Last Updated on July 2, 2024 by Natalia
As one of the most popular city break destinations in Europe, Barcelona has lots of amazing places to include on any 5 day itinerary. The city has plenty to offer including Gaudí’s architectural masterpieces, nearby mountains, fantastic viewpoints and even beaches! Although you can squeeze the highlights into 3 or 4 days, we recommend a five day Barcelona itinerary to enjoy the best of the city without having to rush too much. Having spent over a month in the city, we came up with our perfect five day itinerary to make sure you visit the best spots on your trip. If you’re staying slightly longer you can even spread this out to be a week long Barcelona itinerary! Save yourself the hassle of figuring out which spots to visit by following our ultimate five day Barcelona itinerary below!
This post is in conjunction with VisitBarcelona who we partnered with during our trip to this beautiful city. Thanks to VisitBarcelona we were able to visit a number of the city’s best spots to ensure we came up with the perfect Barcelona itinerary. As always, the opinions and recommendations in this post are our own.
5 Day Barcelona Itinerary
Day 1
As you might expect, the first step of your itinerary is actually getting to Barcelona – which is possible by flight, bus, or train, depending on where you’re coming from. Normally it makes most sense to fly, but to we recommend taking a look on Omio’s website to explore your options and to find the cheapest way there!
Click here to book a flight, train or bus to the city through Omio!
It’s likely that you will be flying into Barcelona El Prat airport, so you will need to make your way from there into the city. The easiest way to the city is to take a taxi – with the cheapest taxis generally being available via the Cabify app, or if you want to pre-book then you can do so by clicking here to see the options on Get Your Guide’s website.
Alternatively you can get from the airport to Barcelona city centre via public transport, with both buses and the metro available. A one-way ticket to the city on the Aerobus costs €6.75, a return costs €11.65, and there are several other options if you want to pay for unlimited metro use for a 2-5 day period as part of your ticket. Click here to see the different fare types on the Aerobus website.
It’s also possible to get into the city using the metro, with a one-way ticket from the airport into Barcelona costing €5.50. There is a helpful journey planner on the metro website which should be able to help you determine the route to take and which stop to get off at. Click here to visit the metro website.
Once you’ve checked in to your accommodation, or at least dropped your bags off, it’s time to get out and see some of the sights. We recommend travelling around the city via the metro, and the best value way to do this is to buy a T10 metro card for €12.15 A T10 ticket allows you 10 separate journeys on the metro and so is extremely convenient for getting around the city. Click here to find out more about the T10 ticket!
The first stop of your 5 day itinerary is one of the most iconic stadiums in world football and the home of FC Barcelona – Camp Nou. If sports aren’t really your thing then you may want to skip this, but considering Barcelona are one of the most successful football teams in history we think it’s worth visiting the stadium and museum even if you aren’t into football!
Tickets to visit Camp Nou start from €28 per person, which includes access to a self-guided tour through the stadium and museum, with an optional audio guide at an extra cost. Highlights of the tour include the chance to be pitch-side at the dugouts and to see the stadium from the fans’ seats. In the stadium museum you can learn about the club’s history, as well as see an impressive collection of trophies – from Champions Leagues to Lionel Messi’s Ballon D’ors.
Click here to book an unforgettable visit to Nou Camp on Get Your Guide!
Another option is to take the Barcelona Players Experience Tour, which includes a guided visit to some exclusive sections of the stadium including the home changing room. This unique tour starts from €129 per person, but is a great option for any avid football fans!
Click here to book the amazing Players Experience Tour through Get Your Guide!
** Access to Camp Nou is limited until November 2024 due to ongoing renovations. Therefore at present we would recommend skipping this until it re-opens.
After dinner head to Montjuïc Hill to see the nightly fountain light, colour and music show at Font Màgica de Montjuïc. The showtimes do vary throughout the year and depending on the day of the week, but generally during the peak summer months there are shows at 9.30pm and 10pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Click here to find up-to-date show times for your trip!
As of January 2024, this show is no longer running due to drought restrictions. However they expect this show to continue later in the year.
There are some nice views from the various pathways outside the Palau Nacional de Montjuïc museum. If you arrive before sunset then you can appreciate some lovely views of the city from this area, before you get the chance to start exploring it up close the following day!
Day 2
Kick off the second day of your five day Barcelona itinerary with a visit to Palau de la Música Catalana – a beautiful concert hall just outside the city’s Gothic Quarter. The grand design and incredible architecture make this an amazing spot to visit, with the stained glass skylight being particularly impressive. We enjoyed this spot so much that it’s actually one of our favourite places to visit in Barcelona!
When visiting Palau de la Música Catalana you have the choice of a self-guided tour with an audioguide or a guided tour. The self-guided tour costs €18 per person, whereas the guided tour is €22 per person. If you do opt for the self-guided tour you will need a mobile device (and headphones if you wish) as the audioguide is done through a mobile app. We recommend booking tickets in advance through Get Your Guide as it should save you having to queue once you arrive!
The closest metro station to Palau de la Música Catalana is Urquinaona, which is on Lines 1 and 4. To find the best way there from your location use the metro website’s journey planner. Visits to the concert hall are scheduled to take around 50 minutes, but it’s possible to be a bit quicker if you take the self-guided tour.
After you’ve finished up at the concert hall your next stop is Barcelona’s Arc de Triomf – also referred to as Arco de Triunfo de Barcelona. This beautiful archway was built as the gateway to the 1888 Barcelona World Fair and is a beautiful piece of architecture. It’s around a 10 minute walk to the archway from Palau de la Música Catalana.
Similar arches are found in other cities around the world, including the famous Arc de Triomphe in Paris, and the Arcul de Triumf in Bucharest! Barcelona’s arch differs from many of the others elsewhere as it was not built to celebrate Spain’s military victories, but instead to welcome visitors to the World Fair.
After admiring the Arc de Triomf, walk down Promenade Passeig de Lluís Companys and into Parc de la Ciutadella, also known as Ciutadella Park. Opened towards the end of the 19th century, this public park is a lovely green space in the city centre.
Take the time to follow the various pathways through the park to see where they lead you. It’s a popular spot with locals to hang out, and you may even see people busking or dancing in some parts of the park.
One spot you won’t want to miss on this 5 day Barcelona itinerary is the beautiful Cascada del Parc de la Ciutadella – an impressive 2-tiered fountain which was partially designed by a young Antoni Gaudí. Find a spot to sit and relax, especially if the weather is nice, and just enjoy what the park has to offer. If you want to be a bit more active, then head to the park’s lake and rent a paddle boat, which costs €7 for 2 people for 30 minutes.
Spend the remainder of your day visiting Barcelona’s beachfront in La Barceloneta. The beach here was man-made for the 1992 summer Olympics, which were hosted in the city.
It’s possible to walk to this area from Ciutadella Park, and as it’s relatively close it isn’t really worth taking the metro.
Take a stroll along the promenade by Barceloneta beach, and if you fancy a longer walk also head up to the marina by the W Hotel, which is a nice spot by the sea. On a sunny day you may prefer to just relax on the beach and do some sunbathing. The area is home to a number of nice restaurants, and is also a bit of a hub for nightlife if you fancy a few drinks!
Day 3
Day three kicks off with what is undoubtedly one of the highlights of this five day Barcelona itinerary – the Sagrada Familia. Designed by famous Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, this basilica has been under construction since 1882 – and is still yet to be finished!
The Sagrada Familia is a true architectural masterpiece – both in terms of its exterior and interior. From the outside the basilica towers above its surroundings with a number of spires reaching towards the sky. The inside is perhaps even more beautiful, with its impressive forest of columns and vibrant stained glass windows.
It’s hard to find the exact words to do justice to this incredible building, but it’s certainly one spot you simply cannot miss off your Barcelona itinerary! Along with other works of Antoni Gaudí, the Sagrada Familia was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005.
Tickets to visit the Sagrada Familia start from €26 via the official website, but there are several choices to consider before booking. The standard ticket gives you access to the basilica and an audioguide which you can listen to via your mobile device. If you’re happy to pay a little more then you can opt for a guided tour or a ticket including a visit up the Sagrada Familia’s towers – which provide wonderful views of Barcelona from above!
Another option is to book your tickets via Get Your Guide, as they offer fast-track entrance so that you can minimise your time spent queueing. These tickets are slightly more expensive at €33.80 per person, but can end up saving you a fair bit of time so it can be worth paying a little extra for the convenience!
Click here to book fast-track entrance to the Sagrada Familia via Get Your Guide!
It’s best to visit the Sagrada Familia at the beginning of the day, as it can understandably get very busy. Conveniently there is a metro station right by the basilica, aptly named Estació de Sagrada Família.
After visiting the inside of the basilica we recommend taking a walk around the base of the building. Make sure to visit the two parks – Plaça de la Sagrada Família and Plaça de Gaudí – either side of the building, as they offer some of the best close-up views of the basilica.
Your visit to Sagrada Familia is likely to take at least an hour, but can easily take a few hours if you’re taking the time to thoroughly explore and appreciate the architecture. When you’re ready to move on head to the Sagrada Familia station and take the L5 to Diagonal and then change to take the L3 to Fontana.
A few minutes walk from Fontana station is the impressive Casa Vicens – Gaudí’s first major project. The colourful exterior of the building is very impressive, and one of the most colourful buildings you will find in this five day Barcelona itinerary.
An audioguide leads you through this unique house, allowing you to see its beautiful exterior from the back as well as giving you access to the rooftop terrace. Despite not being one of Gaudí’s most famous pieces of architecture, it’s well worth visiting to admire some of his early work. We liked it so much that we included it on our list of the best Gaudi houses in Barcelona!
Entrance to Casa Vicens costs €18, and includes access to an audioguide app on your smartphone. One of the easiest ways to buy tickets is via the Get Your Guide website, and this conveniently includes skip the line access!
Click here to book skip-the-line tickets to Casa Vicens on Get Your Guide!
Your next stop on your 5 day Barcelona itinerary after Casa Vicens is Park Güell – a large park designed by Antoni Gaudí. It’s around a 20-30 minute walk to Park Güell from Casa Vicens, and there is no convenient metro route between the two. If you don’t fancy the walk you can either find a suitable bus route using Google Maps, or alternatively take a taxi.
Park Güell is full of interesting spots to visit, but the highlight is the vast terrace with its colourful mosaic serpentine bench along the edge. From here you get some wonderful views of Barcelona, as well as a lovely view of the park’s blue and white mosaic tower.
There are plenty of other interesting sights to see in Park Güell, including the famous ‘El Drac’ mosaic salamander sculpture. This sculpture in particular has become well-known and is located on the stairs below the park’s terrace.
Other parts of the park worth visiting are the Viaducte dels Enamorats, Passeig de las palmeras and the Hypostyle room. Make sure to visit all of these impressive spots, whilst also just enjoying a wander around to see what else the park has to offer.
Get Your Guide offer skip-the-line general admission tickets for €13.
Click here to book skip-the-line access to Park Güell with Get Your Guide!
Once you’ve finished up at Park Güell there is one more stop for the day – the Carmel Bunkers. It’s around a 20-30 minute walk from Park Güell, and is an amazing place to watch sunset. Depending on when sunset is you may want to find somewhere nearby for dinner or drinks before heading up to enjoy the view. The exact location of the bunkers can be found on Google Maps, listed as MUHBA Turó de la Rovira.
In our opinion, the Carmel Bunkers are one of the most underrated places in Barcelona and a must visit in this 5 day itinerary. Although it’s an increasingly popular spot with locals, it isn’t always mentioned in guidebooks as a spot to visit. The views of Barcelona from the top help to make it one of the best viewpoints of the city, and an ideal spot for sunset.
With more locals visiting this spot it can be fairly busy, but there’s normally room to find a spot to relax and enjoy the views of the city. There are amazing views in every direction, so make sure to take a walk around to admire the different viewpoints.
Day 4
Day four of your five day Barcelona itinerary kicks off with visits to two of Gaudí’s most loved pieces of work – Casa Milà and Casa Batlló. First stop is Casa Milà, also referred to as La Pedrera, which was the last private home designed by Antoni Gaudí.
Located on a street corner on Passeig de Gràcia, the house is located a short walk from Diagonal metro station. The exterior of Casa Milà immediately catches the eye, with its stone facade and wavy balconies.
An audioguide leads you through the building, giving you the chance to learn more about the design. One of the highlights of Casa Milà is the impressive rooftop terrace, with its unique rooftop guardians.
Another particularly interesting spot is the building’s attic with its collection of archways. The attic is home to an exhibition on Gaudí’s work, including some of the spots you will have already visited on your Barcelona itinerary.
Tickets to visit Casa Milà start from €28, which includes skip-the-line access and an audioguide. It’s easy to book in advance through Get Your Guide’s website, and there is also the option for a unique nighttime visit if you’d like to stray from this itinerary slightly!
Click here to book your visit to Casa Milà on Get Your Guide’s website!
After your visit to Casa Milà it’s time to take a 5-minute walk along Passeig de Gràcia to the beautiful Casa Batlló. In our opinion Casa Batlló is the more impressive of the two, which is why it’s best to appreciate Casa Milà before your visit here. Find out more about visiting the two houses with our comparison between Casa Batllo and Casa Mila. If you’re sticking to a budget then you may want to only see Casa Milà from the outside, that way you can save on the €25 entrance fee.
The exterior of Casa Batlló is immediately striking, with vibrant colours and unique mask-shaped balconies. Before heading inside it’s worth spending a few minutes admiring the unique architecture of the facade. As you make your way through the building, an informative audioguide gives you some insight into Gaudí’s work and how nature helped inspire this masterpiece. There is lots to see in this impressive building, including the elegant living room which overlooks Passeig de Gràcia and the rooftop terrace.
Tickets to Casa Batlló start from €35 per person, with an audioguide included in the price. There are three options to choose between when booking your tickets, with the more expensive options offering extras such as immersive experiences and access to extra rooms.
Click here to book your visit to the amazing Casa Batlló through Get Your Guide!
After you’ve finished visiting Gaudí’s masterpiece it’s time to head to Plaça de Catalunya, which is around a 10-minute walk away. This plaza is located at the heart of the city and is known for its fountains and statues. It’s often one of the busiest spots in the city as it’s a popular meeting place, and there are several shops and department stores around the edge of the plaza.
You don’t need to spend too long here, but it’s worth taking a wander through the plaza for a quick look. As an important part of the city, protests do sometimes take place in the square.
Next up it’s time to visit one of the most famous streets in Barcelona – Las Ramblas. This wide boulevard stretches for over a kilometre and is home to a number of shops and restaurants, with trees lining both sides of the street. It’s one of the most popular parts of the city, and so a stroll down Las Ramblas is an essential inclusion on your five day Barcelona itinerary.
As you walk down the street we recommend venturing into some of the side streets as well to discover some of the nice architecture and quirky shops. If you fancy giving your feet a rest then find a restaurant to sit down and enjoy some sangria before continuing on down Las Ramblas.
Finish off your day with a wander around Barcelona’s impressive Gothic Quarter. The Gothic Quarter does include Las Ramblas so you will have seen some of it already, but there is some more lovely architecture to admire as you walk in this area.
Two spots in particular you may want to visit are Barcelona Cathedral and El Pont des Bisbe – a bridge between two buildings that gives the street a picturesque feel. Once you’ve seen what this area has to offer you can call it a day, so head for dinner and some drinks afterwards if that takes your fancy.
Day 5
As long as you don’t have an early flight home on the fifth day of your Barcelona itinerary then you can still squeeze in at least one more stop if you want! Alternatively, if the pace of this itinerary is a bit much for you then you can spread out the stops over five days and not worry about fitting anything extra into your final day.
If you feel up to it then one of the best options it to take a half day trip from Barcelona to Montserrat. The multi-peaked mountain range of Montserrat is a beautiful spot to visit, and is home to the Santa Maria de Montserrat monastery.
Getting to Montserrat from Barcelona via public transport is a bit long-winded and isn’t particularly great value for money. Thankfully Get Your Guide offer a great guided tour of Montserrat which includes return transport from a meeting point in Barcelona.
Highlights of a visit to Montserrat include the stunning views of Catalonia and the mountains, as well as the Virgin of Montserrat statue in the Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey. Guided tours from Get Your Guide start from €54 per person, including return transport from Barcelona.
Click here to book an amazing guided tour to Montserrat through Get Your Guide!
Another option for getting out of the city is to go for a walk in the Serra de Collserola Natural Park. It’s a great place for hiking and birdwatching, and some parts have lovely views back over Barcelona.
The alternative to the above is to just have a relaxing day by the beach or your hotel’s pool (if you’re staying somewhere with a pool that is!). Make sure to read our best places to stay section below for tips on the best hotels with pools to stay in during your five day Barcelona itinerary!
One of our top tips for visiting Barcelona is to see more of Catalonia if possible, so if you have time we recommend heading south to explore the beautiful Ebro Delta. There are some great places to base yourself and visit in south Catalonia, including L’Ampolla, L’ametlla de Mar, Miravet Castle, Tortosa and Parc Natural Dels Ports.
Best Places To Stay In Barcelona
Budget
Finding budget accommodation in Barcelona for your 5 day itinerary can be quite tough, especially during the peak summer months. The best way to find a budget place to stay in Barcelona is to sort by price on Booking.com to see if there are any good value deals for your dates!
Click here to see the best accommodation options for your trip on Booking.com!
Pensión Peiró
Pensión Peiró is one of the best budget accommodation options in Barcelona. It’s conveniently located around a 10-minute walk from both Las Ramblas and the Gothic Quarter, as well as being a short walk from Palal Lel metro station.
Rooms at the property are fairly basic, but as you’ll be spending most of your time exploring the city then this isn’t too much of an issue! The slight downsides of staying here, like many of the other budget options in the city, is that you will have to use shared bathrooms during your stay and there is no air conditioning.
Click here to book a stay at the good-value Pensión Peiró on Booking.com!
Mid-Range
Aparthotel BCN Montjuïc
If you’re looking for a slightly more comfortable stay then the Aparthotel BCN Montjuïc is a great option. They offer comfortable, modern rooms, as well as a lovely seasonal swimming pool on the rooftop.
Located close to Montjuïc fountain, the hotel is around a 10-minute walk from Placa d’Espanya and the Espanya metro station. There is everything you need for a comfortable stay, including air-conditioning – which is important for the warm summer months!
Click here to arrange a stay at the lovely Aparthotel BCN Montjuïc on Booking.com!
Silken Ramblas
Perfectly located just off Las Ramblas, Silken Ramblas offers a variety of modern and comfortable rooms. The highlight of the hotel is the lovely rooftop swimming pool, which is perfect for cooling off in during the summer months!
Rooms offer everything you need including air-conditioning, a flat-screen TV, a kettle, a hairdryer and more! The brilliant location makes this a great base for exploring Barcelona, especially as Liceu metro station is less than a 5-minute walk away!
Click here to book a stay at the wonderful Silken Ramblas on Booking.com!
Treat yourself!
The One Barcelona
Make your trip one to remember with a stay at the amazing The One Barcelona. The hotel boasts a rooftop plunge pool and sundeck with great views, as well as an on-site spa with a relaxation pool and sauna.
Rooms at the hotel are beautifully designed and feel extremely luxurious, and are a comfortable place to relax after a long day exploring the city! The hotel is perfectly-located around a 2-minute walk from Casa Milà and Passeig de Gràcia, as well as being less than 5 minutes walk from Diagonal metro station.
Click here to book an unforgettable stay at The One Hotel on Booking.com!
Almanac Barcelona
Almanac Barcelona is one of the city’s most exclusive and luxurious hotels, with its very own panoramic rooftop bar and terrace. On top of that there is a lovely rooftop swimming pool and sun lounge for you to take advantage of during your stay.
There are a variety of amazing room types available, from elegant double rooms to lavish suites. Rooms come with all the features you would expect from a luxury hotel, including air-conditioning, room service and much more! To top if off, the hotel is conveniently located just a few minutes walk from Passeig de Gràcia station.
Click here to treat yourself to a stay at the fantastic Almanac Hotel through Booking.com!
Alternatively, VRBO have some fantastic accommodation options if you want to rent a property instead of staying at a hotel! Click here to see the amazing options on the VRBO website!
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