Get ready for the week of a lifetime in Barcelona! During 7 days in Barcelona, you’ll hit up all the major tourist sights, get off the beaten path and even have time for a day trip.
There’s so much to see and do in the Catalan capital. You could practically spend a lifetime discovering hidden local gems that most tourists would never stumble upon. However, a week is still the perfect amount of time to spend in the city. Ready? Here’s your perfect itinerary!
Photo Credit: SBA73, Text Overlay: Devour Barcelona Food Tours
Day 1: Get settled, food tour
Your 7 days in Barcelona will be filled with endless exploration. Take advantage of your first day to settle in at your own pace. Take a relaxing walk around the neighborhood where you’ll be staying and try to pick up on the intricacies of local life. By the end of your stay, you’ll practically feel like a lifelong resident!
In the evening, get your first taste of the city when you join us on an evening food tour! Get your fill of history on our Tapas, Taverns & History Tour, or learn everything you need to know about Catalan wines on our Evening Tapas & Wine Tour. No matter which experience you pick, you’ll come away full, happy, and armed with knowledge about how to eat like a local during your stay.
Day 2: Boquería Market, Born neighborhood, Gracia
Wake up early on the second of your 7 days in Barcelona to check out the world-famous Boquería Market (La Rambla, 91)! While this iconic market does get quite crowded later in the day, in the morning you’ll be one of the few people wandering the stalls (other than locals doing their grocery shopping). In the video below, Devour Barcelona expert guide Victoria shares her tips for how to visit this market like a local.
After exploring the market, spend some time exploring the historic city center. Visit the stunningly whimsical Casa Batlló (Passeig de Gràcia, 43), just one of Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí’s many masterpieces throughout the city. From there, head to the Picasso Museum (Carrer Montcada, 15-23) in the medieval Born neighborhood to pay tribute to another one of Spain’s favorite sons.
As evening falls, take a stroll through the lovely and charming Gracia neighborhood just north of the city center. Few tourists stray into this beautiful and picturesque neighborhood, which was once a separate village before Barcelona swallowed it up! Grab a bite to eat here and enjoy a relaxed evening.
Day 3: Barceloneta, Parc de la Ciutadella, Montjuïc
Start off the third of your 7 days in Barcelona with a relaxing stroll along the Barceloneta beach. Like the Boquería market, this popular beach gets packed later in the day, so take advantage of the relative calm in the morning. Enjoy a slow-paced morning exploring the lovely Barceloneta neighborhood and stop for a bite to eat near the beach before continuing your stroll along the coast.
Spend the afternoon at Barcelona’s beautiful Parc de la Ciutadella (Passeig de Picasso, 21), one of the most beautiful green spaces in the city. This idyllic park is home to Barcelona’s zoo, a beautiful fountain and a lake with rental boats, and so much more. It’s also a great place to take kids if you’re traveling with the family!
In the evening, head further south to Montjuïc. This beautiful hillside is packed with things to see and do. Take the scenic cable car up to the top, or enjoy a relaxing stroll. Take some time to check out Montjuïc Castle (Ctra. de Montjuïc, 66), a stunning old military fortress, before settling in for the famous Magic Fountain Show. This jaw-dropping display of sound, light and color is the perfect way to end the third of your seven days in Barcelona.
Day 4: Day trip to Montserrat
By this point during your 7 days in Barcelona, you may be wanting to escape the hustle and bustle of the city for a little while. Just about an hour away from the city by train, you’ll find the rugged natural beauty of Montserrat. Tucked into the mountains, you’ll find a beautifully preserved centuries-old monastery with awe-inspiring views of the natural wonders surrounding it. It’s the perfect place to relax and explore at a slow pace before returning to Barcelona in the evening.
Want to see Montserrat without the crowds? Then join us on our Montserrat & Cava Winery Tour: Day Trip from Barcelona with Lunch!
Day 5: Sagrada Familia, Sant Pau, Park Guell
Finish out your tour of the Catalan capital’s most iconic sights during the fifth of your 7 days in Barcelona! Start the day at La Sagrada Familia (Carrer de Mallorca, 401), the city’s most iconic church and Gaudí’s unfinished masterpiece (construction has been underway for over a century!). If you thought the exquisite attention to detail on the outside was mindblowing, just wait until you see the interior. You’ll feel as if you’ve been whisked away to a magical forest!
From there, head to the Recinto Modernista de Sant Pau (Carrer de Sant Antoni Maria Claret, 167), a beautiful art nouveau complex and a must for lovers of art, architecture or the visually appealing in general. This gorgeous space was once a hospital, and you can even see what it was like during those days in a recreation space that will take you back to the 1920s.
End your day at another Gaudí icon: Park Guell. The whimsical architecture and beautiful colored tiles will take your breath away, as will the stunning sunset when seen from the highest point in the park. Grab a casual dinner at a nearby restaurant afterwards and mingle with the locals.
Day 6: Day trip to Cadaqués
You’ve explored the beautiful mountains of Montserrat, now head to the coast! The idyllic seaside town of Cadaqués on Catalonia’s Costa Brava is another perfect escape during your 7 days in Barcelona. Enjoy a leisurely day here exploring the winding streets that snake between the charming whitewashed houses. Along the way, be sure to look for and visit the home of Salvador Dalí (Platja Portlligat, s/n), where the iconic painter lived and worked for decades.
Day 7: Tibidabo
End your 7 days in Barcelona on a fun, lighthearted note! Spend the day at Tibidabo, a beautiful mountainside near the city that’s packed with fun and fascinating things to see and do. Visit the stunningly beautiful Sagrat Cor church (Cumbre del Tibidabo, s/n) in the morning, then spend the day unleashing your inner child at the Tibidabo amusement park. The old-world rides and vintage vibe make for the perfect day of fun before your trip draws to a close.
Want to connect with locals and try essential Catalan dishes in a traditional neighborhood? Join our Taste Barcelona Like a Local: Gracia Neighborhood Food Tour! For the true Catalan experience of hole-in-the-wall gems serving up home-cooked classics and regulars-only bodegas, you can’t do any better than Gracia—and on this food tour, we’ll show you where to find the best of the best.
Great tips to spend vacation in Barcelona. Must try.
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