Visiting Barcelona should be an absolute joy, but it can be stressful. To help you to have the smoothest and most enjoyable trip possible, I’ve brought together all of my Barcelona travel tips in one place. You’ll find tips for travelling to Barcelona, getting around the city, how to plan your trip and lots of things you need to know before travelling to Barcelona to help you make the most of your time here. Read on for all my essential Barcelona tips!
Barcelona Planning Tips
Before you even book your Barcelona trip, check out these tips to help you plan your journey and where to stay in Barcelona.
Know Before You Go to Barcelona
Before travelling to Barcelona, make sure you book accommodation and popular attractions ASAP as hotels and tickets can sell out.
⭐ TOP 3 BARCELONA ACTIVITIES TO BOOK IN ADVANCE:
1: Sagrada Familia Skip the Line Ticket - a must-see in Barcelona!
2: Park Guell Admission Ticket - colourful mosaic terraces and gorgeous views
3: Casa Batlló Entry with Self-Audioguide Tour - stunning Modernist Building & rooftop
🛌 MY FAVOURITE HOTELS IN BARCELONA:
$$: Sercotel Hotel Rosellon - Incredible view of the Sagrada Familia from some rooms and the terrace
$$: H10 Madison 4* Sup - top location with rooftop pool & view of the Gothic Cathedral
$: Chic & Basic Lemon Boutique Hotel - great value hotel near Plaça Catalunya
❗BEWARE OF PICKPOCKETS❗
Although Barcelona is a safe city, pickpockets are a problem here, particularly in popular tourist areas and on the metro. Use a theft-proof backpack and consider getting some hidden-pocket clothing to keep your belongings safe.
Find Deals to Book Your Trip
The Best Time to Visit Barcelona
Barcelona is a fabulous city at any time of year, but it does get very busy during the summer holidays and at weekends. One of the best Barcelona travel hacks I can offer is to try to visit Barcelona in the off- or shoulder-season, when there are fewer tourists and you can enjoy quieter streets and cheaper prices too!
Insider Tip: In my opinion, August is the worst time to visit Barcelona. It gets very hot and humid, the streets are filled with tourists and most of the locals escape the city for their own vacations. This means that many local shops and restaurants close for the whole month of August so if you have to visit during school holidays, the end of July is usually better!
How Long to Spend in Barcelona
How long do you have?? For me, the more time you have to spend in Barcelona, the better. While it might be possible to see the highlights of Barcelona in a day, it would be very rushed and I don’t recommend it.
A long weekend would give you a good taste of the city, but a week would be better – after nearly 4 years living in Barcelona there was still a lot that I hadn’t had time to do! You can read more about my Barcelona travel tips for deciding on the length of your trip in this post.
Top Tip: if you are short on time, try not to cram too much in to your visit. Rushing around Barcelona is not enjoyable – and not often possible due the amount of people filling the streets – so just choose a few key things you really want to see, and save the rest for another trip!
Barcelona Travel Tips – Getting There & Away
Although there are several airports which serve Barcelona, El Prat (BCN) is the closest airport to the city and is well connected to the city centre by public transport. Use Skyscanner to find deals on flights to Barcelona.
Barcelona Sants train station is another excellent option for travelling to Barcelona from other places in Spain or Europe. As well as RENFE train services across Spain there are also discounted high-speed trains available with Ouigo between Barcelona and Madrid which can be really good value.
There are several ways to get from Barcelona airport to the city, I prefer to take the train if flying into or out of Terminal 2, or the Aerobus for Terminal 1.
Insider Tip: Public transport is the cheapest way to get around Barcelona, buy the Hola Barcelona transport ticket for unlimited use of the metro system, buses, trams and local trains, including the train from the airport to Barcelona. Read more about the Hola Barcelona Travel Card here.
Where to Stay in Barcelona
For a first-time visitor to Barcelona, you really want to be as close to the action as possible, without staying on the busy and noisy Rambla. I always use Booking.com to find good deals on hotels in Barcelona, and these are some of my favourite Barcelona hotels that are close to the city centre:
For more information read this article on where to stay in Barcelona for the first time.
Barcelona Budget Tip: There are some excellent hostels in Barcelona too, I use Hostelworld to find the best deal. Some of my favourite Barcelona hostels include: Yeah Hostel Barcelona, TOC Hostel Barcelona and Fabrizzio’s Petit Hostel
Barcelona Tips for Things to do
Have a Plan
While I love wandering around and happening across wonderful things, you should try to have at least a vague plan to make sure you can see everything you want to. Don’t waste time deciding what to do in Barcelona when you’re already here!
Write a list of everything you want to see in Barcelona, ideally in order of priority so you can tick off your favourites first. Try to visit popular attractions in the morning or just before closing time to avoid the crowds.
Top Barcelona Travel Tip: Check opening days and times for what you want to do so you can plan when to visit. For example, the Boqueria Market is closed on Sundays, and outdoor attractions like Park Güell and the Magic Fountain have different opening hours during the winter.
Get Up Early
The early bird catches the worm, or in this case, the early bird gets to see the best places to visit in Barcelona without the crowds! My favourite time to explore Barcelona is first thing in the morning, when most people are still asleep.
If you can drag yourself out of bed early to walk down La Rambla or visit La Sagrada Familia as soon as it opens you will have a much more enjoyable time without the hoards of tourists surrounding you.
Top Tip: Have a siesta! A lot of independent shops and services like pharmacies will shut for siesta between 2pm to 4pm in the hottest part of the day. This can be a great excuse to head back to your hotel for a rest – especially if you’ve been up early – then you’re ready to get back out there and enjoy the rest of the afternoon and evening.
Book Entry Tickets and Tours in Advance
Even in quieter periods, I would still recommend booking tickets and tours in advance, especially for the top things to do in Barcelona which get busy at any time of year.
If you’re staying in a hostel, check out their tours and activities which are usually free or very cheap – and a great way to meet people!
I use GetYourGuide to book skip the line entry tickets and tours in Barcelona – some recommended tours and attractions in Barcelona include:
PLANNING TO VISIT CAMP NOU?
Camp Nou is currently undergoing construction work so the stadium tours are not running but the FC Barcelona museum is open, with an option to view the stadium from a Construction Viewpoint. While work is going on, Barça will play their home games at Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium. They were originally estimated to return to the Camp Nou Stadium in Spring 2025, although they are now expected to play the rest of the matches in the 24/25 season at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium. Tickets for matches are available here which shows you the venue where matches are played, and you can book a museum visit here.
Get Lost in the Gothic Quarter
There is nothing I like more than wandering around the streets of the Gothic Quarter and El Born. These are the oldest parts of the city, and any Barcelona travel guide will tell you to come here. However, once you’ve seen the top sights in Barcelona, make sure you take the time to explore and head down the quieter streets away from the crowds.
Insider Tip: Some of my favourite spots in the Gothic Quarter include Plaça de Sant Felip Neri behind the Cathedral of Barcelona, The Kiss mural, and the Basilica Santa Maria del Pi which often has markets in front of the church.
Beaches are Best Away from the City
While it is very convenient to be within walking distance from the beach, Barceloneta beach is usually filled with tourists and isn’t the cleanest place to sunbathe or enjoy the water as it is so close to the city. The further away you go from the city centre, the nicer the beaches in Barcelona become!
Local Tip: Take the metro north of Barcelona to Badalona for quieter and cleaner sands, or go further afield on the train south to Castelldefels or Sitges.
Barcelona Safety Tips
Barcelona is a generally safe city but it is infamous for having lots of pickpockets, and you should still take care while walking around the city at night. Check out these top Barcelona travel tips for keeping yourself and your belongings safe in Barcelona.
Watch Out for Pickpockets!
Unfortunately, pickpockets are major a problem in Barcelona, particularly in popular tourist areas and on the metro. Do not keep your wallet or cash in trouser pockets that are easily accessible, and make sure you keep your hand on your bags at all times.
When you are eating at a restaurant or café, keep your bag on your lap, not hanging over the back of your chair and avoid leaving your wallet or phone on the table – especially if eating outdoors. It only takes a second for someone to distract you and grab it!
Top Tip: Wearing clothes with hidden pockets to stash money and valuables is a great way to keep pickpockets at bay. I love my Waypoint Travel Scarf with a hidden pocket large enough for my phone and passport.
Top Barcelona Travel Tip: Get Insurance
Travel insurance can help if you do have something stolen, and it is more important than ever, with frequent changes in rules and regulations meaning cancellations are more likely. I use SafetyWing, which even includes some cover for costs related to COVID, or check a comparison site like Travel Insurance Master to find the best cover for you.
Don’t Drink the Tap Water
While drinking tap water in Barcelona is perfectly safe, it doesn’t taste particularly nice, and restaurants don’t usually offer tap water with meals – you’ll need to buy bottled water.
Top Tip: Bring your own reusable water bottle with a built-in filter so you can drink as much tap water as you like, safe in the knowledge that it will be filtered to remove contaminants, it will taste better, and you’re saving money and reducing plastic use at the same time!
Tips for Eating Out in Barcelona
There are some incredible restaurants in Barcelona, from Michelin Starred establishments to cheap and cheerful tapas bars. Here are some tips for eating in Barcelona:
Get Used to Eating Late
Barcelona eats late. Lunchtime for locals doesn’t really start until 1 or even 2pm, and dinner isn’t usually until 9 or 10pm. Most restaurants will start serving earlier than that as they know that visitors prefer to eat earlier, but don’t be surprised if you’re dining alone at 7pm!
Top Tip: If you know where you want to eat then call and make a reservation so you know you’ll have a table booked. Some popular tapas bars won’t take reservations, so then it pays to eat before the locals so you can snag a table before they arrive – 8.30pm is often a good time for that.
Tipping in Barcelona Isn’t Necessary
Customer service in Barcelona isn’t always the best, but that might be because wait staff and servers don’t usually get tips from the customers here. While a tip is gratefully received, spare change from the bill or a couple of euros left on the table is enough – don’t feel like you need to leave 10 or 20% of the bill.
Be Aware: Some restaurants have started to automatically add a voluntary service charge to the bill, especially for large groups so keep an eye on that. If you’re not happy for it to be added on you can ask for it to be removed.
Avoid Frozen Paella
If there is a sign outside the restaurant with photos of paella then it probably serves up ready-made frozen meals that get reheated in the microwave. For more authentic restaurants head away from La Rambla and explore the more local neighbourhoods of Gracia and Poble Sec.
If you’re a solo traveller, I’ve written a guide on where to find paella for one person, as it is usually for a minimum of two.
You could take a paella cooking class to see how it is made, and there are also some excellent food tours in Barcelona where you can try some of the wonderful food in local restaurants and bars, knowing you are getting an authentic experience.
Insider Tip: Eating outside on the terrace often costs more than eating inside – watch out for the supplements “a la terraza” (on the terrace)
Money Saving Tips for Barcelona on a Budget
If you’re on a tight budget then you can still have a great time in Barcelona! Check out these top Barcelona tips for saving money on your trip:
Visit Barcelona in the Off Season
As I mentioned earlier, when you come to Barcelona can have a big impact on prices. Try to avoid weekends if you can when flights and accommodation will be highest. Mid-week visits in the off- or shoulder season are usually cheapest and will save money, unless there happens to be a big event on such as a large exhibition or festival.
Top Tip: If you’re flexible on dates, use Skyscanner to find the cheapest combination of dates close to when you want to fly. Before you book the flights, check prices of accommodation as well so you don’t end up with cheap flights but have to pay over the odds for a hotel!
Get Cheap Currency
When travelling to Spain, using a travel bank account like Wise means you get great deals on Euros – including a fee-free transfer of up to £500 or USD equivalent when you use this link to sign up.
With a card like Wise, you can withdraw cash and pay in Euros without the hefty fees usually associated with foreign currency. If paying with a Wise card or other currency card, always choose to pay in Euros as it is a better exchange rate.
Top Tip: Most ATMs in Barcelona charge a fee to take out money, so try to avoid taking out small amounts of cash as you’ll be charged each time. Credit cards are accepted almost everywhere, so pay with plastic most of the time and just have some cash for emergencies and extras like tipping.
Explore Barcelona for Free
There are lots of free things to do in Barcelona for you to enjoy, so you don’t even need to spend a penny to see the best that the city has to offer. There are free walking tours, plenty of beautiful buildings, pretty streets and beaches to explore as well as free attractions like the Magic Fountain.
Unfortunately, most of the museums in Barcelona are not free, except on certain days and times which means you either have to face long queues or bite the bullet and pay for entry.
Top Tip: If you plan to visit several museums, then check out the Barcelona Card which includes free entry to over 25 museums and attractions including the Picasso Museum, the National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC) and the Museum of the History of Barcelona, as well as free access to public transport. >>> Get More info here
Top Money Saving Tip for Backpackers in Barcelona
Work exchanges are a great way to travel for longer and extend your trip as you can save a ton of money on accommodation. Get an extra $10 discount on Worldpackers here or learn more about work exchanges in general or finding hostel jobs in Barcelona.
Get a $10 Discount on Worldpackers Membership
Save $10 on a year's membership with Worldpackers with the discount code TALESOFABACKPACKER
PLUS register with Worldpackers by October 31st and get 10% off all Hostelworld bookings you make in October! Offer valid on bookings made through 31/10/2025 with no minimum start date required for reservations, so you can save even more with Worldpackers & Hostelworld!
More Barcelona Tips and Tricks
Here’s a few more tips for travelling in Barcelona before you go…
Learn Catalan
One thing that often confuses visitors to Barcelona is the language. Spanish is not the only official language in Barcelona, and Catalan is widely spoken and often preferred when you’re speaking to local people.
While many visitors don’t bother to even learn any Spanish, if you throw in a few words of Catalan that shows you have made a real effort. Hola is hello in Spanish and Catalan, so you can’t go wrong with that, although couple it with bon dia for a Catalan extra “good day”.
Get Out of the City
As much as I adore Barcelona, the region of Catalonia has much more to explore so make time for some of the excellent day trips from Barcelona. Some of the best places to visit near Barcelona include Girona (a Game of Thrones filming location with a beautiful medieval Old Town), Sant Sadurni with its excellent cava (sparkling wine) producers, Sitges for beaches and a fabulous gay-friendly nightlife, and magnificent Montserrat.
Insider Tip: There’s no need to hire a car to visit most of these places, as the train service is efficient and cheap. The main train station in Barcelona is Sants although many of the local trains to other places in Catalonia run from the smaller stations including Plaça Catalunya or El Clot-Aragó.
Get More Barcelona Travel Tips
It’s hard to share all of my tips in one single blog post, so do click around and get more information as and when you need it. You can also send me an email for specific questions and a guidebook can also be useful help plan your trip. These are my personal favourites:
- The Lonely Planet Guide to Barcelona
- The Lonely Planet Pocket Guide to Barcelona
- Rick Steves Barcelona
I hope all of these Barcelona trip tips will help you to have the best possible Barcelona vacation, so please do let me know how you get on! And if you have any more Barcelona travel tips to share I will add them to the list.