Barcelona Itinerary for Two days: Self-Guided Walking Tour

Do you only have two days to visit Barcelona? Well, I’ll break it to you right now that two days is not really enough to “see everything” in Barcelona (it’s a big city!). It is, however, enough to see the main things if you’re willing to move at a really quick pace. And because one of the best ways to get to know a city is to walk around it on foot, today I’m sharing my suggestion for a self-guided walking tour of Barcelona in two days. Are you ready? Then let’s get straight to it.

Where to Stay in Barcelona

If you are traveling on a budget or have limited mobility, it would be helpful to stay within walking and metro distance of the transportation hubs you’ll be using in this itinerary. That way, you can save money on taxis to and from your hotel. If you don’t mind paying for cabs and ride shares, then location will be less of a concern, as long as you are within central Barcelona, where most attractions are.

Day One in Barcelona

Your first day in Barcelona is going to be a busy one! Following along this route as I have it will take anywhere between 1.5 – 2.5 hours of pure walking time, depending on how much you zig zag down interesting streets (which I personally recommend doing as much as you can!). That correlates to 4 – 6 miles (or 6 – 10 km). Don’t forget to break this up with a lunch break!

Plaça de Catalunya

Your two day Barcelona itinerary starts at this famous plaza. It is considered the center of Barcelona. You will probably end up here at some point without even trying because it’s the starting point for many walking tours and also where various forms of transport meet. It sits at the northern end of the famous La Rambla street (which is stop número dos in this itinerary!). Be very careful of pickpockets in this square. Pickpocketing is something to keep an eye out for anywhere in central Barcelona, but especially in this area.

La Rambla

Stop number two on your self-guided tour of Barcelona is one of the most famous streets in Spain. This wide, tree-lined pedestrian street runs right through the heart of the city. It is often referred to in the plural, “Las Ramblas,” and it marks the western edge of the Gothic Quarter. Walking down this street towards the coast, you will find a lot of kiosk shops and tourist-geared eateries. Just like at the previous stop – be very careful of pickpockets on this extremely busy street!

Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boquerìa

While making your way down La Rambla, definitely stop by Barcelona’s most famous and beloved food market. You’ll normally hear it simply called Mercat de la Boqueria. Here, you’ll find not only the quintessential fruit smoothies and juices but also a whole host of other foods to nibble on. Some of these include jamón, empanadas, baked goods, and much, much more.

Barri Gòtic

After walking down La Rambla and hitting the coast, double-back just slightly to enter Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter. This area is the city’s historical center, where you’ll find medieval and even Roman era architecture. Allow yourself some time to wander aimlessly through the narrow, labyrinth-like streets of this charming part of the city. It might be worth doing a free* walking tour of this area, depending on your group’s travel style, so that you can better appreciate this neighborhood’s history and recent struggles. But whether you join a tour or not, be sure to pass under the famous Pont del Bisbe while in this neighborhood!

*Tips are expected at the end of these tours.

Catedral de Barcelona

Your next stop is still in the Gothic Quarter. Head to the Cathedral of Barcelona, whose construction finished in the 15th century. Entry is €14, and the dress code (no shoulders, no knees) is enforced (as I experienced myself on a warm, spring day!). You can purchase tickets in advance online from the official site.

Lunch

Right around now might also be a good time to get some lunch, if you haven’t already! Lunch in Spain typically starts at 2:00 pm*. But, as Barcelona is quite touristy, you’ll have no issue finding places to sit down and eat well before that.

In fact, many restaurants in Spain offer a menú del día (set menu of the day), which typically starts by 1:30 pm or earlier and typically ends around 4:00 pm. This is a multi-course meal with a couple fixed options, and it almost always ends up being a really good bang for your buck!

*If you pay attention, you might notice that this is around the time that people will switch from saying good morning (bon dia in Catalan or buenos días in Spanish) to good afternoon (bona tarda in Catalan or buenas tardes in Spanish). This threw me off my first year living in Spain, when I worked as an English language assistant. The school principal would say good morning (in English) every single day when it was way past noon!

Museu Picasso de Barcelona

I will be honest and say this stop is not a must if you find yourself short on time. But for those of you art aficionados, consider stopping by this museum to enjoy the work of (arguably) Spain’s most famous artist. Even for those who aren’t the biggest fan of modern art (like yours truly), it’s fun to view his many different styles and debate works which you like best – or perhaps which works you even consider “art!” Tickets for the main collection plus temporary exhibits are €15 at the door or €14 if purchased online from the official site in advance. ​​

Parc de la Ciutadella

It’s time to finally leave the Gothic Quarter! Head east, towards the Parc de la Ciutadella. In this park, you’ll find some more iconic structures of Barcelona. These include the Arc de Triomf and the Cascada del Parc de la Ciutadella. Entry into the park is free.

Playa de La Barceloneta

And we’ve finally reached the final stop of day one: Playa de La Barceloneta. This is Barcelona’s main beach. I have to say, Barcelona city is not home to the best beaches in Spain. But a stop at La Barceloneta beach is still an absolute must. Even if you don’t care to walk on the sand or swim in the sea, you can walk along the long promenade (perhaps during the sunset, if you time it right!).

Dinner

After this, it’s time to get dinner! Dinner in Spain is quite late compared to many other countries. It typically doesn’t start until 9:00 pm, and even starting at 11:00 pm isn’t considered particularly crazy at all. If you get hungry before then, you can enjoy an aperitivo while you wait by heading to a bar and ordering some drinks with tapas to nibble on.

But, being as Barcelona is a major tourist hub, you will find no shortage of places to eat that open earlier for dinner. So you’ll have a choice! You can do as the locals do, or you can keep to your schedule from back home.

Day Two in Barcelona

Your final day in Barcelona is all about Antoni Gaudí, the famous architect who designed pretty much all the main attractions that probably come to your mind when you think of Barcelona. Like yesterday, today will include quite a bit of walking (a slightly lower amount, though). So put your comfiest walking shoes back on and let’s get back to it.

Basilica de la Sagrada Familia

Practically the emblem of Barcelona (or even Spanish) tourism, this still-under-construction church is the most famous thing to visit in Barcelona. It was designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, and he is buried in the church’s crypt. The Sagrada Familia is definitely his most famous work and an absolute must to visit. It’s well known for wowing even those who are “sick of visiting churches” on their travels. Be sure to purchase tickets that include both the Sagrada Família and Towers! These come with an app audio guide and will set you back €36 per person. Definitely purchase your tickets in advance online from the official site during high season, as certain time slots do sell out.

Parc Güell

Stop number two today is probably the second most famous site in Barcelona. If you’ve ever watched The Cheetah Girls 2, or had anyone on your social media post pictures of studying abroad in Barcelona, this is that mosaic park! It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site and surprise, surprise – was designed by Antoni Gaudí. Strutting like a cheetah in this cartoon-esk place is an absolute can’t-miss thing to do in Barcelona. So purchase your tickets, which are €18, in advance from the official site to ensure you get a time slot that works for your schedule.

Gràcia

After taking in all the fun architecture at Parc Güell, it’s time to head back south, towards Barcelona’s historical center. But on your way back, wander through one of Barcelona’s most beloved neighborhoods – Gràcia. Gràcia is a lot calmer than the most touristy parts of town, but is still very lively, and it even has some less-popular Gaudí works hidden inside it. This area might make a good stop for lunch to refuel before your last two attractions of your time in Barcelona.

Casa Milà

Keep walking south from Gràcia towards the sea until you hit Casa Mila. This is the last private residence designed by Antoni Gaudí. You can enter this UNESCO World Heritage site for €29 if you purchase tickets online from the official site, or for €2 more in person. But if you are short on time, even just admiring it from outside is better than nothing!

Casa Batlló

Your final stop of your two day Barcelona itinerary is located not too far away from Casa Mila. Called Casa Batllo, it is another Antoni Gaudí masterpiece and UNESCO World Heritage site. Like Casa Mila, you can also enter. There are various ticket types that allow you to see more or less of the building. The lowest-level ticket type is usually €29 – €35 if you purchase tickets online from the official site. Again, you can simply admire from outside if you are short on time. The facade actually tells the story of the legend of Sant Jordi, Catalonia’s patron saint.

And that’s all! Wander around central Barcelona at your leisure before heading to dinner, and that wraps up your two days in Barcelona.

What Do You Think of This Barcelona Two Day Itinerary?

It’s pretty jam-packed, but don’t say that I didn’t warn you! Let me know if you have any questions in the comment section below. (Yes, I actually do respond.)

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