Morning

• Breakfast With a View. Start your day in Lokal at Hotel Arts Barcelona, which serves a buffet breakfast of fresh fruits, pastries, crepes, local specialties and hot dishes. In warm weather, soak up the beautiful Mediterranean climate and dine outside on the sunny garden terraces.


• Explore the Gothic Quarter. Head to the Gothic Quarter, the center of the Roman city and Barcelona’s oldest quarter. The Barcelona Walking Tours Gòtic starts at the Plaça Sant Jaume, traversing narrow, cobbled streets and delving into the history of the city from Roman times to the medieval period.


• Survey Architectural Marvels. Continue your architectural foray by visiting the Passeig de Gràcia, a street in the Eixample District, and enjoy Gaudi’s modernisme masterpiece Casa Batlló, a building where wood, glass, ceramics and quarried stone mix to produce stunning lights, colors and shapes. Then, make your way to La Pedrera, a residential building designed by Gaudi in the early 1900s that resembles a stone quarry.

Midday

• Modern Masterpieces. After lunch, stroll in the Quadrat d’Or, the central area of Eixample. You’ll see countless examples of Barcelona’s modernisme style from the late 19th and early 20th centuries — buildings featuring floral decorations, neo-Gothic details and stained glass.

Afternoon

• Natural Wonders. Ride the Blue Tram to CosmoCaixa Barcelona, where science exhibits include the Flooded Forest, a re-created Amazon rainforest ecosystem (look for the piranhas), and the Geological Wall that illustrates the world’s variety of geological structures.

Evening

• Tapas Tour. Enjoy one of Spain’s great culinary traditions: tapas. Stop in at a bar (or three) serving these small dishes meant to be shared. Have a glass of wine and sample the classic pan con tomate, patatas bravas and numerous seafood specialties.

Morning

• Let the Games Begin. Barcelona hosted the 1992 Olympic Games, and the event left a lasting impression on the city’s architecture. On Montjuïc, you’ll see the impressive Olympic Stadium and sports complex, and also the communications tower, a stunning, sloping design that evokes the body of an athlete.


• Art and Soul. Located at the base of Montjuïc, Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya is in the Palau National, a neo-Baroque palace. The museum houses a collection ranging from Romanesque to modern art, with works by Picasso, Goya and Rubens.


• Tour Spain. Near the Montjuïc Fountains is the Poble Espanyol, a charming re-creation of a village with more than 100 buildings representing different Spanish regions, and 20 workshops where you can see artisans working with pottery, glass and leather.

Morning

• Local Flavors. Grab a Spanish-inspired lunch at one of the restaurants in Poble Espanyol or journey to the Barceloneta neighborhood to enjoy fresh seafood on the waterfront.


• Afternoon


• Where Columbus Walked. Upon his return from America, Christopher Columbus landed at Barcelona; the 197-foot tall Mirador de Colom opened in 1888 to honor the explorer. An elevator transports you to the viewing area at the top, where you’ll have a breathtaking panoramic sight.


• Set Sail. From the Mirador de Colom, it’s a short walk to the Museu Maritim, which shows the history of shipbuilding and navigation between the 13th and 18th centuries. The museum is located inside a former military building dating to the 1200s.


• Seaside Rides. Rent a bicycle to ride along the waterfront to the Sant Marti District’s Vila Olimpica, the Olympic Village from the 1992 Games, where leading architects remade an industrial area into a modern urban neighborhood. Survey the nearby “El Peix,” a striking giant goldfish sculpture by Frank Gehry.

Evening

• A Dinner to Remember. Head back to Hotel Arts Barcelona and dine at two-Michelin star Enoteca. The restaurant features Chef Paco Perez’s contemporary Mediterranean cuisine and a selection of more than 700 wines from local winemakers as well as from around the world.

Morning

• Market Fresh. Start your day with the Barcelona Walking Tours Gourmet, a guided tour of delicious cuisine in Ciutat Vella — from dairy products to cured meats to dried fruits and nuts — with a stop at stalls and shops in Santa Caterina Market.


• Gothic Beauty. Santa Maria del Pi, a basilica built in the Catalan Goth style, has the largest rose window in Catalonia, as well as the Gegants del Pi, giant figures dating to the early 1600s, popularized in a well-known children’s song. From the bell tower, catch breathtaking views over the Plaça del Pi and Plaça del Sant Josep Oriol.

Midday

• Catalan Crafts. Spend some leisurely time browsing in the Gothic Quarter, where you’ll find small niche shops and designer boutiques. On weekends, Plaça del Pi features stalls with locals selling Catalan craft works.


• Gaudi’s Triumph. Take a short metro ride to the Basilica de la Sagrada Familia, a world-renowned Barcelona landmark in the tradition of Gothic architecture. Gaudi dedicated his last years to the project, yet it was only 25 percent complete at his death in 1926 and remains under construction to this day.

Afternoon

• Garden of Surrealist Delights. Stroll through the public Park Güell, another legendary Gaudi masterpiece, that depicts surrealist and playful works such as columns that appear as palm-tree trunks and quilts of ceramic tiles. The site of an unsuccessful residential project, the area became city property in 1923.


• Tiled Treasure. Within walking distance of the park are the narrow streets, squares and shops of the peaceful Gràcia neighborhood. Casa Vicens, covered with vibrant patterns of green and white tiles, dates to the late 1800s and was the first major commission for Gaudi.

Evening

• A Final Taste.  Finish your visit to this enchanting city with dinner at The Pantry, an innovative speakeasy concept where real food and straight forward earthy gastronomy are the primal elements and sharing style cuisine is the uttermost goal.

Morning

• A Breakfast Stroll. Start your day with a walk through Mercat de Sant Josep La Boqueria, a lively public market in the Old City where you’ll find colorful displays of fruits and vegetables as well as a central fish market. Described as a “paradise for the senses” and located in front of a gate of the Old City wall, its origins as an open-air market go back to the 13th century.


• Promenade Pleasures. Walk to the nearby tree-lined La Rambla, a wide boulevard that leads through the Old City of Barcelona to the waterfront. It’s ideal for a stroll together, along a pedestrian-friendly promenade, to take in the sights and sounds of the flower stalls, street theater, artists and sidewalk cafés.


• See Picasso Anew. Viewing beautiful art can be a deeply passionate experience, and the Museu Picasso in the Ciutat Vella will not disappoint. Devoted to the formative years of Pablo Picasso, the permanent collection consists of 4,251 works, housed in five large townhouses that date from the 13th to the 15th centuries.

Midday

• Lunch With the Master. Dine at one of Picasso’s favorite hangouts in his younger years, Restaurante 4 Gats, a café-restaurant in the Casa Marti, a medieval-style building. A favorite gathering place for Barcelona’s modernism intellectuals at the end of the 19th century, the location hosted Picasso’s first exhibition.

Afternoon

• Garden of Delights. Parc de La Ciutadella contains more than 100 species of plants and an abundance of century-old trees. With many fine sculptures, it’s considered an outdoor museum — look for Joan Roig i Solé’s La Dama del Paraigua (The Lady with the Umbrella), a longtime symbol of Barcelona.


• Relax Together. Retreat to the serene, relaxing 43 The Spa at Hotel Arts Barcelona. The spa offers body and facial treatments by Natura Bissé, including two signature rejuvenation and wellness treatments exclusive to 43 The Spa.

Evening

• Dinner for Two. Head to Hotel Arts Barcelona and dine at Enoteca, a two-Michelin-star restaurant. Chef Paco Perez’s contemporary Mediterranean cuisine is complemented by an extensive wine list, with more than 700 wines from local and international winemakers.


• Art and Theater. Cap your evening with opera at Gran Teatre del Liceu or a concert performance at Palau de la Música Catalana. Constructed between 1905 and 1908 and designed as a huge glass box distinguished by a large central skylight, the Palau de la Música Catalana has been listed as a World Heritage Site since 1997.

Morning

• A Leisurely Start. Begin with breakfast at the hotel’s Lokal, which serves a buffet of fresh fruits, pastries, crepes, local specialties and hot dishes. In warm weather, you can opt to dine outside on the sunny garden terraces.


• Neighborhood Beauty. Go for a walk in the Quadrat d’Or, the central area of Eixample. You’ll see countless examples of Barcelona’s modernisme style from the late 19th and early 20th centuries — buildings featuring floral decorations, neo-Gothic details and stained glass.

Midday

• Style and Sustenance. Take a break from exploring the neighborhood with lunch along Rambla de Catalunya at one of the plentiful restaurants, many with terraces. The middle of the street has a pedestrian walkway shaded by trees.

Afternoon

• Explore Chic Boutiques. Walk to Plaça de Catalunya to learn why Barcelona is one of Europe’s leading cities for fashion. With shops selling high-end brands of clothing and accessories, it’s the perfect place to treat each other to a favorite accouterment.


• Seaside Bliss. Barcelona is forever linked to the lore of the Mediterranean Sea that laps against its shores, with a seafaring history dating back thousands of years. Experience the romance of that maritime connection with a private sailing excursion, sipping wine as you gaze at each other and the city across the sea.

Evening

• Dinner and a Show. Feel the sea breeze and hear the soothing sound of waves at Xiringuito Escriba in Barceloneta. Try the delicious paella and sangria, and watch the chefs create in an open kitchen.


• Rhythm in the Night. Finish the night with a walk on the boardwalk or dance the night away in one of Barcelona’s many nightclubs featuring everything from jazz to disco to Latin. Barcelona is known as a city that doesn’t sleep, and nightclubs are full until the early morning hours.

Morning

• A Culinary Adventure. For lovers and lovers of food, the Barcelona Walking Tours Gourmet is a delicious guided tour of cuisine in Ciutat Vella — from dairy products to cured meats to dried fruits and nuts — with a stop at stalls and shops in Santa Caterina Market.


• Forest Hideaway. Escape to the tranquility of Parc del Laberint in the Horta-Guinardó District. The park, designed in 1792 in a woodland setting, is Barcelona’s oldest garden. With its flower beds, small squares, tall trees and even a waterfall, it’s perfect for exploring as you discover its secret corners and hidden treasures.


• Art Affair. In the Sants-Montjuïc District, visit Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya in the Palau National, an intriguing neo-Baroque palace. The museum houses a collection ranging from Romanesque to modern art, with works by Picasso, Goya and Rubens.

Midday

• Table Traditions. Grab an informal lunch at one of the iconic bodegas in the hipster and artistic Poble-sec neighborhood. Quimet & Quimet, a famous restaurant that has been run by four generations of the Quimet family, delivers an authentic tapas experience.

Afternoon

• Barcelona’s Scenic Beauty. Enjoy brilliant views of the Mediterranean and the port of Barcelona at the Montjuïc lighthouse perched nobly atop the south side of Montjuïc Hill. Built-in 1906, its design and isolated location evoke the sense of a simpler time.

Evening

• Sound and Light. Catch the lovely water, music and light show at Font Màgica, Barcelona’s largest ornamental fountain, built for the International Exposition in 1929. The dancing waters come to life in rich, translucent colors — azure and violet and emerald — accompanied by a mesmerizing soundtrack.


• Dine With a View. Stay for dinner in Montjuïc, where many restaurants offer dramatic views of the city below. With El Xalet’s crystal walls and rotating dining area, you’ll see a 360-degree panorama while dining on enticing Mediterranean cuisine. On balmy nights, an outside terrace is a magical place for a rendezvous.


• Evening Pleasures. Back at the hotel, savor a nightcap at P41 Bar in an atmosphere of low lighting and romantic music. Choose from a selection of champagnes or sparkling wines, or let one of P41 Bar's talented bartenders surprise you with their own creations.