Barcelona in 4 Days: everything you need to know

The list of everything you can see and do in Barcelona is long, so I want to help you design your four-day tour of the city. I can already tell you that it's enough time to see at least the most important sights, such as the Sagrada Familia, Park Güell and some of its museums. And there will also be time to get out and about, to get to know the most modern Barcelona, but also its history, as well as the mark left by Gaudí and other illustrious architects.

Are you eager to get to know Barcelona? For the first day I've prepared a tour of two of its oldest neighbourhoods: the Gothic Quarter and the Raval, although you'll also have the chance to return to the present day with a visit to a very modern museum.

Stroll around the Gothic Quarter and its squares

If there's one place to start your trip around Barcelona, it's Plaza Catalunya, the centre from which most of the city's main streets start. After contemplating the place for a while (and the many pigeons that fly over it) I suggest you take Avenida de Portal del Angel to enter the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona, one of the most magical, ancient and important.

Although the first thing you'll see are big brand shops, I recommend you start walking through the maze of narrow streets, very medieval style, that make up the Gothic Quarter. During your stroll you'll come across some important squares and buildings, which ones are not to be missed?

• Plaza de Sant Jaume: here, facing each other, are two of the most important institutional buildings: the Ajuntament de Barcelona and the Generalitat de Catalunya.
• Plaza Real: always full of people, this square is one of the liveliest in the city, perfect for taking a break and enjoying its neoclassical design.
• Plaça del Pi: busy because it is home to the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Pi, whose façade you can admire from the square.

Discover Barcelona Cathedral

In the heart of the Gothic Quarter, although you'll be heading towards the Ramblas, you'll find Barcelona Cathedral, also known as La Seu, your next stop:

• Its Gothic façade will welcome you and leave you open-mouthed, as it is decorated with a lot of detail and ornamentation, especially in its pinnacles.
• You will be able to see the entrance to the cloister, where there are thirteen sunsets commemorating the age at which Saint Eulalia became a martyr.
• Entrance to the church, where mass is sometimes held, is free of charge.
• Inside you can appreciate the mixture of different architectural styles, combined to perfection.
• If you visit the side chapels, especially the cloister chapels, you will also be able to contemplate religious works of art of great value.
• If you want access to other areas, such as the Crypt or the Choir, you will have to pay approximately €5.

Stroll along the Rambla and eat at the Boqueria market

When you leave La Seu you're bound to get a bit peckish, and there's no better place to eat than at the Boqueria Market, a place that sells not only fresh produce, but also tapas and ready-made dishes such as bombetas, a kind of potato croquette usually filled with meat.

When you've finished, go for a stroll along the Rambla. Right next to the Boqueria is the Liceu, the city's great theatre, but what I also recommend is to stop and watch the street performers or even buy some flowers or seeds.

Enjoy contemporary art at MACBA

Just a few minutes' walk from Las Ramblas (barely 10 minutes), you'll find one of Barcelona's most fashionable museums: the MACBA (Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art), whose white walls and brightness make it perfect for exhibiting works from the second half of the 20th century onwards.

Perhaps one of the most striking things about MACBA is the building itself, which gives us a clue as to the type of art we'll find inside: minimalist, modern and transgressive.

Booking a ticket for MACBA, which costs €13, is a good way to spend the afternoon.

Get to know the alternative Raval neighbourhood

When you leave MACBA you'll find yourself in the heart of El Raval, one of Barcelona's most alternative and multicultural neighbourhoods, where you'll find plenty of things to do:

• Sit on a terrace and have a drink while you take in the atmosphere of this area.
• Visit Botero's Cat sculpture.
• See the old Santa Creu hospital, where Antonio Gaudí died.
• Dine in one of the restaurants, where you'll find all kinds of gastronomy, from the most local to the most international.

Barcelona is arguably the birthplace of Modernisme; the presence of Antonio Gaudí and other architects is evident in many of the buildings you'll find in the city. To make sure you don't miss the most important ones, spend the second day visiting them.

Visit Casa Batlló

Start the day on Passeig de Gràcia, one of Barcelona's main avenues and where, in addition to many luxury shops, you'll find the first Modernista house you'll visit: Casa Batlló.

The colours of its façade (and its skull-like balconies) make everyone stop to admire it, although its interior, in which Gaudí played with light and space, is even more impressive. You will also be struck by the long queue that forms every day to get in:

• To avoid surprises, it's best to book your tickets to Casa Batlló in advance.
• The entrance fee is €35 and includes an audio guide. This is important as many of the architectural motifs and symbols are difficult to understand without an explanation.
• Read this article if you need more information about tickets to Casa Batlló.

Your visit will end on the rooftop, where there is a huge dragon and several chimneys, as well as incredible views.

See the façade and interior of La Pedrera (Casa Milà)

Also known as La Pedrera, Casa Milà is also located on Passeig de Gràcia; you'll only have to walk about five minutes to get there.

It is considered modern, but not modernist, and is notable for being built in stone but with a curved design, especially on the balconies and its chimneys, which seem to create curves. It is currently open to visitors, although only some areas are open to the public, as the rest are the offices of the Foundation and houses:

• Book tickets for La Pedrera in advance. They cost €28 and include an audio guide.
• From the roof of La Pedrera you can see the Sagrada Familia.
• In the attic there is an exhibition about Gaudí, where you can learn about his history.
• Visit this post for more information about tickets to La Pedrera.

Before heading to your next destination, take the opportunity to grab a bite to eat at the Café de la Pedrera. It's located on the mezzanine floor of the building and was also designed by Gaudí, so you can imagine that the place is beautiful.

Discover the secrets of Montjuic Castle

Your next stop requires you to take public transport, so take line 3 (the green one) from Diagonal to Paral-lel. Once there, take the funicular up to Montjuic Castle, a magical place with a lot of history that is well worth seeing.

It began as a fortress in the 17th century and has since been bombed, attacked and used as a Francoist prison and military museum. Today you'll find all the clues you need to understand the history of Barcelona and of this site. From its wall, which is over 150 metres high, and its watchtower, you'll have breathtaking views.

My recommendation is to book a tour of Montjuic that includes the cable car ride, the castle and the fountain, although you can also buy a ticket for the cable car and visit the castle on your own by buying a ticket.

Stroll through the Miramar Gardens

Since you're in Montjuic, how can you not take a stroll around the mountain? On your way down towards the city, your first stop will be the Miramar Gardens, designed and built for the 1929 International Exhibition. To continue, head along Avinguda de Miramar towards the Jardins de Joan Maragall, another natural oasis but much more elegant, as they were created for a king.

When you've finished crossing them, you'll come to the Museum of Catalan Art, for which I recommend you book tickets. In fact, if you're an art lover, my advice is to buy the Articket, a pass that gives you access to the six most important museums in Barcelona.

Enjoy the Magic Fountain Show

After an afternoon on the mountain, it's time to take bus 150 to the Maria Cristina stop. When you get off you will see a large fountain and some stairs that go up to the top. Most days there is a great atmosphere in the area, so I recommend you sit on a step, have a drink and enjoy the street dance groups.

If it is also Thursday, Friday or Saturday, the Magic Fountain show starts at around 9pm: when night falls, the fountain lights up and begins to "dance" and light up to the rhythm of the music that comes out of the loudspeakers in the square. It is a very beautiful and exciting moment, although it is usually very crowded.

Although you've already visited some of **Barcelona'**s modernist treasures, you're still missing two big ones: the Sagrada Familia and Park Güell, so make the most of the third day to cross them off your list and see other, more authentic parts of the city.

See Barcelona from the Carmel Bunkers

Although it's a bit of a climb (especially if you're walking), the Carmel Bunkers are, for me, a must-see.

They are located more than 200 metres above sea level and provide a 360º view of Barcelona. I recommend going early in the morning, when it's less crowded, or even at dawn.

Enter Park Güell

A short walk, about fifteen minutes from the Bunkers, will take you to Park Güell, where Antonio Gaudi's architecture and nature combine in a unique way.

The sinuous shapes and colourful mosaics are the best known elements, with the 110-metre-long bench and the salamander fountain being the best examples:

• The area is only accessible by purchasing tickets to Park Güell, which cost 16 euros.
• You are free to wander around, although you won't be able to see any of the important and characteristic sights.
• Visit this post to find out more about Park Güell tickets.

Visit the inside of the Sagrada Familia

Although you can walk down (in about half an hour or so) from Park Güell, you can also take the V19 bus. Your next stop is the Sagrada Familia, although I recommend you take the opportunity to have a bite to eat in the area; my recommendation is to go away from the main streets to find less touristy tapas restaurants.

• Tickets for the Sagrada Familia cost €34.
• You can also book a guided tour for €53, which guarantees you queue-free access and explanations from an expert guide.
• If you want more information about the types of tickets for the Sagrada Familia I recommend you read this post.
• And in this article you will find in detail the things to see inside the Sagrada Família, where its narrow columns, shaped like tree trunks, and the lighting that enters through the stained glass windows stand out.

From the outside you can see the towers, of which Gaudí was only able to finish one before he died, and the façades, which tell the story of the Bible.

Visit the Sant Pau Art Nouveau Site

Just a short distance from the Sagrada Familia is the Sant Pau Art Nouveau Site, a place I highly recommend you visit. Originally a garden city for the hospital's patients and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, it now houses institutions.

Seeing it from the outside may be enough, but if you want to go inside to see places like the Sant Salvador Pavilion (and its exhibition on medicine in Barcelona) and wander among its stained glass windows, domes and corridors, you'll need to book tickets for Sant Pau.

Take a stroll through the Barrio de Gracia

Now it's time to go to the Barrio de Gracia, one of the most authentic neighbourhoods in the city. Its streets are narrow, so you'll often have to walk in the middle of the road (always watch out for cars) as you enter the different shops and local businesses, which have a very bohemian feel to them.

If you're travelling to Barcelona in August, you've probably already planned your visit to Gracia, as for almost a week a festival is organised here in which locals decorate every street. However, any time of year is a good time to stroll around this neighbourhood, where there are not so many tourists, or to sit on one of the terraces in the famous Plaza del Sol and have a drink or a bite to eat to end the day.

Are you sad that your trip to Barcelona is coming to an end? Before you leave, there are some areas that you have to see. As I know you'll be feeling a bit tired, I suggest a couple of quieter activities to enjoy the city in a more relaxed way.

Get to know El Born

How about starting your last day in Barcelona in El Born? It's another of the trendiest neighbourhoods and also has an alternative character. It's best to go during the day because it can be a bit dangerous at night. If you book a guided tour of El Born you won't miss any details and it also includes tickets to the Picasso and Moco museums in Barcelona!

It started out as the cradle of the textile industry, but over the years it has diversified and now there are shops of all kinds. Booking a guided tour of Santa Maria del Mart is a must. Did you know it's the setting for the famous novel The Cathedral of the Sea?

Cross underneath the Arc de Triomphe

Your next destination is Barcelona's Arc de Triomf, which was placed as a gateway for the Universal Exhibition of 1888.

It was designed in the purest classical style, although its reliefs and other decorative elements have a more modern feel and refer to the different countries taking part in the Expo. As a curious fact, this is one of the few triumphal arches that is not intended to commemorate a victory, as is the case with the one in Paris, but is a civil construction that alludes to progress.

Have a picnic in the Citadel

After crossing the Arc de Triomphe and leaving it behind, you'll come across the Parc de la Ciutadella, a place to take shelter from the chaos of the city and, why not, have a picnic before continuing your day.

When you're done, my advice is to take a break from your meal with a stroll around the Citadel. There are always street performers (such as jugglers, dancers and musicians), as well as sculptures by Catalan artists (such as a giant mammoth) and you can also book tickets for the Barcelona Zoo.

Discover the Museum of the History of Catalonia

After a few days in Barcelona you're sure to know a lot about the history of Barcelona and Catalonia, but to top it all off, why not pop into the Museum of History (MUHBA)?

It's about a 10-minute walk from the Citadel, and the visits are usually very entertaining, as it has interactive rooms that recreate what the streets of Barcelona were like, as well as other recreations from both the Middle Ages and more recent times. The MUHBA is one of the best museums in Barcelona for a reason.

Watch the sunset from the beaches of La Barceloneta

If there's one nice way to say goodbye to Barcelona, it's by watching the sunset from the beach, so head for the Barceloneta neighbourhood, where you'll be able to smell the sea in the streets.

Although they tend to be quite busy, the beaches in this neighbourhood (such as Sant Miquel, Sant Sebastià and Barceloneta) are quiet places where, as the sun goes down, many people come to watch the fishing boats arrive and the city fade away as the sun goes down over the sea. What better way to end the day and your trip?

Knowing how to get around Barcelona is key to making the most of your time:

• You will most likely need to take public transport and, once you get to each tourist area, you can walk, especially if you follow the itinerary I have suggested.
• There are also places where you need to go by metro, bus or cable car, such as Montjuic or Park Güell, which is why I advise you to buy the Hola Barcelona transport card, valid for 2 to 5 days, depending on the season ticket you choose, and which will allow you to get around the city by metro, bus, tram, train and train.
• Another option is to book a place on the Barcelona City Tour tourist bus, with which you can take a tour of the city's main monuments and attractions and get around in comfort, as you can hop on and off as many times as you like.
• Finally, you also have the option of buying a pass to see the city's main attractions while saving money with these two complete tourist passes: the Barcelona Card Express and the Barcelona Explorer Pass.