Barcelona in 4 Days: everything you need to know

The list of everything you can see and do in Barcelona is long, so I want to help you design your four-day tour in the city. I can already tell you that it is enough time to see at least the most important things, such as the Sagrada Familia, Park Güell or some of its museums. And there will also be time to go out and walk, to know the most modern Barcelona, but also the historical, as well as the footprint of Gaudí and other illustrious architects.

Do you feel like getting to know Barcelona? For the first day I have prepared a tour of two of its oldest neighborhoods: the Gothic Quarter and the Raval, although you will also have the opportunity to return to the present with a visit to a very modern museum.

Stroll through the Gothic Quarter and its squares

If there is a place from which to start your trip in Barcelona that is Plaza Catalunya, the center from where most of the main streets of the city start. After contemplating the place for a while (and the many pigeons that fly over it) I suggest you take the Avenida de Portal del Angel to enter the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona, one of the most magical, ancient and important.

Although the first thing you see are big brand stores, I recommend you start walking through the maze of narrow streets, very medieval style, which form the Gothic Quarter. During your walk you will come across some important squares and buildings, which ones are not to be missed?

• Plaza de Sant Jaume: here, facing each other, are two of the most important institutional buildings: the Ajuntament de Barcelona and the Generalitat de Catalunya.
• Plaza Real: always full of people, this square is one of the liveliest in the city, perfect to take a break and enjoy its neoclassical design.
• Plaza del Pi: crowded because here you will find the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Pi, whose facade you can admire from the square.

Discover the Cathedral of Barcelona

In the heart of the Gothic Quarter, although already directing your steps towards the Ramblas, you will find the Cathedral of Barcelona, also known as La Seu, your next stop:

• Its Gothic facade will welcome you and will leave you with your mouth open, as it is decorated with great detail and ornamentation, especially in its pinnacles.
• You will be able to see the entrance to the cloister, where there are thirteen geese recalling the age at which Santa Eulalia became a martyr.
• The entrance to the temple, where sometimes there is mass, is free.
• Inside you can appreciate the mixture of different architectural styles, combined to perfection.
• Walking through the side chapels, especially in the cloister, you can also contemplate religious works of art of great value.
• If you want to access other areas, such as the Crypt or the Choir, you will have to pay approximately 5 €.

Walk along the Rambla and eat at the Boqueria market

When you leave La Seu you're sure to get a little hungry, and there's no better place to eat than at the Boqueria Market, a place that sells not only fresh produce, but also tapas and ready-made dishes such as bombetas, a kind of potato croquette and usually filled with meat.

When you're done, go for a walk along the Rambla. Right next to the Boqueria is the Liceu, the city's great theater, but what I also recommend is to stop and watch the street performers or even buy some flowers or seeds.

Enjoy contemporary art at MACBA

A few minutes from Las Ramblas (just 10 minutes walk), you will find one of the most fashionable museums in Barcelona: the MACBA (Museum of Contemporary Art of Barcelona), whose white walls and brightness make it perfect for exhibiting works from the second half of the twentieth century onwards.

Perhaps one of the most striking things about MACBA is the building itself, which gives us a clue as to the type of art we will find inside: minimalist, modern and transgressive.

Booking a ticket for MACBA, which costs 13 €, is a good plan to spend the afternoon.

Get to know the alternative neighborhood of Raval

When you leave MACBA you will find yourself in the heart of El Raval, one of the most alternative and multicultural neighborhoods in Barcelona where you will find plenty of things to do:

• Sit on a terrace and have a drink while you contemplate the atmosphere of this area.
• Visit the sculpture of the Cat by Botero.
• Contemplate the Old Hospital de la Santa Creu, where Antonio Gaudí died.
• Dine in one of the restaurants, where you will find all kinds of gastronomy, from the most local to the most international.

It could be said that Barcelona is the birthplace of modernism; the presence of Antonio Gaudí and other architects can be felt in many of the buildings you will find in the city. So that you don't miss the most important ones, dedicate the second day to visit them.

Visit Casa Batlló

Start the day in Paseo de Gracia, one of the main avenues of Barcelona and where, in addition to many luxury stores, you will find the first modernist house you will visit: Casa Batlló.

The colors of its facade (and its skull-like balconies) make everyone stop to contemplate it, although its interior, in which Gaudí played with light and spaces, is even more impressive. You will also be struck by the long queue that forms every day to get in:

• To avoid surprises, it's best to book your tickets to Casa Batlló early and in advance.
• The entrance fee is 35 € and includes audio guide. This is important as many of its architectural motifs and symbols are difficult to understand without an explanation.
• Read this article if you need more information about tickets to Casa Batlló.

Your visit will end on the rooftop, where there is a huge dragon and several chimneys, as well as incredible views.

See the facade and interior of La Pedrera (Casa Mila)

Also known as La Pedrera, Casa Milá is also located on Paseo de Gracia; you will only have to walk about five minutes to get there.

It is considered modern, but not modernist, and is notable for being built in stone but with a curved design, especially in the balconies and chimneys, which seem to create corkscrews. It can currently be visited, although only some areas, since the rest are offices of the Foundation and homes:

• Book tickets for La Pedrera in advance. They cost 28 € and include audio guide.
• From the roof of La Pedrera you can see the Sagrada Familia.
• In the attic there is an exhibition about Gaudí, where you will learn about his history.
• Visit this post if you want more information about tickets for La Pedrera.

Before heading to your next destination, take the opportunity to grab a bite to eat at the Café de la Pedrera. It is located on the mezzanine of the building and was also designed by Gaudí, so you can imagine that the place is beautiful.

Discover the secrets of Montjuic Castle

Your next stop requires you to take public transport, so take line 3 (the green one) on Diagonal towards Paral-lel . Once there, take the funicular that will take you up to Montjuic Castle, a magical place with a lot of history that is worth knowing.

It began as a fortress in the seventeenth century, and since then has been bombed, attacked and used as a Francoist prison and military museum. Today there you will find all the clues you need to understand the history of Barcelona and this site. From its wall, more than 150 meters high, and its watchtower you will have breathtaking views.

My recommendation is to book a tour of Montjuic that includes the cable car ride, the castle and the fountain, but you can also buy a ticket for the cable car and visit the castle on your own by purchasing the ticket.

Stroll through the Miramar Gardens

Since you are in Montjuic, how can you not take a walk around the mountain? On your way down to the city, your first stop will be the Miramar Gardens, designed and built for the 1929 International Exposition. To continue, head down Avenida de Miramar towards the Jardines de Joan Maragall, another natural oasis but much more elegant, as they were created for a king.

When you finish crossing them you will arrive at the Museum of Catalan Art, for which I recommend you book tickets. In fact, if you are passionate about art my advice is to buy the Articket, a pass with which you can access the six most important museums in Barcelona.

Enjoy the show at the Magic Fountain

After the afternoon on the mountain, it's time to take bus 150 to the Maria Cristina stop. As you exit you will see a large fountain and stairs going up to the top. Most days there is a lot of atmosphere in the area, so I recommend you to sit on a step, have a drink and enjoy the street dance groups.

If it is also Thursday, Friday or Saturday, at about 21:00 the Magic Fountain show will begin: when night falls, the fountain lights up and begins to "dance" and light up to the rhythm of music that comes out of loudspeakers arranged in the square. It is a very beautiful and exciting moment, although it is usually very crowded.

Although you have already visited part of **Barcelona'**s modernist treasure, there are still two big ones missing: the Sagrada Familia and Park Güell, so take advantage of the third day to cross them off your list and, in addition, get to know other more authentic areas of the city.

See Barcelona from the Bunkers of Carmel

Although climbing up to them costs a bit (especially if you walk) the Carmel Bunkers are a visit, for me, a must.

They are located more than 200 meters above sea level and provide a 360º view of Barcelona. I recommend going early in the morning, when there are fewer people, or even at dawn.

Enter Park Güell

A short walk, about fifteen minutes from the Bunkers, will take you to Park Güell, where Antonio Gaudi's architecture and nature combine in a unique way.

The sinuous forms and colorful mosaics are the best known elements, having its maximum exponent in the 110 meters long bench and the salamander fountain:

• The area is only accessible by purchasing tickets to Park Güell, which cost 16 euros.
• You can walk around freely, although you won't be able to see anything important and characteristic.
• Visit this post to learn more about Park Güell tickets.

Visit the Sagrada Familia inside

Although you can walk down (in half an hour or so) from Park Güell, you can also take the V19 bus. Your next stop is the Sagrada Familia, although I advise you to take the opportunity to eat something in the area; my recommendation is to go away from the main streets to find less touristy tapas restaurants.

• Tickets for the Sagrada Familia cost 34 €.
• You can also book a guided tour for 53 €, which guarantees you access without queues and explanations from an expert guide.
• If you want more information about the types of tickets for the Sagrada Familia I recommend you to read this post.
• And in this article you will find in detail the things to see inside the Sagrada Familia, which highlights its columns, narrow and shaped like tree trunks, and the lighting that enters through the stained glass windows.

From the outside you can see the towers, of which Gaudí could only finish one before he died, and its facades, which tell the story of the Bible.

Visit the Art Nouveau Site of Sant Pau

Just a short distance from the Sagrada Familia is the Recinto Modernista de Sant Pau, a place I recommend you go. Originally a garden city for the patients of the hospital and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, it now houses institutions.

Seeing it from the outside may be enough, but if you want to go inside to visit places like the Sant Salvador Pavilion (and its exhibition on medicine in Barcelona) and walk among its stained glass windows, domes and corridors you will have to book tickets for Sant Pau.

Take a walk through the Barrio de Gracia

Now it's time to go to the Barrio de Gracia, one of the most authentic neighborhoods in the city. Its streets are narrow, so many times you will have to walk in the middle of the road (always watch out for cars) while you go into the different stores and local businesses, which have a very bohemian air.

If you travel to Barcelona in August you have already planned your visit to Gracia, because for almost a week here is organized a festival in which neighbors decorate every street. However, any time of the year is a good time to stroll through this neighborhood, where there are not so many tourists, or sit on one of the terraces of the famous Plaza del Sol for a drink or a bite to eat to end the day.

Are you sad that your trip to Barcelona is coming to an end? Before you leave there are some areas you have to see. As I know that the fatigue will be making a dent, I propose a couple of quieter activities with which to enjoy the city in a more relaxed way.

Get to know El Born

How about starting your last day in Barcelona in El Born? It is another trendy neighborhood and also has an alternative character. It is best to go during the day because at night it can be a bit dangerous. If you book a guided tour of El Born you won't miss any details and it also includes tickets to the Picasso and Moco museums in Barcelona!

It started out as the cradle of the textile industry, but over the years it has diversified and now there are stores of all kinds. Booking a guided tour to Santa Maria del Mart is a must. Did you know that it is the setting for the famous novel The Cathedral of the Sea?

Crossing under the Arc de Triomphe

Your next destination is Barcelona's Arc de Triomf, which was placed as a gateway for the Universal Exposition of 1888.

It was designed in the purest classical style, although its reliefs and other decorative elements have a more modern air and refer to the different countries participating in the Expo. As a curious fact, this is one of the few triumphal arches that does not have a commemorative purpose for some victory, as may be the case of Paris, but it is a civil construction that alludes to progress.

Have a picnic at the Citadel

After crossing the Arc de Triomphe and leaving it behind you will find the Citadel Park, a place to take shelter from the chaos of the city, and, why not, have a picnic before continuing with the day.

When you're done, my advice is to rest your lunch by taking a stroll around the Citadel. There are always street performers (such as jugglers, dancers or musicians), as well as sculptures by Catalan artists (such as a giant mammoth) and you can also book tickets for the Barcelona Zoo.

Discover the Museum of History of Catalonia

After several days in Barcelona you will surely already know quite a few aspects of its history and that of Catalonia, but to top it all off, why not enter the Museum of History (MUHBA)?

It is located about 10 minutes walk from the Citadel, and visits are usually very entertaining, as it has interactive rooms that recreate how the streets of Barcelona were, as well as other recreations both medieval and more recent times. MUHBA is one of the best museums in Barcelona for a reason.

Contemplate the sunset from the beaches of Barceloneta

If there is a nice way to say goodbye to Barcelona is watching the sunset from the beach, so head to the neighborhood of Barceloneta, whose streets can already begin to smell the sea.

Although usually quite crowded, the beaches of this neighborhood (such as Sant Miquel, San Sebastian or Barceloneta) are quiet places where, at sunset, many people come to see the arrival of the fishing boats and how the city is going to fade as the sun hides behind the sea. Can there be a better plan to end the day and the trip?

Knowing how to get around Barcelona is key to make the most of your time:

• You may well need to take public transport and, once you get to each tourist area, you can walk, especially if you follow the itinerary I have proposed.
• There are also places where you need to go by metro, bus or cable car, such as Montjuic or Park Güell, so I advise you to buy the Hola Barcelona transport card, valid for 2 to 5 days, depending on the pass you choose, and that will allow you to move around the city by metro, bus, streetcar, train and train.
• Another option is to book a place on the Barcelona City Tour tourist bus, with which you can take a tour of the main monuments and attractions of the city and move comfortably, since you can get on and off as many times as you want.
• Finally, you also have the option to purchase a pass to see the main attractions of the city while you save with these two complete tourist passes: the Barcelona Card Express and the Barcelona Explorer Pass.