Two Days in Barcelona
This Barcelona Itinerary will allow you to see the city’s most famous sites and more – here is how to spend 48 hours in the city.
General Tips
I am an advocate for building in some “buffer time” when arriving in a new city on an international/overnight flight. Sometimes I can sleep on planes, but more often than not I need a little nap before I am ready to explore. My biggest tip is picking a flight that lands early and making sure you can check into your hotel when you land. This way you can freshen up and be ready to take on the day by lunchtime!
We stayed in Eixample in between the Diagonal Metro stop and Passeig de Gracía. Barcelona’s metro system is easy to navigate (especially with the help of City Mapper) and will save you a lot of money as opposed to taking taxis or rideshares.
Barcelona Itinerary Day 1
On the first day of this Barcelona itinerary, you’ll get your bearings and explore some of Barcelona’s most popular areas. Let’s go!
Morning/Afternoon
La Rambla & La Boqueria
After getting settled and refreshed at your hotel (we stayed at Hotel Gallery), take the metro down to La Rambla to get some lunch at Mercat de la Boqueria. This food market dates back to the 13th century. Today you can visit it to find many types of meat, seafood, cheeses, vegetables, and fruit. Grab some Jamon Iberico and enjoy the sights (and smells!) of the market before heading out to wander La Rambla.
After lunch, cross La Rambla into the Gothic Quarter and explore its medieval streets. Grab a churro, do some shopping and observe the fabulous architecture in this neighborhood.
Evening
El Born & Barceloneta
Around 4 PM, take the metro towards El Born to get an early seat at Paradiso. This speakeasy-style cocktail bar was named the third best cocktail bar in the world by the World’s 50 Best Bars. You may have to wait for a spot, but the delicious drinks and fantastic presentation make it so worth it!
After a drink or two (and once the sun has started to set), take a stroll along Marina Port Vell towards Barceloneta. There are many restaurants and bars along
Passeig de Joan de Borbó that you can stop at for dinner and drinks. I personally loved sipping Passion Fruit martinis at the bars directly on the sand and watching the sun go down. We walked through Barceloneta to get to the metro to head back to Eixample.
Before going back to the hotel, my sister suggested we go to the Dow Jones Bar – a hotspot for study-abroad students and young groups. I didn’t get the chance to visit Barcelona when I was abroad in the Spring of 2020 (COVID cut my time abroad short), so my sister couldn’t let me miss out on this experience. This bar shows all drinks and their prices as if they are listed on the stock market. These prices will go up and down until the market suddenly crashes and drink prices are at all-time lows. Make sure you’re close to the bar when this happens!
Call it an early night (by Barcelona’s standards – so 12 AM) and get some sleep to prepare for another busy day exploring the city.
Barcelona Itinerary Day 2
On day two of your Barcelona Itinerary, you’ll be seeing some of the most famous sites and enjoying more of the city’s fabulous food and drinks.
Morning
Park Guell
Buy your tickets in advance for the first time slot available, 9:30 AM. By getting to the park when it opens you will be able to beat the crowds AND the heat! Be prepared to walk a little way to get to the park if you choose to take the metro (sensible shoes are a must). If you are looking to get good images, then head straight to the main terrace while there are still few people there.
Give yourself 1.5 – 2.5 hours to explore the park, depending on how much of it you’d like to see. There is a small cafe that serves light bites and espresso. However, it gets quite crowded in the summer as it gets closer to late morning.
We went back to our hotel’s rooftop (Sir Victor) for a quick lunch & sangria before heading back out to the next stop.
Afternoon
Sagrada Familia
After lunch, it’s time to visit the most iconic building in Barcelona – La Sagrada Familia. You can buy your tickets in advance for 26 euros (we got them the day before going). Download the app which acts as your personal audio guide throughout your self-guided tour. Or, you can opt to pay 4 more euros for a guided tour.
In all honesty, I don’t think that a tower tour is necessary. You have gotten a great view of the city from Park Guell – save your 10 euros and enjoy the beauty of the cathedral’s architecture and stained glass from the ground floor.
After a jam-packed first half of the day, you deserve a siesta! Mid-afternoon is a great time to go back to your hotel, refresh yourself, nap, and get ready for the evening. Barcelona is HOT during the summer, so getting out of the sun will help you save your energy for the rest of the day. Bonus points if you grab an espresso martini to wake back up after your rest!
Evening
Take the Metro toward La Rambla and go to Canete for some of the best tapas you’ll ever have. If you don’t have a reservation, then you can go on the early side (around 6-7 PM) to get a spot at the bar. The service is incredible and the squid sandwich is one of the most delicious things I have ever eaten.
After dinner, walk through the Gothic Quarter to Dr. Stravinsky’s, a cozy, apothecary-themed bar with artisan cocktails. You won’t find drinks like these 
anywhere else. You can bar hop around this area before taking the metro to El Born.
Passeig del Born is a great area to go out in – especially if you get to the area early (before 12AM). You can go to a couple of different bars to find your favorite before they start charging a cover. This area has a great mix of locals and tourists.
If you’re looking to keep the night going, then head to a club like Razzmatazz or Pacha Barcelona.
I hope that this Barcelona Itinerary gives you some guidance on how to plan your next trip. Do you want to plan an Italian vacation? Then check out my recommendations here.
