Last Updated on March 8, 2023
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Spain is a wonderful country with a lot to offer and many amazing places to visit. From the beautiful Andalusia region in the South, the Basque country up North to cosmopolitan cities like Madrid. However, there’s one city, that remains # 1 Spanish destination and that is Barcelona. While I’m the first one to encourage people to see beyond Barcelona while traveling to Spain, I do see the city’s appeal. The architecture, Gaudi’s masterpieces, the weather and the food are just a few things, that continuously draw people to this beautiful city. If you are thinking of visiting, I put together a list of Barcelona tips in hopes it will help you prepare for your visit, especially if it’s your first time.
Barcelona tips – things to know before you go
Where to stay in Barcelona
Barcelona is big, in fact it’s the second biggest city in the country. For that reason, one of my main Barcelona tips is to stay in a central location. With a limited time, you want to be as close to all the attractions as possible. Having said that, given the city’s size, there’s more than one neighborhood that is considered a prime location. They’re all great areas to base yourself for exploring the city and which one you choose will depend on what you are looking for. Here are some of the best neighborhoods to choose for your Barcelona trip.
- Gothic Quarter – the historical part of Barcelona and one of the oldest neighborhoods is a good choice, if you are looking to stay in a prime location. You’ll be close to La Rambla, Boqueria Market and Barcelona Cathedral. Keep in mind though, that this is one of the most visited parts of Barcelona, which means it gets crowded. If that doesn’t bother you, H10 Madison is a great hotel choice. Located in the heart of Gothic Quarter, steps away from the Cathedral and many restaurants.
- Eixample – this upscale neighborhood is also a great base for exploring Barcelona. You will be removed from the busiest parts of the city, yet close enough to a lot of attractions and metro station. You will be near Sagrada Familia, Casa Batllo and La Pedrera, as well as one of the biggest Metro stations Passeig de Gràcia, where a lot of Metro lines meet. Hotel Contanza is a great choice for the price, comfort and location it offers.
- Gràcia – is a mostly residential neighborhood. Once a separate village from Barcelona, it has a different feel than the rest of the city. If at the end of the day you want to come back to a quiet neighborhood, Gràcia is a great choice for you. In Gràcia you’ll be close to Park Güell and another one of Gaudi’s works Casa Vicens.
How to get from the airport to the city center
Barcelona’s airport El Prat is located 13 km ( 8 miles ) from the city center and is easily accessible by a taxi, bus or metro.
- Aerobus – without a doubt the best option is taking the Aerobus. It’s fast, cheap, easy to use and runs frequently. One way ticket costs € 8.90 ( if you buy return it’s €13,20 ). You can pre-book online, but I don’t think that’s necessary. You can pay on the spot by cash or credit card and once one bus leaves there’s the next one literally waiting behind. The bus makes 4 stops: Plaça Espanya, Gran Vía (at Urgell), Plaça Universitat and Plaça Catalynya. The journey to the city center takes between 20 -30 minutes, depending on the traffic and your stop.
- Metro – the line L9 ( orange ) connects El Prat Airport with the city, however it doesn’t stop anywhere near the city center locations. To get to the most popular areas, you have to change to L1, L3 or L5 line.
- Taxi – if convenience is your top priority and you don’t worry about the cost, catching a taxi right outside of the Terminal might be your choice. Depending what part of the city you are going to, it will most likely cost between € 30-35. One thing to remember is, that there’s a minimum of € 20.00 from El Prat airport, even if you go just down the street.
Metro
Barcelona has a great and easy to use Metro system and you most likely will need to take advantage of it at some point of your trip. Even though the city is best explored by walking around and you will be able to do plenty of it, don’t underestimate the size of the city. Barcelona has no shortage of attractions and things to do and they are all spread out.
Barcelona’s Metro consists of 12 lines: L1 , L2, L3, L4, L5, L 7, L 8, L9, L10, L11 and L12. The lines are also identified by colors. Metro operates from Sunday – Thursday from 5 am – midnight, Fridays from 5 am – 2 am and Saturday from 5 am continuing into the next day.
Buy the T-Casual subway card
One of my main Barcelona tips would be to purchase the T-Casual Metro card on the very first day. This card replaced the old T-10 card in 2020 and just like the old card, it’s valid for 10 rides for up to 75 minutes. The big difference is, you can no longer share it with other people.
T-Casual card costs €11.35 and valid for 10 rides in the zones 1-6. A single metro ride costs €2.40, so by purchasing your T-Casual card, you’re paying half the price. 10 rides might seem like a lot, but if you are in Barcelona for 3-4 days, you’ll use most of them, if not all.
Pre-book attractions
Chances are, if it’s your first time visiting, your Barcelona itinerary includes some of the most popular attractions like Sagrada Familia, Park Güell or Casa Batllo. Because these attractions are insanely popular, it’s highly recommended that you book your tickets ahead of time.
Pre-booking your tickets doesn’t only let you skip the line, but also guarantees you’ll be able to visit. If you wish to visit Sagrada Familia, especially in high season, buying your tickets is pretty much the only way you’ll be able to visit. Gaudi’s biggest masterpiece is one of the most popular attractions in the world and tickets sell out way in advance. If you prefer a more guided tour, you might want to consider this Sagrada Familia Guided Tour with Priority Access. It includes not only the ticket and a guide, but also priority access.
Barcelona Card
This is the official tourist pass of Barcelona, that allows you to save money on transport, entrance fees to many attractions and discounts on gifts, bars and restaurants and more. There are 3 types of Barcelona Cards to choose from, depending on the number of days it’s valid. These are the current 2023 prices:
- 72 hours card – €53 ( €30 child )
- 96 hours – €63 ( €40 child )
- 120 hours card – €75 ( €45 child )
You can purchase your Barcelona Card at various points in the city, as well as online. By pre-booking your card online, you save 10%.
With Barcelona Card you get:
- unlimited free public transport within Zone 1 ( which basically covers the whole city ), that includes buses, Metro, Metro to the airport and Airport train.
- free entrance to many museum
- discounts on entrance fees to many attractions i.e. Casa Batllo, La Pedrera
- discounts on tours
Is Barcelona Card worth it and should you get it? This will depend on how you plan on spending your time in Barcelona. If you plan on using public transportation a lot and visiting many museums and attractions, then Barcelona Card will definitely save you money. If you’re looking for a more relaxed pace and lots of walking around, you can probably skip it. I suggest looking at your itinerary and figuring out how much everything will cost individually. Then compare it with the discounts the card offers to those particular attractions, add the cost of the card and you will have your answer.
Visit Barcelona off season if possible
It’s not a secret, that summer is the high travel season in Europe. A lot of places get really busy, but some destinations reach record levels of crowded. To the point, where describing them crowded would be an understatement. Barcelona happens to be one of the cities, that doesn’t suffer from the lack of visitors, quite the opposite.
Spring or Fall are a much better time to visit Barcelona. The weather is still nice, high season is yet to start. Other than going to the beach, you’ll be able to enjoy all the same things, just without the massive crowds. After spending a few days in Barcelona in November, I highly recommend visiting off season. The city is just the right amount of busy, lines to attractions much shorter and prices of flights and accommodations drop.
Don’t eat on La Rambla
One of the most famous pedestrian streets in Europe is worth a visit, especially if it’s your first time in Barcelona, but try to avoid eating at any of the restaurants there. Just like with most touristic places, the food is way overpriced and not that great. And if you are in a city, that is famous for great food and tapas, it would be a shame to eat mediocre food, while there are so many other great restaurants.
One exception would be Boqueria Market, that is right off of La Rambla. Although it’s the most touristy out of all the markets in Barcelona, it’s a place you shouldn’t miss. There many food stalls and little eateries with places to sit and grab a bite.
Instead of eating at La Rambla, pick cafes and restaurants away from touristy areas. Find places on side streets and those where the locals go. The food will be amazing and much cheaper.
Language
As the capital of the autonomous region of Catalonia, Barcelona has 2 official languages: Spanish and Catalan. Catalan is the language spoken by many locals. You’ll see signs on the roads, in stores and in restaurants in both languages. It’s also not unusual to be greeted in Catalan, not Spanish.
Since Barcelona is one of the most visited cities in the world, English is also widely spoken, especially in the tourism industry.
Currency / Cash / Credit cards
The currency used in Barcelona is the Euro €. While credit cards are widely accepted, having cash is a good idea, especially for smaller expenses. Some smaller stores or cafes require a minimum purchase of €10, if you choose to pay with a credit card. Also, a lot of banks charge fees for using your card in a foreign country and if you make plenty of purchases, these fees will add up.
Withdrawing cash from an ATM will give you the best deal and these can be found all over Barcelona, but avoid Euronet if you can. They have very high fees and are geared towards unassuming tourists, there is a reason they are usually placed in the airports and the most touristy areas. Other ATMs will have fees as well, but not as high, and you’re still getting a much better rate than in exchange counters. One of the main Barcelona tips: Do not to carry too much cash on you!
Tipping
Tipping in Barcelona is not customary, at least officially. Especially if you are used to the tipping culture in the United States. Of course, a little tip never goes unnoticed and is always appreciated, but not required or accepted. Rounding up to the next Euro seems to be common practice.
Keep an eye on your belongings
Unfortunately Barcelona in known as the city, that has a huge pick pocketing and theft problem. The main target are of course the unsuspecting tourists, especially in the most popular and crowded areas like La Rambla, Boqueria Market or near Sagrada Familia. This is in no way to discourage you from visiting Barcelona, but to be aware, which is the first step to avoid being a victim.
Some of my main safety tips would be to keep your belongings close to you, never leave your cell phone on the table, don’t carry all your cash in one place and ALWAYS be aware of your surroundings. Which is not only one of my Barcelona tips, but my Nr 1 travel tip no matter where you go.
READ MORE:
- Barcelona in November – what’s it like to visit off season
- Must see Gaudi buildings in Barcelona
- The complete guide to Visiting Sagrada Familia in Barcelona
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