Barcelona Solo: 2 Day Itinerary for First-Time Visitors

During a two day solo adventure for your first time to Barcelona, you will have the opporunity to enjoy the beauty of the Mediterranean, the famous and historic architecture of Gaudi, as well as some of the best Catalonian food anywhere to be found.

In this guide for first timers to Barcelona, I’ll explain how to make the most of your time so that you don’t miss out on anything.

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While you can easily spend several days in Barcelona, you can also see a lot in just two days. Two days will give you a sample of what this iconic city has to offer.

During my recent solo trip to Spain for the first time, I spent two full days exploring Barcelona. While my accommodations were in the small town of Sitges, a really fun day trip from Barcelona, I took the train into the city to explore. Even in this short amount of time, I felt like I saw enough to get a great sense of what Barcelona had to offer first time visitors.

Barcelona Solo 2 Day Itinerary: Summary

Day 1 In Barcelona Solo:

Day 2 In Barcelona Solo:

About The Hop On-Off Tour In Barcelona: And What To Expect

There are two hop on-off routes to choose from; the red line and the blue line. I did both in the same day. If you want to hop off and enjoy t6the attractions, I do recommend doing the red line on day one and the blue line on day 2. This will give you ample opportunity to wander around or even inside some of the attractions.

The hop-on, hop-off tours can, and should be, booked in advance. You can start the tour at any of the signs scattered throughout the city, however, I hopped on the red line directly in front of the Barcelona train station.

To find a stop, simply look for the red or blue signs depending on the tour you booked. The trolley passes every 20 minutes or so, so your wait won’t be long.

On a sunny day, you will want to grab a seat on the upper part of the trolley in order to get the best pictures. It there is no space, then wait until people get off and the run to the top to grab a seat.

Travellers will be provided a set of earbuds that will explain the history of each stop, as well as a map which explains each attraction that allows you to pre-determine which attraction you want to explore in further depth.

Get Your Map For Your Hop On Hop Off Tour Of Barcelona

Things To Know About The Barcelona Hop On Off Tour

Services:

Advantages of Purchasing The Hop On Off Tour

Timetables and Operating Hours

How To Book a Solo Day In Barcelona on the Hop On Off Tour

Day 1: Red Line Hop On Hop Off Tour

The red line hop on hop off tour will take you closer to the waterfront where you can view the stunning Meditteranean, along with some of Barcelona’s more modern architecture, such as:

After lunch, I recommend walking a bit before catching the blue line. There are plenty of great boutique shops in this area, as well as some of Gaudi’s historic buildings. I walked up to Sagrada Familia before hopping on the blue line trolley.

Sagrada Familia

Sagrada Familia is by far one of Gaudi’s historic creations, as well as the most popular tourist stop in Barcelona…..and for good reason.

For over five generations, the project has continued to grow, with architects adding their own perspective to the project. It’s said that the reason Sagrada Familia has taken such a long time to complete is because architects differ on the idea that Gaudi had in mind when beginning this project.

Although on my first solo visit to Barcelona, I didn’t have the opportunity to explore the inside of this architectural wonder, I certainly will be doing so during my next visit. It is wise to purchase tickets in advance!

It you choose not to walk, the Sagrada Familia is also one of the attractions on the blue line hop on hop off trolley.

Blue Line Hop On Hop Off In Barcelona

After spending about an hour getting my fill of photos of the Sagrada Familia, I hopped on the blue line trolley to continue on my journey. While on the blue line, you will be taken deeper into the city of Barcelona past attractions such as:

As previously outlined, I did both the red and blue line in one day, however, I opted not to hop off except for a couple of hours for lunch and to explore the outside of Sagrada Familia. It was rainy and cold, hence, I highly recommend that you bring an umbrella!

JUST ONE TIP: If you want to explore any of the attractions on either the red line or blue line, I recommend taking two days to do both lines.

Day 2: Visit The Gothic Quarters

Now that you’ve seen all of the major attractions that Barclona has to offer, it’s time to chill and wander the alleys that you expect to see when visiting Spain.

A visit to Barcelona isn’t complete without a trip to the Gothic Quarters! The Gothic Quarters (or Barri Gòtic, as it’s referred to in Catalan) is located in the historic center of old Barcelona.

As described by Wikipedia, The Barri Gòtic retains a labyrinthine street plan, with many small streets opening out into squares. Most of the quarter is closed to regular traffic although open to service vehicles and taxis.

Explore The Nooks And Crannies In The Gothic Quarters

It’s very easy to spend a day exploring the nooks and crannies found throughout the Gothic Quarters, as well as immersing yourself in the vibrant energy found in one of the many squares.

Like many areas throughout Barcelona, the Gothic Quarters is filled with authentic Catalan restaurants. I highly recommend dining at Ca l’Agut. It’s definitely high on my list of the best places to eat in the Catalonia Region.

While the Gothic Quarters is quite safe for solo travellers to spend the day, pickpocketing is known to have happened in this touristy area of Spain. Whenever travelling alone, it’s always wise to follow certain safety tips when visiting Spain.

JUST ONE TIP: Retail therapy enthusiasts will have a blast exploring the hidden boutique shops found in the Gothic Quarters. For an authentic souvenir, this is the place to get it, but shop around for the best price.

2 Solo Days In Barcelona

As you can tell, it was a busy 2 days exploring Barcelona, however, this itinerary exposed me to the best that Barcelona had to offer. Next time I go back I will take a bit more time to explore some of the stops a bit more, especially the Sagrada Familia and the area surrounding stadium where the professional soccer team, Barca, plays.

Enjoy Your Time In Barcelona 🙂

SAVE FOR YOUR 2 SOLO DAYS IN BARCELONA

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