Get ready for two days of intensive sightseeing which will be full of surprises. Here's an itinerary designed to help you pack as much as possible into 48 hours in the city.

On the first day, it’s a good idea to go out and soak up the city’s modernista ambiance. The best way to do so is to take the northbound Barcelona Bus Turístic to the Sagrada Família, where you’ll discover the rich symbolic meaning of Gaudí’s masterpiece. Further up, at the Park Güell, you’ll find the key to the Gaudiesque interplay between nature and architecture. At lunchtime, the neighbourhood of Gràcia is a wonderful option: you’ll be surprised by its traditional neighbourhood feel, its wide variety of restaurants serving world cuisine, and combination of craft and design shops.

At 4pm, the walking tour Barcelona Walking Tours Modernisme is an excellent opportunity to enjoy a guided tour of the Passeig de Gràcia and the heritage district, the Quadrat d’Or. You’ll see buildings such as Gaudí’s Pedrera and Casa Batlló, and other landmarks by architects including Domènech i Montaner and Puig i Cadafalch, on an itinerary that will give you an in-depth understanding of this open-air modernista museum. At night, you’ll be able to enjoy Barcelona’s most modern facet if you have dinner in the Born. Here, you’ll be able to see the church of Santa Maria del Mar, and be captivated by a neighbourhood which is a wonderful combination of medieval charm and Barcelona’s hippest bars and restaurants.

On the following day, you can lose yourself in the Gothic Quarter, and if it’s Friday or Saturday, you can “whet your appetite” on a Barcelona Walking Tours Gourmet which begins at 11am. This walking tour will allow you to savour Barcelona on a culinary trail through the old town, Ciutat Vella, which includes discovering the charms of the Boqueria Market, visiting some of Barcelona’s oldest, landmark establishments, enjoying the famous chocolate houses on Carrer Petritxol, and sampling the typical produce of Barcelona’s culinary culture. After your walk, make the most of your time and let yourself fall under the spell of the architectural gems in the Gothic Quarter, such as the Cathedral in the Plaça Nova, the monumental ensemble in the Plaça del Rei, the civic and government buildings in the Plaça Sant Jaume, and the medieval charm of the streets around the Plaça del Pi. From here, you’re just a stone’s throw away from the shopping street, the Portal de l’Àngel, which is the perfect place to make a few purchases and recharge your batteries in one of the many restaurants in the area. In the afternoon, we invite you to continue visiting the north of the city on the northbound Barcelona Bus Turístic: while you relax in your seat, you’ll be able to admire landmark buildings, including Pedralbes Monastery and the Futbol Club Barcelona Stadium. To round off your stay, what about dinner in the old harbour, or Port Vell, as you enjoy the Mediterranean sea breezes? You can end the night here, at the leisure and entertainment complex, the Maremàgnum. You might feel tired by the end, but it’ll have been well worth the effort.