25 Things to Do in Barcelona (and Avoid!) That Will Improve Your Trip
Are you planning a trip to Barcelona and worried about looking like a blundering tourist? That’s natural, of course. But don’t get too hung up on this — you’re visiting the city and taking in its biggest sights. You’re allowed to look like a tourist!
As a traveler in a new culture, it will be really hard, if not impossible, to look “local” so why not just be comfortable and go with the flow? (However, this doesn’t mean wandering La Rambla with three cameras tied around your neck wearing socks and sandals — there are limits!)
Acting like a tourist is a different subject. We’re here to help you overcome some common mistakes that tourists make when visiting Barcelona, from spending too much time on La Rambla to trying to eat at 6 p.m.
Related:
• How to navigate Barcelona’s most popular attractions
• 10 Best cheap hotels in Barcelona
25 Things to do in Barcelona & What to Avoid
Follow our lead and you’ll be acting (and eating) like a local in no time!
Barcelona Basics
1. Do try to learn a few words in Spanish and Catalan.
Por favor, gracias and bon dia go a long way.
2. Do try to adhere to local customs and schedules.
Remember that Spaniards eat late and that many shops will be closed midday for lunch and on Sundays.
3. Don’t get too political.
It’s fine to ask locals their opinion on Catalan independence, but be careful if you’re voicing very pro-Catalonia or pro-Spain opinions. You might end up offending those around you and find yourself in a heated debate or fight.
Late dinner means more time for snacking on tapas beforehand! Photo: Craig Nelson
Eating & drinking in Barcelona
4. Don’t eat on La Rambla if you can avoid it.
We’ve been over this many times before, but it’s worth mentioning again.
5. Do visit Barcelona’s wine bars.
Head to these spots to sip reds and whites from all over Spain.
6. Don’t tip 20% on your restaurant bill.
Tipping is not common in Spain. If you want to leave something, leave your change or a couple of euros.
7. Do take a cooking class.
Learn how to make Catalan dishes and Spanish classics like paella.
8. Don’t try to go to dinner at 6 p.m.
Any respectable restaurant won’t even open the doors until 8 p.m. (Here are 18 tips for eating like a local in Barcelona.)
9. Do eat delicious tapas.
Tapas will get you over the 6 p.m. hump and tide you over until your late Spanish dinner.
10. Do visit the famous Boqueria Market, but…
Also visit Barcelona’s lesser-known markets, all of which will be less crowded. Santa Caterina is a good option.
11. Don’t order paella for dinner.
It’s a lunch dish considered too heavy for a late meal.
A shop selling Spanish jamón in La Boqueria Market. Photo: Jessica Spengler
Shopping
12. Don’t take photos in shops or at market stands unless you’ve asked permission.
Fortunately, most of the time, the vendors will say yes.
13. Do shop for exquisite Spanish shoes and clothing.
Looking for Zara, Mango, etc.? Head to the Gothic Quarter around Portal de l’Àngel and Carrer Comtal.
14. Do score deep discounts during the twice-annual city-wide sales.
They’re held in Barcelona in January/February and July/August.
15. Don’t buy souvenirs on La Rambla.
Look for locally made goodies to take home on side-streets off La Rambla.
16. Do check out museum stores.
They offer a great selection of books on Barcelona and artsy souvenirs crafted in Barcelona.
The spectacular Park Güell designed by Gaudí. Photo: Jorge Franganillo on Flickr
Sightseeing
17. Do pay the entrance fee to see La Sagrada Família.
It’s Barcelona’s most important sight and there is a reason for this — it’s stunning! Cough up the entrance fee and spend a few hours inside gawking at Antoni Gaudí’s unfinished masterpiece. (And do get tickets online and skip the wait. Read all of our tips for visiting Sagrada Familia.)
18. Don’t go to Park Güell if you’re short on time.
It’s a bit of trek to get up to Park Güell that can easily eat up most of the day. Stick to Gaudí sights in the city center if you’ve only got a couple of days.
19. Do rent a bike.
Ride along Barcelona’s beachfront boardwalk from La Barceloneta to Llevant beach. Stop along the way for lunch at a seaside eatery.
20. Don’t spend all your time on La Rambla.
It’s tempting to spend too much time with the human statues, cheesy vendors and crowds of tourists. But do walk down La Rambla at least once and stop in to see La Boqueria Market.
21. Do take a tour of the Gothic Quarter.
Get an in-depth look at what Barcelona was like in Roman times.
22. Don’t confine yourself to Barcelona’s city limits.
Consider a day trip to Girona to wander its medieval lanes, Figueres to see the Salvador Dalí Museum, or the Penedès region for wine tasting.
Hostal Fernando offers a central location and rooms for every budget. Photo: EuroCheapo
Barcelona Hotels
23. Don’t try to save money by staying at an out-of-the-way hotel.
It’s worth it to spend a little more to be central. You’ll save time and money getting to popular sights, and it will be easier to walk home at night. Check out these affordable hotels near Barcelona’s most popular attractions.
24. Do make sure your hotel has a safe in the room or at the reception desk.
Leave your passport, extra cash and credit cards, and anything else of value that you will not need on you in the safe. Here are 10 tips for staying safe in Barcelona.
25. Don’t pay for an expensive hotel breakfast at your hotel.
Instead, head to the nearest cafe and eat breakfast like a local for about $5-$6 (coffee and a small sandwich or pastry).
Finally, do come to Barcelona with an open mind and flexible itinerary.
Travel is tricky and things may not pan out the way you planned. It could rain, a museum could be closed for remodeling, or the taxi drivers could go on strike.
However, good things can crop up too, and it’s rewarding to be able to spot these opportunities when they surface and embrace them. A restaurant owner offers you something that’s not on the menu, and it turns out to be the best meal of your life. A local invites you over to their condo for coffee, and you make a new friend. A wrong turn takes you down a winding alleyway with unique bars and boutiques.
The unplanned can many times be the best part of the journey — embrace it!
About the author
such a stunning view
At La Boqueria they sell awesome combinations of blended fruit drinks. Our tip is to walk past the stalls at the front of the market and head to the second and third rows of stalls. You’ll find the same drinks, except they’re quite a bit cheaper than the stalls at the front of the market.
Barcelona’s La Boqueria should perhaps come with a health warning because there’s so much to-die-for food & treats wherever you look! 😋 😂
Would it be better to fly there, rent car
Or bike or tour guide by bus??
Or fly in and stay 3 days at least then jump cruise ship and when coming back to Barcelona, fly to Madrid for a few days. Also – rent scooter, tour guide or
bicycle rental and wing it?!
Just spent 3 months traveling in Barcelona, San Sebastian, Paris and Italy. Two items about Barcelona bothered me:
1) The processing of restaurant and hotel bills in “Dollars” rather than “Euros” without your consent. This adds 3% fees and poor exchange rates to the transaction. Always start a payment with “En Euros, por favor.” This fee driven larceny does not exist in Paris or Italy.
2) Change money using banks without fees. Some local banks charge 3% of the transaction. When you see a fee like this just cancel the transaction. Deutsch Bank does not add fees.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on Barcelona. That’s a good tip for avoiding those pesky 3% fees!
Really helpful list. Thanks for sharing. I am going to Barcelona for 5 days in April and have been reading a lot of Barcelona posts. It sounds like a wonderful city and I am very much looking forward to it. I will try to incorporate some of your recommendations into my trip. safe travels!
Good list. Also don’t miss the Gothic Quartier!