Sometimes when you are traveling, you don’t have a choice but to wait in an airport to catch your next flight. If it is just a few hours, that would be fine. But what if you have to wait, let’s say, for 24 hours? How can you survive those 24 hours? What should you do?
Actually there are plenty of awesome things you can do within 24 hours, especially if you have a 24 hour layover in Barcelona, a very cool city in Spain. Check out how to spend 24 hours in Barcelona before catching your flight to your next destination (you may never want to leave Barcelona!).
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Some important information about Barcelona-El Prat Airport
First of all, it is important to know a bit of useful information about Barcelona Airport, the second largest airport in Spain. The airport only has two terminals: Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Most international flights take off and land in Terminal 1, whereas Terminal 2 is used for some low-cost European carriers.
Next, you don’t need to carry your luggage with you if you plan on leaving. The airport provides luggage storage facilities on the ground floor lobby that are open for 24 hours every day. Different fees apply if you want to store your luggage.
What about visa requirements? Visas depend on your country of origin. Some countries may need a Schengen visa to enter the Spain, while other countries are free to enter Spain without a visa. You should check with the embassy in your country regarding Schengen visa requirements.
Barcelona El Prat Airport
Address: 08820 El Prat de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
Contact: +34 902404704
Website: Barcelona El Prat Airport
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1. Pamper yourself with a spa treatment
You may be exhausted after a long journey from your home country. Before you set out to explore the beautiful Barcelona, you may want to pamper yourself in an on-site spa called Heaven on Earth, which is located in terminal 1, floor 1, departures, boarding area C.
Heaven on Earth Spa
Address: Barcelona Airport Terminal 1, Floor 1, Boarding Area C
Opening Hours: 7.30 am - 9.30 pm
Contact: +34-628085035
Website: Heaven on Earth Spa
2. Get some rest
Or, if you are not really into spa treatments, you can get some rest first before leaving the airport to enjoy the city. Terminal 1 also provides onsite day rooms called Premium Traveller, which are available from 62 EUR (around 66 USD) for a three-hour sleep.
Premium Traveller
Address: Barcelona Airport Terminal 1
Price: from 66 USD
Contact: +34-933758600
3. Absorb the beauty of the city
The first destination you may want to visit upon arrival in Barcelona is the city center. You will see many beautiful buildings, restaurants, and shops. The fastest way to get to the city center is by taxi, but if you prefer something more economical, you can get on the Aerobus, which departs every few minutes from the airport and takes around 35 mins to the city center.
Aerobus Barcelona
Address: 08002, Plaça de Catalunya, 13, 08002 Barcelona, Spain
Price: from 6.30 USD
Contact: +34 902100104
Website: Aerobus Bcn
Barcelona Tour Guide
Perry Tours
Hello! My name is Perry, originally from the heart of Belgium, famed for its waffles and fries. However, it wasn't just the call of the Spanish sun that brought to Barcelona, but rather a captivating encounter with a German-Uruguayan beauty in Thailand. This led to the birth of our son in Ibiza, and eventually, more than two decades ago, I found myself in the vibrant city of Barcelona. My pa... Read more
Tours by Perry
4. Dine at Can Valles while in the city center
After you are done taking a stroll around the city center, you can have a proper meal at a restaurant called Can Valles. This highly rated restaurant serves fresh Mediterranean dishes such as tapas, seafood, and meat dishes.
Can Valles
Address: Carrer d'Aragó, 95, 08015 Barcelona
Price: from 50 USD
Opening Hours: 1.30 pm - 4 pm. 9 pm - 11 pm. Sunday closed.
Website: Can Valles
5. Visit the famous Sagrada Familia
Visiting the famous Sagrada Familia is a must when you are in Barcelona. This basilica is one of Antoni Gaudi’s most stunning masterpieces but is still under construction due to the complex plans. Construction began in 1882 but is not expected to finish until 2026. Can you imagine how massive and spectacular it is? Since you are about to visit a basilica, please bear in mind that you must dress appropriately, which means no bare shoulders and no shorts or skirts above the knee. To enter the church, you need an advanced booking of at least a day before your intended date to visit. To get to the Sagrada Familia, you can take the airport bus to Plaza de Catalunya, then take the metro. It should cost you less than 18 EUR (20 USD) for the trip.
Sagrada Familia
Address: Carrer de Mallorca, 401, 08013 Barcelona
Price: from 25 USD
Website: Sagrada Familia
6. Admire Casa Batllo
Casa Batllo is another masterpiece designed by Antoni Gaudi that is worth visiting. Located on Passeig de Gracia, Casa Batllo has become one of Barcelona’s iconic landmarks. Take the Aerobus from the airport and in about 30 minutes you will arrive at Casa Batllo.
Casa Batllo
Address: Passeig de Gràcia, 43, 08007 Barcelona
Price: from 25 USD
Opening Hours: 8.30 am - 9 pm.
Website: Casa Batllo
7. Football fans should go to the Barcelona football stadium
Camp Nou, Barcelona’s football stadium, is the third largest football stadium in the world, so it is highly recommended to visit the stadium whether you are a football fan or not. Just like several other destinations, you can take the airport bus to get to the stadium, making it a top place to visit while on a layover.
Barcelona Football Stadium
Price: varied
Opening Hours: see website
Website: Barcelona Football Stadium
8. Shop, shop, and shop: Diagonal Mar
It seems that time goes by faster when you spend your time shopping, especially if you love shopping! To kill time, you can shop at Diagonal Mar Shopping Mall, which is located in the western edge of the city. Relatively new, Diagonal Mar only opened in 2012. There are a lot of shops and restaurants in the mall that stretches for over 87,000 square meters. The quickest way to get to the shopping mall from the airport is by taking the metro. A metro ticket is around 3 EUR (4 USD).
Diagonal Mar Centre
Address: Avinguda Diagonal, 3, 08019 Barcelona, Spain
Opening Hours: 10am - 10pm. Closed on Sunday.
Contact: +34 935677637
Website: Diagonal Mar Centre
Make the most of your 24 hours in Barcelona!
As you can see, there are some pretty great options to enjoy during a 24 hour layover in Barcelona, Spain. Don’t waste your time by just sitting in the airport. Barcelona is considered to be one of the most gorgeous cities in the world, so it would be a shame if you don’t make the most of your 24 hour layover.
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