Located in Spain’s Catalonia region, Barcelona is known for its art and architecture. Barcelona is a great option for a long weekend trip or as part of a longer Euro trip. The fantastical Sagrada Família and other modernist landmarks designed by Antoni Gaudí dot the city. From tapas to the beach and experiencing flamenco dancing, the city has a lot to offer. Read further to know more about all the activities you can do when planning your next trip to Barcelona!
Pro tip: The best way to go around Barcelona would be by taking public transport or taxi. Uber’s are pretty quick to arrive and are cheaper than London. Make sure if you want to visit any excursions, you need to PRE-BOOK tickets online IN ADVANCE. You will NOT get tickets on the day at the entrance. (We learned this the hard way!)
Sagrada Família
Iconic! One of the most prominent sites in Barcelona. This has to be your first place to visit. The Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família, also known as Sagrada Família, is the largest unfinished Catholic church in the world.To purchase tickets in advance, visit the official website in advance. Individual tickets are priced at €26 (£22/$28) as of February 2024.
Park Güell
One of the most prominent landmarks of the city with amazing buildings, sculptures, and tile work designed by Gaudí. We wanted to get a sunset view here but ended up not having tickets (see my pro tip above!). To avoid disappointment, I would advise you to book tickets well ahead! Tickets can be booked on their official website. Individual tickets are priced at €10 (£9/$11) as of February 2024.
Park Güell is a bit away from the city (about 30 mins by bus), but worth the visit. Multiple options for buses are available depending on where you start. The bus drops you at the back entrance where the staff guided us to an alternate viewpoint as we didn’t have tickets to watch the sunset. We had to climb a lot of stairs, but we found a great hidden spot.
Alternatively, you can take a cab that takes about 20 mins. If you opt for a cab, it will drop you off at the main entrance.
Casa Batlló (Gaudi House)
Gaudi has three houses that are known for this unique art and architecture: Casa Batlló, Casa Mila and Casa Vicens. Whilst (like above), we didn’t have tickets in advance, if you admire Antoni Gaudi’s work, we would recommend you to plan and visit this for a unique immersive experience. You can find various ticket packages on their website.
Hire a Private Yacht
Along with being known for its art and architecture, Barcelona also has a great seaside to enjoy during the summer. I would recommend this for a chilled and relaxed afternoon away from the hustle of the city. If you do want to hire a yacht, you can contact us.
Montserrat Monastery
Santa Maria de Montserrat is an abbey of the Order of Saint Benedict located on the mountain of Montserrat in Monistrol de Montserrat. If you have at least three days in Barcelona and would like to get out of the city and see something different, then yes, Montserrat is worth a trip. The easiest way would be to drive. However, to park close to the Monastery, you need to get there early. There are options to park at the base of the mountain including:
- Aeri de Montserrat Cable Car
- Sant Joan Funicular
- Rack Railway Mountain Train (cannot purchase tickets online)
Pro Tip: We reached around 10.30 am and just about managed to find parking. By the time we left around 12.30 pm, there was a long queue of cars waiting to park. Hence, we recommend getting there as early as possible!
Enjoy Flamenco and Tapas at Poble Espanyol
Poble Espanyol is a Spanish Village showcasing architecture, art, tradition, handicrafts, and open-air, as well as being a unique space for the family. You can sip some Sangria, and enjoy 3-course tapas along with electrifying Flamenco dancing at Tablao de Carmen, one of the city’s best-known ‘tablaos’ or flamenco bars. We recommend that you make a reservation in advance.
Visit Andorra
Locked between Spain and France, Andorra is the 16th smallest country in the world. Famous for its Pyrenees mountains and ski resorts, I would recommend visiting Principality of Andorra if you have a long stay in Barcelona (and you want to increase your country count!) for a day trip. Andorra is tax-free and a duty-free destination. Andorra la Vella, the country’s capital town is your spot to visit for a day trip.
There is a border check between Spain and Andorra but they usually do not stop you for document checks! However, we would recommend carrying your passport in case of any issues.
A drive straight to Andorra from Barcelona is just under three hours. There is an alternative option taking Andbus if you do not want to drive. No direct trains run between Andorra and Barcelona.
We hired a car and visited Montserrat and Andorra on the same day as we had limited time (almost a 12 hour day!). However, if you want it to be a bit more relaxed, you could pick one of the two or do what we did. The distance between Montserrat and Andorra is about two hours.
Planning your next trip to Barcelona?
Three days is a good time to spend and explore Barcelona. However, depending on your interests, you may want to stay longer.
You can read a review of our hotel stay at Hotel Arts Barcelona.
To start planning your next trip to Barcelona, do reach out to us via our Bookings page. We’ll help you find the best hotel deals with our preferred partners and work with you to plan your perfect holiday in Barcelona, Spain based on your interests!