We loved Barcelona for two and a half days last year (Sept.) before and during our Med./WBTA B2B
DCL cruises. Being new to the city, we turned to our favorite resource,
Rick Steves books and videos to help us prioritize for cost, time and interest. Being fascinated by Gaudi, the first day we walked from our hotel past Casa Batllo (he designed the exterior) for photos, then walked through Casa Mila "La Pedrera" (he designed from the ground up). After that we walked (it's a bit of a hike) to Sagrada Familia (which he totally designed and will be constructed for the next 40+ years). We had booked reservations months before to walk it with headphones and take the elevator up one tower (one-way, you walk down). It was truly awesome. If you don't like heights, don't book the tower. Tapas for dinner and done. Next day, bus to Park Guell (need timed reservations, which hotel helped us do, to get into the most attractive and popular part of the park). This place reminded me of Whoville. After being pickpocketed in the gift shop across from the entrance (Barcelona is the capital of pickpocketing, be very careful), we got a taxi to the old town (Gothic Quarter) for a 3pm walking tour (booked online months before) that included the Museo Picasso. Great historic tour that walked through Roman ruins and past a Nike store (in case your shoes were shot) and into Picasso's early years works. Again, awesome! We went back for dinner to the 4Cats, a restaurant Picasso and pals frequented. Lots of security around the city and that is before the attack this year.
Day of boarding Magic we checked in at Disney desk, got on the bus and went to dockside.
We used the day between cruises, back in Barcelona, to walk Las Ramblas. We took the shuttle from the ship to the base of the shopping strip/street, Chris Columbus' statue, and walked a bit more than half way up, to the market, took photos of Rick Steves favorite vendor, then started back and stopped at a coffee shop to relax. Since most of that city is just getting up at 9am, a lot of the shops and attractions were just opening. Again, awesome. We finished by walking down to the CC statue and sat dockside for a while before getting the shuttle back to the Magic.
Monserrat was too low on our priority list for us to head there this time. Also, we did not take the subway system, which I understand is not that difficult. Also, do watch for pickpockets. I only lost a few dollars (money belt with passports inside shirt around waist). They even train kids (smaller hands) and will scam you or catch you in a busy situation. There are YouTube videos about all this...check them out. Be careful and you will truly enjoy this city.