How to Spend 5 Days in Barcelona: A Complete Travel Guide

5 Days in Barcelona

Sunday – Old City, Arrival & Easy Start

In this post, I am going to share how to spend 5 days in Barcelona- A Complete Travel Guide. We started our Barcelona trip with an early 7:25am flight from London Heathrow to Barcelona. Arriving early meant we had the whole day ahead of us, which made a huge difference. If you can, definitely take an early flight—it gives you an extra day to explore Barcelona without feeling rushed.

Metro and Hola Card

From Barcelona–El Prat Airport, we took the train straight into the city using the Hola Barcelona travel card. We bought the 5-day option, and it made getting around Barcelona incredibly easy. The card covers the metro, buses, trams, and the airport journey. We didn’t need to worry about buying separate tickets. You can purchase the card online. Then, collect your tickets at the airport using the code at the ticket machine.

Where we stayed

We stayed at H10 Marina Barcelona, which we’d definitely recommend. It’s only three metro stops from the city centre and about 15 minutes from the beach. There are two metro stations within walking distance from the hotel, Marina and Bogatell. Staying slightly outside the centre worked really well. It was quieter, more affordable, but still very well connected to everything in Barcelona.

After dropping our bags, we headed straight into the Gothic Quarter and just wandered. It’s one of the best ways to experience Barcelona on your first day. We stopped at Barcelona Cathedral, which is beautiful. Then we strolled through the Plaça de Sant Felip Neri. Its absolutely lovely and is definitely is worth a visit.

Later, we made our way to El Born, visited Santa Maria del Mar, and had a relaxed dinner at a nearby Indian restaurant called Bollywood. It was the perfect, easy start to our time in Barcelona. We had hoped to spend some time in La Rambla in Barcelona. It is the most visited area there, with the Boqueira food market, Palau de la Virreina and the Gran Teatre del Liceu, Unfortunately there were major construction work and roadworks there so apart from passing through it we spent very little time there.

Monday – Gaudí Highlights in Barcelona

After a leisurely breakfast we were ready to start the day with one of the most iconic sights in Barcelona, Sagrada Família. Booking in advance is essential here. We visited around midday, and the light through the stained glass was incredible.

Next, we headed to Park Güell, which we also pre-booked. The views over Barcelona from here are amazing, and it’s worth taking your time exploring all of Gaudi’s architectural master pieces.

In the afternoon, we slowed things down in Gràcia. It felt much more local, with small cafés and boutiques, and gave us a different perspective of Barcelona away from the crowds. In the evening, we walked along Passeig de Gràcia to see Casa Batlló and Casa Milà from the outside. They’re especially beautiful lit up at night. We did not pay to go inside due to our limited time.

We finished the day with dinner at a nearby Italian restaurant Rossini, making it a perfect Gaudí-focused day in Barcelona.

Tuesday – Montserrat Day Trip from Barcelona

One of the highlights of our Barcelona itinerary was a day trip to Montserrat. We started early and took the train from Plaça d’Espanya using the Tot Montserrat ticket. This ticket included the train, mountain transport, monastery entry, the Black Madonna of Montserrat, museums, funiculars, and a buffet lunch. This was great value for a full day trip from Barcelona.

We chose the rack railway rather than the cable car. It’s a slightly longer journey, but far more scenic and relaxed. You actually get to enjoy the views the whole way up.

The cable car is quicker, but it holds around 16 people, and if you’re in the middle, you may not see much. It’s worth thinking about what kind of experience you want. When booking, you must choose either the rack railway or cable car, and you’ll need to use the same option both ways. You can’t mix them. At the top, we explored the monastery, the museum and saw the Black Madonna. We took the funicular up the mountain and then went on a short hike for incredible views.

In the evening, we returned to Barcelona and headed to Plaça de Catalunya for a bit of shopping before heading back to the hotel. We were tired so we had dinner at the hotel.

Wednesday – Montjuïc & Passeig de Gràcia

We started the day at Montjuïc, taking the number 150 bus from near Fira Barcelona, which dropped us right by Montjuïc Castle. After visiting the castle, we did the circular walk around it. This turned out to be one of the best parts of our time in Barcelona, with amazing views over the port and city. We stopped for a quick picnic lunch before heading back down into the city centre. We didn’t get to see the Magic Fountain as it was closed, so it’s worth checking in advance if that’s on your Barcelona itinerary.

In the evening, we returned to Passeig de Gràcia for dinner at Saravanaa Bhavan a south Indian vegetarian restaurant and some some souvenir shopping. We had planned to see a flamenco show in Barcelona, but it was fully booked—so definitely book in advance if it’s something you want to do.

Thursday – Barcelona Beach & Departure

We had booked an evening flight home so we could enjoy one last day in Barcelona. After checking out, we spent the morning at Barceloneta Beach. We strolled along the promenade, enjoyed the sea views, and stopped for a leisurely lunch. The beach in the spring sunshine was cold but very refreshing. It was the perfect way to end our Barcelona trip at a slower pace.

Afterwards, we returned to the hotel to collect our luggage and took the train back to Barcelona–El Prat Airport for our evening flight back to London. Barcelona is an incredibly easy city to explore, there is a lot more to see and do but given the 5 days we had we packed in as much as we could without rushing.

Final Thoughts on Barcelona

• Purchasing the Hola travel card was an excellent choice as it took all the stress out of getting around.
• Staying slightly outside the centre worked really well for us—quieter, more affordable, and still very well connected to the rest of Barcelona.
• Booking ahead is essential. For Sagrada Família, Park Güell, Casa Batlló and Casa Milà, it’s very unlikely you’ll be able to get tickets on the door.
• Majority of places accept credit cards, the acceptable currency is Euros.

If you’re planning a trip to Barcelona, a bit of forward planning really helps you make the most of your time.

Safety Tips for Barcelona

Like many major cities, Barcelona is known for pickpocketing, especially in busy tourist areas. We didn’t have any issues, but it’s something to be aware of.

• On the metro and trains, don’t leave your luggage unattended. In crowded areas, carry your backpack on your front so it’s always in sight.
• Use your phone discreetly and keep it secure, ideally with a wrist or neck holder.
• Try not to look like an obvious tourist—simple things like checking directions before stopping can help.
• Keep passports and valuables securely in a hidden part of your bag.
• In busy areas, avoid engaging with people offering items like flowers or bracelets—just walk past.

Overall, Barcelona felt safe, and taking a few simple precautions meant we could relax and enjoy everything the city has to offer.

Have you been to Barcelona? What tips do you have? Please share them in the comment box below, I would love to read your recommendations.

If you enjoy my travel posts do check out the following:

• Places to visit in Agadir
• Things to do in Athens
• Dubrovnik Itinerary: What to See, Do & Eat

If you enjoy my travel posts do visit citrusspice and Travel Instagram for a visual travel experience,

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