With the end of year rush, we wanted to disconnect for a weekend and we went to Spain to visit Barcelona in 2 days . Less than 2 hours flight from Paris, we found the sun, the sea and the tapas! Here is our itinerary and our ideas for visits to see the must-see places in Barcelona in a weekend!
Our Itinerary to visit Barcelona in 2 days
DAY 1
THE RAMBLA
Barely awake and after a good breakfast, we head towards La Rambla. 300 meters from our hotel, this emblematic avenue of Barcelona connects Plaça de Catalunya (to the North) to Port Vell (to the South) over 1.2 km. Largely pedestrianized, the rather touristy place is very lively day and night. We take the time to stroll to discover the Catalan atmosphere!
BOQUERIA MARKET
Going down the Rambla, you reach the famous Sant Josep Market, better known as the Boqueria Market. This market was inaugurated in 1840 in a former convent . This market is definitely worth a visit! The choice of products is impressive: fish, meat, vegetables, fruit, cheese, etc. You can also taste many local specialties, ideal if you’re feeling peckish. It’s a gourmet and very colorful market that we recommend visiting in the morning to avoid the crowds. The market is open every day from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., but be careful, it’s closed on Sundays!
GOTHIC QUARTER
Now head to the Barri Gòtic where the historic heart of Barcelona is located. The only and best advice I can give you is to get lost in its medieval streets. We really loved walking there far from the hustle and bustle of La Rambla.
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DAY 2
PARK GUELL
For this second and last day in Barcelona, we go up a little in the Gràcia district . After walking 18 km the day before, we save ourselves by taking the bus to go to Parc Güell, another work of the Catalan artist Gaudí. This very lush garden of almost 20 hectares located on a hill offers a breathtaking view of all of Barcelona . We find Gaudí’s modernism there with colorful sculptures. It is a very pretty park where it is very pleasant to walk without being exceptional.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION:
- Reservation required (choosing the day and time of the visit) on the official website where you will get the best price.
- Opening hours: open every day from 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. ( 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in winter)
- Standard entry prices: adults €10 , children €7 (ages 7 to 12), free for under-6s
ROVIRA TURTLE
We continue our climb to reach the Rovira hill which is just over 1 km from Parc Güell. It’s quite a climb to reach the Buncker Del Carmel but the 360-degree view quickly makes us forget our efforts! From this viewpoint located at an altitude of 262 meters, we can enjoy the most beautiful panorama of the city. Free access.
BARCELONA
After this sporty climb, we take the bus again to enjoy the beach and the sun. It is mid-December and it almost feels like spring. We go to Barceloneta Beach, the closest to the city center. It can be reached on foot in 15 minutes from the Rambla. We stroll through the alleys of this old fishing district before taking a walk along the beach. You can’t miss the view of the futuristic architecture of the W Hotel in the distance. It is a very nice area where it is good to relax in the sun in one of the many beach bars and restaurants.
CIUTADELLA PARK & EL BORN DISTRICT
Before collecting our luggage from the hotel, we take advantage of the afternoon to stroll in the Parc de la Ciutadella in the heart of Barcelona. This park of about a hundred hectares built for the Universal Exhibition of 1888 is the largest park in Barcelona. With its waterfall, its pond and its many wooded and shaded areas, it is a real haven of peace in the middle of the city. Continuing our stroll, we admire the Arc de Triomf which was the former entrance gate to the park. Admission is free.
Then we finish our discovery of Barcelona with the El Born district where there are many museums (Picasso Museum, Palace of the Catalan Museum, etc.). The prices of visits being particularly high in Barcelona, we had to make choices and in 48 hours it was not possible to do everything.
Where to sleep in Barcelona?
My first question before planning our itinerary was which neighborhood to stay in Barcelona? Since we like to walk and we do most of everything on foot, we needed a central neighborhood. So we chose the Eixample neighborhood where the Sagrada Familia and Casa Batlló are located among others. This neighborhood is rather residential but still very lively and not far from La Rambla and Passeig de Gracia. It is the perfect neighborhood if you are a fan of architecture but also shopping or gastronomy.
So, we booked 2 nights at the Jazz Hotel located in the Eixample district, which is ideal for visiting the city and is therefore close to everything (buses, metros, shops, visits, etc.). Despite the lively area, the hotel was very quiet. The spacious and modern room was spotlessly clean. The breakfast was varied. Its little extra: its rooftop with its swimming pool which offers a superb view especially at sunset!
Where to eat in Barcelona?
We only stayed 2 days there but we absolutely wanted to eat local! Many addresses had been recommended to us but here are the ones that we had time to try and that we appreciated:
1) EIXAMPLE DISTRICT
- La Guapa & La Mala : arriving late in the evening, we had dinner in this tapas bar near our hotel. We loved the atmosphere, the decor, the kindness of the waiters who did everything to find us an available table and the tapas at a very reasonable price.(Address: Comte Urgell 146 Bajos 1, 08011 Barcelona Spain )
- La Flauta : This restaurant is very popular and you have to be patient to taste their excellent tapas. The best advice is to arrive early (around 7pm because the people of Barcelona eat late). The products are fresh, quality and the prices are really not excessive! Their chocolate churros are a real treat(Address: Calle D’aribau, 23, 08011 Barcelona Spain )
- Demasie : This is not a local specialty but their cookies are particularly good!(Address: Carrer de la Diputació, 207, 08011 Barcelona Spain)
- El Nacional : a very famous place in Barcelona, we went there just to discover its decor. This gastronomic complex includes 4 bars and 4 restaurants with different culinary specialties. (Address: Paseo de Gracia 24, bis, 08007 Barcelona Spain )
