Barcelona in 3 Days: Seafood & 20,000 Steps a Day

We started at La Boqueria, which honestly felt like stepping into another world. Hanging jamón everywhere, colorful fruit stands, giant ostrich eggs, chocolates, pastries, seafood displays, spices, and enough food to completely overwhelm you in the best way possible.

One thing that completely stood out in Barcelona was seeing entire walls lined with hanging jamón ibérico, something you truly do not see every day in the United States. By day three, we were somehow discussing cured meats like temporary locals.

At the market, I became fascinated with the raw sea urchin, octopus, and giant shellfish displays. Being from Florida, I eat seafood all the time, but raw sea urchin is definitely not something sitting on menus near me. Naturally, I wanted to try it immediately. My husband quickly became the cautious one of the trip and encouraged me to admire it from a safe distance instead of turning our Barcelona vacation into an unexpected food experiment.

I was also the only brave person in my family willing to try durian fruit. Surprisingly, I liked it. I bought it in the market and proudly walked outside eating it like I had suddenly become an international food critic.

After the market, we wandered through little shops filled with fun costume jewelry, hilarious t-shirts, souvenirs, and random things you suddenly convince yourself you absolutely need while traveling.

For lunch, Honest Greens became one of our favorite quick stops. The iced pistachio latte, avocado toast, protein bowls, matcha drinks, and even the cauliflower mocha brownie somehow made us feel healthy again after nonstop tapas.

For coffee breaks, Nomad Coffee, Satan’s Coffee Corner, and Syra Coffee are all great local spots worth stopping into.

And yes, despite being surrounded by beautiful cafés, we still somehow ended up at Starbucks because sometimes your brain just wants something familiar.

That night we fully embraced Barcelona tapas culture at Ciudad Condal with sangria, garlic shrimp, patatas bravas, grilled seafood, and enough small plates to completely lose track of what we ordered.

Seeing Basílica de la Sagrada Família in person was honestly one of the highlights of the entire trip. Designed by Antoni Gaudí, the basilica is finally expected to be completed in 2026, which somehow makes the visit feel even more special.

Pictures truly do not prepare you for how massive and detailed it feels once you are standing there. The stained glass inside almost makes the church glow in different colors throughout the day.

One thing I highly recommend is walking completely around the outside because both sides have beautiful parks and photo spots. One side even has a small lake reflecting the basilica, which makes for incredible pictures.

Definitely reserve tickets ahead of time because it regularly sells out. Also, there is a McDonald’s nearby that became surprisingly useful for grabbing a cold drink, cooling off, or using Wi-Fi during our very ambitious walking day.

We also spent time exploring Barcelona’s Cathedral and the Gothic Quarter, which feels completely different from the brighter Gaudí areas of the city. Darker stone streets, tiny alleys, hidden courtyards, little cafés, musicians around corners, and shops tucked everywhere make this one of the best places to wander slowly.

For tapas that night, El Xampanyet was one of the most fun experiences of the trip with cava, anchovies, jamón ibérico, cured meats, and nonstop energy packed into a tiny, lively space.

If you want rooftop views afterward, Terraza de Vivi and Skybar Barcelona are both beautiful at sunset.

By day three we had fully adapted to the Barcelona lifestyle, slower mornings, long walks, espresso breaks, late dinners, and accepting that nobody here is in any rush whatsoever.

One thing I loved most about Barcelona was how dramatically the atmosphere changes throughout the city. You can spend the morning wandering through centuries old Gothic streets, then suddenly end up by the beach surrounded by palm trees, seafood restaurants, ocean breezes, and people casually relaxing for hours.

We spent time near the beach area, wandered through more shops, stopped for seafood, and basically embraced the idea that every meal should last at least two hours.

For seafood lovers, La Paradeta is incredibly fun because you pick your seafood market style before they cook it fresh for you. Can Fisher near the beach is also wonderful for paella and Mediterranean seafood dishes with ocean views.

A few foods absolutely worth trying in Barcelona:

• Jamón ibérico

• Patatas bravas

• Sangria

• Churros with chocolate

• Fresh seafood

• Spanish tortilla

• Market fruit juices