If you are flying into Barcelona Airport, there is a high chance that you will then need to head to Barcelona city center – whether to transfer to your accommodation or as an intermediary stage to going somewhere else, maybe even as your final holiday destination.

Getting from Barcelona Airport to the city center is relatively quick and simple. There’s an express shuttle bus that runs between Barcelona Airport Terminals and Barcelona city center called Aerobus. It is spacious and has plenty of luggage space. It’s pretty affordable and convenient, but the Ticket Price varies as they’ve got a Single ticket and that’s about €7.25.

Guess you’re quite excited to see what Barcelona has to offer. Don’t worry I’ve got a lot packed for you in this article. 

Let’s dive in!

Let’s start with Plaça de Catalunya, we know all towns pride themselves on their main square but in the case of Barcelona, it is Plaça de Catalunya. Without a doubt, it’s the heart of the city and a meeting point for locals and visitors. It is regarded as the centralmost point of Barcelona city centre. It has a large central square (actually round in shape) as its focus and here you will find fountains and sculptures.

Just a short distance from the Plaza Catalunya àrea is Casa Milà. Casa Milà is quite large and even though you won’t visit the entire building, it’s normal to spend up to two hours exploring its many areas. It is never empty because it is one of Barcelona’s most popular attractions.

Next on the list is Casa Batlló, one of the most fascinating buildings in Barcelona. The work of Antoni Gaudí can be seen in every detail of the building. You can choose what you want to see in Casa Batlló – or maybe just everything. From the outside, the façade of Casa Batlló looks like it has been made from skulls and bones. The “Skulls” are in fact balconies and the “bones” are supporting pillars. 

As you continue the journey, you’ll come across Casa Vicens, the first house designed by Antoni Gaudí and the building that marked the beginning of his career. He took inspiration from nature and, using elements including wrought iron and ceramics. For the past 130 years, the Casa Vicens has been a permanent residence, originally a summer holiday home and then a family home.

Let’s continue!

You know what? We’ve seen several churches around the world all dedicated to the apostles in most cases – like you’d see churches named St. Peter’s church, St. Paul’s church, etc, but never have I seen the one that was dedicated to Joseph the carpenter, who we all know as the father of Jesus Christ. But did you know what? Barcelona has the first church in the world that was dedicated to Saint Joseph, the adoptive father of Jesus. It’s a beautiful place of devotion that stands atop a mountain- Royal Sanctuary of St. Joseph of the Mountain.

No one goes to Barcelona without seeing La Sagrada Familia. It’s the most important site for most tourists. But I agree to a point, because the structure is massive & it’s funny how the construction is still incomplete till date, it even has the title of being the largest unfinished Catholic church in the world.

You should make your way to the huge Arc de Triomf. It’s impressive and worth a visit. Barcelona once hosted the Universal Exhibition in 1888, & the Arc de Triomf was built as the gateway to the fair which was held in Parc de la Ciutadella. The monument is classical in shape, & It has become one of the city’s iconic landmarks. 

For a few minutes, take a moment to glance at Port Vell,  a popular waterfront area next to the Columbus monument. The area was once a run-down industrial port but has undergone a major transformation over the past few decades. It presents a different face of Barcelona than the mountains and beach. Upon entering the Port, you will see some spectacular yachts and amazing views. It incorporates a swing bridge, that allows ships to enter and exit the harbour.  

I would say that your trip to the port isn’t complete if you haven’t gone on a boat cruise. Even if you choose not to, you might just get tempted, & I’d suggest you just do it.

Once you make your way back to the lands, you should see The Venetian Towers (Torres Venecianas). Those are very obvious, just at the base of Montjuic mountain.  

There is Arenas de Barcelona Shopping Center & it’s one of the unique buildings in the center of Barcelona, right next to Plaza de España. The beautiful thing about the shopping center is not the just the 5 commercial floors filled with fashion brands, but the treasure hidden on the top floor: an impressive rooftop with fantastic 360º views over Barcelona. It is not home to just one venue, the rooftop has several restaurants. If you’re looking for a 360º rooftop experience packed with options, then this is the place to go. Entry is free, if you’re going through the mall.

One last view before we end it, The Poble Espanyol but you can call it the Spanish Village, & it’s one of the city’s most popular visitor attractions. You need to make a payment to get inside.

Conclusion

There are a lot of things to do in Barcelona, it’s a place you’d like to visit over and over again. I would say that the city is worth the hype. But for sure, one day is not enough to explore Barcelona. You’d need about 2- 5 days to have a great time here. Also note that things aren’t cheap in Barcelona.

Read more about Barcelona