Easter is coming and maybe you're thinking of taking a short break in Barcelona. If so, read on! We suggest everything you can't miss during your stay and explain the best way to get around the city.
Have you thought about a trip to Barcelona and have decided to visit it in 4 days? What a good choice! With this amount of time you can get to know the city and even schedule a one-day trip outside of it to discover landscapes and emblematic places of Catalan culture and gastronomy.
We recommend purchasing the Hola Barcelona Travel Card in advance—you can do so online. This subscription offers unlimited trips on public transport for four consecutive days (96h) from the first validation. It includes round-trip travel on Metro (TMB) from the airport to the centre of Barcelona. Don’t pay extra for this journey, and get around on public transport to better capture the feel of urban life. Be sure to take a look at the guide to see Barcelona in four days.
Catalan modernist day
To fully immerse yourself in Catalan modernism, spend a day visiting the monuments of this movement that filled the city. It was an artistic and cultural revolution that started in the late 19th century and the early part of the 20th century in opposition to the industrial past. Modernism is mainly reflected in architecture, but its influence on décor, fine arts and literature is also very important. Its foremost representatives were Lluís Domènech i Montaner, Antoni Gaudí and Josep Puig i Cadafalch. Montaner was the architect of the Palau de la Música Catalana and the Recinte Modernista Sant Pau. Gaudí was the one who made the movement famous by building the Casa Batlló, the Casa Milà or La Pedrera, the Park Güell and the unfinished Sagrada Familia. When you walk along the Passeig de Gràcia, pay attention to the lampposts, of which there are 32—they’re also Catalan modernist and true icons of Barcelona.
Origins of the city
Another convenient and practical way to visit the city is with the Barcelona Bus Turístic. You can purchase your ticket online. If you want to plan your visit in advance, check all the routes and stops. You can get on and off the bus as many times as you like to visit the places that interest you most. On board you’ll enjoy audio guide service, Wi-Fi and tourist information.
The old town is full of contrasts and history. Your starting point can be Plaça de Catalunya or Portal de l’Àngel. From there, walk around the area of the Rambla, the cathedral and the church of Santa Maria del Pi and lose yourself in the narrow alleys of the Gothic quarter until you reach the most maritime part of the city: the Port Vell, the Colón square and the Barceloneta neighbourhood.
If your interests include archaeology and history, a visit to the monumental complex of the Plaça del Rei in the Museum of the History of Barcelona is worthwhile. There you can hear about the city’s origins, from Roman to Medieval times. You can also visit the Born Cultural Centre. Under the structure of an old market you’ll find the archaeological remains of 17th- and early 18th-century Barcelona. Nearby you can visit the Parc de la Ciutadella, a large green space in the middle of the city and a good place for travellers to rest.
The different Barcelonas
From the Rambla del Raval to the Rambla de Catalunya, passing through the Gràcia neighbourhood along the way. You’ll discover the different Barcelonas that coexist side by side. In El Raval you will find a dynamic, cosmopolitan neighbourhood with great contrasts and avant-garde museums. On the Rambla de Catalunya you’ll see the most bourgeois side of the city, a street full of fashion shops and pleasant terraces. The Gràcia neighbourhood is a very lively area, both day and night, with a very diverse atmosphere. But the different faces of the city don’t end there: if you visit the Palau Reial de Pedralbes you’ll discover how kings used to live in their palaces and gardens. A complete contrast with the monastic life of the Monastery of Pedralbes, which has been inhabited by Poor Clare nuns since the 14th century.
A few steps away is the Sarrià neighbourhood. Visit it to discover one of the towns that surrounded the old Barcelona but were annexed to the city.
The Barcelona of sports and attractions
Montjuïc is a mountain with several interesting spots. You can get there with the Montjuïc Cable Car, a very special trip through the air during which you’ll enjoy incredible views of the city. One of the spots to visit is the Montjuïc Castle, and a 15-minute walk away you’ll find the Olympic Ring, where the 1992 Olympic Games where held.
The Poble Espanyol is another point of interest that is also nearby. Access it from the walls of Ávila and you can imagine being anywhere in the Spanish geography. If it’s late in the evening, stay and watch the light and music show the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc offers every day. But first, check the schedule, as it changes according to the time of year.
Once you get to Plaça d’Espanya, you have many public transport options. Come to the Camp Nou and end the day with a visit to the stadium of FC Barcelona and the Museum that explains its history and sports milestones.
The Tibidabo mountain also offers many attractions, especially if you are travelling with children or teenagers. They’ll love spending the day at the amusement park.
Trips outside Barcelona
Save a day to get to know an area outside Barcelona! With the Catalunya Bus Turístic you can choose between several routes and discover different aspects of Catalan culture, gastronomy or natural environments.
This Easter you have an appointment with the clouds and the history and culture of Catalonia! Take a ride on the Montjuïc Cable Car and enjoy the Easy Montserrat Tour, Dalí's Figueras & Girona Tour with a 20% discount. Buy your tickets on the Hola Barcelona website from 4 to 18 April entering the code HOLAPRIMAVERA.
