If you’re planning a trip to Barcelona, there are a few things you need to know (and do) before you ever set foot in the city. I’m sharing a list of my helpful tips below, and I hope they make it easier for you to plan your own trip to Barcelona. I fell in love with the city, and am already looking forward to my next trip back (though I have a few other places that I would like to check out first!).
Here are some of my top tips to help you plan your trip to Barcelona:
Figure Out Transportation First
Barcelona is easily one of the most walkable cities in the world. Depending on where you’re staying, you should be able to walk to your destinations and excursions pretty easily, but all of Barcelona is also easily accessible by public transportation. The Metro system isn’t difficult to understand, and you can purchase an Hola Barcelona card in different increments depending on the length of your stay. You can also find taxis and Ubers pretty frequently, but I avoid those unless you’re going to and from the airport. You can learn more about how to get around Barcelona here.
Book Your Tickets and Reservations (Far) in Advance
Barcelona has been in the news for the last few years for a variety of reasons, but it is one of the most-visited cities in Europe and is home to one of the most-visited landmarks on the continent: the Basílica de la Sagrada Família, designed by architect and artist Antoni Gaudí. Because it hosts a lot of tourists throughout the year (there really is no low season or should season), you will inevitably run into tourists while doing the touristy things. My friend and I didn’t do many, but we did do some, and my advice is to book things as far in advance as possible. For many attractions and experiences, spots fill up quickly, and it will be next to impossible to book the week of, let alone the day of. As soon as you book your plane tickets, book everything else.
Travel Light
I cannot emphasize this one enough, but especially in European countries, you need to travel light. You don’t want to have to drag your suitcase on cobblestone streets and disrupt the neighbors. I admit that I didn’t pack as light this time around as I was hoping to (I was hoping to just take a carry-on), but the lighter you can travel, the better. Not every hotel or apartment rental has an elevator for use, and you may have stairs to climb or descend.
Don’t Try to See Everything in One Trip
Even though I stayed in Barcelona for a week, there are still so many other things that I want to do and see in the city. It’s not a secret that even if you’re living in a city, there is no amount of time that’s enough to see it all. If you’re going for a few days or a week, prioritize what you want to do, not just what everyone else thinks you should do. You won’t be able to fit everything into one trip, even if you wake up early and stay up late, run from one thing to the next, and exhaust yourself. Slow down, pick a couple of things to do each day, and leave the rest up to chance.
Alternatively, you could also stay longer. My parents visited Barcelona for three days on their Barcelona trip, and I spent an entire week. Others attempt to do a day trip to the city, and still others spend a month. The time you have here is truly up to you, but I would recommend staying longer, because there’s just so much to see. It’s a beautiful city, with stunning architecture and incredible museums, and it’s a culinary capital.
Don’t Be Afraid to Branch Out
This advice might seem counterintuitive to the one directly above, but if you have space in your itinerary, it’s worth a trip outside Barcelona. There are plenty of day trips you can take, like to Montserrat, or you can venture to the beach or the countryside as well. We took a bus tour to Montserrat, and it was stunning (and also quite vacant).
Learn Some Catalan to Score Points With The Locals
While in Catalonia, remember that Catalan isn’t Spanish! While knowing Spanish is infinitely helpful in Barcelona, and people will appreciate it, Catalan is the official spoken language, and most locals will speak it. I learned a few conversational phrases before I went (because learning an entire language is hard), but the ones I used made other people happy. Even a simple “bon dia!” can brighten up the day of the cashier at the local grocery store or the owner of a coffee shop that you walked into in the morning. It’s the little things that go a long way.
Eat on Local Time
Dining hours in Barcelona and throughout Spain might be a little different from what you’re used to, especially if you’re coming from a country like the United States, where a lot of folks expect fast service wherever they go. Spain is not like that. Don’t expect fast service or early meals; they dine later than we do, and dinner may not start until 8 PM or so. Breakfast may be at 11 AM, lunch at 2 PM. Adjust accordingly, and you’ll be fine. Additionally, Sundays are rest days. We arrived in Barcelona Sunday morning, and many spots were closed. We attended mass at one of the churches and found restaurants open, but that won’t be the case everywhere. Also, don’t dine anywhere on La Rambla. It’s going to be ridiculously expensive, and you’ll find much better quality (and priced) options outside of the touristy spots.
Don’t Show Off
This one’s obvious, given the rumors surrounding pickpockets in Barcelona. I never once felt unsafe, but I also didn’t wear expensive clothes or jewelry or carry anything other than a crossbody bag containing my possessions. Be aware of your surroundings at all times, wear a crossbody bag that zips shut, don’t keep your phone in your back pocket, and again, most importantly, stay alert in crowded spots like La Rambla, the metro, and busy plazas. Leave all your non-essential valuables at your hotel, especially your passport. Don’t use Google Maps, or keep your head buried in your phone.
Did I miss any essential tips for traveling to Barcelona? Let me know in the comments below!
Leave a reply