Barcelona 3 Day Itinerary
On A Budget
Table of Contents
Barcelona is a city steeped in history, culture and architectural beauty!
Like any European city, there are ways to easily make this destination budget-friendly.
So here’s my top tips for 3 days in Barcelona on a budget!
Budget Tips
Museums Free on Sunday
If you want to visit the museems, plan your trip to include a Sunday!
All-day on the first Sunday of each month, and every Sunday between 3-8 pm, the majority of the city-operated museums are totally FREE. What a steal!
Public Transit
Skip the taxis and take the metro! The trains are fast and the city has a strong metro network. Almost all tourist attractions are within walking distance of a metro station.
Free Walking Tours
Free walking tours are a great way to get introduced to a city. Just be prepared to tip your guide at the end!
Find free walking tours here.
Beware of Pickpockets
Unfortunately, Barcelona has an incredibly high rate of pickpocketing and petty theft crimes. And these non-violent crimes are usually aimed at tourists. If you are traveling on a budget, it will be a big set back to have your phone and cash stolen.
- Don’t carry anything in your back pocket
- Never leave your belonging out of sight
- Only take as much money as you need for the day
- Try to appear confident, people who look lost are more easily targeted
- If someone approaches you on the street, don’t blindly trust them
- Carry a bag that someone cannot open without you noticing
- Get travel insurance that covers theft with World Nomads
Rick Steve’s Audio Guide Europe
Looking for a great tour that is totally free? Download the Rick Steve’s Audio Guide Europe for access to fantastic (and FREE!) tours around Barcelona.
Not only are these tours well done but it makes it easy to do a tour on your own time. And you can pause or restart as needed. The instructions/directions are simple and easy to follow as well.
Day 1
- Explore Las Ramblas
- Visit the infamous Sagrada Familia
- Rooftop bar with views of Sagrada Familia: AYRE HOTEL ROSELLÓN
- Hike to Tibidabo
- Drinks in the Gothic Quarter
Hike to Tibidabo
Tibidabo makes for a beautiful hike on a sunny day. It will most likely take you a little over an hour. Bring water on a hot day, it is a steep hike!
When you reach the top, you’ll find an amusement park, restaurant and stunning old cathedral.
For just a few euros, you can take the elevator to the top of the cathedral for a marvelous view over the city.
Rooftop bar with views of Sagrada Familia: AYRE HOTEL ROSELLÓN
ADDRESS: CARRER DEL ROSSELLÓ, 390, 08025 BARCELONA, SPAIN
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 11AM – 7 PM
You don’t have to be staying at the hotel to take advantage of this great space. It’s open to anyone from 11am-7pm but after that it’s only open to hotel guests.
If you’d like to enjoy the views at sunset or in the evening, then I suggest booking a room at the hotel. Then the terrace is open until 11pm!
GET THERE RIGHT WHEN IT OPENS TO GUARANTEE A SPOT
This spot is relatively popular and the hotel only allows up a select number of public guests to it’s rooftop.
I tried coming 3 times before I was finally let up to the top.
The trick? Show up right at 11am when it opens. When I tried to go on the weekend or during happy hour, the hotel staff wouldn’t let us up, stating it was too full.
Drinks in the Gothic Quarter
Gothic Quarter is easily my favorite neighborhood in Barcelona. You will find so many unique, local restaurants and bars.
Plan to spend more than one night dining out and exploring this area.
Read: THE BEST BARS IN BARCELONA’S GOTHIC QUARTER
Day 2
- Sunrise at Park Güell
- Eat Calçotada at LA BARCA D’ADRIÀ (January until late March only)
- Picnic at the beach
- Sunset at the Bunkers
Sunrise at Park Güell
During the day, this park is awash with tourists. The steps will be crowded and the bench pictured below will be a popular spot for photographers. However at sunrise, we had the place mostly to ourselves. We brought a picnic and saw only a handful of other people. It. Was. Perfect.
Not only is this a glorious place for sunrise, if you go before the park technically opens, you can avoid paying the entrance fee! Which if you’re doing Barcelona on a budget, it’s an added perk.
A worker had opened the gate allowing us inside but they don’t start charging admission until later in the morning. It’s a well-known secret of Barcelona that the park is free before sunrise. The early bird gets the worm!
Eat Calçotada at LA BARCA D’ADRIÀ
(January until late March only)
Calçotada is an annual event in Spain celebrating the harvest of calçots.
These mild green onions are grilled over a hot fire, wrapped up in newspaper, served on terracotta tiles. They are then eaten after peeling with bare hands, by dipping them one by one in the most delicious salvitxada sauce.
Top it off with some red wine and bread for the best meal you’ll have in Barcelona!
It’s truly one-of-a-kind and a foodie experience totally unique to this area of Spain.
LA BARCA D’ADRIÀ
Address: Parc de la Pau, s/n,
08930 Sant Adrià de Besòs, Barcelona, Barcelona
My local friends who took me here for my first Calçotada experience and can’t recommend it highly enough!
Sunset at the Bunkers
Welcome to uninterrupted 360° panoramic views over Barcelona!
This is the absolute ideal place to watch sunset and one of my favorite spots in the entire city.
This location known as “the Bunkers” was actually anti aircraft warfare installed during the Spanish Civil War at the top of the hill, Turó de la Rovira. Once upon a time, it housed massive artillery to help protect the city of Barcelona.
But in 1938, the guns were taken out. An empty shell remained with the best views of the city. During the extreme poverty of the 40’s and 50’s, the Bunkers were used as a shantytown. But when the city hosted the Olympics, the shantytowns were cleared out. Again, the Bunkers sat empty.
Eventually people realized they could have the best views over Barcelona. You can see everything- the coast, the mountains, la Sagrada Familia.. etc. And it became a popular spot, especially at sunset.
You can visit anytime since it’s just an open space with no fees, no gate and no hours. But sunset is when you’ll get the best views!
GO UP EARLY TO ENJOY THE ATMOSPHERE.
The Bunkers has a very chill vibe at sunset with lots of people hanging out, having picnics, playing music or drinking a beer. There isn’t anything to do up top (like at Tibidabo) except enjoy a cold beverage, listen to music and kick back with friends.
Read: BARCELONA: THE BEST SPOTS FOR SUNRISE & SUNSET (AND HOW TO GET THERE)
Day 3
- Montserrat
- Dinner in the Gothic Quarter
- Drinks at L’ascensor
Montserrat
Montserrat is a mountain top monastery in Catalonia just one hour by train outside of Barcelona.
From Plaça Espanya in Barcelona, take the R5 line to Monistrol de Montserrat. A ticket is only €5.25 one way.
Dinner in the Gothic Quarter
One night in the Gothic Quarter won’t be enough.
With so many winding, beautiful streets and tasty cuisine, you’ll want to go back for a second night. Enjoy!
Drinks at L’ascensor
The name of this tiny, gorgeous cocktail bar refers to the rickety, old lift you must ride to the top in order to enter the bar. Already, I love it. Get everyone to squeeze inside and begin the ascent because the drinks are flowing upstairs!
Buzzing with a young, party-going crowd- you will not be disappointed once you step off the lift and into the atmosphere at this Gothic Quarter hidden gem.
Most tourists don’t know about this spot. So expect plenty of locals, a great cocktail menu and the best (cheap!) house red wine anywhere! What’s not to love?!
Address: Carrer de Bellafila, 3, 08002 Barcelona, Spain
Looking for a great hotel option?
More European cities on a budget:
- PARIS ON A BUDGET: 3 DAYS FOR JUST €100
- HOW TO VISIT ORVIETO, ITALY ON A BUDGET
- HOW TO DO MUNICH’S OKTOBERFEST ON A BUDGET
