Last update : 21/08/2023

Planning a trip to Spain and looking for the best things to do in Barcelona? You should find what you’re looking for in our travel blog. Barcelona is one of the cities we know best, as Clémence’s parents live there. In our opinion, it’s a city that shines for its liveliness, climate, culture and joie de vivre. Barcelona is an ideal destination to unwind and enjoy the mild Mediterranean climate.

Come visit Barcelona to discover Gothic architecture, the lively atmosphere of the city center, delicious tapas and sangrias and go in search of Gaudi’s mischievous touches in all four corners of the city. In this article we deliver our list of must-sees in Barcelona, as well as all our good hotel and restaurant addresses. If you’re wondering what to do in Barcelona, this blog post is for you!

Visit Barcelona in 3 days, where to sleep?

Ohla Barcelona

When we were last in Barcelona, we stayed at the Ohla Barcelona, which we loved. We let you discover our selection of the best hotels in Barcelona with swimming pool by clicking on the button below to discover even more hotel ideas for your Barcelona vacation.

See our selection of hotels

Things to do in Barcelona in 3 days, our must-sees

Wondering what to do in Barcelona? Although the center is best known for the rambla, there’s so much to discover in this city! Have you ever taken the cable car up to Montjuic? Are you so familiar with Parc Güell and the city’s various must-see monuments? Today, we’re taking you on a tour of Barcelona with us, this multi-faceted Catalan capital. Happy reading!

Parc Güell

It’s impossible to visit Barcelona in 3 days without stopping off at Parc Güell. Listed as a Unesco World Heritage site since 1984, Parc Güell is one of Barcelona’s favorite spots. Equally popular with tourists, the park is one of Barcelona’s must-sees. For the record, it was in 1900 that Eusebio Güell asked Antoni Gaudí to design this crazy project. The aim was to build 60 luxury homes spread over 20 hectares of gardens for Barcelona’s wealthiest citizens. Construction lasted until 1914, but was halted due to the high cost. Subsequently, in 1923, the park became the property of the city.

Today, there are 20 magnificent hectares of parkland overlooking Barcelona. Access to the park is subject to a fee of €10. Don’t hesitate to book your tickets in advance and come as soon as the park opens. The park is a must-see in Barcelona, and attracts a great many tourists. We therefore advise you to start your day in the park. To get there, take metro line 3 to the Lesseps stop. Then head to Avinguda del Santuari de Sant Josep to take the escalators up.

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La Casa Batllò

As with Parc Güell, it’s impossible to visit Barcelona in 3 days without visiting at least one of the houses designed by Antoni Gaudi. There are four of these houses, all of which are open to the public. Our favorite is the incredible Casa Batlló, right in the heart of the city. The visit to this Barcelona must-see is not cheap (€29 entrance fee), but it’s well worth it, as it’s so impressive! No guided tour, but good audioguides, and no queue-cutting tickets either, as you book a specific time to visit, in advance on the Internet. Allow between 1h30 and 2 hours for your visit, to take the time to contemplate every detail of this very special architecture. 

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La Pedrera – Casa Milà

La Pedrera was built between 1906 and 1910 by Gaudi for the Mila family. Gaudi created this building in an unprecedented way. There are no straight lines, and the marine world is evident throughout the house, starting with its wave-like facade and moving ceiling. The house, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has the advantage of displaying a wealth of furniture, created by Gaudi with great modernity. We recommend a visit during your vacation in Barcelona, with an audioguide that explains Gaudi’s scientific reasoning and gives meaning to his various creations. You’ll pay €25 per person to visit La Pedrera.

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La Casa Vicens

La Casa Vicens is less touristy than Casa Batllò and Casa Mila, yet it’s well worth the detour! It was Gaudi’s first work. We thoroughly enjoyed the visit and highly recommend it. The building is truly splendid. There are fewer visitors here than in Gaudí’s other houses, which makes for a very pleasant visit. In short, a must-visit address in Barcelona. 

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The Sagrada Familia

The Sagrada Familia Basilica is arguably Barcelona’s most iconic landmark. Considered Antoni Gaudí’s most insane and over-the-top project. Begun on March 19, 1882, the project will not see completion until 2026! Despite the fact that it is still unfinished, the basilica is one of Spain’s most visited monuments. It’s also impressive to see how the work has progressed over time. The price of your admission goes some way to financing this work!  A word of advice, pthink about booking your tickets in advance to avoid long queues and make sure you get in.

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Palace of Catalan Music

Palace of Catalan Music is one of our latest finds in Barcelona, and what a discovery it was! The building is superb, and the tour with audioguide is very nice. The visit is fairly quick, which can be a plus if you’re traveling with the family. A visit to the Palais de la Musique costs €16. The price is a bit high, but the visit is definitely worth it.

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Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter

The narrow streets, many peaceful squares, bars and restaurants of Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter make it the ideal place for a cool stroll through the city. Look up and see newer buildings rubbing shoulders with older ones, creating a rare charm. You may find it hard to find your way around, as the medieval-style streets seem so similar and timeless! But that’s the charm of discovering Barcelona. 😍

When visiting Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter, don’t miss Plaça Réal, Mur Del Beso and Plaça Nova. In the early evening, take advantage of the lively district to stop for a drink and a dance.

Barcelona’s El Born district

The El Born district is one of our favorite neighborhoods in Barcelona. We recommend heading there after your visit to the Gothic Quarter. El Born is a trendy district where it’s great to lose yourself in its lively alleyways. Here you’ll find a wealth of stores, bars and restaurants. For Parisians, this district is a lot like the Marais. El Born lies between Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter and the Parc de la Ciutadella.

Ciutadella park

The Parc de la Ciutadella is a very large park located in the heart of Barcelona, the fountain in the middle of the park is magnificent. The park is very pleasant and offers plenty of shade, making it Barcelona’s must-see park after Parc Güell. Admission is free, and you can rent a boat on the park’s lake for €6. The park is located between the El Born district and Barceloneta beach

La Barceloneta

Ancient fishermen’s quarter, Barceloneta offers a beautiful beachfront promenade with palm trees, small fresh fish restaurants and bars. Like a Californian in the heart of Barcelona! As you stroll along the waterfront, you’re sure to come face to face with the Estrella Herida sculpture, a symbol of the district’s past. It’s quite a change from downtown Barcelona and the narrow streets of the old Catalan town!

You also can’t miss the imposing Hotel W, shaped like a shark’s fin and located right on the beach. This 5-star hotel was designed by the famous architect Ricardo Bofill. He is responsible for Barcelona airport and Calp’s famous Muralla Roja. The price of a night in this hotel is quite expensive, so don’t hesitate to head there for a drink on the top floor.

Montjuïc

We end our list of Barcelona must-dos with the city’s highest point, Montjuïc. Here you’ll find a panoramic view of Barcelona! Note that there are cable cars that take you up and down. We decided to go up on foot, and although it was sporty, we didn’t regret our choice. 

Visit Barcelona in 3 days, where to eat?

• Petit palace Boqueria Garden: one of our favorite Barcelona addresses. It’s an intimate restaurant tucked away in the private courtyard of a hotel just off La Rambla. The restaurant’s terrace overlooks the hotel’s private garden, which is truly magnificent! 
• Billy Brunch Barcelona: Do you like brunches on vacation? Go to Billy Brunch. Located just a 10-minute walk from Casa Batllò, this restaurant is truly delicious.
• El National Barcelona: If you’re looking for an atypical place to eat in Barcelona, you should find what you’re looking for at El National. The premises are magnificent and feature several restaurants. There’s something for everyone!
• Bistro Levante: Excellent tapas bar away from the crowds in Barcelona’s Gothic quarter.
• Season Tapas Restaurant: one of Barcelona’s best tapas restaurants. Go with your eyes closed.

Things to do in Barcelona, what to do nearby

Sitges

If you have a bit of time during your vacation in Spain, we recommend heading south of Barcelona to discover the beautiful town of Sitges. A superb destination for partying and relaxing on the beach. It takes an average of 45 minutes by train from Barcelona Sants station.
See our article on Sitges

Montserrat

When you’re in Barcelona, you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to discover Montserrat, a beautiful place that we loved. Montserrat is located some 60 km northwest of the city. To get there from Barcelona, allow 1 hour by train on average.

See our article on Montserrat

Things to do in Barcelona, how to organize your trip well?

Visit Barcelona in 3 days, how to get here?

By train with Liligo

To find the best mode of transport to get to Barcelona, we recommend you visit the Liligo travel comparator. This will enable you to easily find your mode of transport according to your budget and availability. The best way to compare offers and choose the one that suits you best. For our last trip to Barcelona, we took the train directly from Paris. It’s a 7-hour journey from Gare de Lyon in Paris to the heart of Barcelona. We found it very comfortable for working, chilling out while watching a film or admiring the view to music. We recommend it! 

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Visit Barcelona in 3 days, how to find the best hotels?

In order to find the best hotels in Barcelona and benefit from the best conditions (security, cancellation…) we go almost exclusively through Booking.com for our trips. We recommend that you take a look at the available hotels before you leave. You can filter them according to their ratings. The customer reviews are very numerous and recent, which means you can avoid unpleasant surprises when traveling!

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Visiting Barcelona in 3 days, how to find ideas for things to do?

If you’re looking for ideas for things to do on your Barcelona vacation and want to book in advance, we’d also recommend taking a look at the GetYourGuide website. This will give you an overview of the activities on offer in your destination, so you don’t have to wait until you get there to book your places.

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This trip is the result of a collaboration with travel comparator Liligo. We would like to thank them warmly. We remain totally free in what we say, so our opinions are personal and sincere.