How to spend 48 hours in Barcelona for a vibrant weekend break
Sagrada In Cathedral Barcelona Familia
A captivating seaside city with endless culture, iconic architecture, rooftop bars and more tapas than one person could ever need, the Catalan capital is no stranger to visitors, and a lively spot for a weekend break.
In Barcelona, there is always something new to discover, and thanks to Gaudi and his creative contemporaries, the city always feels colourful and vibrant with great photo opportunities around every corner.
Can you really claim to have visited Barcelona if you don’t pay homage to Gaudi’s most famous work?
Peer pressure aside, the Sagrada Familia is the undisputed icon of the city and also happens to be the resting place of Antoni Gaudi, who was buried in the chapel of the Virgen del Carmen, one of the four chapels within the Sagrada Familia crypt after he was tragically hit by a tram.
Work, as we know, is ongoing, with the monolith due to be completed in 2026 — or so they say.
A cable car to Montjuïc Mountain is a great way to travel and once you arrive, the options are endless.
Visit the stimulating Fundació Joan Miró, a space designed by the artist which showcases a wide range of Miró’s works exactly as he intended or take a walk around Barcelona’s Botanical Gardens.
Montjuïc is also home to Poble Espanyol, an open-air architectural museum and the Archaeology Museum of Catalonia, both of which are worth visiting.
With 5000 works in the permanent collection, the Museu Picasso is a fun foray for those interested in a glimpse into the artist’s formative years. It’s worth the queue.
A collaboration between Antoni Gaudi and entrepreneur Eusebi Güell, Park Guell is the city’s most lavish park.
Make time to visit Casa Museu Gaudí which Barcelona’s favourite son called home for 19 years.
Overlooking the city, Tibidabo, with the elegant Temple Expiatori del Sagrat Cor (or Sacred Heart church) perched on top, is the best place to experience sunset in the city.
Tibidabo is also home to the famous, retro-styled Tibidabo theme park with ferris wheels aplenty that will delight both young and old alike.
End your excursion with cocktails and views at the Balconet del Mirablau, right beside the blue tram stop.
After a pricey overhaul for the 1992 Olympics, Barceloneta boasts seven kilometres of golden beaches, running from the bustling Port Vell to the snazzy Port Olímpic.
An afternoon in Barceloneta is a great way to pivot your holiday from city break to beach break, if only for a few hours.
If beaches aren’t your thing, visit the old town with its cobbled streets and quaint tapas bars or check out the Museum of Catalan History.
La Barceloneta is also the place to hop on the cable car to the observation deck and café with spectacular views on Montjuic hill.
Lively and unpretentious, Bar Ramon is a fully authentic Barcelona experience that has changed little since opening nearly 100 years ago.
Enjoy imaginative tapas such as rabbit ribs or sea anemone, or stick with traditional dishes like meatballs, potato bombas, Iberian ham and cheese for days.
Expect to be serenaded with some blues or jazz, the music at Bar Ramon is almost as important as the food.
In the fashionable El Born district, El Xampanyet is the perfect pit stop after a visit to the nearby Picasso Museum.
Feeding tourists and locals since 1929, it’s a traditional, no nonsense bar with reputedly the best anchovies and sparkling wine in the city.
There are no reservations so go early and be prepared to wait. It will be worth it.
Tapas aside, Barcelona has some excellent fine dining restaurants with Disfrutar at the top of the list. Run by Eduard Xatruch, Oriol Castro and Mateu Casañas, all three are alumni of the revered El Bulli school of gastronomy.
With three Michelin stars, it’s a pricey night out with menus starting at €290 per person, wine not included. It’s ideal for a special occasion or if you have a penchant for amazing Spanish gastronomy.
Fresh seafood with stunning views over the port is what to expect from a visit to Barceloneta, located in La Barceloneta district.
Everything is made in-house and indulging in a bowl of local clams in seafood broth overlooking the water is as close to heaven as one could get.
For the seafood adverse, there are also a selection of meat dishes but vegetarians might struggle.
You will pay over the odds for a cocktail on the rooftop terrace of the Sercotel Rosellón but it is worth every cent.
That’s not to say that the Aperol Spritz or the Margarita are better there than anywhere else in the city, you are paying for the glorious view over the city, and more importantly, of the Sagrada Familia.
The hotel is a mere 300m from Gaudi’s most famous work, and from the rooftop terrace, it feels close enough to touch.
Funnily enough, the food on the rooftop terrace is reasonably priced, but in a city with some many great food options, I recommend sticking to a cocktail and the view. Book in advance.
The perfect antidote to the sometimes ostentatious rooftop bar experience, the rooftop garden in the celebrated El Palace Hotel is a verdant oasis in the heart of the city.
Inspired by the Barcelona of bygone days, the spacious rooftop features babbling brooks, pergolas, plants and flowers, all while overlooking the city below.
There are occasional rooftop cinema evenings too and regular pilates and yoga events if you are that way inclined.
There has been a market in one form or another at Encants since the year 1300 (approximately) and today’s incarnation is visually dazzling thanks to the talent of architect du jour, Fermín Vázquez.
The roof is 80 meters high and has a mirrored gold ceiling which reflects the myriad of market traders below.
The flea market has a mix of permanent shops along with jumble sale type tables, selling anything you could ever need and everything you don’t.
Open Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, some of the shops close for siesta in the afternoon (usually between 2pm and 4pm)..
1217 is the year of the first recorded stalls selling meat at Pla de la Boqueria, part of a street market located on La Rambla.
In 1836, the market in its current form opened its doors and since then, has become known as the beating heart of the city.
Even those with only a passing interest in food will likely find themselves mesmerised by the sheer scale of the operation and the variety of produce on sale.
With the shopping done, make time to pull up a stool at El Quim de la Boqueria for a breakfast of baby squid with fried eggs or some tapas with a glass of local Cava for just €3.50.
Thrifting is all well and good but there is more to shopping in Barcelona that trawling through heaving market stalls to find that one gem. Enter the iconic Passeo de Gràcia.
Crossing the Eixample neighbourhood, it’s the perfect place to indulge in some retail therapy with lots of high-end brands calling this area of the city home.
Dotted in between the luxury stores you will also find some of the best of the city’s Art Nouveau architecture, with buildings by Gaudí and his contemporaries.
From here, it’s a short walk to Plaza Catalunya with its big-name fashion retailers alongside some hidden gems.
A former Ritz Hotel, it comes as little surprise that the El Palace is as impressive as it is opulent with plush carpets, silk drapes and ornate furniture.
The guest rooms are somewhat more restrained while still feeling elegant and luxurious.
The in-house restaurant, Amar is excellent but it’s the dreamy rooftop garden and cosy Bluesman Bar that make this hotel so special.
Salvador Dalí was a resident for an extended period and fittingly, there is a suite named after the artist. Rooms from €364 per night.
In a wonderfully central location, Yurbban Passage is situated between vibrant La Ribera and fashionable L’Eixample.
The hotel itself is in a restored textile warehouse and the understated yet elegant décor makes it feel warm and welcoming.
The daily wine and cheese hour is a draw, as is the impressive rooftop pool and terrace. Rooms from €260 per night.
The name might be a tad unfortunate, but it doesn’t lie when it comes to describing this collection of Barcelona hotels. They are indeed both chic and basic.
With seven hotels in the city, you are sure to find one in a neighbourhood that suits you and while facilities might be limited in some of the properties (although a ‘help yourself’ buffet breakfast is provided) that hardly matters in a city there are so many food and drink options.
Rooms from €104 per night.