Barcelona in five days
Would you like to truly discover one of the most attractive Mediterranean capitals in Europe? We will help you to make the most of your visit. Below we offer you the essential Barcelona and a suggested itinerary, depending on the length of your stay. The main tip? Come wanting to have a good time, with your eyes wide open and for as many days as you can to really experience Barcelona.
Day 2
The city’s old town and traditional Barcelona are the focus of day two.
Barri Gòtic
This is the heart of the old town and here you will discover Barcelona's Moorish past. You will take a stroll down the network of narrow streets that form the Jewish Quarter and be able to see part of the old Synagogue. The area boasts a number of lovely Medieval squares and is also home to monuments such as the Cathedral, the Town Hall and the Basilica of Santa María del Pi. You will also find examples of Gothic architecture in the buildings of the squares Plaça de Rei and Plaça de Sant Jaume. On your stroll you’ll discover the remains of the old city wall and a temple from the Roman era.
And the area certainly has an abundance of traditional chocolate shops and bakeries. Turismo de Barcelona organises a tour that takes in a number of these establishments, which includes tasting sessions and visits to specialist chocolate shops in the Gothic Quarter and Born district.
La Rambla
This is perhaps the most famous street in Barcelona and is always bustling with life. Here you will find street artists, flower stalls and kiosks lining the more than one kilometre long tree-lined pedestrian boulevard. Close to Plaça de Catalunya you will find the Canaletes fountain, one of the places fans come to celebrate FC Barcelona victories. The Rambla boasts some important buildings such as the Palau de la Virreina and the Gran Teatre de Liceu. It also provides access to the popular 'La Boquería market'.
La Boquería Market
This is one of the most traditional places to visit in Barcelona. An opportunity to experience the hustle and bustle of daily life in the city and to get to know the character of its people. The market has more than 100 years of history and we recommend stepping inside to discover the most popular gastronomical products of Catalonia. You’ll also have the chance to try them. The market has a number of restaurants and bars and the initiative Eat Boquería. Establishments offer set menus of Mediterranean cuisine, tapas or fusion cuisine prepared with products from the market which you can enjoy in some of the city’s acclaimed restaurants.
Montjuïc Park
This is one of the most popular green spaces in Barcelona and features a number of attractions, as well as being a pleasant place to go for a walk and enjoy spectacular panoramic views over the city. One of its many attractions is that you can get there by cable car from the Paral·lel station. Another is the option of visiting the National Museum of Art of Catalonia, or discovering an extraordinary example of Bauhaus architecture, the Mies van der Rohe Pavilion. As evening falls, we recommend attending the light and sound show that takes place at the Montjuïc Magic Fountain. And if you want to see the Barcelona ‘92 Olympic facilities, we suggest a visit to the Olympic Ring, which is also in the area.
In the same park you will find other interesting museums, such as the Fundació Joan Miró, the Ethnological Museum and the Museum of Archaeology.
Bus Turístic de Barcelona
This is a great way to take a tour of the city and get to know the most interesting tourist spots. The tourist bus offers three different routes. The red route, which covers the centre of the city and goes as far as Montjuïc Park and Port Vell. The blue route, which goes from the old town to the Sagrada Familia, Park Güell or the Camp Nou stadium. And the green route, which goes to the Olympic Port and the city's beaches. Remember one of the advantages of this bus: a single ticket enables you to get on and off as many times as you like while it remains valid.
A different experience in a side-car with tasty tapas
Can you imagine what it would be like to visit the city’s most iconic tourist attractions by side-car, or to travel along the coast, breathing in the sea breeze? In Barcelona, this is something you can do. You can take a private tour in a side-car which lasts approximately 2 and a half hours. And to complete the experience, after the tour you’ll be offered some exquisite traditional tapas.
Talking of food, take note of these vegetable-based recipes as they are the most traditional dishes of Catalonia: escalivada (a red pepper based salad), calçots (a type of onion that's served braised), rovellons a la brasa, samfaina and esqueixada (the last of these is usually served with cod).
A show at the Palau de la Música or Liceu
Barcelona is one of the most creative and culturally active cities in Europe, particularly when it comes to stage arts. There are two venues that stand out and offer an exceptional way to end the day. One is the Gran Teatre de Liceu , which offers an extensive programme including internationally acclaimed operas. The other is the Palau de la Música Catalana, one of the most important modernist buildings in the city and the setting of concerts and major productions. These two venues also offer guided tours, which we recommend, particularly if you don’t have the chance to see a show.