
With Michelin-starred restaurants, nine World Heritage sites, some of the world’s most beautiful Gothic and modernist architecture and more than two miles of beaches in one European city, Spain’s Barcelona is like a cross between L.A. and Paris. This charming Mediterranean port city offers visitors a mix of history, fashion, relaxed rhythms and a vibrant, creative energy. Here you can walk from a palm-lined beach to the Barri Gòtic neighborhood and onward to an Art Nouveau–era avenue, all in the course of an afternoon.
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Perfect forFamilies | Foodies | Romantics | Art Lovers
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When to goDecember-February | June-August | March-May | September-November
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Ideal length of stay3-5 Nights
Designing Your Journey
Work with Indagare to design the perfect itinerary for an immersive journey. Our travel experts know the destination inside and out, and they can make recommendations based on your travel needs and preferences.
1 Week: Essential Barcelona
While Barcelona may seem like a laid-back city by the sea, the Catalan capital offers such a range of attractions that travelers can easily fill their trip with an endless array of architecture, art and history. Indagare members can book private guides for exploring the city with insider access from any perspective you might desire – art, architecture, cuisine, design, history, family-friendly, or a combination. Contact our Bookings Team to begin planning a trip to Barcelona.
Day One: Old City
Take a walking tour that starts at Plaça de Catalunya and the tree-lined central sidewalk Las Ramblas and passes the covered food market Mercat de la Boqueria and the historic opera house, Gran Teatre del Licieu, Plaça Reial, a lively and picturesque plaza and Palau Güell, a private mansion designed by Gaudi. Stroll into the Barri Gotic (Gothic quarter) and get lost in the windy streets, stopping at Santa Maria del Mar, a beautiful 14th-century church. Wander down the trendy Calle Flassaders alleyway on your way to Museu Picasso.
Days Two and Three: Gaudí
Barcelona is home to so much phenomenal Gaudí architecture, it is best to split up the visits between two days, and punctuate visits to buildings with shopping and stops for tapas. The Gaudí musts include Parc Güell, the hilltop estate designed by Gaudí for the Count Eusebi Güell, which was turned into a public park and boasts extraordinary city views; Sagrada Familia, Gaudi’s masterpiece cathedral that remains unfinished to this day; and along the Passeig de Gràcia, Casa Milà (also known as La Pedrera) and Casa Batlló.
Day Four: Up & Away
Head to Montjuïc, the mountain that was the centerpiece of the 1992 Olympic Games and home to the Fundació Joan Miró. Here you can also stroll through the lovely gardens or head to the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya to see the outstanding collection of Romanesque and Gothic art. A cable car connects the mountain with the city, making the trip up as fun as the site itself. For more amazing views catch the city’s last surviving tram, Tramvia Blau (the blue tram), from Plaça Kennedy to a funicular that will bring you up to Mount Tibidabo, home to the popular 1901 amusement park Parc d’Atracciones.
Where To Stay
We only feature hotels that we can vouch for first-hand. At many of them, Indagare members receive special perks, including upgrades, early check-in, spa credits, and more. Look for the Indagare Plus logo in the reviews.
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Cotton House Hotel
Located in the elegant Eixample neighborhood, the stunning Cotton House is fairly close to the main sites of the city including La Sagrada Familia and the main shopping street, Passeig de Gracia.
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Hotel Arts Barcelona
This gleaming hotel’s rooms are spacious, many with sea or mountain views, and the large outdoor swimming pool overlooking the sea feels more like a beach resort than a city retreat.
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Majestic Hotel & Spa
The grande dame hotel of Barcelona, located on the Passeig de Gracia, might be 100 years old, but feels fresh, glamorous and chicly appointed.
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Mandarin Oriental Barcelona
Exemplifying the top-notch luxury and comfort one expects from the Mandarin chain, the 120-room Mandarin Oriental Barcelona mixes Catalan-chic with subtle Asian accents to create a fashionable Zen atmosphere right off the Passeig de Gràcia.
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Soho House Barcelona
This Soho House feels like a well-furnished apartment, with the added amenities of a few great restaurants, an excellent spa and a killer rooftop with a city view.