Emily Eats Everywhere

Whether you’re coming to Barcelona for the delicious cuisine, the unforgettable architecture, or for world-class fútbol, this unique city will definitely steal your heart. And with this Barcelona travel guide, you’ll get to enjoy many different sides of the city—from the classic Barcelona must-see attractions to impressive day trips outside the city as well. 

What is the best time of year to visit Barcelona?

If you’re looking to avoid the crowds and the cold weather, try visiting Barcelona in the spring (from March to May) or in the fall (from September to November). You’ll still get great weather and you might even get a picture in front of the Sagrada Familia without a thousand people around you (but only if you go in the morning). 

We were in Barcelona from mid September to early November—it was still pretty busy, but we got nice, warm fall weather. It did rain a little bit towards the end of October but most days were sunny with clear skies. 

Where is the best place to stay in Barcelona? 

Unfortunately, Barcelona’s housing crisis has led to some backlash against Airbnb apartments and tourists in general. Finding an affordable place to stay in the city—especially in popular areas like l’Eixample, Barrio Gótico, and El Born—is a challenge, to say the least. 

Beware of areas like El Raval, Poble Sec, and some parts of Barrio Gótico, especially at night. Robberies and pickpocketing are much more common in these areas. 

If you have the budget, stay in l’Eixample or vila de Gràcia. If you’re looking for cheaper options, areas like La Sagrera, Sant Marti, or near the Sants train station are also great options that are a little deeper into the city. 

Our first week in Barcelona, we enjoyed staying in a beautiful airbnb right in front of Casa Batllo—it had beautiful views of Passeig de Gràcia and an unbeatable centric location. Once we stayed near Plaza Urquinaona, another fun centric location with lots going on. We’ve also stayed deeper into the city near La Sagrera, which was really nice and much calmer and quieter. 

Finding a great Airbnb or hotel a little farther away from the city center is actually a cool option. You’ll be able to explore a less-touristy part of the city—and, thanks to Barcelona’s excellent transportation system, getting to the spots you want to visit won’t be a problem at all. 

How reliable is public transportation in Barcelona? 

Barcelona has a fantastic public transportation system that, quite honestly, makes this big city feel small. Whether you take the metro, the bus, tram, or train, it’s quick and easy to get to your destination. During peak hours, it can get pretty packed—and in the summer, it’s hot and sweaty—but if you’re on a budget or just want to experience the city like the locals, public transportation is the way to go. 

You can buy a metrocard called a T-30 that will give you unlimited trips in metro, bus, and tram for thirty days. It costs around 30 euros and is a cheap way to see the whole city. These cards can’t be shared, so make sure you have one per person. 

If figuring out the metro system and underground spaces aren’t your thing, don’t worry—taxis in Barcelona are also cheap compared to cities in the United States and other countries in Europe. 

What are the must-see attractions in Barcelona?

This Barcelona travel guide wouldn’t be complete without a list of Barcelona’s must-see attractions. So here you go—if you can only spend a few days in this one-of-a-kind city, make sure you see: 

• Sagrada Familia (Gaudi’s Greatest Hit) 
• Parc Guell (Gaudi’s Second-Greatest Hit)
• Gaudi’s Other Hits: La Pedrera, Casa Batllo, & Casa Vicens
• Barceloneta Beach 
• Barcelona Cathedral
• Arc de Triomf 

For the ultimate 1 week Barcelona itinerary, you’ll see each of these—and much more. Barcelona is an extremely popular tourist destination, but a lot of visitors miss the gems that are located just a few hours outside the city. 

This is your complete 1 week Barcelona travel guide for an unforgettable vacation in this beautiful city. 

Day 1: Check out Gaudi’s Greatest Hits 

Start your week in Barcelona by visiting the country’s most popular attraction—La Sagrada Familia. This stunning basilica has been under construction for over 135 years—and it’s still not finished. This extremely elaborate monument is the work of the famous Spanish architect, Antoni Gaudi. His intricate, eccentric, vibrantly-colored blend of organic and geometric makes his work dazzling and unique. 

Make sure to get your tickets to the Sagrada Familia from the official site well ahead of time. Buying your tickets at the door can be risky, there’s almost always a long line and they almost always sell out. 

If you just want to admire the outside façade, that’s fine too. Come early in the morning to admire the architecture and get great pictures before the crowds come. 

See the Sagrada Familia from the Sercotel Rooftop Bar

Looking for a more romantic and relaxed Sagrada Familia visit? How about a rooftop bar with unbeatable views of Spain’s greatest work of art? Just reserve your spot at Sercotel Hotel Terrace. Enjoy unbeatable views, fantastic drinks, and a truly unique Barcelona experience. Make sure you reserve at least 15 days before, spots fill up fast!

Enjoy an Afternoon along Passeig de Gràcia 

Passeig de Gràcia is one of Barcelona’s most famous streets, and it’s filled with luxurious stores and a few more of Gaudi’s works—Casa Batlló and La Pedrera. 

Casa Batlló is a colorful work inspired by the ocean—when rays of sunlight hit the blue, green, and turquoise tiles that line the curvy rooftop, it glimmers like the ocean on a summer day. The inside is filled with every shade of blue imaginable, tiles galore, and unique ceiling shapes. 

From March to November you can combine your visit to Casa Batlló with an unforgettable rooftop concert—with a Noches Mágicas event. Your ticket includes your self-guided tour, a rooftop concert at 9pm, and a copa de cava (Spain’s sparkling wine). 

La Pedrera is another Gaudi masterpiece that was built for a wealthy Spanish couple, Pere Milà and Roser Segimon, in the early 1900s. The building’s unique shape and unusual structure attracted it’s fair share of ridicule during the construction phase, but today it’s admired by tourists from all over the world. 

These famous Gaudi monuments, Casa Batlló and La Pedrera, are just three blocks apart. Buy your tickets online or at the door to see the inside of these works of art, or simply enjoy their beauty with a street-eye view.

Great Places to Eat in l’Eixample

To finish up your day enjoying Gaudi’s masterpieces in l’Eixample, top it all off with some tapas at Vinitus, delicious pasta from Musiu, burgers at Hideout, pizza from Luigis, Peruvian food from Rikos, or ice cream from El Nacional. Those are just a few of my favorites—l’Eixample has a ton of amazing restaurants. You really can’t go wrong. 

Day 2: The Best Barcelona Bike Tour 

What better way to see the city’s best attractions than with a fun bike tour? When we went to Barcelona with my sister and my parents, this was one of our favorite activities we did in the city. We went with Fat Tire tours—and it was a blast. 

Fat Tire tours has many different tour options to choose from—the one we choose took us through the Gothic Quarter, where we saw the Catedral de Barcelona, then into the beautiful Parc de la Ciutadella. We made it to the famous Arc de Triomf, and finished off the tour biking along the busy Barceloneta beach. At each stop, our tour guide explained shared fun facts and the history of the monuments we stopped by. 

Learn How to Cook Paella—Spain’s Most Famous Dish

After your Barcelona bike tour, take a cooking class and learn how to make paella. We had a fantastic time at La Lucha restaurant in the Gothic Quarter with Chef Oscar Barrantes. 

This restaurant has authentic Peruvian fusion cuisine—not only did we make a huge seafood paella together, we also ate Peruvian ceviche and traditional Spanish appetizers like patatas bravas. Chef Oscar’s vibrant energy brings the whole class together, by the end we were all laughing and enjoying a delicious paella together. 

Visit La Rambla and La Boqueria

The Gothic Quarter is the oldest part of Barcelona. It’s known for its narrow streets, rowdy nightlife, and La Rambla. But, beware—pickpockets hang out here and tourists are their number one target. Be especially careful in this zone and the next-door El Raval zone, especially at night. 

As you walk down La Rambla, you’ll find street vendors selling spectacular Barcelona artwork, colorful flowers, souvenirs and trinkets, and more. This emblematic walkway is always busy with movement, music, and selfie sticks. 

About halfway down the 0.75-mile long street, you’ll find a huge market: Mercat de Sant Josep. Locals refer to it as La Boqueria, and inside you’ll find a fantastic variety of fruits, Spanish delicacies, fresh juices galore, and sweet treats. It’s a fun place to explore—and try some things you might not find in your home country. 

Day 3: Day Trip to Montserrat 

After a few days in the city, it’s time to escape to the mountains to enjoy a stunning view of Barcelona’s jaw-dropping mountainside. This fantastic day trip to Montserrat might just end up being your favorite part of your trip to Barcelona.  

What is Montserrat?

Montserrat is a stunning mountainside monastery with unique rock formations that jut out into the clouds. It’s a perfect place to hike, connect with nature and God, or listen to one of the oldest boy choirs in Europe. 

Legend has it that back in the year 880, a group of shepherds found a statue of the virgin Mary in a cave in the mountain. (You can even visit the cave, called Santa Cova. It’s about a 20 minute walk from the funicular station.) Since then, the mountain has been a spiritual refuge, and in the year 1025, the Monastery of Montserrat was officially founded. Today, thousands of pilgrims and thousands more tourists visit Montserrat to admire the beauty of the mountains and visit this sacred site. 

Montserrat is also home to the famous Black Madonna—one of the most famous in the world. Although it’s not the original statue found by the shepherds in 880, this beautiful statue sculpted in the 12th century is truly a work of art. 

You can find the Black Madonna, or “La Moreneta” as locals will say, in the back of the Montserrat basilica. Be prepared to wait in line for anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour, as many visitors come here to pay homage to the Virgin Mary. 

How do you get to Montserrat? 

Montserrat is about 40 miles outside of the city of Barcelona. By car or bus, you can get to Montserrat in about an hour. You can also book a half-day or full-day tour to Montserrat that includes transportation to and from the monastery. 

You can also get to Montserrat by train. From the Placa Espanya metro station, head towards the FGC Trains Zone. There, you’ll take the R5 train towards Manresa-Baixador (it usually costs about 14 euros per person, round trip). After about an hour-long train ride, you’ll get off at Monistrol de Montserrat, where you’ll take a green cremallera train up to the mountain monastery (about 15 euros per person, round trip). You can also enjoy a steep, 20-minute trip up the mountain in one of the funicular trains. Either way, you’ll enjoy great views. 

What can you do at Montserrat? 

Besides visiting the monastery, listening to the choir, paying tribute to the Black Madonna, and enjoying the stunning views, Montserrat is also a fantastic hiking spot. 

One of the most popular hikes is to the Creu de Sant Miquel, a metal cross with a stunning backdrop of the picturesque Montserrat monastery and mountainside. On a clear day, you might even be able to see the Pyrenees mountains in the distance. This easy hike is about 40 minutes roundtrip, and about 1.25 miles round-trip. 

You can also hike to San Jeroni, the highest peak in the Montserrat mountains. This hike is more strenuous and takes about 2.5 hours, but boasts incredible views of Catalunya, abandoned monk cliff dwellings, and a really cool route. It’s a memorable hike, and if you have the time, I highly recommend it. 

Don’t forget to check out the Montserrat museum, and get lunch at one of the mountainside restaurants, and enjoy the spectacular views of this truly unique place. 

Day 4: Rent a Car and See the Costa Brava 

Spain’s Costa Brava stretches from Blanes, a city about an hour northeast of Barcelona to Portbou, all the way to the French-Spanish border. This incredible coastline is full of secret coves, beautiful beaches, and fantastic little Spanish towns. 

Rent a car in Barcelona and stop along any of the adorable beach coves that dot the coastline. (Or, you can book this awesome tour that includes snorkeling!) Enjoy the sun at Cala Roca Grossa, or walk through the beautiful botanic gardens and fantastic views at Jardín Botánico Marimurtra or Santa Clotilde Gardens.

Definitely stop in Tossa del Mar (about 1.5 hours from Barcelona), a beautiful beach town that’s part medieval castle. Walk through the adorable cobblestone streets, visit the lighthouse, hike to a beautiful viewpoint, or enjoy some sun at the beach in this beautiful gem on the Costa Brava.  

Head inland and have lunch in the beautiful city of Girona (and walk the streets where the hit TV series, Game of Thrones was filmed) or stick to the coastal route and check out Cala del Pi, a beautiful swimming spot for warm summer days. 

Explore the Costa Brava and find your own amazing views and fantastic beaches. Here, there’s magic to be found and adventure to be had. 

Day 5: Parc Güell, Tapas, and Flamenco

Today, back in the big city, you’ll venture deeper into Barcelona to see a few more of Gaudi’s famous works (and some of my personal favorites) and enjoy an exciting traditional flamenco show. 

Start your day watching the sunrise over Barcelona at the Carmel Bunkers. It is a hike up to the bunkers, and in this case, it’s actually better to take a taxi to the nearest entrypoint. The buses and metro will get you close-ish, but you’ll have to walk about 20 to 25 minutes to get to the bunkers (and it’s a steep, hilly area). 

Here, you’ll get a 360º view of this stunning city from abandoned bunkers from the Spanish Civil War. The best part? It’s absolutely free! 

Take All the Pictures at Colorful Park Güell

Grab some croissants and freshly-squeezed orange juice for breakfast, then head over to Park Güell, another of Barcelona’s Gaudi masterpieces. This space was originally planned to be a luxury residential complex, but later Gaudi and Eusebi Güell, the wealthy entrepreneur who commissioned the project, decided it would be better as a beautiful park. 

They were right. Park Güell is a magical, colorful park with wide open spaces, designs that mimic objects in nature, and an impressive irrigation system designed to collect water for the surrounding neighborhood. 

Gaudi used a unique art style called Trencadis—creating a mosaic with broken pieces of ceramic—to decorate most of the structures. You’ll find unique, beautifully colored tile designs throughout the park; they’re perfect for pictures. 

Enjoy walking around this beautiful park and seeing the fantastic views of the city. Take your picture with the mosaic dragon—or in any picturesque corner of the park.  Make sure to buy your tickets from the Park Güell official site at least a week or two in advance, especially during the busy seasons. 

Check Out Another Gaudi Favorite: Casa Vicens 

If you want to see Gaudi’s works in chronological order, then Casa Vicens should be your first stop. This was the first big project that Gaudi was hired to design, at 30 years old. This building was one of the first true modernismo designs in Spain, and in Europe. 

Casa Vicens is a beautiful combination of flowered tiles, rusty red, blue, and yellow colors, and a garden filled with luscious green plants and palm trees. 

You can enjoy a self-guided visit at your own pace, a guided tour, or even do a ceramic workshop to design your own Spanish tile or a drawing class at Casa Vicens during your visit. Make sure to buy your tickets online here at the official site for a slight discount.

Enjoy a Flamenco Show at Tarantos

After enjoying Gaudi’s works of art (and maybe even creating your own), finish the day off with a Flamenco show at Tarantos, the oldest flamenco tablao in Barcelona. Tarantos is right next to La Rambla in the barrio Gótico, and they have fantastic shows every single night. Check out the different show options here—tickets start at 25 euros per person—and enjoy the best flamenco in Barcelona.

Day 6: Shopping and Soccer—Visit Camp Nou, the F.C. Barcelona Stadium

If you’re a soccer fan, a trip to Barcelona wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Camp Nou, the F.C. Barcelona Stadium. If there’s a soccer game during your trip, you can live the complete experience of cheering on the world’s greatest soccer team in their home stadium. 

Get your tickets online to see the F.C. Barcelona museum, the locker room, and the soccer field with your very own eyes. Smell the pitch, sit on the bench, and learn something new about the history of this one-of-a-kind team. 

Not a soccer fan? Try shopping at Diagonal Mar or Arenas de Barcelona—a bull-ring turned mall with fantastic views. If you have expensive taste, find brand-name clothing at El Corte Ingles or along Passeig de Gracia. 

If you’re travelling with kiddos, head up to Tibidabo, a mountaintop amusement park with breathtaking views. A roller coaster on top of a mountain? That’s probably enough adrenaline for any teenager. You can also visit the beautiful Templo del Sagrado Corazón church, right next to the amusement park. You can actually see this beautiful monument from different areas of the city Barcelona—it stands out on top of this 1,680-foot tall mountain. 

If you’re looking for a more laid-back plan and it’s sunny outside, enjoy a dip in the Mediterranean ocean or play volleyball at Barceloneta Beach. This iconic location is busy with activity, especially in the summer. It’s the oldest and most popular beach in the city, and a favorite for tourists and locals alike.  

Day 7: Take a Cable Car to Montjuïc Mountain

Finish off your 1 week in Barcelona itinerary with a visit to Montjuïc Mountain, a unique hill in Barcelona filled with fantastic views and lots to do. 

To get there, take the metro to Paral·lel metro station. From there, take the funicular to Parc de Montjuïc. From there, you’ll take a cable car to Castell de Montjuïc. 

(Please note that this cable car is different from the one that takes you across the Port of Barcelona. The Port cable car will take you to a lookout on the Montjuïc mountain, Miramar Montjuïc, but not to the castle at the top.)

Once you arrive at Montjuïc Mountain, take in the views of the city and the Mediterranean sea. This is a fantastic viewpoint and great for pictures. Then, visit the Montjuic Castle, enjoy the artwork at the Joan Miro Foundation or the MNAC (National Museum of Catalan Art), explore el Poble Espanyol, or walk through the botanical gardens. 

Art-lovers can enjoy a whole day on the Montjuïc Mountain in the different museums, and young and old alike will enjoy the activities in Poble Espanyol—from tours and  treasure hunts to fiestas, music, and food, this place has got it all.  

Someday, you might even be able to enjoy the Magic Fountain performance—and exhibition of color, water, and music that’s currently on hold due to drought protocols. Hopefully someday soon it’ll open again. 

Enjoy Your Barcelona 

Whether it’s nightlife, architecture, gastronomy, or adrenaline you’re looking for, Barcelona will deliver—and with more than a couple surprises. This is a city full of life, history, and love. With this action-packed seven-day itinerary, you’ll have seen not just Barcelona’s must-see attractions, but also some hidden gems off the beaten path. 

This magical city has a special place in my heart—and it always will. From the first moment I arrived in Barcelona in 2017 and walked along her cobblestone streets, breathed in her smoky cigarette air, and saw the Sagrada Familia from the apartment window, I fell in love. And you will too. There are smells, sounds, and glimpses that will always remind me of Barcelona, wherever I wander. I called her home, and part of me is still lost somewhere in La Barceloneta. 

Book your flights. Find your hotel or airbnb. And come and enjoy your Barcelona—full of memories to be made, tapas to be enjoyed, and new friends to be made. Barcelona has it all, and more.