7 Hours in Barcelona

How to make the most of very little time in the Catalan capital city. 

When setting off on a whirlwind European adventure, it’s tempting to pack your trip with stops in as many cities as possible. Thanks to popular discount airlines that can get you anywhere on the continent in a span of 1-3 hours, it’s easy to become the globetrotter you’ve always aspired to be. For those who don’t have the money for an extra hotel bill or the extra time to spend the night in another city, a day trip is a great option.

beach, ocean, barcelona, spain

beach, ocean, barcelona, spain

Photo by: Artur Debat/Moment Mobile/Getty Images

Artur Debat/Moment Mobile/Getty Images

So, what do you do when you find yourself in London for two weeks itching to make your wildest Gaudi-inspired dreams come true? Book a day trip to Barcelona, of course. But here’s the catch: with only one flight in and one flight out offered each day, the actual time spent in Barna adds up to a grand total of 7 hours.

Places to See in Barcelona

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Gothic Quarter

Take a stroll through Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter, located in the city’s Ciutat Vella (“Old City”) district. Most of the streets are closed to traffic, allowing tourists to wander from La Rambla to Via Laietana to view the city’s medieval past.

Photo By: Manfred Gottschalk/Lonely Planet Images/Getty

Casa Batlló

You can’t leave Barcelona without admiring the amazing work of Spain’s most famous art nouveau architect, Antoni Gaudi. Casa Batlló, aka the House of Bones, was built in 1877 and later restored by Gaudi.

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Mercat de les Flors Theater

Don’t miss out on stopping by the Mercat de les Flors Theater, located on Montjuic hill in Barcelona. Get a little culture and see one of many dance and musical performances featuring world-renowned international production companies.

Photo By: Enric Archivell, via CC-BY-NC-SA-2.0

Christopher Columbus Monument

This monument is at the site where Christopher Columbus returned to Spain after his first trip to the Americas.

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Margarita Blue

Grab a drink at Margarita Blue, where you can check out live flamenco dancing, indulge in a jazz brunch or simply let the bar's DJs entertain you.

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Frederic Marès Museum

Step inside this medieval complex to see sculptor Frederic Marès’ eclectic collection of knickknacks, including religious art, 19th-century playing cards, toys, apothecary jars, a reconstructed Romanesque doorway with 4 arches, and old cameras. The Frederic Marès Museum is sure to keep your attention focused on its wide array of interesting curios.

Photo By: DEA / C. MAURY, Getty Images

La Boqueria

Dating back as far as 1217, La Boqueria Market is one of Barcelona’s most popular tourist attractions. Dozens of vendors inside this large public market sell a variety of goods, including seafood, poultry, charcuterie, vegetables and fruits.

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La Comercial

Go shopping at La Comercial in Barcelona’s El Born neighborhood. With 6 different boutiques, this shopping mall has a wide selection of international labels, jewelry and fragrances, such as Michael Kors, Fred Perry, Yohji Yamamoto, Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen.

Photo By: La Comercial

Lailo

Attention, shoppers! Make a stop at Lailo in Barcelona’s Ciutat Vella district if you enjoy browsing for vintage clothing.

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Onofre

Grab a glass of wine and enjoy Onofre’s cozy atmosphere. This restaurant’s specialty is pairing menu items — tapas, cheeses, salads and sausages — with your selection of wine.

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Monastery of Pedralbes

Founded by the Queen Elisenda de Montcada, the Monastery of Pedralbes is now a museum that houses religious art and everyday items used in the monastery from the 14th to 20th centuries. Take a relaxing, casual stroll through the gardens and courtyard if you have time.

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Tibidabo Amusement Park

The 100-year-old Tibidabo Amusement Park has 25 rides, plus restaurants and picnic areas for family fun. Make sure to check out the Tibidabo Sky Walk for the best views of Barcelona. 

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Sagrada Familia Basilica

You cannot leave Barcelona without seeing the Basilica de la Sagrada Familia, a magnificent work of art that is still in progress after more than a century. In 1883, Antoni Gaudi was commissioned to complete the project started by Francisco de Paula del Villar. Gaudi finished the chapel of San Jose, the crypt and the Nativity facade, but after his death, different architects continued to work on and add to his original idea.

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Park Güell

Another example of Antoni Gaudi's work, Park Güell, is located on Carmel Hill and was built between 1900 and 1914. It was declared a UNESECO World Heritage Site in 1984.

Photo By: Jean-Pierre Lescourret/Lonely Planet Images/Getty Images

Magic Fountain of Montjuic

Hundreds of people converge on Montjuic hill to watch the amazing light and water show at the Magic Fountain of Montjuic. Classical, modern and movie music was incorporated into the light show in the 1980s. Arrive early to claim the perfect spot, and make sure you wear waterproof gear if you’re standing near the fountain. Check out the website for performance times. 

Photo By: Krysztof Dydynski/Lonely Planet Images/Getty Images

Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya

Located in the Palau Nacional of Montjuic, the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya opened its doors with a large medieval Romanesque collection. Today, visitors can see other art collections, including Gothic art, Renaissance and baroque art, Catalan modernism and photography.

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Barcelona Zoo

The Barcelona Zoo was once home to Snowflake, the only known albino gorilla, who died in 2003. Now, giant anteaters, Bornean orangutans, Iberian wolves, Humboldt penguins, Cuban boas, Komodo dragons and yellow and blue poison dart frogs are a few animals that call this zoo home.

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Aquarium Barcelona

Explore marine life and go scuba diving with sharks in the Oceanarium, which is also home to moray eels and ocean sunfish. Visitors to the Aquarium Barcelona — the largest Mediterranean-themed aquarium in the world — can see more than 3,000 fish and watch zookeepers up-close as they feed sharks, stingrays and penguins.

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Camp Nou

Visit Camp Nou, the stadium where Futbol Club Barcelona (also known as Barca) plays its home soccer games. While you’re there, take a tour of the FCB Museum and step back in time to see the history of Barca unfold via touch-screen TVs, championship trophies and Messi Space, a place dedicated to superstar soccer player Leo Messi.

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How does one manage two international flights, along with the must-see attractions and still leave time for meals? With some very thorough planning, careful time management and a little affinity for living life on the edge, here’s how you can make your seemingly impossible Barcelona-in-a-day dreams come true.

Before you go

Plan, plan, plan! I can’t say this enough. You need to know how you are getting to and from the city and the airport, how to navigate the metro system, times and locations for everything you want to see and make sure all routes— whether via metro or on foot— are mapped out beforehand. The Barcelona metro makes life easy with a free app that works without Wi-Fi, which is a lifesaver when you are wandering around without phone service.

Make an itinerary and stick to it. Keep in mind you may not be able to spend all the time you want to at every place you go. Regardless of the time crunch, you are still spending the day in Spain, so take the time to appreciate everything and soak it in, but keep up the pace.

Experience Barcelona's La Boqueria

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La Boqueria

The Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria, more commonly referred to as La Boqueria, is one of Barcelona’s most popular tourist attractions and one of the city’s largest open-air markets.

Crowded Streets

A flurry of activity takes place inside the market as locals and tourists go from vendor to vendor looking for great food. 

Local Butcher

Customers can get fresh fruits and vegetables and even visit a local butcher.

Cured Meats

This butcher has a wide variety of salted, cured meat ready to sell.

Cold Drinks

Vendors also serve up delicious fruit drinks to help you cool off on a hot Barcelona day. 

Buckets of Options

Whether you want your fruit fresh or dried, you can get it at La Boqueria.

So Fresh and So Clean

Enjoy fresh fish? Well, how about watching it get cleaned right in front of you before taking it home to cook?

So Many Shellfish

If you’re more of a shellfish fan, no worries. There are stands that serve up fresh shrimp, mussels and more.

Belly Up to the Bar

The market is so big that it even has a few places where you can take a break from shopping, grab a cold drink and enjoy the atmosphere.

Laura i Marc Besora

Stop by Laura i Marc Besora to grab all the fruits and vegetables you could ever want.

Herbs and Spices

It wouldn’t be a Spanish market without a ton of fresh herbs and spices available.

Something's Fishy

While one row at Barcelona's La Boqueria may smell of fresh basil, this one clearly smells of fresh fish.

La Boqueria Vendor

At a typical stand at La Boqueria, this vendor offers up a variety of fresh vegetables, dried fruit and colorful spices.

Spicy Garden

Don’t forget the spice! There’s no better way to kick your salad up a notch than chili peppers, which are displayed in bunches hanging from the roof of this stand.

When searching for flights, EasyJet is a great option. Their process is so simple and efficient, and we didn’t have any delays or mishaps along the way. In a situation where you’re pressed for time, a reliable airline is such a godsend.

7:25 a.m. - Departure

The great thing about not staying overnight is that you won’t have any luggage, which is a huge time saver when trudging through airport security. Print your boarding passes before you go, check in online and head straight to the departure gates.

London Gatwick was by far the most quick and efficient airport I've ever come through, so we were sitting at our gate eating a quick Starbucks breakfast within half an hour of arriving. 

10:40 a.m. - Arrive at Barcelona El-Prat

It’s safe to say we were spoiled by the speed and ease of our London airport, because landing at BCN was hectic and disorganized from start to finish. When we finally made it to the international arrivals gate, we were greeted by a giant mob of antsy travelers— no authorities or airport employees in sight.

I’ll give El-Prat the benefit of the doubt and say that maybe they were just having an off day, but fighting through the mob to get to the actual roped off customs line took about 20 minutes of our precious time. In addition to the initial struggle, when we made it into the line there were people jumping in and out, knocking down the barricades and still no security in sight aside from the single man sitting in the booth at the front. That’s right— the single man. It was one against 200. Not a promising start.

Designed by architect Josep Vilaseca, the structure was used as a grand entrance to the Universal Exhibition when Barcelona hosted the event in 1888.

Arc de Triomph in Barcelona

Designed by architect Josep Vilaseca, the structure was used as a grand entrance to the Universal Exhibition when Barcelona hosted the event in 1888.

Photo by: ©iStockphoto.com/querbeet

©iStockphoto.com/querbeet

After we begrudgingly made our way through the rest of security with fresh passport stamps in tow, we were officially off on our Catalan adventure.

11:30 a.m. - Getting to the city center

After following the signs for the metro all the way out of the airport, you’ll come to the ticket area with kiosks lining the walls. To get into the city, you will need to purchase a Billete Aeropuerto for €4.50 which is one-time use only and will cover the cost of that specific journey on the L9 Sud line. For the rest of the day, you can use a standard T10 ticket, which I recommend also buying before you leave the airport.

12:30 p.m. - Sagrada Familia Basilica

Barcelona is famously known for being home to the ageless masterpieces of architectural legend Antoni Gaudi. The Sagrada Familia is perhaps his grandest work of all, so it’s only fitting that this be your first stop of the day. When you get off the metro, follow the signs that say sortida. These will point you to the way out and will be your friend for the remainder of the day.

Park Guell in Barcelona, Spain.

Park Guell in Barcelona, Spain.

Park Guell in Barcelona, Spain.

Photo by: Luciano Mortula, Getty Images

Luciano Mortula, Getty Images

Once you resurface, step back, look up and bask in the glory that is Gaudi. Even though the first brick was laid in 1883, the Sagrada Familia is still only 70 percent finished. The goal is for it to be complete by 2026, but despite the construction, the basilica is still a spectacular sight to behold. Take about 20-30 minutes, soak in the awe-inspiring detail of the ceilings and stained-glass windows, then head to the next stop.

1:15 p.m. - Arc de Triomf

The bunkers at El Carmel were built and used to defend the city from bombings during the Spanish Civil War, and they offer the most spectacular 360-degree view of Barcelona.

Bunker del Carmel

The bunkers at El Carmel were built and used to defend the city from bombings during the Spanish Civil War, and they offer the most spectacular 360-degree view of Barcelona.

Photo by: Andrea Baldo/LightRocket via Getty Images

Andrea Baldo/LightRocket via Getty Images

After popping back on the metro for a quick 12-minute journey, you'll arrive at your next stop of the day: the Arc de Triomf. Designed by architect Josep Vilaseca, the structure was used as a grand entrance to the Universal Exhibition when Barcelona hosted the event in 1888. It’s quite impressive, so be sure to grab a photo or two for your Snapchat story before heading to the next destination.

1:30 p.m. - Lunch on Las Ramblas

Now for the best part of the day— food! As a first timer in Barcelona, I of course had to seek out some tapas and paella. The key to finding the perfect lunch spot is to make sure it’s quick, cheap and easy to find. We sought help from TripAdvisor and picked the number one place on their list: Ultramarinos, conveniently located on the famous Las Ramblas.

10 Gorgeous Boutique Hotels in Barcelona

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Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona

The 98-room Mandarin Oriental, is one of the most luxurious hotels in Barcelona. It has a great location on Passeig de Gracia, and offers high-end amenities one would expect from the reputable hotel chain, including a rooftop dipping pool, a beautiful spa, and numerous restaurants (one has a Michelin star). While the service is excellent, some guests complain about street noise.

Photo By: J2R, Shutterstock.com

Hotel SixtyTwo Barcelona

SixtyTwo Hotel’s rooms are sleek with bright, minimalist furniture and sexy open bathrooms that are large for Barcelona standards. Beyond the inviting design and a free wine tasting for guests every Wednesday, the hotel’s location -- in the upscale Eixample neighborhood, within walking distance of numerous attractions -- is a major draw.

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Hotel Catalonia Catedral

Located near great shopping, dining and many tourist attractions, Hotel Catalonia Catedra sits on a quaint residential street in the Gothic Quarter. The hotel’s decor is similar to many others in the area — minimalist and sleek, with lots of gray and white. Better than most, though, is the rooftop pool, which is large and attractive with nice lounge seating. There’s also a tasty brasserie on-site where guests can grab a bite or enjoy a leisurely meal.

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Ohla Hotel

The stylish and luxurious Ohla Hotel is centrally located in the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona. This boutique option offers 74 modern rooms with high-tech amenities and free Wi-Fi. One stand-out feature here is sexy stall showers that are located right in the middle of the rooms. The hotel has a chic rooftop pool and lounge and Michelin-starred Sauc Restaurant. This is the place for an upscale romantic getaway, and an eco-friendly one at that: Ohla Hotel contains solar panels, LEDs and natural toiletries.

Photo By: Vladimir Sazonov, Shutterstock.com

Hotel Villa Emilia

The Hotel Villa Emilia is a chic boutique option close to the Passeig de Gracia and the metro. Rooms are cozy, clean, inviting, and large. Floor-to-ceiling windows actually open fully, maximizing fresh air in the room. The common areas of the hotel -- such as the tasty Zinc restaurant and the rooftop -- maintain this stylish vibe. With free Wi-Fi and a superb central location, the 53-room Villa Emilia is a solid pick.

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Gran Hotel La Florida

With a fairly removed location in the hills that ring the city, the 70-room Gran Hotel La Florida has a history as a luxurious getaway far from the frenzy of Barcelona’s crowds. Relax in the beautiful indoor/outdoor pool or the tranquil Zen Zone Spa. Contemporary guest rooms have great views of either the city or the Pyrenees Mountains. Apart from an adjacent amusement park, there is not much in the immediate vicinity, so those who seek convenient sightseeing should consider a hotel in the city center.

Photo By: Veniamin Kraskov, Shutterstock.com

Casa Fuster Hotel

The 105-room Casa Fuster Hotel is an upscale historic boutique surrounded by high-end shopping and Modernist architecture. Elegant rooms have pastel-colored walls, oversized headboards, and great amenities. Some even have small in-room saunas, balconies and hydro-massage showers. Quarters can be tight. Nonetheless, the hotel offers great features including a Mediterranean restaurant, a beautiful rooftop deck, and Café Vienes -- a favorite among artists, intellectuals and locals.

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Abac Barcelona

Abac Barcelona is an exclusive, 15-room luxury boutique hotel that embodies contemporary style at its best. Rooms are avant garde, from the clean, white and beige decor, to the modern under-lighting, from the remote-controlled blinds, to the Bang & Olufsen sound system. And the hotel’s amazing spa with Turkish baths shouldn’t be missed, nor should the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant.

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The Mirror Barcelona

The Mirror Barcelona is a boutique hotel with a unique design, white-on-white decor, mirrors galore and a few stylish amenities, including a wonderful restaurant and rooftop pool. This upscale boutique sets the bar for Barcelona chic. Sleek rooms are clean and feature all-white furnishings with a couple of beige accents, huge murals, large flat-screen TVs and comfortable beds.

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Hotel Murmuri

Hotel Murmuri is an elegant boutique that has been completely modernized -- and yet maintains a romantic feel. Rooms are stylishly decorated in creams and browns, and feature full-body mirrors and floor-to-ceiling windows. Stand-out features include the chic Murmuri Restaurant and artsy Marfil Bar. Even though the hotel only has a small rooftop terrace and limited pool and fitness center; guests do have free access to facilities at the nearby Majestic Hotel, a sister property.

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La Rambla is the central boulevard that cuts through the center of the city and is home to many shops, street performances, food and more. It's actually made up of multiple different ramblas, hence the plural, Las Ramblas. Ultramarinos is toward the south end, so getting off the metro at Liceu should put you just one short scenic walk away. The service is wonderful, the tapas are cheap and the atmosphere is unbeatable. It’s a win for everyone.

Also, if you loved the look of the Sagrada Familia, you can find more of Gaudi’s work around the Gothic Quarter. Take a short walk over after lunch and check it out. You won’t be disappointed.

4:30 p.m. - Park Guell

As if you haven’t already gotten enough Gaudi, get ready to fall even more in love. Park Guell was originally the brainchild of entrepreneur Eusebi Guell who asked Gaudi to develop a mountainous estate specifically for well-off families in 1900. Even though it didn’t quite go the way Guell had imagined, the park was still beloved by the public, and eventually the city purchased the site and made it a municipal park in 1926. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984 and remains one of the city’s most famous tourist attractions. The view from the iconic benches at the top is incredible, but it doesn’t come easily.

To get to the park from the metro station, it’s a 15-minute walk up a grueling incline, but luckily they have installed a set of escalators that will carry you most of the way to the top on Baixada de la Gloria. Unfortunately for us, we made the mistake of taking directions from a local and ended up hiking the entire way up the mountain. It’s safe to say none of our feet will ever be the same.

Depending on how long you want to spend at other locations, the time you enter Park Güell is really flexible. We booked our tickets beforehand, so we decided to go with a later time to budget for possible late flights or hang-ups elsewhere earlier on.

5:30 p.m. - Optional venture to Bunkers del Carmel

If you find yourself with extra time, I highly recommend taking a quick bus trip from Park Guell to the Bunkers del Carmel. The bunkers were built and used to defend the city from bombings during the Spanish Civil War, and they offer the most spectacular 360-degree view of Barcelona.

It is quite a physical venture to get to the top, but once you make it you’ll see that it is completely worth the struggle. After you’re finished here, catch the V17 bus back toward the Vallcarca metro station and start the trek back to the airport.

Going to the airport

Our flight was scheduled to depart at 8:30 p.m., so we made it our goal to be at the airport around 7 p.m. From the Vallcarca station, it is about a 45-minute journey back to El-Prat. Once you get there, have your tickets ready and head straight for the departure gates. Luckily BCN was more efficient going out than when we came in, so it only took us about 20 minutes to get in and get through security.

If you need a quick spot for dinner and find yourself in terminal 2 cringing at the overcrowded Burger King, I recommend the Dehesa Santa Maria café. It’s fast, has a variety of choices and isn’t terribly expensive for already overpriced airport food. It has plenty of open seating as well as great grab-and-go options if you are in more of a hurry to catch a flight.  

Once you make it to your gate, it's finally time to sit back, craft a celebratory Instagram post and breathe a huge sigh of relief. Take the time to reflect on the day and all the no-doubt hilarious anecdotes you’ll have to write home about. Despite the stress and the inevitable exhaustion the endeavor will cause, "Remember when we took a 7-hour trip to Spain?" will always be a great conversation starter.

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