4 days in Barcelona gives just enough time to see most of the city’s attractions. On our trip we visited famous landmarks, appreciated architecture, experienced some culture and tasted delicious food.

We visited Barcelona on what my wife described as a ‘mini-moon’. In other words we arrived in the Catalan capital for an extended weekend after our wedding. If you are interested we later had our real honeymoon in Dubrovnik.

Barcelona had long been on a list of places we wanted to visit. We intended to make the most of our four day trip and this itinerary covered everything we wanted to see.

Day 1: Plaça de Catalunya, Las Ramblas, La Boqueria, Plaça Reial, Barri Gòtic and Barcelona Cathedral

Our starting point on our first day was Plaça de Catalunya. This large square is the beating heart of Barcelona and a meeting point for locals and visitors alike.

From the square we strolled over to Las Ramblas. It’s clearly the most famous boulevard in all of Barcelona due to the sheer number of people walking along it. There were plenty of cafes, restaurants and shops vying for business from the crowds.

Halfway along Las Ramblas we came across La Boqueira. This amazing market is a dream for foodies. The stalls had a variety of fare on display which tempted our taste-buds. We just had to sample a few of these delights, obviously with a glass of wine!

Just off Las Ramblas is Plaça Reial which marks the start of Barri Gòtic. This was an excellent spot for us to have a refreshing drink before continuing to explore the city. It’s great for people watching too!

Next up was Barri Gòtic. We loved this neighbourhood of Barcelona, especially the narrow streets and little shops. It was pleasant just wandering around appreciating the architecture and finding other curiosities.

It was then time for our final stop of the day, Barcelona Cathedral. We thought that the beautiful architecture made this rival other fascinating cathedrals we had seen on our travels.

Day 2: Casa Batlló, La Pedrera, Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar, Parc de la Ciutadella and El Raval

We started our second day at Casa Batlló. This remarkable house is an incredible Gaudi experience in Barcelona. As we arrived early in the morning we only queued for about 30 minutes to enter.

The house and architecture were simply stunning and really enhanced by an augmented reality guide. This device really demonstrated what the rooms used to look like and the inspiration for their design.

La Pedrera is another of Guadi’s masterpieces and is located just up the road. The stone facade of this apartment building is captivating and somewhat resembles a quarry.

We then walked to the neighbourhood of La Ribera to see the Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar. This is an imposing cathedral and yet another outstanding example of Gothic architecture in Barcelona.

Parc de la Ciutadella was only a short walk from the church. We thought that this lovely park provided a nice escape from the city. In addition to the Cascada waterfall there are some wonderful things to see. Some of which are a lake, the Catalonia Parliament Building and the Castle of Three Dragons.

As evening arrived we made our way to the interesting neighbourhood of El Raval for a bite to eat. We found a restaurant called Fragua Grill on Rambla del Raval. We finished our day here feasting on a tasty selection of tapas.

Day 3: Sagrada Família, Plaça d’Espanya, Palau Nacional, Barcelona Olympic Stadium, Montjuïc Castle, Port Vell Aerial Tramway and La Barceloneta

The Sagrada Família, Barcelona’s world famous landmark was first on the agenda on our third day. Still under construction this spectacular church showcases another of Antoni Gaudí’s work.

Both the outside and inside of Sagrada Família are breathtaking. We even paid extra to go up the tower to get superb views of Barcelona. The view made the long walk down the spiral staircase worthwhile!

Following a ride on the metro to Espanya we walked under the impressive Venetian Towers. The grand avenue lead us to the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc. However the famous fountain show was not scheduled to take place during our visit.

After a steep ascent up the stairs we arrived at Palau Nacional. This large building is home to the National Art Museum of Catalonia. There are brilliant photo opportunities here, not only of Palau Nacional but also of Barcelona’s skyline.

Adjacent to Palau Nacional is the Barcelona Olympic Stadium. The stadium was originally built in the 1920s and was redeveloped in time for the 1992 Olympic Games. We found that it was free to walk inside to have a quick peek!

We then made the walk uphill to Montjuic Castle. The entry fee was well worth it just for the views. Don’t get me wrong the castle is interesting but the panoramic views of the city are truly astounding.

It was then time to head for lower ground. We made this trip on the Port Vell Aerial Tramway. We had to queue for around 45 minutes but the journey on the cable-car across Port Vell was really enjoyable.

With the day growing old we had a pleasurable walk through La Barceloneta back towards the city centre. That is after a quick rest on the beach.

Day 4: Park Güell, FC Barcelona and Palau de la Música Catalana

Our final day in Barcelona started with a trip to Park Güell. This park is an UNESCO World Heritage Site and another work by Gaudi. Once we had bought our tickets we were treated to whimsical architecture, lush gardens and magnificent city views.

It was then onto the metro towards our next port of call. Being huge football fans our destination was Camp Nou. This iconic stadium hosts F.C. Barcelona, one of the biggest football clubs in the world. We had bought tickets for the stadium tour in advance. Entry gave us access to the museum, changing rooms, media area and presidential box.

We knew the stadium was big after seeing it on TV. But this didn’t prepare us for experiencing it in person, it really is gigantic.

With only a few hours left we had a final walk around Barcelona and found Palau de la Música Catalana. In my opinion this is one of the most underrated buildings in Barcelona. The red brick and mosaics on the exterior are so elegant.

The four days we spent in Barcelona were truly awesome. We took so many happy memories home and we will definitely return to the city one day. Hopefully by sharing the details of our break in Barcelona it will give you some ideas on what you can do there.

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