Barcelona travel guide

In Barcelona, splitting Gaudí days and Gothic Quarter days cuts both waiting and walking. The city isn't huge, so the metro and your feet are enough.

The basic Sagrada Família ticket costs 26 euros, 24 euros for students under 30, and is listed as free for children under 11. Tickets are for a set date and time, so buying in advance is safest. On Sundays it opens at 10:30, and closing time varies by season.

From the airport, the R2 Nord commuter train runs to Sants and Passeig de Gràcia. Check entry requirements for your nationality before you travel.

Visa and entry requirements for Spain

Whether you need a visa, how long you can stay and which pre-arrival forms apply all depend on your nationality and the purpose of your trip. Check the official source below, and your own government's travel advice, before you book.

• Entry requirements for Spain (Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
• ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) (European Union)
• EES (Entry/Exit System) (European Union)

The Sagrada Família is the basilica designed by Gaudí. The basic ticket costs 26 euros, and 24 euros for students under 30; children under 11 are listed as free. Tickets are sold for a set date and time, so book once your plans are fixed.

On Sundays it opens at 10:30 and closes between 18:00 and 20:00 depending on the season. Other days' hours also change by season, so enter your date on the official site before you go. Tickets are valid only for the chosen date and time, so recheck if your plans change.

Based on Sagrada Família official information. Prices and times may change.

With 2 nights: see the Sagrada Família on day one, then link Park Güell and Casa Batlló for more Gaudí on day two. Walk the Gothic Quarter on the morning of day three before heading to the airport. Park Güell admission is split by zone, so read the official information first.

With 4 nights: walk the Gothic Quarter and La Boqueria market on day three and go up Montjuïc on day four. The Gothic Quarter is a maze of narrow lanes around the cathedral, so slow down; La Boqueria is beside La Rambla, so walk them together.

From Barcelona El Prat Airport (BCN), the R2 Nord commuter train runs to Sants and Passeig de Gràcia. You can ride it on a regular Zone 1 travel card, so it ties in with city travel and fares. Passeig de Gràcia is close to Casa Batlló, a good area to stay.

Metro line 9 Sud charges a separate airport fare on the airport section, distinct from regular metro tickets, so check which ticket you have before the gates. In the city, walk or take the metro; the Gothic Quarter and La Boqueria connect on foot.

Spread your meals in Barcelona across pa amb tomàquet, crema catalana, patatas bravas and jamón. Pa amb tomàquet is Catalan bread rubbed with tomato and olive oil, good for breakfast or a light lunch; patatas bravas are fried potatoes with spicy sauce; crema catalana is a caramelised custard; jamón is thinly sliced cured ham to go with a drink. We don't pick shops or prices here.

Sagrada Família tickets are for a set date and time, so book once your flights are fixed. On Sundays it opens at 10:30 and closing time varies by season. At the airport, the R2 Nord train and metro line 9 have different fares, so decide which you'll take. Spain is in the Schengen Area: the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) records non-EU visitors, and ETIAS (EUR 20) is not yet in operation. Check the official EU information before you travel.