Barcelona sits in the northeast corner of Spain in the autonomous region of Catalunya. It’s a vibrant city by the sea, with beautiful beaches, impressive Modernist architecture, and delicious tapas style food. It’s also home to one of Spain’s most successful football teams, FC Barcelona.

One day is never enough to spend in Barcelona, as the city is widespread, but you can still see several highlights with limited time. Many of the attractions are walkable, or you can take a bus, taxi, or metro from the port of Barcelona cruise terminal entrance.

Port of Barcelona Map

The port of Barcelona is located close to the Columbus Monument at the foot of Las Ramblas and a port shuttle bus (€3.00 one way, €4.50 return) can transport you here. It’s a great place to begin a city adventure.

If arriving at World Trade Center cruise terminal in Barcelona, it’s a 15 minute walk to Las Ramblas and 30 minutes to Plaça de Catalunya (city center). Taxis are also available from the port to city center costing €15 one way.

If you prefer to find things to do near Barcelona cruise port, there’s plenty to see in neighboring Port Vell harbor at La Rambla del Mar. The area is home to Barcelona Aquarium, Maremagnum shopping center, restaurants, and Barceloneta beach.

INSERT PORT MAP VISUAL

What to do in Barcelona if You Only Have One Day

The main tourist highlights of Barcelona are Antoni Gaudí’s Sagrada Familia Cathedral, Casa Batlló, Parc Güell, the Gothic Quarter, and Las Ramblas. Anyone visiting the city, even for a short time, should try to see at least one of these attractions, and make time to sample traditional Catalan tapas too!

Suggested Itinerary for One Day in Barcelona

If your time in Barcelona is limited, there are many attractions easily accessible from the port via public transport, or within walking distance. Here are a few of the best things to do in Barcelona if you only have one day in the city.

Sagrada Familia Cathedral

Antoni Gaudí’s Sagrada Familia Cathedral is Barcelona’s top tourist attraction. It’s a mix of Gothic Revival, Art Nouveau and Modernist architecture, combined with more contemporary designs aided by computer technology. Tickets can be purchased online in advance and the taxi cost from Barcelona port to Sagrada Familia is approximately €15-20 one-way.

Las Ramblas

After Sagrada Familia, take the metro (one change, €2,40 total cost for a single journey), or bus to Plaça de Catalunya to access Las Ramblas. The tree-lined boulevard is brimming with caricaturists, mime artists, and flower sellers. Pop into colorful La Boqueria food market to pick up artisan breads, cheeses and freshly squeezed fruit juices while here.

Afterwards, walk through the charming Gothic Quarter (Barri Gòtic), admiring medieval architecture of labyrinthian cobbled streets, before finding a quaint square near Barcelona Cathedral or the Museum of the History of Barcelona for a delicious tapas lunch.

Cable Car to Montjuic

In the afternoon, consider walking from the bottom of Las Ramblas to Port Vell, where a cable car (adult return €13.50, child return €9.70), can transport you to Montjuic.

The mountain looks over the entire city offering incredible photo opportunities. Here, you can visit the National Museum of Catalan Art (MNAC), Montjuic Castle, the Magic Fountains, and Poble Espanyol, an atmospheric mock village made up of different regions of Spain.

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Barcelona Cruise Port Excursions

There are several available Barcelona excursions from port, but if you only have a few hours or half-a-day, the best option is to take a trip on the Hop on/Hop off tour bus. There are two routes to choose from which take in Camp Nou (Barcelona FC’s Stadium), Sagrada Familia Cathedral, Parc Güell, Casa Batlló, Montjuic Castle and more. The ticket cost is around €30-40 euros per adult and half price for children under 12.