4-Day Itinerary to Barcelona: For First-Time Visitors
Barcelona is a city filled with art, history, and delicious food. This 4-day itinerary covers all the highlights from Gaudí’s masterpieces to where to get tapas.
A Note about Siesta
From 2-5PM, some businesses may close so that people are able to take a late lunch break or nap. I chose to nap at that time to conserve energy for the later.
Day 1: La Sagrada Familia
La Sagrada Família
Begin the trip with a visit to Barcelona’s most famous landmark, La Sagrada Família. Designed by Antoni Gaudí, this beautiful basilica is still under construction when I visited in 2024. It has been over 140 years since the project had started. They have guided tours but I opted to just wander the church at my own pace.
If you don’t have claustrophobia, I recommend checking out a tower. You take a lift to go up, and then have to walk down a long spiral cramped staircase. The Nativity Facade is 180 ft while the Passion Facade is 246 ft. The Passion Facade is dedicated to the death of Jesus while the Nativity facade represents the birth and early life of Jesus.
Where to Purchase: Official Sagrada Família Website
Pro Tip: Book your tickets in advance
Bar Paradiso
After a day of sightseeing, and if a nice cocktail sounds like a good idea, it’s time to consider entering the queue at Paradiso. This speakeasy ranked among the world’s best bars. Located behind a deli, Paradiso features creative cocktails with fantastic showmanship. In the afternoon at around 3 PM, Paradiso will put out a street sign with a QR code to get into line at Paradiso. I highly suggest hopping on sometime in the early afternoon, and then going somewhere nearby for dinner or snacks while waiting to be called.
We ordered the “On Fire”, a milk-washed bourbon cocktail that was smoked with a blue laser. Unfortunately, my biggest blunder of the night was holding my phone but forgetting to push record so I have no footage of the laser show.
Bodega La Puntual
For dinner (or while waiting for Paradiso to call you back), head to Bodega La Puntual, a traditional Catalan restaurant known for its tapas and wine. I recommend trying the grilled octopus Andalusian style, and the vinegar anchovies. They also had a special on the menu that I translated as pork jowl confit with an egg - also super delicious.
Day 2: The Gothic Quarter, La Rambla, and Passeig de Gracia
Mercado de La Boqueria
Start off the morning at the Mercado de La Boqueria, Barcelona’s most famous market. Wander through the stalls offering fresh produce, seafood, and more. I highly recommend trying some of the jamón ibérico while you are there.
Explore La Rambla
Right next to the market is La Rambla, which is the main pedestrian street filled with restaurants and shops. Order yourself “un cafe con leche por favor” at a nearby coffee shop or head to the next stop.
Gaudí’s Casa Batlló and Casa Milà
Meander towards Passeig de Gràcia to admire two of Gaudí’s masterpieces: Casa Batlló and Casa Milà. While it is possible to pay and enter these buildings, even the exterior designs are mesmerizing to look at from afar.
Picasso Museum
After you’ve refreshed yourself, pay a visit to the Picasso Museum, which holds an extensive collections of Pablo Picasso’s works. I really enjoyed how the museum highlighted Picasso’s early years and artistic evolution. We decided to buy our tickets in advance since it was a must-visit on our trip.
Where to Purchase: Museu Picasso Website
Dinner at El Chigre 1769
End your day with dinner at El Chigre 1769, located in the El Born neighborhood and is a blend of Catalan and Asturian cuisine. I tried both of their vermouths on tap and really enjoyed the bone marrow and white artichoke. The patatas with queso cabrales (potato with cheese) had too much blue cheese for me but I was never a blue cheese girl anyways.
Day 3: Day Trip to Montserrat
Pick up a sandwich on your way to the train station when you start your morning. There is food at Montserrat but not a lot of options so it’s better to pack a lunch.
Montserrat Monastery and Hike
Take a day trip to Montserrat, a stunning mountain range that lies about an hour away from Barcelona. I chose to hike up to Montserrat from the train following this guide and was rewarded with breathtaking mountain views. It was a total of 2.89 miles with 1,890 ft elevation gain from when I had started tracking on All Trails.
If you go inside the Santa Maria de Montserrat Monastery, you will get to see the famous Black Madonna statue. The day we were there, there were also some market stalls set up with people selling local honey. Visiting Montserrat was a nice change of pace compared to the city life in Barcelona. And the hike was probably my favorite part.
How to Get There: Take the R5 train from Plaça d’Espanya to Monistrol de Montserrat. Tickets can be purchased the day before Plaça d’Espanya if desired. Once you arrive at Monistrol de Montserrat, you will start your hike through town and up the mountain.
Cable Car Down
After you are done exploring Montserrat, take the cable car back down the mountain and enjoy the scenic view.
Day 4: Park Güell & Barceloneta Beach
Park Güell
On the last day, head to Park Güell, which is another of Gaudí’s masterpieces. This whimsical park is filled with colorful mosaics, quirky sculptures, and stunning views of the city.
Where to Purchase: Park Güell Official Website
Barceloneta Beach
End your Barcelona adventure with some relaxation at Barceloneta Beach.
Dinner at Cafe Amalia
I highly recommend making a reservation at this elevated Catalonian restaurant. Everything was cooked to a perfect temperature and consistency. Save room for the house-made cheesecake!
