Barcelona- the land of paella and Gaudí. There are endless things to see and do, but if you have only a limited amount of time, here is an itinerary to help you hit all of the best spots in one day.
If you enjoy having breakfast at cute cafes like I do, then you’ll be happy to know that there is an abundance of them in the El Born neighborhood and surrounding areas. My favorite sit down cafe is called Bohl and has great coffee & matcha and healthier food options while maintaining a chic industrial-feeling interior. If you don’t want to sit down to eat though, a quick to-go bakery and coffee shop called Demasié is known for their fantastic cinnamon rolls.
From there, head to La Sagrada Família. You have likely heard of it or seen pictures of Antoni Gaudí’s masterpiece basilica that is still being built to this day. I would recommend buying tickets online beforehand here and arriving early in the day because its massive popularity ensures that it is always packed. From there, head to Park Güell to continue your Gaudí experience. (If you’ve ever watched the Cheetah Girls 2, you will recognize this park). Bus number 92 takes you from La Sagrada Família to Park Güell in under 30 minutes and is the cheapest option, but you can reach the park in 15 minutes or less if you opt for a taxi. Just like at the basilica, I would recommend buying tickets beforehand as the park lets people in during specific timeslots which can get filled.
From here, you can head on over to Plaça de Catalunya and Passeig de Gràcia for a little shopping spree. This is the main square in Barcelona one of the most popular streets for shopping. My favorite store here is called & Other Stories, which is a sustainable brand with all of its clothes made at ateliers in Paris, Los Angeles, and Stockholm (think Sofia Richie style). If you have time to continue visiting Gaudí exhibits, he has two more buildings on this street called La Pedrera and Casa Batlló that have incredible architecture and interior design. If you have time for one and not the other, I prefer Casa Batlló. Again, buy these tickets online beforehand.
If you continue to walk straight south from Plaça de Catalunya on a street called La Rambla, you will come across a popular market called La Boqueria that is great for picking up street food, fruit, and other snacks. Be cautious with your belongings when walking on La Rambla as it is famous for pickpocketing.
If you are not all Cathedral-ed out at this point, the Cathedral of Barcelona nearby in the Gothic Quarter is a beautiful place to visit as well. The neighborhood that it lies in is charming and fun to walk around aimlessly in as well. When you are ready for dinner, I recommend walking to a wonderful tapas place back in El Born called Ziryab. It has a cool ambiance and has a very unique serving staff. Most of the staff and one of the owners are deaf, meaning that several of the customers are deaf as well as it is a safe environment for them. You should have no trouble communicating with the servers though as you can point to menu items and ask for another waiter if you need clarification on a dish. As a deaf restaurant, you will not be able to reach them by phone to make a reservation and should do so online.
Now for the best part of the day- dessert! My favorite gelato shop is in the El Born neighborhood as well and is called Gocci di Latte. It has amazing regular and dairy-free/vegan gelato.
Barcelona is one of my favorite European cities to walk around in, so even if you do not pack your day full with tourist attractions, you will find entertainment just exploring the city regardless.
