El Cap de Barcelona_Barcelona 3 Day Itinerary

Best of Barcelona 3 Day Itinerary (2023)

UPDATED 3/15/23

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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All You Need for This 3 Day Barcelona Itinerary

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.

The Ultimate Barcelona Travel Guide

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:

  • Best Time to Visit Barcelona
  • Getting to Barcelona
  • How to Get Around Barcelona
  • Barcelona Solo Travel Safety
  • Packing Essentials for Barcelona
  • Best Places to Stay in Barcelona Solo
  • Best Things to See and Do in Barcelona
  • Barcelona Dining, Nightlife and Shopping
  • Best Booking Sites for Barcelona Travel
  • Top Barcelona Budget and Ecotourism Travel Tips

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.

La Rambla at Night Barcelona 3 day itinerary
La Rambla at night

Book Your Flight to Barcelona Early to Save Money

The Barcelona Card

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.

The Barcelona Card Could Save Money and Time

5 MUST DOs in Barcelona

Yes, you will get to do all of these top Barcelona things to do in this 3 days in Barcelona itinerary. Inspired yet?

ECO TRAVEL PICKS

Solgaard Lifepack Endeavor with closet
Solgaard Lifepack (with closet)
Solgaard Juice Bank
Solgaard Portable Solar Bank
Allbirds Ecofriendly shoes
Allbirds Eco-friendly Shoes
Katadyn BeFree 0.6L Water Bottle with Filter
Katadyn Water Bottle w/ Filter

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.

Bike rentals on Passeig de Colom Barcelona Spain
Bike rentals on Passeig de Colom

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.

Casa Milà-La Pedrera Barcelona Spain
Casa Milà-La Pedrera

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.

La Sagrada Familia interior Barcelona 3 day itinerary
La Sagrada Familia
  • 3pm – Stretch your legs again with a self-guided audio tour of Casa Batlló
  • 5pm – Head south for an exploration of Plaça de Catalunya, the central square in Barcelona that marks the border between Eixample and the Gothic Quarter, and a bit of shopping, if you wish
  • 7pm – Be back at your hotel near Las Ramblas for a break (optional)
  • 8pm – Have dinner at Racó de Bonsuccés or on La Ramblas followed by a night of dancing (if you have the energy). Another option is to have a buffet dinner and sangria at a 9 or 10:30pm Flamenco show at Tablao Flamenco Cordobes, conveniently near Las Ramblas.
La Rambla de Catalunya Barcelona Spain
Outdoor dining, La Rambla de Catalunya

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

Best Things to Do in Barcelona Day 1

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.

  • 8am – Enjoy another ‘quick’ hotel breakfast.
  • 8:30am – Wander south on La Ramblas to Plaça Reial and head into the iconic Gothic Quarter.
  • 9:30am – Do a short pop into the Barcelona Cathedral and head to the roof for more vistas of Barcelona.
  • 10:30am – Be ready for your Picasso Museum 1.5 hour guided tour (closed on Mondays like most museums in Barcelona), and learn all you can about this infamous Spanish artist’s contributions.
    • If your day 2 in Barcelona is on a Monday or you just want to be outside, take a 2-hour Gothic Quarter walking tour (starts at 10am) instead and resume the itinerary below.
Barcelona Cathedral Barcelona Spain
Barcelona Cathedral
Platja de Sant Miquel Barcelona Spain
Platja de Sant Miquel

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

Best Things to Do in Barcelona Day 2

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.

  • 8am – Hotel breakfast
  • 9am – Stroll south on La Ramblas for outdoor vendor shopping
  • 10am – Gape in wonder at the ornately designed Palau Güell by Gaudi.
  • 12pm – Lunch at La Boqueria or spend a little extra time for an ultimate 2.5 hour La Boqueria tour and paella cooking experience that starts at noon.
  • 2 or 2:30pm – satiated at La Boqueria, leave on foot to walk it off on the way to Parc Montjuïc, an expansive park in Barcelona containing multiple things to see and do like the Castell de Montjuïc (Montjuïc Castle), the Olympic Ring, Poble Espanyol, musuems and more. You’ll spend the rest of your day in this expansive park overlooking the Mediterranean. Enter on foot or via the Montjuic funicular that departs the Paral-lel metro station. Suggested sights for 4 to 5 hours are:
  • 7pm – Head back to your hotel and freshen up so you can enjoy your last night out in Barcelona to where ever you please.
Mercat de la Boqueria Barcelona 3 day itinerary
Mercat de la Boqueria

Best Ways to Do Barcelona Day 3

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:

  • 8am – Hotel breakfast or coffee and pastry out.
  • 9am – Catch the metro to Parc Güell with your metro pass.
  • 9:30am – Arrive at Parc Güell with your entry ticket to explore more of Gaudí’s major works self-guided and take in the vast Barcelona skyline, or take a 75-minute guided tour
  • 11:30am – Leave Park Güell and metro back to Plaça de Catalunya for lunch close by.

Day 4 Barcelona Entries

  • 12:45pm – Back at the Plaça de Catalunya station with your approximate 1pm roundtrip Barcelona to Sitgest train ticket in hand, hop on the train and kick back for a 45-minute ride south along Costa del Maresme-Garraf coastline to enjoy the rest of the afternoon in Sitges on a lazy day trip from Barcelona.
  • 1:45pm – arrive Sitges and stroll the narrow pedestrian streets between the whitewashed buildings holding multiple shops and restaurants along the way towards the ocean. Artists selling hand-crafted arts, outdoor cafes, stunning architecture, and, of course, the beach itself await for you where you can walk, rent a bike or just lounge on the beach until the sun goes down. I think Sitges is one of the best beach destinations for solo travelers in Europe, and it makes for an ideal, budget-friendly, and relaxing Barcelona getaway.
  • 7pm – Dine in Sitges or catch the train back for dinner and your last night out in Barcelona.
Església de Sant Bartomeu i Santa Tecla Sitges
Església de Sant Bartomeu i Santa Tecla, Sitges

Spain Travel Tips

It can get hot in Spain. Make sure you stay hydrated and wear your good marine and reef safe sunscreen all day.

For the best beach experience on your Spain solo travel over 50, check out the 25 solo travel essentials for going to the beach alone and the top tips on how to do a solo beach trip.

Sitges Beach Sitges Spain beach for solo travel
Sitges Beach

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.

Best Day Trips from Barcelona

Let Me Hear From You

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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