Barcelona, Spain in 1 Day: Top 5 Must-See Sights
There is no doubt that Barcelona, Spain is a bucket-list city. With its vibrant architecture, hip vibes, and intriguing history, there are so many sights worth visiting. The best part is that if you only have 1 day, you can still see the top 5 sights:
1. Montserrat Monastery
This was my absolute favorite experience in Barcelona, and perhaps it was one of the best experiences I’ve had in the world. To get to the Montserrat Monastery, you have to drive up an extremely steep mountain, slowly making your way up into this little cliff-side monastery.
Once you get up there, you are surrounded by beauty. You can see the Stairway to Heaven, a set of stairs that leads upwards. You can go up a funicular to get better views from the mountain, and you can explore the monastery that was literally built in the mountainside among the giant rocks.
It is a beautiful and sacred place, home of the Black Madonna, and it is worth spending an entire morning here simply walking the grounds and soaking it all in.
2. Casa Batllo & Park Guell
The architecture of Gaudi can be seen throughout the city of Barcelona. Perhaps his two most famous works apart from La Sagrada Familia are Casa Batllo & Park Guell. If you need to go the budget route, you can simply go see both of these sights for free, but if you want more history and better views, you can pay for a tour and more access. The architecture is vibrant and fun, and it truly adds to the experience of Barcelona.
3. Arc de Triomf
As you are walking through the city, you must stop and see the Arc de Triomf. Walk through this arc, and you will be walking along a strip surrounded by palm trees. The Arc is massive and magnificent, with many details and a large presence.
4. La Sagrada Familia
The most massive structure within the city is La Sagrada Familia. It has been under construction for over 100 years, and it continues to be worked on each day now. The amount of detail on this Cathedral is mind-blowing, and it just captures your view in all directions the closer you get. I would recommend doing the tour of the inside, just for the experience, but I also wasn’t taken aback by the modern feel of the inside, so if you want to save money, don’t do the tour! The outside is the shining star of this attraction, so just walking around the building and admiring it from afar is enough to leave your mouth hanging open.
5. Sitges
A smaller, nicer coastal town on the other side of the airport from Barcelona is a town called Sitges. There are many shops and restaurants along the main strip, and it is right off of a goregous beach with mountains behind it. It is worth a drive through, especially to see the large buildings and cute restaurants across from the beach. It would also be a good idea to stop and get breakfast on a nice day with a drink and a view before having to go to the airport. Drive back along the C-31 highway to experience an amazing coastal drive overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.
Barcelona is an amazing and vibrant city! Everyone should experience at least 1 day in the city, but if you have more time, there is so much more to see! If you ever find yourself somewhere in Europe, look up flights to Barcelona and just book a day exploring! Happy adventuring.
