What to do in Barcelona in 3 hours

4 self-guided 3-hour routes through Barcelona — every stop timed, mapped and in the order that works on the ground.

The Canaletes fountain, the Boqueria market, Gaudí's first palace, the white museum of contemporary art and the oldest church in the city.

Font de Canaletes · La Boqueria · Palau Güell · MACBA · Sant Pau del Camp

2.4 km on foot 5 stops 2h 52m total

3h Mid-range

Montjuïc in three hours

The Venetian towers, the magic fountain, the national art museum's Romanesque murals and terrace, and Miró's own foundation on the hill.

Plaça d'Espanya · Magic Fountain · MNAC · Fundació Joan Miró

1.4 km on foot 4 stops 2h 54m total

3h Luxury

The Eixample's other modernistes in three hours

The houses Gaudí's rivals built on the same streets: Domènech's Casa Lleó Morera, Puig i Cadafalch's Casa Amatller, the Tàpies foundation, a narrow Gothic palace and the House of Spikes.

Casa Lleó Morera · Casa Amatller · Fundació Antoni Tàpies · Palau del Baró de Quadras · Casa de les Punxes

1.0 km on foot 5 stops 2h 33m total

3h Budget

The Gothic Quarter and El Born in three hours

Plaça de Catalunya down through the medieval core to El Born and out at the beach.

Plaça de Catalunya · Catedral de Barcelona · Plaça del Rei · Santa Maria del Mar · El Born Centre de Cultura · Barceloneta Beach

2.1 km on foot 6 stops 2h 44m total

Planning the rest of the trip

These routes cover the walking. The Barcelona guide has where to stay, what a day costs at each tier, and what to book before you go.