35 TIPS FOR TRAVELING TO BARCELONA (AND NOT SHIT)

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We were living about 5 years in Barcelona and at that time we stole our hearts forever. We often receive emails asking for recommendations to prepare a trip to Barcelona, so we finally decided to write this post with a few tips for traveling to Barcelona (and not shit).

Barcelona is one of the best cities in the world, both for living and for sightseeing. And it has everything: a wide cultural offer, amazing architecture, good cuisine, interesting excursions and even beach. It is not too big a city that can be explored on foot, but with lots of things to see and do. So…

one… . The first tip is: plan your trip well and take it calmly ... you can always come back. To help you with the itinerary we have this article of what to do two days in Barcelona.

2. The 10 essential things what to visit in Barcelona They are:

Visit the Holy Family (outside and inside).
Tour Passeig de Gracia and get to know Casa Batlló and La Pedrera.
Go up to Park Guell.
Take a walk through the Barceloneta neighborhood (to be able to walk to the Olympic Village)
Explore the Raval, for us one of the most charming neighborhoods.
And speaking of charming neighborhoods ... partying for Grace.
Take a historical tour of the Gothic and Born.
Go up to Tibidabo to enjoy the best sunset in Barcelona.
Visit Montjuic (and see the magic fountain).

3. ¿How many days are needed? Ah, good question. Obviously, the more the better! But we believe that 3 days is the perfect stay to get to know Barcelona. Although as we said before, in two you can make a great trip.

4. One thing we always recommend is sign up for free tours. In Barcelona you can do this one that takes you on a tour of the city center, or more focused on the modernist route. They are free, but remember to tip.

5. ¿How to get to Barcelona from the airport? You have several options:

→ Taxi: calculates about € 30-35. Formerly you could opt for Uber or Cabify, but recently they have been banned in the city. If you are very comfortable you also have the option of private transfers, with which you will have someone waiting for you at the airport and will take you to your accommodation (interesting for groups)

→ Aerobús: takes you to Plaza de España, Plaza Universidad and Plaza Catalunya for € 5.90.

→ Train: the ticket to Barcelona costs € 4.20, and the train leaves from terminal 2. Although we recommend you get a cardT10 (the 10-trip transport card) that costs € 10.20 and can be used by several people.

→ We extend all this information in the article “How to get to the center of Barcelona from El Prat airport”.

6. And whathow to get around the city? We always recommend the T10 card, which you can use by subway, bus, trams and commuters. It is not personal, so you can use several people and the price is € 10.20, with 10 trips. Another good option is to get the Hola Barcelona card to be able to have unlimited transportation on the days you are there (the 2-day one costs about € 15).

7. But if you only have one day of time (which hurts), the best idea is to ride the Barcelona tourist bus To visit all the main sites without wasting precious time. More info and prices.

8. Download the TMB APP to check schedules and bus / subway stops.

9. Remember visit the Sagrada Familia first thing since it gets very crowded. Although almost the best advice is to reserve the ticket without queue online.

10. Passeig de Gracia is a paradise for architecture lovers and is world famous for being the street of the Casa Batlló. But do not comment on the error of visiting just this one: they also deserve a view (even if from outside) the Pedrera, the Amatller House and the Lleò Morera House (among other).

11. The Catalan gastronomy is the most! Learn what their star dishes are and try them all (or as many as you can). Here is an article about it.

12. And we also wrote a post about restaurants where to eat in Barcelona (good and cheap).

13. A common mistake at lunchtime is to snack something quickly at noon and have a strong dinner. We recommend doing the opposite: take advantage of the menus of the day (€ 8-15) which include two dishes plus drink and often coffee or dessert and leave the snack for the night. In this way you will save a little money and, incidentally, with all the trajín of the day, you will have already lowered the food at night hehe.

14. In Barcelona don't eat paellaAt least do not do it in places that are not specialized in that dish. For that you know, read the restaurant reviews on Google Maps, Tripadvisor or Yelp.

15. And of course do not eat on the Rambla or in front of super tourist sites: prices tend to be stratospheric and quality is not the strong point.

16. Change the sangria for cava: this is the authentic typical drink of Barcelona cheeers! And if you're more than beer, try the Moritz and the Vol Damm.

17. You have often asked us what is the best time to visit Barcelona and the truth is that it is beautiful throughout the year: in winter it is not too cold and in summer you do not cook like in other cities of Spain. But our favorite seasons are spring and autumn.

18. And after visiting the most curious basilica in the world, approach the hospital of San Pau walking along Av. Gaudí, we love that street and we were living near there for 4 years.

19. If you travel in summer and have time, spend a day (or at least half) to enjoy the Barcelona beaches: although those of the city, such as Barceloneta, are usually filled with bags. To be calmer, you can take a suburb and head north, where there are very cool beaches and coves!

20. Barcelona is a great city for shopping. Here are several recommendations on where to go shopping in Barcelona, but if you want to live a very cool experience contact our friend Ester de Forever Joven, she is a fantastic personal shopper.

21. Are you one of those who love to see cities from above? So you have to go up to Montjuic Castle, Tibidabo and the Carmel Bunkers. From here they enjoy the best views of Barcelona.

22. ¿In which area of Barcelona to stay? We personally love the Sagrada Familia neighborhood, although in general all the Eixample It is a good base area.

23. Speaking of accommodation, although Airbnb has been quite lacking in Barcelona, it is always an option eh (you know you have € 25 discount if you make an account from this link). Or if you travel on a low cost plan, there are quality hostels for about € 20-25 per bunk, check out!

24. Visit La Boqueria twice: one during noon when it is at its maximum and another before it closes since many fruit smoothie stands reduce the price by half. This famous market is located on La Rambla, 91. Here we tell you more about it.

25. If you approach the Magic Fountain of Montjuic To enjoy your show of light and colors, check the schedules first (they change according to the season).

26. If you already know Barcelona from other trips and are looking for original things, we recommend you spend a tapas Sunday by Poble Sec and explore one of the most fashionable neighborhoods in the city. The Poble Sec is fine, although we always we stay with Grace, is the most 😉

27. Another original plan and a different way to get to know Barcelona is from the sea ... Why not take a sailboat ride?

28. Barcelona is a safe city, but it is best to have watch out for pickpockets, especially in very tourist places and in the subway. In the unfortunate case of suffer a robbery, the first thing you have to do is call your bank to block the cards (to do it through the apps) and approach a Police station to file a complaint

29. Write down this name: Vincens House, since it can be visited for a long time. It is also the work of Gaudí. You can buy the ticket here for € 16.

30. Don't think that in Barcelona only Catalan is spoken. If you live in Spain, it may seem absurd, but as an Italian, I know that many people believe that in Barcelona there is no Spanish spoken.

31. Are you on a backpacking budget but thirsty for art? In Barcelona the first Sunday of the month you are most museums are free (including the Picasso Museum).

32. I have to admit that I am a bit of a sequismiquis with the Waterbut the one in Barcelona it's downright bad (Rober confirms it and he is not obsessed with the taste of water). So avoid drinking from the tap if you're like me 😉

33. There are many things to do for free in BarcelonaTo see the ones that fit your visit date, look at this calendar of events.

34. Do you have more time? Take advantage to do some excursion. Here we tell you what are the best day trips from Barcelona.

35. And of course come back! Barcelona hooks (and much)

Do you know more tips for traveling to Barcelona? Leave us a comment!