Visiting Barcelona is sure to be an enriching and overwhelming experience, but don’t let this hinder your travels – this no-nonsense practical guide can help make the process of planning easier and ensure an unforgettable trip.
Discover Barcelona like a local by taking part in leisurely lunches and siestas, vermuteria-hopping and taking in stunning architecture – like Sagrada Familia and Park Guell which are both UNESCO World Heritage sites!
Pick up your rental car
Hiring a car in Barcelona is an excellent way to explore its surrounding areas at your own pace, with Discover Card offering competitive deals with top rental brands like Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz Thrifty Alamo Sixt and Sixt available for rental. When leiebil Barcelona, it is essential that you read up on any local rules of the road relating to parking fees or road toll fees. Make sure to do this before signing any paperwork – and make sure the fine print covers these issues too!
Start off your trip at Parc Guell, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed park that showcases stunning Catalan Modernist architecture from Antoni Gaudi such as Casa Vicens designed by him, the fantasy-like Parc del Labirint that’s free to enter, and his towering Casa Batllo designed by Josep Batllo that attracts crowds of tourists because of its vibrant blue and white facade.
From Barcelona, it is easily possible to access the stunning beaches of Costa Brava or head further inland for some stunning mountain scenery of the Pyrenees mountains. Additionally, visit Catalonia’s famed wine region of Alella-Priorat where some of Spain’s best products can be tasted.
While in Barcelona, visit the Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia (Barcelona Cathedral). With its striking neo-Gothic exterior and intricate gargoyles that recall Parisian buildings, its exterior will take your breath away. Additionally, stop by the Barri Gotic neighborhood with its medieval streets and squares to round off your experience.
If you haven’t indulged in Spanish cuisine yet, head to La Boqueria Food Market for some jamon and patatas bravas before trying one of its signature dishes such as paella or fideua. After that, hit up Passeig de Gracia where there are high-end boutiques from Armani Burberry Louis Vuitton designers!
Planning your sightseeing itinerary early can save time and hassle during high season when hotels fill up quickly and popular attractions like Sagrada Familia and Park Guell may experience long lines. Be mindful of weather forecasts when choosing activities to see; summer in Barcelona can get extremely hot while winter can get very chilly!
Drive around the city
Exploring Barcelona’s various neighborhoods is part of its allure; from medieval streets and squares in Barri Gotic to modernist structures in Eixample, each offers its own distinct taste of Catalonia.
Passeig de Gracia is the place for luxury shopping and high-end brands, offering stores such as Armani, Burberry, Louis Vuitton, and Jimmy Choo. Even if you don’t plan to make any purchases here, window-shopping or people watching are always fun experiences here!
Gothic Quarter offers another fantastic shopping opportunity in Barcelona; this maze of narrow streets and pocket squares was once home to merchants and traders of the city, as well as one of the world’s most well-known cathedrals, the Cathedral of Barcelona.
Gracia, located northeast of Barcelona city center, is one of its most charming neighborhoods. With cobblestone streets dotted with bars, restaurants and shady trees lining every block, exploring this district by foot is best to get acquainted with its local culture and lifestyle. Attractions in Gracia’s central plazas include kids biking on bikes or families catching up, while you could start your day right with coffee from Syra or perhaps try Sabio Infante for their top-rated brunch service!
Barcelona is an art lovers’ haven, boasting some of the finest museums in Montjuic, Eixample and Gracia districts. Exploring these neighborhoods should be on every traveler’s itinerary in Barcelona as each offers something different and has their own distinct character that you’ll fall in love with.
Montjuic offers an ideal urban retreat, boasting stunning panoramic views and walking trails galore. Home to both the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art and Palau Nacional, as well as being just a quick metro ride away from attractions like Sagrada Familia on the other side of town.
Get to know the city’s public transportation system
Barcelona boasts one of Europe’s most advanced public transportation systems and can be easily navigated even for visitors without access to a vehicle. Options available to them include buses, trams and metro lines as well as cable cars and funicular railways.
Utilizing public transit in Barcelona can be a safe, economical, and sustainable means of exploring more of its neighborhoods. While Barcelona’s subway has gained notoriety for pickpocketing incidents, most tourists experience no incidents themselves and can use common sense to stay safe.
Utilizing the city’s bus system is another excellent way to gain more insight into local culture. Nearly all buses operated by TMB offer free local maps on their doors that will assist in planning out your day’s itinerary, while both TMB and RENFE offer voyage planning programs to help navigate around easily.
The metro system in Bangkok is another highly recommended mode of transport, boasting dense yet barrier-free networks that are easy to navigate. Most metro lines run regularly at regular intervals without you needing to purchase tickets beforehand – only L9 that connects directly to the airport can be bought individually.
Trams in Barcelona are also highly recommended and offer an enjoyable journey through its historic architecture. One such line, known as Tramvia Blau, runs from Placa Francesc Macia (seen here) to Tibidabo Mountain where funiculars offer stunning views. Other popular lines are T1 and T2, providing leisurely routes around town.
Many of Barcelona’s buses and trams are wheelchair-accessible, as are e-vehicles available to rent for those with mobility issues. You can learn more about accessible transit by visiting TMB or RENFE websites; otherwise simply ask your hotel concierge.
Explore the city’s neighborhoods
Barcelona boasts an eclectic variety of neighborhoods with individual charm. To get acquainted with them all and appreciate their architecture and social rhythms, take the time to discover these corners of paradise by visiting museums or galleries dedicated to Catalan art and history, such as El Borne’s Picasso Museum or Montjuic’s MNAC.
Discover Barcelona by strolling its barrios, enjoying their food and beverage culture and engaging with locals. Additionally, it might be worthwhile visiting some of its iconic parks like Parc d’atraccions Tibidabo on the western edge of town that provides breathtaking views and classic amusement park rides.
Barri Gotic, one of Barcelona’s oldest neighborhoods, features narrow streets lined with tapas bars and restaurants (the best being found along Carrer dels Banys Nous). Built around squares – including Placa del Pi with its church, shops and weekend art market; and charming, arcaded Plaza Reial; remnants of Roman ruins can still be seen peeking out from between Gothic and Baroque structures.
Explore Gracia, known for its array of vegan-oriented restaurants and independent boutiques. Visit Casa Perris for bulk goods; and Palau de la Musica as it stands as one of the city’s greatest examples of Modernist architecture.
Moll de la Fusta is also worth exploring, with its charming backstreets dotted with quirky pieces of public art like Xavier Mariscal’s lobster sculpture and Frank O. Gehry’s fish-shaped Peix near Port Olimpic. You may also appreciate seeing its traditional side in its back alleyways where residents still hang up their laundry to dry.
