Barcelona Day 3
I’m Natalli!
Inspiring you to make small discoveries, sometimes not…
I’m not a full-time traveler, not an influencer, and I definitely don’t live out of a suitcase.
But I do love discovering beautiful, hidden destinations — especially those that don’t always make it to the top of popular travel blogs.
Tips for Day One in Barcelona
🕐 Time Needed: One full day at a relaxed pace (10:00 AM – 8:30 PM)
🚶 Walking Distance: Around 12–13 km (don’t worry — it’s mostly flat and full of charm!)
Sample Daily Budget:
-
Breakfast in Gràcia — €5–8
A lovely flat white and toast with avocado or eggs in a quiet local café. -
Park Güell ticket — around €10
Book online to save time and soak in Gaudí’s colorful dream. -
Snacks on the go — €5–10
A scoop of artisan gelato, or handmade chocolate from a Gràcia boutique. -
Joan Miró Foundation — €13
For a splash of modern art and terrace views over Montjuïc. -
Lunch in Poble Sec — €15–20
Tapas or pintxos with a glass of cava? Yes, please. -
Palau Güell — €12
Gloomy, gothic, and glorious — a must for Gaudí lovers. -
Metro or funicular rides — around €5 total
Depending on your route, most places are easily walkable too. -
Sunset picnic at Bunkers del Carmel — €5–10
Grab a baguette, some jamón, and a bottle of local cider from a nearby market. -
Dinner at Bodega 1900 (or similar) — €25–35
A touch of culinary magic, without the formal fuss. -
Evening music (flamenco or jazz) — from €15
Intimate vibes in old stone halls or underground bars.
💡 Total for the day: €100–120 (or less if you balance your treats!)
Local Tip:
Tapas are meant to be shared — order fewer dishes and enjoy slowly. And always check if museums offer free entry evenings (some do!).
Planning smart = enjoying more ✨
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Barcelona Day 3
Beaches, the Golden Fish, and Sunset at Sea – My Favorite Day in Barcelona
Today I want to share a day I always recommend to friends when they visit Barcelona for the first time. This day is like a pause: no rushing, tasting the salt on your lips, feeling sand under your feet, and just living. Join me – I’m your guide!
🌿 What’s inside this perfect day in Barcelona:
– Morning coffee with a sea view at Can Fisher
– Beach time: Nova Icària, Bogatell & Mar Bella
– Golden fish & Olympic stories: must-see seaside art
– Where to eat the best seafood paella by the beach
– Unexpected art stops: from bronze swimmers to quiet rain
– Sailing into the sunset from Port Olímpic
– Local tips: beach beds, showers & how to book
– A day to fall in love with Barcelona
Morning: Coffee by the Sea and First Steps on the Sand
When the sun just begins to light up the calm sea, we head for breakfast at Can Fisher — a cozy café with panoramic views of Nova Icària beach. The air here always smells of croissants, fresh pastries, and the sea. This is where locals start their day.
The coffee is served with a froth that looks as if it were painted by the sea breeze.
💶 Average breakfast: €10–15
🕰️ Tip: Take your time — this isn’t a “grab & go” neighborhood. It’s a “sit & feel” kind of place
🏖️ First stop: Nova Icària Beach anf L’Estel Ferit — “The Wounded Star
One of Barcelona’s most “homey” beaches. Clean, peaceful, with showers and sunbeds available (about €6 per day). Families, couples, and maybe you — with a book and strawberries in your backpack — come here to relax.
Right on the sands of Barceloneta Beach, it looks like a random stack of cubes — but it’s not. This is L’Estel Ferit (or “The Cubes”), a work by German artist Rebecca Horn, created for the 1992 Olympics.
Guide’s Note:
“It’s a tribute to the old beach bars and the fishing culture of Barceloneta. The cubes lean as if they’ve weathered a storm — yet they stand. And I think: how beautiful it is to be wounded, but still whole.”
🏖️ Second stop: Platja de Bogatell
A little further along, and we’re at Bogatell. It’s more spacious here, and tourists are few. You’ll hear the volley of a volleyball hitting the net and smell fried calamari from the promenade.
Just lie down on a sunbed (they’re paid but comfortable!), listen to the laughter of children. Sometimes grab a book, or simply rest. Doing nothing is a rare skill these days.
🎨 Art and Architecture Along the Way
Next, a must-see stop at El Peix d’Or — the giant golden fish by Frank Gehry. It sparkles in the sun like a dream. Here I tell the story of how Barcelona prepared for the 1992 Olympics and how this neighborhood was born.
Guide’s Note:“You know, this is not just an art piece but a symbol of change,” — “A perfect photo spot.” 📸
🏖️ Third stop: Mar Bella Beach
A favorite among locals. More greenery here, showers, SUP rentals, and even a bit of wild, free-spirited Barcelona. You can just sit in the shade of the palms, buy a cold soda, and watch teenagers jumping off the breakwater.
🍽 Lunch: Seafood by the Shore
We head to Xiringuito Escribà — a beachfront restaurant with hundreds of glowing reviews.
Here, they serve seafood paella made with heart. If you’re lucky, you’ll get a table with a sea view — an absolute feast for the senses.
💶 Average lunch: €30–50
📍 Where: Xiringuito Escribà
🎯 Local tip: Book your table in advance
🎨 Art stop 3: Homenatge a la natació — “Homage to Swimming”
Three powerful figures seem to be swimming through the air.
Guide’s Note:“This is a tribute to sport and the 1992 Olympics. A reminder that we can move, overcome, and rise up — even outside of the water.”
🎨 Art stop 4: A Room Where It Always Rains
In the park by the sea, among the trees, is Juan Muñoz’s installation. At first, it looks like an ordinary room. Then you realize: it’s open, but somehow closed.
There’s no rain, but you feel it.
Guide’s Note: “It’s about loneliness in a crowd. About cities that roar but don’t speak. Very Barcelonan — deep, yet restrained.”
🌅 Finale: Sunset on a Catamaran
And now, the moment everyone waits for. We go to Port Olímpic and board a catamaran with TurTur Sunset Sailing.
The price is about €48 per person, but the experience is priceless: soft melodies playing on board, sangria poured, and the captain smiling as if he falls in love with this sunset every day.
The sun slowly sinks, the sea glows golden, someone quietly laughs at the stern.
“This is the moment worth flying here for. And it’s wonderful we shared it together.”
💶 Catamaran: ~€48 per person
🎯 Vibe: rustic elegance + wow factor
🗓 Tip: Book in advance (small space, big reputation)
Final Questions
– Want a day that makes you fall in love with the city? Here it is.
– Which art piece would move you?
– Or would you just lie down in the shade and listen to the sea?
🌊 Tips from your guide:
• Showers are available on all beaches
• Sunbeds cost €6–10
• El Peix and L’Estel Ferit are open 24/7
• Book your table in advance at Xiringuito Escribà
• Catamarans leave at 7:30 or 8:00 pm, with music and drinks
Scenic Red Metal Bridge in Urban Landscape
Sagrada Familia Cathedral
