The best Barcelona Travel Tips are right here, so look no further! Hand selected by locals, these tips tell you everything you need to know for your first trip to Barcelona.
Find the answers to all the questions you have about visiting this wonderful city for the first time, plus some great insider tips to ensure your stay is safe, fun and truly authentic.
This list will help you prepare for a fantastic trip to a city everyone should visit once in a lifetime! What are you waiting for?
1. Learn simple Catalan phrases to rock it
The first of our Barcelona travel tips is about language. You may not know this, but Catalan is very widely spoken throughout the region of Catalonia and in Barcelona. Although in most places you can get by with English, and Spanish is also widely spoken, we recommend impressing locals with some basic words and phrases. A “Bon dia” or “merci” (not the French kind) will go a long way! It’s also worth remembering that street names are in Catalan (carrer means street).
Check out our article with 8 simple Catalan phrases you can’t visit Barcelona without.
2. Avoid being pickpocketed with these tips
Next on our list of Barcelona travel tips is a piece of advice to keep you safe: the city in general is very safe and most tourists (and locals) don’t experience any problems. However, pickpocketing is rife, above all on public transport and in the city’s busiest areas (La Rambla, El Gòtic area, etc.), so we recommend you always watch your belongings and never leave your bag, phone etc. on tables or in visible spots when you are eating.
We prepared article packed with tips to avoid being pickpocketed in Barcelona.
3. Shall I go to a restaurant in Las Ramblas?
Yes, Las Ramblas is one of Barcelona’s most famous spots and we do recommend you visit it. However, the restaurants and bars near Plaça Catalunya and towards the beach are, quite plainly, tourist traps. One of the most important tips you’ll hear is avoid these spots at all costs.
Head away from the busiest streets to the areas of Born, Eixample, Gràcia or Poble Nou for tasty tapas, international cuisine, light bites and more. Get in touch if you want some more specific recommendations.
4. Stay close to the centre
The next of our Barcelona travel tips is to stay close to the centre on your first trip to the city to make sure you can reach the city’s most popular sights on foot. The old quarter (el Gòtic) will have you within walking distance of La Boqueria Market, Santa Maria Basilica and Les Rambles. Stay in Eixample and discover Gaudí’s masterpieces on foot.
To find out more about the various neighborhoods in Barcelona’s city centre, read our article where we break down each neighborhood, what type of property you can rent out (and at what costs) and what there is to do in the area.
5. Free museums on Sundays in Barcelona
Did you know that a lot of Barcelona’s top museums offer free entrance on Sundays? We think this is a pretty great travel tip for first timers in Barcelona!
Check out our article where we share which Barcelona museums offer free entrance days, where they’re located, and what you can expect to see.
6. Discover beautiful parks in the city
Barcelona is a thriving city and if you want to escape the hustle and bustle head to one of its beautiful parks to disconnect. Why not take a picnic and make an afternoon of it?
Check out our article with a list of our favorite Barcelona parks.
7. Get around in Barcelona like a local
Getting around Barcelona is easy thanks to its well-connected public transport network. This list wouldn’t be complete without some Barcelona travel tips on how to get around the city. We recommend buying a T-Casual ticket for 10 trips on the metro or bus or the Hola BCN! card for unlimited travel across the city.
Some useful articles to help you out:
8. Barcelona is synonymous with Gaudí
Barcelona is synonymous with Gaudí and we truly recommend visiting his masterpiece that is the Sagrada Família. Book your ticked online in advance to beat the queues and soaring prices during peak travel months.
Check out our article with a list of Gaudi’s top 10 masterpieces you must visit, and learn more about the man himself in our article with 9 curious facts about Antoni Gaudi.
9. Shall I tip in Barcelona?
To tip or not to tip! That is the question. It can be a complicated business, but the penultimate of our Barcelona travel tips is about tipping. Although this form of courtesy isn’t common in Spain, there are some situations when you might like to leave a tip.
Check out our article on how much to tip in Barcelona to learn the do’s and don’ts.
10. Enjoy an amazing day trip from Barcelona
Last on our list of Barcelona Travel Tips is to make the most of your time in this wonderful part of the world. If after exploring the city you have a day or afternoon to spare, we recommend taking the train or renting a car and discovering some of the hidden treasures Catalonia has to offer in addition to its bustling beach destinations.
Here’s an article with our top 8 favorite day trips from Barcelona.
