An Irresistible 3 Day Itinerary Barcelona | 3 Days in Barcelona
Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia. The city is known for its art including the Picasso Museum and the futuristic architecture filled by the artist Antoni Gaudi. Antoni Gaudi is a famous architect from Spain who has created the most famous pieces in Barcelona like Park Guell, Casa Mila, Sagrada Familia and so much more. I was lucky enough to spend 4 days in Barcelona, but I have created this 3 Day Itinerary Barcelona with a bonus day trip.
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3 Day Itinerary Barcelona
So you are looking for how to spend 3 days in Barcelona? There are a lot of things you can do in Barcelona which makes this itinerary ideal for beginners and people who want to see as much as they can in this beautiful city. There are a lot of Barcelona itineraries out there, but I wanted to include all of the popular tourist sites to manage the time you have for 3 days in Barcelona.
3 Day Itinerary Barcelona | What to do in Barcelona for 3 days
There are a lot of things to do in Barcelona which makes it a great city to visit and perfect to visit Barcelona for 3 days. There’s food, culture, art, architecture, and so much more. If you want to see everything you can visit in Barcelona, check out these famous landmarks in Barcelona.
What you will see during your 3 day Barcelona Itinerary
- La Sagrada Familia
- Casa Mila
- Casa Batllo
- Casa Amatler
- Park Guell
- Bunkers de Caramel
- Mercado de la Boqueria
- La Rambla
- Gothic Quarter
- Montjuic
- Picasso Museum
- Ciutadella Park
- Arc de Triomf
Other places to add to your Barcelona Itinerary
- Montserrat
- Sant Pau Art Nouveau Site
- Palau de la Música Catalana
- Plaza d’Espanya
- Barcelona Cathedral
- Montjuic Castle
- Barcelona Zoo
- Aqua Musuem
- Mirador de Colón
- Parc del Laberint d’Horta
- “The World Begins With Every Kiss” Mural
- Barcelona Food Tour
If you are interested in Soccer or Futbol, read more about taking a tour at Camp Nou, the stadium of FC Barcelona.
3 Day Itinerary Barcelona Day 1
If you happen to only have one day in Barcelona, I highly suggest that you use this Day 1 Barcelona Itinerary. Additionally, the only thing I would add to this 1 Day Itinerary is to make sure you visit Park Guell and La Boqueria. Be sure to read my top 10 places to see in Barcelona.
La Sagrada Familia – Most Popular Barcelona Attraction
La Sagrada Familia is one of the most beautiful sites in Barcelona. This is one of Antoni Gaudi’s most famous architecture. The building may not be appealing from the outside it may be too “Gaudi” for your taste, but once you enter you will be left absolutely stunned. The building is under construction and is to be completed in 2026. This cathedral was built in 1882, but unfortunately, Antoni Gaudi died in 1926 and was unable to finish the cathedral.
Pro Tip: I highly suggest you buy your tickets in advance to save time, money and to guarantee access during your 3 days in Barcelona. Additionally, purchase all your tickets online and use your phone to scan the images to be entered in. Most places in Barcelona and most of Europe require tickets in advance. In Barcelona, you are required to select a time to show up for La Sagrada Familia and Park Guell. Tickets sell quickly, so be sure to buy in advance if you have a tight schedule.
Book your ticket to La Sagrada Familia here.
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Casa Batllo, Amatler, and Mila
Antoni Gaudi created 3 famous apartment buildings in Barcelona, Casa Batllo, Casa Amatler, and Casa Mila. Additionally, these gorgeous apartment buildings are available to view, and you can choose to either purchase tickets in advance or wait in line and purchase tickets when you get there. We arrived later in the afternoon and it did not seem busy which was good. You can choose to pay to visit each one or just choose one of your likings. We toured Casa Mila because it was the one I learned about in college. Finally, it also has a gorgeous rooftop view of the city and la Sagrada Familia in the distance.
Book your tickets to Casa Batllo here.
Book your tickets to Casa Amatler here.
Book your tickets to Casa Mila here.
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3 Day Itinerary Barcelona Day 2
Park Guell
This is one of the most famous pieces after la Sagrada Familia. This impressive park is perfect to wander in. You should arrive early before your suggested time. That way you can explore other areas of the park prior to your ticketed time frame. It also takes some time walking into the park to enter which includes many Instagram-worthy areas within the park. This was one of the most breathtaking views we had in Barcelona and worthwhile. This was probably one of my favorite things to do on my 3 Day Itinerary Barcelona. Book your tickets to Park Guell here.
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Bunkers de Carmel
Bunkers del Carmel are old bunkers on top of the hill from the Spanish Civil War. This is a popular destination to visit during sunset and is a must for your 3 days in Barcelona. If you are looking for another gorgeous view of the city during your 3-day itinerary of Barcelona, visit Bunkers de Carmel. Furthermore, this beautiful viewpoint is perfect for sunset or night views of the city.
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Mercado de la Boqueria
La Boqueria is a covered outdoor market in Barcelona. Moreover, this is the best place to try all types of food, drinks, fruits, and desserts. We also found the prices to be somewhat reasonable, it is a market after all and it was a great place to share a lot of small dishes. Additionally, you will have a hard time choosing which items to eat or try first. On Sundays, the market is closed. Finally, you can get all types of Jamon, Cheese, Mussels, Paella, and more. This is one of the most popular places to visit during your 3 day itinerary Barcelona.
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La Rambla
After you fill yourself up with some amazing food, take a stroll on La Rambla for some amazing shopping right outside of the market. There are street performers, food options, of course, shopping, souvenirs, and more. During our 3 days in Barcelona, we visited 2 days after the terrorist attack. Because of this, the street was filled with tons of red candles brought by the people of Barcelona filled with love for the ones who were hurt and killed in the attack.
Gothic Quarter
Take a stroll through the Gothic Quarter and enjoy some beautiful architecture from medieval times. Don’t forget to check out the Barcelona Cathedral during your 3 Day Itinerary Barcelona. In this area, we found a lot of cute small businesses to check out in and around the area. Additionally, this area is where some of Picasso’s inspiration came from.
3 Day Itinerary Barcelona Day 3
Museu d’Art de Catalunya in Montjuic
This lovely museum is a national palace that holds art from Catalunya. This museum includes many art pieces from artists located in the Catalunya area like Picasso, Salvador Dali, Antoni Gaudi, and more. Additionally, it’s an absolutely stunning building.
Picasso Museum
If you love art, I highly suggest you visit the Picasso museum. I studied art through high school and college so it’s a big passion of mine. If you plan to visit Madrid, you need to check out the piece Les Meninas by Diego Velazquez at the Prado Museum in Madrid. A room at the Picasso museum is dedicated to Picasso’s studies of Les Meninas. Additionally, he created several paintings of his version of this painting. This was one of my highlights during my 3 days in Barcelona itinerary.
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Ciutadella Park
Ciutadella Park is a beautiful park to have a picnic in or just stroll around and enjoy the sunshine. Additionally, We found this area relaxing and filled with locals spending time with their family and friends. In big cities, it can be hard to find areas of green and recreational spots. Moreover, this was a nice relaxing place during our busy city adventures in such a busy 3 Day Itinerary Barcelona.
Arc de Triomf
After you finish hanging out at Ciutadella Park, take a stroll to the Arc de Triomf. The Arc de Triomf is known to be the main gate for the Barcelona World Fair making it a wonderful sight to see during your 3 day itinerary Barcelona. On your walk down, you will see street performers, couples strolling down the walkway, and families enjoying this public space.
Bonus: Barcelona Itinerary Day 4
Montserrat
After you have finished your 3 day itinerary in Barcelona, if you have extra time, I suggest that you spend the 4th day at Montserrat. If you are especially feeling overwhelmed or out of place in Barcelona, it is nice to take a day trip out of the city. Finally, there is a beautiful hike uphill where you can get a great view of the Monastery. Before you travel there, be sure to avoid these 9 mistakes for the train to Montserrat.
ALSO READ: A Guide to Montserrat
Best time to visit for 3 Days in Barcelona
The best time to visit Barcelona, Spain is May through June to avoid a lot of the tourist season and avoid the heat. Although, I did travel during August and found it bearable, but more crowded.
3 Day Itinerary Barcelona | Where to Visit in Spain
If you are looking for other cities to visit within Spain, these are some of the most popular destinations that you should keep on your list of places to visit within Spain.
- Madrid
- Granada
- Valencia
- You may also like:
- Ibiza
- Seville
- Toledo
Language and Form of Currency in Spain
Of course, the language spoken is Spanish. The form of currency is the Euro. Furthermore, Credit cards and Debit Cards are perfectly fine to use here, just make sure you have a credit card without foreign transaction fees to avoid additional fees. Additionally, I suggest you bring some cash with you, and if you feel you need more, pull out more at the local atm.
How to get around Barcelona in 3 Days
The best way to get around Barcelona is to take public transportation. You can get a 2-Day, 3-Day, 4-Day or 5-Day travel pass when you arrive there or get one online. For your 3 Day Itinerary Barcelona, Hola BCN travel pass allows you unlimited travel on the subway and metro bus. If you are traveling outside of Barcelona, you will, of course, need to pay for those locations. Prices for the passes range from 15 to 35 Euro depending on the number of days you need the pass for. Be sure to visit their website for updated rates.
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There you have it, my 3 days in Barcelona Itinerary. Additionally, did you like this Itinerary? Leave your comments below.
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La boqueria and Sagrada Familia are my fave places in BCN! Great guide!
Love your recommendations. I am hoping to visit Barcelona this year and this guide will definitely come in handy
A good and simple one for Barcelona, thanks for sharing!
What a great resource! I was in Barcelona 7 years ago, and it was under construction then and it’s so funny seeing it still has the scaffolding! I remember them saying it was going to be years and years before it is finished! I’ll be bookmarking this article for my next visit to Spain!
I am crazy about La Sagrada Familia and want to visit so badly! I hope i can make it to Barcelona inspite of the local outrage on tourists, someday! You have stunning photos.
Although living in Europe, I still have not visited Barcelona but it ranks high on my list. Apart from Sagrada Familia and Las Ramblas I have not known much abour the things to see there. So I found your article very interesting and inspiring.
This is such an extensive guide. Loved the details. I am pinning your image for a later reference whenever I visit Barcelona. Thanks for sharing!
Wow the architecture really is amazing! You got some awesome photos there- and great tips too!
I’m salivating over food. And these sights are definitely on my list.
Happy to stumble upon this post as we are planning our Barcelona trip. I am bookmarking this post for ideas on possible itineraries.
I decided to skip Barcelona when I went to Spain. If I get the chance to do so, it would certainly be for the architectural art.
Totally! I only liked it because I studied all the architecture, but honestly I found better food and amazing culture in other parts of Spain ❤️
WOW!! Barcelona is still on my list.. I hope I push through with my Eurotrip next year *fingers-crossed* and this guide is really helpful. Bookmarked!
I love how you have brought Barcelona into Perspective. The photos are also on point! The architecture is also stunning. Nice post, Thanks for introducing Barcelona to my must visit places..
This brought back so many great memories of our trip there years ago. Thanks for the great updated info?