Today I’m sharing the perfect 1 day Barcelona itinerary.
This past May, my husband and I took our daughters on a two week trek through Spain and Portugal. We spent 4 days in Mallorca, road-tripped through Southern Spain (Granada, Ronda, and Sevilla), and then flew over to Portugal and spent the rest of that week in Porto and Lisbon. We spent a day in Barcelona before we flew home.
I had visited Barcelona once before over a long weekend during my study abroad semester in Valladolid. I will never forget it. Real Madrid was in town for a football match, and the city was absolutely electric. We watched the game from the bar at our hostel with a huge crowd, and Barcelona won. It was SO FUN.
I was very excited to be in Barcelona again, this time with my husband and daughters (a sliiiightly different vibe of a visit).
I know what you’re thinking: one day in Barcelona couldn’t possibly be enough time. And you’d be right. Ideally, we’d have had a few days to really explore and get a feel for the city.
This 1 day Barcelona itinerary is for those who, like us, are passing through Barcelona and want to see the “greatest hits,” if you will.
The Perfect 1 Day Barcelona Itinerary
Barcelona is the capital city of Spain’s Catalonia region and an essential stop on any Spain itinerary. Between its shocking architecture à la Antoni Gaudí’, world class gastronomy, and bustling Gothic Quarter, Barcelona is breathlessly busy and bursting with life.
In this 1 day Barcelona itinerary, we’ll discover Park Guell, walk the Gothic Quarter and waterfront, and end our day at the magnificent Sagrada Familia.
9:30am: Explore Park Güell
Exploring the iconic Park Güell is a fabulous thing to do in Barcelona, especially if you are visiting with kids. The grounds at Park Güell are full of lush gardens, Modernista architectural marvels, and stunning viewpoints.
If you’ve read my guides before, you know Tyler and I love to get a jump on the day when we are traveling, especially when it involves a tourist attraction. Park Güell tends to get really crowded, especially in the summer months, so I recommend arriving before it opens so you can enjoy the grounds in as much peace as possible.
Park Güell is best enjoyed first thing in the morning, and don’t miss the Gaudi House Museum and the Laundry Room Portico.
Park Güell Tickets
I do recommend booking in advance. You might not have any issue getting in, but it’s always good to be prepared.
11am: Self-guided walking tour of Las Rambla + the Gothic Quarter
Once you’ve finished up at Park Guell, it’s time for a little walking tour.
Make your way to our jumping off point, Casa Batlló, another one of Gaudi’s iconic projects. This apartment building is now a museum and is located just a few blocks away from the start of the walking tour I recommend..
Barcelona self-guided walking tour
If you only have 1 day in Barcelona, I highly recommend following Rick Steves’ Barcelona city walk in the late morning/afternoon. All of his Spain walks are linked here where you can download a PDF of the walk. If you’re up for it, listen to the audio guide as you walk to gain as much context as you can.
The walk begins at Plaça de Catalunya. You’ll head down Las Rambla, Barcelona’s tree-lined pedestrian walkway, past the Gothic Quarter, and through Plaça Nova and the surrounding neighborhood. At the point, you’ll tour the Barcelona Cathedral which is well worth a visit.
The walk wraps up at Plaça del Rei.
3pm: Eat lunch on the waterfront promenade
Enjoy Barcelona’s sparkling waterfront at lunchtime.
It’s hard to picture Barcelona without its iconic city-side beaches, and not many visitors realize that Barcelona’s beaches are entirely manmade. In fact, they did not exist until the city overhauled the waterfront in anticipation of the 1992 Olympics!
No Barcelona itinerary can be complete without a leisurely waterfront lunch. Order some paella, sangria, and enjoy an afternoon of people watching.
6pm: Visit La Sagrada Familia
Widely considered the crown jewel of Barcelona, La Sagrada Familia has been under construction since 1882! It is the largest unfinished Catholic church in Europe and expected to be completed in 2026 (this will be the 100th anniversary of Antoni Gaudí’s death).
While we were planning this trip, I read on a random Reddit thread that the best time of the day to visit La Sagrada Familia is at the end of the day when the setting sun’s light streams through the stained glass. We followed this advice and reserved tickets for the last time slot of the day.
This was SUCH a good decision. The lighting inside the cathedral was other-worldly. Even though it was crowded, most visitors were very quiet and respectful. Emmie slept on me the entire visit (we had been at the Eras tour in Lisbon the night before!). It was a really peaceful, beautiful experience.
Plan to reserve your ticket for La Sagrada Familia well in advance, and I do recommend timing your visit during golden hour like we did. It was SO cool.
10pm: Tapas, of course
Dinner starts late in Spain, so plan accordingly. One of our favorite meals of the entire trip was at Bodega Biarritz 1881.
If you have more time:
If you do have more time to Barcelona (lucky!), be sure to visit Sant Pau and the Picasso Museum.
Ride the cable car to Montjuïc (this view is so cool!) and go Cava tasting (Catalon sparkling wine) at Vila Viniteca. You might consider checking out the rooftop at Casa Milà.
Thanks for checking out my 1 day Barcelona itinerary! Have the best time, and please let me know how your visit goes!
On that note…
Everything I wore in Spain and Portugal
Our 2 Week Spain and Portugal Itinerary
The Perfect 3 Day Lisbon Guide
How to Spend 4 Days in Mallorca
The Perfect 2 Day Sevilla Guide
