It’s time to make a guide to Barcelona, the city that I consider my second home. So in this guide, in addition to finding the basic information for your trip, I will also leave some tricks and tips so that you can make the most of your days in the capital of Catalonia.
I will start by saying that visiting Barcelona has its magic all year round, since its architecture, its museums open 365 days a year and its views from the mountains will always be enjoyed with good weather or at least much better than it can be. exist in the rest of Europe.
Resources to organize your trip to Barcelona
🌍 Book your tours and attractions in Barcelona here.
🏨 Where do I stay in Barcelona
👉 Get a free tour for Barcelona. You just need to register here.
🚗Transfers from Barcelona airport
📍 Tips for visiting Barcelona like a local
✈️ How do I go between Barcelona Airport and the city?
Basic information about Barcelona
Where is Barcelona?
Barcelona is the capital and largest city of Catalonia, one of the autonomous communities of Spain. It is located on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, about 120 km south of the Pyrenees mountain range and the border with France.
How do I get to Barcelona?
Barcelona is a city perfectly well connected by air, land and sea.
✈️ It has one of the main airports in Europe: El Prat. This is located less than 45 minutes from the city center. If you want to know how to get between Barcelona Airport and the city, here are all the options.
🚝 It is also possible to arrive by land through the train network, which normally ends at Sants station. Another option is buses, the city has several stations, but one of the most important is located right in front of the Sants train station.
⛴ The last option to travel is by boat since it has an important port less than 30 minutes from the city center.
Regardless of transportation, there will always be some public transportation alternative to go to the city center. In the case of the airport there is a metro, train, aerobus and public bus with connection to the most important points of the city.
If you are traveling to or from Madrid Here I leave you the transportation alternatives.
Where do I stay in Barcelona?
Barcelona is a large city, with attractions in different parts and well connected, so there is more than a good place to stay, depending on the type of trip, budget and accommodation you are looking for.
One of the best areas to stay is near Plaza Catalunya, the nerve center of the city. Another alternative is to stay near Plaza España, one of the areas with the best connection to other parts of the city and the outskirts. From here you can take the train to the Monserrat Monastery or go to Sants station, where most trains leave from. The third alternative is to stay around the Holy Family.
On my last trip I stayed at Praktik Wine Bar located in the center of the city. It is a hotel with good quality-price ratio, the location is excellent and it has good facilities. Their double rooms start at 65 USD. More details and reservation here.
If you like For more information about each of the areas and the hotels most recommended by other travelers, click here.
What to see in Barcelona?
The capital of Catalonia has a lot to offer in practically all its neighborhoods, but as I know that many times there is little time and you only want to visit the essentials, the main attractions are indicated on the map. Click on the place you are interested in for more information.
How long to go to Barcelona?
While it is true that there are many cruise ships that make visits to Barcelona for a few hours, this is a city that requires time. You must also consider that it is quite popular among travelers, so the lines to enter its main attractions, such as La Sagrada Familia or the Picasso Museum, can take time. To this we must add that, unlike what happens with other destinations, this city has important attractions in several areas, so even using public transportation getting from one place to another will take time. With these factors to consider, three to five days may be enough to get to know the city well.
However, if you have less time, here are several routes.
Routes in Barcelona
Free tours in Barcelona
One of the best ways to get to know a destination is through walking tours around the city. These consist of being accompanied by an expert guide who explains a neighborhood of the city to you in Spanish. In the case of Barcelona, there are several that you can do and although they do not have a fixed cost, a tip is expected at the end and prior registration is very important so that you do not run out of space. Below I leave you the most popular ones in Barcelona.
👉 Tip . How much money do I have to tip on a Free Walking Tour? In each city it is different but for Barcelona it is recommended to leave 10 to 20 euros per person who takes the tour.
When to travel to Barcelona?
The city of Barcelona has a maritime Mediterranean climate. Temperatures are warm in summer and cool in winter, with little daily temperature variation, which is around 8°C on average. Therefore, it can be visited throughout the year and below I leave you a video of what there is to do in Barcelona in each month of the year, starting with the Three Kings Parade in January and ending with the New Year’s celebration in Plaza España. If you want to know Here I explain the best dates to go to Barcelona.
Where do I start to get to know Barcelona?
The nerve center of the city is Plaza Cataluña, where the airport buses (aerobús) leave and arrive and from where there is a Metro station, a train station and multiple bus stops. This is considered the center of the city and from here you can begin the tour of the city. To the south of Plaza Cataluña are important streets, such as Las Ramblas and Portal del Ángel, ideal for those who want to shop. To the north is Paseo de Gracias, with the most luxurious shops, as well as some emblems of Catalan modernism: La Pedrera and Casa Batlló.
How do I get around Barcelona?
Barcelona is a city of more than 100 kilometers, so using public transport is not a bad idea, although you can easily reach most places on foot. The simplest and cheapest transportation is the Metro, which covers a large part of the city.
However, for those who want to enjoy the city’s nightlife, you may have to resort to taxis, since public transport runs until midnight from Sunday to Thursday and on Fridays until 2:00 a.m. Saturday is the only day that runs all night.
Transport price in Barcelona
- Taxi from the airport to the city center: 31.91 – 42.55 euros
- Aerobus from the airport to the city center: 5.9 euros
- Metro, bus or tram trip (without considering airport): 2.40 euros
- Casual Card with 10 trips: 11.35 euros
TIP . The price of a single transport ticket is just over 2 euros, but you can buy the T-Casual card for ten trips in which you can combine the metro, train (within the city), bus and tram for just over 11 euros. Of course, NEVER throw it away until you are outside the subway, since there are random checks where you have to show the ticket.
How much does it cost to travel to Barcelona?
Transportation is only one of the references to consider how expensive a city is, aspects such as food, accommodation or tourist attractions must also be considered. If you want to know in detail how much it costs to travel to Barcelona Here I leave you an estimated daily budget for backpackers and travelers who prefer 3-star hotels.
One of the advantages of Barcelona is that many of its attractions are free, for example, visiting the outskirts of La Sagrada Familia, La Torre Agbar, the external part of Park Güell, Casa Batlló or La Pedrera. Furthermore, if you are looking for special times or days, you can enter free of charge to other important places such as the Cathedral, the Basilica of Santa María del Mar, Montjuic Castle or the Picasso Museum.
What to do for free in Barcelona?
There are many things to do for free in Barcelona, Here I leave you the list.
Touring Barcelona, in addition to being free, is quite an experience. The city is full of squares and famous parks such as the Citadel, as well as emblematic streets such as Las Ramblas. For beach lovers you can also visit Barceloneta with its promenade.
As for food, the costs are quite affordable, as in any big city you can find everything from the most basic fast food options to luxurious restaurants. One of the best ways to optimize your budget is to look for restaurants that offer a daily menu, this is a good way to be able to eat well and have a fixed budget (from 8 euros).
Tips from locals in Barcelona
- Barcelona is in Spain but it is not Spain. The autonomous community of Catalonia has its own identity and its own language. Telling a Catalan that he is Spanish can be offensive, as can discussing issues about independence, so my advice: it is better to avoid the topic.
- If you want to go out at night and see what the locals party like, stay away from the beach, in this area there are places focused entirely on foreigners.
- No matter where you go out to party, don’t pay the entrance fee. On the websites of many venues you can make a reservation to enter for free before a certain time and if you haven’t done so or don’t have that service, look for one of the promoters that give free tickets to the main clubs.
- Don’t eat on Las Ramblas. It is an area completely focused on tourists so prices are very high.
- Very touristy areas such as Las Ramblas or subway entrances are some of the favorite places for pickpockets.
- If your budget is very tight and you plan to prepare your own food, buy at the Mercadona supermarket, it is by far the most economical. And of course avoid the Corte Inglés supermarket, it is the most expensive.
- Flamenco is not a Catalan thing, but if you want to have the “Spanish” experience you can visit the Pueblo Español where they have shows.
- Here locals will speak Catalan, but with travelers they will normally use Spanish and, in shops and tourist destinations, English.
- The best beaches in Catalonia are not in Barcelona. You will hardly see a local on the city beaches, if you want to take a good swim, better leave the city, Here are the best getaways from Barcelona.
- Barcelona is part of the European Community, so the euro is used as currency and from here you can visit nearby countries such as France or Andorra by land without needing to present a visa, only with a passport (although in most cases They won’t ask you for any…