UPDATED 9/22/23

Are you ready for the best long weekend adventure in Spain? Look no further than Barcelona. This vibrant, lively city has something for all solo travelers, from lazing away on some of Europe’s best beaches, to exploring impressive architectural marvels from centuries past, to sampling incredible cuisine or music scene, there’s an an unforgettable experience waiting around every corner in Barcelona. Use this Barcelona 3 day itinerary to find out all that Barcelona has to offer and while getting one of those unforgettable solo travel in Spain experiences.

As you’ll notice from the tips throughout, this perfect Barcelona itinerary is intentionally written for the first time Barcelona solo traveler and/or older traveler (I am over 50 and have been traveling solo FOREVER). Yet, anyone can use this travel itinerary it to plan and book 3 days in Barcelona.

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Here are all of the sites you need to successfully book these perfect 3 days in Barcelona, Spain.

I even give you my suggested Barcelona hotel as a sustainable and centrally-located stay in the Barcelona city center, an ideal location for Barcelona solo travel on foot.

I recommend you bookmark and use these sites early to lock in your Barcelona 3 days itinerary and get the best Barclona travel deals.

Cheap Flights to Barcelona

Best Barcelona City Center Hotels

Barcelona Hotel Pick

Best Barcelona City Center Hostels

Barcelona Hostel Pick

Barcelona Train Tickets

Barcelona Bus Tickets

The Barcelona Card

Don’t forget to use the Ultimate Barcelona Solo Travel Guide to plan your three days in Barcelona. It is the ultimate one-stop-shop guide for all you need to know to plan Barcelona solo travel with:

Want to see the ultimate Barcelona Solo Travel Guide in action instead? Watch the very popular 15 Things to Know Before You Go to Barcelona video.

Discover Barcelona visually while learning the top 15 things to know before you go to Barcelona, from getting there, getting around, where to stay, top things to do in Barcelona, eco travel tips, Barcelona pro travel tips, and more to plan your first time travel to Barcelona.

If you’re a first-time traveler to Spain, also use my Spain Travel Guide full of tips on culture, entry requirements, currency, tipping, using electronics, safety, and a lot more.

Purchasing the Barcelona Card (aka the Barcelona Pass) is not a requirement for these 3 days in Barcelona. It does cover 25 museums and attractions in Barcelona, skip the line entrance, free public transportation, and can be good for 3 (to 5) days in Barcelona.

If you are on a budget, the Barcelona Card may help in terms of providing free public transportation from the airport, free city and suburb public transportation, and giving discounts on entry to some top attractions like 50% off admission to Gaudi’s Casa Milà and Casa Batlló, flamenco shows, and more.

Research if the Barcelona Card is right for you while visiting Barcelona in 3 days. I did not opt for the Barcelona Card on this particular itinerary for Barcelona mainly because I traveled to Barcelona in the off-season. I opted to buy my itinerary tickets individually, which I’ll show you below.

Still, if you are traveling to Barcelona during peak season it may help you financially and save time.

Yes, you will get to do all of these Barcelona must do things to do in this 3 days in Barcelona itinerary. Once you watch the Barcelona video you’ll want to start booking your Barcelona solo trip.

ECO TRAVEL PICKS

Barcelona in 3 Days Itinerary

Ready to find out how you can see and do some of of the best of Barcelona in a 3 day itinerary for Barcelona?

First, plan your Barcelona itinerary to arrive the night before to have 4 nights in Barcelona and start this itinerary fresh the following day for a full, 3 days in Barcelona.

Second, this itinerary tackles Barcelona by neighborhood so you can get the most out of each day in Barcelona. It is also built to be done predominately on foot so you can absorb the Barcelona architecture, sounds and smells.

However, you can use public transportation or get a bike rental (Barcelona has a lot of bike paths) to cover distance between attractions quicker.

This 3 days Barcelona itinerary is full, so feel free to skip an attraction or two if they do not interest you or you want to just veg on a Barcelona beach.

Take advantage of the amazing, full breakfast you’ll get from my suggested Barcelona hotel just off Las Ramblas. Breakfast is served later in Spain than in other European countries, so planning on eating by 8am is reasonable and still leaves you a full day of Barcelona sightseeing.

Last, save yourself time on this Barcelona 3 day itinerary and don’t forget to get your top Barcelona attraction entry tickets online in advance, or purchase the Barcelona Card, especially if you’re traveling Barcelona solo during peak season. The last thing you want is to waste time in lines.

Day 1 – Eixample

Eixample is a district located in the heart of Barcelona, Spain known for its unique architecture and must do Barcelona attractions, such as Casa Milà and the UNESCO World Heritage Site listed structure, La Segrada Familia.

Here is your very full, first day in Barcelona with suggested entry times to keep you on point and not miss the top things to see in Barcelona in 3 days.

• Breakfast
• Walk Las Ramblas and Passeig de Gracia
• Early self-guided audio tour of Basílica de la Sagrada Familia or take a 1.5 hour guided tour with optional tower access (confirm in advance the towers are open at time of your visit before purchasing)
• he Casa Milà – La Pedrera Barcelona views
• Outdoor lunch on Rambla de Catalunya

• Self-guided audio tour of Casa Batlló
• Plaça de Catalunya exploration and shopping
• Break at your hotel near Las Ramblas (optional)
• Dinner at Racó de Bonsuccés (or on La Ramblas) and dancing (if you have the energy), or a buffet dinner and sangria at Flamenco show at Tablao Flamenco Cordobes

Get your access to Barcelona Day 1 top attractions with any of the following options to make booking your first day in Barcelona easier.

Day 2 – Gothic Quarter, Port Vell, La Barceloneta

Your second day in Barcelona will be a little more leisurely, but still full of must-see Barcelona sights. You’ll start with more of Las Ramblas, this time in the opposition direction, heading into the historic Gothic Quarter and soak in the sun at the famous Barcelona beaches.

• Breakfast
• Plaça Reial and Gothic Quarter
• Barcelona Cathedral with more vistas of Barcelona
• Picasso Museum 1.5 hour guided tour (or 2-hour Gothic Quarter walking tour)

• Parc de la Ciutadella
• Outdoor lunch near Museu d’Història de Catalunya or in the Port Vell / La Barceloneta area
• La Barceloneta time or visit the Barcelona Aquarium
• Christopher Columbus Monument and Las Ramblas
• Dinner at a Gothic Quarter restaurant of your choosing or an alternate food tour:
  • 2.5-hour Gothic Quarter walking tour with tapas
  • 3-hour Gothic Quarter tapas and wine tour
  • 2.5-hour Gothic Quarter wine tour

Get your access to Barcelona Day 2 top attractions with any of the following options to make booking your second day in Barcelona easier.

Day 3 – El Raval & Parc Montjuïc

To round out your last of 3 days in Barcelona, these top Barcelona activities and sites will not disappoint. By now you know the Las Ramblas area well, so do your jaunt to the Palau Güell with your 10am timed ticket to enjoy more of Gaudi’s influence in Barcelona while working up an appetite for lunch at La Boqueria.

• Breakfast
• La Ramblas outdoor vendor shopping
• Palau Güell by Gaudi
• Lunch at La Boqueria or an ultimate 2.5 hour La Boqueria tour and paella cooking experience
• Parc Montjuïc to explore the Castell de Montjuïc (Montjuïc Castle), the Olympic Ring, Poble Espanyol, musuems and more, on foot or also ride the Montjuïc Cable Car.
• Hotel break and freshen up for your last night out in Barcelona to where ever you please.

Barcelona 4 Day Itinerary Option

If you have the time to make this a 4 day Barcelona itinerary, which is not a bad idea considering how large Barcelona is, I suggest doing the following:

• Breakfast
• Parc Güell with your entry ticket to explore self-guided or take a 75-minute guided tour
• Plaça de Catalunya / Las Ramblas / Gothic Quarter lunch

• Plaça de Catalunya station with your approximate 1pm roundtrip Barcelona to Sitgest train ticket in hand
• Explore Sitges for an amazing (and budget friendly) day trip from Barcelona (I think Sitges is one of the best beach destinations for solo travelers in Europe)
• Dinner in Sitges or Barcelona – your choice!

Sold on staying for 4 days in Barcelona (or longer) and want other Barcelona day trip ideas? Here are some of the best day trip ideas for your Barcelona solo travel.

Now, would you like the juicy details on how long to spend at each Barcelona dining option or attraction and how to get around between each and when so you can do and see all of the above in Barcelona in 3 days?

Save a ton of time planning. Download my ‘has it all has it all at your fingertips‘ Barcelona 3 Day Itinerary PDF. A solo female traveler of 28 years, you know I traveled Barcelona solo. This Barcelona Itinerary is from my actual, tried and true self-created and traveled Barcelona itinerary, not AI-generated with stock photos, so you know it’s an itinerary you can trust.

Whether you’re a solo traveler, older traveler, or budget traveler, this Barcelona 3 Day Itinerary PDF is a steal. Formatted for sleek use on all devices, it has clickable links to all of the below, taking out all of the guesswork for your Barcelona visit:

I would love to hear if this Barcelona 3 day itinerary (or 4 day itinerary) was helpful in planning your Spain solo travel. Post me your thoughts or questions in the Comments section below. Thank you!

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