View over Barcelona from above, with the city stretching down to the sea
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Barcelona in 1 day

  • 1 day
  • 6.9 km on foot
  • 18 stops
  • Audio guide

One day in Barcelona goes further than you'd think if you plan it well. This itinerary packs Gaudí's greatest hits into the morning, the Roman and medieval Gothic Quarter into the afternoon and the old town's legends into the evening. It's an intense day of about 7 km on foot, made for anyone short on time who doesn't want to settle for the postcard.

One day in BarcelonaGaudí, Gothic and mystery

Start early with the route «The best of Barcelona», which runs from La Rambla to the Sagrada Família via La Boqueria, Casa Batlló and La Pedrera. It's the longest one, so take advantage of the morning cool. Have pa amb tomàquet and cured meats for lunch, then ride the metro to Plaça Nova for «From Barcino to the Crown of Aragon»: Roman walls, the Temple of Augustus and Plaça del Rei. As the light fades, let «Hidden Barcelona» lead you across the Pont del Bisbe to the Call and the Carassa. Finish with a bomba for dinner.

  1. Morning

    The best of Barcelona: from La Rambla to the Sagrada Família

    Mixed · 4.2 km · 2 h 30 min

    1. La Rambla and the Miró mosaicAn old stream bed turned into Barcelona's most famous promenade, with a Miró under your feet.
    2. La Boqueria MarketEight centuries of buying and selling beside La Rambla, under an iron roof from 1914.
    3. Plaça de CatalunyaThe hinge between the old city and the Eixample, born on wasteland outside the walls.
    4. Casa BatllóAn ordinary house that Gaudí turned into scales, bones and masks, on the Block of Discord.
    5. La Pedrera (Casa Milà)A house without a single straight line, mockingly nicknamed «the quarry» by the people of Barcelona.
    6. Sagrada FamíliaA church begun in 1882 that Gaudí knew he would never see finished, and today the tallest church in the world.

    Start the audio guide See the route

  2. Lunch

    Try Pa amb tomàquet and cured meats at Mercat de la Boqueria. La Rambla, 91

  3. Afternoon

    From Barcino to the Crown of Aragon

    History · 1.4 km · 1 h 35 min

    1. Plaça Nova and the towers of BarcinoTwo towers that guarded the gate of the Roman town and a frieze drawn by Picasso, face to face.
    2. Barcelona CathedralA Gothic cathedral begun in 1298 that had to wait almost six centuries for its front.
    3. Plaça de Sant JaumeFor centuries, the government of Catalonia and the city council have faced each other across this square.
    4. Temple of AugustusFour nine-metre Roman columns hidden in the courtyard of a medieval building.
    5. Plaça del ReiThe courtyard of the palace from which the counts of Barcelona and kings of Aragon ruled a Mediterranean empire.
    6. Santa Maria del MarThe church built stone by stone by sailors and dock porters, in just 54 years.

    Start the audio guide See the route

  4. Early evening

    Hidden Barcelona: skulls, martyrs and stone faces

    Mysteries & legends · 1.3 km · 1 h 30 min

    1. The Carrer del Bisbe BridgeIt looks medieval, it's less than a hundred years old and, so the story goes, it hides a skull pierced by a dagger.
    2. Plaça de Sant Felip NeriThe quietest square in the quarter still bears the scars of a bomb that killed dozens of children.
    3. Baixada de Santa EulàliaA short slope and a small niche that recall Barcelona's most famous martyrdom.
    4. El Call, Barcelona's Jewish QuarterA stone with Hebrew letters on a corner is almost all that remains in sight of a community wiped out in 1391.
    5. Plaça del ReiOn these steps a peasant tried to kill King Ferdinand, and tradition places Columbus's triumphant return here.
    6. La Carassa of Carrer dels MirallersA stone face with wide-open eyes that, so they say, pointed the way to a brothel.

    Start the audio guide See the route

  5. Dinner

    Try Barceloneta bomba at La Cova Fumada. Carrer del Baluard, 56

The map

Barcelona in 1 day, on the map

Each route’s stops are numbered in order; the stars are the extra sights.

Mixed History Mysteries & legends

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Before you go

Tips for Barcelona in 1 day

  • Do the Gaudí route in the morning and book the Sagrada Família in advance if you want to go inside: it's the one thing that sells out.
  • It's about twenty minutes by metro between the Sagrada Família and the Gothic Quarter. Don't try to walk it; save your legs for the afternoon.
  • The Gothic Quarter is flat but full of cobbles and narrow lanes, so wear comfortable shoes, and watch out for pickpockets on La Rambla.

Questions

Barcelona in 1 day: your questions

Can you see Barcelona in one day?

The essentials, yes: Gaudí, the Roman and medieval old town and an evening walk. It will be a long day without long indoor visits, though. If you want to go inside the Sagrada Família or La Pedrera, pick one and book ahead.

How far do you walk on this itinerary?

The three routes add up to about 6.9 km: 4.2 for the essentials, 1.4 for history and 1.3 for mysteries. Add the metro between areas and meal stops, and plan on 8 to 9 hours out and about.

Which route should I do if I only have a morning?

With just a few hours, do «The best of Barcelona»: it packs La Rambla, La Boqueria and Gaudí's four most famous works into a single walk. With more time, add the Gothic Quarter.

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