2 Day Barcelona Itinerary: Gaudí’s Masterpieces, Gothic Charm, and Montjuïc’s Grandeur (Written By Margaret Liu)
Barcelona is a city where visionary architecture, medieval streets, and sweeping Mediterranean vistas converge into an unforgettable cultural journey. Though we recommend staying at least three days, two days is enough to immerses you in Gaudí’s timeless masterpieces like La Sagrada Família and Park Güell, the atmospheric Gothic Quarter, world-class museums, and the historic Montjuïc hill with its gardens and fortress. You’ll travel smoothly between locations using metro, walking, and taxis, balancing rich history with local flavors in quick but authentic eateries to maximize your experience.
This guide has been written based on my recent 2025 trip to Barcelona. My experience may differ as I went between late June and early July. Many attractions are seasonal, so be careful to see the details beneath each location!
Day 1: Gaudí’s Masterpieces and the Gothic Quarter
8:00 AM – Breakfast at Granja Viader
Start your day at this historic café dating back to 1870, famous for inventing
“Cacaolat” and serving thick hot chocolate and freshly baked pastries. This
charming venue is a local institution, evoking old Barcelona’s culinary
traditions in the heart of El Raval.
Location: Carrer d'en Xuclà, 4-6, El Raval
Getting there: Taxi or walk from your hotel (~5-10 mins, €5 taxi)
Time: 45 mins
8:45 AM – La Sagrada Família
This iconic basilica is Gaudí’s unfinished masterpiece and one of the most
visited landmarks in Europe. Construction began in 1882 and continues today,
funded entirely by donations. Gaudí’s design is rich with symbolism: its
soaring spires represent apostles, evangelists, the Virgin Mary, and Jesus
Christ. The Nativity façade celebrates life with intricate biblical scenes,
while the Passion façade depicts Christ’s suffering in stark angular forms.
Inside, columns mimic trees branching upward, and vibrant stained glass floods
the space with colored light. It’s a breathtaking fusion of Gothic and Art
Nouveau styles.
Location: Carrer de Mallorca, 401, Eixample
Getting there: Metro L2 (Purple Line) to Sagrada Família station (10
mins, €2.55)
Admission: €26–€33 (advance booking recommended)
Opening hours: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM (seasonal variation)
Time needed: 90 mins
10:30 AM – Park Güell
Originally conceived as a housing development, Park Güell showcases Gaudí’s
whimsical vision for integrating architecture with nature. The mosaic dragon
(“el drac”), serpentine benches, and colonnaded pathways evoke Catalonia’s
cultural heritage and natural beauty. The park’s terraces provide sweeping
views over Barcelona and the Mediterranean. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage
Site in 1984, Park Güell was built between 1900 and 1914 and is a highlight of
Modernisme architecture.
Location: Carrer d'Olot, Gràcia
Getting there: Taxi (~15 mins, €12) or metro L5 to Diagonal + metro L3
to Lesseps + 15-minute uphill walk
Admission: €10 (monumental zone)
Opening hours: 9:30 AM – 7:30 PM (Apr–Oct), 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM (Nov–Mar)
Time needed: 90 mins
12:30 PM – Lunch at El Nacional
A gastronomic food hall on Passeig de Gràcia offering multiple counters with
tapas, seafood, and grilled meats. El Nacional combines quick service with
quality, perfect to fuel your afternoon of sightseeing.
Location: Passeig de Gràcia, 24
Getting there: Taxi or metro back (~15 mins, €8 taxi)
Time: 1 hour
1:45 PM – Casa Batlló and Casa Milà (La
Pedrera)
On the elegant Passeig de Gràcia boulevard, admire two Gaudí masterpieces. Casa
Batlló, redesigned in 1904, resembles a living creature with bone-like
balconies and a mosaic roof inspired by a dragon’s scales. Casa Milà, completed
in 1912, features a flowing stone façade and whimsical chimneys resembling
medieval knights. Both embody the peak of Catalan Modernisme, blending natural
motifs with structural innovation.
Location: Passeig de Gràcia, Eixample
Admission: Casa Batlló €29–€35, Casa Milà €25–€35
Opening hours: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM (last admission 7:00 PM)
Time needed: 90 mins
3:30 PM – Gothic Quarter & Barcelona
Cathedral
The city’s medieval heart sits atop Roman foundations and features labyrinthine
alleys, ancient churches, and hidden plazas. The Cathedral of Barcelona,
dedicated to Saint Eulalia, dates from the 13th to 15th centuries and boasts a
stunning Gothic façade and cloister where 13 geese symbolize the saint’s
purity. The Quarter also reveals traces of Roman walls and bustling artisan
shops.
Location: Barri Gòtic
Getting there: 15-minute walk or 5-minute taxi (€6) from Passeig de
Gràcia
Admission: Cathedral €9 (free mornings)
Opening hours: Cathedral 8:30 AM – 7:30 PM
Time needed: 60 mins
4:45 PM – Picasso Museum
Housed in five adjoining medieval palaces in El Born, the museum features
Picasso’s early works including his Blue Period and studies of Velázquez. The
collection highlights Barcelona’s formative role in the artist’s development
and the city’s artistic ferment in the early 20th century.
Location: Carrer de Montcada, 15-23
Getting there: 10-minute walk from Gothic Quarter
Admission: €12
Opening hours: Tue–Sun 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM, closed Monday
Time needed: 60 mins
6:15 PM – Parc de la Ciutadella
A 19th-century park with gardens, a lake, the city zoo, and the Cascada
fountain, an early Gaudí collaboration. It offers a tranquil space to unwind
before dinner.
Location: Passeig de Picasso
Getting there: 5-minute walk from Picasso Museum
Admission: Free
Opening hours: Until sunset (approx 9:00 PM summer, earlier winter)
Time needed: 30–45 mins
7:15 PM – Dinner at La Paradeta
A casual seafood eatery near Arc de Triomf where you pick your fresh catch and
they cook it on the spot. Popular with locals for authentic flavor and good
value.
Location: Carrer Comercial, 7
Getting there: 10-minute walk from Parc de la Ciutadella
Time: 1 hour
Unfortunately, I did not have enough time to dine at this fantastic restaurant this time, so I do not have a good photo. However I can assure you that their prawn's are one of the best in Barcelona!
Day 2: Montjuïc Hill, Museums, and Modernist Treasures
8:30 AM – Breakfast at Federal Café
Enjoy modern breakfast fare with a bright atmosphere in Sant Antoni, perfect to
start a new day.
Location: Carrer del Parlament, 39
Getting there: Taxi (~10 mins, €8)
Opening hours: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Time: 45 mins
9:30 AM – Montjuïc Park and Castle
Take metro L3 to Paral·lel then funicular (€4.60 combined ticket) up Montjuïc
hill. The 17th-century fortress overlooks Barcelona’s harbor and was
historically a military bastion and prison. The surrounding gardens, including
the Jardins de Laribal and Olympic Ring, highlight 20th-century urban renewal
tied to the 1992 Olympics.
Admission: Castle €5
Opening hours: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (last entry 5:30 PM)
Time needed: 2 hours
12:00 PM – Museu Nacional d’Art de
Catalunya (MNAC)
Located in the grand Palau Nacional from the 1929 International Exhibition,
MNAC’s collection spans Romanesque murals, Gothic altarpieces, Renaissance and
Baroque paintings, and Modernisme art. The rooftop terrace offers sweeping city
views.
Admission: €12
Opening hours: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Time needed: 2 hours
Getting there: 10-minute walk from Montjuïc Castle
2:15 PM – Lunch at Casa Ramos
Savour traditional Catalan dishes in a beautifully preserved Modernist building
near Plaça de Lesseps.
Getting there: Taxi (~15 mins, €12)
Opening hours: 1:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Time: 1 hour
3:30 PM – Casa Vicens
Gaudí’s first major architectural work (1883–1888), blending Moorish,
neoclassical, and oriental influences with ceramic tiles and vibrant colors.
Recently opened to the public, it reveals his early stylistic explorations.
Admission: €16
Opening hours: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Getting there: Taxi (~10 mins, €8)
Time: 1 hour
4:45 PM – Passeig de Gràcia and Café
Break
Return to this luxury boulevard for shopping and a late afternoon coffee at
Café de la Pedrera, inside Casa Milà.
Time: 1 hour
A modernist tapas restaurant by Albert Adrià with innovative dishes. Reservation essential.
Getting there: 10-min walk or taxi (€6)
Time: 1.5 hours
9:00 PM – Magic Fountain of Montjuïc
Seasonal light, water, and music show near Plaça d’Espanya, usually starting at
9:00 or 9:30 PM. Free and spectacular.
Getting there: 10-min walk or taxi (€6)
Time: 1 hour
Author: Margaret Liu (72)
About me - I am a retired marine biologist, I first fell in love with travel during a university trip to Papua New Guinea. That expedition ignited my lifelong passion for exploring ecosystems across the globe. I've dived with hammerheads in the Galápagos, tracked polar bears in Svalbard, and once joined an Antarctic research crew as a guest scientist. My favourite memory? Swimming beneath Antarctic sea ice beside a curious Weddell seal.
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