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Iconic Four Day Barcelona Itinerary | Rosie Abigail

Iconic Four Day Barcelona Itinerary | Rosie Abigail

Being an adult is having to book a holiday in order to see your adult friends. That’s how I found myself on a four day trip to Barcelona in the middle of August with my friends from university.

If you know me in real life, you’ll know that I am a classic type A and serial planner – when it comes to holidays, I want to make sure I am making the most of my time and my money. As such, I believe I have created the perfect four day, four night Barcelona itinerary for anyone looking to enjoy some culture, sunshine, and tapas. Let’s jump right into it, shall we?

Table of Contents

Day 1: Travel and Gothic Quarter

Today, I recommend you make the most of the cost efficiency of early morning flights and travel early doors to Barcelona. We flew from Bristol Airport to El Prat Airport, the central airport in Barcelona, and it took just under two hours. Now, they might not be the comfiest flights but I would recommend travelling with a short-haul airline such as EasyJet – for four days, all you need is that one under the seat bag and a book for entertainment. 

An image of a a five story building with three rectangle windows on each floor. Each central window has a brown balcony. The building is a dusty yellow colour and sits against a clear blue sky. There are shadows of leaves on the right of the building.
El Clot neighbourhood
An image of a corner of a building in a block. It is a six story building in orange with white brick trim. Each rectangle window is green and has a balcony. There is a another building in the right corner of the image. The sky above is blue.
The beauty of the Gothic Quarter

Once you are through airport security and are Barcelona side, the first thing you need to do is pick up an ‘Hola Barcelona Travel Card’ for however many days your trip is. If you are following this itinerary, that’ll be four days. A four day ticket costs €31 and covers almost all of the travel you will need to get around this megacity. 

TOP TIP – The ‘HolaBCN’ card provides unlimited travel on public transport from the moment of first use. That includes the metro, railway, buses, tram, and the funicular to Montjuïc. It’s just as easy to use as an Oyster card and is well worth the money if you are looking to pack in as much as possible. You can buy this at the tourist advice centre at the airport.

Making use of the HolaBCN card, get ready to travel to your accommodation or hotel. I would recommend staying in an area outside the tourist trap but easy enough that you can walk to key locations or hop on a couple of metro stops. We stayed in the el Clot neighbourhood; an old neighbourhood with a Catalan spirit, a variety of eateries and bars, and a convenient train station and metro stop. It’s also worth noting that as a bunch of young women in an unfamiliar city, we felt very safe in that neighbourhood, even in the early hours of the morning. 

After you are checked in, showered, and feeling more alive after the early morning flight, it’s time to head out. First stop, Parc de La Ciutadella. 

Parc de La Ciutadella

Once, this was the only green space in Barcelona and it is now the largest park in the city. It’s a beautiful space for a walk in the sunshine, taking in the history of the sculptures and buildings, including the Cascada fountain, Umbracle plant house, and Castell dels Tres Dragons. 

A large dusty-coloured fountain sat on top of a green lake. The fountain has many levels and at the top sits a gold chariot. There is foliage and trees all around the fountain. The sky is bright blue.
Cascada Fountain
A green water lake that has trees growing out of it. The sun is high in the blue sky and is shining on the water. There are palm trees in the background and a railing around the lake.
Lake at Parc de la Cuitadella

If you are the adventurous type or just want some stunning photos for the ‘gram, make sure to hire a row boat and pootle about the central lake, taking in the flora and the fauna that sits right in the middle of this busy city. 

As soon as you start approaching dinner time, head out of the park and walk ten minutes into the heart of the Gothic Quarter. 

TOP TIP! I know it’s traditional to get Euros out for a trip, but most places in Barcelona have card readers, where you can choose to pay in Euros or in British Pounds. It’s good to have some cash on you for smaller vendors or emergencies, but having an international travel card such as Monzo or Starling works just as well. 

Gothic Quarter

This is the historic centre of the old city, where medieval buildings are sprinkled in amongst the classic blocks and architecture of the early twentieth century. There are plenty of landmarks to look at, including the remains of Roman walls and even a cathedral or two, but the Gothic Quarter isn’t the place to follow what everyone else does – it’s the place to explore. Walk down the narrow alleyways, look up at the windows and the roofs, stumble (sometimes literally) upon moments of historical significance.

A side street in the Gothic Quarter, that forks to the left. The sandstone-esque blocks of the bottom half of the buildings have shutters and graffiti on them. The windows on the walls have blankets or curtains hanging.
Side streets of the Gothic Quarter
The place setting at Bodega la Palma. On a marble tabletop sits a small white plate, with a brown napkin and silver cutlery to the left. Above the plate is a wine glass with orange coloured wine. To the right is a glimpse of a brown plate.
Bodega la Palma
A white bowl full of roasted potatoes, with a red sauce on top and a sprig of rosemary. The bowl sits on a white napkin and white plate. There are wine glasses and plates out of focus behind the potatoes.
Patatas bravas at Bodega la Palma
A woman with brown hair in a bun and wearing a green dress looks up at the Gothic Quarter skyline to the left. In front of her are a group of people. In front of them are yellow and sandstone coloured buildings with balconies.
Gothic Quarter

If you want one recommendation to visit whilst at the Gothic Quarter, head to Bodega La Palma. This is a traditional style restaurant and winery tucked away within a maze of alleyways. It oozes tradition and charisma, and is the place to go to for authentic tapas and beautiful wine. For under twenty euros each, we were served plates of croquetas, manchego cheese, and melt in your mouth iberian ham that I’m still dreaming about to this day. Later in the evening and on the weekends, this place gets busy, so try and visit before the dinner rush if you can. 

Day 2: La Sagrada Familia, La Bouqeria Food Market

If Day One was about dipping your feet into the world of Barcelona, Day Two is all about visiting the cultural landmarks. Starting with –

La Sagrada Familia

An image of Rosie, a white woman with a wavy brown/blonde bob, in front of La Sagrada Familia - a grey cathedral. Her back is to the camera and she is swoosh-ing her dress with her right hand. She is wearing a cream midi-dress with a cherry print and grey trainers. Between her and the cathedral is a green lake with grey railings.
Rosie in front of La Sagrada Familia
A dusty-orange coloured cathedral, with multiple, intricate spires and windows, towering into the grey sky. The tops of the spires are covered with netting and a crane sticks out of the top of the building.
La Sagrada Familia exterior

If you are like me, you’ll be thinking ‘that’s a pretty touristy place; is it actually worth visiting?’ The short answer? Yes. One thousand-times over, yes. You may have visited a church or cathedral before, but never one like this. At the point of writing, the basilica (as it is known) is not yet finished and has been under construction for over 140 years. Designed by Catalonia’s own famed architect, Antoni GaudÍ, Sagrada Familia is arguably the most famous and largest landmark in the city. 

TOP TIP – In the summer months, over 25,000 people visit Sagrada Familia a day, so it is essential to book tickets before you go. Your ticket also includes a free audio guide which you need to download before you get to the basilica. Make sure to bring your headphones. 

Walking around and into Sagrada Familia feels like walking in a work of art. You are surrounded by colour, stories, sound, and beauty. It is one of the only places on earth where my breath has been taken away by pure awe. Regardless of your religious or non-religious affiliation, it is worth buying a ticket and experiencing this building in all its glory. After you have finished the audioguide, make sure to check out the museum that is included in your entry ticket. 

The carved, grey stone entrance to La Sagrada Familia. There are some glass windows featured but mainly there are numerous carvings, mixtures of people and wildlife.
The Nativity facade at La Sagrada Familia
Huge, ornate off-white pillars holding up an ornate, curved, white roof. There are circles of glass images on each pillar and along the ceiling. At the back of the image is a large stained glass window made of coloured glass.
The interior of La Sagrada Familia

La Boqueria

Just a short metro ride and a quick walk away, and you’ll end up at Mercat de La Boqueria – Barcelona’s biggest indoor food market. If you are in the city for a short time, you’ll want to pack in the best moments, and La Boqueria has all of the best food under one roof. We had fresh fruit juice, and my friends had freshly made chorizo empanadas and tried the tourist classic ‘tornado’ – a spiral potato on a stick. For me, I devoured every flavour of croqueta I could find, as well as a charcuterie cone.

White trays filled with varieties of green and black olives behind a glass screen. Behind them are spoons and cones of crispy food. There are crowds of people towards the back of the image behind glass.
Fresh olives at La Boqueria
Tens of potato spirals on sticks, in a black show case behind glass.
Potato tornadoes!

Even if you choose not to buy any food, it is an experience. The market itself is beautiful, as is the square surrounding it, but the atmosphere really takes the cake. Hustling, bustling, and busy! 

Day 3: Beaches and Park Güell

Beaches & Port

TOP TIP – Beware of Barcelona’s tourist tax. Now, this isn’t something Tui or Expedia will warn you about. The tourist tax is a small fee every hotel, guest house, or accommodation will take for overnight stays. The idea behind it is that the money will be used to solve some of the problems behind over-tourism, and generate income for both tourism and sustainability purposes. We had to pay this tourist tax on arrival at our hotel. For four nights, this was €33.
A clear blue sky leading down to a beautiful blue ocean. It is slightly choppy but the sea foam laps onto golden sand. At the seashore, there are rocks scattered across the sand.

Depending on who you are as a person, you may think a holiday isn’t complete without a sunbathe on a beach. On the flip side, you may hate the heat and find that sand is coarse and it gets everywhere. Whichever option you fall into, visiting the sea in Barcelona is a must do – and that’s how you start Day 3.

Barcelona has plenty of beaches to choose from so don’t just settle on the one closest to the bus or metro stop. Walk along the promenade and watch as the sparkling sea laps at the sand. The sea is so blue it looks unreal; almost like a child has chosen the bluest crayon they have to colour in the sea. If you choose to settle down on the sand, take care of your belongings. If you are there in the height of summer, the beach will be jam-packed with fellow tourists and, just like any tourist destination in the world, pickpockets. If you are more like me and instead of tanning, turn into the colour of cooked lobster when the sun touches your skin, the promenade is littered with shaded coffee, lunch and sangria spots – ideal for people watching. 

Park Güell

Once you’ve taken in the sun on the beach, make sure to take a short break before heading to our next spot – Park Güell. Before I even tell you why this should absolutely make the top of your Barcelona itinerary, let me give you two pieces of advice. Firstly, just like La Sagrada Familia, you should absolutely book in advance. We visited midweek and even then, they were turning families away at the gate because it was fully booked. Secondly, check the website beforehand! Park Güell sits on El Carmel Hill and getting there is steep. Thankfully, there are two metros that take you to the base and then there are escalators up the worst of the hill. Only one set of escalators worked when I went and if we hadn’t checked the website before getting on the metro, we would have had to walk vertically up a hill to get to the Park.

A white pillared building with curved steps leading down the front. The walls on the side are chequered and there is a green, foliage covered statue at the front. Crowds of people stand on the stairs.
The Dragon Stairway at Park Güell
The grey building of the Sagrada Familia basilica sits amongst blocks of yellow and orange buildings seen from a distance. The sea and sky are blue behind it and green foliage sits on the left and right of the image.
The view from Turó de les Tres Creus in Park Güell
AN orange building with a curved roof with spikes sits below a blue and white cloud sky. The building's windows, doors, and roof all are covered in blue and white mosaic. A blue and white mosaic tower comes out form the top.
Mosaic buildings in Park Güell

With its position on the hill, you can see right across Barcelona and to the ocean. But the Park itself will be vying for your attention through its architectural beauty. Also designed by GaudÍ (he was a busy guy), both the minute and great details can captivate folks of any age. It’s also rather easy lose track of time and get lost within the Park; at the top of the hill, between the crosses of ‘Calvari’; winding between the large pillars of the Hypostyle Room; and even amongst the flowers of the sandy and green gardens. You’ll be surprised at how much you walk at this cultural landmark – you’ll definitely deserve a sangria when you get to the bottom of the hill. 

TOP TIP – Take a water bottle with you everywhere you go. I know it sounds simple but Barcelona is a hot place, and is warm even in the winter, so you are likely to get dehydrated. We didn’t notice too many water fountains out and about, and tap water wasn’t offered as an option at restaurants or bars, so make sure to top that bottle up at your hotel. Otherwise, you could end up spending quite a lot of Euros on something you can get for free or for cheap.

Day 4: Telefèric de Montjuïc, Castell de Montjuïc

For the last day of this trip, it might be a sad start but make sure to pack as much as you can before you head out. That way, you can make the most of the day without having that worry on your mind. Then, it’s on to the final visits of the trip – 

Telefèric de Montjuïc

To make your way up one of the tallest hills, Montjuïc, there is only one way to travel – via cable car. I mean, you can walk, but a half an hour walk uphill does not sound fun. To get to the cable car, make use of your HolaBCN card and take the funicular halfway up the hill to the cable car stop. The cable car is not included in the HolaBCN card but is thoroughly worth the €15 round trip ticket. 

The cable car takes you up the rest of the hill and comes with absolutely spectacular views. I thought Park Güell was going to win for best view of Barcelona, but the 360 degree view from the cable car is unmatched. There is something so joyful about seeing the towering Sagrada Familia placed amongst the city blocks like they are just pieces of Lego.

A view from a cable car on the way down from Montjuïc. Green trees fill the bottom of the image, and the orange city blocks of Barcelona become clear in the middle. Above them are dark hills and a clear blue sky. A cable and a cable car sit on the right of the image.
The view from the cable car on the way down Montjuïc
TOP TIP – Make sure to brush up on your Catalan or Spanish before you go to Barcelona. Even if you can only order a drink or ask for directions, it shows that you are respectful of the culture. Although most of the servers and tourist-facing staff preferred to speak to us in English, there were a few times where my six months practice on Duolingo came in really handy.

Castell de Montjuïc

At the top of the hill is a must do for any history buffs – Castell de Montjuïc. This is a large fortress with history dating back to the seventeenth century and has played a central part in much of Barcelona’s history – including modern history. All of the galleries and viewpoints have stands in different languages and offers a real insight to a history many folks do not know. If you couldn’t get enough of the views from the cable car, then you are bound to get your fill at Castell de Montjuïc.

A pale sandstone coloured fortress covered in green foliage, with a blue sky behind it. There is a bridge on the left to the entrance, and a black railing at the bottom of the image.
The entrance to Castell de Montjuïc
A clear blue sky pierced by a sandstone coloured tower and wall of the fortress.
Part of the old fortress
A sandstone covered brick wall with an arrow slit through it. Through the arrow slit, you can see the bright blue ocean and green trees.
A view from Castell de Montjuïc’s arrowslits
Rosie, a white woman with a blonde and brown bob, stood with her back to the camera. She is holding on to a railing and looking out at the view. She is wearing a white t-shirt and a black wrap skirt with white dots. There is a black bag strap across her back, leading to a small black bag and a pink waterbottle. The view behind her is of blue skies, dark green hills, and the city of Barcelona.
Rosie enjoying the view from Castell de Montjuïc

And with that, there’s only one thing left to do – catch the sunset. It’s the perfect way to say goodbye to the City of Prodigies before having an early night and catching another early morning flight home. 

Folks, that is my four day, four night ideal itinerary for Barcelona! If you’ve been to Barcelona before, I’d love to find out what was your favourite part of the trip and what would make your itinerary – share your comments below. If you are yet to go or are planning a trip in the future, feel free to leave your questions in the comments for me or members of this lovely community to answer.


Thanks for reading,
Rosie x

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5 responses to “Iconic Four Day Barcelona Itinerary | Rosie Abigail”

  1. Avatar
    Anonymous

    Looks amazing! xxx

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. rosie abigail Avatar
      rosie abigail

      Thank you! We had such a wonderful time xx

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  2. Sports Savvy Avatar
    Sports Savvy

    Looks like an amazing trip! Barcelona is such a vibrant city with stunning architecture and delicious food. Hope you had a fantastic time exploring!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. rosie abigail Avatar
      rosie abigail

      It truly was 😊 it’s already back on my ‘visit again’ list!

      Like

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  3. Paul Thompson Avatar
    Paul Thompson

    Barcelona is such an incredible city filled with vibrant culture, stunning architecture, and delicious food. From exploring Gaudi’s masterpieces like the Sagrada Familia and Park Güell to wandering through the Gothic Quarter, there’s so much to take in. I’d love to hear more about your favorite spots in Barcelona!

    Liked by 1 person

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