Barcelona in 3 Days
At the end of every day, I would say I’m loving this city more and more. By the end of my three days / four nights, I didn’t want to leave. My time in Barcelona gave me the feeling of wanting to spend every summer in that city. Beaches, tapas, museums, architecture, sangria — all of those and more combined to create a great few days.
Three days in Barcelona felt enough to ’see the sights’ as long as you’re moving at a quick pace, but it wasn’t enough to get into the full groove of the city. I felt torn between sitting at a cafe having a coffee and seeing the next thing to see. The city has plenty of sights and tourist things to do that you can easily fill a long weekend. But that aside, I always feel a calling to do what the locals do and take my time around the neighborhoods, and even more so in this city.
The Best Daily Itinerary in Barcelona
Breakfast
Sightseeing / Beach
Lunch
Shopping / walking / sightseeing
Coffee / Refresh at hotel
Late dinner
Night out
Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner in Barcelona
I cover these in more depth in Where to Eat in Barcelona.
Sightseeing in Barcelona
Cathedrals, architecture, museums, beaches. My favorite stops were the Gaudi houses: Casa Batllo and La Padrera. I did one house during the day and the other house during one of the Magic Nights. The Magic Nights include entry to the house, a live performance (music, art, etc.) on the rooftop, and a drink. I went for the VIP experience which came with one extra drink and a surprise souvenir (a fancy photo of myself in one of the decade themed rooms).
For all of the main sights that require a ticket, I would wake up, reserve my ticket online, and pick my time. It saves time and money booking in advance, but it’s as easy as doing it the day of.
Beaches
There are a handful of beaches throughout Barcelona. In the city proper there is the Barcelonetta neighborhood with the beachfront. Outside of the city (where I ventured), there are small beach towns. I went 20 minutes south to Castelldefels for some great sand and refreshing water. It’s a little out of the city, more full of locals, and less peddlers. I felt comfortable to leave my bag and towel up on the beach when I would go in the water to cool myself off. To get there I caught the R2 from Barcelona Sants to Platja de Castelldefels.
Shopping and Walking in Barcelona
Just before or after lunch I’d go for a nice walk (using my Rick Steve’s guide book) and stop into shops along the way. I found a wealth of mainstream stores like Mango, Zara, Oysha, or Pull & Bear where I always need to make at least one stop. I also found local stores like La Nostra Ciutat for cute souvenirs from local artists and Claudine for some unique clothing items. Overall there is so much to take in from the city, so much history, a visual feast. Don’t take the same path home twice.
Coffee and Refresh at the Hotel
Siesta is a thing. I never seemed to time mine with the rest of the city, but after a long day out and about I always wanted to come back for a change of clothes and maybe a shower before dinner. There were plenty of coffee shops and cafes to stop and have a coffee before heading back to the hotel, but I was always wrapping my day a little late in the evening. I would grab a coffee at the beautiful rooftop pool at my hotel, cool off in the water, and reset for the night ahead.
Night out in Barcelona
Barcelona definitely has great night life, but traveling on my own, I kept it to checking out a bar or two. As recommended by a friend, on my last night I went to Boca Chica. A part of the Boca Grande hotel, it’s probably one of the best cocktail bars I’ve ever been to. They aren’t the most affordable cocktails, but they’re definitely creative. Their mixology is on point, and the drinks are strong. I started with a tequila based drink created by the very bartender who was waiting on me. I finished the night with a super strong gin and tonic shaken with dry ice to keep it extra cool. All in all it was a great vibe, lots of different people coming through, and great bar tenders. Oh, and the bathroom itself becomes a night club on the weekends with a DJ and all!
My Day-by-Day Barcelona Itinerary
Day 1 in Barcelona
Breakfast at hotel
La Padrera
Walk and shop around Eixample (Etam, Mango)
Lunch at La Flaunta
Refresh at hotel
Evening at Casa Battlo
Dinner at Parellada
Day 2 in Barcelona
Breakfast at Kino
Casual walk through Bario Gotico
Visit Picasso Museum
Shopping at Claudine
Lunch at El Drac de Sant Jordi
Refresh at hotel
Dinner in Castelldefels
Day 3 in Barcelona
Breakfast at hotel
Day at the beach in Castelldefels
Lunch at Chiringuito Ibiza
Shopping at Mango, Pull & Bear, Oysha, and La Nostra Ciutat
Dinner at Blai 9
Drinks at Boca Chica