Barcelona was the first stop on our trip to Spain and France. We spent four days in Barcelona exploring the city’s history, Catalan culture and — of course — delicious cuisine. While Barcelona is considered Spain to the outside world, within the country the region is known as Catalonia. It’s heavily influenced by the Catalan history and most people speak Catalan (a dialect of Spanish). They proudly fly the Catalan flag — I didn’t even see the Spanish flag until we reached Madrid!
Four days in Barcelona is enough time to scratch the surface of the Spanish city. If you have just a few days, here’s what to focus on.
Four Days of Culture & Cuisine in Barcelona
What to See in Barcelona
We stayed across the street from the iconic Sagrada Familia. It’s a not-too-touristy area between the breathtaking basilica and the quaint neighborhoods that trickle outward from it. Our hotel, the Ayre Hotel Rosellon, has a rooftop terrace with a perfect view of the building. So naturally the first thing we did when we arrived in the city was share a bottle of Cava (Spanish sparkling wine) while taking in the view.
The Sagrada Familia
The Sagrada Familia is one of the most famous icons of Spain. The basilica is a work-in-progress, with construction cranes protruding from its core and jackhammers echoing throughout the area. The scene is nothing new, nor will it end anytime soon. The Sagrada Familia has been under construction since 1882 and isn’t expected to be completed until 2026. It will be a century after its famous architect Antoni Gaudi’s death.
Inside though, the masterpiece appears to be anything but incomplete. Gaudi was highly influenced by nature. He designed columns, staircases, and windows to mimic trees, seashells, and patterns familiar to the outdoors. To the unknowing eye they are simply stunning. To the knowing gaze, they are also strikingly clever.
The basilica attracts millions of visitors annually, so plan ahead. Lines wrap around the block, often hours long. So it’s worth booking a skip-the-line or guided tour before you go.
Park Güell
Sagrada Familia might be the most famous Barcelona sites, but there are many others not to miss. Other famous structures like Park Güell (like this tour!), Casa Batlló, and the Barcelona Cathedral, are worthwhile. Plus exploring the Gothic Quarter‘s narrow streets while consuming tapas or wine are a great way to spend the afternoon.
Opera in Barcelona
For me, the highlight of our four days in Barcelona was the opera at the impressive Gran Teatre del Liceu. It’s one of the largest opera houses in Europe, and was stunning. (Here’s more about the opera house.) We saw the Russian opera, The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh, which fell short of my expectations… But being in the theater managed to surpass everything I imaged!
What to Eat in Barcelona
Food in Spain is fantastic. Most of our meals consisted of Spanish small plates, especially Jamón ibérico: delicately sliced pieces of cured ham that’s juicy, salty and slightly nutty. We paired the ham with cheese, tomato bread (a Catalan staple), anchovies, and Spanish rosé.
Mealtimes in Spain are notoriously late. Lunch takes places around 2 pm while dinner is served around 9 pm. We adapted to this time frame quickly and stuck with it the remainder of our trip (which proved unfortunate once we got to Paris!). My favorite lunch was at Bosque Palermo, where I ate my first taste of paella, a traditional Spanish dish of rice and seafood flavored with garlic and saffron. Shared between two people, the dish is served in the pan it’s cooked in, with a heaping amount of mussels, shrimp and vegetables.
Another standout was our 17 course dinner of Asian and Spanish fusion at Dos Palilos. It was phenomenal! We ate everything from dim sum dumplings packed with Spanish ham, and mackerel sashimi, to snails and gooseneck barnacles. (See more about the dinner here.)
Related :: Here’s what to Eat in Spain
•••
Even just four days in Barcelona was enough for me to fall in love. The food, the culture, the people; everything was magical. But before I could fall deeply, we were on our way to Madrid to continue our adventure.
Related :: Touring the Gran Teatre del Liceu Opera House, 17-course dinner at Dos Palillos, and What to Eat in Spain
Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links and I may receive a commission from them. Thank you for supporting the companies that support Whiskied Wanderlust.
