When my son turned nine I expected the usual birthday requests; a football party, cake, lots of Lego and maybe a sleepover. But instead, he surprised me with something completely different. “Mum, can we go on an extreme day trip?”
With a mum like me he knew I wasn’t going to say no! Within minutes, I had a whirlwind adventure to Barcelona booked.
Armed with just one backpack, plenty of excitement and way too many snacks, we set off after school for 24 hours in Barcelona. In just one day, we managed to soak up the city’s energy from Gaudí’s surreal masterpieces to sandy toes at Barceloneta Beach, and of course, a generous helping of churros along the way.
It wasn’t the easiest city for an Extreme Day Trip due to the size and I wasn’t sure how Joseph would cope. We had a tight schedule, tired feet and the constant race against time, but it was absolutely worth it. Watching his eyes light up as we explored new corners of the city reminded me that adventure doesn’t have to mean long holidays or huge budgets. Sometimes, the best memories come from saying yes to something a little crazy.
Here’s how our extreme day trip unfolded…. and why I’d do it all again in a heartbeat.
Quick links
- Flights – Ryanair from Manchester – Departing at 18.10 on Monday and returning at 20.05 on Tuesday.
- Hotel – Catalunya – great location and a brilliant price. Basic hotel but it was clean and comfortable.
- Activities – Tuk tuk ride and Montjuïc cable car
- Itinerary – local breakfast, Montjuïc cable car, brunch at Billy Brunch, shopping on La Rambla, Parc de la Ciutadella, tuk tuk ride.
Breakfast, Barcelona-Style
We flew out the evening before with an after-school 6pm flight. We then went straight to our hotel for a good sleep before the adventure began (more on our flights and hotel below).
We woke up on Joseph’s 9th birthday and, of course, I had to embarrass him by singing Happy Birthday on the balcony as we admired the city streets.
We both had that strange realisation that we were actually in Barcelona. There’s something so disorientating about arriving at night. So waking up to the gentle bustle of city life, blue skies, golden buildings and shops opening up for the day was our first taste of Barcelona.
Our first stop (and our second taste!) was the traditional café next door to the hotel. It was one of those old-world places that feels like it hasn’t changed in decades. Locals stood at the counter sipping tiny cups of strong coffee, chatting in rapid Catalan.
We ordered coffee, fresh orange juice and flaky pastries, which Joseph devoured with the enthusiasm of someone who’d just discovered chocolate croissants.
I had searched for fancy places to go for a birthday breakfast but I was glad we stumbled upon a more traditional cafe for a quick bite.
Soaring Over the City: The Montjuïc Cable Car
It was 10am at this point and the city was still half asleep so we jumped in a taxi up to the Montjuïc cable car. As the cabin rose above the city, the view slowly revealed itself with an incredible panorama of rooftops, the port, and the glinting Mediterranean Sea. Joseph pressed his face to the glass, pointing out boats and landmarks as we climbed toward the Montjuïc Castle, perched proudly at the top.
The castle itself is steeped in history. It was once a fortress, later a military prison and now a peaceful vantage point offering sweeping views for tourists. We explored the ramparts, imagining knights, cannons, and secret tunnels.
Brunch at Billy Brunch
After floating back down in the cable car, our appetites had caught up with us. Luckily, Billy Brunch was just a short walk away. It’s a relaxed, bohemian kind of café with hanging plants, mismatched furniture and fluffy pancakes stacked high with berries. It was a nice mix of tourists and locals and the staff made a big fuss of Joseph and made him feel very welcome.
We lingered over a proper brunch (because one breakfast is never enough on holiday), with pancakes, scrambled eggs, toast and plenty of freshly squeezed orange juice.
A Shopping Stop on La Rambla
Re-energized, we headed toward La Rambla for a little birthday shopping. There was only one thing Joseph wanted, a Barcelona football kit, of course!
Every tourist shop along the street proudly displayed the famous blue and red stripes, and after much deliberation, he found the perfect one for the perfect price. It’s fake but he’s adamant it’s real and the look on his face as he pulled it out of the bag was pure delight. Forget souvenirs, that kit was a badge of honour for his EDT adventure.
Exploring Parc de la Ciutadella and the Arc de Triomf
Next on our itinerary was Parc de la Ciutadella, Barcelona’s green heart. We wandered through shaded walkways, through greenhouses with banana plants and admired the park’s famous Cascada Monumental, a fountain so dramatic it looks like something out of a myth.
Joseph was captivated by the Arc de Triomf, standing proudly at the end of the promenade, a red-brick masterpiece built as the gateway to the 1888 World Fair. We stopped there for photos before a short walk to begin our tuk tuk ride.
A Whirlwind Tuk Tuk Tour of the City
By early afternoon, we were ready for a change of pace and to rest our legs. I’d booked a tuk tuk tour for a fast-paced way to see the city for 2pm when I thought we’d be getting tired.
Our driver, a lovely local lady called Erica, zipped us through Barcelona’s most iconic sights while sharing fascinating tidbits along the way. Erica also had a 9 year old child so she was great with Joseph, singing Happy Birthday to him as we zipped around the streets while she (carefully!) tooted her horn.
We cruised past La Monumental, the city’s former bullring turned cultural venue, then slowed to take in the awe-inspiring Sagrada Família. Even Joseph was silenced for a moment, and if you’ve ever travelled with a nine-year-old, you know that’s saying something. The detail of Gaudí’s masterpiece is jaw-dropping and Joseph was blown away that it’s still under construction after more than a century.
From there, we glided past Casa Batlló and La Pedrera, both eccentric, sculptural works of art that look more like dreamscapes than buildings. Erica explained how Gaudí drew inspiration from nature such as waves, and honeycombs and suddenly we were both seeing Barcelona through entirely new eyes.
Our tour wrapped up with a breezy ride along Barceloneta Beach, the salty air whipping through our hair as locals played volleyball and families picnicked on the sand. The tuk tuk then looped back through Ciutadella Park and made one final stop at the Arc de Triomf, where we jumped off for one last round of photos.
It was the perfect blend of sightseeing and storytelling and such a fun and easy way to see Barcelona with kids.
Ice Cream and a Rest
By late afternoon, our energy levels were dipping. We wandered back into Parc de la Ciutadella for some well-earned downtime. Sitting on a park bench with ice creams in hand, we watched the world go by with cyclists, roller bladers, street performers and the occasional parrot swooping through the palm trees.
Homeward Bound
I had planned to finish our day at House of Candy, but the look on Joseph’s sleepy face said it all. He was done!
We grabbed a taxi back to La Rambla to collect our luggage from the hotel, then headed straight to the airport. For once, being early for a flight felt like a gift. We had dinner and then had time to relive the day, scrolling through photos and laughing at our wind-swept tuk tuk selfies.
We were both nodding off by the time our plane lifted off with the city lights twinkling below.
Barcelona in a day? Absolutely possible. Worth it? A thousand times yes.
Extreme Day Trips with kids? So much fun!
Because sometimes, the best adventures aren’t the longest ones, they’re the ones you take on a whim, with someone you love, on a day you’ll never forget.
Flights for our 24 hour adventure in Barcelona
- Manchester to Barcelona with Ryanair (found via Skyscanner, always)
- Departure flight: 18.10
- Return flight: 20.05
- Cost: £60 pp
I’ve taken lots of Extreme Day Trips and I usually fly on an early flight out and a late flight home on the same day, but I knew this would be too tiring for Joseph. That 3am wakeup for a 6am flight is a killer!
We flew at 6.10pm from Manchester to Barcelona with Ryanair.
This gave me just enough time to collect him from school and have a relaxed dinner at the airport before boarding. We then jumped straight in an Uber to our hotel so we could go straight to sleep in preparation for a busy day.
Our return flight was at 20.05 which was perfect because Joseph was tired by 5pm and was ready to go back to the airport. It also meant we were home by 10pm and, while Joseph was tired, he was OK to go to school the following day.
Our hotel in Barcelona
It took me so long to find a hotel in a good location that didn’t cost a fortune.
I eventually booked Catalunya which was ideal. I also found that booking 5 days before departure was the cheapest price. The price dropped at this time but quickly went back up.
Catalunya wasn’t anything fancy but the location next to La Rambla was ideal. It’s also a 2 minute walk from the Hard Rock Hotel with a taxi rank outside.
Our room was spacious with 3 single beds and a large bathroom. There was a nice balcony looking out over a fairly quiet side street which wasn’t noisy considering it was such a busy location. It was clean and comfy but it was a bit sparse!
If you’re looking for an ideal location and somewhere clean and simple for a comfortable night’s sleep then Catalunya is a great option. I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re looking for a more luxurious stay though!
Why Barcelona and would I recommend Barcelona for an EDT?
It actually wasn’t about the destination for this trip, it was more about finding flights that worked for us. Barcelona was the only place with an evening flight on the Monday and a returning evening flight on the Tuesday. I use Skyscanner to help me find suitable flights.
The truth is that I wouldn’t recommend Barcelona for an EDT. We had a great time and it’s fun to soak in the atmosphere, but the city is so big so we didn’t even scratch the surface of the top sights and attractions. I’ve visited other, smaller cities for an Extreme Day Trip such as Bergamo, Alicante, Dublin, Bratislava and even Reykjavik and I felt like I saw a lot.
But in Barcelona you’ve only got time to see a couple of attractions. And with such a big city you end up spending a lot of time travelling from attraction to attraction so I’d definitely recommend a smaller, walkable city for a day trip.
Our itinerary for a day in Barcelona
- We got up and had coffee, juice and pastries at a traditional cafe next door to our hotel.
- We walked along La Rambla
- We took a taxi up to the Montjuïc cable car and visited the castle
- Went back down in the cable car and had breakfast at Billy Brunch which was just a short walk away
- Headed back to La Rambla for some shopping so Joseph could buy a Barcelona football kit
- Explore Parc de la Ciutadella & Arc de Triomf
- We took a tuk tuk city tour which took us past La Monumental, the Sagrada Família, Casa Batlló and the sculptural beauty of La Pedrera, Plaça de Catalunya, Barceloneta Beach and Ciutadella Park
- We then headed back into Parc de la Ciutadella for an ice cream and a drink
- I’d planned to round off the day at House of Candy but Joseph was too tired.
- Then took a taxi back to La Rambla to collect our luggage from the hotel and then got another taxi to the airport.
- We were quite early for the airport but we were both tired.