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 » Read more
Planning for Barcelona: Budget Travel Guide
When it comes to Barcelona, Gaudi is just the beginning. The Catalan capital has much more to offer than Modernista masterpieces (not that there’s any shortage of them here) — including plenty of possibilities for budget travelers. Beyond its amazing architecture, most of the things to do in Barcelona cost much lower than elsewhere in » Read more
As the temperatures start to rise in Barcelona and across Spain, so do the crowds and the prices. As a result, competition for hotels can get a little tough. But fear not Cheapos, because we’ve compiled the dates you need to pay attention to, so you can plan your trip with a little less stress » Read more
‘There are very few aspects of Barcelona that I dislike. I love the beaches, especially in the summertime when the water is as warm as a heated pool. I adore the architecture from Gothic to Gaudi, which reaches back to Roman times and still dazzles me after many years living here. It’s also a pleasure to » Read more
At its best, Barcelona is an enchanting Mediterranean city with creative cuisine, golden beaches, and a fascinating history reaching back to Roman times. At its worst, it can be a total touristville with neon paella and ill-advised Mexican sombrero souvenirs. Furthermore, the busiest attractions in Barcelona can get incredibly overcrowded depending on when you visit. The » Read more
Knowing a little Spanish or Catalan can come in handy during a trip to Barcelona. While it’s true that most customer service folks in the city center and at major attractions will speak some English, speaking at least a bit of the local language is always a chance to get closer to the culture and » Read more
After what has been one of the wettest, coldest springs on record, summer has finally arrived. Sizzling days are spent at one of the city’s nine beaches, and humid nights are enjoyed at one of the numerous festivals. Don’t miss these events and city sweet spots from June to September. Festivals 1. Sant Joan: All-night » Read more
A city of around two million people, Barcelona receives an astounding 32 million tourists a year. That’s a lot of people coming to the city! And it should be no surprise that many tourists come with preconceived notions, and generalizations about locals and the Catalan capital abound. We dive into a few of these myths » Read more
Compared to Stockholm, Zurich or London, Barcelona is a relatively inexpensive destination. But when you compare it to a city like Seville in the south of Spain, the prices of everything from restaurants to hotels can feel exorbitant. But it’s our job to help keep your costs low, so you can visit Barcelona no matter » Read more
May is commonly an exquisite, sunny month in Catalonia—and all over most of Spain. With spring in high gear but high-season not yet in full swing, it’s the perfect time to plan a weekend escape from Barcelona. There are so many options from small towns in the mountains to buzzing beaches, but one of our » Read more
Remember the good old-fashioned printed book and the shops that sell them? Before Youtube, Vine, Facebook and smart phones, books were our main form of entertainment and the best way to learn about new places. If you still like the feel of paper between your thumb and fingers, Barcelona’s thriving books’ scene is a great » Read more
All those guidebook photos of azure sky, dripping gelato, vast beaches and otherworldly Gaudí architecture may sell an image of “perfect” Barcelona, but this city is far from flawless. Here are four negative aspects of visiting or living in Barcelona, with their (sometimes quite simple) solutions. 1. CROWDS The center of Barcelona is crowded, especially » Read more
You’ve just got to go into La Sagrada Familia so that’s €12, and then you think you might do the bus tour of Barcelona, which is another €30, not to mention the tour fee to see Palau de la Musica for €10. Before you know it you’ve spent €50 and it’s only day two of » Read more
Most of my friends were shocked to hear that in my eight years in Barcelona I’d never “done” the Encants flea market. I assured them that I had wanted to, but had just never found the time, or the urge, to dig through piles of used junk one early Saturday morning. My Encants flea market » Read more
My friend Kris is a “freegan.” What’s that? You’ve never heard of a freegan before? It’s like vegan but instead of a strict diet, they are very strict in their belief that they should find and get things for free. This lifestyle can be taken to extreme levels, like dumpster diving and eating expired foods. » Read more
As a visitor to Barcelona, you’re counting out your euros, dollars, pesos, or whatever currency you earn in, and wondering: how far is this going to get me in Barcelona? Good question. For one thing, it depends if you buy your food, snacks, coffee, beer, etc. in a cafe, hotel mini-bar or supermarket. While I’ve mentioned » Read more
Since 2008, some aspects of life in Barcelona have become more affordable. Renting an apartment, for example, is much cheaper now than it was when I arrived in 2005. Basics though, like coffee and wine (those are staples, right?) are pretty much the same price as always, and perhaps more expensive these days thanks to » Read more
If you still have some spare euros left over from the holidays, then Barcelona is the spot to spend it these days. Deep sales (called “rebajas”) happen just twice a year; in January after the Epiphany and July right before everyone goes on vacation. So we’re right in the middle of prime sales time now. » Read more
We recently asked our Barcelona correspondent, Regina W. Bryan, to answer some questions that we hear repeatedly by travelers heading to Barcelona. Some were of the hum-drum variety (“Do hotels have elevators?”), but others were a bit more interesting. Below are a few that popped out at us. To read the entire list, check out » Read more
Ideally, I would not need to write this post. After all, when was the last time you saw a travel article titled “Tips for Solo Male Travelers”? Never. But when it comes to being a lady on the road on her own, well, things get a bit more tricky. Back story When I came to » Read more
I wish this list was easier to compile, but Barcelona is not the “land of the free.” In fact, many locals believe that we pay more here for just about everything than they do in other parts of Spain. Road-trip? You’ll pay loads in tolls in Catalonia. Bread and olives with dinner? That’s another €2 » Read more
You want to take something home to ma and pa from your amazing trip to Barcelona. But what? Here are some ideas to replace the shot glass, refrigerator magnet and cheesy t-shirt. 1. For foodies Dad loves to cook? How about some Spanish spices to go in his next attempt at paella or tapas? Grab » Read more
By Regina W Bryan in Barcelona— Driving in Barcelona is about as fun as a root canal. There’s traffic. There’s no right on red and pedestrians jump out at every turn, sprinting across the road. And of course, scooter riders weave between cars with an insane amount of confidence. One must remain calm to drive » Read more
By Regina W. Bryan in Barcelona— I’ve learned two important lessons about travel in Barcelona and Spain in general: 1) It will cost more than you think, and 2) It will take longer than you planned. With these golden rules in mind, I offer some tips for saving minutes while visiting Barcelona. 1. Know your » Read more
By Regina W. Bryan in Barcelona— Cheapos rejoice! There are plenty of ways to Tweet, Dig, Tumble and surf in Barcelona for free. While many hotels and hostels in Barcelona have free Internet access (or should, anyway), here are a few options for when you want to get out of your dimly lit hotel room. » Read more
