Barcelona in 3 days is rather hectic to see but a little planning with this easy to do. On our third day in Barcelona, I took time out to discover some of the interesting sights further away from the city centre. It’s worth taking the time to see Montjuïc and Plaza de España.
Seeing Montjuïc in Barcelona
We saw Montjüic on the 3rd day of our trip. Check out our related article of must-see places in Barcelona: 2 day Barcelona Itinerary.
How to Get to Montjuïc
Juan was really looking forward to seeing the Olympic Complex located on the Montjuïc mount, so we took the metro (line L3) to Paral•lel station, then caught the Montjuïc Funicular.
Alternatively you can ride the teleféric cable car from the port to Montjuïc Castle and scenic Miramar lookout for stunning views of the city, or once again the easiest option is probably to use the Bus Turistic. Even if you’re only in Barcelona for 24 hours, make time to see this part of the city.
What to See in Montjuïc
Among Montjuïc Park‘s many features are a series of interesting gardens which showcase all kinds of botanical species.
The Olympic Ring, the main site of the 1992 Olympic Games, hosted the opening and closing ceremonies and the athletics competitions; the Palau Sant Jordi stadium which besides holding leading sports events is used as a concert hall; the imposing white structure of the communications tower; the headquarters of the Sports University; and the Picornell swimming pools which are open to the public, are just some of the attractions to see in Montjuïc.
A few minutes away the recently remodelled National Museum of Art of Catalonia, housed in the impressive National Palace, brings together one of the most important collections of Romanesque art in the world. The museum also has outstanding collections of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque art. The Fundació Joan Miró, besides housing the permanent collection of painting, sculpture, ceramics, tapestries by this world-renowned Catalan artist, is fully involved in promoting the contemporary arts.
The Poble Espanyol is a full-scale recreation of a traditional Spanish “town”. It is one of the city’s main leisure venues with a wide variety of bars, shops and many craft workshops and often hosts entertainments, festivals and concerts.
Places to See near Montjuïc
Plaza de España
Parc de Montjuïc also overlooks the Plaza de España, both being laid out for the 1929 International Exhibition. The fountain in the centre of the Plaza, with its three bronze sculptures representing trade, industry and shipping, are by Josep Maria Jujol, a versatile artist and invaluable associate of Gaudí’s. The ‘Font Mágica‘ is one of Spain’s famous landmarks.
The two Venetian towers, which flank the Avenida Maria Cristina, mark the entrance of the trade-fair site.
End the day with a visit to the nearby FC Barcelona football stadium, Camp Nou.
Alternatively, head for the shops before you return home. Barcelona has an open-air retail thoroughfare stretching for over five kilometres, known as the Shopping Line, Avinguda Diagonal includes major shopping centres and restaurants.
Where to Eat in Barcelona
On our last evening we dined at a restaurant that had been recommended to us, Les Quinze Nits in Plaza Reial just off La Rambla, not far from the Liceu.
They don’t take bookings and we’d been warned that we’d have to queue outside but the wait was definitely worth it, the large restaurant had several ambiances, the food was great and it was economical too!
The choice on the a la carte menu was mouth-watering and I finally chose a large starter of marinated salmon, followed by delicious duck then finished off with ice-cream liberally doused in Baileys cream liqueur!
Places to See near Barcelona
The Pedralbes Monastery, founded in 1326, is one of the finest examples of Catalan Gothic art, a small community of nuns from the Order of St Clare still lives in one wing, but most of the building is now a museum which is open to visitors. Since 1993, works from the Thyssen Collection have been on view in this imposing setting.
A road trip through the Costa Brava is simple to do and a great way of seeing more beautiful places near Barcelona. Check our our 3 Day Costa Brava Road Trip Itinerary from Barcelona.
Three days is far too short to discover everything that beautiful bustling Barcelona has to offer, especially if it’s the first time you’ve visited the city.
But armed with maps and pertinent data from the main tourist information office, which is located in the central Plaza Catalunya, it’s certainly possible to see the most outstanding attractions and enjoy the lively, casual atmosphere.
Ideally stay for longer to see more of Catalonia Region on day trips from Barcelona, venturing inland or along the coasts of Girona and Tarragona.
My husband Juan and I stayed at the Ámister Hotel – this is one of the most original hotels in the city, combining art and comfort, and has been specially designed for people visiting the city for leisure or on business.
How to Get to Barcelona
By air: Barcelona El Prat International Airport (16 km from city centre)
By rail: High speed AVE to Madrid, South & East Spain; trains to Paris, Milan, Zurich, Milan, etc.
By sea: Barcelona port ferry services to Balearic Islands & main Mediterranean ports including Italy; Barcelona is also a major destination for cruise liners.
By road: A7 Mediterranean motorway northwards to Girona and France; south to Valencia Region, connecting to Murcia and Andalusia; A2 motorway to Zaragoza, connecting to Madrid and Bilbao.
Plan your route on the official Barcelona website.
Related Posts on Barcelona
Barcelona city is an open-air museum with a multitude of fascinating things to see. Follow our Barcelona 2 day itinerary through the historic quarter down to the fashionable seafront boulevard.
Road Trip Costa Brava (3 Day Itinerary from Barcelona)
Enjoy a road trip along the Costa Brava. This 3-day itinerary from Barcelona is packed with suggestions for activities, places to see and must-have experiences.
2 Days in Barcelona – Unique Places to Visit
A 2 day insider guide to Barcelona, showing you what to see and and do (in Spanish).
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