Our first day in Barcelona was eventful and thoroughly enjoyable. It was a sunny day right from the time we landed in the city. Also our host turned out to be a great guy who was always willing to help us out. With some great tips on exploring the city. Moreover our plans for Barcelona in 2 days seemed was going just the way we had wished.
Therefore after a lovely dinner in a specialty burger restaurant, we were quite happy to retire for the night. In our cute accommodation “My Pillow”, owned by a migrant Chinese family in the pretty neighborhood of Carrer de Malgrat.
Wondering how we spent our first day in Barcelona. Well we started off from La Rambla, the most happening street in the city center. Took a couple of selfies with the human statues, bought a few mementos and relaxed at a nice coffee bar. Moreover we also spent time near the gigantic Columbus monument, roamed around the fountains, relaxed near the sea, zipped around the city and did much more. Check out our itinerary on the first day and PIN it for later!
Barcelona in 2 days – First day itinerary
Second day itinerary
Because we had quite a late night on the first day we took our time waking up. Therefore after our relaxed morning tea and freshening up we set out for our breakfast. Moreover we are always so thrilled when we can find an English breakfast restaurant, that is when our hotel doesn’t serve breakfast. There was one just a few minutes walk away. The tip was provided by our migrant Chinese host. And it was so nice to find them having their breakfast when we reached there.
After a satisfying breakfast we were on our way to Barcelona City Center after a two minute walk to the Fabra i Puig metro station. The journey under 15 minutes. Moreover our day today was for a relaxed one. Enjoying the sea, nature, some landmarks and lot of time on the beach. However what could be better than getting lost in the sea. Start your day with a Mediterranean Boat Ride. Experience it here till you are there in person enjoying the cool sea breeze.
Experience – A Mediterranean Boat Ride & PIN it to get happy again!
A boat ride later, what would you really love to do? Because two days is not too many days. And therefore the question in my mind was, what would really give me a lot of pleasure. My heart said ‘take it at a slow pace’. Relax as we go along and no running around a lot. Because we had already spent a lot of time the previous day visiting important landmarks and experiencing the city. But then you really can’t visit all of them. Therefore you must choose so
Now you have 2 options
Spend the day focused on visiting landmarks
The best option for that is to buy a ticket for a 24 hour Hop-on-Hop-off bus, our favorite whenever we are in a new city. They have a couple of routes touching almost all landmarks of Barcelona. At the end of it you could spend some time on one of the beaches. Maybe an hour or so.
But then you really can’t visit all the landmarks in a day. Therefore you must choose some depending on your preference for cathedrals, museums, castles, amusement park or nature in combinations.
Famous Landmarks
- Tibidabo Hills
- Montjuric Castle
- Temple Sagrat Cor
- Casa Mula
- Casa Batlo
- Picasso Museum
- Museu d historica Catalunya
- Cathedral De Barcelona
- Temple of Sacred House of Jesus
- Guell Palace
- Camp Nou
- Gaudi House Museum
- Casa Vincens Gaudi
- La Sagrada Familia
- Palau de la Musica
- Arc De Triomf
- Park Guell
Or do it our way. Nature, views, beaches and Gaudi.
Interested? Come along as we take you on a relaxed day in Barcelona. And as I mentioned earlier, with our favorite companion. The hop-on-hop-off bus. This time on Barcelona City Tour.
Tibidabo Hills
Tibidabo is a famous mountain which offers spectacular views over the city and the surrounding coastline of Barcelona. It is the highest mountain situated at 512 meters in Collserola, which is an impressive natural spot with a forest of around 10 million trees and providing a habitat for a large range of wildlife. There is also an amusement park, a telecommunications tower (Torre de Collserola) and the Catholic church (Temple de Sagrat Cor). Come let’s enjoy the views and the Church.
The Church Sagrat Cor designed by Enric Sagnier is located on the top of Tibidabo Mountain in Barcelona. The church took over 60 years to construct and is at the top of the tallest hill overlooking Barcelona. The views from the top are amazing. You can always spot the beautiful church at night from the city because it is so beautifully illuminated by night.
Olympic Stadium – Estadi Olímpic de Montjuïc
A bit of shopping & Ice Cream..
Some walking, roaming around and the sea..
Few Landmarks
The Torre Glòries, formerly known as Torre Agbar, is a 38-story skyscraper located between Avinguda Diagonal and Carrer Badajoz, near Plaça de les Glòries Catalanes. This therefore marks the gateway to the new technological district of Barcelona.
The Palau de Mar started life in 1890 as the General Port Warehouse for storing goods that arrived in Barcelona by sea. Further this was renovated and transformed for the 1992 Olympics and today it houses the Museu d’Història de Catalunya, the Centre of Contemporary History.
The Basílica de la Sagrada Família also known as the Sagrada Família, is a large unfinished Roman Catholic minor basilica in Barcelona. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was designed by the Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926). Construction of the Sagrada Família began under architect Francisco de Paula del Villar in March 1882.
In 1883, after Villar resigned, Gaudí took over as chief architect, transforming the project with his architectural and engineering style. He combined Gothic and Curvilinear Art Nouveau forms in his style. Moreover he devoted the remainder of his life to the project. Furthermore, he is buried in the crypt. At the time of his death in 1926, less than a quarter of the project was complete. The unfinished task continues till date.
It was now Beach Time
Back home for Dinner
We were back to our accommodation, freshened up and after a couple of beers were heading for our dinner. Moreover a much look-forward-to dinner. At a Pakistani Restaurant just a five minute walk away. It was named ‘Borom Kebap‘. With a lovely sit out area. And the food just the way we wanted it. Hot & tasty. Just awesome. It would certainly be a backpacker’s delight as well.
If you love backpacking and have plans to be in city soon, here is your complete Backpacking guide to Barcelona.
Did you love this 2 day Barcelona itinerary? If Yes save it for planning & friends!
There’s so much to see and do in Barcelona — how do you ever decide? I’ve heard a lot about the famous church and the Park Guell, but your Mediterranean boat tour also sounds amazing! Must be nice during the hot summer months!
Yes there is so much to do. Yes the two days in the summer was just awesome.
You managed to see a lot during your two days in Barcelona. I spent five days sightseeing there a few years ago and still feel I saw only a little bit of this amazing city. Hop-on Hop-off buses a great way to get an overview over a destination. If I go back I think I will do a tour at the football stadium.
Yes we loved Barcelona as well. Did miss out on visiting many landmarks but we were still happy with what we managed to do.
Barcelona is such a beautiful place. I think I will spend most of my time walking around the city and exploring the landmarks. I especially loved the Sagrat Cor church, it looks so beautiful. I hope to go and travel in Spain for a long time some day and definitely will be at Barcelona for a few days.
Yes do try and visit Barcelona sometime Raksha. You would love being there for sure.
I am disappointed I did not visit the Church Sagrat Cor. La Sagrada is so incredible, everywhere you look is art! I love Barcelona and this is a great way way to spend a day
I like it when you decided that 2 days in Barcelona was for a relaxation. Sometimes that’s what we need to do. And you managed to visit Sagrada Familia, the beach, and had ice cream! All after the boat ride. That’s really cool!
Barcelona is such a beautiful place.The historic buildings, churches, beaches and the cuisine. It’s an explorer’s paradise.
Yes truly.
We love to stop in Barcelona if we can when we visit Spain. There is always something new to see and do. We too like the hop-on-hop-off buses to get a good overview in a new city. But seeing the city by boat is also a fun way to pick a few spots to visit. We are sorry to have missed Church Sagrat Cor on our visits. But get to have something new for our next visit. That goes on the list with finally getting a ticket to see inside Sagrada Familia!
Yes so much agree. There is always some thing left for a second visit.
One of my favorite cities is Barcelona. It’s such a happening place! I liked that you did it at a slow pace.
Yes it certainly was fun time for us at Barcelona.
The highlight attraction in those 2 days for me is the Basilica. It is so stunning. The architecture and its history is something that totally fascinates me. I like the Barcelona beach too, though it does seem a little crowded. A lovely itinerary indeed – one that has got you sorted with all the major sights
Thanks Ami. Yes the beaches were crowded. So we went a little far away where it was a little less crowded.