Girls' Trip-Four Perfect Days in Barcelona, Spain
- Wendy Hilberman
- 12 hours ago
- 6 min read
Tips for your Unforgettable Girls' Trip
Barcelona is a popular European destination, and its top attractions often sell out in advance. To avoid long lines and disappointment, it's best to book tickets and transport in advance. This includes dinner reservations, flamenco dancing, and event tickets.
Choose the right neighborhood for your accommodations. Where you stay is very important. So before you book your hotels, VRBOs, and Airbnbs, take a look around. I use Google Maps to check out the address and what is around the neighborhood. Look for wide, well‑lit streets, great restaurants, markets, easy metro access, and safe walking districts.
Protect Your Stuff — Pickpockets Are Real. My group of female travelers all wore crossbody purses that draped in the front, no flashy jewelry, and we kept track of our surroundings at all times. When you are dining in restaurants, keep your purse on your body and do not place purses on the extra chair, especially in outdoor settings. That said, we never felt unsafe anywhere we traveled.
Make sure not to overbook your itinerary. It's tempting to create a packed itinerary, but doing so might prevent you from spontaneously discovering the hidden gems that Barcelona has to offer. My most memorable day was when we got lost and stumbled upon the coolest bars, shops, and opportunities for people-watching.
Opt for comfortable shoes and make use of public transportation without hesitation. We covered an average of 5 miles daily on foot, so wearing comfortable shoes is essential. The public transportation system is straightforward, and whenever necessary, we took a cab. Taxis were both affordable and readily available. We used the Uber App to call both Uber rides and Taxis.
Day 1: Hop-on Hop-off Bus, Barcelona Promenade, and dinner at Mood Rooftop Bar
We loved the easy style of the Hop-on Hop-off Bus; we grabbed seats on the top deck in the front of the bus for great viewing. We did the blue and red routes which provided a great overview of the city. Tickets were affordable at $39. We picked up our tickets on https://gyg.me/weQWXCeW
We hopped off the bus at Port Vell and walked the boardwalk, great exercise and people watching. The beach and boardwalk were packed with pedestrians, beachgoers, and diners. Great atmosphere.
We booked a lunch reservation for a relaxed meal at Salt in the W Hotel a week before our trip. They prepared an excellent Sangria and Arroz al Horno, a baked rice dish featuring bomba rice, meat, chickpeas, potato, tomato, and saffron, resulting in a rich and creamy oven-cooked rice. The outdoor patio was the perfect spot for people watching and great food.
Dinner at Mood Rooftop Bar.
We enjoyed a wonderful and festive dinner at Mood Rooftop Bar. The menu offered plenty of healthy choices. We ordered the Avocado roll filled with blue lobster and coconut sauce, Burrata salad with arugula, and Chicken skewers with Tandoori Masala sauce, all of which were delicious! The views were stunning, the wine was flowing, and the atmosphere was lively.
Day 2: Sagrada Tour, Shopping, and Flamenco Show
We booked our tickets for Sagrada through
Book your tickets early! Generally weeks in advance. Morning tours or early evening are the best times for viewing the Cathedral. Pay extra to skip the lines. Take a moment during your visit to sit down in the quiet meditation and prayer area for a moment to soak up the history and the calm of this incredible Cathedral.
Our tour guide was informative and provided a nice summary of the Cathedral and the construction history. We spent approximately two hours wandering around the Cathedral and touring the museum. This is a must-see during your trip to Barcelona.
After the Cathedral, we took a taxi to the iconic avenue, Passeig de Gràcia, known for luxury shopping, featuring high-end brands like Chanel, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton. It is also home to stunning modernist architecture, including Gaudí's Casa Batlló and La Pedrera, making it a must-visit for both shopping and sightseeing. The streets were busy and bustling with tourists and locals. While the street was fun, we did more window shopping than actual purchasing in these high-end stores.
I highly recommend attending the Flamenco Show at Casa Sors Flamenco. I have attended other Flamenco shows, and this one was outstanding! The intimate setting, excellent drinks, and the close-up experience made it truly exceptional. The guitar solos, the singing, and the excellent dancing made it a fantastic experience.
After the show, we grabbed late-night sushi at a restaurant with a lively outdoor patio near the show.
Day 3: Day Trip to Sitges Town
Sitges is one of the most charming seaside towns near Barcelona, an easy train ride and a great day trip option. My party of three females took a train to Sitges for a day trip filled with beach fun, shopping, and exploring. After some research, we determined that taking the train made the most sense. The main operator for this route is Rodalies de Catalunya, part of Renfe. Trains depart from Barcelona Sants, Passeig de Gràcia, and Estació de França approximately every 20–30 minutes, making it easy to find a convenient departure. We did wait in line for about 30 minutes at Barcelona Sants to purchase tickets. Tickets were not available at the kiosk. The journey typically takes 37–47 minutes, depending on the departure station and whether the train is direct or requires a change. Once we had tickets in hand, we caught the train and were at our destination 40 minutes later. Super easy.
We grabbed lunch and a drink at Sofia by Picnic, a nice restaurant with a great outdoor patio across from the beach. We wandered the boardwalk next to the beach, where we found a nice selection of vendors selling trinkets, jewelry, and clothing.
For our beach time, we found lounge chairs and an umbrella for rent. They ran $55 for three chairs and an umbrella for a three-hour window. The water was calm and warm and perfect for swimming. We really enjoyed our day at Sitges. Catching the train back to Barcelona with our round-trip tickets was easy.
Dinner that night was at an Italian restaurant Pappa & Citti that came highly recommended. We had an incredible meal there.
Day 4: Tour of Park Guell, Gothic District Shopping, and Magic Fountain Water Show.
We took a taxi to Park Guell and purchased our tickets through the main website. Park Güell Tickets | Skip-the-line Access.
We explored the property, and honestly, the heat was intense, and the crowds were somewhat overwhelming. It was worth visiting, but we wish we could have done it on a cooler day with fewer people. After we had explored for a while, we walked out of the park and found a great lunch spot several blocks down from the park. La Granga is a family-owned restaurant with excellent food and service. LA GRANJA, Barcelona - Mare DE Deu DE LA Salut 2, Gracia - Restaurant Reviews & Phone Number - Tripadvisor
We took a taxi from the restaurant to the Gothic District and spent the rest of the day exploring the narrow alleyways that are packed with great shops, bars, and unique boutiques. We loved it. We found beautiful handbags, dresses, jewelry, and unique trinkets.
After a day of shopping, it was nice to grab a quick drink and some appetizers before attending the Magic Fountain show. A spectacular show of light, music, and water! Designed for the 1929 Universal Exhibition by the engineer Carles Buigas, the Magic Fountain of Barcelona was restored in 1992 for the Olympic Games and has proved a popular attraction ever since.
This attraction is both a must-see and free for the public. We walked to the fountain and positioned ourselves close enough for a good view of the show, which lasts about 15-20 minutes and runs multiple times. If you miss it the first time, you can stay and watch it again. This is a standing room only show.
We were exhausted after a full day of exploring and took a taxi back to our apartment to finish up our packing to head home. It was an incredible 4 days of exploring Barcelona and all it has to offer.
Goodbye, Barcelona until we meet again!
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