The way to effectively experience Barcelona in 48 hours is through preparation! This 3-day, 2-night Barcelona itinerary is perfect for anybody studying abroad who just found a great Ryanair flight into Barcelona for the weekend. But more broadly, this itinerary is also great for anyone who is in Spain or Europe for any amount of time and is looking to see as much as they possibly can without spending a crazy amount of money.
Here’s the tl;dr: you can easily see Barcelona in 48 hours on a budget by staying a little bit outside the main tourist areas, leveraging public transit, and planning ahead.
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Barcelona in 48 Hours: Day 1
The beginning of your journey starts late Friday night. The Barcelona Airport Express shuttle is seriously great value and is really easy to use as a way to get from the airport into the city and vice versa. A return trip (covers both to and from the airport) costs just €12.25, and a one-way trip costs €7.25. The shuttle runs 24 hours a day and comes every 5 minutes. I seriously doubt any rideshare app is going to have those kinds of stats.
Once you get through the mega long border control line (maybe it was just the night I visited, but it was definitely the longest I waited to get a passport stamp anywhere in Europe), it’s super easy to find the Aerobus stops as they have huge blue machines where you can buy your one-way or return ticket. They serve all terminals so you shouldn’t have to travel far.
Speaking 100% from experience, if you took high school Spanish in the US and think that you’ll be able to use that to maybe communicate with a bus driver or airport employee or hospitality worker who doesn’t speak great English, it’s not going to happen. They speak Catalan in Barcelona. If you’re like me and think maybe it sounds close enough to Spanish where you’ll recognize even a couple of words, you will not.
Once you’ve found the shuttle, you’re going to plan to get off on the first stop in the city – Plaça d’Espanya.
Rather than staying in the Old City, Las Ramblas, or the Gothic Quarter, I recommend you stay near Plaça Espanya as it will save you a decent amount of money while still connecting you to the rest of Barcelona via public transit, or on foot (only about a 30-35 minute walk to the Old City, or Ciutat Vella.
The Old City’s Magic Fountain (Font Màgica) is the site of an evening light-and-sound show, while its National Palace (Palau Nacional) houses Catalonia’s national art museum. You’ll think you’re in Venice for a second as the two towers on the Avinguda de la Reina Maria Cristina are city landmarks.
Hotels near Plaça d’Espanya:
Ona Hotel: has a stunning rooftop terrace, seasonal food, and is a great location only steps away from the Placa Espanya Station.
Hotel Vilamari: just 5 minutes from Espanya station, this more upscale hotel has a beautiful terrace with a bar and snack bar for a great nightly price.
Hotel Hcc Lugano: 7 minutes from Espanya station, this highly rated hotel is also seriously great value for your money.
Since I’m assuming your arrival flight is later in the evening, this is really more of a 2-day Barcelona itinerary than a 3-day since you’ll basically just be seeing your hotel room the first night.
Barcelona in 48 Hours – Day 2:
The first thing you’re going to do in the morning of Day 2 if you’re trying to see Barcelona in 2 days is wander around your hotel until a little cafe or bakery piques your interest. Heck, even a grocery store can cause me to stop in my tracks and dive into a full cultural experience.
Once you get some food and coffee in your bellies, you’re headed to La Sagrada Familia. You’re trying to see Barcelona in two days so make sure you’re appropriately caffeinated.
Either of the above accommodations is going to be within a couple minute walk of the Espanya train station. Seriously, the Barcelona train system is so slick, you’ll be a pro within minutes even if you don’t speak a lick of Catalan, which I’m assuming you don’t.
When you get to the Espanya station, board the TMB Metro L1 train to the Universitat stop. There, you will transfer to the L2 train toward the Badalona Pompeu Fabra. Both trains run every 3 minutes so you won’t be waiting long. The L2 has an exit at the Sagrada Familia and you should see signs pointing you in the direction as soon as you get off the stop.
Do you need to visit La Sagrada Familia?
Yes. You do. I don’t care if basilicas aren’t really your jam. This one is. I don’t know why you’re going to Barcelona if you aren’t even at least a little curious to see such an incredible display of architecture. So, you’re going.
Look, they broke ground on this church in 1882 and it still isn’t finished. Yet it’s been consecrated by the Pope and UNESCO recognizes it as part of a world heritage site. Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí is the beating heart of Barcelona and has cemented himself in history as an architectural genius. You need to see that genius.
If you’re wondering if you really need to pay to go inside or if you can just admire the outside, again, I don’t care how you feel about churches, this building is amazing. Pay to go in. Your entrance fee goes to the annual construction fund that will hopefully have the darn thing finished by 2032.
Purchase your tickets directly through La Sagrada Familia’s website. It is €26 to enter, and your ticket gets you a guided audiobook, €36 to enter and get tickets to go up to the top of the towers, and €40 if you want entrance to the basilica and the towers and want to add a guided tour instead of using the audiobook. You get a €2 discount if you’re under 30, which quite frankly feels unfair. As if you not walking through life without the gift of periodic back pain wasn’t enough.
Your tickets are for a specific multi-hour window and must be purchased in advance. And I’m talking a couple of weeks in advance, not at the airport on Friday for entrance on Saturday. There will be no availability. You can download the official app and show your ticket online without needing to print a ticket.
Once you finish up at La Sagrada Familia, walk over to Las Ramblas and La Boqueria market for lunch and follow your nose. The market is positively stuffed full of fresh fruits, juices, and vendors selling delicious meals.
If you’re looking to try some of the paella that Barcelona is famous for, you’re going to have to walk at least a half a mile away from Las Ramblas or the touristy areas in general. If there is a picture of paella in front of the restaurant or on the menu, you do not want to eat it, and you’ll be paying a premium to do so anyway.
The best paella we had was actually a Greek restaurant near Plaça Espanya.
What to do in Barcelona in two days:
- An hour long boat cruise to get a view of the Barcelona skyline and get some salty air in your face. It’s $9 a person and we enjoyed the quick change of scenery in the afternoon.
- Entrance to the Erotic History Museum with a guided audiobook is about $15 a person. Can’t lie and say we personally did this, but I also can’t lie and say I wouldn’t do this.
Once you’ve had your fill, the Liceu train station is located nicely in La Rambla. Take the L3 back to the Espanya station where you started your day and catch one of the best things to do in Barcelona at night: the free Magic Fountain show that is only a couple blocks from your hotel. Starting time varies from 8p-9:30pm depending on what time of year you’re visiting.
Barcelona in 48 Hours – Day 3:
In the morning, take the metro to Park Güell. Park Güell is really one of the best things to see in Barcelona and should not be missed. Like I said, Gaudí is the beating heart of this city and his creativity is on full display at this park. Colorful mosaics and whimsical sculptures cover the green space in what feels like an adult Catalan Candyland.
Besides being home to Gaudí’s amazing architecture, Park Güell is an actual park that is free to enter for citizens of Barcelona. It’s actually one of the largest green spaces in the city. Assuming you’re not a citizen of Barcelona, the entrance fee for you is €10 and will require advanced reservation.
The L3 will take you to the Vallcarca stop, which is about a half a mile from the entrance to the park. Plan to purchase your tickets in advance to see this piece of Gaudí architecture as well, but you won’t be out of luck if you wait until a day or two in advance like with Sagrada Familia.
Since you’re on a time crunch, you’re going to want your pick of the best times, so do try to book a bit in advance. The best time is as early in the morning as you can drag yourself out of bed and take the 15 minute train ride over.
Depending on the time you head out, you may need to check out of your room first. Most hotels will hold your luggage, so you don’t need to haul anything around with you. I always recommend this luggage lock in situations like that.
With these tickets, you must arrive within 30 minutes of the time listed on the ticket or you won’t be allowed in. That walk from the train station to the park is about 10 minutes, so give yourself enough time to not have to awkwardly jog it to make sure you make your timeslot.
Once you’ve wandered through this wonderland to your heart’s content (there is no time limit on how long you can stay), you can evaluate how much time you have before your evening flight home/to your next destination. If you’ve got a couple of hours of free time, I would wander back to the Gothic district and find myself some sangria at a sidewalk cafe before going back to collect my things from the hotel.
If your flight is really late, you can head to another one of Barcelona’s best places to visit: Labyrinth Park of Horta. Added bonus: it’s free on Sundays (and Wednesdays if this is a Mon-Wed trip for you). All other days the entrance fee is a very manageable, and Basic Economy B approved, €2.23.
It’s Barcelona’s oldest park and it’s manicured AF. There are temples, ponds covered with lily pads, mythological sculptures, and an actual cypress labyrinth maze that is spectacularly maintained. The L3 train will get you there; follow the signs for Pg Vall d’Hebron when you get off the train.
Spring is my favorite time to visit Barcelona and summer is when I’d avoid. Don’t miss my full guide on the worst times to visit Barcelona.
When you’re headed back to the airport, you’ll take the Aerobus from the Plaça Espanya stop. If you are coming from Avenida Paral, the bus stop is the second bus stop on the right. Aerobuses for both T1 and T2 stop here – they arrive alternately, so ask the driver which terminal he is driving to.
While this is the perfect way to see Barcelona in 48 hours, I will be the first to tell you you’ll want more time in Spain! I imagine you’ll be planning your trip to nearby cities soon, armed with the confidence of how great you are at managing European subway systems. You go girl.
Studying abroad in Europe and looking for your next weekend on a budget? Check out my How to See Rome in 2 Days on a Budget.
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