Barcelona is a city that wears its history and creativity on its sleeve. Roman walls frame medieval lanes; Modernisme flowers into fantastical curves; the Mediterranean keeps everything bright, salty, and alive. From the soaring spires of Sagrada Família to the seaside bustle of Barceloneta, the Catalan capital rewards slow wandering and well-timed reservations.

Founded as a Roman colony, Barcelona rose to maritime power in the Middle Ages and reinvented itself for the 1888 and 1929 Expos and the 1992 Olympics. Today, it’s equal parts open-air museum and neighborhood city: artisan vermouth bars, design-forward boutiques, and food markets where breakfast can be grilled mushrooms and a glass of cava. Catalan and Spanish are widely spoken; English is common in tourism zones.

Practical notes: Book Sagrada Família, Park Güell, the Picasso Museum, and Palau de la Música tours in advance (timed entries sell out). Pickpocketing can occur in crowded areas (Las Ramblas, metro)—zip bags and keep phones secure. Lunch often runs 1–3 pm, dinner from 8:30 pm onward. Most shops close Sunday. Public transport is excellent; a 10-trip T‑Casual pass runs about €12–13 for Zone 1, and airport links cost ~€5–7.

Barcelona

Barcelona mixes Gothic drama with Gaudí’s color and whimsy. The musts: Sagrada Família, Park Güell, Casa Batlló, and La Pedrera; the Cathedral and Santa Maria del Mar; Montjuïc’s castle and Olympic sites; city beaches; and food pilgrimages to La Boqueria and El Born. Don’t skip neighborhood life—Gràcia’s plazas, Eixample’s grand avenues, and Poble Sec’s tapas strips.

• Top sights: Sagrada Família, Park Güell, Casa Batlló, Casa Milà (La Pedrera), Hospital de Sant Pau, Gothic Quarter, Picasso Museum, Montjuïc, Ciutadella Park, Barceloneta Beach.
• Food highlights: Tapas and pintxos in El Born and Poble Sec; seafood paella in Barceloneta; vermouth hour on weekends; modern tasting menus (try Disfrutar) if you’re splurging.
• Coffee & sweets: Nomad Coffee Lab, Onna Coffee (Gràcia), El Magnífico (Born), Granja Viader for thick hot chocolate and melindros.

Where to stay (handpicked):

• Hotel Arts Barcelona – Iconic seafront skyscraper with resort-style pool decks; best for beach lovers and views.
• Novotel Barcelona City – Modern comfort near Torre Glòries; great transport and rooftops.
• Hilton Diagonal Mar Barcelona – Family-friendly, near beaches and Diagonal Mar shopping; large pool.
• H10 Marina Barcelona – Eixample-by-the-sea convenience, spa, and easy walk to Barceloneta.
• Generator Barcelona – Stylish budget base between Gràcia and Eixample, social vibe.
• Hostal Grau Barcelona or Hostal Grau – Eco-chic boutique steps from La Rambla but on a calmer street.

Browse more stays: VRBO Barcelona | Hotels.com Barcelona

Getting to Barcelona: Fly into BCN-El Prat. From Europe, compare flights on Omio; from outside Europe, check Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Trains in Europe are easy via Omio Trains (Madrid–Barcelona ~2.5–3 hrs; Valencia–Barcelona ~3–3.5 hrs). Budget buses also run—compare on Omio Buses. From BCN airport, the Aerobús (~35 min, ~€6–7) or Metro L9 Sud (~50–60 min, ~€5–6) get you into town; taxis run ~€30–40 to central districts.

Day 1: Arrival, Gothic Quarter First Bites, and a Twilight Stroll

Morning: Travel day. If you arrive early, drop bags and stretch your legs with a coffee at El Magnífico (El Born)—they roast stellar single-origin espresso—and a warm ensaïmada or croissant.

Afternoon: Settle in and take an easy orientation walk: Plaça Reial’s palms, the Roman temple columns on Carrer del Paradís, and the Barcelona Cathedral cloister with its resident geese. Duck into La Boqueria market for a late snack—El Quim de la Boqueria does a famous fried egg with baby squid; Kiosko Universal grills razor clams and mushrooms.

Evening: Tapas in El Born: try Bar del Pla (anchovies, beef carpaccio, daily specials) or Tapeo (oxtail cannelloni, crispy artichokes). Nightcap options: Paradiso (speakeasy-style, theatrical cocktails) or the historic Boadas Cocktails near La Rambla. Stroll Port Vell’s boardwalk under the palms before turning in.

Day 2: Gaudí’s Masterpiece and Passeig de Gràcia Icons

Morning: Start with Sagrada Família on a timed, guided visit so you don’t miss the symbolism and details.

Barcelona: Sagrada Familia Skip-the-Line Guided Tour and Tickets

Afterward, walk 15 minutes to the UNESCO-listed Hospital de Sant Pau, a jewel of Catalan Modernisme with tiled pavilions and peaceful gardens. Coffee break at nearby La Pausa or loop back toward Eixample.

Afternoon: Do a Gaudí double on Passeig de Gràcia: Casa Batlló’s dragon-backed roof and La Pedrera’s warrior chimneys (book interior visits in advance if you want the full effect). Lunch nearby at Cerveseria Catalana (classic tortilla, bombas, seafood) or La Paradeta Sagrada Família (market-style choose-your-seafood counter).

Evening: Dinner on elegant Carrer Enric Granados—La Balmesina for excellent thin-crust pizza or Paco Meralgo for refined tapas. Sip creative cocktails at Sips (consistent world’s-best-bar contender) or the timeless Dry Martini. Reserve if possible.

Day 3: Park Güell, Bunkers Views, and Flamenco Night

Morning: Head up for a guided, skip-the-line visit to Park Güell. The mosaic benches and salamander are even better with context—and the hilltop views are classic Barcelona.

Park Guell Guided Tour with Skip the Line Ticket

Afternoon: Walk or taxi to the Carmel Bunkers (MUHBA Turó de la Rovira) for 360° city views where locals picnic at sunset. Lunch in Gràcia: La Pubilla (Catalan daily menus), La Pepita (inventive sandwiches and tapas), or Pastisseria Principe for sweet things. Wander Gràcia’s plazas—Plaça del Sol, Plaça de la Vila—lined with cafés and vermuterias.

Evening: See a flamenco show at Tablao Flamenco Cordobes on La Rambla (intimate stage, top-tier performers), then snack your way through Poble Sec. Hit Quimet & Quimet (standing-only montaditos and tins with pairings) early, then amble along Carrer de Blai for pintxos at La Tasqueta de Blai or Blai 9. Finish at La Confiteria, a gorgeous, century-old cocktail spot.

Day 4: Gothic and El Born—Art, Stones, and Vermouth

Morning: Tour the Barcelona Cathedral interior and rooftop, then continue to Santa Maria del Mar, the “Cathedral of the Sea,” a perfect example of Catalan Gothic austerity. Coffee at Cafés El Magnífico and a spin through artisan shops on Carrer de l’Argenteria.

Afternoon: Picasso Museum (book ahead; the early periods and Blue Period are illuminating). Nearby, El Born Centre de Cultura i Memòria reveals archaeological layers of the old city. Lunch at El Xampanyet (sardines, tortilla, bubbly house cava) or Tapeo if you prefer seated service. Walk off lunch in Ciutadella Park and under the Arc de Triomf.

Evening: Seafood dinner in Barceloneta: Can Solé (traditional rice and suquet de peix) or La Mar Salada (modern, seasonal). Watch the harbor lights from the promenade; for gelato, try Gocce di Latte in El Born on your stroll back.

Day 5: Montserrat Monastery, Cogwheel Train, and Wine Country (Day Tour)

Trade the city for saw-toothed mountains and vineyards on a full-day small-group tour: monastery, Black Madonna legend, boys’ choir (on select days), and a winery lunch with pairings. The cogwheel ascent adds drama and views.

Montserrat & Cogwheel Train, Gourmet Wine Tasting & Tapas/Lunch

After you return to Barcelona, keep dinner light—try Sant Antoni’s Bar Ramon (griddled prawns, mushrooms, great soundtrack) or a simple salad and croqueta stop at Bar Calders with a vermouth on its terrace.

Day 6: Sea Morning, Montjuïc Afternoon, Poble Sec Night

Morning: Grab pastries from Baluard (legendary bakery) and a flat white at Three Marks Coffee (Marina or Poblenou). Beach time at Barceloneta or, for a calmer vibe, Nova Icària. If you prefer wheels, rent a bike and ride the seafront path toward Poblenou’s murals.

Afternoon: Ride the cable car up to Montjuïc Castle for harbor panoramas. Stroll past the Olympic Stadium and Cauldron site; pop into the Joan Miró Foundation if you’re a modern art fan. The MNAC terraces offer grand city views even if you skip the galleries.

Evening: Tapas crawl in Poble Sec: start early at Quimet & Quimet (canned seafood artistry), then wander to La Tasqueta de Blai for easygoing pintxos. For dessert, head to DelaCrem on Enric Granados for one of the city’s best gelatos.

Day 7: Coastal Getaway to Sitges

Morning: Take the R2 Sud train toward Sitges (about 40 minutes; €5–8). Compare schedules and tickets on Omio Trains. Walk the whitewashed old town, the seafront church of Sant Bartomeu i Santa Tecla, and sandy Sant Sebastià Beach.

Afternoon: Visit Cau Ferrat (artist Santiago Rusiñol’s home-museum) and Museu Maricel if you love art and coastal mansions. Lunch options: El Cable (lively pintxos), La Nansa (traditional seafood), or La Zorra (excellent rice dishes) before a final swim.

Evening: Return to Barcelona. Dinner in Poblenou at El 58 (creative tapas) or seaside at Can Fisher (rice and grilled fish with sunset views along Bogatell). Nightcap at Dr. Stravinsky in El Born, known for house-made infusions.

Day 8: Market Morning and Paella Cooking Class

Morning: Breakfast at La Boqueria: fruit juices, ibérico cones, or a stool at El Quim for a tapas-style start. Browse spices and saffron—you’ll use them later.

Barcelona Paella Cooking Class with La Boqueria Market Visit

Afternoon: Your class covers market shopping, tapas nibbles, sangria basics, and the art of socarrat (that prized crispy rice). It’s hands-on and convivial—come hungry.

Evening: Rooftop sunset: Terraza 360º at Barceló Raval or the Skybar above Via Laietana (seasonal access; check hours). For dinner, book Sartoria Panatieri (award-winning wood-fired pizzas showcasing local produce) or Can Culleretes (since 1786, hearty Catalan classics) if you want old-school atmosphere.

Day 9: Palau de la Música, Last Bites, and Departure

Morning: Guided tour of Palau de la Música Catalana—stained glass, floral mosaics, and an exuberant skylight make it one of the world’s loveliest concert halls. Coffee at Satan’s Coffee Corner or Nomad in the Old City.

Afternoon: Last-minute shopping: Passeig de Gràcia for design houses, El Born for independent makers (leather, ceramics, jewelry). Casual lunch at Bo de B (giant grilled meat or veggie sandwiches) or Casa Lolea (vermut, light tapas, and house-made sangria).

Evening: Departure day—factor airport transit (Aerobús or taxi). If time allows, a final seaside walk seals the memory: palm silhouettes, gulls, and the taste of salt on the breeze.

Local transport tips: Metro and buses cover nearly everywhere; Google “TMB” maps offline and aim for a T‑Casual (10 trips) or a Hola Barcelona unlimited card (48–120 hours; roughly €20–45 depending on duration). Taxis and rideshares are plentiful; biking is flat and fun along the coast. Always book major sites and top restaurants several days in advance in high season.

Handy booking links: Flights in Europe via Omio; long-haul flights via Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Trains and buses in Europe on Omio Trains and Omio Buses. Stays on VRBO or Hotels.com.

Optional swap-ins if interests change: Contemporary art at MACBA, beach day in Ocata (quiet, golden sand), paddleboarding at sunrise, or a food crawl in Sant Antoni’s market district.

Included Viator activities in this itinerary:

• Sagrada Família Skip-the-Line Guided Tour
• Park Güell Guided Tour with Skip-the-Line Ticket
• Montserrat & Cogwheel Train, Gourmet Wine Tasting & Tapas/Lunch
• Barcelona Paella Cooking Class with La Boqueria Market Visit

Summary: Nine days in Barcelona lets you savor Gaudí’s wonders, linger in Gothic lanes, taste your way through tapas bars, and slip away to mountains and coast. With timed entries and a few stellar food reservations, you’ll experience the city at its most delicious and photogenic.