A second visit to Barcelona

What to see in 3 days in Barcelona

 Duration: 3 days  Central Zone and surrounding areas     Offer Code: 3-2

If it is the second time you're visiting Barcelona and you have a few days at your disposal, below you will find our suggestions for visiting those places in the city which you might not have seen before. 

Below you will find an alternative itinerary for 3 days in Barcelona avoiding the most famous attractions and enabling you to discover some hidden gems in and near the Catalan capital.  

Day one: Barcelona's most unusual museums

Barcelona knows how to surprise people in the most extraordinary ways, for example, by completely altering the traditional concept of what a museum should be.  In this city, in fact, there are no limits to the level of creativity and different art forms.  You'll see what we mean as you enter the Erotic Museum or the Wax Museum which is located in La Rambla, or if you visit the Museum of Illusions which is situated on Carrer del Pintor Fortuny 17. If you're interested in original exhibitions, it is always worth checking for what might interest you at MACBA and at the CCCB, (Barcelona's Center of Contemporary Culture), both of which update their exhibits on a regular basis.  For example, in 2017 there was a fascinating exhibition that was entitled "1000 m² of desire", which focused on exploring the relationship over the years between architecture and spaces that are dedicated to love.  When you find yourself in the city for a second visit and you have already seen the major attractions such as La Sagrada Familia and Parc Güell, why not enjoy a stroll through the Ciutat Vella and stop off to visit one of the strangest museums in Barcelona.....it'll be a great way to experience the city for a second time!

Day two: alternative shopping in Barcelona

There are plenty of places where you can shop in Barcelona, from the very famous Corte Inglés to the Hard Rock Café as well as the shops belonging to famous labels along the Passeig de Gràcia. So as to spend some time in a slightly more original and different way on your second visit to Barcelona, an idea worth considering is to spend the day walking through the city's alleyways discovering the best places in which to find some really alternative shopping. There are streets like the Carrer d'Elisabets which will really surprise you: in this street which crosses La Rambla, you will find shops that specialize in English "street fashion" with a range of creative prints on soft cotton T-shirts as well as fun accessories for the home or which you can take back as gifts for friends like those you will find in a great shop called Ale-Hop.  In addition to the shops in the center, it is always worth getting away from the more touristy areas and you'll be surprised by the creativity of the local craftsmen who trade their products across all the city's different neighborhoods: treat yourself to a stroll through the Vila de Gràcia or Poblenou ... and if you're looking for something really different, you'll love the Palo Alto Market which is held on the first Sunday of the month in the latter neighborhood.  You also shouldn't miss out on the stalls that are erected on public holidays which are celebrated in the city such as the book stalls that are on view at the fiesta of Sant Jordi.

Day three: outside the city center 

If you have been staying in Barcelona and are curious to see more of the surrounding area, you will be amazed by the beauty that Catalonia has to offer.  If you are here in summer time, we would recommend that you do some excursions to the surrounding areas and to some of the seaside towns along the Costa Brava such as the wonderful small towns of Roses and the enchanting Cadaqués.  There are several medieval towns that are just a stone's throw from the coast such as Pals, Castelló d'Empúries and Besalù, all of which are nestled in greenery and full of history and traditional cuisine which are just waiting to be explored.  One of the most popular destinations for tourists, in part due to its proximity to Barcelona but equally because it is so vibrant is Sitges where you can have a swim and relax on one of the most beautiful beaches close to Barcelona.  We would suggest that you hire a car in Barcelona to travel to these places, something that is easy to do and often proves to be the cheapest option if you are on holiday with friends or family.  If the latter is the case, then we can tell you that you'll definitely make your children happy by giving them a present they will remember forever: taking them to the leisure park of PortAventura. This is located about an hour and a half by car from the Catalan capital and is situated high up overlooking the sea.  And, since 2017, there's also the wonderful Ferrari Land where you can experience the thrill of launching yourself at the speed of a Formula One racing car as you go up the highest and fastest roller-coaster ride in Europe!