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With excellent weather nearly all year round, beautiful coastlines and vibrant big cities, Spain is the ultimate holiday destination for families, couples, groups and friends. Barcelona and Madrid have something for everyone, and are well known for their buzzing nightlife, rich cultural surroundings and great tapas. While an escorted tour of Andalucia means you can explore Seville, Granada and Cordoba and their remarkable Moorish gems such as the Alhambra, with ease. Head to Green Spain in the north for spectacular landscapes and fantastic walking including the famous pilgrimage route - the Camino de Santiago de Compostela. Or choose a small group adventure to explore the country's diverse cultures and cuisines. However you choose to visit, a holiday in Spain has something for everyone.

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The best of Barcelona: a local's ultimate travel guide full of secret spots, insider tips, and more

• Barcelona is a top European destination with a sunny climate, incredible food, and dazzling culture.
• Here's how you can go beyond the regular tourist sights and see another side of Barcelona, Spain.
• Visit Insider's hub for travel guides, tips, and recommendations .

With its glorious weather, gorgeous architecture, and world-class gastronomy, Barcelona has everything you could want in a city. 

It's why five years ago, I chose to move here from New York, ditching my all-black wardrobe, umbrella, and NYC attitude to embrace the Catalan capital's wonderfully laid-back vibe and sunshine-filled days. 

As I've found, there's plenty in Barcelona to keep visitors busy, from touring the Modernisme masterpieces of Antoni Gaudí to visiting outstanding museums devoted to Picasso and Joan Miró, and exploring the Gothic Quarter's tangle of medieval streets.

But what I love most about living here is that most days are simply about relaxing: at a café on a scenic plaza, at a beachfront chiringuito with your toes in the sand, or on a rooftop terrace with panoramic views of the city, sea, and mountains.

If you have the means, it's worth splurging on a Michelin-starred meal — Barcelona is one of the best eating cities in the world — and staying in a century-old five-star property. But you can have just as fabulous a time bedding down in a budget hotel and dining at local tapas bars. 

Here's everything you need to know to plan the perfect Barcelona vacation. 

→ There are many modes of transportation in Barcelona and I've tried them all. Here's how visitors can best navigate the city.

→ i've stayed in most hotels in barcelona and these are the 10 places that always wow me  , → i've lived in barcelona, one of the world's best dining cities, for 5 years — here are 10 places where you should actually eat and drink, → 10 places to go in barcelona beyond what you'll find in most guide books, according to a local travel writer, → important advisories and travel precautions when planning a trip to barcelona.

• Main content

The 17 best things to do in Barcelona in 2024

Feb 12, 2024 • 8 min read

Here are Barcelona's unmissable experiences © Jordi Salas / Getty Images

Barcelona is Spain 's most visited city, and it's not hard to see why – the historic capital of Catalonia is packed with galleries, museums, attractions and an incredible food scene.

Set between the mountains and sea, the city is celebrated for its unique architecture , thriving nightlife and urban beaches . With so many options, it can be difficult to know where to begin. Start your travel to-do list now with our guide to the best things to do in Barcelona .

1. Visit the Sagrada Família

Almost every city has at least one landmark that you simply can’t miss, and the  Sagrada Família is Barcelona’s. Antoni Gaudí’s magnificent masterpiece has been under construction for more than 130 years, and it’s still not finished.

Far from a construction site, however, the church features two grand facades studded with intricate stone carvings, towers that gleam with gem-like tiles and an interior filled with tree-like columns soaring up toward the canopy ceiling. Construction work paused during the pandemic but has resumed and the building is expected to be completed in time for the 100th anniversary of Gaudí’s death in 2026.

Planning tip:  The Sagrada Família is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Spain, and it can get  very  busy. To avoid the crowds, visit early in the morning (it opens at 9am) on a weekday.

2. See more of Gaudí’s designs

The Sagrada Família may be the most famous of Gaudí’s buildings, but all his wonderful, whimsical designs are worth visiting. The most well known are  Casa Batlló , with its iridescent dragon-like scales and skull-and-bone-effect balconies, and  La Pedrera , with its undulating stone facade and fanciful chimneys. Some of his lesser-known but equally beautiful buildings include  Casa Vicens , the first house he ever designed;  Palau Güell , which he designed for his patron Eusebi Güell; and the  Torre Bellesguard .

3. Wander through the Gothic Quarter

Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter ( Barri Gòtic ) is the oldest and most atmospheric part of the city. Characterized by small alleyways, hidden plazas and historic buildings, it lies to the east of La Rambla, the famous pedestrian street that runs through the center of the old town.

The neighborhood is scattered with century-old shops, small bars and charming cafes. Some highlights include the striking Plaça Reial, fringed by cafes and palm trees; Plaça Sant Jaume, home to the grand Palau de la Generalitat; and the impressive  La Catedral .

Planning tip:  Many parts of the Gothic Quarter are known for late-night bars and clubs that are still going well into the morning. Perfect if you want to dance until dawn, but not the best neighborhood to stay in if you're traveling with young kids or those who appreciate an early night.

4. Explore Barcelona's food markets

La Boqueria might be the most famous of Barcelona’s food markets, but each neighborhood has its own, and there are several excellent ones to choose from. La Boqueria is the oldest and one of the most atmospheric, but in recent years, more stalls have given over to things such as tropical fruit shakes and novelty candy rather than traditional produce.

For a more authentic vibe, visit the modern  Mercat de Santa Caterina with its multicolored wavy roof or the grand  Mercat de Sant Antoni  with 250 stalls.

5. Soak up the sun on Barcelona's city beaches

Whatever time of year you visit Barcelona , the beaches won’t disappoint. Even in winter, it can be sunny enough to sit outside and enjoy a meal at one of the seaside restaurants, while summer offers everything from sunbathing and swimming to water sports.

The city boasts a 5km (3-mile) stretch of coastline, home to nine different beaches. There’s  Sant Sebastià with its range of upscale restaurants, Somorrostro lined with hip nightclubs and Nova Icària with a watersports center and beach volleyball.

6. Venture up Montjuïc

Montjuïc is the green hill to the south of the city, home to the Olympic Park, as well as numerous museums and gardens. Rising from Plaza d’Espanya, you'll first see the grand sets of stairs and fountains cascading down from the magnificent palace housing the  Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya . Behind that is the huge Olympic Stadium and the rest of the Olympic Park. 

Planning tip:  The Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya has a terrace that offers spectacular views of the city and is a popular spot to watch the sunset. The open-air bar means you can enjoy a few drinks while taking in the view.

Explore Montjuic effortlessly with  GetYourGuide . Book your tour today.

7. Snack on some tapas

When hunger pangs arrive in the afternoon or early evening, take advantage of the pre-dinner tapa. This means heading to the local favorite for a bite of anchovies, sausage, squid, wild mushrooms, roasted peppers or dozens of other tempting morsels. Wine, cava and beer all make fine accompaniments.

Planning tip: Many tapas spots are lively stand-around-the-bar affairs. When it's time for a change of scenery, barcelonins  make their way to dinner or just head to another tapas bar and skip the sit-down formality altogether.

8. Learn about an icon at the Museu Picasso

Picasso lived in Barcelona between the ages of 15 and 23, and elements of the city undoubtedly influenced his pieces, from the colorful but simply painted frescoes hanging in the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya to the imaginative trencadís -style mosaics (pre-Cubist some say) of Gaudí. The Museu Picasso 's setting adds to the appeal, as do the buzzy, history-rich surrounding streets of El Born.

Explore Museu Picasso effortlessly with GetYourGuide.  Book your tour today .

9. Catch a game at Camp Nou

FC Barcelona plays a prominent role in the city's imagination. Heading to a football match at Camp Nou between September and May is the best way to catch a bit of Barcelona fever, but watching it on screen in a bar can be just as much fun, depending on the crowd. 

Planning tip: Even if you can't make it to a game, the interactive Barça Stadium Tour and Museum experience takes you through the locker rooms and onto the field, hallowed ground for many Catalans.

Transform your visit to Camp Nou by  booking with GetYourGuide.

10. Experience Barcelona's famous nightlife

A night in Barcelona holds limitless possibilities. Start with sunset drinks on a rooftop terrace or sink your heels into the sand at a rustic-chic beachside xiringuito . As darkness falls, the city transforms with buzzing squares and live music, and around midnight the bars fill up.

Pick from old-school taverns, plush lounges in lamp-lit medieval chambers, sleek cocktail dens, boisterous cava bars, basements churning out brassy jazz and more. If you're still standing at 3am, hit the clubs and keep going until dawn.

11. Spend an early morning on La Rambla

Sure, the leafy 1.2km (0.75-mile) pedestrian boulevard of  La Rambla  that stretches toward the sea is the most touristed spot in town – at times, you can barely push through the crowds. But pay a visit first thing in the morning and you'll see that beyond the souvenir shops and craft sellers, it's a pure sensory overload.

Open-air cafes, fragrant flower stands and a much-overlooked mosaic by Miró dot the pavement, while key venues line both sides of the street, including the elegant Gran Teatre del Liceu , the sprawling Mercat de la Boqueria and numerous galleries. Several other barris , such as El Poblenou, have their own attractive rambles , too.

12. Enjoy Catalan cuisine

Barcelona is a great foodie city, known throughout the world for its innovative chefs and creative cuisine. While you’ll find tapas bars everywhere, be sure to sample some local Catalan dishes, too.

Before you dine, join in l’hora del vermut at a typical vermouth bar, which pairs the fortified wine with bites of pickled anchovies and olives to whet the appetite. Follow it up with traditional Catalan dishes, such as botifarra amb mongetes (sausage with white beans), suquet de peix (fish stew), escalivada (roasted red peppers, onions and eggplant) and crema catalana (similar to crème brûlée). Sample the cuisine at  Casa Delfín .

13. Celebrate during festival time

Because Barcelona has a festival almost every other month, it won’t be hard to make your trip to the city coincide with one. There are the patron-saint festivals of Santa Eulalia and La Mercé in February and September, respectively, La Diada de Sant Jordi in April (when people give each other gifts of books and roses to celebrate St George) and the fire festival of St Joan in mid-June.

Some of the main features of Catalan festivals include the castellers  (human towers), huge parading giants and correfocs , where firework-wielding devils dance through the streets.

14. See a range of works at Fundació Joan Miró

Joan Miró, the city’s best-known 20th-century native son, bequeathed this art foundation to his hometown in 1971. The light-filled buildings are crammed with seminal works, from Miró’s timid early sketches to paintings from his last years.

15. Scope out examples of Modernista architecture

One of the things that makes Barcelona so charming is its Modernista architecture. An artistic movement that affected everything from literature and art to architecture, the Modernisme era lasted from the late 19th to the early 20th centuries.

You can identify these buildings by their bright colors, floral or botanical motifs, patterned tiles and curvy lines. Some of the best examples can be seen around the L'Eixample area, but you can also find them dotted all over the city. Besides Gaudí’s Modernista works, some of the best examples in the city are the  Palau de la Música Catalana and the  Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau , both designed by the architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner.

16. Explore up-and-coming El Poblenou

On the up is the formerly industrial neighborhood of El Poblenou, northeast of the center. Vacant warehouses are being reimagined as creative tech and design hubs, cafes, boutiques, bars and more.

17. Sip a drink at one of L'Eixample's rooftop bars

Admire Modernista marvels over a cocktail or vermouth. L'Eixample 's elegant streets conceal an array of hidden-away, view-laden open-air bars and cafes beloved by barcelonins , many of them within swish hotels but open to all. 

This article was first published Feb 27, 2020 and updated Feb 12, 2024.

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• World's Best

The 3 Best Hotels in Barcelona in 2022

The best hotels in Barcelona, according to Travel + Leisure , marry the city’s artistic sensibility with five-star service.

Note: If you’re looking for our most recent recommendations, check out the 2023 list of our favorite hotels in Barcelona .

Barcelona is the very embodiment of European charm. From its Baroque buildings to the unique Gaudí designs, its architecture is second to none, while its cafés serving tiny plates of pure tapas magic will leave visitors wishing for more long after they return home. But perhaps best of all in this city by the sea is its fantastic hotels, which have captured Travel + Leisure readers' hearts for decades.

Every year for our World's Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Hotels (including safari lodges) were rated on their facilities, location, service, food, and overall value. Properties were classified as city hotel, resort, or safari lodge based on their locations and amenities.

While the top three hotels have regularly been in the mix, this year's No. 1 — the Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona — beat out the competition by excelling on every level. As one reader succinctly noted, it's "perfect."

Once again, the Hotel Arts Barcelona has returned to the list, this time in the No. 2 spot, with one reader commenting: "It gets no better than this. Five stars in every category." And rounding out the top three is last year's winner, Cotton House Hotel.

Read on to see why the Mandarin Oriental deserves a spot atop your planning list for your next trip to Barcelona.

1. Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona

The Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona, sits on Passeig de Gràcia, the most famed thoroughfare in the city. It's filled with luxury boutiques, and, of course, several of Gaudí's architectural masterpieces. Though the hotel's surroundings are spectacular, so too are its interiors. Inside, guests will find jaw-dropping suites designed by Patricia Urquiola, which include plush white beds, contemporary furnishings, and floor-to-ceiling windows to allow visitors to drink in the neighborhood views. Outside the guest accommodations, visitors can also indulge in the hotel's wellness offerings at the spa, which offers signature treatments like the "essential traveler," which promises to realign energy after a long flight. After a treatment, they're invited to relax into a good meal at Moments, run by chef Carme Ruscalleda, who serves up Catalonian delights.

Score: 94.19

Book on Tripadvisor

2. Hotel Arts Barcelona

Score: 91.03

3. Cotton House Hotel, Autograph Collection

Score: 89.33

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Barcelona city guide: Where to eat, drink, shop and stay in the Catalan capital

With so much to see and do, barcelona is a city you’ll want to get right, says paul stafford, article bookmarked.

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W ith so much to see and do, Barcelona is a city you’ll want to get right, be it staying at a centre-of-the-action hotel, a memorable restaurant experience, or another tick on your world monument bucket list.

It’s not presumptuous to label Barcelona (aka Barna, not Barca) one of the world’s great cities. To witness the self-assured sense of identity, borne by an effortless style, debonair dining scene and embarrassment of cultural riches, is to know you’re experiencing a special place. Shades of Spain are evident, but Barcelona is painted a Catalan red and yellow, the capital of a distinctive and individualistic region.

Read more on Spain travel :

• Best hotels to book in Barcelona
• The ultimate guide to Spain
• How to spend a day in Poblenou, one of Barcelona’s coolest neighbourhoods

It’s wise to plan ahead to make the most of your time, particularly when narrowing down the exhaustive lists of modernista (Catalan modernism) masterpieces, characterful neighbourhoods, art-jammed museums and scene-stealing restaurants that are commonly booked up in advance. The payoff can be spectacular, a flurry of otherworldly buildings and urban spaces, theatre of food and drink experiences, and distinctive culture. You’ll leave with Barna’s vivaciousness etched into your memory, along with the wish you didn’t have to waste time on sleep.

Get to grips with Gaudi

No architect’s work is so instantly recognisable as Gaudi ’s. His buildings refuse to sit still, flowing and billowing with the unpredictable finesse of the natural world that inspired him so greatly. Start at the playful Park Guell (€10/£8.88, daily), decked out like some fantastical candy wonderland, atop a hill with an excellent city view. That vista includes La Sagrada Familia (€26/£23, or €36/£32 with access to the towers, book in advance, daily), the undisputed champion of Catalonian attractions. Ungainly yellow cranes indicate that it remains incomplete, even though Gaudi’s work began in 1883. Every inch of the exterior is embellished. The interior is a sylvan sanctuary of stone and stained glass. Completion is targeted for the centenary of Gaudi’s death in 2026, although delays are likely.

Plenty of smaller Gaudi cosmoses dot Barcelona’s streets. Casa Batllo (from €29/£26 or €35/£31 during summer holidays, buy well in advance, daily) is considered peak Gaudi. The “magical house” is an immersive confection of fantastical concepts. If Casa Batllo is from a fairytale, Palau Guell (€12/£10.66, separate from the park above, closed on Mondays) is the villain’s lair, dark and brooding – although the rooftop mosaics hint at the swirling levity of his later works.

If your thirst for Catalan modernism remains unsated, the densest cluster of modernista buildings is around the Passeig de Gracia in L’Eixample. Here, you’ll find Josep Puig i Cadafalch’s outstanding Casa Amatller (€17/£15, closed on Mondays) sited beside Casa Batllo.

Ramble around

Barcelona’s cobbled squares, labyrinthine, vehicle-light streets and broad strokes of pedestrian-friendly city planning make exploring on foot a preferred method. Nothing epitomises this better than La Rambla, a wide thoroughfare that accommodates al fresco cafes, scent-rich florists, street artists and kiosks purveying all manner of goods, from lotto tickets to trinkets. Saunter its 1.3km (0.8-mile) stretch southeast from Placa de Catalunya towards the Columbus Monument.

Delve down any street north of La Rambla and you’ll find yourself in the tight mesh of claustrophobic veins that form the Barri Gotic (Gothic Quarter), the pulsating core of the Ciutat Vella (Old Town). Many streets lead to the 13th-century La Seu (€9/£8, Cathedral of Barcelona, daily but afternoon only on Sundays). The medieval neighbourhood has Roman roots; look out for surviving portions of its ancient city wall or temple columns.

The art of travel

Barcelona is a major repository for some of Spain’s finest paintings and you could spend your entire trip strolling its cavernous galleries. Picasso spent his teenage years in the city whose modernista wave had a formative impact on the young artist’s sensibilities. The Picasso Museum (€13/£11.50, closed on Mondays) houses what is likely the great Cubist’s most extensive collection, with more than 4,000 works on permanent display, particularly from his early years through to the start of his 1904 “rose period”.

Picasso’s work and that of the Surrealists informed each other, and you can see major works by a key member of the latter camp at the Joan Miro Foundation (€14/£12.40, closed on Mondays), to which he donated much of the current collection. The museum sits on a leafy slope of Montjuic, which is also home to the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (€12/£10.66, MNAC, closed on Mondays). MNAC is notable for its Romanesque art, plus an exhaustive collection of Catalan works spanning eight centuries.

The Design Museum of Barcelona (€6/£5.33, closed on Mondays) is a perfect place to gain a keener insight into the city’s globally recognised style across fashion, interior design and decorative arts. And talking of art, the beautiful game often reaches its zenith at Camp Nou , home of FC Barcelona. Stadium tours (€28/£24.88, available most days) include access to the stands and the ever-growing trophy room.

Where to stay

The doyenne of Barcelona’s accommodation scene, El Palace sports lavish public spaces and an old-school approach to refined service. The hotel’s six decadent art suites are a sumptuous humblebrag of the glamorous former clientele who made El Palace their home for weeks or even months at a time. Highlights are the painting suite, dedicated to Salvador Dali, while Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones helped design the music suite.

Rooms available from {{#price}} {{price}} per night {{/price}} {{^price}} Check availability for dates and prices {{/price}}

Rates provided by Booking.com

Hotel Amenities

Health & wellbeing, casa camper.

Barri Gotic and El Raval are the best central spots for boutique hotels that aren’t budget breakers. Casa Camper is one such example in the hip Raval area, which is another way of saying the neighbourhood was quite seedy in recent memory. These days, the minimalist black, white and red design, quirky hotel sign and bicycles hanging from the ceiling are indicative of the Raval’s spiffy new image.

Serras Hotel

With all that Catalan modernism, it’s no surprise that there are plenty of hotels decked out in the city’s defining style. Serras Hotel’s restored modernist facade overlooks Port Vell at the seaward edge of the Gothic Quarter. As a teenager, Pablo Picasso had an artist’s studio in this building.

Hotel Arts Barcelona

You’d be forgiven for thinking there’d be more art at Hotel Arts, but the creative touches are downplayed. That’s because the hotel makes the city the star of the show. Floor-to-ceiling windows allow for unbroken vistas over the coastline and city, particularly higher up the hotel’s 33-floor span.

Read more Spain hotel reviews :

• The best hotels in Barcelona
• The best hotels in Spain
• The best hotels in Madrid

Where to eat

Poble sec and barri gotic tapas bars.

You’ll find great tapas bars throughout Barna, but the clusters around Calle Blai in Poble Sec and throughout the Gothic Quarter provide fertile tapas bar-crawling territory. A local specialty to look out for is the bomba , a potato and meat croquette in a spicy aioli sauce. In the Barri Gotic, check out the anchoas (marinated or fried anchovies) at La Plata . In Poble Sec, Quimet i Quimet is the place to go for unexpected ingredient pairings, such as the salmon, yoghurt and truffled honey montadito (small sandwich).

El Quatre Gats derives its name from an old expression in Catalan that, literally translated, means “the four cats”, but in slang describes an outsider. When this restaurant opened in 1897, it was the cool cats, the artists who dared to be different such as Pablo Picasso, who frequented this spot. Retaining an air of that era through refined yet rustic decor, there’s often a pianist playing smooth jazz, with generous wait staff on hand to mix you up a refreshing jug of sangria. Try the traditional Catalan dessert, a creamy, caramel-crusted crema catalana .

Ca l’Estevet is another time-tested bohemian hangout; the kind of tucked-away venue typical of El Raval. Catalan cuisine appears in its finest form here, with house specials of herby snails, garlicky squid and juicy legs of duck. For vegans and vegetarians, there are plenty of dining options in this neighbourhood, such as the eponymous eatery of chef Teresa Carles , where classic Mediterranean dishes get a meat-free makeover.

Michelin dining

From designer buildings to designer dishes, Barcelona’s artistry on the plate has not gone unnoticed by the folks at Michelin. Twin brothers Javier and Sergio are the maestros behind Cocina Hermanos Torres , which has three regular stars plus a Michelin green star, awarded to restaurants committed to sourcing ingredients locally and seasonally. For that, you’ll pay a premium; tasting menus start at €255/£227.

Where to drink

If you’ve not tried much vermouth (spelled “vermut” locally) before visiting Barna, you’ll leave as a connoisseur. The traditional time to “fer el vermut” was late morning or early afternoon, but these days any time’s a good time. For the real deal, try Vermuteria del Tano in the Vila de Gracia neighbourhood or Bodega Fermin in La Barceloneta.

Youthful, artistic El Raval is, quite naturally, the place to go for trendsetting bars, and nowhere does it weirder than La Cobra . If the decor here was a cocktail, it’d be the black widow – gin and tonic with anise and a dash of absinthe – because the closer you look at the whimsical brick-a-brack adorning the walls, the more you notice their sinister, medieval edge, not least amid the X-ray collage.

For all of Raval’s spotlight theft, L’Eixample remains the coolest place to grab a drink, with a string of classy cocktail bars, such as Tandem , where besuited mixologists perform acts of alchemy with the spirits. Custom mixes to suit each patron are the way of things here. Prices range from €10-13/£8.88-11.50.

If you’re looking for a side of whimsy with your coffee, El Bosc de les Fades (Forest of the Fairies) is a great way to maintain the sense of magic you may have experienced in the streets, while boosting your caffeine levels. The faux forest interior gives you a canopy under which to sup, while other areas of the space feel like the set of a fantasy film.

Where to shop

Passeig de gracia.

If you can stomach the crowds, Passeig de Gracia is Barcelona’s busiest shopping street for a reason. Also known as the “golden mile”, this is the haute couture epicentre of Catalonia. Top international brands are represented, alongside homegrown talent such as Santa Eulalia. Meanwhile, El Raval is best for vintage clothing stores and you’ll find plenty of small fashion up-and-comers in El Born.

All manner of handmade gifts and homewares are sold at stores along La Rambla and within Barri Gotic. Cereria Subira , a candle shop, is rumoured to be among the oldest shops in Barcelona. The shop at the Centre d’Artesania Catalunya sells hand-selected highlights from local artisans.

The three most notable places to find locally grown produce are Mercat Santa Caterina , with its wavy roof of colourful tessellated tiles, Mercat de Sant Antoni – selling fresh fruit and veg daily and second-hand books on Sunday – and Mercat de la Boqueria , where hanging hams, hunks of cheese and overflowing fruit pots are appealingly presented.

Architectural highlight

It would be easy to opt for Gaudi’s glitz here, but that would overlook the depth of architectural richness in Barcelona. The highlight goes to the finest work of another modernista movement stalwart, Lluis Domenech i Montaner: the Palau de la Musica Catalana (€17/£15, daily). Intricate mosaic, sculpture and ironwork, and a fabulous stained glass ceiling, demonstrate the skills of the numerous Catalan artisans involved in its creation. Unesco listed the building as a World Heritage Site in 1997.

Nuts and bolts

What currency do i need, what language do they speak.

Catalan and Spanish. Most residents are bilingual.

Should I tip?

Adding 5-10 per cent to the bill is always appreciated, although at bars and over-the-counter cafes, it isn’t expected.

What’s the time difference?

Spain is one hour ahead of the UK and daylight savings changes fall on the same dates.

How should I get around?

Barcelona’s extensive Metro system is regular and dependable. Tickets start at €2.40/£2.13 for a single fare. Trains run from 5am to midnight Monday to Thursday, 5am to 2am on Friday and continuously from 5am Saturday to midnight on Sunday. If you plan to make more than four trips on the city’s bus, tram or Metro network, get a T-Casual card, which allows 10 trips in Zone 1 for €11.35/£10 across the city’s entire transport network. All places mentioned in this article fall within this zone.

Read more: New sleeper train will connect Barcelona and Amsterdam

What’s the best view?

There are expansive views over Barcelona from the various hills and mountains cradling the city, such as Tibidabo. Views from the terrace at MNAC and the battlements of Montjuic Castle at sunset are captivating. However, from mid-June to early September, nothing beats the view from the outdoor public pool at Piscina Municipal de Montjuic , which was built for the 1992 Olympics. Prices for 2023 are yet to be announced but in 2022 pool entry cost €7.05/£6.26 for adults and €4.88/£4.33 for children.

Insider tip?

Many of the top sights, including Palau Guell, the Design Museum, MNAC and the Picasso Museum, have free admission on the first Sunday of every month. MNAC offers free admission every Saturday from 3pm too, while the Picasso Museum additionally offers free admission on Thursday afternoons from 4-7pm. While this occasionally means larger crowds, planning your trip around these days is a great way to lighten the burden on your wallet. In all cases, check online to see if advance reservation is required.

Getting there

Trying to fly less.

Fast trains connect the UK to Barcelona. Grab a Eurostar from London’s St Pancras International station to Paris’s Gare du Nord, then get across Paris by Metro to Gare de Lyon, where the high-speed TGV service to Barcelona departs at least once a day.

Fine with flying?

Vueling, Ryanair, easyJet and British Airways all fly direct from the UK to Barcelona.

Read more: Barcelona hotel reviews

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Traveling to Barcelona for the First Time: 19 Tips & Tricks

By Author Jurga

Posted on Last updated: January 15, 2024

Traveling to Barcelona for the first time and not sure where to start and what to expect? This article covers all the essential Barcelona travel tips that will help you make the most of your trip.

Planning your first visit to Barcelona, Spain, might be overwhelming. There are so many questions… How much time do you need in Barcelona? When to visit and how to avoid the crowds? Where to stay and what to see? Any local tips and habits to be aware of? Or how to see the best that Barcelona has to offer in a limited time and without breaking the bank?…

To help you plan your first trip to Barcelona, we selected some of the best tips for visiting the city. This no-nonsense practical guide will not only help you plan your trip, but will also show you how to make the best of your time and budget. Find out!

Top 5 Experiences in Barcelona:

• Sagrada Familia .
• Park Güell .
• Montjuïc Cable Car .
• Barcelona Pass .
• Casa Batlló .

Here are our essential Barcelona travel tips:

1. Research & Book in Advance

One of the biggest mistakes you can make when visiting Barcelona for the first time is not to plan your trip in advance. So congratulations – because you are reading this, you already have a head start compared to other visitors!

Whether it’s flights, accommodations, or tickets for the main Barcelona attractions – booking in advance means that you have more choices and much better prices . It also means less wasted time queuing and more relaxing time sightseeing and enjoying this fabulous city. After all, you want to make the most of your time in Barcelona and not spend all your precious time standing in lines.

Also, doing your research in advance means that you will avoid disappointment to find that the places you want to visit are closed or tickets sold out . Below are some examples that illustrate what I mean.

For example, we really wanted to see the dancing fountain of Barcelona, the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc , and were told that it dances every night. However, it’s not the case. Furthermore, since we were traveling in the low season, it was actually only dancing three times a week.

Because we arrived on a Saturday and left before the next weekend, we only had one chance to see the fountains during our visit – on the first evening in the city. So despite an early flight and a very long day, we decided to go. If we hadn’t done the research -assuming that we could just see it any night- we would have definitely missed it.

We also researched whether it was a good idea to visit Montserrat Monastery on Sunday. It turns out that it’s the busiest day of the week. So we booked a tour for Monday instead…

I also heard from some of our readers that they couldn’t visit the famous Barcelona market Mercado de La Boqueria because they didn’t realize that it was closed on Sundays. By the way, all indoor markets in Barcelona are closed on Sundays.

Another reader told us that they couldn’t visit Park Güell because they didn’t buy tickets in advance and no walk-ins were possible… (Btw, Park Güell is one of the most-visited Barcelona attractions and you really have to book your tickets in advance!).

Good to know: Tickets for the most popular Barcelona attractions often sell out up to 2-3 weeks in advance. This is especially the case in high season. Plus, most entry tickets are now timed, so you need to see what’s possible and how to fit it all into your itinerary. Further below, you will find more details and tips, but if you get the Barcelona Pass , you will have the option to pre-book a timeslot for your skip-the-line entry to all the main sights.

By doing your research in advance, you can also compare prices, reviews, and itineraries for the best tours in Barcelona… This brings us to the next point.

READ ALSO: Top Sights & Attractions in Barcelona

2. Save Time & Money When Visiting Barcelona’s Main Landmarks

Visiting Barcelona for the first time also means visiting all the main landmarks and attractions. Of course, you will want to see the famous La Sagrada Familia and the other iconic Gaudi buildings and architecture! Just make sure that you are well prepared so that you don’t waste hours and days standing in lines.

TIP: If you want to make the most of your time in Barcelona, consider skip-the-line tickets for ALL the main landmarks and the most popular tourist attractions. We also recommend booking guided tours for the Sagrada Familia and the main Gaudi buildings – that way you’ll get a much better understanding of all the symbolism and stories behind the architecture.

You can find Barcelona tours and skip-the-line tickets on GetYourGuide and also on Tiqets . More information – further below.

Skip the Line Tickets

Some of the most popular attractions in Barcelona like Casa Mila, Casa Batllo, Park Güell, or La Sagrada Familia can have extremely long waiting times. Buying your tickets in advance is essential when visiting these places in any season!

Here you can get skip-the-line tickets for Casa Batllo , Casa Mila , Park Güell , and – the most popular of them all – La Sagrada Familia .

PRO TIP: With this Barcelona Pass , you can immediately reserve timed-entry tickets for the most popular sights, including the towers of La Sagrada Familia (regular tickets don’t include tower access!). This is a digital pass, so you will get tickets per email (= very simple to book and use).

TIP: If you didn’t think of buying the tickets in advance and they are sold out, try booking a guided tour instead. Guided tours prebook tickets and make it possible to visit the main landmarks even if the tickets are sold out. I recommend visiting Gaudi’s buildings and especially La Sagrada Familia with a tour anyway. Read on to learn why!

Guided Tours

Even when we visited in the low season, all the Gaudi buildings in Barcelona were incredibly busy. Often, it wasn’t even clear where to go even if you had already pre-booked your tickets…

That’s why we chose to visit all the Gaudi buildings on a tour. Here you can read more about our experience with the Gaudi tour (we chose this amazing tour that covers all the main Gaudi landmarks in a day).

We visited Barcelona with our three kids who, obviously, have no patience when it comes to long queues. Taking a tour meant that we could relax while the guide took care of everything. We just followed the guide and never had to wait anywhere longer than 10 minutes.

I can’t imagine how different our experience would have been if we had to figure out where exactly to go and wait in endless lines everywhere. We wouldn’t have been able to see half as much, not even to mention our sanity having to deal with bored kids…

Furthermore, having a local guide who explained what, where, and why, enabled us to appreciate what we were seeing. We never knew there were so many symbols and stories behind all the tiny details in Gaudi’s buildings! Gaudi was a real genius and we would have never gotten to know any of that if we had visited his buildings on our own.

Free Museums

Most Barcelona museums have specific days or hours when you can visit them free of charge. In general, you can expect most museums to be free on the first Sunday of the month. But there are also additional times when you can enter free of charge.

For example, the Picasso Museum is free to visit on the first Sunday of the month and also on Thursday evenings. Barcelona Cathedral (not to be confused with Sagrada Familia) is free to visit between 8.30 AM and 12.30 PM and in the evenings from 5.45 PM to 7.30 PM (hours vary a bit per day and on some days are a bit longer, but the hours indicated here apply daily).

Museum of the History of Barcelona (MUHBA Plaça del Rei) is free on the first Sunday of the month and in the late afternoon on other Sundays.

These are just a few examples – there are so many museums and other attractions in Barcelona. So do your research for the places you want to see and, if possible, time your visit accordingly.

City Cards & Package Deals

If you are planning to visit several of the main Barcelona attractions on your own, you may want to look into getting one of the city cards that offer discounts and free entrances to certain attractions and also public transport tickets.

There is also a museum card that gives access to 6 of the most popular museums in Barcelona. So do your research and see if and which card makes sense for you, depending on your interests.

TIP: If you find the choice overwhelming, we recommend this Barcelona Pass . This is the best pass for Barcelona’s top sights including Park Güell & Sagrada Familia. If you also want to visit the towers of the Sagrada Familia (recommended), then this all-in pass is the best option for you. In case you wonder, there is a lift to get to the top of the towers.

Good to know: These passes not only save you money but make it really easy to book fast-track tickets to the most popular attractions in one place. Furthermore, the tickets are digital so you don’t have to waste your time once you get there!

3. Avoid High Season, Bank Holidays, and School Breaks

As one of the most-visited cities in Europe, Barcelona is always busy . Still, there is a huge difference between visiting Barcelona in the high season (June-August), in the shoulder season (April-May and September-October + New Year), or in the low season when there are fewer international travelers and hardly any cruise ships in town.

Because we travel with kids, however, we can only travel during school breaks. For years, we have been postponing a trip to Barcelona for that reason. However, we decided that it was high time to see this iconic city and chose the first week of November (autumn break) for our trip.

We were pleasantly surprised. It was still busy at the main attractions in the city, but it never really felt too crowded or overwhelming AND we had quite a few amazing places almost to ourselves.

Needless to say that this greatly influenced our experience and we loved Barcelona so much more than I ever expected. Based on all the horror stories about the crowds, we were really fearing the worst. But what we found was a really pleasant city that gave us plenty of opportunities to enjoy the sights without having to brush elbows with thousands of strangers.

Furthermore, the weather in early November was fabulous with plenty of sunshine and temperatures that were warm enough to wear a t-shirt during the day.

So if you can, visit Barcelona in the shoulder season or in the low season. It will be so much more enjoyable!

READ ALSO: Best Time to Visit Europe

4. Stay in the City Center

Another very important thing to take into account when traveling to Barcelona is where to stay .

While it’s often tempting to choose cheaper accommodation further away from the city center, we have learned the hard way that it’s not the best idea. Yes, it can save you some money, but it will cost you time and comfort. It’s so easy if you can just walk to a nice restaurant for dinner from your hotel or sleep longer in the morning knowing that your tour starts right around the corner and not on the other side of town…

So if you are visiting Barcelona for the first time and want to make the most of your short trip, stay in the city center! Also, stay somewhat close to a metro station – that way you can always get to the other parts of town quicker.

We recommend staying in the area close to Plaça de Catalunya . It’s a perfect location for sightseeing and you can easily walk to most attractions in the old town or to the nicest Gaudi buildings… There are also plenty of shops and restaurants nearby, and most tours and excursions start in this area.

Here are our hand-picked recommendations with an excellent location near Plaça de Catalunya for all budgets:

• If you are looking for a really nice place to stay in the heart of Barcelona, check out Ohla Barcelona , a fabulous 5* hotel with a rooftop pool and bar.
• Some of the best mid-range 4* hotels are Acta Atrium Palace and  Exe Plaza Catalunya .
• If you are on a l ower budget , check out these popular and highly-rated options with excellent locations: Hotel Lloret Ramblas (the best-rated and most popular budget hotel in the center) or  Hostal Boqueria (a very good, simple hotel on a low budget).

Where we stayed: We stayed at the Acta Splendid Hotel.  The location couldn’t be better and the price/quality was unbeatable for this area.

TIP: Using the map below, you can compare hotels and short-term rental accommodations in central Barcelona (Plaça de Catalunya area).

Simply insert your travel dates and group size, and you’ll see the best deals for your stay. Check it out!

5. Explore the Gothic Quarter

One of the most beautiful parts of Barcelona is the old Gothic Quarter (Barri Gòtic). No visit to the city would be complete without exploring this fascinating area.

While the district gets its name thanks to the 13-15th century Gothic buildings, it’s actually the oldest part of Barcelona with archeological finds dating to Roman times.

The main landmarks here are the Cathedral of Barcelona (The Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia), Plaça del Rei , and the underground Roman city that is part of the earlier mentioned Museum of the History of Barcelona (MUHBA). But the real charm of the Gothic Quarter is its fascinating maze of streets and historic buildings.

TIP: This part of town can get really busy. The best time to visit is as early in the morning as possible, or in the low season.

6. Use Barcelona Metro

Barcelona is a big city and its attractions are scattered throughout. So no matter where you stay, eventually, you’ll find yourself in need of a transfer. By far the easiest and the fastest way to get around the city is by taking the metro . And, if you avoid peak times, the metro is surprisingly quiet.

There are all kinds of multi-day and multi-journey tickets available for Barcelona metro and public transport, so choose one that best suits your needs. When we traveled, we got a 10-journey card that could be used by multiple people at the same time. Names and conditions of these cards change often, and you can find the best up-to-date information on the official website .

If you’re just taking the metro (so not a bus and other public transport options), you can easily get ticket cards at any metro station as well. There are ticket machines and everything is well-explained, also in English. Credit cards are accepted.

TIP: You can also take a metro to the airport , but it takes very long (it took us over 1.5 hrs to get to the city center). Alternatively, there are airport shuttle buses that run frequently, cost about the same as the metro ticket, and take much less time. On our way back to the airport, we took a taxi and it was surprisingly affordable. You can find more information about Barcelona airport transport here .

7. Wear Comfortable Shoes

Just as with any city trip, traveling to Barcelona means that you’ll be walking a lot. Make sure that you wear comfortable walking shoes!

Take my word for it, wrong footwear can ruin your entire vacation. Get lightweight sneakers or slip-on shoes for your Barcelona trip. I wear and recommend shoes in this style ; they are light and comfy – ideal for city trips.

TIP: If you don’t like walking too much, consider taking a hop-on hop-off bus instead.

8. Adjust Your Dining Schedule

You may have heard this before – Spanish people have very different habits when it comes to dining times. The main meal of the day is lunch and it usually starts at around 2 – 2.30 PM. Most restaurants will not open for dinner before 8 – 9 PM.

We were a bit worried about late dinner times because we traveled to Barcelona with kids, but it worked out quite well. Since it’s such a touristy place, there are quite some restaurants that have adapted their opening times and it was usually possible to find a place to eat at 7.30-8 PM.

We were told that the best local restaurants don’t open before 8.30-9 PM, but we found plenty of good restaurants that do.

That being said, you won’t easily find a good local restaurant open for dinner before 7 – 7.30 PM.

9. Try Tapas

No visit to Barcelona would be complete without tapas . In case you don’t know what tapas are, this is just a popular Spanish word for small snacks. Like appetizers in the US or antipasti in Italy. Basically, tapas are just small-sized portions of food – from seafood, meat, to all kinds of vegetables or potatoes ( patatas bravas ).

Everywhere you go, you’ll see tapas on the menu. It’s a great way to try a big variety of Spanish food without having to order an entire dish not knowing whether you’ll like it. It’s ideal if you are traveling with a bigger family or a group of friends because you can order a big variety of tapas and everyone will easily find something they like.

Some restaurants have set tapas menus which are a real lifesaver if you are feeling overwhelmed. After a couple of tapas meals, you’ll get more familiar with the concept, and ordering tapas will actually be fun.

Good to know: Tapas are EVERYWHERE in Barcelona, but they are not the only option (luckily). If you stay in Barcelona longer, it’s quite likely that you’ll eventually get tired of tapas. No worries – there are plenty of restaurants serving traditional Spanish food, seafood, paellas, but also a big variety of international cuisines. After five days in Barcelona, our kids didn’t want to see or hear of any more tapas, so we found a really nice pasta restaurant that the whole family loved.

TIP: If you want to try some of the best local dishes, consider joining a food tour as well! Food tours are our favorite thing to do when visiting any city! Check out this highly-rated tapas & wine tour . Another popular choice is this paella cooking experience + Boqueria market visit .

10. Tipping in Barcelona

Generally speaking, tipping is not that common in Europe, and so also not in Spain. However, American habits quickly find their way here too and it’s now more and more common to tip. That being said, it’s never really expected, let alone obligatory.

In Barcelona, you do not have to tip and locals usually don’t tip or just round up the bill. If you find the restaurant service exceptionally good, you can tip 5-10%. It’s not common to tip at a bar. Taxi bills are usually just rounded up. For bellboys – a euro or two is enough.

Many people tip tour guides, but it’s really your call how much. In Europe, we usually tip 20 EUR for a day tour that we take as a family of 5. If you are alone or traveling as a couple, 5-10 EUR is acceptable, but most Europeans don’t even do that.

11. It’s OK to Haggle

If you are planning to buy any souvenirs from street vendors, at the markets, or at the tourist shops in town, you should know that haggling is completely acceptable. Very often, you’ll see that no prices are advertised and in such cases, you definitely have to haggle or you’ll be overpaying up to twice the price, if not more.

It’s also very common that the same souvenirs will cost twice as much close to the most popular tourist landmarks, compared to some lesser-visited places. However, it’s not always the case.

My best advice is not to buy souvenirs immediately. Take your time, ask for prices, and get a better idea of what’s acceptable before buying anything.

12. Know That Things Are Laid Back

Barcelona is a very laid-back place. You’ll notice it in many ways. Depending on where you’re from and what you’re used to, things might seem a bit too relaxed, or maybe just normal…

The best way to enjoy your time in Barcelona is just go with the flow. Don’t get upset if it takes a bit longer for a waiter to take your order, or if the shops are closed for siesta a bit longer than advertised…

Good thing is that Barcelona is also much more casual in terms of clothing than, for example, Madrid. There is no need for fancy clothing and even at dinner at some nicer restaurants we dined at, most people were quite casually dressed. That being said, when in doubt, I’m always in favor of overdressing.

13. Beware of Pickpockets

Just as in any other big city or popular tourist destination, Barcelona has a problem with pickpockets. These guys are real professionals and it’s not uncommon that they manage to distract attention and even rob a big group of people at the same time.

So take precautions and don’t carry too much money or any other unnecessary valuables around. Also, make sure that you have good travel insurance! Be careful at the most popular tourist places, such as La Rambla or around La Sagrada Familia, and also when using public transport.

An anti-theft backpack might be a good idea too. Or – if you have a regular backpack – wear it in front of you and not on your back. Also, it’s really not a good idea to store your wallet or your smartphone in your jeans pocket.

14. Don’t Try to See Everything

Barcelona is a huge city and there is so much to see and do ! But… there’s no way to see everything in just a couple of days. So plan your itinerary well! If you don’t know where to start, check out our tips on how to spend 1 day in Barcelona and also an itinerary for 2 days in Barcelona .

I recommend choosing a couple of must-see places each day or maybe one specific area, and not try to do it all at once. You’ll enjoy the city much more if you also leave some time for a relaxing lunch at a nice café or some unexpected discoveries.

When it comes to visiting Barcelona, remember that less is more!

I know that it’s very tempting to try and see as many landmarks as you possibly can, but you’ll just get tired and frustrated. Take your time to sample some local specialties at the market, turn into a little picturesque alley and see where it leads, or explore some lesser-known places that don’t involve standing in line for hours… This brings us to the next tip…

15. Get off the Beaten Path

Barcelona is so much more than its most famous landmarks , La Rambla, Gothic Quarter, Barceloneta beach, or Gaudi architecture… There are so many other amazing places that are worth visiting just as much, yet are overlooked by most first-time visitors.

Some of our favorite moments in Barcelona were visiting the lesser-known and less-visited places . And while it’s not easy to find any truly ‘hidden’ gems, even just getting a bit off the main tourist routes will show you a very different side of Barcelona.

One of our favorite places in Barcelona was the beautiful Sant Pau Art Nouveau Site , which we had practically to ourselves. While it is not completely unknown, it was completely deserted when we visited it in the low season… And so worth a visit!

We particularly enjoyed the Port Vell and La Barceloneta – an old fishermen’s quarter with narrow streets and local restaurants. And yes, there is a really busy area in this part of town as well – with a seaside promenade, fancy yachts, and tourist restaurants. But if you take the time to explore deeper, you find a totally different place, just a few blocks away…

The same counts for the El Born and La Ribera areas which are like a labyrinth of narrow streets and passageways – so fun to just get lost and explore this area without a map.

We also went to a more local Poublenou area and explored Gracia , L’Eixample , and Montjuïc on foot. We visited some little-known sights and some really nice markets that had many more locals than tourists (Mercado de La Boqueria is really not the only market worth seeing in Barcelona)…

Each and every area has something special and unique. Behind the busier streets and popular areas, there are always lesser-visited gems just waiting to be discovered.

Even if you just see a few of these more local areas, it will make your trip to Barcelona so much more memorable.

16. Attend a Performance at Palau de la Música Catalana

If you want to experience something really special in Barcelona, try to get tickets for a performance at Palau de la Música Catalana . This stunning music hall is a real masterpiece and worth visiting in itself, but it’s even more special if you can attend a concert here.

They organize various concerts every evening and also during the day on the weekends. From classical music and dance to the most modern musical performances and traditional Flamenco dances – there are always plenty of choices to suit any interest. Most of the time, tickets are available just a few days in advance (or even on the day itself), so check the program and go. It will be totally worth it!

Good to know: You can also just visit the music hall itself. Self-guided and guided tours are available throughout the day and take less than an hour. Here you can get tickets for your visit .

17. Escape the Hustle of the City for a Day

Visiting a busy city like Barcelona can leave you exhausted, especially if you are not used to the crowds or if the summer heat becomes too much for you.

While most tourists head to Barceloneta beach , you’ll hardly find any locals there. The better beaches (nicer and also less crowded) can be found a bit further away. Try Playa de Bogatell if you don’t want to go too far. Or – outside of town – Platja de Castelldefels in the south or Platja de Badalona in the north of Barcelona.

The most popular day trip outside of the city is visiting Montserrat Monastery . Because it’s located in the mountains, the temperatures are usually cooler there too. We also took this day trip and here you can read all about our Montserrat tour .

These are just a few examples of places to visit outside the city. There are many more beautiful areas that you can visit on a day trip from Barcelona! Here are a few other popular options:

• Catamaran Sailing Tours (1.5-2 hrs)
• Kayaking & snorkeling (half a day)
• Hot air balloon flights (half a day)
• Vineyards near the city (half a day)
• Girona and Costa Brava (full day)
• Girona, Figueres and Dalí Museum (full day)
• 3 Countries in a Day (full day)

So if you are staying in town for more than 2-3 days, I suggest you take at least one day trip to see more of the surroundings or just to escape the crowds. As a minimum, rent a bike and drive along the beach – there is a beautiful waterfront promenade with bike paths that bring you to the quieter beaches and districts of Barcelona.

18. Stay Clear of Politics and Protests

Political protests in Catalonia are not uncommon. There were huge protests and even riots in Barcelona just a few days before our trip, and there were also some violent protests in the city while we were there.

But, in general, these protests don’t really influence your travel experience much (unless they block an airport, which happened once a few years ago).

My best advice is to just stay clear of any political protests. If you see any demonstrations, just walk around or take another street. Barcelona is a big city and the chances that you’ll find yourself amidst the protesters are really not that high.

19. Don’t Forget Little Important Details

Here are some  more practical tips  to consider when traveling to Barcelona for the first time:

• You can  pay  by credit card pretty much everywhere, but it’s always useful to have some cash as well. Spain uses the EURO .
• If you don’t have a credit card with a chip and a 4-digit pin , check out this selection of  the best American credit cards for travel and get one – you’ll need a car with a pin everywhere in Europe. I recommend choosing  a card with no foreign transaction fees .
• While you can easily get around using English , it’s always useful to learn a couple of words of Spanish or Catalan. Hola (hello) and gracias (thank you) go a long way.
• Barcelona has a pretty good network of free WiFi with hundreds of access points throughout the city. Hotels and some restaurants also usually offer free wifi.
• Download an offline map of Barcelona using apps like Google Maps or Maps.me. It’s so much easier than a paper map and you can always easily find your way around.
• Make sure to pack a travel adapter . Spain uses  European plugs .
• Remember that many shops and markets are closed on Sunday . However, most museums and other attractions remain open. We chose to do a Gaudi tour on a Sunday and it worked out great.
• Pack comfortable shoes and clothing suitable for the season. It can get really warm in Barcelona and sun protection is an absolute must in summer. Don’t forget your sun hat !
• Make a copy of your travel documents and send it to yourself by email (or save it in the cloud). As with any international trip, make sure that you have good travel insurance .

So, these are some of the most important practical tips that you should know when traveling to Barcelona for the first time.

Below, you can also find some frequently asked questions for your first visit to Barcelona. Take a look!

Barcelona Travel FAQs

The best time to visit Barcelona are the shoulder months between March and May and also from September to October. The weather is best for sightseeing and it’s not as busy as in the summer.

While you can see the main landmarks of Barcelona in one or two days, we recommend at least 3-4 days for your first trip to Barcelona. This will allow you to explore the city at a more relaxed pace, visit Gaudi buildings and a few museums, and maybe even take a tour to Montserrat.

Barcelona is a very popular destination, so it’s best to book your accommodation and the tours that you absolutely want to do in advance. Make sure to book skip-the-line tickets for the most popular landmarks such as La Sagrada Familia!

Yes, Barcelona is a safe destination. However, just like in any other big European city, you should be careful with pickpockets and common travel scams. If you are not sure about visiting certain areas at night, ask your hotel for advice.

We recommend staying in the area close to Plaça de Catalunya . The location is perfect for sightseeing and you can easily walk to the most popular attractions in the city center. There are also plenty of shops and restaurants nearby. Most tours also start in this area.

Do you have any questions or maybe want to share your experience when visiting Barcelona? Don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!

More tips for your trip to Spain:

• Best Things to Do in Barcelona
• Barcelona 1 Day Itinerary
• How to See the Best of Barcelona in 2 Days
• Complete Guide to Visiting Montserrat
• Montserrat Tour Review
• Best Barcelona Gaudi Tour
• 1 Day in Seville
• 2 Days in Seville
• Flamenco in Seville
• One Day in Madrid: What to See & Itinerary
• Madrid to Toledo Day Trip

READ ALSO: Spain Bucket List: Top Places & Experiences

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More travel inspiration for European cities:

If you are visiting other European cities and are looking for in-depth information for your trip, take a look at some of our city guides:

• Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Antwerp, Belgium
• Bern, Switzerland
• Bologna, Italy
• Brasov, Romania
• Brussels, Belgium
• Bruges, Belgium
• Bucharest, Romania
• Colmar, France
• Edinburgh, UK
• Florence, Italy
• Funchal, Madeira, Portugal
• Geneva, Switzerland
• Krakow, Poland
• Lisbon, Portugal
• Liverpool, UK
• Lucerne, Switzerland
• Manchester, UK
• Milan, Italy
• Naples, Italy
• Paris, France
• Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal
• Ravenna, Italy
• Reykjavik, Iceland
• Rome, Italy
• Salzburg, Austria
• Siena, Italy
• Sintra, Portugal
• Venice, Italy
• Verona, Italy
• Read also our tips for traveling to Europe .

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Tuesday 13th of June 2023

Hi Jurga! I love your blog and I'm planning to visit Barcelona in October. Did the Acta Splendid charge you a resort fee in addition to the price of the room & tax?.....Elaine

Wednesday 14th of June 2023

Hi Elaine, I don't remember hotel charging us any special fees. When you book on Booking.com, it's always very clearly shown what's included. Usually, for most places, they already include the city tax in the price, or show you how much it will be. For Acta Splendid, if I try just random dates, I see that it shows me in the booking window that 10% VAT and City tax are included in the price. What sometimes happens is that you first get charged just for the room and then have to pay the taxes at the property separately. But the total price you see on Booking is usually the total of what you'll pay in the end (unless clearly stated otherwise). That's a big difference vs. booking with hotels directly. Most hotels don't show taxes in their price at first and then add it to your bill later. This way, you might think that you are paying less but, often, it's quite the opposite. Just one more reason why we always use Booking.com for all our accommodation bookings. Hope this helps. Have a great trip!

Readers’ favourite travel discoveries of 2023

From a Finnish archipelago to a tranquil lake in Albania, our tipsters have unearthed beautiful beaches, lively cities and wild, atmospheric places

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Tove Jansson’s island life, Finland

Fans of Finnish author Tove Jansson will love the idyllic Pellinki archipelago, where she spent her summers on a tiny island, Klovharun, described in several of her novels. About 50 miles east of Helsinki, Pellinki forms part of a group of islands, linked by bridges and a delightful ferry, which you can explore by boat, car, bicycle, bus or on foot. Walk through the woods to reach one of the quiet beaches, hire a boat to fish or just tootle around the beautiful bays and stay in a traditional, wooden cottage with a matching sauna set among the trees where the only sounds you’ll hear are birdsong and the gentle putter of a small boat passing by. Finnish people know a lot about the importance of connecting with nature and this is a place where you will quickly find yourself reflecting on what really matters in life. Christine

Sounds and sights of Lake Ohrid, Albania

Our summer 2023 trip took us on a tour of Albania. We loved Tirana and its lively drivers, Berat bewitched us, historical Gjirokaster entranced us and we chilled out by the beach in Himarë. But it was tiny Lin in the Korçë region, eastern Albania, perhaps the oldest inhabited settlement in Europe, dating back to 6,000 BC, that totally captured our hearts. Our accommodation on the shores of Lake Ohrid offered amazing views across to North Macedonia. Delicious homecooked meals, including the tasty local Ohrid brown trout caught by the owner, were served on the terrace overlooking the lake where we were serenaded by a noisy frog chorus. Lisa J

Young and inclusive, Wrocław

Wrocław is an underrated city, a place to be immersed in river boat trips, £1.30 pints, chimney cakes and cobbled streets. The cathedrals are stunning, the people are warm and kind and it’s just about within day-trip range of the beautifully preserved German town of Görlitz. As a centre of academia in Poland, it has plenty of inclusive, youth-friendly bars and shops, and for far less money than in France, Belgium or Germany you can enjoy a truly authentic European long weekend. Aaron

Every day in Georgia we ate bread filled with oozing cheese

Khachapuri , bread filled with oozing, melted cheese, was so irresistible, cheap and ubiquitous, I ate it every day for two weeks in Georgia with each regional variation evoking travel memories. Breakfast in Tbilisi was warm imeruli khachapuri , stuffed with sour, salty Imeretian cheese ; while a version full of cheese and nettles warmed the soul on a dreary night in the Kazbegi mountains. In the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region of western Georgia, we had megruli khachapuri , with sulguni cheese in the middle and on top, which was like pizza on speed. But we saved the best for the Black Sea resort Batumi: adjaruli , an iconic canoe-shaped bread, full of cheese swimming in butter. Lovely! Helen Jackson

Sea, surf, rock arches and beer, Galicia, Spain

Head to As Catedrais beach (Cathedral beach) in Galicia, north-west Spain, for incredible rock formations and turquoise waters. It takes its name from the huge arches which resemble the flying buttresses of a cathedral. During high tide the formations are hidden, but as the tide subsides beautiful arches and caves are revealed. Exploring these and sploshing through the beautifully clear water is pure pleasure. When you’re done exploring there is a cafe on the cliff top serving cold beers with views of the sea and surf below. Laura

Tipple in the taverna, Volos, Greece

Volos is a city in eastern Greece that many pass through en route to the Sporades islands, but we stayed a bit longer and discovered the culture of tsipouradika . Order a small bottle of tsipouro (a wine-based spirit), and a meze or two will come with it. If there are two of you, you get double; four and they quadruple it – it’s a social thing. The first meze are basic: aubergine salad, cured fish. Then the more you drink, the better they get: grilled sea bream, scallops. There are no menus, but as it’s a fishing city, seafood dominates. With hundreds of tsipouradika tavernas throughout Volos, it’s an integral part of local life and one I’m glad to have discovered. Alice

Incredible atmosphere, Essex by the Thames

Thames View in East Tilbury is an eco-conscious, no-frills campsite and a perfect weekend escape, with a firepit and table on each generous pitch. It’s right on the Thames Estuary path. There’s a second world war battery next door, and Coalhouse Fort is at the end of the road. For a real sense of the edge of things, walk up the path to Tilbury Fort just after high tide; it’s lonely, desolate and incredibly atmospheric. This is where Elizabeth I rallied her army nearby to face the threat of the Armada in 1588. It’s a half-mile walk to the jetty for the ferry to Gravesend here. At the other end of East Tilbury is the old Bata estate , a modernist masterpiece best explored by bike. Tim Smith

Canny meandering, Essaouira, Morocco

The Essaouira Sunday souq on Avenue Moulay Hicham is an un-Googleable paradise of organic produce. Our landlady showed us the way, cannily meandering, pausing to ask a price, split open a pea pod, exchange gossip. Essaouira, best known for surf and seafood, is also ridiculously fertile. November and December are best, when all the key Moroccan ingredients are at their peak. A truckload of corn in their husks? Thick bunches of wormwood? Artichokes, their stalks intact for soup making? One step back from the coast, the Essaouira land was brought to us, and it was delicious. Rachel Hobley

Tranquil swimming spot, Lake District

In July we found the tranquil and secluded Wasdale Emerald Pool . We were the only people there. The double waterfall is framed by the 899-metre peak of Great Gable, and looks out to the Wasdale valley below. After an invigorating dip we headed back to our timber cabin in Irton near Ravenglass and watched a thunderstorm from the half-moon window. Rachel Donnison

Winning tip: Cycling and refuelling on the Hebridean Way

In August we cycled the 184-mile Hebridean Way from Vatersay to the Butt of Lewis. Our best discovery? The food! We enjoyed fudgy brownies from Ardmhor Coffee while waiting at Barra ferry terminal. A day later we arrived, soaked to the skin, at the Hebridean Jewellery Cafe on South Uist and had the best brie and cauliflower soup ever. We ate, overlooking the beach, at the Wee Cottage Kitchen trailer on North Uist; my partner loved his scallop and black pudding roll. And on Lewis we hunkered down beside a blue shipping container, sheltering from the wind, with yummy Neapolitan pizza from Crust . Christine

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The Barcelona Travel Guide

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The Trends in Travel

“What we’ve learned about family travel as a same-sex couple”

For LGBTQ+ couples, traveling with kids can create unexpected situations—from the amusing to the challenging. Writer Jenny Southan shares her advice

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As a queer family, you have to be fine with being different. In fact, you have to own it. You have to be unfailingly out and proud all the time because the last thing you want is for your children to have any sense of shame about who they are. When my wife and I travel with our young daughter, she unwittingly “outs” us all the time by calling us Mummy and Mama.   This means that we choose the destinations we travel to with care, and do our best to seek out places where we can all be our authentic selves in a care-free, happy way. Here are the tips we’ve picked up. 

Choose destinations where gay marriage is legal

Making the decision about where is safest to travel to as an LGBTQ+ family is hard, but narrow it down to those where gay marriage is legal, and you have the best chance of feeling welcomed. Among them are Mexico, Canada, Costa Rica, Chile, Colombia, Ireland, France, Australia, South Africa—and many more. (Find an exhaustive list at global LGBTQ+ rights site Equaldex .)  A new addition to the list? Greece recently passed a bill recognizing same-sex marriage and adoption. 

Pack your papers

Even if you are married LGBTQ+ parents, you might not all share the same last name, which can mean getting quizzed about your relationship with each other (and your child) at border control. It can pay to bring your children’s birth or adoption certificates to prove you’re the legal guardian, as well as healthcare directives in case of an emergency.  

Tap friends for their favorites

Seek out first-hand recommendations for destinations, hotels and experiences from LGBTQ+ friends where possible. We’ve traveled to Ibiza , Lisbon and Crete on the suggestion of friends, all of which were wonderful, plus I’m lucky to be married to the co-author of The Queer Parent: Everything You Need to Know from Gay to Ze , which has a whole chapter on queer family travel. (You can also use Expedia’s search filter for properties that are LGBTQ+ welcoming, as well as one for those that are family-friendly.)

Use Expedia’s chatbot

Last year, Expedia unveiled a conversational travel-planning function on its app , powered by ChatGPT, allowing users to have open-ended dialogues with a virtual “travel agent.” Start by telling it about yourself, what your objectives and parameters are (in terms of dates, season and budget). It can also respond well to specifics such as the ages of the children you have, or recommendations of destinations that would be welcoming of LGBTQ+ families, for example.   For example: “I am a lesbian woman traveling with my wife and young child—where would you recommend we take a vacation where we will feel safe and comfortable to be ourselves?” In this case, the virtual travel assistant suggested Amsterdam , Barcelona , New England’s Provincetown , and Mykonos —all of which are indeed gay-friendly destinations.  

A cultural guide to Amsterdam

Canals, dining and Dutch masters

Book an aparthotel or vacation rental

Staying in a self-contained private vacation rental always works well for families, as it means you have your own space and can self-cater. But it is an especially good option for queer families who want peace of mind that they can be themselves and completely relax (book one on Expedia using filters like aparthotel, condo, or private vacation home). A rising number of resorts also provide apartments and villas on-site that allow you to have access to hotel facilities and services, but with added privacy. It can also be fun to share the space (and split the cost!) with friends with kids or extended family, so your little ones can play together—and hopefully get some help with the childcare. 

Jenny Southan

Jenny Southan is the editor, founder and CEO of Globetrender, the travel trend forecasting agency and online magazine. She also writes for publications such as  Condé Nast Traveller  and  The Telegraph , and was formerly features editor of  Business Traveller  magazine.

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