What to do in Barcelona in one day?

Many people contact us and ask "
I only stay one day in Barcelona, what should I do?
"

To begin with we want to make clear that one day to visit a large city with so much history is not enough time.

Barcelona Tourist Information sign

For an introduction to the city of Barcelona we advise:

Starting early in the morning, to take advantage that there is less heat and less crowds to visit the historic center: the Gothic quarter and discover the history of the city from its founding by the Romans to present day.

At lunchtime go eat at one of the many restaurants in the “Gracia” neighborhood. Away from the tourist scams: Frozen paella, tapas and sangria, which abound on the Ramblas and the main touristic streets.

In the afternoon we advise you to discover modernism, taking a tour of the modernist facades of Paseo de Gracia and surroundings or take a stroll and visit the emblematic Gaudí buildings.

After a well-deserved rest at your hotel you can go to dinner in the Barceloneta neighborhood, and end the day with one or several cocktails on a terrace by the sea.

A few tips:


If you only have one day avoid Mondays as some museums and historical sites are closed.

If you plan to visit the
Sagrada Familia
buy tickets in advance on their website. During summer and holidays tickets are usually sold out several days in advance.

We do not recommend visiting the
Parc Güell
,which is quite far from the centre and poorly serviced by public transportation, the return trip and the visit require a lot of time.

To avoid:


Avoid the restaurants on the Ramblas, Plaza Real and exclusively touristic areas.

Avoid bars and restaurants that use flyers or waiters offering menus at low prices or free drinks.

To find and book restaurants, the best would be to use widely known websites like "The fork". They have an extensive list of restaurants, and some interesting offers…

Panoramic tour:


You can use the tourist buses which offer several routes across the city to explore the main monuments.

If you prefer there are panoramics tours with a private vehicle that can start and end at the airport or cruise ship terminal and of course at your hotel.

-> Best Barcelona tours…