"The Perfect 3 Days in BCN"

So you have booked your city break to Barcelona, packed your bags and now you're sitting reading your shiny new guide book. But what to do in your 3 days here?! The first thing to decide is are you a "hardcore tourist" or a "soak up the atmosphere tourist"? There is so much to see in Barcelona and unfortunately you won't manage everything in 3 days!

I had been visiting BCN for many years before moving here and since moving have had a lot of visitors, so, I like to think I have mastered how to see and experience the best of the city in three days. The perfect mix of "hardcore tourist" and "do it like a local"... so heres my guide to "The Perfect 3 Days in BCN"!

Day 1..The first few times I was here I didn't leave myself enough time to explore the "Old Town". This area of Barcelona is beautiful and must not be missed! Take your time to explore the various neighbourhoods and stop and refuel at the many squares. Start near the Ramblas and La Boqueria Market and work your way into the Gothic Quarter. There you will find Roman Ruins, the Cathederal and Placa de Sant Jaume.

Mercat Boqueria

Placa de Sant Jaume

Carrer del Bisbe - Gothic Quater

The Cathederal

After that cross Via Laietana and explore the Born and Ribera neighbourhoods. There are lots of little boutique shops, squares, traditional bars, cocktail bars and restaurants. Parc Ciutadella is also very close by. This is my favourite neighbourhood!

Boutiques and Restaurants in El Born

Born Cultural Centre on Passeig del Born

Street in El Born

Placa Sant Pere

Santa Maria del Mar Cathederal

Parc Ciutadella

After soaking up the history and atmosphere of the Old Town, head for close by Port Vell, this is a good place to grab a bite to eat down towards the beach. I love Foc for food! Something to please everyone!! Then a stroll along the beach and back up to the Old Town for some cocktails to round off your day. I think this is a great introduction to the city!

Port Vell at night

Barceloneta

Day 2...A shift to Modernism and Gaudí! Book tickets online in advance for Parc Guell and La Sagrada Familia as this saves you wasting time in the queue! Start at Parc Guell, where you can witness Gaudí genius and then work your way down to La Sagrada Familia and see the beautiful basillica in all its glory as it nears completion. After that, Avenida Gaudí has some good restaurants where you can sit in awe, admire and discuss the stunning archtecture of Gaudí while you have some food. At the top of Avenida Gaudí is Sant Pau Recinte Modernitsa - an old hospital designed by another famous Catalan architect Lluís Domenech i Montaner. This is a stunning building and worth an hour of your time.

Parc Guell

La Sagrada Familia

Avenida Gaudí

Sant Pau Recinte Modernitsa

From here jump on the metro and get off at Diagonal and start your stroll down the famous Modernista route of Passeig de Gracía where you will find more architectural gems such as La Pedrera, Casa Batlló and Casa Amatller. My favourite of these and definitely worth the visit is Casa Batlló - book tickets online in advance. So, after all the modernism and beautiful architecture, relax with a nice spanish red wine and some food in the lovely El Nacional on Passeig de Gracía, an old parking garage that has been beautifully transformed into various restaurants and bars all under one roof!

Casa Batlló and Casa Amatller - Passeig de Gracía

El Nacional

El Nacional

Day 3... Treat yoursel to a nice brunch at Milk - they have every kind of breakfast option under the sun! That will keep you going for the day. If you are lucky enough to come on a weekend when FC Barcelona are playing I would advise you to get tickets, you can buy them at the offical shops and tourist information hubs. Any football fan will recognise this an an unmissable treat and even the non football fans will love the atmosphere at the Camp Nou.

Brunch at Milk

Fans cheering at the victory parade (2015)

If there is not a game on then there are two options you can consider. You could explore the area of Montjuic "Jewish Mountain". Take the cable car across Port Vell to Montjuic, from there you can explore the whole area. You can take another cable car to to Castell de Montjuic and visit the Fort, there are great views across the city and harbour from here. Alternatively, you can wander around the many gardens there are and end up at the Museu Nacional d'Art Catalunya (MNAC) or the Fundació Joan Miro.

Cable Car across the Montjuic

Castell de Montjuic

View from Castell de Montjuic

Montjuic Gardens

MNAC

If you fancy a really fun option you can take yourself off to Tibidabo for the day. This is another mountain in the city that as well as having amazing views from the church that sits atop, Temple Expaitri del Sagrat Cor, there is also a fairground there too which first opened in 1908. Amazing fun for all the family!! (Click on the link for opening times and how to get there)

The view over the city from Temple Expaitri del Sagrat Cor

Fairground ride at Tibidabo

Fairground rides at Tibidabo

For your last night in town, head back to the Gothic Quarter and enjoy some tapas at one of the various restaurants there. A favourite for my friends and me has to be Tapeo! Just so good - total classic. Later enjoy a cocktail made with love from the guys at Collage Art and Social Cocktail Club... you won't be disappointed!

Cocktails at Collage

Collage Art and Socail Cocktail Club

Hopefully this will give you a taste of my beautiful city and make you want to come back for more!!

All photos by Gemma Reid Photography for heartBCN.