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With the increasing availability of cheap airfare, city breaks are becoming more and more popular throughout Europe. Tourists flock to cities around the continent for the weekend on a regular basis. An increasing amount of people are learning the wonderful truth that travel is not as expensive as once thought. A city that is right up there in people’s minds as a perfect weekend getaway spot is Barcelona. And why not? The city has more than enough to keep visitors entertained, as well as truly excellent food. It is important during your time in Barcelona not to take on too much. So much of the city’s charm comes from its relaxed nature and slow pace of life. Spending 48 Hours in Barcelona will not allow you to leave knowing the city inside out, but it is still enough time to see the sights and to truly appreciate its beauty.

Accommodation

Barcelona is a big city and staying in the right area can be vital. In saying that, there is no right or wrong area to stay in. The key to choosing the ideal accommodation is keeping yourself within walking distance of the main attractions. To do this, get a map of Barcelona and mark the area between La Sagrada Familia and La Rambla. Once you are staying in this area and anywhere from La Sagrada Familia to the beach, you are in a good location. This keeps everything close and saves spending any extended time on public transport. There will, of course, be some walking involved but that can’t be helped in a city as vast as Barcelona.

I recommend trying your best to find accommodation that offers breakfast. This will come in very useful due to the early start on your first day in the city.

Day 1

Morning

The #1 item on nearly every visitor’s itinerary is the architecturally stunning La Sagrada Familia. It is unlikely that any tourist who visits the city will leave having not gone to visit the cathedral. Doing this at the first opportunity is a great way to be wowed by Barcelona from the get-go. Although building work is yet to be completed, visitors are allowed to enter the cathedral. I recommend buying tickets in advance, here. Book for the earliest time slot available as the queue can get quite long throughout the day. Also, be sure to pay for the audio guide, it will really enhance your experience there.

A visit to La Sagrada Familia will take you approximately two hours. Being in this location gives you the perfect opportunity to do a small amount of walking in a quieter setting before reaching some more of Gaudi’s famed work. Head west from La Sagrada Familia towards Casa Mila, this was the last residential building designed by Gaudi. Then you are just a short walk from Casa Batllo. This house was designed by Gaudi for textile industrialist, Josep Batllo in 1904.  Both can be entered, depending on your interest in the inner architecture of the buildings.

Lunch

With midday approaching, I recommend walking through Placa Catalunya and onto the most famous street in Barcelona, La Rambla. Normally, I would strongly advise against eating on La Rambla, but there is one place that is a must, La Boqueria. This public market is loved by both tourists and locals and is a great place to grab some fresh produce. For lunch though, what you eat depends solely on your budget. For the more budget conscious traveller, make use of the Iberico ham (a cured meat) and the seafood on offer. If money is not a concern, I suggest trying to get a seat at either Bar Pinotxo or El Quim de la Boqueria. Both will cost considerably more than the grab and go options but are definitely worth the money.

Afternoon

With your belly full, I suggest using this afternoon to walk the area you are in. I recommend that you start by taking a look into Placa Reial which, like La Boqueria, is just off La Rambla. Continue to the end of the street, turn left and continue along the promenade until you reach the Born Cultural Centre. This public space is designed to be the centre of Catalan culture in the city. There are also excavated ruins underneath the floor, along with a quick guide to the history of Catalonia. The opposite side of BCC is Parc de la Ciutadella. This huge public space is great for basking in the Barcelona sunshine, people watching or just taking a break from walking. Among this green oasis, there is the Barcelona Zoo, the Catalan Parliament and the Museu de Geologia. Don’t forget to check out the highly impressive fountain.

As you exit the north gate, you will be faced with a view of the Arc de Triomf. This was built in 1888 with the intention of being the entrance to the Barcelona World Fair. Although similar structures can be found in cities such as Paris and Bucharest, this particular arch is unique in the fact that it is non-military. Instead of being built to celebrate the country’s military victories, it was built with the intention of welcoming people.

Dinner

As the sun sets, I heavily recommend taking a walk through the picturesque streets of Barcelona as far as the location of Quimet y Quimet on Carrer del Poeta Cabanyes. This tiny little Tapas restaurant has some of the most delicious food you could imagine. Quimet opens at 19:00 and I suggest being there for this time. The shop gets jam-packed from open until close. As a result, arriving later could lead to having to wait outside until there is space to enter. They specialize in seafood, and it is fantastic. Grab yourself a menu and select from the twenty-five or so ‘sandwiches’ on offer. Although labelled a sandwich, they are more like crispy, thick pieces of toast with toppings like prawns, scallops and caviar. Each one I tried was delicious, the best meal I had in Barcelona by far!

One of the most popular tourist attractions in the city is the nightly show at Montjuic Magic Fountain. The Montjuic area actually has many sights to see, including a cemetery and the botanic gardens. Since 1929, a light, colour and water show has taken place in the giant fountain every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night between 20:00 and 21:00. This show makes for one of the best sights to see in Barcelona after dark.

Day 2

Breakfast

Barcelona is a city that goes to the early hours. Like most of Spain, the locals eat late, go to sleep late and then wake up late. Because of this, breakfast is in no way an easy meal to find, not if you are looking for some good, local fare that is. I suggest making your way to Rekons for their opening time of 10:00. There you will find the most delicious empanadas in the city. Empanadas are a stuffed, baked pastry. Place yourself at one of the outside tables, order a couple of empanadas and a coffee and relax. This is the perfect way to start your second day in Barcelona.

Morning

After breakfast, the rest of the morning is about visiting the second most popular attraction in Barcelona. Parc Guell to the north of the city is another of Gaudi’s true masterpieces. Take the metro from Urgell to Catalunya and then change lines until you reach Lesseps, the closest metro station to Parc Guell. The Parc was originally built as a living estate for many of the well-off families in the city. The estate never got close to completion before plans were scrapped, but you can still find some very interesting stone structures, buildings and walkways there. The Gaudi House Museum is also on the site. Parc Guell can get very busy during peak hours so I suggest buying tickets in advance, here.

Lunch

When visiting Parc Guell, you must take advantage of being away from the touristy areas of the city. Bar Casi, just a couple of minutes walk, is an opportunity to eat in a real local filled Barcelona cafe. Despite being close to one of the city’s premier attractions, Bar Casi has in no way changed or evolved to suit the tourists that come to the area. Instead, you are more than likely to see the same locals there a few times a week. For €12, choose a starter and a main course from their lunch menu. The food is delicious and has a real taste of home cooking about it. The portion sizes are also very generous. No English is spoken but there is an English menu available making your visit more convenient. I planned my trip to Parc Guell around the opportunity to visit Bar Casi.

Afternoon

There is one area of Barcelona that has yet to be explored, that is the Gothic Quarter. After your visit to Parc Guell and the following lunch at Bar Casi, hop back on the metro to Catalunya or, if you prefer, walk the hour-long journey through some of Barcelona’s beautiful and peaceful neighbourhoods. On arrival at Placa Catalunya, you will be just a short distance from La Catedral or The Cathedral of the Holy Cross and St. Eulalia. This marks the start of the city’s Gothic Quarter. Entry into La Catedral is free and should not be missed.

After your visit to La Catedral, dive deeper into the Gothic Quarter. The narrow streets are easy to get lost in but are packed with history. Dotted around the area are signboards detailing the meaning of certain buildings and structures. It is quite amazing that you may even get certain streets all to yourself, which only adds to the atmosphere. When you eventually come out the other side, you will be on the promenade. I suggest that you follow the coastline until you reach the beach. This stretch of beaches was man made for the Olympic Games back in 1992. IF the weather allows, use their convenient location to relax after a busy day.

Dinner

Due to your current location, Bar La Plata is a convenient choice for dinner. Nestled in the Gothic Quarter, this tiny tapas restaurant only serves five items, but all are done to an incredibly high level. Fried Anchovies, Pincho de Butaffara (Sausage on bread), Tomato Bread and a Salad were my choices. Each one was amazing. Bar La Plata is famous around Barcelona, yet you wouldn’t know it by the humble, simple nature of the restaurant. Make sure you try their homemade wine too.

If you are a dessert person, now is the perfect time to try the best sweet treat in all of Spain. Walk off the Tapas in the direction of Churreria Laietana. You might have to fight to get a seat there but that is only because they serve the best churros in town. Order a portion of Chocolate con Churros and indulge. Freshly made Churros are served next to a substantial portion of hot, rich chocolate for dipping. The crispy, sugar-coated churros and the steaming chocolate are a match made in heaven. The perfect place to treat yourself after what was sure to be a fantastic weekend in Barcelona.

I found that with every passing hour I spent in Barcelona, I loved it more and more. The more I walked and the more I saw made me realize what a beautiful city I was in. It is so full of fantastic food and unforgettable sights. I also found Barcelona to be a very budget friendly city to visit. By following the above itinerary, you will be surprised by how little you spend. Of course, you could spend more time there and not be short of things to do. However, if you only have 48 Hours in Barcelona, this travel guide will bring you to all the unmissable sights in the city, as well as give you a taste of the best food the city has to offer.

This post is just one of four guides I have written for Barcelona. You can check out the other three that include the best food, top free sights and my full Barcelona Travel Guide here.

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The Roaming Irishman

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