’re feeling energetic!
La Sagrada Familia
La Sagrada Familia is Gaudí’s famous cathedral and is absolutely stunning inside & out – even if it’s still not finished! You can just wander around the outside if you like – don’t miss the viewpoint from across the lake in Placa de Gaudí for one of the best views of the Sagrada Familia.
However, inside is definitely worth seeing, but you’ll need to book tickets well in advance as they sell out, and there isn’t a ticket office at the Sagrada Familia anymore so online is the only way to buy them. ➡️ Book a skip-the-line ticket here. Children under 11 go free, and discounts are available for students and seniors.
Inside, you can see how nature influenced Gaudí’s designs. From the soaring tree-like pillars to the colourful stained glass windows producing rainbow colours as the sun shines through the panes. A downloadable audio guide is included with the ticket price.
You could also consider getting a ticket to go up into one of the towers for wonderful views of the city and to see some of the designs up close – although the Barcelona skyline from the towers is obviously missing the Sagrada Familia!
You could also consider a guided tour of the Sagrada Familia, where the guide will share more information and insight into the cathedral. After the tour, you can spend as much time as you like inside to take pictures and explore at your own pace.
Lunch at La Paradeta
Depending on how much time you choose to spend at Park Güell, you may want to have lunch before or after going to La Sagrada Familia. Whatever you decide, don’t miss lunch at La Paradeta – as long as you like fish! This is the best and cheapest seafood restaurant in the city.
They have a counter like you might find at the market where you point at what you want – prawns, calamari, mussels, crab, lobster etc, as well as incredible tuna steaks and monkfish. They cook it simply and quickly and call out your number for you to pick it up at the counter. Not classy but amazing food!
However, if you don’t eat seafood then there are no other options so you’ll need to find somewhere else to eat. If you can hang on until after Sagrada Familia there are lots of choices on La Rambla de Catalunya, or try Arc Iris for vegetarian.
Passeig de Gracia, Casa Batlló and La Pedrera
After lunch, a stroll down Passeig de Gracia is the perfect way to let your lunch go down. If you haven’t had lunch yet, then go another street over to La Rambla de Catalunya to eat.
Assuming you’ve had lunch, start from where Diagonal meets Passeig de Gracia and head down towards Plaça Catalunya. First, you’ll come to Casa Milà on your left, also known as La Pedrera, which means ‘the stone quarry’ then further down on the right is my favourite building in Barcelona – the glorious Casa Batlló.
Casa Batlló is one of a trio of buildings that make up the ‘Block of Discord’, as each building was designed by a different Modernist architect and you can see the contrasting styles in each building.
If you want to go inside these buildings to see more of the architecture and impressive roof terraces, these ticket and tour options might be useful for you:
Palau de la Música Catalana
Not far from Plaça Catalunya, is another stunning Modernist building, designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner. It was built between 1905 and 1908 and has an incredible stained glass roof inside, as well as beautiful details throughout.
A guided tour is €22 per person and lasts for just under an hour, and is well worth the money. Alternatively, if there is a performance on in the evening you could get tickets for that. The last tour of the day is at 3pm (check the times and availability) so be careful not to miss your slot.
If you book your tickets more than 21 days in advance you can get a discount too, so the early bird catches the worm! Visit the official Palau de la Musica website here.
The Gothic Quarter
The Gothic Quarter is a great place to explore, with impressive buildings and lots of boutique shops, cool bars & restaurants. I used to live there & it’s still one of my favourite parts of town, although it does get busy!! You could easily spend a few hours wandering, but here’s a few things you shouldn’t miss!
Chocolate and Churros
After all that walking, perhaps you’re in need of some sustenance – how about hot chocolate and churros? Thick gloopy hot chocolate and finger-shaped donuts to dip are heavenly, and you’ll find some of the best in Barcelona on Carrer de Petrixol at La Pallaresa or Granja Dulcinea.
Basilica de Santa Maria del Pi
The nearby Basilica de Santa Maria del Pi is a beautiful 14th Century Gothic Basilica which you can take a look inside for €4.50, or just stroll around the square. There is often a food market or artists selling paintings here too.
Gothic Cathedral & Surroundings
The cathedral is another magnificent example of Gothic architecture, towering above the square. The square often hosts special events such as wine tastings of Christmas markets if you visit Barcelona during December, or you can wander around here freely to explore the narrow streets and hidden gems.
Plaça D’Isidre Nonell has a beautiful mosaic artwork called The Kiss, Plaça de Sant Felip Neri is a peaceful square near the cathedral, there is the ‘fake’ gothic archway near Plaça Sant Jaume and the impressive Plaça del Rei are all worth visiting.
Dinner at La Vinateria del Call
Let’s stay in the Gothic Quarter for dinner, one of my favourite tapas restaurants is the Vinateria del Call, hidden away in the old Jewish Quarter behind Plaça Sant Jaume. It is a popular place for tourists and locals alike, so it’s best to book a table if you can.
Choose from a range of tapas dishes including local cheeses, Catalan specialities and morcilla blood sausage. There aren’t too many options for vegetarians, but cheese and meat-lovers will be happy here. The waiter will recommend a wine to go with each course and make sure you save room for dessert – the chocolate fondant is to die for!
If you fancy a drink or two after your meal, there are plenty of bars in the Gothic and Born areas. Dux and Dr Stravinsky are two excellent options for cocktails in El Born, or part of the fun is spotting somewhere you like the look of and diving in!
Well, that’s it! I hope this itinerary for 2 days in Barcelona gives you some great ideas of things to do in Barcelona in a weekend. However, there are so many other wonderful things to do in Barcelona that I couldn’t fit into this itinerary – you definitely need a return visit or stay longer!