Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we visit Barcelona, one of my favorite cities to visit in Europe.
Even though Barcelona is a great city, we like to prepare travelers with the good, and the bad, of visiting a new place. So these are the five things you’ll love, and the five things you’ll hate, about Barcelona travel.
Hate #1: Barcelona Pickpockets
There are a lot of pickpockets and bag snatchers in Barcelona, especially in the touristy areas, so you really have to pay attention at all times. Hide your wallet and leave your passport at the hotel in the safe so you lessen your chances of being robbed.
Read: How to Avoid Travel Scams & Rip-Offs
Hate #2: Barcelona Tourists
Yes, you will hate yourself a bit when you see all the hordes of tourists in Barcelona, especially in the summer. Over one million tourists visit Barcelona each year and you will feel overwhelmed by tourists at popular sites like Sagrada Familia. Just be prepared: book attractions online, arrive early, book your hotels in advance and go with the flow. You can also visit in the off-season and avoid a lot of the crowds.
Hate #3: Barcelona Sites are Spread Out
There are so many things to see in Barcelona, but the sites are spread pretty far apart from each other. The Metro is great, though. Make sure you have a strategic plan for visiting the Barcelona sites so you can be efficient with your time, and get to know the subway system.
Hate #4: Language in Barcelona
If you speak Spanish and are excited to use it, you will be disappointed to learn that they speak Catalan in Barcelona, not Spanish. The language of Catalunya is a mix between French and Spanish, so you can probably get by. Most people will also speak Spanish, but if you hear a language you don’t understand, it’s Catalan.
Read: How to Piss off a Catalan
Hate #5: Barcelona Traffic
Traffic in Barcelona is crazy; there’s an accident every 19 seconds here! Even if you aren’t driving but just walking around, be really careful around traffic, especially when crossing the street.
Love #1: Barcelona Sites
Strolling along La Rambla and through the Gothic Quarter is one of the best things to do in Barcelona. From the cathedral to the Picasso Museum, you really feel like you’re in Europe when you hang out just wander the streets, people watch and visit the attractions.
Love #2: Barcelona Architecture
Most people know about Gaudi and some of his crazy designs and buildings, but there’s much more to Barcelona architecture. The historic churches and palaces are amazing and if you can arrange an architecture tour, I highly recommend it.
Love #3: Barcelona Culture
Barcelona is a melting pot of culture. With Catalan, Spanish and international cultures blended together, Barcelona is a very worldly city. There is fantastic art, including Picasso, opera, festivals, and live music.
Love #4: Barcelona Beaches
Barcelona is one of the best beach cities in the world. What’s crazy is that the beaches of Barcelona were all developed after 1992, and it’s brought a whole new culture to Barcelona. Now there are promenades and beach-side restaurants where you can sip cava on the beach. Beyond the beaches, there are tons of parks and green spaces in Barcelona so you can really enjoy time spent outdoors.
Love #5: The Nightlife
Barcelona has the best nightlife in Europe. They have some of the best nightclubs in the world, but it’s also other aspects of nightlife. Going out to eat, going to shows or the opera. There are evening activities for kids, young adults, and seniors so everyone can enjoy the nightlife of Barcelona.
Obviously, I love Barcelona and can’t recommend it highly enough! The “hates” are really just a few things to keep a head’s up on rather than a reason not to visit Barcelona. Want to know more about travel in Spain? Check out some of our other blog posts!