Day One:

We had an extremely early flight on day one and we were a little rough around the edges so we planned not to do any of the big attractions and just incase the worst of all worst happened for travellers; our flight was delayed. We headed into town and took and stroll down Las Ramblas via Casa Batlloand then turned left at the end to head into the Gothic Quarter here we wandered around the allies and sampled many of the local tapas bars, and maybe some of the wine.

In the Gothic Quarter, some of the key things to look out for are;

• La Cathedral
• Basilica de Santa Maria del Mar
• The Kissing Wall on Placa D’isidre Nonell
• Parc de la Ciutadella
• Arc de Triomf

All of these attractions are close together and none of them, from our experience in Barcelona high-season, mid-August, did you need to pre-book tickets for.

After walking a marathon around the Gothic Quarter you will have earned yourself another beverage. The hotel H10 is located back towards Las Ramblas and we would highly recommend heading here to watch the sunset go down on your first day in Barcelona, with a G&T in hand.

Day Two:

Now time to get stuck into the big stuff and for Park Guell and La Sagrada Familia it is essential that you book in advance, before you even fly if you want to get a good early morning or late afternoon slot where there will be less tourists around.

First stop, Park Guell. Now did you even go to Barcelona if you didn’t see Park Guell and have a photo sat at the top on the mosaic bench? We think not! We decided to book the earliest slot possible, but found out if you arrive before 8:00am the entrance is free. Unfortunately it was a rather drizzly, groggy day but the beauty of the park still shone through and we spent a few hours wandering around looking at the art. You can then take yourself into the surrounding park via the back entrance to again bask in the greenery.

For lunch we would suggest wandering south to the Japanese District and having lunch at Restaurant Japonès Toyo, all you can eat Sushi for 10 Euros, yes please!

After lunch you will be close enough to head to walk to La Sagrada Familia.You can explore the surrounding streets and head to either end of the parks on the west and eastern sides to get some really fantastic shots! Once your time slot is ready, head in and explore. It’s a modern church in a style we have never seen before anywhere in the world (as of yet) so you will need time to take in this piece of art. We would also recommend booking of the towers so you can experience a bit more of the church. We chose the Nativity facade as our research showed it was going to be more detailed, but we’re sure both are just as awe-inspiring as one another.

Day three:

Now it’s time to head a little bit out of town so you can view Barcelona in all its glory, Sagrat Cor. To get to the Sagrat Cor you can take the T2A bus from Placa de Catalunya and it is just 3 Euros for the 20 minute journey, which takes you through the North of the city and up some beautiful winding country roads.

At the top of Mount Tibidabo which Sagrat Cor is located on, you have some of the most stunning views of Barcelona, and 360 degrees at that! You can spend time looking over the city, spotting the famous landmarks you’ve already seen, entering the Sagrat Cor and venturing all the way to the top via some stunning architecture and stain glass windows, or you can get an ice cream and ride the merry-go-round or Ferris wheel. You could spend a whole morning on top of this mountain and if you want to make a whole day of it, you can also head to Tibidabo Amusement Park which host a number of fun but slightly tame rides.

Once the T2A has landed you safely back at Placa de Catalunya you can head down Las Ramblas to Mercado de la Boqueria, a crazy, delicious, hub of food. Explore the market and taste all the beautiful and sometimes exotic foods it has to offer!

Now, you will have had quite a busy day, so we think its beach time! There are ten beaches in Barcelona stretching the coast and they are all full of hundreds of tourists — especially in mid-August! However this adds to the vibe! There a loos on the beaches where you can change into your swimmers and then relax. Maybe even grabbing a cold beer or cup of sangria off one of the vendors!

Day Four:

Time to get your sporting cap on and head to the Olympic Swimming Pool, one of the hidden gems of Barcelona. Now you’ll need to pack a bag including snacks because you can’t buy food in here and they also only accept cash but once you’ve organised you trip it will be well worth it, the views are insane!

Now you can get a taxi to the pool, or you can hike if that’s your jam but we found the best was to get there was by the Montjuïc Cable Car. There are two cable cars to the top running from the waterfront from to the west, however they do rack up price wise so you can skip the first one out and jump in at the second docking station. But, what a way to build some anticipation for the view!

Top Tip: Get here early because the pool has limited sun beds and in high season they can fill up quickly.