Visiting Barcelona: what to do in 5 days?

The public transport network is very well-developed in Barcelona, between buses and subways you will always find a way to get where you want!

Having arrived by train at Barcelona-Sants, we decided to take a 10-trip card for zone 1 which is valid for the entire Barcelona city center. As we mainly visited the city on foot, 10 trips per person were sufficient.

We rented a car in Barcelona for a day via the app Getaround. This gave us great freedom to visit the surroundings of Barcelona. Getaround is a car-sharing platform for vehicles from individuals or professionals. Getaround is present in many major European cities (Belgium, France, Spain, United Kingdom, Norway, Austria and Germany) and in the United States, it's easy to rent a car for a day, a weekend, or even a road trip.

What are the benefits of using Getaround? No more paperwork as everything is done through the app (booking, condition check, and unlocking the vehicle). In just 3 clicks, you can rent a vehicle for short or long durations. Furthermore, Getaround rental vehicles are located throughout the city (allowing you to rent from your desired location: airport, train station, city center, near your accommodation, etc.). This was perfect for us who wanted to rent for just one day from Barcelona's city center. Last-minute Getaround vehicle rentals are also possible; you can find all available vehicles on the platform for your chosen destination and book without queuing at the counter.

It might seem surprising, but Barcelona is easily accessible by train from Brussels. The journey is longer by train than by plane, but CO2 emissions are significantly lower: you will emit ±3kg of CO2 per train journey compared to ±218kg of CO2 per plane journey.

Here is our train itinerary for Brussels-Barcelona:

Departing from Brussels-Midi, we took a Thalys to Paris-Nord, and after a short RER journey, we boarded an InOui train at Paris Gare de Lyon, arriving at Barcelona-Sants. In total, the journey takes between 8 and 9 hours (including the connection time in Paris), with few baggage restrictions and many landscapes crossed. A highlight is from Montpellier, where the train passes over the sea, allowing you to observe pink flamingos and the snow-capped Pyrenees in the background.

We are taking advantage of the Belgian grayness of February to escape for a few days a little further south in Europe. 2 trains and 8 hours later, we arrive in the heart of the Catalan capital, by the Mediterranean: Barcelona. We are welcomed with a magnificent sunset, the excitement is at its peak to discover, the next day, Barcelona and its many attractions.

For this first day under the Catalan sun, we head to Catalonia Square or Plaça de Catalunya, one of Barcelona's most important squares. It connects the old town with the Eixample district and several major avenues. We are surprised, not by the crowds, but by the hundreds of pigeons covering the ground.

We continue our walk on the most famous (and busiest) avenue in Barcelona, La Rambla. It connects Plaça de Catalunya to Barcelona's Old Port, spanning 1.3 km. Besides shops, stalls, and street artists, here are the must-see places on La Rambla:

👑 Palace of the Virreina: A typical Baroque-style building, it takes its name from its primary occupant: the Vice-Queen of Peru. Today, it houses the main headquarters of Culture in Barcelona and an image center. We ventured into the inner courtyard, which used to host the giants of Santa Eulàlia.

🥕 La Boqueria Market: This is one of the largest covered markets in Barcelona. We discover a multitude of fresh produce, spices, and dried fruits: a true mix of colors and scents in constant motion. If you happen to be there at lunchtime, you can also enjoy some local tapas at one of the 300 stalls. La Boqueria is open daily from Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 8:30 pm. Closed on Sundays. Entrance is free.

🎨 Joan Miró Mosaic: Right in front of the entrance to La Boqueria, on the Rambla's pavement, you'll find this oval, irregular mosaic, 8 meters in diameter. Created by artist Joan Miró in 1976, it's made of multicolored granite tiles.

🎭 Gran Teatre del Liceu or El Liceu: Built in 1847, it is one of the most prestigious opera houses in the world. The Liceu Theatre has hosted the greatest opera singers. Despite two devastating fires, its original facade can still be admired from La Rambla.

🏛️ Plaça Reial or Royal Square: When we arrive at this square, slightly set back from La Rambla, we discover a whole different world. This small rectangular square is surrounded by yellow buildings and arches. In the center is a fountain, some lampposts (including two with dragons, which are among Gaudí's early works), and some palm trees, making this place even more photogenic. As night falls, the animation in Plaça Reial reaches its peak with the many bars and restaurants located there.

Our walk along La Rambla ends with the Christopher Columbus statue. Standing 60 meters tall, the commemorative monument was built for the 1888 World's Fair. This is, in fact, the port of Barcelona where Christopher Columbus landed after his discovery of the Americas. It is possible to ascend to the top of the column using an elevator and enjoy a magnificent panorama of the old port and the surrounding area.

The Barcelona Old Port or Port Vell in Catalan, is located at the end of La Rambla. It connects the Gothic Quarter and the Barceloneta district. It was renovated for the 1992 Olympic Games and is now a tourist port. We strolled along the palm-lined promenade looking for the most beautiful boats. You can also find a shopping center and the Barcelona Aquarium in the Old Port.

Apart from its culture and architecture, Barcelona is also known for its beaches. And it's only natural that we continue our walk from the port along the seawall. We pass by Barceloneta beach (the closest to the city center) where we observe some surfers catching the waves, then we continue to Somorrostro beach and Nova Icària beach.

We arrive at Platja del Bogatell for sunset. Here, the atmosphere is different and reminds us of large coastal cities like Los Angeles: some are skateboarding, others are enjoying this beautiful February day by walking along the water. And despite all the people, only the sound of the waves echoes in our ears.

If you have the opportunity, we advise you to get up at dawn, one day during your stay in Barcelona, to see the sun rise over the Mediterranean Sea. We witnessed this magnificent spectacle from the Mar Bella beach and it was magical!

Visiting Barcelona without seeing a Gaudí masterpiece is a bit like going to Paris without seeing the Eiffel Tower! During this 3rd day, we discovered several essential works by the famous Spanish architect such as the Sagrada Família, Park Güell, and Casa Batlló. You can find our one-day itinerary following Gaudí's footsteps in the article below.

👉  The 5 essential Gaudí masterpieces in Barcelona

Barcelona's city center stretches from La Rambla to the port. El Barri Gòtic, or the Gothic Quarter in French, is the oldest part of the city, filled with historical buildings, some dating back to the Middle Ages.

Sant Jaume Square is surrounded by official buildings such as the Catalan government headquarters and the Barcelona City Hall, making it the administrative and political heart of Barcelona. The square hosts many festivities such as the Saint Eulalia performances or the famous Catalan Castells.

This miniature Sighing Bridge is a small footbridge connecting the Catalan government headquarters and the building opposite, where several Catalan government presidents lived.

Passing under the Bishop's Bridge, you can admire all the Neo-Gothic details that adorn it, as well as a skull pierced by a dagger. Legend has it that the day someone manages to remove the dagger from the skull, Barcelona will disappear.

Built at the beginning of the 16th century, this gothic palace was built on the ruins of Roman walls and aqueducts. A small entrance door leads directly to the house's patio, which was transformed into a cloister over time, with its fountain and terrace.

When entering the Ardiaca house, don't forget to caress the shell of the little turtle placed on the mailbox, it seems to bring good luck!

At the end of Casa de l'Ardiaca street is the Barcelona Cathedral of Santa Creu. Its Gothic style and two bell towers make this cathedral a unique monument in the center of Barcelona. Visiting the cathedral has a fee and allows access to its rooftop and views of old Barcelona.

El Petó or The World is Born in Each Kiss, is a street art work created by Joan Fontcuberta. The artwork is located on Isidre Nonell Square and is actually composed of 4000 photos representing freedom, taken by the readers of a popular Barcelona newspaper. Today, it is one of the most romantic and Instagrammable places to take photos in Barcelona.

The Catalan Music Palace is a modernist building where concerts and plays are still held. It is possible to visit the interior and the concert hall is truly worth seeing!

Overlooking a huge water-drop shaped skylight, the concert hall contains many modernist architectural details. If you look at the ceiling between its columns, you will see the names of great composers. With a little luck, you can attend a rehearsal during your visit to the Catalan Music Palace. Don't hesitate to sit in the concert hall's seats and enjoy the spectacle for a moment.

The Barcelona Arc de Triomphe was built at the end of the 19th century to be the main entrance to the 1888 World's Fair at the entrance to Ciutadella Park. Today the Arc de Triomphe is no longer at the entrance to the park, but at the end of Passeig de Lluís Companys square.

Former site of a citadel destroyed at the end of the 19th century, the Ciutadella Park spans 17 hectares and is partly occupied by the Barcelona Zoo. The park hosted the 1888 World's Fair, and is today a highly popular relaxation area in central Barcelona. Ciutadella Park includes monuments such as the Castle of Three Dragons (zoology museum), numerous gardens, and other works of art like the Mammoth and its monumental fountain.

The Plaça Milans is a small square in the center of Barcelona that gains interest when you look up at the sky. Its rounded buildings create a beautiful composition with the blue sky that seems to follow the path traced by the curves of the buildings.

Montjuïc is a must-see neighborhood to discover during a city trip to Barcelona! The Montjuïc hill hosted the Universal Exposition in 1929 and then the Olympic Games in 1992, in addition to being a strategic point for many years with its castle. You can find a multitude of activities to do and cultural places to visit.
 

We have dedicated a complete article to you with what there is to do in the Montjuïc neighborhood. And you can believe us, there is enough to spend a whole day there, starting, why not, with a cable car ride! 🚡

👉  Visit the Montjuïc neighborhood in Barcelona

We're taking advantage of being in Barcelona for a week to explore the city's surroundings. Once the car rented via Getaround is picked up in the center, we leave for a day trip south of Barcelona. 
 

To our surprise, we quickly find nature with the Llobregat Delta, which is located around the airport. Then, continuing our journey towards the seaside town of Sitges, we take the roads of the Garraf Park. Large natural spaces that host a Buddhist temple in its center. We drive along the roads, alone in the world, amazed by this rocky and verdant landscape before walking to discover Sitges. We end the day on Mount Tibidabo to see the Temple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus at sunset. The sky is overcast, but that doesn't diminish the magic of the 360° view of Barcelona.

You can find the full story of this wonderful day in the link below.

👉  Visiting the surroundings of Barcelona in one day.

This is where our stay in Barcelona ends. We loved spending a short week in the Catalan capital and discovering its culture, heritage, and beaches. We were surprised by its surroundings, much greener than we imagined, allowing us to venture slightly off the beaten path. We recommend spending at least 4 or 5 full days to soak up the atmosphere in Barcelona and allow time to visit the city's must-sees.

 We hope we have inspired you to (re)discover Barcelona and consider a future stay in Spain's 2nd largest city 🇪🇸