When visiting Barcelona it is impossible to prepare yourself correctly because of the city’s versatility. Fancy a beach day? Sure. Interested in history and heritage? Absolutely. Shopaholic? Damn right. Barcelona has got you covered for every type of holiday there is- albeit if you’re looking to ski, maybe look elsewhere.
In just four days, I walked a total of 73.9km (my feet now hate me) while touring the beauty that is Barcelona.
Covering all of the Gaudi sites including the Gothic Quarters, Parc Guell and of course Le Sagrada Familia, The Olympic Park, Parliament Gardens, The Arc de Triumph (I thought it was only a French thing as well, but apparently not), La Rambla and Barceloneta beach, we really made the most of our city getaway.
If you’re planning to visit Barcelona then keep reading for my top 5 must-knows to make the most of your stay in one of Europe’s most desired destinations.
1. T-10 Travel card
To cover all of the sights available you will be walking A LOT around the city- a great way to get your steps in, but for those hotter days walking to every one of Barca's tourist spot is probably not recommended.
To get to the city centre from the airport you take the train, when catching this train be sure to pick up a T-10 card, costing €10,20. For this price, you get 10 trips on any public transport in the city, including the Metro, Renfe ( their trainline), Trams and buses.
Using the City-mapper App, we were able to find which type of public transport could get us to our destination and where to get on and off and the T-10 card saves you from constantly watching the money you spend on transport.
2. Hostel or Hotel?
Staying in a city where celebrities take vacations and do their weekly wardrobe shop can mean that some hotels in the city centre are quite pricey. Hostels are a great way to avoid paying high prices, especially if you will be spending most of you’re time out and about as opposed to in your apartment or room.
We stayed in a hostel called Casa Graçia, which came at a very small price to pay for the location and place itself.
Expecting a budget hostel in the depths of Barcelona, we were surprised to be greeted by a popular, busy hostel (more like boutique hotel) on Passeig de Graçia- the main shopping street in the city. The staff were friendly and facilities clean, what more could you need?
+Breakfast is all you can eat and only €8 if not included in your stay!
3. Beach Day is a MUST!
After a few days of being a city roamer, take to Barceloneta Beach to relax and soak up the sun. Its beautiful beach is surrounded by beach bars, restaurants and an impressive marina.
After walking down La Rambla to get to the Marina and beach, you feel as though you're truly on a beach holiday, with Spanish culture radiating from the street side cafés selling Sangria and Paella and meat Market (La Boqueria) offering fresh fruit to top your cocktails.
Hotel W establishes its dominance at one end of the beach while Pacha beach club at the other, if you want that extra bit of luxury or even want to show off at the gym situated on the beach, taking a day off to chill on Barceloneta beach is a must!
4. Parc Guell
When you look up from the City centre you can see what looks like a mountain of parkland, somewhere in amongst it all is Parc Guell. Parc Guell is a public park open to everybody, within its walls stands famous architect Antoni Gaui’s House which is now a museum where ticket holders can admire its interior which keeps other pieces of Gaudi’s artwork.
Getting to Parc Guell seems like a trek because it is on, for lack of a better phrase, a HUGE hill. You can walk up it if you’re feeling athletic or alternatively there are buses which take you directly to the Park’s entrance.
While it is now a huge tourist attraction. Parc Guell’s authenticity has been preserved, take a walk through the tree-shaded winded paths before stoping at the top to have a picnic on the benches in Gaudi’s back-garden.
5. Staying Safe
Stay safe! It is no secret that Barcelona is known for its pick-pocketing problem.
Luckily we did not experience anything of this sort, but with busy streets it is clear why people advise you to keep a close eye on your belongings when admiring Gaudy’s famous buildings. Be sure to get an across-body bag or wear your backpack as a ‘frontpack’ to save yourself from being targeted, the city is bursting with culture but is also bursting with people and crowds.
Make sure you're aware of your surroundings at all times.
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