Sagrada Família
Walk around the basilica to compare its façades. If you’re going inside, find a time slot through the basilica website.
- UNESCO World Heritage
Barcelona Travel Guide
Give Gaudí’s buildings time on a first visit and leave a break for a neighborhood café or a Catalan lunch.
Before you go
When to go and how long to stay
Plan three or four days. Reserve time slots for the Gaudí sites, then build the rest around walking in a few neighborhoods.
Entry documents
Check Spain’s short-stay entry requirements for your passport with a Spanish consulate. On a multi-country Schengen trip, count your time across the area. Save hotel addresses and onward transport confirmations offline.
Getting to the city
From Barcelona–El Prat (BCN), Aerobús heads toward Plaça de Catalunya. Metro L9 Sud serves the airport and usually requires a change for the center. The airport rail station is at Terminal 2.
Barcelona Sants is the main high-speed rail hub. Confirm that your fare covers the airport if you use the Metro, especially with a standard city ticket.
Getting around
Use the Metro to move between neighborhoods and walk within them. Park Güell involves uphill streets; compare a bus approach with the walk from the Metro.
Payments and mobile data
Bring a contactless card and small euro notes. Save ticket QR codes and the local spellings of stations offline. For a late dinner, check the last train back before you leave your hotel.
Where to stay
Eixample is convenient for Gaudí architecture and Metro connections. The Gothic Quarter suits old-town walks; pick a specific vehicle drop-off if you have luggage.
Things to do in Barcelona
What to eat in Barcelona
Pa amb tomàquet
Rustic bread rubbed with ripe tomato and finished with olive oil and salt. Order it as a side or as part of a shared meal.
Photo: Mutari · Public domain ↗A day in Barcelona
See the Sagrada Família in the morning, stop for a Catalan lunch, then continue to Park Güell.