Barcelona Adventure: A Perfect 48-Hour Stay Before Setting Sail with Virgin Voyages

Welcome to Barcelona, a city brimming with history, culture, and architectural wonders. Follow along on our whirlwind 48-hour adventure, where we explored Gaudi’s masterpieces, sipped coffee in charming cafes, and enjoyed stunning views from rooftop bars—all before setting sail with Virgin Voyages. 

We sailed on Scarlet Lady on Itinerary Barcelona to Civitavecchia in November 2024. 

Checkout all Barcelona and Spain itineraries on Virgin Voyages here: Barcelona Voyages

Arriving in Barcelona

When flying from the US to Europe, particularly from DFW or the West Coast, I prefer booking an overnight flight. We departed at 4 PM CST and arrived in Madrid by 9 AM local time, then took a seamless connection to Barcelona via Iberia Airlines.

TravelMore Tip: If you book round-trip flights, like I did through American Airlines, once you have your Iberia record locator, download the app and log in to select your seats! These smaller planes offer a quick flight, but I paid just $12 each to secure seats up front with extra legroom. Since Will and I only bring carry-ons, we avoid waiting for checked bags, allowing us to head straight to our connection and through customs.

Taxis are plentiful at the airport, and all are government-regulated, making them a safe and affordable option. There aren’t as many Uber options, so it’s much cheaper. Just be sure to have some cash (grab some euros at the airport ATM) or confirm with the driver if they accept credit cards before you get in.

After exiting the terminal, I followed the signs to the taxi area. I ended up with a local driver who didn’t speak English, but he quickly pulled out his iPhone and used the translation app to communicate—such a helpful tool (Apple’s translator app is already installed if you have an iPhone)! We were on our way to the hotel in no time. You can also download the FREENOW app, a popular taxi-request app in Spain.

For accommodations, I chose the ME Barcelona by Melia, centrally located near Las Ramblas and the Gothic Quarter, 2 popular areas for shopping and dining. It is also close to the famous Mercat de la Boquería; we didn't have the time to stop this visit, but add it to your list as this is one of the most bustling markets in Barcelona. The property offered fantastic amenities, including a rooftop bar and pool, an indoor bar and restaurant, and a spa—perfect for relaxation after a long journey.

Rest and Recharge

We spent the first night resting after the long flight, and enjoyed room service in the comfort of our beautiful hotel room to unwind and recharge for the next day.  Our stay also included complimentary breakfast at the hotel. 

Day One – Exploring Gaudi’s Park Guell and Barcelona's sites

Morning: Park Guell Exploration

We began our day with a visit to Park Guell, designed by the renowned Antoni Gaudi. Originally intended as a residential area for Barcelona’s elite, the park has transformed into a stunning art experience, featuring unique architecture, vibrant mosaics, and panoramic views of the city.

I booked a small group tour skip the line tour via Viator: Park Guell Tickets with Tour Guide

The guided tour was a highlight, offering valuable insights into the park’s history, from its origins as a proposed luxury development to its evolution into the iconic attraction it is today. Interestingly, despite being designed as prime real estate for the wealthy, the park wasn’t popular with the city’s elite due to its distance from the city center. The wealthy needed to be “seen,” and the secluded location of Park Guell made that difficult. We spent several hours exploring so be sure to allow plenty of time to fully immerse yourself in the atmosphere.

Lunchtime: Coffee and Snack Break

By the time we finished exploring Park Guell, it was around 1:00 PM, so we began walking towards our next destination, La Sagrada Familia. Barcelona is a pedestrian-friendly city, full of shops and cafes, making it easy to explore on foot. Since we had a 3:00 PM reservation near the basilica, we decided to stop for a quick snack and a caffeine boost.

Afternoon: Sercotel Rooftop by Sagrada Familia

After our coffee break, we made our way to the Sercotel Rooftop for our 3:00 PM reservation. (Note: I had originally booked a 4:00 PM tour for La Sagrada Familia, but due to high demand, it was rescheduled for the following morning. We decided to keep our Sercotel Rooftop reservation since it’s a popular spot on its own.) The rooftop offers the best views of La Sagrada Familia, along with drinks and light bites. The wind was quite strong, so we enjoyed the view for about an hour before beginning our walk back to the hotel.

TravelMore Tip: Reservations for the Sercotel Rooftop open exactly one week in advance at midnight, so set a reminder to book as soon as possible. A small non-refundable fee is required.

On the way back, we passed famous sights like La Pedrera (Casa Mila) and Casa Batlló—two more architectural masterpieces by Gaudi. The Gothic Quarter, which is steeped in Roman history, has a mix of ancient and modern buildings that give it a unique, eclectic charm. Another area worth exploring is the beach boardwalk, though with limited time, we’ll have to save that for our next visit.

Fun Fact: Barcelona’s beach is man-made, created using sand imported from Egypt! After the 1992 Olympics, the city decided to improve its beach area to attract more tourists.

Evening: Dinner and Rooftop Bar Vibes

After a busy day, we opted for dinner at the hotel followed by drinks at the rooftop bar. Barcelona has a lively nightlife scene, and it’s very safe to explore local bars and restaurants. The rooftop bar at ME Barcelona was fantastic, offering great views of the piazza below.

At midnight, we were surprised by a local rollerblading meetup that circled the piazza, set to music—what a fun way to end the night!

Day Two – Sagrada Familia and Last Moments in Barcelona

Morning: Breakfast at Melia 

We grabbed a quick breakfast at the hotel, and I want to mention that the staff was outstanding. We were in a rush, and they helped us enjoy our meal without needing to secure a table, allowing us to get in and out quickly. The hotel also arranged our transportation, so a taxi was waiting to take us to La Sagrada Familia. Additionally, they offered us a complimentary late checkout at 1:00 PM, so we didn’t have to worry about our bags after our tour.

Private Sagrada Familia Tour

La Sagrada Familia is the tallest religious building in Europe and has been under construction for over a century. Construction began in 1882, and it’s projected to be completed by 2030. The architecture is groundbreaking, featuring arches and towers built using techniques never seen before. We could have easily spent hours exploring, as every inch of the building is filled with intricate details. I highly recommend booking a private tour, as it allows you to go at your own pace, ask questions, and tailor the experience to your interests. Though it’s a bit pricier, it’s absolutely worth it. Here’s the link: Sagrada Private Tour with Expert Guide

This magnificent structure is the work of Antoni Gaudí, who is also buried here. In the later years of his life, Gaudí moved from Park Guell to live inside the church, dedicating himself entirely to its construction. He became increasingly reclusive, rarely leaving or being seen in public. Tragically, Gaudí was struck by a tram while crossing the street in Barcelona, and because of his monk-like appearance, no one recognized him until it was too late. In his time, he was misunderstood, but his legacy now lives on everywhere in Barcelona and will continue to inspire for generations to come.

Taxi to the Cruise Port

After check out, we took a short, 15-minute taxi ride to the Virgin Cruise port where we boarded the Scarlet Lady to our first stop in Mallorca!

Ready to explore Barcelona and beyond? 

Go to the “Contact” page now to easily schedule an initial discussion with us to get things started!  Thank you for reading and following our travel adventures!  Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel and to follow along @travelmorewithkristin on Instagram for the latest travel tips, tricks and our newest locations visited.  

Thank you!

Kristin & Will

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