Barcelona: A Week of Art, History, and Beaches

Alex Fleischhacker

12 Nov 2023

Join me on a 7-day adventure to Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Explore the rich cultural heritage at Montjuïc Castle, Catalan Museum of Archaeology, and Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya. Be mesmerized by the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc. Immerse yourself in the vibrant art scene at Poble Espanyol, Mies van der Rohe Pavilion, Joan Miró Foundation, and Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art. Discover the architectural wonders of Park Güell, La Pedrera-Casa Milà, Casa Batlló, and La Sagrada Familia. Relax on the beautiful beaches of Sant Miquel, Nova Icaria, and soak in the history at the Picasso Museum and Ciutadella Park. Get ready for an unforgettable journey!

Trip to Barcelona

Tours & Activities

Viator Tours

Day 1

$80

17th-century hilltop fortress & former prison, housing a military museum with impressive city views.

8:00 AM - 10:00 AM

•

$20

16 - 24 min

Directions

Art deco building housing an archaeological museum, with Greek, Roman & prehistoric artifacts.

10:30 AM - 12:30 PM

•

$25

8 - 12 min

Directions

Palatial, hilltop museum for 11th- to 20th-century Catalan art plus important Romanesque collection.

1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

•

$35

4 - 5 min

Directions

Huge circular fountain renowned for its scheduled shows of water & light choreographed to music.

3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

•

Free

Day 2

$105

$ 6

Open-air museum, built in 1929, with 117 buildings showcasing Spain's typical regional architecture.

8:00 AM - 10:00 AM

•

$30

5 - 8 min

Directions

Reconstruction of pavilion from the 1929 World's Fair, home to architectural lectures & exhibitions.

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

•

$25

17 - 26 min

Directions

Showcase of Joan Miro's modern, colorful artworks in hilltop museum with courtyards and terraces.

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

•

$20

12 - 15 min

Directions

White, light-filled building housing art from the 1940s to the present & a large Catalan collection.

2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

•

$30

Day 3

$87

Imposing Gothic cathedral with geese-filled cloisters, offering guided tours & city-wide views.

8:00 AM - 9:30 AM

•

$25

7 - 10 min

Directions

Famous indoor public market with meat, produce, cheese & an array of other food in a bustling space.

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

•

$12

8 - 11 min

Directions

Central, tree-lined, sculpture-filled square lined with shops & cafes, used for special events.

11:30 AM - 1:30 PM

•

Free

11 - 16 min

Directions

Colorful modernista house fusing Catalan & Flemish styles, decorated with quirky animal sculptures.

2:00 PM - 3:30 PM

•

$25

4 - 5 min

Directions

Contemporary museum in a modernist building offering works by painter Antoni Tàpies & other artists.

4:00 PM - 5:30 PM

•

$25

Day 4

$191

$ 11

Mosaic-covered buildings, steps & sculptures in verdant park with Gaudi museum & panoramic views.

8:00 AM - 10:00 AM

•

$22

12 - 15 min

Directions

Gaudi's Catalan art nouveau period building with quarrylike facade, hosting exhibitions & concerts.

10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

•

$50

6 - 9 min

Directions

Fantastical, curving dragon-roofed apartment block, now a museum, created by architect Antoni Gaudi.

12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

•

$63

9 - 11 min

Directions

Antoni Gaudí's renowned unfinished church, started in the 1880s, with museum and city views.

2:30 PM - 4:30 PM

•

$56

Day 5

$65

$ 11

Art nouveau concert hall known for its ornate facade & opulent auditorium with a stained-glass dome.

8:00 AM - 10:00 AM

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$45

15 - 18 min

Directions

Medieval harbor with a large maritime museum displaying a replica galleon, plus art, maps & models.

10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

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$20

6 - 8 min

Directions

This vibrant, urban beach features swimming, sunbathing, lifeguards, sports facilities & eateries.

12:30 PM - 3:30 PM

•

Free

Day 6

$68

$ 11

Family-friendly sandy beach with an array of amenities, restaurants & activities.

8:00 AM - 11:00 AM

•

Free

7 - 9 min

Directions

Museum in 19th-century, waterside warehouse tracing Catalan history from its origins to the present.

11:30 AM - 1:30 PM

•

$25

11 - 16 min

Directions

Museum in 18th-century palace, showcasing 20th- to 21st-century figurative paintings & sculpture.

2:00 PM - 3:30 PM

•

$30

5 - 6 min

Directions

Ornate 1888 Corinthian column topped with a statue of Christopher Columbus pointing toward America.

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

•

$13

Day 7

$100

Tanks themed by marine habitat, including a Mediterranean ecosystem, plus scuba diving with sharks.

8:00 AM - 10:00 AM

•

$63

13 - 20 min

Directions

Medieval mansions housing extensive collection of influential Spanish cubist's works & masterpieces.

10:30 AM - 12:30 PM

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$38

8 - 11 min

Directions

Park created in late 1800s, with zoo, boating lake, ornate museums and lush walking trails.

1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

•

Free

Budget breakdown: $732 In total

Activities & Food:$695

Transport:$37