How to Spend the Perfect 24 Hours in Barcelona
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Barcelona is one of the most magnificent and beautiful cities in all of Europe. From amazing churros and other local delicacies to exploring Gaudi’s architectural marvels, it’s completely possible to spend just 24 hours in Barcelona to see some of Spain’s highlights.
With the right amount of planning, you can easily see the landmarks that Barcelona is so well known for. Plus, with Barcelona’s great transportation, you’d be surprised at how much you can pack in one day.
Looking to spend longer than 24 hours here? Check out this 5-day Barcelona itinerary or 36-hour Barcelona itinerary!
Below, learn how to spend 24 hours in Barcelona!
How to get to Barcelona
Luckily, there are actually quite a few ways to travel to Barcelona because it’s a bigger city in Spain! I personally got there by train, but I thought I’d go through all the options to help you best out when you’re planning your trip.
The first option is to get to Barcelona by bus. Barcelona’s main bus station is Barcelona Nord, and there are quite a few bus companies that can get you here from surrounding countries. Some of Europe’s more popular bus companies are Flixbus, Eurolines, and Megabus.
I personally have taken Flixbus quite a few times. Depending on where you’re traveling from, you can normally purchase bus tickets fairly cheaply. Bus travel is usually the most budget-friendly option for travel in Europe, but it can be the most time-consuming.
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Where should you travel next?
The next option is to travel by train. I personally traveled to Barcelona from Paris and took the train. It’s a very nice mode of travel because you get to see a lot of the lovely countryside, and if you’re flexible with travel times, you can normally snag a fairly okay price for train travel.
The two more popular stations are Barcelona Sants Station and França Station. I arrived at Barcelona Sants Station, and there were luckily a lot of ways to easily get downtown via the metro or bus from there!
You could also get to Barcelona by plane, probably the most popular option. You’d most likely fly into Barcelona’s El Prat Airport, as this is the closest airport to the city center. Definitely try to fly here if you can, because the next closest airport is 96 km outside of the city center!
Another option is actually by boat! This is definitely more doable if you’re planning on partaking in a cruise, or even a ferry into the Port de Barcelona. Check out their website to see your different options!
Lastly, you could get to Barcelona by car. If you live in Europe, you could drive there, or if you’re a visitor, you could easily rent a car and drive there.
Renting a car allows a lot more freedom as a tourist than any of these other options wouldn’t give. With a car, you could even go on one of these road trips in Spain with your extra time after exploring Barcelona!
How to Get Around With 24 Hours in Barcelona
The most common forms of transportation in Barcelona are the bus and the metro. I rarely used the metro and only used the bus to get to and from my hotel!
The bus will connect you to a lot of the surrounding areas of Barcelona, which is good if you’re staying slightly outside of the city.
The nice thing about the bus is that you can use one single ticket for up to 75 minutes, and can even switch modes of transportation, but make sure that you’re traveling in the same direction.
Taking the metro is also a good option. I only found myself taking the metro once when I was traveling from the train station to the city center since it was so late at night. It’s definitely a quicker mode of transportation than the bus.
You can also walk! I found it super easy to walk everywhere I wanted in Barcelona because the weather was so nice in mid-March when I visited in the spring of 2019. Just make sure you have good walking shoes on!
For more information about transportation, check out this post on how to get around Barcelona.
Where to stay in Barcelona
I’ve shared below just a few options that I found in Barcelona, but if none of these suit your fancy, there are so many more options!
The first option is slightly out of the city: ibis Barcelona Mataró Hotel! This is where I stayed. It is in Mataró, which is just north of Barcelona. I loved staying here because it’s right on the beach and the room was absolutely huge. Plus, there was a restaurant right on-site, and air conditioning!
A coach bus will take you from a nearby bus stop right to downtown Barcelona, which is how I often got to the city center. Remember that this ride takes about an hour, depending on traffic. The view is pretty great the whole time, though!
If you’re looking to save money, you could say at the city’s top-rated hostel: Generator Barcelona. The 7th floor of this hostel offers a great view of the city! It’s also a short 5-minute walk from two metro stations, so you can easily travel around the city from this location.
There are private and dorm options, whatever works best for you! If you want to stay in a hostel, you should also check out this article about the 3 best hostels in Barcelona!
If none of these seem like a good fit for you, here are more options on where to stay in Barcelona!
What to See in Barcelona
With just 24 hours in Barcelona, you have to be picky with what you see. There are, of course, many more great places to see, and the architecture of Barcelona is unlike anywhere else.
If you’re still looking for more things to see, consider checking out this post on the top things to do in Barcelona or this ultimate Spain bucket list! Visiting the Bunkers del Carmel is also a great way to spend the day.
Sagrada Familia
The Sagrada Familia is probably the most well-known sight in all of Barcelona, and for good reason. It’s a Roman Catholic church that has been under construction for over a century now. It’s been designed by Antoni Gaudí, and you’re bound to see many of his magnificent creations throughout the city.
To go inside, tickets start at €18 if you’re a student and go up from there. I personally didn’t pay to go inside since I was there for such a short time, but it was still really gorgeous from the outside. I even saw a couple get engaged right in front of it!
Park Güell
Park Güell is another of the more popular spots in Barcelona and was also created by Gaudí. It’s one of the ca n’t-miss sites with 24 hours in Barcelona.
You may recognize this sight from the Cheetah Girls 2! Just remember that you do have to purchase a ticket to visit the monumental zone, which is the area in the pictures in this post.
Definitely purchase your tickets ahead of time as well. I didn’t and they were sold out the day that I visited! Tickets start at €10.
If you have more flexibility in your schedule, visit this area at night, after the monumental zone closes, or very early in the morning, before the monumental zone opens. Then you can visit the area for free.
Casa Batlló
Casa Batlló is another sight created by Gaudí. Catching my drift yet? This beautiful sight is inspired by sea life underwater.
The outside’s facade is unreal and I’ve heard that the inside is even better. Unfortunately, the site was under construction when I visited. Next time I go to Barcelona, I’m definitely paying to see the inside!
Tickets start at €22 with a student ID and go up from there.
Casa Milà
Casa Milà is yet another sight created by Gaudí. The outside is quite marvelous. You can go to the top for €18.50 with a student ID and prices go up from there. Supposedly it offers one of the best views of Barcelona. I didn’t pay to see the top but quite enjoyed seeing it from the outside!
Cathedral of Barcelona
The Cathedral of Barcelona is a sight that I stumbled upon while walking around the city. The surrounding area is a lot of fun, and there are even a lot of street performers usually!
This church, unlike the Sagrada Familia, is actually finished. There is a small fee to go inside unless it’s during worship hours.
This is one of the underrated places to visit with 24 hours in Barcelona.
Citadel Park
Citadel Park is a whole lot of fun, especially since it’s a free sight! A prison was originally in this spot, though soon it was transformed into a public park for Barcelona, with the help of Gaudí.
He helped to design the waterfall area. I highly suggest bringing a picnic and sitting out here! There’s also usually a whole bunch of cute ducks in the pond. Just be careful because a lot of people will try to sell you stuff in this area, which can be a bit annoying.
La Boqueria
La Boqueria is another free sight on this list. It’s a huge market, and there are so many great foods and drinks to buy! I personally purchased some chocolate-covered strawberries, but I almost had to buy some fresh juice and candy too.
Everything is fairly reasonably priced too! It’s a great stop to grab a quick lunch within 24 hours in Barcelona.
Considering spending more than 24 hours in Barcelona? There are loads of great day trips from Barcelona. You could visit Girona, Montserrat, Perpignan, and more. One of the most notable day trips is to France and Andorra from Barcelona!
What to Eat in Barcelona
Barcelona is filled with so much great food and has a multitude of great restaurants. There are even great vegan and gluten-free restaurants in Barcelona!
Below, find some of the must-try dishes you have to try at least once during your trip.
Churros con Chocolate
This has to be my favorite food that I had in Barcelona. It’s basically just a really thick hot chocolate (almost as thick as pudding!) with churros. Take the churros and dip them right into the chocolate, and you’re in for a treat! They’re so amazing. Plus, this dish is relatively cheap.
There are many great locations across the city that sell this. We tried it at both Xurreria Rosita and Xurreria Sagrada Familia. Both places were delicious!
Paella
Paella is another dish that can’t be missed, and it’s even considered one of the best street foods in Europe! It’s a traditional Spanish dish with rice, veggies, and meat, usually seafood. I’m not a seafood eater myself, so I tried it with chicken.
My friend and I split one dish of it which was a perfect serving for each of us. We ordered ours at Guell Tapas Restaurant and enjoyed it out in their lovely outdoor seating area!
Sangria
Sangria is so incredible, especially in Barcelona. It’s fairly cheap too! I got the huge glass in the above photo with paella for only a few euros. It’s red wine mixed with fruits! There are many places across the city that sell this. I had my sangria at Guell Tapas Restaurant, and I recommend it!
Smoothie Bowls
Though probably not seen as a traditional Spanish dish, I can’t recommend enough that you try a smoothie bowl while in Barcelona. It is so refreshing and delicious, plus it’s so much cheaper than any smoothie bowl I’ve ever had in the United States!
I tried mine at FitBar, and it was so good. It’s said to be one of the best restaurants in Barcelona! The best smoothie bowl I’ve ever had!
Not a fan of reading? Check out my vlog from Barcelona!
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Spain Travel
There are so many great things to do in Spain! Check out more of our Spain posts below.
I love Barcelona! I spent three months there last year with my husband and had a blast, can’t wait to return and eat some more churros con chocolate. Yum!
That sounds so awesome! I’d love to stay there for 3 months. I was only there for a weekend. The churros con chocolate are amazing!
Great photos, videos and the whole article! Keep it up!
I’ve heard you hate red wine? I’m the opposite! I so love red wine. Hehe
Thank you! Yeah, for some reason I’m not much of a wine drinker. Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
This is such a great guide! I would LOVE to visit Barcelona someday! Your pictures are beautiful. Thanks for the tips about transportation and buying a ticket for Park Güell. Will save this for a future itinerary 🙂
Thanks so much! Barcelona is such a beautiful city. 🙂
Wow! Spain is really a wonderful place to visit. Great guide you have here <3
Thank you! I loved Barcelona. 🙂
This is a list and a half. I feel like I didn’t do all of this in 4 days there, now I need to go back. Such a great city. I was there in February so it wasn’t nearly as warm and beautiful as if I’d gone in the summer but a fun city nonetheless.
I know! When I visited Barcelona, I was on a mission since I knew that I had such a short amount of time there. A lot of these sights I ended up just seeing from the outside. 🙂 I visited in March and it was so hot! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Great post! Barcelona is one of those places I want to get to one day – your photos are amazing! I love how cheap public transit is too – but I love to walk everywhere and take in the sites. Can’t wait to go one day!
I hope you make it to Barcelona one day! I loved it there. I mostly walked everywhere too. 🙂
Soo incredible I can’t wait to travel to Spain! Thanks for sharing this post!
Of course! Thanks so much for stopping by!
I love the ariel shot of Barcelona! It’s so cool to see how it’s all in little squares. Clearly planned this way hundreds of years ago but still very cool! =)
Yeah it’s so crazy! I loved Barcelona. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Barcelona is on my bucket list for sure. I’d love to visit La Boqueria and to try the real paella, and churros con chocolate! Great idea to travel by train.
I hope you get there one day! The food is absolutely exquisite. 🙂
This is beautiful! I have always wanted to go to Barcelona! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you! I hope you get to Barcelona one day. 🙂
I only spent a couple of days in Barcelona so I desperately want to go back and stay longer. I want to go inside La Sagrada Familia next time. Citadel Park look lovely too.
I also only spent a few days there, but it’s definitely a place that could take months to fully explore! I didn’t get to go inside La Sagrada Familia either, but the inside looks beautiful from what I’ve heard.
Barcelona has been on my list. I was supposed to go with my husband this summer. He has been and cannot stop talking about it. Well, as of now we don’t know if we will make it. But that paella and sangria had my mouth drooling. Great pics and post. Will pin so I have this guide when we get to go. Thanks girl!
I hope you get there sometime! It really is such an amazing city, and the food is AMAZING. 🙂
This is an amazing guide! Barcelona looks so beautiful and I can’t wait to get there one day! Thank you so much for including ticket prices for all of the sights!
Of course, thanks so much for stopping by! 🙂
This post is giving me travel fever so bad!! I love Spain, and this is such a wonderful post for Barcelona! I will definitely go back to it when I visit!
I got travel fever myself by writing it! I hope you get to Barcelona sometime. 🙂
What a great guide! 🙂 I’ve only ever been to Barcelona once but I really want to go back and drink some more Sangria. Cheers!
Thank you! I’d love to go back to Barcelona too since I only spent a weekend there. 🙂
Love Barcelona, and this is a really good 24h guide!
Thank you so much! 🙂
Wow! Great post! I love Barcelona, and I can’t wait to visit it again! Your pictures make me dream about it :):)
I love Barcelona too! Thanks so much for stopping by. 🙂
I loooove Barcelona so much! It’s so beautiful there. It amazes me that the Sagrada Familia isn’t even finished yet!
I know. I can’t wait to see what it looks like when it is finished! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Barcelona seems like such an amazing city. I would love to visit one day! Loved your vlog too
It really is so amazing! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
This is such an amazing guide to Barcelona! I still need to get there, so I’m definitely keeping this handy. Your photos are beautiful! 🙂
Thank you so much, I really appreciate it! 🙂
I was supposed to go to Barcelona next week ?
I will keep this post for my future travels
I hope you get there sometime! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Barcelona looks so amazing. I would love to see the inside of the Cathedral in person. I bet it is incredible. I would also love to do a tapas tour!
It really is, I hope you get there one day! The food is amazing. Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
The chocolate churros sound amazing! Makes me want to go
They’re so good! I’d go back just for the food alone!
Love Barcelona! You’ve captured this city beautifully <3
I love it too! Thank you for your kind words. 🙂
Wow girl your photos are stunning! I went to Barcelona once at the beginning of my very first solo backpacking trip and was TOTALLY LOST. I think I even just spent most of the time in the hostel because I just felt too overwhelmed by the city. I would love to go back and give it another try. I will definitely do more research and save this post for when I return!
Thank you! That’s so awesome that you went solo backpacking. Definitely go back to Barcelona if you can! I loved it. 🙂
Can’t wait to visit Barcelona one day! I have never been to Spain and it looks so beautiful 🙂 Thanks for the guide!
Spain really is beautiful! I’d love to explore more of the country one day. 🙂
This is a great guide! My husband and I visited in 2016 and loved it! We had a great experience, especially at the La Boqueria. 🙂
That’s awesome! I loved La Boqueria too. 🙂
Barcelona is one of my absolute favorite cities! I live in Spain about 3-4 hours from Barcelona. I love all of your recommendations! I will have to recreate some of your photos 🙂
Yay, I’m glad you love it so much! I’d love to go and explore more of Spain one day. That’s so awesome that you live there.
Barcelona is my one of my favorite city to visit! I went here last year for 3 days and absolutely had a blast. There’s so much to see and this list is sooo compete, perfect to have with you on a city trip to Barcelona 🙂
I was only there for 3 days too and I absolutely fell in love with it! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
I love Barcelona and was impressed by all of Gaudi’s work. The inside of the Sagrada Familia is incredible and probably even more impressive now (It’s been 8 years since I’ve been there.)
Wow, I really wish I had gone inside Sagrada Familia! Since I was there for such a short time, I didn’t end up going inside. :/ Definitely next time!
Oh Barcelona is one of my most favourite cities in the world. Ive been twice but I’d keep going back again ans again if I could! Especially as I havent done everything!
I loved it too! I’d love to go back and maybe explore more of Spain. 🙂
The last time I visited Spain was when I was 14 with my school. I am 42yo now. I have been waiting to go back for so long!!! Thanks for a great post. Stunning photos! Barcelona was my favorite city to visit.
I hope you get back one day! It is such an awesome city. That’s cool that you got to visit with your school! 🙂
I love Barcelona! It is such a pretty city. I want to go back to visit Parque Guell and see the progress on the Sagrada Familia.
I’ve only been to Barcelona for one night, during a business trip. Unfortunately didn’t get to see much (like viewing Sagrada Familia in the pitch black at midnight), so would love to come back and explore the city properly.
Such a beautiful city, I only had a few days there but I missed lots of what’s on this list! Which means I have a great reason to go back!
I’d really love to go back too. Thanks for stopping by!
Wow! In March I’ve been the second time there, and I just love Barcelona so much!
I’m about to publish today my 3 day Barcelona itinerary and checking your 24-hour travel guide I need to say I really liked it! Covering everything, great post! xx
Thanks so much! I love Barcelona. I’ll have to check out your post!
Thanks for all the tips! I hope I can visit next year, so I’m already drooling over all the treats!
Of course, thanks so much for stopping by! 🙂
Girl, this post is sooooo incredibly detailed! Especially for it just being a 24 hour itinerary! So impressed. The photos are amazing, too! I can’t wait to visit Barcelona again and check out all the amazing architecture and eat a bunch of tapas 🙂
Thank you so much! I’d love to go back to Barcelona one day. It is such an awesome city!