What to do in Barcelona in 2 days: the complete guide

Some people on limited vacations often wonder What to do in Barcelona in 2 days.

The city is so big and there are so many things to do, it can be hard to choose your priorities.

Today, I'm presenting all the things to do in Barcelona in 2 days.

What to do in Barcelona in 2 days: article summary

What to do in Barcelona in 2 days: visit the Sagrada Familia

Your first stop will be at the incredible cathedral of the Sagrada Familia. In my opinion, this is one of the city's must-see shows. I recommend you come here earlier in the day to avoid the crowds.

The Sagrada Familia is undoubtedly the most famous and impressive structure in the spirit of Gaudi. He was responsible for a large number of works in the city, but the Sagrada Familia is by far the largest and best known.

Visit my complete guide to the Sagrada Familiawhich contains everything you need to know to plan a visit.

Sant Pau modernist district

After the Sagrada Familia, I recommend that you visit a moment in Sant Pau. It's about a 20-minute walk from the first site, so you can get some exercise.

This complex was originally built as a garden city for the sick. It was built between 1905 and 1930 in the Art nouveau and designed by architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner.

Today, the site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to one of Europe's most impressive collections of Art Nouveau buildings.

What to do in Barcelona in 2 days: visit Parc Güell

Parc Güell is another of Gaudi's works in the city. It was designed as a housing estate that would offer residents clean air and beautiful views. The setting is a large park.

However, his vision was never fully realized. Two of the houses were built, although they were not designed by Gaudi. Instead, the architect was responsible for the park's design. He also lived in one of the site's show homes for 20 years, from 1906 to 1926. The house is now open to the public, and you can visit find an article on the subject here.

Spend some time at Camp Nou

Visit Camp Nou has been home to FC Barcelona since 1957. FC Barcelona is one of Europe's best-known and most successful soccer clubs. It is also one of the most supported clubs in the world, with fans from every corner of the globe.

As such, many visitors to Barcelona have an interest in visiting the Camp Nou, to see where their favorite players play. You can of course try to see a match. However, if that's not possible, you can take a behind-the-scenes tour of the stadium.

A visit to the Camp Nou includes a tour of the FC Barcelona museum, as well as sites such as the grandstand, the pitch, the visiting team's dressing room, the tunnel and the press room.

What to do in Barcelona in 2 days: Tibidabo

If you're not so keen on the idea of visiting a soccer stadium, or if you'd simply like to consider another option, I'd suggest moving instead to the Tibidabo.

Tibidabo is a hill to the northwest of the city, offering spectacular views of the surrounding area. The top of the hill is crowned by the impressive Sagrat Cor churchand there's also an amusement park called Tibidabo Amusement Park.

The park offers a small number of rides, including a simulated airplane ride. dating from 1928, and a Ferris wheel.

The easiest way to reach the summit of Tibidabo is to use the the funicular. Access to the funicular is subject to a charge, and tickets are available on site. Le Tibidabo amusement park is also chargeable, giving you access to all the rides.

Enjoy the beauty of Casa Batllo

While the Sagrada Familia is spectacular in both design and scale, it's obviously not a structure designed for living in. So, if you want to get an idea of the kind of house Gaudi built to live in, then you'll have to visit one of the two properties available in Barcelona: the Casa Batllo.

Casa Batlló. It is located in the Eixamplejust a few minutes' walk from the Placa Catalunya.

This house was actually a renovation of an existing house, completed by Gaudi in 1904. It is famous for its balconies that resemble opera masks, its dragon-shaped roof and its unique interior.

Today, the house is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a popular tourist attraction.

What to do in Barcelona in 2 days: Walking tour of the Gothic Quarter

This is the oldest part of Barcelona, founded by the Romans in 15 BC. Visit Gothic district is bordered by the sea to the southeast and the famous rue Las Ramblas to the southwest.

Las Ramblas was originally a stream at the boundary of the Roman wall that surrounded the city. Today, it's a popular place to stroll, have a drink or snack and people-watch. It is also home to La Boqueriaone of the city's best-known public markets.

Montjuïc and the magic fountain

There is a lot to see at the top of the hill of Montjuicfrom Montjuic Castle from the XVIIᵉ century at the Joan Miro Foundation, the open-air museum Poble Espanyol and much more. There are also some excellent panoramic views of the city.

If you want to visit a good museum in Barcelona, I recommend the National Art Museum of Catalonia (Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya). It has a large collection of art and historical objects.

You can walk to the summit, but it's also possible to take the Montjuic funicular, followed by the picturesque Montjuic cable car, which goes to the top of the hill. from the Estaciò funicular on Avenida Miramar to the Montjuic Castle.

The fountain is located beneath the Palau Nacional at the head of the Avinguda Maria Cristina. It's a great way to end a day in Barcelona. If you'd like to find out more about this show, I wrote about it here.

It's not impossible to visit Barcelona in 2 days. However, you'll need to adapt your schedule and concentrate on the most important attractions. That way, you'll get the most out of the city and leave with unique and rich memories.