Unique architecture, incredible tapas, and beautiful beaches make Barcelona one of the most vibrant cities in Europe. Explore the gothic architecture and modernism, try new foods, and indulge yourself in the energy of this city!
Here’s my ultimate travel guide to Barcelona!
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Know Before You Go
Best Time to Go: Barcelona has fairly mild weather, making any time of year a good time to visit. I recommend late spring or early fall for the best weather and fewest crowds.
Currency: Euro
Language: There are two official languages in Barcelona: Catalan and Spanish. Locals really appreciate when tourists go the extra mile and learn a few words in Catalan!
Power: C and F outlets. I got my converter here.
Getting There and Getting Around
Depending on where you’re traveling from, you can reach Barcelona by almost every means of transportation – plane, train, or ferry. We flew into BCN, which is the main airport in Barcelona (there are three total). You can also take a train from many other cities in Europe. I recommend RailEurope for finding and purchasing train tickets!
We mostly got around Barcelona on foot. It’s a very walkable city, as long as you’re in comfortable shoes! If you’re venturing out a bit further or your feet hurt, the metro is an affordable and easy option! Each ride costs 2,20€, or you can purchase a T-10 pass for 10,20€ which will get you 10 rides.
Barcelona also has a taxi service, which I definitely recommend using to get to your accommodation from the airport or train station! Otherwise, we didn’t need to use the taxi service at all during our time in Barcelona.
Where to Stay
Ciutat Vella: Also known as the Gothic Quarter. This is the oldest and most central part of the city. Las Ramblas, the Cathedral of Barcelona, and Barceloneta beach are all located here. It’s about a 20 minute walk to other neighborhoods, making it a great choice for accommodation!
Eixample: An upscale neighborhood boasting modernist architecture and great shopping. Antoni Gaudí has quite a few works here, including the famous La Sagrada Familia.
Gràcia: Home to Park Guell. This is mostly a residential area, so there’s less to see and do here.
Luxury: W Hotel Barcelona
Likely the most recognized hotel in all of Barcelona, the W Hotel sits proudly on the edge of Barceloneta Beach. Each room boasts stunning views of the city and Mediterranean Sea. There is quite wide range of rooms, ranging from a presidential terrace suite for 9,000€ a night to more affordable guest rooms at 400€ a night. The location and view here just simply can’t be beat!
Mid-Range: H10 Madison
Known for it’s rooftop terrace and plunge pool with a beautiful view of the Cathedral, H10 Madison offers both incredible amenities as well as a great location! It’s situated right in the heart of the Gothic Quarter. Rooms range from about 200€-350€ a night and an optional breakfast is offered.
Mid-Range: Ohla Eixample
If you’re looking to stay in Eiaxmple, I recommend Ohla, a five star luxury boutique hotel. This hotel is just a couple blocks away from Casa Battló and Casa Milà, and walking distance (about 20 minutes) to La Sagrada Familia. As if the location doesn’t make it an attractive enough option, the rooftop terrace and pool secure Ohla as one of the best hotels in Barcelona! While it’s considered a luxury hotel, its prices are actually pretty affordable (250-400€ a night).
Budget: Four Points by Sheraton Barcelona Diagonal
Located in the Gothic Quarter within walking distance to Las Ramblas and the beach, The Four Points by Sheraton Barcelona offers a great option for those looking for a more affordable stay. Rooms average around 130-200€ a night.
Airbnb
We stayed in this beautiful Airbnb during our stay in Barcelona. It’s located on Las Ramblas right in the heart of the Gothic Quarter, making it a prime location. We felt close to everything! Airbnb can be a great affordable option as well. Most Airbnbs I found in Barcelona ranged anywhere from 60€ a night up to 300€.
Here’s my Airbnb wishlist for stays in Barcelona!
What To Do
Explore Ciutat Vella (The Gothic Quarter)
The Gothic Quarter is home to some of the most beautiful architecture in Spain. Most buildings here have a traditional style, and many are quite old. The Cathedral was built back in the thirteenth century! Explore the rich history in this part of Barcelona. There are tours available if you’re into that sort of thing, but we loved roaming the streets ourselves and googling every beautiful building we came across.
Visit Barceloneta Beach
Of course, you can’t go to Barcelona and miss Barceloneta beach. While this is definitely not the most relaxing beach in Barcelona, it’s the most vibrant. The beach fills up by late morning with sunbathers, and as the day gets warmer people will venture out into the water to swim and play sports. Skateboarding along the boardwalk is common here too. There are tons of beautiful restaurants on the strip to choose from once you’re hungry. We spent half the day lounging on the beach, reading and people-watching.
Note: Barceloneta is a swimwear-optional beach. You don’t have to go nude, but when in Rome….
See La Sagrada Familia
This is by far the most breathtaking church I’ve ever seen. The design of the church was taken over by Antoni Gaudí in the late 1800s but was not finished before his death, therefore it remains the largest unfinished church in the world. Now, it is a UNESCO Heritage Site and is still under construction. It is my favorite of Gaudís works, absolutely do not miss it on your trip to Barcelona!
Explore Gaudí's Works
While we’re on the topic of Antoni Gaudí, let’s explore him more. Gaudí was considered a architectural prodigy, and his works were not only unique and eccentric, but ahead of his time. His art is highly regarded by locals and tourists alike.
Notable works: Casa Battló, Casa Vicens, Casa Milá, and Park Güell.
Casa Battló, Casa Vicens, and Casa Milá are all located within a short distance of one another. You can easily see all of these works in a day! Many have self-guided tours you can take through the interiors as well. If you’ve got the time for it, I definitely recommend!
Park Güell is a bit more off the beaten path. It takes about 30 minutes via metro to get there from Ciutat Vella.
Stroll Through Las Ramblas
Las Ramblas is a mainly pedestrian boulevard in the heart of the Gothic Quarter. It’s full of restaurants, bars, markets, and street performers. While there are generally a ton of tourists here, the energy of Las Ramblas makes it worth a visit.
I wouldn’t recommend the restaurants here, as there are many better options elsewhere. However, it’s still worth it to walk through and enjoy the uniqueness of Barcelona!
Eat and Drink
Grab Cocktails at Hotel Colón
Hotel Colón’s Rooftop has undeniably the best view of the Cathedral. We grabbed drinks here to watch the sunset before heading off to dinner. This view of the Cathedral paired with a great drink really kicks the evening off right!
A couple things to note: You cannot make a reservation for the rooftop terrace, it is first come first serve only. If you plan on going before sunset, be prepared to wait in line! We waited for about 30-45 minutes, but were able to get about an hour of light before watching the sun set. If you go during the day, its less busy and you’re more likely to get a table immediately!
Ayre Hotel Rosellón Rooftop
Similar to Hotel Colón, but this rooftop boasts views of La Sagrada Familia instead. Though not for lack of trying, we weren’t able to get a reservation here. Reservations can only be made 7 days in advance, and they fill up IMMEDIATELY.
If you’ve got better luck and want to try your hand at it, make a reservation here.
The view is stunning and I will be keeping this one on my list to visit in the future!
El Nacional
Essentially a fancy food hall, El Nacional offers all different types of foods from all over Spain. It includes four bars and four restaurants to choose from, depending on what type of food you’re craving. Naturally, we gravitated towards tapas, but if you’re hungry for meat or seafood then there’s options for you there too! El Nacional is truly a gastronomic experience.
Brunch and Cake
Is this not the most beautiful food you’ve ever seen? Believe it or not, it actually tastes as good as it looks!
Everything is made by hand with locally sourced ingredients, with a promise of “Grandma’s goodness”. It started as a bakery in 2010, but has gained so much popularity since that it has expanded to 9 locations with 22 more on the way!
Gitallo
Just looking back on this photo is making my mouth water – this was some of the most delicious food we had in Barcelona! Gitallo is located on the boardwalk of Barceloneta Beach and we hungrily stumbled upon it after spending the day lounging on the beach. The food was SO fresh and flavorful. I will most definitely be finding my way back to Gitallo in the future!
Taller de Tapas
This cute tapas bar is located in Eixample just steps away from Casa Battló and Casa Milà, and makes for a perfect stop after exploring and shopping! The tapas here were delicious, and the service was even better! The servers made recommendations and even brought us some cava on the house.
Tapeo Del Born
This was the first tapas bar we stopped at once we arrived in Spain, and it truly set the bar for the rest of the trip. A casual tapas bar in El Born, it’s a scenic 20-30 minute stroll away from the Gothic Quarter. These were some of the best tapas I’ve ever eaten, and I’m not just saying that because I was fresh off a plane and starving!