Day 1: Explore the El Born neighborhood

Stop for lunch at El Xampanyet
Established in 1929, El Xampanyet is one of Barcelona’s oldest bars. They are known for their housemade cava, so make sure you get a glass. I highly recommend the razor clams, pulpo, and ibérico ham.

Visit Palau de la Música Catalana
Palau de la Música Catalana is a stunning concert hall done in Modernisme (Catalan Art Nouveau) style. The Palau’s exterior is elaborate, with intricate carvings, colorful mosaics, and sculptures. It’s especially noted for the use of broken ceramic tiles and organic forms that characterize Modernisme. For a deeper dive, you can take a tour of the inside of the hall as well as attend a performance.

Explore the Picasso Museum
The Picasso Museum is housed in a series of medieval palaces and offers a unique look into Picasso’s early life and career, showcasing his development as an artist.

Day 2: Explore the Must-Sees in Barcelona

Visit Sagrada Familia
La Sagrada Família is one of Barcelona’s most iconic landmarks and a masterpiece of modernist architecture designed by Antoni Gaudí. The basilica is currently still under construction and has been in the making since 1882. It is expected to be completed around 2033. The basilica’s intricate facades depict various scenes from the life of Christ. Numerous artists have worked on various parts of the facades throughout the years. Inside, the basilica is filled with tree-like columns, symbolic of nature, and stained-glass windows that bathe the interior in colorful light.

Walk around Park Güell
Park Güell is one of Antoni Gaudí’s most famous works. Today, it is an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located on a hill in the Gràcia district of Barcelona, it was originally conceived as a residential project but transformed into a public park in the 1920s. The park is famous for its colorful mosaics, especially the serpentine bench that winds around the main terrace. The park’s structures, such as the dragon fountain, El Drac, at the entrance, are inspired by the natural world.

Day 3: Explore Antoni Gaudí’s other famous works

Start your day off with breakfast at Granja Dulcinea
Founded by Juan Mach and Elvira Farràs, Granja Dulcinea has been serving sugar-coated churros, smooth hot chocolate, and pastries in the Gothic Quarter since 1941. Stop by for an order of churros and dip them into their smooth dipping chocolate. We also had an Ensaïmada Mallorca cake. Ensaïmada is a Mallorcan coil-shaped pastry and ours had this super delicious and creamy custard in the middle. This was so delicious and I wish we had these back home!

Meander over to Boqueria Market
La Boqueria Market (Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria) is one of Barcelona’s most famous food markets. In its stalls, you will find a wide variety of local fruits and vegetables, artisanal cheeses, and cured meats like jamón ibérico. You can also eat at one of their many restaurants featuring Catalan staples like tapas and seafood dishes.

Take a self-guided tour of Palau Güell
Located in the El Raval neighborhood, Palau Güell is one of Antoni Gaudí’s lesser-known but equally impressive architectural gems. Designed between 1886 and 1888 for the wealthy industrialist Eusebi Güell. The palace is an excellent example of Modernisme, a style unique to Catalonia, blending ornate detailing with functional design. The most striking feature of Palau Güell is the rooftop, which is adorned with chimneys covered in colorful ceramic tiles.

Roam down Las Ramblas
Las Ramblas is a pedestrian street in the heart of Barcelona, stretching from Plaça de Catalunya to the Columbus Monument at the Port. Make sure you watch out for pickpockets as it does get very crowded during the day.

Finish at Casa Batlló
Casa Batlló is one of Antoni Gaudí’s most famous and imaginative works. Built between 1904 and 1906, it was created for Josep Batlló, who commissioned Gaudí to transform his home into an artistic masterpiece. The façade is known for its undulating forms, vibrant ceramic tiles, and mosaic that changes color depending on the light. The inside of the house is filled with fantastical, organic motifs. I would recommend going right when it opens or later in the day as it gets incredibly crowded midday.