Barcelona Travel Guide

This travel guide is full of tips on how to plan your perfect holidays in Barcelona. This amazing city is known for being the heart of Catalonia, having the architectural buildings designed by Antonio Gaudi, its museums, parks, tasty restaurants (tapas), grid street layout, best football team (FC Barcelona), friendly people and being right on the beach.

What to Visit in Barcelona

Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain and has been the capital of Catalonia since the region gained the independence on the 27th of October 2017. The city covers the area of 101,4 square km and it’s population is nearly 1,6 million.

Barcelona is located in the north – eastern part of Spain, sits on the Mediterranean coast known as the Costa Brava (the wild coast), has its own sea port (at the end of the La Rambla Street) and the most beautiful Barceloneta Beach. Historically, the city of Barcelona used to be an Iberian village called Barkeno, dating back around 2,000 years ago.

Don’t leave Barcelona without seeing:

1. Sagrada Familia Basilica
2. La Rambla Street
3. La Boqueria Market
4. Columbus Monument
5. Gothic Quarter
6. Barcelona Cathedral
7. Santa Maria del Mar Church
8. Santa Maria del Pi Church
9. Sant Pau del Camp Church
10. Grand Royal Palace
11. Monastery of Pedralbes
12. Torre Glòries
13. Park Güell
14. Casa Batllo
15. Casa Mila
16. Palau Güell
17. Casa Vicens
18. Palace of Catalan Music
19. Great Theatre of the Liceu
20. Picasso Museum
21. National Art Museum of Catalonia
22. Spanish Square
23. Magic Fountain of Montjuïc
24. Catalonia Square
25. Triumphal Arch
26. Citadel Park
27. Montjuïc Cemetery
28. Montjuïc Castle
29. Olympic Stadium
30. FC Barcelona Stadium
31. Port of Barcelona
32. Barceloneta Beach
33. Sant Sebastià Beach
34. Somorrostro Beach
35. Turó de la Rovira Hill
36. Bostik Murals
37. Hospital of the Holy Cross and Saint Paul
38. Expiatory Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
39. Can Calopa Winery
40. Monserrat

What to See and Do in Barcelona – Top Tourist Attractions

Daily Excursions From Barcelona

• Girona
• Sitges
• Figueres
• Monserrat
• Cadaques
• Collserola
• Montblanc
• Tarragona
• Tossa de Mar
• Lloret de Mar
• Portaventura
• La Molina
• Penedes Wine Region

Hiking in Barcelona

The city of Barcelona was built on the hills and the best ones for a daily hike include the Montjuïc Hill (hiking or Barcelona Teleférico cable car), Montjuïc Castle, Tibidabo, Jardins del Turó del Putxet, Turó de la Rovira (Bunkers of Carmel), Turó de la Peira and the Park Güell. Additionally, you can take the walk around the Besòs River and Seafront or the Carretera de les Aigues (Road of the Waters).

If you’re after some trekking around Barcelona, you should try some other trails like Monserrat National Park, Montseny Natural Park, Parc del Garraf, Collserola Park, Barcelona’s Pyrenees (Queralbs, Coma de Vaca and Vall de Nuria), Costa Brava (from Platja d’Aro to Palamós, from Palamós to Calella de Palafrugell and from Pals beach to Sa Tuna beach), Camí de Ronda (part of GR92), Ruta del 7 Gorgs (route of the 7 waterfalls) in Campdevànol, Rupit to to the Mirador de Salt de Sallent, La Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park, Pedraforca loop, Aigüestortes and the Estany de Sant Maurici National Park.

Viewpoints in Barcelona

If you want to see Barcelona from above, it’s best to climb the hills this amazing city owns. For some stunning panoramic views of the city you should visit the tourist attractions such as Collserola Tower, Park Güell, Sagrada Familia Tower, National Museum of Art of Catalonia Roof Terrace, Casa Mila Rooftop, Casa Batllo Rooftop, Top of the Columbus Statue, Sant Pau Hospital Rooftop and the Port Vell.

If you want to sleep, dine or have a drink with the best views of Barcelona, you should also check out the hotels, plus the rooftop bars and restaurants such as:

• Grand Hotel Central
• Ayre Rosellón Hotel
• W Hotel
• Barceló Raval Hotel
• Colón Hotel
• 43 The Spa
• Eclipse Bar
• Ohla Barcelona Bar
• Las Arenas de Barcelona

Read more: The Best Spots For Jaw-Dropping Views Of Barcelona

Beaches in Barcelona

Being right on the Mediterranean Sea, Barcelona can really be proud of its amazing coastline and the sandy beaches such as Barceloneta, Banys del Fòrum, Llevant, Nova Mar Bella, Mar Bella, Bogatell, Nova Icària, Somorrostro, Sant Miguel and Sant Sebastià. If, however, you wish to visit the Balearic Islands such as Ibiza, Majorca, Menorca or Formentera, you can either fly or take a ferry from the Port de Barcelona.

Read more: The Most Beautiful Beaches in Barcelona

Where to Stay in Barcelona

Generally, the best neighbourhood to stay in Barcelona is Ciutat Vella. If you want to be close to the city centre, main tourist attractions and the beach, then choose the Gothic Quarter area. It’s the oldest part of Barcelona and best hotels are located near the La Rambla Street.

When planning a trip to Barcelona, it’s worth noting the city is divided into 10 districts: Ciutat Vella, Eixample, Sants-Montjuïc, Les Corts, Sarrià-Sant Gervasi, Gràcia, Horta-Guinardó, Nou Barris, Sant Andreu, Sant Martí.

Most recommended hotels in Barcelona:

• Hotel Fornos
• Ayre Hotel Rosellon
• W Barcelona (luxurious)

What to Eat in Barcelona

Holidays in Barcelona wouldn’t be the same without trying the local cuisine. Catalan food is all about different tapas, cured ham, fresh seafood, slow cooked stews and rice dishes such as Paella. The traditional dishes to try in Barcelona:

• Jamón – dry, cured ham.
• Chorizo – cured, smoked sausage.
• Manchego Cheese – hard and aged, made of sheep’s milk.
• Calçots – grilled green onions, served with garlic, tomato and almond sauce.
• Esqueixada – salad with raw cod, tomatoes, onion, black olives and romesco sauce.
• Tapas – appetizer or snack, served hot or cold, different ingrediencies.
• Bombas – potatoes balls filled with meat, fried and served with a garlic or spicy sauce.
• Blistered Peppers – grilled padron peppers served with sea salt and aioli (garlic sauce).
• Escalivada – smoky roasted veggies (eggplant, red bell pepper) served with garlic, salt and anchovies.
• Spanish Omelette – filled with onions, chunks of potatoes, served with an aioli sauce.
• Pa Amb Tomàquet – bread with tomatoes, sprinkled with sea salt, served grilled.
• Croquettas – oval shape, filled with cheese, mushrooms, ham or chicken.
• Calamari – grilled or fried squid.
• Bocadillo – baguette filled with meat and veggies.
• Patatas Bravas – crispy fried potato wedges served with spicy or garlic sauce.
• Gazpacho – soup made of raw blended veggies, served cold.
• Suquet de Peix – Catalan potato and seafood stew.
• Mandonguilles Amb Sípia – stew made of meatballs and cuttlefish in rich gravy sauce.
• Faves a la Catalana – stew made of fava beans, stock and botifarra negra (blood pudding).
• Fricandó – slices of veal cooked in a rich gravy with mushrooms.
• Ànec Amb Peres – sweet stew made of duck and cooked with pears.
• Paella – rice dish with seafood and veggies, paprika and saffron.
• Fideuà – same as Paella with noodles instead of rice.
• Arròs Negre – cuttlefish, pepper and rice coloured in black by using the squid’s ink.
• Botifarra Amb Mongetes – grilled sausage with white beans.
• Canelons – pasta rolls filled with stewed meat cooked in tomatoes sauce, béchamel sauce and cheese.
• Crema Catalana – dessert made of milk and infused with lemon zest and cinnamon.
• Mel i Mató – honey and cheese dessert.
• Sangria – alcoholic drink made of red wine and chopped fruit.
• Cava – Catalan wine.
• Estrella Damm – traditional Spanish beer.

How to Get Around Barcelona

Barcelona is such a walkable city. It literally takes under an hour to walk between the furthest tourist attractions around the city. For those looking to rest their feet, I would recommend buying the T – Casual ticket with 10 free journeys within the Zone 1.

Barcelona Travel Guide – Cost and Budget

If you’re backpacking Barcelona, your daily travel budget should be around £55. That’s assuming you stay in the dorm room (hostal), eat Spanish street food such as sandwiches (bocadillo), fried potatoes (patatas bravas), churros, chorizo or Spanish omelette (tortilla Espanola). Walking around the city (which isn’t that bad) or using single bus tickets is highly recommended.

If you travel to Barcelona on the mid – range budget, you should spend around £120 a day. That allows you to stay in a nice hotel (La Ramblas is highly recommended), eat paella, pinchitos (Spanish kebab), tapas and drink Sangria, commute on the tube and see the paid attractions around Barcelona.

The luxurious holidays in Barcelona will cost you around £190 to £210 a day. This budget lets you stay in the top hotel room, eat in the fine restaurants, use taxis a lot and book guided tours.

Barcelona Travel Guide – Best Time to Visit

Best time to go to Barcelona is summer, between June to August as those months are the driest. For the cheap sightseeing, you should travel in the late spring or early autumn. That’s when the temperatures range between 17°C to 26°C and there’s very little rain.

TIP: If you travel to Barcelona in spring you’ll get to experience the Easter holidays (March or April), the Sant Jordi (23rd April, Spanish Valentine’s Day), the Labour Day (1st May) and te Primavera Sound (late May, the music festival with DJs).

TIP: In autumn the following festivals are held in Barcelona – the National Day of Catalonia (11th September), the Festes de la Mercè (24th September, free live music, fireworks, castellers festival with human towers) and the Barcelona Jazz Festival (October).

If you want a beach holiday in Barcelona, you should go during summer from June to August. That when the air temperatures are between 26°C and 29°C and the sea temperature up to 26°C.

TIP: The summer months in Barcelona should be spent on the La Barceloneta beach and swimming in the Mediterranean Sea. Summer is also the time for the outdoor events and one not to be missed is the Festival del Grec in July at the Montjuic Hill.

If you travel to Barcelona in winter (December to February), you’ll get to experience the daily temperatures up to 15°C and the light showers that are quick to pass. Also, December is the time when Barcelona celebrates Christmas.

Barcelona Travel Guide – Average Monthly Temperatures

Barcelona is the hottest during summer from June to August. Those months bring hot temperatures between 26°C to 29°C with August being the hottest. The average sea temperature in Barcelona during summer is from 21°C to 26°C. Barcelona is the coldest in winter between December to February. Those months experience mild temperatures around 14°C with January being the coldest.

Barcelona Travel Guide – Average Monthly Precipitation

Barcelona is the wettest in autumn from September to November. The month when it rains the most is October with roughly 87 mm and 6 days of showers. The Barcelona is the driest in summer between June to July and the month with the least precipitation is June (11 mm and 2 days of showers).

Barcelona Travel Guide – Practical Information

This part of my travel guide is full of tips on what to expect during your travels to Barcelona. For more information on language and local time, religion, electricity plug, internet, currency, visa, safety and health matters in Barcelona, just follow the facts below.

Population and Language – Around 1,6 million people live in Barcelona which is the capital of Catalonia in Spain. The official language is Catalan and Spanish. Most people speak good English.

Religion – 49.5% Christians, 5.6% Muslims, 44.9% Other.

Local Time – There is 1 time zone in Barcelona, UTC+1 hour.

Electricity – Barcelona runs on 230V voltage. There is 50Hz and the plug type C and F (two round pin plug). Getting an adapter is recommended.

Internet – The internet in Barcelona is available all over the city. The free Wi-Fi is offered by most hotels and restaurants. There are over 700 hotspots around Barcelona and they are free to use with no registration is required. It’s recommended to buy a cheap sim card and mobile internet on arrival. Best prepaid sim cards in Barcelona are: Orange, Movistar, Vodafone and Lycamobile.

Money and Currency in Barcelona

Money – In Barcelona the ATMs are widely available but withdrawing your money will charge you a standard fee. Visa, MasterCard, Eurocard, Cirrus Debit and Credit Cards are accepted pretty much everywhere. Cash may come in handy when paying small street vendors.

Currency – The official currency in Barcelona is Euro (€) (EUR).

Visa Requirements for Barcelona

Visa – EU citizens don’t need a visa to travel to Barcelona thanks to the Schengen Zone Area that allows you free travel with no passport or border control. The UK left the EU on 31st of January 2020 meaning the UK citizens can spend up to 90 days within the Schengen Area (during any 180 day period). Valid ID document is required. Australians, Canadians, New Zealanders and Americans don’t need a visa to Barcelona if their trips are less than 90 days. Your passport needs to be valid for at least 6 months before your travels.

Safety in Barcelona

Safety Travelling in Barcelona is pretty safe but there things you need to watch out for. The main issue in Barcelona is that robbery and theft happens in the most congested areas such as La Rambla, Raval, Sagrada Familia, isolated parts of Montjuic, public beaches and while using the public transport (bus and train stations). If attending a football match, it’s better not to show that you are fans of other teams than FC Barca (they don’t like the Real Madrid supporters in Barcelona). In case of trouble, you should always report it to the Spanish national police by visiting the police stations (comisarias) or calling the police or visiting www.policia.es

Emergency Numbers – In Barcelona the universal emergency number to dial is 112. The numbers for the particular emergency services in Barcelona are: Police – 091, Fire – 085, Ambulance – 061, Maritime Rescue – 902 202 202.

Health and Travel Vaccinations in Barcelona

Health – Traveling to Barcelona requires doesn’t require any additional vaccinations. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that everyone is covered for the diphtheria, tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella and polio, hepatitis A, hepatitis B regardless of their destination.