Over the 2025 March spring break, I was lucky enough to travel to Barcelona, Spain. The enchanting walkable neighborhoods, world-famous museums, incredible dining scene, and general liveliness of the city makes Barcelona a popular tourist destination. If you find yourself with only 24 in Barcelona, here’s how you should spend it.
There’s no rush to start your day in Spain. Grabbing breakfast at 11am and lingering at your restaurant table until 11pm on a weeknight is completely typical. So, as you’re leisurely waking up, start your day by walking to Bloome by Sasha. The quaint, atmospheric gluten-free cafe offers an array of brunch options and gorgeous iced coffees. Each meal costs around 4-12 euro, with the coffees about 2-3 euro. Personally, I opted for the matcha pancakes, which were not only beautifully presented but also delicious.
A mere 20 minute walk away (which feels like 2 minutes in the midst of stunning Spanish architecture en route) is Passeig de Gracia, one of Barcelona’s most famous shopping streets. With endless stores ranging from Spanish chains such as Stradivarius, Bershka, and Pull & Bear to high end boutiques and designer brands, it’s easy for time to slip away as you roam the shops. Also, be sure not to skip one of the international Brandy Melvilles!
You may have worked up an appetite at this point. So, just around the corner is a Spanish chain called Honest Greens. The establishment is similar to Sweetgreens, but way better. Honest Greens offers locally sourced vegetables and proteins combined in a dish of your choice, each about 6-9 euro. You can’t go wrong with any of the menu options, but consider splitting a meal with a friend—the large portions of nutritious ingredients quickly become filling!
You can’t go to Barcelona without visiting an architectural site designed by world-famous Antoni Gaudi. There are so many to see, but if you only have time for one, consider the Casa Batlló. This one-hour tour of the historic home encapsulates Gaudi’s transcendentalist style. Gaudi’s innovative designs inspired by nature (turtle-shell shaped windows or scale shaped stair railings, for example) completely come alive in Casa Batlló.
There are countless incredible restaurants to end the day with. My personal favorite that we tried is called Gats. Yes, a cat-themed restaurant. Gats is a tapas restaurant that provides a typical Spanish culture dining experience, with lovely dishes that you could nibble at for hours. There’s plenty more attractions to hit, but these spots are sure to give you a taste of the culture and vibrancy of the city.