24 hours in Barcelona Spain Guide – How to plan the perfect day

One Day in Barcelona Spain Guide – How to plan the perfect day

This is a 24 hours in Barcelona Spain guide. Sometimes you only have a short amount of time to explore your travel destination. But you still want to make the best out of it.
My top tip: Be flexible and enjoy the atmosphere. Don’t stress about having to see every single sight.
I usually like to pick one or two tourist attractions and use the rest of my time exploring the city by just wandering around.

This 24-hour guide can easily be converted into a 2-3 day itinerary or even more.

Here is my recommendation for the perfect 24 hours in Barcelona Spain:

Top 12 Main Attractions Of Barcelona

To help you know what to expect when you visit Barcelona for the first time, here is a little overview of some of the main sights.

1. Parc Güell
Park created by Antoni Gaudí by order of Eusebi Güell. 

2. Basílica de la Sagrada Família
Unfinished Roman Catholic basilica with construction beginning in 1882.

3. Casa Milà
Pioneering work of Gaudí.

4. Casa Batlló
Building in the city center, considered one of the masterpieces of Gaudí.

5. Palau de la Música Catalana
Concert hall designed by Catalan architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner.

6. La Rambla
Promenade in the center that connects Plaça de Catalunya with the Old Port.

7. La Barceloneta
Coastal district with beach, fish restaurants and traditional tapas bars. 

8. Reial Monestir de Santa Maria de Pedralbes
Monastery of Pedralbes.

9. Mercat de la Boqueria
Large indoor market on the Rambla with a wide variety of food.

10. The Magic Fountain of Montjuïc
Fountain with night shows.

11. Parc de la Ciutadella
Baroque garden from the 19th century with a zoo.

12. Arc de Triomf
Main entrance gate for the 1888 Barcelona World’s Fair.

One Day Itinerary For Barcelona

Morning

Breakfast at Mercat de la Boqueria

Try out the market hall of the Mercat de la Boqueria. Here you will find everything from fruit and vegetables, meat products, sweets, meat, and cheese. How about some Empanadillas!

Visit Park Güell​

Park Güell is one of the nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites that you can admire in Barcelona. It was designed by Gaudi on behalf of the Güell family. The place, which today serves as a museum, was Gaudi’s home from 1906 to 1925.
I would recommend taking the metro to get from the Mercat de la Boqueria (Liceu stop) to Park Güell (Vallcarca stop). Also for the other day points, you can use public transport. But many things are also reachable on foot. Here it depends on how you choose your route.

View La Sagrada Família

Another monument worth seeing is the Roman Catholic basilica Sagrada Família. The construction of the basilica began in 1882 and is scheduled for completion in 2026, the 100th anniversary of Gaudi’s death.

Explore Eixample

Eixample is a district with a lot to discover. For example, you will find Casa Batlló, Casa Milà, and the Plaça de Catalunya.

Explore Barri Gòtic

There is also much to see in the gothic quarter. Stroll through the alleys and soak up the atmosphere. Worthwhile seeing here is, among others, the Palau Güell and the Plaça Reial. The latter is also a nice place for a relaxing coffee.
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Afternoon

Lunch Option 1: Food variations at El Nacional

The El Nacional is divided into different areas where you will find different dishes. It can be a bit expensive, but it is worth it for the quality of the food and the atmosphere.

Lunch Option 2: Paella at Colom

A good place for a traditional paella is the Colom. It is located in the Barri Gòtic and captivates with its authentic charm.

Parc de la Ciutadella

If you feel like a little walk after lunch, you can do so in the Parc de la Ciutadella. At the end of the park, you will find the Arc de Triomf and the Palau de la Música Catalana is also nearby.

Museu Picasso

Visiting museums is one of my favorite activities on city trips. Barcelona has many museums to offer, one of them is the Museu Picasso that I like the most.

Sunbathing on the beach

Enough walking and discovering? Relax on one of the beautiful beaches that Barcelona has to offer. A day at the beach is not a lost day! It is your holiday, spend it the way you want to spend it.
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Evening

Tapas Bar 1: Bodega Biarritz

Absolutely recommendable for the evening arrangement in Barcelona is the visit of a tapas bar. Here, as the name already suggests, you will get a selection of tapas and drinks. A good place to go is the Bodega Biarritz.

Tapas Bar 2: Can Paixano (La Xampanyeria)

If you want it above all local, authentic, and affordable, you should give Can Paixano a chance. Here, unlike the Bodega Biarritz, there are only classic tapas snacks and it can get quite crowded. But that’s exactly what makes it so appealing and atmospheric.

Choose your light

Watch the sunset on the beach or visit the magical fountain light show. The Font Màgica is located between Palau Nacional and Plaza de España.

The entrance is free. However, you should arrive on time if you want to get a good seat on the stairs.
Before that, one should in any case get some information on the internet about the times, they can change!

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