Two Days in Barcelona Itinerary: The Best Way to See Barcelona [2024]

I recently spent the dreamiest two days in Barcelona.

I mean, what better way to beat the January blues than to fly to a gorgeous, sunny country just a mere three days into the year?

While it’s safe to say Barcelona isn’t my favourite European city, I could not have had a better time away.

Whether it was inhaling all of the tapas, seeing all the main sights or heading out into the mountains, this trip was nothing short of fun.

So without further ado, let me show you the best way to spend two days in Barcelona.

Faraway Lucy was welcomed as a guest of Jet2CityBreaks in Spain; however, as always, all opinions are my own.

How to get to Barcelona

Whether you pass through Barcelona whilst interrailing on a budget, or you fly there directly for a mini-break, one of the best parts of visiting Barcelona is that it’s not too far away from the UK.

There are an abundance of cheap flights leaving practically every airport across the UK every day and they only last around two hours.

That’s like getting a train to London from Leeds!

While options are aplenty, Chris and I opted for one of Jet2’s flights from Leeds Bradford airport.

I have to say that from the moment we left Chris’ flat to the moment we stepped foot in Spain, it was one of the most relaxing airport and flight experiences I’ve ever had.

Leeds Bradford is a really small airport so the bag drop and security absolutely fly by.

This means more time to relax and get excited about your holiday in Barca!

However, what made the travel experience so enjoyable was the Jet2 staff.

I’ve flown with them a number of times now and not once have I had a bad experience.

The staff were really friendly, helpful and up for a laugh which made a real nice change!

I would absolutely recommend hopping on one of Jet2’s flights to Barcelona.

Where to stay in Barcelona

Now I’m not one to typically include a hotel in a city guide but the hotel we stayed in played a huge part in how much we enjoyed our trip.

We booked H10 Metropolitan via Jet2CityBreaks and it was dreamy, to say the least.

Located in the heart of Barcelona, next to Plaça Catalunya, H10 Metropolitan was frankly one of the most gorgeous hotels I’ve ever stepped foot into.

And I’ve been lucky enough to stay in some really nice hotels! Staying here is definitely one of my top Barcelona travel tips.

H10 Metropolitan

As we entered the hotel, we were each greeted with a glass of bubbly. Exactly what you need after a flight!

But that wasn’t even the best bit. It was the interior design that got me!

Marked by an industrial, factory-style that frankly had me weak at the knees, the hotel is an interior design lover’s dream come true.

H10 Metropolitan is home to The Kitchen Restaurant for breakfast and the elegant and expansive Edén Bar for dinner and drinks.

With an abundance of sweet and savoury options to dive into, breakfast was nothing short of delicious!

I especially loved the waffles (they were some of the best I’ve ever had), while Chris devoured the eggs benedict.

You’ll also find a gym and two peaceful terraces with sun lounger area and plunge pool – one on the ground floor and one on the roof!

The latter boasts amazing views across the plaza and Tibidabo.

Our room

The room was just as impressive. We booked a Rambla Double Room which was 20m2 with a small balcony boasting some amazing views across the street below.

It was equipped with many high-end amenities including a bathrobe and slippers, Rituals products, a hairdryer, an umbrella, courtesy bottle waters and a Nespresso coffee machine replenished daily, a 40″ flat-screen TV, safe box, a minibar, a dock station, a telephone, iron and ironing board. Phew, that was a lot to get through!

And as if that wasn’t enough, we were also treated to yet another bottle of bubbly in the room, alongside some yummy sweet treats.

Despite all of these luxuries, the bathroom was by far my favourite part of the room.

The shower was sadly one of the highlights of the entire trip for me.

I have never experienced such a strong, hot, powerful shower in all my life.

And neither had Chris. It was so large and luxurious that it felt like we were in a spa! I would definitely recommend it.

Barcelona in Two Days

Day One in Barcelona

Gothic Quarter

Let’s kick off our two days in Barcelona by visiting the most beautiful part of Barcelona city centre, shall we? That’s right, it’s the Gothic Quarter.

Yeah, it might be tourist-y but it’s tourist-y for a reason.

Despite the high prices and an abundance of street performers, it still somehow feels like the authentic heart of the city.

Anticipate historic gothic architecture (who could have seen that coming?) and narrow medieval streets aplenty! Full of charm and captivating history, there’s plenty to see in the Gothic Quarter.

Some of my favourites include the Gothic Cathedral, the Roman Temple and the plethora of tranquil squares that litter this part of Barcelona.

Top tip: make sure you don’t leave the Gothic Quarter without trying some of the best Barcelona street food.

Casa Batlló

What would two days in Barcelona be without a visit to one of Gaudi’s many architectural feats?

Starting off not too far from the hotel we have Casa Batlló.

A glory to behold, both inside and out, it’s no wonder that it is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Entry starts at 25€ but if you want to save your coins, just snap a pic from the outside and be on your way!

However, if you do decide to step inside, you’ll be rewarded with an augmented reality video guide that shows you how each room would be furnished and used. Pretty cool, huh?

Sagrada Familia

When you think of Barcelona, you probably think of Sagrada Familia.

Standing proud and tall in a gorgeous green park, this large unfinished Roman Catholic minor basilica is a famous symbol of the city.

Construction began back in 1882 and yet the temple is still yet to be finished.

That being said, no matter your taste in architecture, you cannot deny that this basilica is a bloody masterpiece.

The view is pretty spectacular from the outside but if you want to take a peek inside, tickets start at 20€.

Park Güell

Gaudi’s back at it again, huh? We can’t seem to get enough of the bloke!

While the famous tourist attractions were probably my least favourite part of visiting Barcelona, it’s gotta be done, right?

Park Güell is one of Gaudi’s greatest architectural achievements and one of the most impressive public parks in the world.

Most well-known for the picture-postcard image of the gingerbread gatehouses, Park Guell is a gorgeous green space much loved by locals and tourists alike.

At more than 17 hectares, it is one of the largest green spaces in Barcelona, ​​making it a perfect spot to relax on a hot summer’s day.

However, you will have to pay 10€ for the privilege to snap the famous shot seen above.

Tibidabo Amusement Park

If I could recommend one attraction to visit in the whole of Barcelona, it would easily be Tibidabo Amusement Park.

It was by far the highlight of our first day in Barcelona.

Founded at the beginning of the 20th century, Tibidabo is home to over 100 years of history.

And while there have been a few modern improvements, the park retains that hard-to-come-by old-world charm.

It felt like we had stepped right into La La Land. Envision colourful amusement rides and lights, set against the most outrageous sunset you’ve ever laid your eyes on*. *Not pictured above, for the record.

Oh, and pair this with being at the highest point in Barcelona which offers an incredible vantage point from which to look over the whole city.

This magical evening really felt too good to be true.

You have to pay 28.40€ entry to the amusement park. However, there aren’t many huge rides aside from one rollercoaster, so I’d only really recommend this part to families with kids (though I didn’t go in myself so cannot really advise either way!).

However, the viewing platform is free to enter.

From here you can access the Temple of the Secret Heart of Jesus, a few rides, some food stalls, and of course, the view over Barcelona.

Running every thirty minutes, catch the T2A shuttle bus from Plaça Catalunya to Tibidabo for just 3€ one way.

I’d recommend going up an hour or so before sunset, so you can appreciate the beautiful views in daylight through to dusk.

And hopefully, you’ll be blessed with a sunset as magical as ours!

Day Two in Barcelona

Montserrat

After yesterday evening, I really thought that nothing else could top Tibidabo on this trip. But boy oh boy, was I wrong.

I’ll keep this short and sweet, as I will be writing a separate post on this day trip, but for now, all I have to say is VISIT MONTSERRAT!

A really easy and cheap day trip from Barcelona, Montserrat is a great second day alternative for those who want to see more than just the city!

If, like me, you are constantly craving the mountains, you will fall head over heels for Montserrat.

In fact, I’d go so far as to say that two days in Barcelona are incomplete without a trip here.

Montserrat is a multi-peaked mountain range less than an hour away from Barcelona.

Famous for its Benedictine monastery, it’s difficult to decide what is most impressive about this place.

Is it the mountains? The architecture? The unique rock formations?

I don’t know but there’s one thing for certain: this place is bloody beautiful.

So are you planning on spending two days in Barcelona with Jet2CityBreaks?

Where on this list makes you most excited to visit this vibrant Catalonian city?

Let me know in the comments below!