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Barcelona is the second-largest city in Spain and the capital of Catalonia. Its name will likely conjure up images of uniquely gothic architecture, ferocious football matches, and sun-soaked sandy beaches.
While it&rsquo;s one of the most visited destinations in Europe, you can&rsquo;t ignore that it&rsquo;s also beginning to appear more frequently in headlines due to the impact of tourism.&nbsp;
Over the years, many of our Jack's Flight Club team have visited Barcelona, and a few have even called it home, so we&rsquo;re in a good place to tell you what&rsquo;s what in the city. While we&rsquo;ll be sharing our own tips along with those from other members who have visited, our aim is to provide you with unbiased information to help you make decisions about your own visit. 
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXft0qZkbLGcrC15ev0zP0lvqWh2Nyw0DkpTmiyo4OY5D74j6kpXrkV7Gnh8YtpF4dReNAr_1y8V3fMbfha_5wbwT8qS8Cko5p1FUkM4UVubyJMoSA4Wm7XFLY71pw30vQSdDDl28A?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="383" height="383" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
A quick note on the links in this guide:&nbsp;we&rsquo;re not affiliated with any external sites we&rsquo;ve chosen to include, so we&rsquo;re not getting any freebies or commission. We&rsquo;ve only included resources we think will genuinely be useful to help you make a decision on whether this destination is for you. 
<div style="background: #f9f9f9 none repeat scroll 0 0; border: 1px solid #aaa; display: table; font-size: 95%; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 20px; width: auto;">
Quick Reference
<ul>
<li style="list-style: outside none none !important;"><a href="jfcs-guide-to-barcelona#h_91728132448191746012977970">Pre-trip preparation</a></li>
<li style="list-style: outside none none !important;"><a href="jfcs-guide-to-barcelona#h_69043587276271746014344740">Cash and currency</a></li>
<li style="list-style: outside none none !important;"><a href="jfcs-guide-to-barcelona#h_40104367382501746014602254">Barcelona by season</a></li>
<li style="list-style: outside none none !important;"><a href="jfcs-guide-to-barcelona#h_18931801887541746014710373">Getting around Barcelona</a></li>
<li style="list-style: outside none none !important;"><a href="jfcs-guide-to-barcelona#h_74168563490791746014762544">Internet and cell service in Barcelona</a></li>
<li style="list-style: outside none none !important;"><a href="jfcs-guide-to-barcelona#h_75080099893511746014805881">Travel style</a></li>
<li style="list-style: outside none none !important;"><a href="jfcs-guide-to-barcelona#h_26392595142371746019307363">Area Guides</a></li>
<li style="list-style: outside none none !important;"><a href="jfcs-guide-to-barcelona#h_70297290447181746019584290">Markets in Barcelona</a></li>
<li style="list-style: outside none none !important;"><a href="jfcs-guide-to-barcelona#h_89286655052771746023733338">Recommended links</a></li>
<li style="list-style: outside none none !important;"><a href="jfcs-guide-to-barcelona#h_13715699555981746023771632">Barcelona food</a></li>
<li style="list-style: outside none none !important;"><a href="jfcs-guide-to-barcelona#h_63417743858831746023832209">Festivals and events in Barcelona</a></li>
<li style="list-style: outside none none !important;"><a href="jfcs-guide-to-barcelona#h_18322787361731746023870310">Gaud&iacute; buildings in Barcelona</a></li>
<li style="list-style: outside none none !important;"><a href="jfcs-guide-to-barcelona#h_96763719164391746023915429">Parks in Barcelona</a></li>
<li style="list-style: outside none none !important;"><a href="jfcs-guide-to-barcelona#h_49319333067281746023984952">Barcelona day trips</a></li>
</ul>
</div>

<h2 dir="ltr" id="h_91728132448191746012977970">Pre-trip preparation</h2>
&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">Visas</h3>
Due to being in the Schengen zone, visas here are fairly simple for most travelers:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">If you&rsquo;re travelling on an EU, or Swiss passport, you won&rsquo;t need a visa at all.&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">If you&rsquo;re travelling on a UK, US or Canadian passport, you can travel visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period at the time of writing. E-visas will soon be introduced for travelers from these regions (the planned start date is mid-2025), you&rsquo;ll find more info about this on the ETIAS website <a href="https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en">here</a>.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">For travelers with any other passports, you can find some more in depth information <a href="https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen-borders-and-visa/visa-policy/applying-schengen-visa_en#who-needs-to-apply-for-a-schengen-visa">here</a>.</li>
</ul>
<h3 dir="ltr">Vaccines and Medication</h3>
Disclaimer: We aren't medical experts, so always check which medications and vaccines are recommended by your local healthcare service before travelling. Here are a few links to get you started:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">UK: <a href="https://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/destinations">NHS Fit for Travel</a></li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">EU: <a href="https://consular-protection.ec.europa.eu/travel-advice_en">Travel Advice for EU citizens</a></li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">USA: <a href="https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list">CDC Travelers' Health</a></li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Canada: <a href="https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories">Canada.ca Travel Advice</a></li>
</ul>
Most travelers are unlikely to need any vaccinations before heading to Barcelona, but you may want to pack some more general items such as anti-histamines, painkillers etc. just in case they&rsquo;re needed during your trip.

<h3 dir="ltr">Other Essentials&nbsp;</h3>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Sunscreen &mdash;&nbsp;In peak summer, you&rsquo;ll experience around <a href="https://thespiritedexplorer.com/summer-in-barcelona-survival-guide/#:~:text=Sun%20protection%20is%20key.">10+ hrs of sunshine per day,</a> with high-level UV rays to match, so you&rsquo;ll need some SPF 50+ to avoid any nasty burns.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Mosquito repellent &mdash; A high-level DEET repellent (at least 50%)</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Any higher % DEET typically only increases how long it&rsquo;ll be effective for, rather than offering &lsquo;better&rsquo; protection from biting insects. Applying a 50% DEET should last you 10&ndash;12 hours.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">FYI, when you wear sunscreen and DEET repellent together, it can limit the sun protection of your sunscreen, so give it 30 minutes after you&rsquo;ve applied your sunscreen (or until it&rsquo;s fully absorbed) before spraying your repellent.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<h3 dir="ltr">Clothing&nbsp;</h3>
Barcelona is generally a very relaxed city, where you can dress how you would at home. As with many historical European cities, roads can be steep, uneven, and cobblestoned in places, so you&rsquo;ll need a sturdy pair of shoes. A cross-body bag or waist bag will also be useful for storing metro passes and phones, while discouraging pickpockets. A wrist strap for your phone will also be useful if you need to use your mobile on the go.
On the beach, people wear swimsuits, bikinis, go topless and occasionally ditch clothes altogether. But before you decide to bathe in your birthday suit, make sure to<a href="https://www.foreverbarcelona.com/best-barcelona-city-beaches-area-guide/"> research the beach you're on</a>, as not all are nudist-friendly.
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdEpQrdRBeD91zs8pLVIsjt-PRLCyAF1RYjYaaw0DnmCltqs3R5iRuqgG2BCtVeMGSlFVJmdD0vuL8T-3Oszh_X7hACuPyvLl9O9zfW-HNX-h_8KYvhF9teHWwo1Rbko8eTAOCXuA?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="387" height="387" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">

<h2 dir="ltr" id="h_69043587276271746014344740">Cash and currency</h2>
Local currency: The euro (&euro;)
The majority of bars, caf&eacute;s, restaurants, and shops will all accept both card and cash payments. To avoid the eyes of pickpockets, we&rsquo;d recommend only bringing a limited amount of cash for small purchases and tips, and paying by card for everything else.

<h3 dir="ltr">ATMs</h3>
Although you&rsquo;ll find plenty of ATMs throughout the city, they mostly add pricey fees on top of your withdrawal (a classic trick throughout Europe!). If you need to withdraw cash, try finding an ATM outside the main touristy areas, or ask your hotel for their recommendation. Any Santander customer with an account from any country will be able to get free withdrawals at a Santander ATM. You can read more information on withdrawal fees&nbsp;<a href="https://www.monito.com/en/wiki/atms-in-spain#atm-fees">in this ATM guide</a>.
&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">Tipping</h3>
Tipping in Barcelona is not expected, but it would be appreciated if you experience good service and feel inclined to do so. 10% is an appropriate amount, but check your receipt first to see if a service charge has already been included in the final bill, and you don&rsquo;t have a nasty surprise. You can read a more thorough guide to tipping culture in Spain&nbsp;<a href="https://thespaintravelguru.com/do-you-tip-in-spain/">here</a>.

<h2 id="h_40104367382501746014602254">Seasonality</h2>

Barcelona's seasons are what you'd expect from any Mediterranean city &mdash; hot summers, mild-to-cool winters, and it&rsquo;s very rare to need to worry about anything extreme.
Barcelona is popular with tourists year-round, with peak summer (unsurprisingly) being the busiest time. Here&rsquo;s what you can expect from each season to help you make your plans:
&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">Winter (December-February)</h3>
Winters there are fairly mild, with temperatures averaging around 8&ordm;&ndash;15&ordm; degrees. Snow is very rare, so no need to pack for the white stuff.&nbsp;
There are fewer crowds roaming the streets, and you&rsquo;ll find accommodation and activities quite a bit cheaper than during the summer months. It&rsquo;s also a great time to go see the popular sites because they&rsquo;re not too busy.&nbsp;
But the true highlights of visiting in winter are the festive atmosphere of the <a href="https://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/events/christmas/barcelona-christmas-markets.html">Christmas markets</a> in December and the <a href="https://irbarcelona.org/christmas-barcelona/three-kings-day/">Three Kings Parade</a> in January.&nbsp;
And best of all, the food! The city&rsquo;s favorite festive treat, homemade turr&oacute;n, will have hit the shelves (<a href="https://barcelona-top-travel-tips.com/handmade-turron/">here</a>&rsquo;s where you&rsquo;ll find some of the best), and grabbing a warming bowl of <a href="https://www.catalego.net/post/escudella-nadal">escudella i carn d&rsquo;olla</a> (aka, a festive dish of meats and vegetables in a yummy broth) is hard to beat if you ask us.
&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">Spring (March-May)</h3>
At this time of year, it&rsquo;s a little warmer and the flowers are blooming all over the city, so it&rsquo;s a great time to go wandering through the parks and gardens. And towards the end of May, it&rsquo;ll be time to hit the beaches again, ahead of the summer crowds.
You&rsquo;ll also catch some great festivals that happen during these months, such as the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/events/easter/easter-weekend-barcelona.html">annual Easter festivities</a>, and Sant Jordi Day, where the streets are filled with stalls selling books and red roses. It&rsquo;s their version of Valentine&rsquo;s Day!
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXeXCx_FaG_xcB2Q-HieA-57Jkgr5qDln1AgvYOMlG1ELYWJClGO8VsgsH3QaVj3wF0J1rfIAoJgvVW73ElKY5trOARLLaAsv-kAwgILoRzXECsqtcSi2WGYa-apb0LR1w_wWrGC-g?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="386" height="386" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">

<h3 dir="ltr">Summer (June-August)</h3>
The hot summer sun comes out, and so do the crowds!
Temperatures can reach upwards of 35℃/85℉ at the height of summer. Luckily, lots of accommodation in the city has air conditioning, but when you&rsquo;re out and about, it&rsquo;s worth carrying a hand fan and stopping off for some icy gelato to cool you down&mdash;we&rsquo;ve heard&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g187497-d2703063-r963496904-Farggi-Barcelona_Catalonia.html">Farggi</a> sells some of the best!
As you&rsquo;d expect, this is also an ideal time to take a day trip to one of the smaller cities and towns nearby, which won&rsquo;t have nearly as many tourists visiting at this time compared to Barcelona. You&rsquo;ll find our suggestions below in the &lsquo;Day Trips&rsquo; section.
For some more in depth info, have a look through&nbsp;<a href="https://thespiritedexplorer.com/summer-in-barcelona-survival-guide/">this summer in Barcelona survival guide</a>&mdash;don&rsquo;t worry, it&rsquo;s not as dramatic as it sounds!
&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">Autumn (September-November)</h3>
The weather is much more comfortable at this time of year, without the summer heat or winter chill.
This is a great time to try nearby hiking routes, like the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.walkmyworld.com/posts/hiking-montserrat">village of Monserrat</a>, which is surrounded by mountains. Best of all, most of the crowds will have left by October, so you may even have the trails to yourself.
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXeCQCYysV5Ej2HhS3gsO90Yn1qK1XxwKl_e7hGGr0iXDnFb5jBiaYssLCfusVA5oHx9tD8ZseuPGDF6zSixC8u6pyIOcTNRy0MRe9u56MzxoYEq93u8AJnwGW7jrthgVdXd9IFZzA?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="386" height="386" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">

You&rsquo;ll also see the city&rsquo;s parks and streets taken over by fiery red and orange leaves, and there are lots of places nearby where you can go and see the beautiful colors&mdash;find some of the best spots <a href="https://unexpectedcatalonia.com/autumn-colours-near-barcelona/">here</a>.
And if you&rsquo;re still craving some sea and sand, you&rsquo;ll still be able to squeeze in a few more beach days before the winter truly sets in.
Note: If you&rsquo;d like some more in depth month-by-month info, have a look through <a href="https://www.bcn.travel/barcelona-weather-by-month/">this guide</a> to the city&rsquo;s weather.

<h2 id="h_18931801887541746014710373">Transportation</h2>

<h3>How to get to Barcelona</h3>
You can get to Barcelona by air, sea, train, or car.
&nbsp;
By air
Barcelona&rsquo;s airport (BCN) has over 200 non-stop routes from cities across the world. Here are the JFC stats for cheap flights to Barcelona we&rsquo;ve seen from Europe, UK, the USA and Canada.
From Europe:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Expected average price: &euro;60 rtn</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">How many cheap flight alerts we&rsquo;d expect in a year: 12+</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Lowest price we&rsquo;ve ever seen: &euro;26 rtn</li>
</ul>
From the UK:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Expected average price: &pound;50 rtn</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">How many cheap flight alerts we&rsquo;d expect in a year: 12+</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Lowest price we&rsquo;ve ever seen: &pound;26 rtn</li>
</ul>
From the USA:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Expected average price: $350 RT</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">How many cheap flight alerts we&rsquo;d expect in a year: 10</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Lowest price we&rsquo;ve ever seen: $207 RT</li>
</ul>
From Canada:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Expected average price: $710 RT</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">How many cheap flight alerts we&rsquo;d expect in a year: 10</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Lowest price we&rsquo;ve ever seen: $548 RT </li>
</ul>

Pro tip: Look out for flights with Iberia from the USA and Ryanair from the UK/Europe, as these airlines offer some of the cheapest fares.

By sea
Barcelona has a major cruise ship port, which docks ships from the UK, Europe, and the USA. There are 7 terminals at the port, and the closest one to La Rambla is a 15-minute walk away. If you arrive at one of the far-away terminals, you can catch the blue cruise shuttle bus for around &euro;3 one way. This will drop you off at the World Trade Centre, which is also a 15-minute walk from La Rambla.
From there, you can easily access the rest of the city with nearby bus stops and the Drassanes metro station.
&nbsp;
By train&nbsp;
High-speed double-decker trains link Paris Gare de Lyon station and Barcelona Sants station&nbsp; multiple times a day and take around 6.5 hours. If you book tickets in advance, they can be as low as &euro;45. Be careful, though, as last-minute tickets can be priced over &euro;100.
Multiple train companies offer direct routes from Madrid to Barcelona throughout the day. On a high-speed service like Ouigo or Iryo, the journey can take as little as 2 hours 30 minutes.
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdfuowD91df--GK2imZxhjXMmN4Rwun4CP85ydNd1hvyS2ZsKQhI7Ce3rhZspfSOoyiazRT7vrtUFaXiHx4MmbFP0ho10cEwCsgOsMPA-2QoswzKGU1FT7wQuNxbCuVLF0L4ZgZ?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="387" height="387" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">

<h3 dir="ltr">Transportation</h3>

From the airport
The easiest way to get from the airport to the city center is to jump on the Aerobus. The bus stop outside both terminals is clearly signposted, and you can<a href="https://aerobusbarcelona.es/where-can-i-buy-the-aerobus-ticket/?lang=en"> buy tickets from the driver or online in advance</a>. They&rsquo;ll set you back &euro;7.20 for a single trip or &euro;12.50 for a return, and you can pay by either cash or card. It takes around 30 minutes and stops at 3 places: Plaza de Espanya, Gran Via-Urgell, Plaza de la Universitat. 
The cheapest option to get into the city is to take the metro, which also takes around 30-minutes and costs &euro;5.50. But there isn&rsquo;t a direct line downtown, so you&rsquo;ll need to change at either Torrassa or Collblanc, depending on where you want to go.
You can also catch a yellow taxi to the city center from the taxi rank outside the Arrivals area at both terminals. The price should be around &euro;40.
&nbsp;
Travel cards
There are 2 main travel card options for tourists: the T-Casual card and the HolaBCN card. The T-Casual card is a set price for 10 journeys and can be used on the city metro and buses, but you can&rsquo;t use it to reach the airport. The Hola BCN card is pricier but can be used for an unlimited number of journeys on the metro, buses and to reach the airport. You can<a href="https://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/faq/barcelona-card/barcelona-card-vs-t-casual-ticket.html"> read more about both cards here</a>.

Metro
Barcelona has a clean, safe and punctual metro service with 11 lines and plenty of stations across the city. It typically runs between 05:00 AM - midnight, although these hours are extended during peak times such as national holidays. You can find ticket machines at all station entrances, and they accept both cash and card payments. The metro stations are easy to navigate, with many signs displaying the stops along each line. You can also use Google Maps to figure out the quickest route between stations.
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdgzHT6W82FJeO7qSbzKQNB4IX7VivTZb7JEWibki9URwOsWcv2UVv6eWFxkhSRrttfa-QmBjVqUkTlH5xCFSdadMrNCvRsD8ZyoEwLvMNVk_REPvL33al-Ww9DMlc_lsLMkZoKSA?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="388" height="388">

Taxis &amp; ride-sharing apps
Ride-sharing apps like Uber and Bolt are available in Barcelona, but their service is limited.
Licensed taxis are usually the easiest and safest option. You can easily recognize a licensed taxi by:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">The yellow and black exterior&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Taxi sign on top of the car</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Identity card of the taxi driver in the front window</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Taxi meter on the dashboard</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Bikes
Cycling is a great way to move around the city, especially during the summer when the metro gets busy and stuffy. There&rsquo;s over 200 kilometres of clearly marked cycle lanes across Barcelona. Most of the paths are fairly flat and easily rideable, although there are steeper areas like Montjuic, in case you are looking for a trickier terrain.
You may notice rows of red bikes dotted around the city, branded with the word &lsquo;Bicing&rsquo;. Sadly, these aren&rsquo;t available to tourists because you need a proof of residency to unlock them. There are, however, plenty of rental shops, like&nbsp;<a href="https://www.barcelonarentabike.com/en/">Barcelona Rent A Bike</a>, which also offers cycle tours of the city.
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdcDqs7F4_6hhOTruHViosHvQWTTHHOqmDEFWlTb7E_RjPF3-Krn7bTsE4x_uFhlZQlIAPp1pPIoeNxHW6S2pxAZA_GITFZE4ySjsP8OqzySCURNSQgh_-MkUUVeK2-SApWU3M?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="386" height="386" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">

<h2 dir="ltr" id="h_74168563490791746014762544">Internet and Cell Service</h2>
Wi-Fi and cell service are reliable and fast across Barcelona, including when you&rsquo;re riding most metro lines.
<h3 dir="ltr">Cell service and mobile data</h3>
The main cell service providers are Movistar, Orange, and Vodafone. You should be able to get a 4G/5G connection everywhere in the city.
If your phone doesn't support an <a href="https://www.mappingmegan.com/international-esim-card-vs-traditional-sim-cards-for-tourists-comparison/">eSIM</a>, you can buy a physical SIM card from Barcelona airport, supermarkets, electronic/mobile stores and tourist information centers. Orange offers one of the cheapest cards with the most amount of data. Buying one at the airport will likely cost you the most, so if you are able, try to buy one once you are in the city.&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">Wi-Fi</h3>
Free Wi-Fi is available in several places across the city, such as:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Barcelona Airport</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Public parks</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Libraries</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Shopping malls</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Tourist information centers</li>
</ul>
<h3 dir="ltr">Remote working from Spain</h3>
Barcelona is a very popular city for remote working and digital nomads. You can expect to reach internet speeds of 80-100mb download/13-16mb upload.
You can find <a href="https://thespaces.com/best-barcelona-coworking-spaces/">many stylish co-working spaces</a> dotted around the city, offering everything from hourly passes to monthly memberships. Most caf&eacute;s are also happy to let you work on your laptop for a while, as long as you buy something to eat and drink every so often. It&rsquo;s worth asking at the counter to make sure before you set yourself up.&nbsp;

<h2 id="h_75080099893511746014805881">Travel style</h2>

Barcelona is a safe and easy city to visit, as long as you&rsquo;re mindful of pickpockets and scammers. Its unusual stand-out architecture, engaging museums, city beaches and (usually) pleasant weather, help the city appeal to most people.
In particular, solo travelers will appreciate the easy-to-navigate public transport system, the budget-friendly accommodation options and the&nbsp;<a href="https://freewalkingtoursbarcelona.com/">many social activities you can join</a>, such as walking tours or cooking classes.
It&rsquo;s also relatively easy to keep children entertained with heaps of <a href="https://runnerbeantours.com/barcelona-with-kids-the-complete-guide/#:~:text=Is%20Barcelona%20child%2Dfriendly%3F,get%20grumpy%2C%20tired%20and%20rebel.">child-friendly attractions</a> and exciting family-friendly festivals.
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXfyAPVfFRau72QcVDpFb50PFhsXoPNsjz0ZZuAC917OGOgI9fOm0FJIuP1HWw4F0c7rVkYcMc4YgcqrSJuJbUmtBHB9H-P4dWMegaaKAz9LhAclPIN97qENArmuIT3-fFM6HNqE0A?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="387" height="387">

<h3 dir="ltr">Getting by</h3>

Barcelona is a very tourist-oriented city, so there are a lot of signs in English pointing visitors in the direction of popular attractions.&nbsp;
Flight Finder Lauren says:
&ldquo;Many locals also speak English and are usually very friendly, so don&rsquo;t be afraid to ask for directions &mdash; I certainly did in my first month here, and everyone I spoke to was very patient and willing to help."
Locals would likely appreciate you learning some keywords in their language, but we should emphasize that Catalan is often preferred over Spanish:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Hello: hola (oh-la)</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Goodbye: adeu (ah-dyo)</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Good morning: bon die (bon dee-yah)</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Please: si us plau (si oos plow), per favor (per fah-vor)</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Thank you: merci (mer-si)</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">I&rsquo;m sorry: perdo (per-doh)</li>
</ul>
Occasionally, marches have been held in the city center protesting for stricter tourist regulations. Opinions on over-tourism in the city are varied, with a portion seeing the growing number of tourists as a negative. Despite this, many locals still appreciate visitors, so as long as you are respectful, you should not face problems during your stay.
 Travel tip: Shopping local is always the best way to go, rather than putting more money into the big chains. If you look close enough, you&rsquo;ll notice that some of the oldest independent businesses in Barcelona are marked with a commemorative floor plaque outside the shopfront. It makes for a fun treasure hunt to spot them while walking the streets, plus you get the chance to buy some unique souvenirs while supporting local businesses, it&rsquo;s a win-win. One of our favourites has to be <a href="https://www.google.com/maps?q=Cereria+Subir%C3%A0">this stunning candle shop</a> that was founded in 1761!
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXemJyXBlxc5BKGAu_d0LKVfuXXKOIwYB2ka94GluNMOZAEty_2NuSZf0QXQWuRo5UR-Vgl7MX2lAs9ABi10euNxqTe7jWj9u3l1i6KPCH8fqN6ZxdEIFOLprNCHLpjrJ0uN2vpw6w?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="388" height="388" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">

<h3 dir="ltr">Pickpockets and common scams</h3>

You&rsquo;ll probably have heard that Barcelona is one of the worst cities in the world for pickpocketing. And there is some truth to it, since it&rsquo;s the most common crime that tourists will experience. But if you keep your wits about you, you can avoid becoming a target. Firstly, keep all valuables out of sight, with your phone/wallet in a secure bag that you can close, and do not leave that bag unattended. If you're wearing a backpack/cross body/shoulder bag, it will be safer to wear it on your front in crowded places such as the metro.&nbsp; 
Alongside solo pickpocketers, criminals often work in organized groups that will use distraction techniques to try to steal from you. This might look like:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">A person asking for the time&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">A confused &lsquo;tourist&rsquo; asking for directions</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">A salesman trying to sell you a tour</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">A student doing a survey&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Essentially, be mindful of strangers trying to talk to you on the street. If you do talk to someone, keep your hands on your bag.&nbsp;
The most common areas for pickpocketing are popular tourist spots, like along La Rambla and outside La Sagrada Fam&iacute;lia.
&nbsp;In these areas, you may also notice people dressed up as clowns or mimes. They will regularly attempt to stand in the background of your photos and then persistently ask you for a tip, so try to avoid them if possible. If they begin to hassle you, just say a firm &lsquo;no&rsquo; and walk away.
You may also come across fake tour operators attempting to sell you tickets to popular attractions like Park G&uuml;ell or Sagrada Fam&iacute;lia. Both of these places have a limited number of entries per day and often sell out weeks in advance, so you won&rsquo;t be able to buy valid tickets on the street the day of your visit. Instead, make sure you buy tickets from the official websites early to avoid disappointment.
&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">LGBTQ+&nbsp;</h3>
Barcelona is a safe and inclusive city for members of the LGBTQ+ community to visit. Public attitudes are more supportive, and you can find many <a href="https://www.queereurope.com/gay-guide-to-barcelona/">LGBTQ bars throughout the city</a> (particularly in the Eixample district, like <a href="https://www.instagram.com/candydarlingbar/?hl=en">Candy Darling</a> pictured below), along with pride parades during the summer. You&rsquo;ll also find a <a href="https://www.barcelona.cat/internationalwelcome/en/activites/discover-barcelona-lgtbi-centre-0">LGBTQI+ centre</a> located in the Sant Antoni neighborhood, which you can visit for support, recommendations and social events.
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdFX8_94_8p7NAhL_19laaTZpWWsa58gf4TJR-a3DMzmo7hTPBYPql7Il3Vi3WpMDupDaswEXRfJY-tcXgeut9PYszZxt3swxOns1RCBOrkpR4JBPCRb4m6eOkqyIPgYUZEKI9a?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="387" height="387" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">

<h3 dir="ltr">Female Solo Travelers</h3>

Thanks to its well-lit, walkable streets, low rate of violent crime, and reliable public transport system, Barcelona is a popular choice for solo female visitors.&nbsp;
In terms of accommodation, we&rsquo;d avoid built-up neighborhoods with narrow alleys, like El Ravel or Born, and instead choose more open areas like Eixample or Gracia. For more advice on visiting the city as a solo female traveler, <a href="https://barcelonauncovered.com/is-barcelona-safe-for-solo-female-travelers/">have a read of this guide</a>. 
Travel tip: <a href="https://almas-libres.org/">A</a><a href="https://almas-libres.org/">lmas Libres</a> is a female-run organization that facilitates events and sporting activities for women in Barcelona. They run various meet-ups every week, which you can join as a one off to learn a new skill and meet other women.

<h2 dir="ltr" id="h_26392595142371746019307363">Area Guide</h2>

Barcelona is split up into several districts and neighborhoods, each with its own unique charm, distinct architecture and tasty tapas restaurants. Below, we&rsquo;ve listed our favorite neighborhoods to give you a better idea of where to stay that&rsquo;ll suit you best.

<h3 dir="ltr"><a href="https://thetravelhack.com/europe/spain/locals-guide-barcelonas-gothic-quarter/">Gothic Quarter</a></h3>
This neighborhood is the oldest, yet still very much beating heart of Barcelona. Every corner you turn through the maze-like cobbled streets, you&rsquo;ll find charming courtyards, quaint churches and medieval architecture.&nbsp;
Your prize for successfully navigating the winding labyrinth is the grand Cathedral de Barcelona, tucked away in the very center. Its cool cloisters provide much-needed relief on hot summer days, but you&rsquo;ll need to <a href="https://tickets.catedralbcn.org/en">book entry tickets</a> in advance. Just steps from the Cathedral, down another unassuming street, you&rsquo;ll come across &lsquo;The World Begins With Every Kiss&rdquo; mural made up of tiny personal photos, pictured below.
Along with being within walking distance of many tourist attractions, the Gothic Quarter is also home to 2 metro stations (Liceu on the green line and Jaume I on the yellow line) giving you easy access to the rest of the city.
Given its central location with plenty of bars, restaurants, shops, and accommodation options, it&rsquo;s a popular pick for visitors. Hotels do sway on the pricier side here compared to other areas in the city, so if you want to stay in the midst of the action, we&rsquo;d advise booking ASAP to get the best price. And be prepared to share the narrow streets with a lot of other visitors during peak seasons.
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXefExiFbWdOEvcKlOlnTGn5r2E9fgcpwE6tT_Cc9zx44rTxYbfJd-LrZ4DIFpUS6YtAOarZuvHTzLjcKxKfxnism-PBHSo_kXn1r5a4mgVCCVrDgMyNYOodATkVKBuvbeMQnfGxGA?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="319" height="422" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">

<h3 dir="ltr"><a href="https://barcelonahacks.com/las-ramblas-barcelona/">La Rambla</a></h3>
Although it&rsquo;s not a neighborhood, we&rsquo;ll highlight this iconic street here, since it borders the above-mentioned Gothic Quarter and El-Ravel (see below).
Arguably the most famous walkway in the city, the tree-lined pedestrian-only boulevard runs 1.2 km from Pla&ccedil;a de Cantalunya all the way to the Christopher Columbus Monument near the waterfront.
Walk from end to end, you&rsquo;ll come across restaurants, big-name hotels, kiosks, artists and street performers&mdash;the quality of which are debatable. Some see the street as one long tourist trap, but for others it&rsquo;s an energetic epicenter of people watching.
Besides the potential for pickpockets, it is actually a safe place to wander around during the daytime. Just be careful at night, when the atmosphere can become a little more unpredictable as the tourist crowds thin out, and the party-goers come out to play.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.tatacheers.com/travel/el-raval/">El Ravel</a></h3>
Walk from the Gothic Quarter directly across La Rambla, and you&rsquo;ll enter the Ravel. If you&rsquo;ve ever seen a photo of long narrow Barcelona streets with high buildings and cute traditional flower-filled balconies, there&rsquo;s a good chance it was taken here. Known for its it&rsquo;international communities and surprisingly cheap accommodation for it&rsquo;s central location, it&rsquo;s a popular choice for budget backpackers.
By day, pay a visit to MACBA&mdash;a modern art museum with an outdoor plaza that&rsquo;s been <a href="https://www.santjordihostels.com/skateboarding-barcelona-a-locals-guide-macba/">adopted by the skateboarding community</a>. Grab a drink from a nearby caf&eacute; and watch on in awe as some of the world&rsquo;s best skateboarders <a href="https://youtu.be/OfRdB9451fE?feature=shared&amp;t=61">fly down human-sized ledges</a> and daunting stairways. As of writing this, the exterior of MACBA is currently undergoing a transformation, so for better or for worse, watch this space.
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdEkUNh45QSGX81-xqzIn6pOCVMb6p3Q72OwxOrdJWohP0or7WOHYK86fc3plrLV_Kkkg9pFIbgIJn1tn0F9YDkQAzHLq7dNSSncPjG9boOTY1UNqh0iUOf0NRofXMo5YTkz5Iij0Yp0DVjIMPG6pJ_M72P?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="409" height="340" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">

The Ravel is teeming with smaller independent bars, which makes for a memorable night out if you don&rsquo;t feel like clubbing. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bigbangbarcelona/?hl=en">Big Bang is a great spot</a> for reasonably priced drinks and has live music most nights.&nbsp;
Pro tip: The narrow streets in El Ravel can make it easier for pickpockets and muggers to target tourists, especially at night. Keep to main, well-lit streets and stay extra vigilant after dark.
&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr"><a href="https://barcelonanavigator.com/barceloneta/">Barceloneta</a></h3>
A short walk from the Columbus statue at the end of La Rambla sits Barceloneta, the closest neighborhood to the beach. Packed full of tasty restaurants (especially seafood!), <a href="https://www.destinationbcn.com/barcelonas-best-chiringuitos/">chiringuitos</a> and <a href="https://www.shadesofsummr.com/honest-w-barcelona-review-is-it-worth-the-money/">iconic hotels</a>, it&rsquo;s a great base if you&rsquo;re planning to spend most of your time by the sea.
You&rsquo;ll find several golden sandy beaches along the seafront, all with plenty of facilities, like caf&eacute;s, toilets, showers, etc. Although they are not technically classed as nudist beaches, it is sometimes practiced at the southern end, towards the W hotel.
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdmd0KcyjMRLoisiYbGK5xjPQlonarUN6888AAiWw7ekDgJFpJ2_I2P9KD-LVAMDv-wEN1gZVXa-82VAG01Ub1PnhglEHRV3NsXS39E_8q837ArBfUArFhXClRYYv_xHXJhTXEkVT9wyalnf582WDjYNLV7?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="386" height="386" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">&nbsp;

Aside from the beach, it&rsquo;s also home to attractions like the Aquarium, Catalunya History Museum, and the Montju&iuml;c cable car (maybe skip the latter if you're scared of heights!).
During the evenings, you may run into a tipsy club-goer from Opium, Pacha, or Shocko, but in general, this is a safe neighborhood.&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr"></h3>
<h3 dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.foreverbarcelona.com/neighborhoods-guide-of-eixample-in-barcelona/">Eixample</a></h3>
Probably the most recognizable neighborhood (from an aerial view, that is) is Eixample, thanks to its iconic grid-like streets. It&rsquo;s also home to some of the city&rsquo;s most famous attractions, such as Pla&ccedil;a Catalunya, Passeig de Gr&agrave;cia, La Sagrada Fam&iacute;lia, the Arc de Triomf, Casa Batll&oacute; and Casa Mila.&nbsp;
With so many sights, it&rsquo;s unsurprisingly pretty large, allowing smaller internal districts to form. One of them is Sant Antoni, where Flight Finder Lauren lived for 3 months&hellip;
Lauren: &ldquo;It&rsquo;s one of my favorite areas in the entire city. Picture gorgeous buildings, shady tree-lined avenues and pedestrianized meeting areas at intersections.&rdquo;
Overall, Eixample ticks a lot of boxes. You will find accommodation options to suit most budgets, it&rsquo;s safe, well-connected to the rest of the city, and has a broad mix of touristy and local areas.
&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.barcelonafoodexperience.com/blog/gracia">Gracia</a></h3>
If you're looking for somewhere central with plenty of amenities, but fewer tourists than Eixample, look just next door to Gracia.
It&rsquo;s full of chilled-out restaurants, art studios, and independent bars. Pla&ccedil;a de Sol is the most popular square, with plenty of caf&eacute;s to grab a coffee and people watch. If you're ever passing through and fancy some reasonably priced tasty tapas, Flight Finder Lauren recommends <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Sol+Soler/@41.4015462,2.153769,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x12a4a297c2b16ccd:0x9caad00f5e2811ce!8m2!3d41.4015462!4d2.1563439!16s%2Fg%2F1vg0sr_5?entry=ttu&amp;g_ep=EgoyMDI0MDkyNS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D">Sol Soler</a>.
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXfWu_HBFRlnyfXeFy0qPNRSKE-Hi7G2oXjtI5as0_j5JkRosgrbL4T8Z7e_6wHgdSPH3hn3cKw2jyG2RLAh_3A0EI9sTGIOgSDn8vRlo0rueaGmQXofIAItC125vJUKpGV89cZZnC4U12ESVC7j6UTmF4Zz?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="386" height="386" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">

Thanks to its tight-knit community, this neighborhood is considered one of the safest in the city.
Travel tip: To see colorful street decorations, live music and parades, visit over <a href="https://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/events/gracia-festival/gracia-festival-barcelona.html">Fiestas de Gracia</a>, a weeklong festival which takes place every August.&nbsp;

<h2 dir="ltr" id="h_70297290447181746019584290">Markets</h2>

When you think of a traditional Spanish market, you can probably already sense the hustle and bustle of vendors and buyers, as well as those iconic sounds, and sights &mdash; like hams strung up, incredible cheese displays, and tonnes of fresh produce. And that&rsquo;s exactly what you&rsquo;ll find in Barcelona too!&nbsp;
There are a whole bunch of markets in the city that sell all kinds of everything, including food, antiques, and art. Here we&rsquo;re highlighting some of the best and most popular markets in the city, but you can find a complete list of them <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_markets_in_Barcelona">here</a>, depending on what you fancy. Spoiler alert: it&rsquo;s not just La Boqueria!
&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">La Boqueria</h3>
Where: La Rambla. Google Maps link <a href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/Dq6qjP2eQ4Agsv4C7">here</a>.
When: Monday to Saturday (excl. Bank Holidays). From&nbsp;8 am&ndash;8:30 pm.
Website: <a href="https://www.boqueria.barcelona/home">https://www.boqueria.barcelona</a>
We&rsquo;ll start off strong with the one you&rsquo;ve probably heard of: The Sant Josep Market (or as it&rsquo;s more commonly known, La Boqueria). Right in the center of the city, this place is filled with hundreds of stalls and is definitely the most famous &mdash; for good reason!
With a seemingly endless stock of fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, and lots of freshly caught seafood, it&rsquo;s easy to see why even the city&rsquo;s top chefs head here for the produce.
But everyone can get something out of this place. As you walk through the market, you&rsquo;ll find plenty of samples on offer for you to try, some smaller caf&eacute;s serving yummy, fresh dishes for lunch, and fruit stands offering freshly squeezed juices and smoothies. For obvious reasons, you should come along with an empty stomach.&nbsp;
Best of all, entry to this market is free!&nbsp;That being said, there are plenty of other comparable markets in the city that have just as good produce, but fewer crowds. You&rsquo;ll find loads of great suggestions <a href="https://www.eater.com/22621306/barcelona-markets-guide-boqueria-where-to-eat">here</a> of alternative places you foodies can try out.
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXcQ7bsuVUAXFpOum2dYRXDfjqvqn3mxxQIBFSGKFTionS7b9WCcCQHcUkC3wgy86joHZP8EaKYSgfX1CuGjlj1RbfhG4DZkr3W6ULcKmN2GvLk9nj3oqHiV0U2iwWh2XPwqk15u?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="387" height="387" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">

<h3 dir="ltr">Els Encants</h3>
Where: L&rsquo;Eixample. Google Maps link <a href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/x4rTAHCUs9CPNbCMA">here</a>.
When: Monday, Wednesday, Friday &amp; Saturday (excl. Bank Holidays). From 9 am-8 pm.
Website:<a href="https://encantsbarcelona.com/en/">https://encantsbarcelona.com/en/</a>
Dating back to around 1300, this flea market is steeped in history and an integral part of Barcelona&rsquo;s culture.
If you were to ask what you can find here, the answer would be everything: lots of things you do need, lots of things you don&rsquo;t need, and a whole bunch of stuff in the middle.&nbsp;
Yep, with stalls filled with all kinds from antiques and art, to bikes and electrical goods, this place is perfect if you fancy rummaging through tonnes of stock&mdash;maybe you&rsquo;ll even find a kitchen sink too :-)
Want to get prepared before you head over there? Look at a list of some of the shops <a href="https://encantsbarcelona.com/en/shopping/">here</a>, with a little bit of info about what you can find in each.
&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">Palo Market Fest</h3>
Where: Sant Mart&iacute;. Google Maps link <a href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/Hh5WWwGEWFUVBNTJ9">here</a>.
When: The first weekend of every month, except August (find a full list <a href="https://palomarketfest.com/es/barcelona/calendario">here</a>). From 12pm-10pm.
Website: <a href="https://palomarketfest.com/en">https://palomarketfest.com/en</a>
Held in an old, abandoned factory, this market is definitely one for the hipsters.
The market hosts stalls from all kinds of small businesses based in and around Barcelona, and the line-up changes from week to week. So you can expect to see jewellery, vintage clothes and furniture, antiques, art, and of course, some local food&mdash;we&rsquo;ve heard that the <a href="https://www.cntraveler.com/shops/barcelona/palo-alto-market#:~:text=Rumor%20has%20it%20that%20the%20pulpo%20(octopus)%20tacos%2C%20freshly%20made%20in%20front%20of%20you%2C%20are%20some%20of%20the%20best%20you%E2%80%99ll%20ever%20taste.">freshly made pulpo (octopus) tacos</a> they sell here are some of the best you&rsquo;ll find around.
But what&rsquo;s really cool about this place is you&rsquo;ll also find food trucks, pop-up beer bars, and live music dotted around, which creates a real festival vibe. So you&rsquo;ll be having a mooch in the stalls, and flicking through vintage clothes, while listening to some great live music and having a boogie. What&rsquo;s not to like!
Note: Entry to the market costs &euro;5.50, and can be purchased online from the Monday before the event. If there is still availability closet to the market, you might be able to get a ticket at the box office.

<h2 id="h_89286655052771746023733338">Recommended links</h2>

<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://barcelonaexpatlife.com/free-museum-days-in-barcelona/">Guide to free museum days</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/catalannewsacn">Catalan News</a> &mdash; An Instagram page offering the latest Catalan news and highlights upcoming festivals in English. They may also discuss things that will affect your visit, like upcoming protests or attraction closures.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/barcelonafoodguide">Barcelona Foodguide</a> &mdash;&nbsp;this Instagram account gives loads of cool recommendations of places to go and what&rsquo;s good there. Most posts are in Spanish as they&rsquo;re local recs, but they include lots of pictures and videos to help give you a proper idea of what to expect.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://barcelonahacks.com/">Barcelonahacks</a> &mdash;&nbsp;this website has in depth information about pretty much everything, from all the top attractions, transport, discount passes, and a month-by-month guide to the city.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://runnerbeantours.com/where-to-see-human-towers-in-barcelona/#8220castells8221-human-towers:~:text=1-,Human%20Towers%20in%20Barcelona%3A%202025%20calendar%20%5BUPDATED%5D,-This%20information%20was">Castellers Calendar</a> &mdash; An updated calendar of when to see the human towers in the city.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<h2 dir="ltr" id="h_13715699555981746023771632">Food</h2>

Being the capital of Catalonian cuisine, Barcelona has a diverse range of traditional dishes that are distinctly unique from other regions in Spain. They incorporate local ingredients from the land and the sea with influences from their French, Balearic and Valencian neighbors.
If you're visiting from December to April, you can enjoy <a href="https://food52.com/blog/24076-this-catalonian-spring-tradition-is-the-best-way-to-experience-barcelona?srsltid=AfmBOoqgseSKfIse-AVyKpOvC87XfIXQ8vGXTCcoIDyNYb3am4msHsV9">Cal&ccedil;ot season</a>, AKA the time to harvest and eat huge spring onions.
Travel note: By law, shops in Barcelona aren&rsquo;t allowed to sell alcohol after 11pm. But this doesn&rsquo;t apply to restaurants and bars.
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXcF4f93aRA5CCPQC5rDFn4owRjCwhT7DMuAmDBIJzkmaH-HNrdCJwFqHU_Eqibm-qxPmcYSgUZQEot8-gif2-lLJcNWnywSB7-xxvDHyuiNjCGlY0t9G-idMg4UyYeqvRbxSNzaOA?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="386" height="386" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">

Here are 3 local dishes to try:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/en/enjoy/8/the-sacred-principles-of-pa-amb-tomaquet.html">Pa amb Tomaquet</a> - This appetizer may look underwhelming, but you&rsquo;d be surprised just how delicious bread, tomato, garlic and olive oil can taste when combined in the right way.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.eater.com/barcelona/22621281/what-is-fideua-paella-difference-noodles-where-to-eat-barcelona">Fideua</a> - Similar to paella (which originates from Valencia), but with small pasta noodles instead of rice. Plus, it often comes with an array of extra ingredients, like fresh tomatoes, garlic, and a lot of seafood.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.themediterraneandish.com/crema-catalana/">Crema Catalana</a> - Think of this like a lighter (and arguably tastier) version of a cr&egrave;me br&ucirc;l&eacute;e with added citrus and cinnamon.</li>
</ul>
Don&rsquo;t forget to bring your water bottle, as you&rsquo;ll find free (drinkable) water fountains throughout the city.
Pro Tip: If you're visiting during the week, look out for restaurants offering a &lsquo;menu del dia&rsquo;. These are usually 3-course meals (including a drink) served around lunchtime Monday-Friday, costing about &euro;14.
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXe9ZkgjVrxWFl2OQodjL38Wu3qsC3sEDid8bN224PCWA8Ur_pUFkqGyCMAY3_3NLcdg-FxkVMyCI65qkLI4zg2ruvpF7FhzR45zHg7TeiZufps7VAPA_GgGe2J2W93T_xjajLLPDPCGlhTDu0nS7PsYCE8i?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="506" height="285" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">

A note on tourist traps: In among the traditional local eateries, you&rsquo;ll inevitably come across less-authentic establishments who care less about quality and more about getting your money. We&rsquo;d suggest skipping restaurants with:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">An employee on the door trying to enthusiastically lure you in from the street with a menu in hand</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Big English signs outside with pictures of paella and tapas</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">A location front and center in a peak tourist area, such as on La Rambla</li>
</ul>
For a good indication that a restaurant is authentic, look out for places with signs only in Spanish or Catalan, menus that are not overly long, and a clientele that seems more local.

<h2 dir="ltr" id="h_63417743858831746023832209">Festivals and events</h2>

<h3 dir="ltr">Three Kings&rsquo; Day - Epiphany (5th-6th January)</h3>
Each year on the night before the Epiphany*, there is a <a href="https://irbarcelona.org/christmas-barcelona/three-kings-day/">Three Wise Men parade</a> through the streets of Barcelona, where the men throw gifts and sweets to the children from up on their regally decorated floats.
The parade usually starts in Port Vell, as the men arrive on a boat, and lasts for around 3 hours with an impressive cultural spectacle of elaborate costumes, music, and dancing for the children lining the streets.
&nbsp;Here&rsquo;s a vlog of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQDY3n603Wg">the 2023 parade</a> so you know what to expect!
&nbsp;*ICYMI, The Epiphany is a religious celebration of when the Three Kings went to visit a newly born Jesus &mdash;&nbsp;it&rsquo;s a bigger deal than Christmas in Spain!
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXf5f_vQJXVM-FddcUAKdOnshu1oSkWbIOQhsZ2FjJxRl8VBAQqchPDCyXwF1cczv_Kcy6KMjrJ2nidUishbKBsB-4od-RYC0Fz2J6DHtGGgFjLX-Wx3r0_qaiNdFQM0DSzthJ2M?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="386" height="386" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">

<h3 dir="ltr">Sant Jordi - St George&rsquo;s Day (23rd April)</h3>
Books and roses, what more could you want?
In a mix between Valentine&rsquo;s Day and World Book day, for one day in April, stalls pop up all over the city selling roses and books. Traditionally, men receive books, and women roses, but it&rsquo;s 2025 now, it goes either way.&nbsp;
As you walk around, you&rsquo;ll see traditional sardana dancing, which is typical of Catalan culture, <a href="https://www.barcelona.de/en/barcelona-castellers-human-towers.html">Castell human towers</a>, and you&rsquo;ll smell and see roses on every corner.&nbsp; If you&rsquo;re lucky, you&rsquo;ll see authors at the stalls who will sign their books, too.
Lots of buildings will be decorated, but for one of the most impressive floral displays, head over to <a href="https://youtu.be/NEeAHDAtM44?feature=shared&amp;t=14">Gaudi&rsquo;s Casa Battl&oacute;</a>, where the balconies and window ledges will be covered in hundreds of roses. Spoiler alert: it looks even more beautiful than usual&hellip;
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXeUzl8TwOT9cwPP7VeU1a2xAsOrb7J4RJqYxKYQsrsKTE7oUFP77ihQzxrwhU5Ws1CI4JDfFx_m7mBkEIg9zA34SC2mOczkcSDZzimbTqZ3SDW_jQvltnAp5SQLQEfpD7oz5_iCsTHjsl8-JPhR24Uo7SWL?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="387" height="387" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">

<h3 dir="ltr">Primavera Sound (May/June)</h3>
Known for its great, and diverse line-ups and picturesque setting along the Barcelona waterfront, it&rsquo;s arguably (well, according to Timeout anyway!) the best music festival in Europe.
What also makes this a popular choice is there are no complicated logistics. It&rsquo;s easily accessible by the Metro line 4 (aka, the yellow line), or by taking one of the shuttle buses that run between the festival and Pla&ccedil;a de Catalunya. 
The slight caveat, is that there aren&rsquo;t any camping facilities on site for the festival, so you will need to fork out for a hotel or Airbnb if you want to stay nearby. Accommodation does sell out quite quickly, but using&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/HotelsNear-g187497-d8820333-Primavera_Sound_Barcelona-Barcelona_Catalonia.html">this Tripadvisor page</a> is super useful to see what&rsquo;s still available near the festival site.
But, it&rsquo;s much less likely to rain at Primavera than Glastonbury. So, every cloud, eh?
You can buy your ticket&nbsp;<a href="https://www.primaverasound.com/en/barcelona">here</a>.

<h3 dir="ltr">Formula 1 Grand Prix (May/June)</h3>
In the days leading up to the Grand Prix, Barcelona&rsquo;s Port Vell is usually transformed into an F1 village with lots of motorsport themed activities, such as pit stop challenges, competitions, as well as interviews with F1 personalities. In 2024, the F1 cars sped through the city&rsquo;s streets for a <a href="https://www.circuitcat.com/en/">Roadshow</a> in the iconic Pla&ccedil;a de Catalunya.
The closest town to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.circuitcat.com/en/">Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya</a> is Montmelo, but most fans choose to stay in Barcelona instead since it has plenty more transport and accommodation options.
From Barcelona, it takes around an hour to get to the circuit by taking the bus or the train and walking&mdash;you&rsquo;ll find all the info&nbsp;<a href="https://f1destinations.com/getting-around-spanish-f1-grand-prix/#:~:text=Spanish%20GP%20Packages-,How%20to%20Get%20to%20Circuit%20de%20Barcelona%2DCatalunya,-Take%20the%20train">here</a>. Jumping in a taxi is also an option, but it can get very expensive at peak times, especially just before and after the Sunday race.
You can also choose to stay up in Lloret de Mar in the Costa Brava, and book coach transfers to/from the circuit with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sagales.com/en">Sagales</a>.
&nbsp;Note: The F1 Spanish GP will be moving to Madrid from 2026.
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXfpeks-5O63uc6sWiT1YpWJa9NrLZX_M5PZnHb9o2MzNs60zm5HQuKy3xNQF-oorPQcr_iCRmsHoiVsDD1GwbN4lW1aBdSre3oMvI329lklMT0p6NbMHmbUtozCdUoyzjVsOhKbZlMu4GR_-Y7yll2aZqk?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="518" height="288" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">

<h2 dir="ltr" id="h_18322787361731746023870310">Gaudi</h2>

When you think of Barcelona, Antoni Gaud&iacute; and the image of his distinctly gothic yet whimsical architecture are one of the first things you likely picture. Today, you can find Gaudi&rsquo;s creative flair intertwined throughout Barcelona&rsquo;s busiest areas, from grand buildings to <a href="https://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/gaudi/gaudi-lamp-post-placa-reial-barcelona.html">street lights</a>.
&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">Sagrada Fam&iacute;lia</h3>
The pinnacle of Barcelona and all of Gaudi&rsquo;s works is undoubtedly the domineering masterpiece that is the Sagrada Fam&iacute;lia. This towering church began construction in 1882 and work remains ongoing to this day. Officials have confirmed that work should be completed in 2026, so if you prefer to see the finale structure without scaffolding, plan your visit for after 2026. Even in its uncompleted state, it truly is a sight to behold, with an intricately carved facade depicting natural shapes and biblical motifs. 
It&rsquo;s worth taking the time to walk around the outer perimeter of the church, as every angle will reveal something new. Stretching towards the sky are a number of spires, which are the sections still under construction. Inside is equally striking, with columns sprouting from floor to ceiling like tree branches and huge rainbow stained-glass windows.
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXcJ5cN6AMZherrf08jiw8_iTwiZe4CQnrQJytoTEF5_UTvqROCrqlAE6Jm2MfkoINxe80vB3fKzirDHdyWuIMMTPTGo2AjWk6E9ZPxWTwr4vmncbpGUhjg2EIq5EDru59uKqNvWWA?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="350" height="471">&nbsp;

To go inside, you&rsquo;ll need to <a href="https://sagradafamilia.org/entrada-sagrada-familia">buy your tickets</a> at least a week before your trip, with a general adult entry costing &euro;26. Organize yours as soon as you can, since tickets are known to sell out weeks in advance. These tickets give you access to the main cathedral and an audio guide via their app (but you&rsquo;ll need to bring your own earphones and use your own phone).
&nbsp;You can also buy a <a href="https://sagradafamilia.org/sagrada-familia-i-torre">combined ticket to access to the towers</a> for &euro;36, where you'll see an excellent view of the famous grid streets of Eixample.
&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">Casa Mila</h3>
Originally designed to be used as flats and offices, this distinctly wavy building stands out on Passeig de Gr&agrave;cia. After years of being the private residence to many wealthy occupants (3 of which still live there today), part of the building opened to the public in 1996. <a href="https://www.lapedrera.com/en/visits">General adult entry tickets cost &euro;28</a> and are usually available on the day. However, if you can, either arrive early in the morning or be flexible with your entry time since popular time slots sell out quickly.
For an extra special experience, time your trip with one of the frequent <a href="https://youtu.be/Zl5lwa55uJ4?feature=shared&amp;t=17">rooftop jazz concerts</a> held throughout the summer.
&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">Casa Batllo</h3>
Like Casa Mila, Casa Batll&oacute; is also on Paseo de Gracia. Although it was not originally built by Gaudi, he was put in charge of the complete redesign and renovation of the building.
<a href="https://www.casabatllo.es/en/online-tickets/">Tickets cost &euro;29</a>, and you can buy them on the same day as your visit, but popular time slots may sell out early in the day. They also hold evening concerts with various musical genres every evening.&nbsp;
&nbsp;Travel Tip: Visit after 6pm, and you&rsquo;ll be handed a free glass of cava with your ticket.&nbsp;

<h3 dir="ltr">Park G&uuml;ell</h3>
For the classic postcard view of multicoloured mosaicked terraces overlooking the city, Park G&uuml;ell is where you need to go. When you visit, you&rsquo;ll see natural shapes, textures, and coloured tiles throughout the gardens. Plus, a rather popular salamander.
Located in the Gracia neighbourhood, the closest metro station is Lesseps, which is a 20-min walk from the entrance.
At peak times and on weekends, the park does get fairly busy and tickets often sell out in advance. General entry costs &euro;10, and we&rsquo;d recommend <a href="https://parkguell.barcelona/en/buy-tickets">purchasing your tickets</a> at least a few days before you intend to visit.
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXfkF5ZPZzPkqEXn8oPSiA_rYqEWKZF_ptoQudEWu2uimu0wV4khcoGxmkt4qPHg_VAPNx_yMG2UjMxW2lTIBemoCm2-hgpWs2DFUxuwyjKz92fm3Uyt51fMpsiJONAjIUBDDGugxQ?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="388" height="388" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">

<h2 id="h_96763719164391746023915429">Parks</h2>

While you&rsquo;re more likely to see narrow, cobbled streets and plazas than sprawling parks, you will find a few unique green spaces among the endless buildings. This is because family and children are very important in Catalonian culture. So, you&rsquo;ll often see small play areas carved out where they fit.
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXeWWFcWZJEObd7lSs1BBXxpSPmxX8XWk6soEm48CM1NdhOddepZ3cD5RWNB2z84cWeQRygrBucL_lsMc6QU9uUvQNaXynnJ0LQ13riwMFCqjYmK--Z6510vFbHwKGX9P0McqvooVQ?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="355" height="471" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">

"One thing that really surprised me when moving to Barcelona was the amount of very tall slides randomly tucked away throughout the city. Like <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Montju%C3%AFc+Slides/@41.3657566,2.1669566,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m8!1e2!3m6!1sAF1QipOrEEru62_jq_pHxEuH-RLJ6ujlCpPUEEDqAPYR!2e10!3e12!6shttps:%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipOrEEru62_jq_pHxEuH-RLJ6ujlCpPUEEDqAPYR%3Dw150-h150-k-no-p!7i3024!8i4032!4m8!3m7!1s0x12a4a24180f4a701:0x20451f9ee01cf402!8m2!3d41.3657566!4d2.1669566!9m1!1b1!16s%2Fg%2F11g6my6pm2?entry=ttu">these two whippy numbers</a> in Montjuic and <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Drac+de+ferro/@41.3786168,2.141696,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m8!1e2!3m6!1sAF1QipME6iWcu17_R9icMXc3mgg-EL04Yi_IJGfs_r-h!2e10!3e12!6shttps:%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipME6iWcu17_R9icMXc3mgg-EL04Yi_IJGfs_r-h%3Dw150-h150-k-no-p!7i3264!8i2448!4m12!1m2!2m1!1sdragon+slide+barcelona!3m8!1s0x12a49880fcc764a9:0x8271ceb886b83916!8m2!3d41.3786168!4d2.141696!9m1!1b1!15sChZkcmFnb24gc2xpZGUgYmFyY2Vsb25hWhgiFmRyYWdvbiBzbGlkZSBiYXJjZWxvbmGSARJ0b3VyaXN0X2F0dHJhY3Rpb26aASRDaGREU1VoTk1HOW5TMFZKUTBGblNVTnlNemw2ZFROQlJSQULgAQA!16s%2Fg%2F11c70jf4bg?entry=ttu">this epic dragon slide</a> by Sants train station. And I can personally confirm both are also adult-friendly!"

Flight Finder Lauren says:

Apart from the iconic Park G&uuml;ell, which you can read about in the Gaudi section, here are 2 more parks worth checking out:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Montjuic - On a green hillside, you&rsquo;ll find a collection of botanical gardens, museums, and even a castle. In the evening, a stroll around its gardens can be peaceful, with most visitors congregating around the Museu Nacional d&rsquo;Art de Catalunya steps for sunset. For a daytime bird's-eye view, you can also ride a cable car.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Citadel Park - Follow the path under the Arc de Triomf, and you&rsquo;ll eventually reach Citadel Park. Filled with sunbathers, performers and picnickers, it&rsquo;s chilled out atmosphere makes it a nice place to relax in the sun. Admire the extravagant fountains, row a boat, or simple throw down a blanket and watch the world go by. Oh, and don&rsquo;t miss <a href="https://voicemap.me/tour/barcelona/barcelona-walking-tour-landmarks-and-legends-of-el-born-and-ciutadella-park/sites/julia-the-woolly-mammoth-instagram-hotspot">Julia the mammoth</a>.</li>
</ul>
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdiFO7dLErkZpiGQkhg4IelSAb2-08g61kyfXL4oGqNUj5EiBsq75G7rKNdU4Mx8BqMA79HivXOYy0itgQH3OlDi-Dh52_pN2LYJ7UXdHGXeneOPXXE1hP5r1nh1bYO_aHF9ssuRQ?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="386" height="386" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">

<h2 dir="ltr" id="h_49319333067281746023984952">Day trips</h2>

Since Barcelona is really well-connected by high-speed trains, it&rsquo;s super easy for you to pop into another nearby city for a day or two, and explore some more of Catalonia while you&rsquo;re there.&nbsp;
You can get to from here to loads of other cities across the country by train. But we&rsquo;ve listed below a few of the best day trips that are all between a 30 mins-2 hours train ride away from the city, and won&rsquo;t break the bank.

<h3 dir="ltr">Costa Brava</h3>
Costa Brava runs along the northeastern coast of Spain, from the town Blanes right up to the French border. And with a name that means &lsquo;Wild Coast&rsquo; in English, it won&rsquo;t be too surprising to find out this region is filled with beautiful beaches, pine forests, and rugged rocky cliffs. 
Dotted along the coastline, you&rsquo;ll find plenty of traditional fishing villages, and seaside towns. <a href="https://nourishedbycaroline.ca/lloret-de-mar-guide/">Lloret de Mar</a> is one of the more touristy places, with lots of resorts and hotels, but if you want something a little quieter, then somewhere like the medieval town <a href="https://unexpectedcatalonia.com/tossa-de-mar/">Tossa del Mar</a> is a great alternative.
Lots of people come to this coast for the beaches, but you can also do plenty of water sports like kayaking and snorkelling, as well as heading out on hiking routes, like the <a href="https://www.spain.info/en/hiking-trails/cami-ronda-costa-brava/">Cam&iacute; de Ronda</a> trail
Here&rsquo;s a great&nbsp;<a href="https://goaskalocal.com/blog/travel-guide-to-the-costa-brava-spain">guide to the region</a> from a local&rsquo;s perspective if you need a little more info.

"If you're short on time and can&rsquo;t make it to the Costa Brava, Castelldefels is a great alternative. It&rsquo;s a laid back coastal town just south of Barcelona. It only takes around 25-minutes to reach by train and the fare is included in a HolaBCN and T-Casual card."

Flight Finder Lauren's tip:

<h3 dir="ltr">Girona&nbsp;</h3>
A little further inland from the Costa Brava, this city is much quieter than Barcelona, but with cobblestone streets, towering walls, and a&nbsp;<a href="https://catedraldegirona.cat/en/">centuries-old cathedral</a>, it&rsquo;s just as picturesque. You&rsquo;ll start to see medieval influences as soon as you step foot in the historic center (which is around a 10-minute walk from the train station). 
One of the most iconic spots here is The River Onya. It&rsquo;s lined with colorful houses, which you can cross by walking over the Eiffel Pedestrian Bridge (yes,&nbsp;that Eiffel) to another side of winding, narrow streets.
And if you&rsquo;re a fan of Game of Thrones, there are loads of filming locations from the series&rsquo; 6th season that you can spot. Here&rsquo;s a guide to&nbsp;<a href="https://hotelsultoniagirona.com/en/route-locations-game-of-thrones-girona/">all the best spots</a> with pics of the places in real life and on screen.

<h3 dir="ltr">Zaragoza</h3>
Over in Spain&rsquo;s Aragon region, Zaragoza is known for its Old Town, surrounded cathedrals and museums, as well as for being the home of Ternasco&mdash;this leg of lamb dish is famous all over the country, and lots of people call it a <a href="https://eatcampogrande.com/blogs/kitchen/ternasco-de-aragon-with-potatoes#:~:text=The%20ternasco%20de%20Arag%C3%B3n%20is%20one%20of%20the%20jewels%20of%20Spanish%20cuisine">&lsquo;jewel&rsquo; of Spanish cuisine</a>.
And if you are a foodie, lots of restaurants and bars in the Juepincho area have offers that get you a tapas dish, and water, beer, or wine, for 2 euros! Find a list of some participating spots&nbsp;<a href="https://thewanderingquinn.com/zaragoza-spain-city-guide/#:~:text=On%20Thursday%20evenings%20in%20the%20Juepincho%20area%2C%20a%20lot%20of%20the%20restaurants%20and%20bars%20have%20a%C2%A0%E2%82%AC2.00%20deal%20on%20which%20includes%20a%20small%20drink%20of%20water%2C%20beer%20or%20wine%2C%20plus%201%20Tapas%20which%20I%20would%20really%20recommend%20checking%20out.%20The%20image%20below%20shows%20which%20establishments%20are%20part%20of%20it%20and%20where%20they%20are">here</a>.
For a little natural beauty, you should head to&nbsp;<a href="https://monasteriopiedra.com/?lang=en">Monasterio de Piedra Natural Park</a>. This monastery dates back to the 12th century, and is surrounded by a lush, green park filled with caves, crystal-clear lakes, and beautiful, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Czj06I3MOu3/">fairytale-esque waterfalls</a>.
If you fancy staying in Zaragoza for a little longer than a day, here&rsquo;s an&nbsp;<a href="https://thewanderingquinn.com/zaragoza-spain-48-hour-guide-things-to-do/">example itinerary</a> for a 2-day trip.

<h3 dir="ltr">Sitges</h3>
Stiges is a nearby coastal town and a firm favourite among locals who want to escape Barcelona for the weekend. You&rsquo;ll have your pick of long sandy beaches with calm blue waters that are perfect for families. Its town is split between&nbsp;<a href="https://thewanderingblonde.com/2019/01/08/sitges-travel-guide/">old cobbled streets lined with whitewash building</a> and a modern, lively centre filled with bars and restaurants. It&rsquo;s also considered <a href="https://www.outofoffice.com/en-gb/blog/a-gay-guide-to-sitges/">a prominent gay capital</a>, which hosts numerous LGBTQ+ events throughout the year.
You can reach Sitges by car or catch a train from Sants Station, with both options taking roughly 40 minutes.
Travel tip: Visit in February to watch the streets come alive during Sitges Carnival. It&rsquo;s a 7-day event, full of parades, costumes and live music.
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXfMCdGm0rQRXjuzm0I6PLTGtX5rW3L1n7Uz54cbMHcfJxYkb8Ft9OQdVbWUf_hpO0Sq2ief1_3lS9Q8oeNbGvD79TvtgRFMzgE_3ZwQDMJG00npjvf-JRZSjkOmX0xVk_IFk9cYZfCO8WgaGV1aty3mZoE?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="350" height="466" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">

<h3 dir="ltr">Montserrat</h3>
Montserrat is <a href="https://www.earthtrekkers.com/day-trip-montserrat-barcelona-spain/#Train_and_Cable_Car">a picturesque rocky mountain range</a>, where you can find a Benedictine Monastery nestled between huge, tall rocks. Aside from paying a visit to the abbey, you can also tackle one of the many hiking trails offering panoramic views of the Catalonian countryside.
The easiest way to visit is by train, which takes around an hour from&nbsp;Pla&ccedil;a Espanya to Montserrat town. Then it&rsquo;s just a short cable car and funicular ride up to the top. Or, if you&rsquo;re feeling brave, it&rsquo;s a <a href="https://thewholeworldornothing.com/montserrat-barcelona-hike/">1.5-hour upward hike</a>.
There is a dedicated information booth in Pla&ccedil;a Espa&ntilde;a station, where you can ask for advice and buy the train/cable car tickets. However, if you only want to take the train and plan to hike up to the monastery, it will be cheaper to buy your train ticket from the machines. You need to select a return journey from Zone 4, which costs &euro;12.
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXfOy06uPVZpHBN7qt-SYdzwXnlD5vP4fM6XdPpsB97y-fBWCQ4mZHqkoszsvxQa2cYm00YkXge4Fmw4wFSRmLOCm1HtuG2V8N4wQ28vtUTlGooqMHNWTDH9zFmEaSrAfzR_aT8r0d5GEm9xRQ04Y61jduk9?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="388" height="388" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">

<h3 dir="ltr">La Molina Ski Resort</h3>
Not only is this Spain&rsquo;s oldest ski resort, it&rsquo;s also one of the most accessible from Barcelona at only 2 hours drive away. Home to over 61 runs of varying difficulty, ski newbies and snow pros can all have fun here.
For &euro;67, you can buy a day-return ticket on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sagales.com/en/trip/68/skibus-to-la-molina-on-saturday-or-sunday">the Sagales Skibus</a> (departing from Nord bus station in Barcelona) and get a day ski pass included in the price.
You can bring your own equipment on the bus, if you happen to have it with you, or rent from the slopes once you're there.
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXe2mvWFCclO6VmorCYyxRI3LosltyelneS3bqbgbliTdR-yWnbsMCqlwep3m67wosuPGK7O9SAZ7anOG4gHTVH4JM0Y3FLPshUxjvaVzjYB4evsEcnr0xtpeRJL1FRncMhGBYh1?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="440" height="330" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">

<h3 dir="ltr">Port Aventura</h3>
You can reach one of Europe's largest theme parks in just over an hour by car from the city. Alternately, you can also catch a train from Sants Station, which takes around an hour and a half. You can only buy your train tickets on the day directly from the station, so it&rsquo;s best to arrive there early, especially during the summer.
You can sometimes find discount codes online that will save you some money off the entry fee. Otherwise, they usually run a 50% off sale on Black Friday.
<img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXeBtlRV6Acz_Bvf9yYg2wtYxLNxja_-9i8n8HcBRhIO2O-Iq-RNge6jSuXYpRLHPK68EUyiaFq5nUt_PEuaLFOMXOMk4CpU44-tXY5hT-B7Sgtcg2lCGOwYrtUWFij8NqoiwnbJ?key=CWkV_WYRThqICg1sfg8OZg" width="386" height="386" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">

Jack's Guide To: Barcelona

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Rocky Road Realities: My Top 10 Missteps While Camping in the Canadian Rockies

When it comes to air travel, the class you choose can make or break your journey. Whether you're a budget-conscious traveler or a luxury-seeking jet-setter, the decision between premium economy and economy can be a tough one - and there&rsquo;s more to it than just the price!&nbsp;
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty details, let's first define what we mean by premium economy and economy class (because it&rsquo;s not always obvious!)
<img src="https://cdn.jacksflightclub.com/id/74bb7347883e6bb009661a0fee37f94f1c0f0ecb" width="755" height="755">
Premium economy is a hybrid between economy and business class, offering a step-up in comfort and amenities without breaking the bank. You&rsquo;ll have a more comfortable experience that includes additional legroom, improved in-flight entertainment, meal options, etc. but without the eye-watering price tag of business class.
Economy class, on the other hand, is the most budget-friendly option, with fewer frills but still providing the essentials for a safe and comfortable flight.&nbsp;
Think of premium economy as a way to upgrade your flight experience, while still keeping costs reasonable. It's a great option for travelers who want a little extra comfort, but don't want to splurge on a business or first-class ticket. Economy class, on the other hand, is perfect for budget-conscious travelers or those who prioritize cost over comfort.
<h2>Sit Back and Relax: Comparing Comfort and Amenities</h2>
Premium economy is not a huge upgrade from economy class, but does offer a few extra perks to make your flight more comfortable. One of the biggest differences between premium economy and economy is the seating and legroom.&nbsp;
In premium economy, you can expect more spacious seats with extra legroom, making those long haul flights a little more bearable, especially for taller passengers and those with back or joint pain. While in the economy, seats are narrower and have less legroom, but are still comfortable enough for short to medium flights.
<img src="https://cdn.jacksflightclub.com/id/c1ab722be30c091ef99f1d38acf42368446815dd" width="1183" height="795">
But comfort isn't just about legroom, it's also about convenience and the in-flight experience. Premium economy typically offers at least 2 checked bags, priority boarding, a smaller cabin, and amenity kits. Plus, you get more meal options and better in-flight entertainment. So, you won't have to settle for a sad, dry sandwich and a terrible movie.
And let's not forget about those little extras that can make all the difference. Premium economy often offers goodies like noise-canceling headphones, blankets, and pillows. So, you can arrive at your destination feeling fresh and well-rested, instead of feeling like you've just been through the wringer.
<h2>Breaking Down the Cost: Is Premium Economy Worth the Extra Bucks?</h2>
Now, let's talk about the elephant in the room: cost. You might be wondering, how much more expensive is premium economy compared to the basic economy class? Well, it all depends on the airline and the route, but on average, you can expect to pay around 1.5-3 times more for premium economy.&nbsp;
For example, if an economy class ticket costs $500, a premium economy ticket for the same flight could cost anywhere from $750 to $1000. But before you start counting your pennies, let's see if it's worth it.
First, think about your travel style and budget. If you're all about saving money and have no problem sitting in a cramped seat for hours, then economy might be the way to go. But, if you're the type of traveler who values comfort, extra legroom, gourmet meals, or just traveling with more luggage, then the extra cost for premium economy might be worth it.
And don't forget to consider the length of your flight. If it's a short hop across the country, the extra cost for premium economy might not be worth it. But, if you're flying across the ocean for 10 hours or more, the extra comfort could make all the difference, especially on overnight flights.&nbsp;
<h2>Fly More, Spend Less: How Premium Economy Affects Frequent Flyer Programs</h2>
The type of class you fly in can make a big difference in your frequent flyer status. Flying in premium economy may cost a little more upfront, but it can pay off in the long run with added frequent flyer benefits. And who doesn't love free upgrades and extra perks?
​​Frequent flyer programs reward travelers for their loyalty to a specific airline. The more you fly with them, the more miles you earn and the closer you get to elite status. Elite status means more perks, such as free upgrades, priority boarding, and access to exclusive lounges.
So, what's the catch? Usually, the more expensive the ticket, the more miles you'll earn. This is where premium economy comes in. While it's more expensive than economy class, it's often less expensive than business class. And, despite being a lower class than business, you'll still earn more miles than you would in economy.

<img src="https://cdn.jacksflightclub.com/id/b2f98507c13cd2e6003806becd8500629168319b" width="1210" height="805">
For example, let's say you're a member of <a href="https://www.delta.com/us/en/skymiles/overview">Delta's SkyMiles</a> program. If you book a round-trip ticket from New York to Paris in economy, you'll earn a total of 5,510 miles. But, if you book the same trip in premium economy, you'll earn 6,930 miles &ndash; that's an additional 1,420 miles!
Another example is <a href="https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-program/aadvantage-program.jsp">American Airlines' AAdvantage</a> program. If you book a round-trip ticket from Los Angeles to London in economy, you'll earn 7,020 miles. But, if you book the same trip in premium economy, you'll earn 8,880 miles &ndash; that's an extra 1,860 miles!
Keep in mind, every airline's frequent flyer program is different, so it's a good idea to check out your specific airline's program to see how premium economy class affects your benefits. In general though, flying in premium economy can help you fly more and spend less on future trips.
<h2>Who has the best premium economy cabin?</h2>
The airline industry is constantly evolving and improving their premium economy offerings. But if you're looking for the cr&egrave;me de la cr&egrave;me of premium economy, then look no further than Emirates and Cathay Pacific. <a href="https://www.emirates.com/english/experience/cabin-features/premium-economy-class/">Emirates</a>' premium economy cabin offers fully-reclining seats, gourmet dining, and ample legroom, making it a top pick for luxury-seeking travelers.
And let's not forget about <a href="https://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_IE/flying-with-us/flight-classes/premium-economy-class.html">Cathay Pacific</a>, whose premium economy cabin boasts spacious seats with extra legroom, and a range of dining options, including dim sum and congee. It's no wonder that Cathay Pacific's premium economy has an almost permanent spot on the award boards.

<h2>Premium Economy vs. Business Class</h2>
So, you've got some cash to burn and want to upgrade your flying experience. The big question is, do you settle for the middle ground with premium economy, or go all out with business class?
Well, premium economy is like the Lexus of flying. It's not as fancy as business class, but it&rsquo;s comfier than a Civic (aka economy).
While business class is like the Rolls-Royce of flying. You get to stretch out on a flat-bed seat with fluffy bedding, chow down on gourmet food curated by a fancy chef, lounge around like a boss at the airport. And if you're lucky, you might even get your own private cabin with aisle access, a privacy barrier, and a chauffeur to drive you to the airport (because walking is so yesterday). Oh, and those noise-canceling headphones? Standard issue in Business Class.
So, how do you score a deal on these fancy flying options? Easy-peasy: book in advance, be on the lookout for <a href="https://jacksflightclub.com/travel-hub/heres-when-airlines-run-sales">sales or promotions</a>, and join <a href="https://jacksflightclub.com/">the club</a> to get notified about discounts. If you're feeling lucky, you can even try bidding for an upgrade, but we&rsquo;re not making any promises there.&nbsp;
Most importantly, do your research on different airlines, because the quality of these classes can vary greatly between airlines. It can sometimes be like comparing a 5-star hotel to a Motel 6.
<blockquote>
We've put together a guide to give you a better understanding of the <a href="https://jacksflightclub.com/travel-hub/business-vs-first-class-flights">differences between business and first class</a>. We've even done the research for you and compared different airlines' products, so you don't have to!
</blockquote>
At the end of the day, the choice between premium economy and economy class is all about what works best for you. It all comes down to your personal preferences and travel goals.
 If you&rsquo;re looking for added comfort and amenities, premium economy is the way to go. However, if you&rsquo;re more focused on saving money, economy class may be a better fit. Whichever class you choose, happy travels!
. . .
Still have questions? Feel free to drop us a message on support@jacksflightclub.com and we'll be happy to help.
. . .

The Airline Upgrade Dilemma: Economy vs. Premium Economy

Featured

There are over 3 million travel hungry members in our community, here's a taste of the discussions, advice and stories being told.

Community Stories

Frequent travelers tend to be pros at efficient packing, and you just know that means they have opinions on the best carry-on bags available. When we asked the Jack&rsquo;s Flight Club Community for their ultimate cabin bag, the kind that still passes as a &ldquo;personal item&rdquo; on budget airlines, the opinions came rolling in, and the camps became clear.
Personally, I love my Herschel backpack for work and play &mdash; it&rsquo;s got good volume, inside pockets for water bottles, toothbrush, cables etc., and a delightfully furry, padded laptop sleeve. The inside lining is water-resistant, so it&rsquo;s super easy to clean when your moisturizer explodes. And then there&rsquo;s the handy zip-closure front pocket for those little things you want easy access to.&nbsp;
But, alas, my favorite red rucksack is nearing the end of its life. Like any good Millennial, I&rsquo;ve checked Vinted for replacements. But when a second-hand bag in great condition costs nearly the same as a brand-new one in the style you actually want, it makes you think twice.
So, where does the Jack&rsquo;s Community recommend I invest my backpack budget? The loudest voices sing an avian chorus:
<h2 dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.osprey.com/">Osprey</a></h2>

&ldquo;I've had an Osprey Farpoint 40 for the last few years, and so far it's passed every test with flying colours. It's had dozens of work trips, backpacking in Japan, hiking in Iceland, travelling around Europe visiting 28 countries in 28 days with 100s of buses, coaches and trains, numerous trips to the US &amp; Canada and here's the thing: nothing has broken 😱😱 no broken zips, no frayed ends, no rips, nothing. And I have not been careful!
It also opens up fully laid down which is a great plus. If the 40 is a little big, Osprey have brought out a smaller Sojourn backpack in the same style, which I bought my gf and she loves. The Farpoint is probably a 4/5 on comfort when carrying but easily a 5/5 on endurance. I think there is a "trek" version they've recently brought out that is presumably more comfortable. I've also gotten away with it as cabin baggage on easyJet many times, even though it's technically too big (only been fined on 2 occasions out of maybe 25?). Hope this is useful for people!&rdquo;&nbsp;-&nbsp;UninhibitedBackpacker38333
<hr>
&ldquo;I bought my Osprey 40 litre Fairview pack 3 years ago and have been using it nearly year round ever since. It opens flat so I can see everything inside, has enough compartments and easy access whilst on the move. I have travelled for several 3 month trips and it takes everything I need and more, and is comfortable for a nearly 60 year old like me to carry!&nbsp;
There are no signs of wear and tear. 100% recommended.&nbsp;
Good luck, it's a tricky and important decision!&rdquo; - Claire

Pros: Osprey bags are practical, supportive, and clearly have staying power. There are a few nice colorways to choose from, for those who like their functionality served with at least a little pizzazz.
Cons: They&rsquo;re not the cheapest; Navigator Lauren&rsquo;s fave Fairview is currently clocking in at around &pound;115/$140/&euro;150. And while they do come in different colors, they&rsquo;re hardly serving up that enduring <a href="https://www.fjallraven.com/eu/en-gb/bags-gear/kanken/">K&aring;nken</a> style. Maybe more for the outdoorsy types than purely savvy travelers?
Next up, the zero frills, zero fuss crew:
<h2 dir="ltr"><a href="https://cabinmax.com/">Cabin Max</a></h2>

&ldquo;The cabin max bird and stars is amazing, I&rsquo;ve used it for a few trips and I also use it at work!&nbsp;
It easily fits clothes and toiletries in for a whole week for one person, with room to spare for a drink and snacks. Though I haven&rsquo;t tried to fit a proper jacket in there yet as it&rsquo;s only been used for warmer trips.&nbsp;
But it still looks brand new after being used almost every day since the start of May. It even has a clip on bit for you to pop glasses/goggles/sunglasses into, and the front zip up pocket has extra compartments and a tether that clips onto items for extra security. It has a little padded slot for a tablet or such and buckled straps in the main section to hold items in tight for you to fit in extra! I love it.&rdquo; - Danielle
<hr>
&ldquo;Another Cabinmax fan here, especially the Metz 20L that fits the Ryanair bins. Sturdy and it fits a huge amount of stuff!&rdquo; - DauntlessHolidaymaker17406

Pros: Cabin Max cater to nearly every airline&rsquo;s dimensional whims. It&rsquo;s all in the name: you&rsquo;ll get the max cabin space possible (without paying extra). Plus, they&rsquo;re super affordable and come in a variety of jazzy colors and styles, some even a little more stylish than purely functional.
Cons: Not ideal for lugging around on your back all day &mdash; the shoulder straps are all you&rsquo;ve got in the way of support, so don&rsquo;t bring the kitchen sink. And yes, they are on the cheaper side, so pay close attention to design elements like laptop padding and secure closures.
And now we&rsquo;ve got a PSA from Navigator Fran, who, surprisingly, is not being sponsored for this rave review:
<h2 dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.cotopaxi.com/">Cotopaxi</a></h2>

&ldquo;So I have a couple of Cotopaxis, but the ones that I use the most are the Cotopaxi Allpa 28L and the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L. The thing that I love the most about them is that they open fully like a suitcase, but they&rsquo;re backpacks. That&rsquo;s the key thing for me because I hate having to put my hands inside a backpack without seeing what I&rsquo;m touching. Everything gets messy, whereas if your backpack opens completely like a suitcase, it makes everything much more orderly.&nbsp;
Another thing that I love is the material. The external material, especially the front, has a kind of waxy feel, but it&rsquo;s not actually wax, so you don&rsquo;t need to treat it. Even though it&rsquo;s a soft backpack, it's made with sturdy materials, so even if it gets thrown around, it feels like the things inside won&rsquo;t get hit too hard.
<img src="https://cdn.jacksflightclub.com/id/a4a6e696d247b91ff1b2f8c198c762c9f99997cd" width="501" height="626" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
I really love all the pockets inside and outside. That&rsquo;s important for me for storing things properly and for accessibility. The Allpa 28L I have is the new model, and it comes with a side pocket, which I absolutely love. I use it for my water bottle, flip-flops, thin sneakers &mdash; whatever fits. That pocket only exists on the newer version Cotopaxi released last year. My 35L is the older model, so it doesn&rsquo;t have it, and I really miss it. I&rsquo;m honestly considering upgrading my 35L just for that pocket (lol Cotopaxi I love you pls send me one).
Another key thing is: the 35L one has back support, which is crucial for me. It has the adjustable chest buckle and the waist strap, while the 28L doesn't have the waist strap. I&rsquo;ve walked endless kilometres with it, and it&rsquo;s essential that the weight sits on my hips and not fully on my back.
I also love the little loops on the outside where you can attach a lock or hang things. Anything with a carabiner can go there &mdash; a portable speaker, flip-flops, whatever. I really love the colours too. They&rsquo;re veeeeeeery fun and stylish.&rdquo; - Fran

&ldquo;The Cotopaxi Allpa is AMAZING. I will not have another bag, ever. The 35L one is still Euro airline friendly, and I've lived out of it for months.&rdquo; - Layla

Pros: Cotopaxi bags are clearly super reliable and practical. Plus, you gotta love their <a href="https://uk.cotopaxi.com/collections/del-dia-collection">&lsquo;Del D&iacute;a&rsquo; collection</a>, made from a patchwork of leftover fabrics. That means you get a completely one-of-a-kind bag, which can come in pretty handy during the shuffle of international travel.
Cons: That price, though. You&rsquo;re looking at &pound;140-&pound;200 new on the Cotopaxi website. If you dig around online, you&rsquo;ll no doubt be able to find them a little cheaper, but they&rsquo;re still far from a budget-friendly option. More of a long-term investment, perhaps.&nbsp;
Also, you might be joining a cult that it&rsquo;s really hard to leave if you buy one.
Now, not to be confused with the Max competition above, the Jack&rsquo;s Community is also fond of&hellip;&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.cabinzero.com/">Cabin Zero</a></h2>

&ldquo;Hello! I love my cabin zero. The 28L one is small enough for under Ryanair seats, and you can get them in a variety of sizes. Happy bag shopping!&rdquo; - Daniella
<hr>
&ldquo;I absolutely adore my Cabin Zero military backpack. I used it for 6 months to travel through Asia next to my larger backpack, used it as hand luggage while making short trips. Very roomy, holds a bottle, can be locked and has a separate space for a laptop.&rdquo; - BoldHiker86402

Pros: Once again, we&rsquo;ve got bags designed to beat airline restrictions. Looking for a carry-on that&rsquo;ll fit under the seat in front of you? Just filter by &lsquo;Underseat&rsquo;. They&rsquo;re functional, affordable, and they come in pretty much every color. 
Cons:&nbsp;What they offer in color, they kind of lack in actual style. Maximizing functional bag space is key here, and every model appears to be a cuboid bag designed to fit perfectly in a bag sizer.

<h2 dir="ltr">Honorable mentions</h2>

&ldquo;My Decathlon Quechua NH500 is a dream. Survived my Lupine Racing trip!&rdquo; - DauntlessVacationer96089
<hr>
&ldquo;I swear by my Eastpak Travelpack. Two separate compartments, laptop sleeve, functions as a rucksack or carry bag. Full rectangular form so you can max out the space. Comes in a bunch of colourways, even a few waterproof.&rdquo;&nbsp;- WayfaringHopper65951
<hr>
&ldquo;I absolutely love my <a href="https://solgaard.co/products/lifepack-venture-backpack-with-closet?variant=42373594448045">Solgaard</a>. It's durable, eco-friendly, and comes with a warranty and collapsible closet.&rdquo; - Britny
<hr>
&ldquo;Herschel is hard to beat in terms of price &amp; fun colours. My two suggestions are:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://bellroy.com/products/lite-travel-pack?color=clay&amp;material=dura_lite_nylon&amp;size=30l#slide-0">Bellroy travel bags</a>. The water proofing is no joke!</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.incase.com/collections/backpacks/products/arc-travel-pack">Incase travel bags</a>. Unlimited pockets for everything, but zippers could be better.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Bonus suggestion for&nbsp;<a href="https://uk.beistravel.com/collections/backpacks">cute styles &amp; functionality</a>. The backpacks don't have padding, though.&rdquo; - Ramir</li>
</ul>
<hr>
&ldquo;Came across the shop &ldquo;<a href="https://thepropertyof.com/collections/backpacks">Property of</a>&rdquo; during a layover in Amsterdam. Such a fantastic blend of style and practicality. It was next for me after my Herschel. I used the Karl on my 6-week South America trip (hand luggage only: and included a suit). Also completed the 5 day Salkantay trek with it, so comfortable for all day. The back completely zips open; a detachable hip belt, looks unreal&hellip; works for me.&rdquo; - TrailblazingTripper71477
<hr>
&ldquo;I am currently in Bali. I&rsquo;ve travelled with <a href="https://www.samsonite.co.uk/backpacks-with-wheels/">this hybrid carry-on wheeled backpack</a> since at least 2011. I first bought it in an outlet store, then when the telescoping handle failed after 8 years.&nbsp; I purchased a replacement from Amazon in 2019. At that time, it was $73.
For me, it's well worth it. Soft like a backpack but constructed of rugged water-resistant nylon, it's backpack straps are hidden in the back zipper compartment, waiting for you to hit that rocky dirt road that doesn't take the wheels well. It has many compartments, including a good computer sleeve.&rdquo; - Nancie

If, like me, you&rsquo;re in the market for a trusty new travel bag, hopefully the wise words of the Jack&rsquo;s Community have helped you. Whether you&rsquo;re looking for an investment, or just something to get you through the next long weekend getaway, you have plenty of options here.
The winner? Personally, I&rsquo;ve already got a larger rucksack with waist straps that's suitable for a week of Interrailing. What I&rsquo;m really looking for is that handy under-seat bag fit for a weekend away, which may incidentally also look a little bit cool. Right now, I&rsquo;m torn between a cheaper Cabin Max and sticking with my fave &mdash; only time (or a really good offer) will tell.
Let us know below if we've missed anything. Or if you have a favorite full-sized, wheeled cabin bag that fits in the overhead bins, share your tips in the comments.

The Best Underseat and Carry-On Bags for Budget Travel

Community Hub

Your weekly dose of travel news and inspiration from around the Jack's Flight Club Community

Take The Detour...

Hi there, Travellers,
This week, I&rsquo;ve been out in the wild at <a href="https://destmanchester.seetickets.com/tour/destinations-the-holiday-travel-show-manchester/?src=EXHIBITOR&amp;offercode=EXJACKSFLIGHTCLUB">Destinations: The Holiday and Travel Show in Manchester</a>, chatting to avid travellers like yourselves about their upcoming adventures.&nbsp;
As usual, I&rsquo;ve been suggesting The Caucasus and Central Asia as underrated areas. History, food, landscapes, architecture &mdash; both offer their own unique takes in spades, and frankly, I am not willing to go through another year without returning.&nbsp;
Next weekend, the Jack&rsquo;s team will be out doing it all again on the other side of the Atlantic at the&nbsp;<a href="https://travelshows.com/shows/new-york/">New York Travel &amp; Adventure Show</a>. We&rsquo;d love to meet some of you fantastic NYC members IRL as well, so please stop by and say hi!&nbsp;If you can&rsquo;t make it along to either of these shows, or indeed the&nbsp;<a href="https://destlondon.seetickets.com/tour/destinations-the-holiday-travel-show-london/?src=EXHIBITOR&amp;offercode=EXJACKSFLIGHTCLUB">London edition of Destinations</a> at the end of the month, we&rsquo;d still love to hear your travel stories.&nbsp;
As a reminder, we're currently running our first-ever story submission contest! All you need to do is share yours to be in with a chance of winning up to &pound;500/&euro;500/$500 towards flights you book or upgrades on a flight you&rsquo;ve already booked. And in case you need a little inspiration, here's a prompt:
&ldquo;Plot twist! This was not on the itinerary: Tell us the moment your trip took an unexpected turn &mdash; for better or worse.&rdquo;
The contest will close at 08:00 UTC on 23rd January. We&rsquo;ll then pick our fave submission and notify the winner by 31st January. Full <a href="https://jacksflightclub.com/prize-draw-terms-conditions">T&amp;Cs can be found here</a>.
[<a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/home?contribute=story">Enter now</a>]
Happy travels and safe landings,

Katy - Editor of the Detour

In theory, airports are meant to be neutral, liminal spaces, designed to efficiently get you to where you need to go. But for many travellers, that&nbsp;&ldquo;Welcome&rdquo; sign plastered above the terminal somehow always translates as &ldquo;Prepare to suffer.&rdquo;
So we asked the Jack's Flight Club community one simple question: &ldquo;What are the best and worst airports you've passed through?&rdquo;
Your answers piled up like the immigration line at JFK. And what came back was&nbsp;anything but neutral. 
Some of you reflected on your most dreamy layovers and magical landings. Meanwhile, others relived hideous tales of crushing crowds, hours stuck on the tarmac, and being crammed like sardines in the &ldquo;holding pen of doom&rdquo;.&nbsp;
And the frantic <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DTR-GYMFLoq/?hl=en">sprint across terminals</a> to reach an impossible connection? Raise a hand if you&rsquo;ve been personally victimized by Charles de Gaulle&rsquo;s broken escalators.&nbsp;
Once we sifted through the stories, patterns emerged. Very clear ones&hellip;

<h2 dir="ltr" id="the-favourite-child-unsurprisingly">The Favourite Child (unsurprisingly)&nbsp;</h2>
<h3 dir="ltr">Changi Airport, Singapore</h3>

We wouldn&rsquo;t be surprised if, among Singapore Airport&rsquo;s lush greenery, there exists a cavernous golden hall lined floor to ceiling with Skytrax awards.
With little context&mdash;which, let&rsquo;s admit, is hardly necessary&mdash;members praised Changi's gargantuan attractions and impeccable service again and again. Besides the dreamscape of butterfly gardens, steel domes, and valleys, <a href="https://nowboarding.changiairport.com/discover-changi/13-things-travellers-love-about-changi-airport.html">here&rsquo;s what you can expect</a> while transiting through the World&rsquo;s Best.
<h2 dir="ltr">The runner-up </h2>
<h3>Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam</h3>
With Changi stealing the top spot, it's hardly surprising that the very airport to inspire its original design also goes down well: Amsterdam Schiphol.&nbsp;
The easy navigation, "cool" staff, excellent shops, and efficient transfers left most of you feeling pretty good about one of Europe's busiest hubs.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr" id="fondness-over-flashiness">Fondness over Flashiness</h2>

Not every airport people spoke of fondly was flawless. Some didn&rsquo;t win on speed, design, or serenity. Instead, they earned your points for something far less measurable: showing up at the right moment.&nbsp;
Chicago O&rsquo; Hare kept coming up here, which surprised us. No one claimed it was the calmest or the most efficient. But several of you spoke about ORD with something close to fondness. A soft spot. A sense of gratitude that lingered long after the journey ended.&nbsp;

&ldquo;I have a huge soft spot for Chicago O&rsquo;Hare because I discovered the play area for my feral 18-month-old EXACTLY when it needed to be there.&rdquo;
<hr>
"Chicago O'Hare, because I have such good memories of travelling to/from it."

<h2 id="what-the-best-airports-get-right">What the best airports get right</h2>
Interestingly, the Jack's Community's most beloved airports often weren&rsquo;t the biggest or flashiest. But they do share a few things in common:
<h3 dir="ltr">A calm atmosphere</h3>

No surprise, the Nordics have got it down to a fine art:

&ldquo;Helsinki is gorgeous, airy with those cool Nordic vibes and a Moomin cafe&rdquo;
<hr>
&ldquo;Oslo is so cosy, all muffled in wood.&rdquo;

And in the Dominican, the mantra is&nbsp;tranquilo:

&ldquo;The best was Punta Cana. The lounge had an outdoor pool facing the runway. The most relaxed I&rsquo;ve ever been at an airport.&rdquo;

<h2 dir="ltr">What the worst airports get so wrong</h2>

<h2 dir="ltr">Wall of Shame</h2>
These are the airports that you most frequently voted The Worst:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="font-weight: bold;">Manchester (MAN)</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="font-weight: bold;">London Heathrow (LHR)</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="font-weight: bold;">New York (JFK)</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="font-weight: bold;">Los Angeles (LAX)</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="font-weight: bold;">Miami (MIA)</li>
</ul>
Lines for days, conflicting boarding info, feral staff. Different countries, same complaints.&nbsp;

Most gripes fell into a few clear categories:
<h3 dir="ltr" id="soul-crushing-queues">Soul-crushing queues</h3>

This was the loudest theme. Sure, delays can be expected. But what we won&rsquo;t tolerate? Waiting with zero explanation, seating or any visible progress.&nbsp;
JFK, Manchester, and LAX took the brunt of this anger:

&ldquo;Worst is JFK. Immigration is a nightmare. Security queues last for days. I&rsquo;ve been delayed landing or held on the runway there more than anywhere else.&rdquo;
<hr>
&ldquo;Manchester is far and away the worst airport I&rsquo;ve ever been in. I had the misfortune of transferring there and came very close to missing the second flight. And those wooden fences at customs! I felt like I was at the OK Corral.&rdquo;
<hr>
&ldquo;LAX Worst&hellip; it took longer in the passport control queue than the entire flight from London. And so disorganised. And grimy. And rude. Just awful.&rdquo;

Edinburgh also came up repeatedly, not for one-off chaos, but for what sounded like a systemic tragedy.&nbsp;

&ldquo;Edinburgh is a horror show. I had to walk in pouring rain through large puddles, queueing at stairs to board. Then on return, sat on the taxiway for 90 minutes. Early morning you will see 6 or 7 aircraft landed from North America sitting in a line, waiting to clear. The departures area is swamped with passengers walking about, as the very few seats are all taken. Horrible place.&rdquo;

<h3 dir="ltr">Layouts designed by sadists</h3>

The biggest rage breeder? Confusion.&nbsp;
As though the building designers missed the memo on 'efficiency,' some airports were criticized not for being too big, but for being downright illogical.
Manila, for one, sounds like a horror show:

&ldquo;The worst ever experience was Manila airport - seriously overcrowded - 3 terminals and zero possibility to get from one terminal to the other. Taxis are overbooked, kilometers of long queues everywhere, no shuttle bus between the terminals, or just so chaotic that no one knows. If you need to change flights from one terminal to another, from international to domestic - or the other way - forget it.&rdquo;

Canada&rsquo;s second-largest city also got a mention&nbsp;(&ldquo;Convoluted and complicated: Montreal),&nbsp;while Shanghai Pudong sounds like a soul-sucking experience (&ldquo;A layover there feels like purgatory. Devoid of life and dining options).
On the other hand, airports like Rome Fiumicino, Burbank, Schiphol, and Tokyo&rsquo;s Haneda were praised for their easy transit.&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr" id="comfort-cleanliness-and-basic-human-dignity">Comfort, Cleanliness, and Basic Human Dignity&nbsp;</h3>

You&rsquo;re a fair bunch; you don&rsquo;t expect luxury lounges. Just clean toilets, somewhere to sit, and enough space to breathe. Not feeling like herded cattle is also a plus.&nbsp;
Addis Ababa, Khartoum, and London Stansted were among the most heavily criticized:

"Worst: Karthoum, huge crowd, but for a small payment someone pushed you through... Any major US airport too, seriously overcrowded."
<hr>
"Addis Ababa has&nbsp;absolutely awful toilets, quite disgusting."
<hr>
"Addis Ababa: Never any seats free, expensive bad food, and I got bitten by an insect!"
<hr>
"Stansted - unbelievably busy, with nowhere to sit and just masses of people."

But sometimes it&rsquo;s the small injustices that linger longest.

&ldquo;ARN (Stockholm) confiscated my sealed potato salad ten years ago, and I still think it was unreasonable.&rdquo;

For what it's worth, friend, we asked the Jack's Community on Instagram if they agreed that the kidnapping of your potato salad was unreasonable, and you have been vindicated. 74% of Jack's Travellers were right there with you in the fight for your carb-based rights.

<h2 dir="ltr">The Big Takeaway</h2>

People don&rsquo;t need the biggest airport, the glitziest of terminals, or the most expensive shops.&nbsp;
We want:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Lines that move quickly</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Affordable eateries open during all times of transit</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Logical layouts</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Somewhere to sit</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Clean toilets</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">To be treated like a human being</li>
</ul>
But sure, if you want to throw in a seven-story rain-vortex waterfall, that&rsquo;s cool too.
Agree with the crowd? Or ready to defend an airport to the death? We&rsquo;re all ears!

Reader's Corner

Penciling in Those Mardi Gras Plans...

A San Diego native, Olivia left home a few years ago to live on the road. Since then, she's had homebases everywhere from Quebec to England to New Orleans, but she always ends up back on the West Coast.&nbsp;

By Olivia

Whether you call it &ldquo;Mardi Gras,&rdquo; &ldquo;Carnaval,&rdquo; or &ldquo;Pancake Day,&rdquo; the last Tuesday before Lent is one of the world&rsquo;s favorite times to party.
While the most famous celebrations probably spring to mind immediately &mdash; New Orleans bathed in beads, Rio flooded with samba, Venice behind porcelain masks &mdash; there are&nbsp;plenty more places to cut loose...
&hellip;and plenty more ways to do it! From a 600-year-old Belgian tradition, to Caribbean street food, to castles carved from ice, here are five pre-Lent party options you might not have considered.&nbsp;

<h2 dir="ltr" id="binche-belgium">Binche, Belgium</h2>
If you happen to find yourself in this small town near Charleroi on Shrove Tuesday, don&rsquo;t be offended when you get struck by a flying citrus fruit.
Since 1394, the town of Binche has been putting on a festival steeped in Belgian culture. After three days of revelry, performers called Gilles don mustachioed masks and parade through the streets, tossing oranges at bystanders. It&rsquo;s never meant as an insult, however &mdash; to get hit by a Gille&rsquo;s orange is considered good luck.
This is the smallest city and the longest running festival on our list, so it&rsquo;s a great spot to hit if you want a more local and traditional (but no less joyful) Carnival experience.
<h2 dir="ltr" id="sydney-australia">Sydney, Australia</h2>
In the largest town down under, &ldquo;Mardi Gras&rdquo; means &ldquo;Pride&rdquo;!
The Sydney Mardi Gras festival is a massive LGBT event, leading to an especially colorful celebration that takes over the city for weeks. Masks and feathered costumes still abound, but with a little extra glitter and a lot more rainbows.&nbsp;

Of all the parties on our list, this one might have the biggest variety in events. You can catch Pride versions of the usual Mardi Gras parades and costume parties, plus more uniquely LGBT fare like drag nights, and even an entire queer film festival. In search of more specifically Aussie flavor? There&rsquo;s also a sailing regatta and surf events.&nbsp;
If you&rsquo;re not sure exactly how you want to celebrate, but know you want to pack your Mardi Gras trip with positive energy, Sydney just might be your spot!
<h2 dir="ltr">Queb&eacute;c City, Canada</h2>
The cold never keeps Canadians down, and Queb&eacute;c City&rsquo;s Mardi Gras celebration is a perfect example. While it coincides with the holiday, it&rsquo;s really more of a winter carnival &mdash; one of the largest in the world.
Events include ice canoeing, ice sculpting, tours through an entire ice palace&hellip; hey, it&rsquo;s winter in Queb&eacute;c, there&rsquo;s gonna be a lot of ice! All the French Canadian classics are here, from syrup-related competitions to climbs up Montmorency.
This is also one of the more family-friendly events celebrating the holiday, with tons of options for the little ones. No Bourbon Street debauchery here, just snowballs and sledding.

<h2 dir="ltr">Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain</h2>
The largest of the Canaries is home to one of the largest Carnival celebrations in the world (beat out only by Rio) and boy, does it feel like it! This one gets wild. Events are split into phases (Contests, Galas, and Street Carnivals) but every phase comes with its own flavor of chaos.&nbsp;
At Tenerife Carnival, costumes are practically mandatory. Contestants and Carnival regulars arrive in glorious, elaborate get-ups, but even the average Joes on the sidewalk are seldom seen in streetwear. It&rsquo;s also customary for male attendees to dress as women, so gentlemen, please come prepared with your size 12 high-heels.
All of this celebration culminates in a Spanish Lent tradition: the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hellocanaryislands.com/events/gran-canaria/carnival-burial-of-the-sardine/">burial of the sardine</a>.
<h2 dir="ltr">Trinidad</h2>
It wouldn&rsquo;t be a Carnival list without at least one Caribbean locale! I have to give this one to Trinidad &mdash; the region&rsquo;s biggest and most vibrant.
After a month of warm-up parties, the parade weekend kicks off with a reenactment of the historic riots that originally started the festivities. Then comes&nbsp;J&rsquo;ouvert, a pre-dawn tradition that involves smearing yourself with mud or paint. The next few days are filled with Calypso music, steelpan performances, feather-covered costumes, and enough street food to stuff your belly.
The customs here have deep roots in the island&rsquo;s history, pulling from African and early colonial practices. Keep a sharp eye out, and you might notice some&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tntisland.com/carnivalcharacters.html">familiar stock characters</a> that have developed over the years.

So if your calendar is a little too bland in mid-February but the famous festivals aren&rsquo;t really calling your name, maybe I&rsquo;ve helped you fill in that blank :-)

Travel Tales

All the important (or silly, or strange) travel news from across web this week.
<ul>
<li>Where's the best place to build a busy airport? Close to the city center for convenience? In the suburbs, where there's more room to spread out? How about... <a href="https://simpleflying.com/why-worlds-busiest-airports-middle-ocean/">over the ocean</a>?</li>
<li>Good news for introverts with cottagecore fantasies: You can get paid thousands to <a href="https://thaihut.org/14-171166-scottish-e5000-a-month-and-free-housing-l/">spend six months on a remote Scottish island</a>.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Fancy a platter of breakfast tacos before your flight? How about a chat with a robotic gargoyle? Here's <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/north-america/usa/best-us-airports-layovers-b2899579.html">six US airports</a> that are just interesting enough to take the sting out of your layover.</li>
<li>Imagine settling into your airplane seat, ready for take-off, when suddenly you hear screams&nbsp;coming from the cargo hold below. This isn't a nightmare, it was reality for <a href="https://simpleflying.com/air-canada-takeoff-baggage-handler-trapped-hold/">these Air Canada passengers</a>. (Thankfully, no one got hurt.)</li>
<li>And finally, beachy, volcanic Madeira is the top trending destination for 2026! The US and UK also made the top ten list with one city apiece &mdash; but it's <a href="https://www.timeout.com/news/the-hawaii-of-europe-has-been-named-the-worlds-top-trending-destination-for-2026-011326">not London or NYC</a>.</li>
</ul>

Travel News

The World's Best & Worst Airports: The Final Breakdown

United Kingdom

Singapore

Kyrgyzstan

Hi there, Travellers,
I hope you're all easing back into post-holiday life without too much stress. No such luck here at Jack's HQ, I'm afraid, as our team of eagle-eyed Navigators keep spotting yet more special January offerings from the airlines.
Suffice it to say, this edition of The Detour nearly didn't get to you today, as I got distracted debating with myself about grabbing non-stop flights to South Korea.
It was a close call, but in the end, I decided I would wait to see what Pegasus Airlines offers up for the Caucasus and Central Asia when their sale rolls around at the end of the month. And as a bonus, you all get to read about Navigator Akasha's experiences from the last time their January sale lured us in...
Happy travels and safe landings,

Katy - Editor of The Detour

The Whirlwind Before The Storm in Kyrgyzstan

Navigator Akasha finds phenomenal Flights faster than you can decide where you want to take a trip to next. A pro at finding the best of the best fares, she's also a master at sharing must-visit spots for when you land.

By Akasha

An old Kyrgyz woman turned from the stove, a red-hot spoon steaming in her hand. Before I could flinch, she loomed over me, her calloused hands holding my chin with a vice-like grip, and she pressed the scalding metal to the back of my throat.&nbsp;
I hear my father&rsquo;s voice echoing in my head, &ldquo;God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change&rdquo;.&nbsp;
I wish I could tell you that she was a witch doctor, a hoarder of jars and remedial elixirs promising to restore the HP of weary, wide-eyed travelers. But truthfully, I was too weak to ask. And nor did I care. I was too transfixed by the spectral shapes circling us, fairly certain they were shadows only I could see.
Four days earlier, medical access was the furthest thing from my mind. I was scurrying across Bishkek&rsquo;s streets with my friend and colleague, Kristi, on the hunt for our 4&times;4 rental. We had met for the first time in real life just a few days earlier, having planned this insane trip over Slack.&nbsp;
Pixelated camaraderie and a dirt-cheap Pegasus winter sale convinced us that the next logical step was to commit to ten days mostly off-grid in a &lsquo;Stan. What followed were months of deeply philosophical debate between riding skirts and rain pants, seat savers versus padded cycling shorts.&nbsp;
The only sane solution? Bring it all.

You might think you&rsquo;ve heard this tale before in <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/kyrgyzstan-snapshots-from-an-expedition" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kristi&rsquo;s photo diary </a>&mdash; think again. My experience of life in the steppe went a little differently&hellip;

Now, armed with a list of off-road coordinates and a bag of mechanical tools thrust our way with a Russian rental contract, we chuckled at the sheer absurdity of our gamble and hit the road smiling. The next four days would be entirely out of service and off-grid.&nbsp;

Our plan was to drive 4.5 hours from Bishkek to a village called Kyzart, meet our guide, and start our horse trek into the Tian Shan. We would stay in traditional yurts with nomadic herders, something I&rsquo;ve always wanted to do, and make our final ascent to the alpine lake of Song Kul.&nbsp;
After the trek, we&rsquo;d head another 5 hours south to the town of Naryn and spend the night at a hostel. Next, we&rsquo;d drive off-road deeper into the mountains to guide us through the Kok Kiya valley toward one of Kyrgyzstan&rsquo;s most stunning remote lakes, K&ouml;l-Suu. 
We&rsquo;d need a special border permit to cross a military checkpoint (it&rsquo;s located near a sensitive border zone near China), a few gallons of extra fuel, and old-school coordinates to guide us. No biggie.&nbsp;
Soon enough, I'd discover that I needn't have worried about that permit...&nbsp;

Driving in Bishkek is a touch above beginner level. I had only just gotten my full license a month prior, and so I happily let Kristi take the wheel in what can only be described as Russian roulette.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Oh god, Kash, where are the lanes?&rdquo; she mumbled, half-drowned by the incessant shrill of honking horns and screeching tires. The only thing soothing her anxiety? Taylor Swift, of course.&nbsp;
Turns out, the only thing I needed to do to experience culture shock was to plop myself in the passenger seat of a Toyota, eyes wide at the blur of life unfolding, &ldquo;Anti-Hero&rdquo; crackling on the radio. I could&rsquo;ve saved myself some serious saddle burn.
Genghis Khan statues, hawkers dishing out roadside plov. Overturned transport trucks, twisted carcasses on asphalt. Mosques pressed against Orthodox churches. Wild horses completely unbothered by it all.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Arggggh, are we driving on the left or the right? Why are those guys driving on the right?&rdquo;&nbsp;
&ldquo;Ummm, maybe it&rsquo;s both?&rdquo;&nbsp;
&ldquo;Woah, are those billboards made from rocks? Cool!&rdquo;
&ldquo;Should I go? Do I have time to merge?&rdquo; &ldquo;Go, go, go!&rdquo; 
&ldquo;Wait, is that a baby?&rdquo;&nbsp;

The biggest culture shock, however, wasn&rsquo;t Bishkek&rsquo;s vehicular chaos. I had lived in Mexico. I thought I knew things. I had spent two years acclimated to the toilet paper bin. I took whatever the street-food gods threw at me. But nothing, absolutely nothing, prepared me for Kyrgyz toilets.
Allow me to rephrase: Nothing on God&rsquo;s green earth had prepared me for Kyrgyz ROADSIDE toilets. I won&rsquo;t go into detail here; some things are better left unspoken. But heed these words of advice: Brace yourself mentally, physically, and spiritually. Don&rsquo;t breathe. Don&rsquo;t look down. Remember, it&rsquo;ll be over soon (probably).&nbsp;&nbsp;
And for the love of all things holy, empty your pockets.&nbsp;

<a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/dream-and-delirium-on-the-kyrgyz-steppe">Keep reading...</a>

The Detour Editor Katy is a budget travel aficionado who has already travelled to more than 50 countries. Whether she's at home or on a foreign adventure, she has a particular talent for stumbling upon tasty Georgian restaurants.

By Katy

Oops, we did it again. We asked our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/jacksflightclub/permalink/2683271538695357">Facebook community</a> a big question, and we should have known that they'd only go and answer. That big question? Which airports do&nbsp;you&nbsp;think are the best and worst in the world?
Nobody will be surprised to hear that Singapore Changi Airport is a popular choice. After all, it has been named Best Airport in the World by Skytrax 13 times. It has a butterfly garden, a cactus garden, an indoor waterfall. And it's actually quite nice.&nbsp;

Other airports getting a shout-out include everywhere from Osaka to Alicante, Schiphol to St. John's.&nbsp;
One (very confused) Traveller even seemed to think London Heathrow was great, but plenty more piled in to condemn it to the seventh circle of hell, where it belongs. I personally am right onboard with that assessment, as the sharper minded among you may recall from <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/delays-and-drama-are-flagship-carriers-any-good">my 2023 rant about BA</a> and, by extension, Heathrow.&nbsp;
So tell us, readers &mdash; which airports would you nominate for the titles of best or worst in the world, and why? Jump into <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/detour-219-realities-of-a-dream-trip-great-airport-debate#comments">the comments</a> or drop us an email to share your thoughts.&nbsp;

<h2 id="plus-everlasting-ink">Plus: Inking Abroad</h2>
After last week's&nbsp;<a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/detour-1226-Ringing%20in%202026%20with%20Our%20Travel%20Memories#travel-tales">travel tattoo stories</a>, a few of you were keen to write in and suggest we discourage getting tattoos abroad due to the risk of contracting hepatitis A &amp; B, HIV, or infections.
Health concerns are always important to take into consideration. However, what I'd like to do instead, is recommend the exact same as I would to anyone getting a tattoo in their home country: do your research and get informed before going under the needle.&nbsp;
Pick a studio and artist with positive reviews. Make sure you're satisfied with the cleanliness and hygiene standards, e.g. that they use sterile, single-use equipment, and that you feel comfortable in the environment. &nbsp;
Beyond the artist and studio, it's also on you to ensure that you'll be in a position to give the tattoo the necessary aftercare during your trip. That means keeping it clean, moisturised, out of the sun and swimming pool, among other things.
Tattooing is an ancient art that has been <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/tattoos-worldwide-history-144038580/">practiced all over the world</a> for thousands of years. If we choose to take part, regardless of where in the world that may occur, it is on each of us to do the risk assessment.&nbsp;
<img src="https://cdn.jacksflightclub.com/id/3d0e6ffe9f2e987fb9255ff2ce420a7e0fdf4590" width="287" height="287">
And in case you were wondering, here are some of the tattoo artists around the world that I would gladly hop on a plane to visit:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/sollefe/?hl=en">Sollefe</a> - Based at Papaya Tattoo Studio in Hamburg, I've already synced up three visits to the Hanseatic city with ink appointments. The one above is my fave.&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/maxmurphytattoo/?hl=en">Max Murphy</a> - Absolutely worth the detour to Ellicott City next time you're visiting Washington, D.C., I'd say. Problem is, it's super hard to get an appointment!</li>
<li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/suflanda/?hl=en">Suflanda</a> - Like getting an ornate children's storybook character etched into your skin, it's definitely worth booking an appointment first and then planning your trip to Manchester around it.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/pittakkm/?hl=en">PittaKKM</a> - As though I needed any more reason to visit Seoul, these colourful ornamental designs and whimsical clouds lure me in a little more every day.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/rit.kit.tattoo/">RitKit</a> - If you're having a "Live, Laugh, Love" moment in Bali, this is the artist who'll help connect you with nature for good, using real plants as stencils.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
So, readers, are there any tattoo artists you'd travel for? Or is there something similar that you'd hop on a plane for a chance to be part of? <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/detour-219-realities-of-a-dream-trip-great-airport-debate#comments">Let us know below</a> :-)

All the important (or silly, or strange) travel news from across web this week.
<ul>
<li>Slope fiends, assemble! Someone's only gone and done the research on whether it's actually <a href="https://www.travelandleisure.com/is-it-cheaper-to-ski-in-europe-than-in-the-us-11880026">more affordable to go skiing in Europe or the USA</a>, and we finally have an answer: it depends. </li>
<li>There's a new entry for the shortest scheduled widebody service in Europe: At just 53 nautical miles, <a href="https://simpleflying.com/just-53-miles-ethiopian-airlines-launches-europes-shortest-airbus-a350-flights/">Ethiopian now flies from Geneva to Lyon</a>.&nbsp; </li>
<li>It's been a hard week in the skies over the UK and Europe, with <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy59k13e7eqo.amp">hundreds of flights cancelled</a> due to freezing conditions. Bad news for anyone hoping to travel this weekend: it <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/09/storm-goretti-germany-heavy-snowfall-strong-winds-france-northern-europe">ain't getting better.</a>.. </li>
<li>The <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/bulletin/news/most-reliable-punctual-airlines-aeromexico-b2895541.html">most punctual airlines in the world</a> have been named, and for the second year in a row, Aeromexico takes the global win.&nbsp; </li>
<li>And finally, <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy8v5z15551o">potential competition </a>seems to be <a href="https://www.visitlondon.com/blog/eurostar-new-routes-london">scaring Eurostar into action</a>. But are they all talk, or will these new routes actually come to fruition? Guess we'll find out sometime in the 2030s...</li>
</ul>

The Harsh Realities of a Dream Trip & The Great Airport Debate

The Detour

All the inspiration and top tips you need to take that next big adventure

Barcelona

Travel Guides

Our expert Navigators share their top tips for booking the cheapest flights

Cockpit

Flight Hacking

Weird, wonderful, and adrenaline-fuelled adventures around the world

Rocky Mountains

Adventurous Escapades

Cheap flight with an unusual airline? Here's what you're really getting into...

Airline seats

Airline Reviews

A sunlit departure lounge at Hamad International Airport in Doha features rows of empty seats and a view of aircraft through the expansive windows.

An airplane approaches Los Angeles International Airport, framed by tall palm trees.

<h3 dir="ltr">Setting the scene</h3>

The best airports don&rsquo;t feel generic at all. Instead, they set the tone perfectly for the trip ahead.&nbsp;

&ldquo;In Bora Bora, you land on an island and have to take a magnificent boat ride&rdquo;
<hr>
&ldquo;Nice has a flair; the magic of the place, the runway close to the sea when the airplane is landing or starting, you can see the beautiful shoreline and the big mountains behind.&rdquo;
<hr>
"Koh Samui - so dreamy and magical, and so many fun things to do while you wait"

But one place that takes&nbsp;island time to the next level? Aitutaki in the Cook Islands &mdash; it's barely an airport, and all the better for it.&nbsp;

&ldquo;<a href="https://cookislandsairports.com/airport-ncai/">Aitutaki</a> is the best. Does a shed at the bottom of a coral runway count?"

The Best and Worst Airports in the World according to Jack's Flight Club

Historic mausoleums with domed structures set against the backdrop of the Tian Shan mountains in Kazakhstan.

This article was originally published in The Detour in December 2023
<hr>
Last week, I got an email from British Airways denying me a compensation claim I&rsquo;d made. I always knew there was a chance they&rsquo;d say no, but I was hoping, given the absolute chaos of it all, that they wouldn&rsquo;t. Then again, even making the claim in the first place had felt a bit cheeky, since I&rsquo;d booked the flight with Avios.
To give you a (not-so) brief summary of how the whole experience went down, my husband and I were flying home from our mini-moon (half-moon? Crescent moon?) in Turkey in early November, and all was looking good as we boarded at Istanbul Airport. We did notice ground crew running to and from the plane with bits of paper, but thought nothing of it.

Of course, boarding group rules hadn&rsquo;t been followed, so there were people moving around the cabin in every direction. It took a while, but eventually we got moving. What I hadn&rsquo;t appreciated, though, was just how far aircraft have to taxi at Istanbul airport&mdash;it took us around half an hour to reach our departure position near the runway.
We were sitting there for about 15 minutes before the pilot came over the loudspeaker to explain that we had in fact missed our ATC takeoff window, and the next one we could get was in 40 minutes. Cue grumbling from around the cabin.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m sorry, but it gets worse,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Our aircraft was changed shortly before the flight, and we&rsquo;re now travelling at maximum capacity, so we don&rsquo;t have the extra fuel on board to wait here that long. We&rsquo;ll have to taxi back to the stand to refuel. But as you know, that takes 30 minutes, so we&rsquo;ll actually miss our next slot, too&hellip;&rdquo;&nbsp;*groans*.
By around 1.5 hours into our tarmac-bound adventure, the cabin crew decided to serve us up our snack of a 250ml bottle of water and a flapjack. Most welcome at that point, especially since the plane&rsquo;s air conditioning wasn&rsquo;t exactly doing the job while static on the ground. Then, just past the 2-hour mark, the pilot said we had a slot in an hour, so we&rsquo;d start taxiing in 30 minutes.
By that point, what had been a sunny morning when we&rsquo;d arrived at the airport had turned into torrential downpours and strong winds. ATC were now limiting departure slots due to the weather. We were reassured that we&rsquo;d probably be fine, though&mdash;and surprisingly, we were. Seemingly completely unaffected by the rain, we took off just over 3 hours late.

You&rsquo;d think that&rsquo;s where the saga ends, right? Wrong! Due to potential turbulence on the ascent, the cabin crew very sensibly stayed seated for longer than usual. They eventually began their service, approx. 2 hours after handing out complimentary refreshments. Except this is modern short-haul BA, and only the first one is free in economy (<a href="https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1791732/British-Airways-free-coffee-tea">on most routes</a>).
With a plane full of disgruntled, dehydrated and peckish passengers, everyone wanted to order something. And then the card machine started playing up. You can see where this is going&hellip;
Working their way from row 12 towards the back (we were in 27), it took them two hours to get to us. Not least, because the crew themselves needed a break during that time. They were exhausted, frustrated, and completely overwhelmed. Especially since we&rsquo;d all started asking about what would happen to our connections once we arrived in Heathrow.
In the end, we landed 3 hours and 5 minutes late&mdash;just over the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.britishairways.com/content/information/delayed-or-cancelled-flights/compensation">3-hour requirement</a>&nbsp;to qualify for compensation. They did manage to arrange alternative transatlantic flights for some passengers continuing to New York, but for most of us, it was a night in an airport hotel and the first flight home in the morning.
This was particularly frustrating, since our original connection had not yet departed. In fact, the gate hadn&rsquo;t even closed. But Heathrow is big, and they weren&rsquo;t able to hold the flight for the 15-odd of us heading to Glasgow. So off we went to spend our &pound;10 meal voucher on 2 Boots Meal Deals each.
The flight the following morning was comparatively uneventful; the last minute gate change, more chaotic boarding and fog-bound landing seemed like small fry. We hesitated before hastily cracking into our free 250 ml bottle of water and breakfast bar this time, but given we were practically halfway to Scotland by that point, it seemed like a safe bet.

We landed safely around 12 hours later than planned, returned home to our feline friends, and spent most of the day fairly zonked on the couch.
Since we reached our destination over 3 hours late, we were entitled to compensation&mdash;unless the delay had been outside BA&rsquo;s control. And what do you know, they blamed the weather at Istanbul. &ldquo;But here&rsquo;s a &pound;50 voucher as a gesture of good will&hellip;&rdquo;
This whole BA experience had been so different to my previous one, when I&rsquo;d flown business class for the first time and felt like a proper VIP. In fact, I&rsquo;d felt so fancy in the lounges, with my unlimited Diet Coke, and overly smiley cabin crew, that I began having notions of grandeur. Getting off the plane and having to catch the airport bus home with everyone else soon brought me back to reality.
But it got me thinking&mdash;is BA actually only good for business class passengers these days? Sure, we&rsquo;d still have experienced the same delay in Turkey, but how bad would that have seemed if we&rsquo;d been given a free coffee&hellip; or wine! The cabin crew wouldn&rsquo;t have had to fight with technology to process payments, and they might have been able to keep smiles on their faces just a little longer.
None of this was a problem in business class, we noticed, as service was flowing all through the delay and as soon as it was safe after takeoff. Their dedicated crew member bobbed merrily up and down the aisle to replace empty wine bottles and food trays, his passengers blissfully unaware of the chaos behind the economy curtain.
Of course, the main benefit of my flight was the convenient connection from Glasgow right through to Istanbul. But had I not been collecting Avios and had a&nbsp;<a href="https://thepointsguy.com/guide/the-ultimate-guide-to-the-british-airways-companion-voucher/">BA Companion Voucher</a>&nbsp;to spend, I would probably have chosen a cheaper flight with KLM via Amsterdam, or non-stop from Edinburgh with Turkish Airlines.
It certainly seems that it&rsquo;s a sort of outdated patriotism that keeps Brits returning to our flagship, rather than quality. The majority of us are not flying business class, so what is it that we're drawn to? Is it the convenient Heathrow departures/connections and decent flight times? The range of destinations?

I want to hear about your British Airways experiences, good and bad! Is it time for us to get over the flag carriers? And how does the BA experience compare to others, like Air France, Air Canada, or Lufthansa?
The&nbsp;<a href="https://simpleflying.com/us-no-flag-carrier/">US may not have a flag carrier airline</a>, but what is it that keeps those of you travelling in the States returning to United, American, or Delta over cheaper alternatives?
<hr>
Follow-up originally published in The Detour in December 2023
Last week, I shared a recent experience of a&nbsp;<a href="https://jacksflightclub.com/newsletter-2023-15-12">less than stellar British Airways flight</a>, and asked whether you had been through anything similar. One reader, very fairly, suggested that I was just having a whinge. The rest of you who wrote in, however, had plenty of unpleasant experiences to share.
Starting with customer service, many of you have been left wanting. From the in-flight&hellip;
<blockquote>
&ldquo;There is a level of complacency and arrogance now with BA in relation to the service that they offer. We found the crew to be miserable, lacking in urgency, disinterested in passengers and the customer experience.&rdquo;
</blockquote>
To the service counters&hellip;
<blockquote>
&ldquo;We land at London Heathrow and that's when the chaos begins. We all run down to make it to our connections. Turns out that our flight had been overbooked by a decent margin. They weren't ready to put a lot of us on that plane and just told us to go to the British Airways counter up ahead. This what they also told to folks arriving from Spain on Iberia and folks coming from the USA.
I told them that although I am resident in Ireland and can transit via the UK, I am a visa-required national and by law have to catch my connection that leaves Heathrow by 11:59 pm. The sad part was that it took me explaining this to the 4th person who knew about the rules! He pretty nonchalantly said,"Ah well, that's a pity. You're okay, though, the flight to deport back to Delhi will be free of cost." I felt my heart drop and felt giddy. Can you imagine hearing and experiencing that?&rdquo;
</blockquote>
To the call centres&hellip;
<blockquote>
&ldquo;Due to the drop in corporate travel in my industry post-pandemic, I lost my Silver status and am now Bronze. I have an outstanding lost/ missing miles claim that's been going on since September 8, and I keep getting sent to the same call centre where no one can help me or give me any other answer than 'due to exceptional circumstances, we are very busy. Your claim will take up to 8 weeks to resolve'.
I have filed a complaint, and they came back with... The same answer. And directed to me to the same call centre. I've given up/ lost the will to live in terms of getting these miles, and have recognised, like most things British, our flag carrier is obsessed with class and status, and once you drop down the ranks, good luck getting help.&rdquo;
</blockquote>

Lots of you wrote in to share criticism of the BA service, but it wasn&rsquo;t all doom and gloom! So I want to make sure we shout out the good sides too:
&ldquo;Earlier this year, I was traveling from Tokyo to Dublin. The flight from Tokyo to Heathrow was amazing. Then, lo and behold, my connection from London to Dublin was via British Airways. And of course the flight got delayed by 2 hours and we departed late. However, this time the ground staff was really nice, and it was a pleasant experience.&rdquo;
<hr>
&ldquo;Having just flown out to Texas with American and returned BA, I have to say BA was much better. American flight was freezing cold, even the crew were wearing their fleeces, the seats were cramped and there were only 4 toilets for all of economy and premium economy, food was generally OK, but BA beat them in every detail!&rdquo;
<hr>
&ldquo;From City Airport, British Airways is perfect. Obviously limited destinations, but the airport experience alone makes it worthwhile. Quick, easy and always on time.&rdquo;

There was one issue in particular that seemed to be the crux of many of your complaints, though&mdash;the knock-on effect of BA&rsquo;s hand luggage policies:
<blockquote>
&ldquo;The biggest issue for us, though, was the ridiculous policy of hold baggage charges and size of cabin bags. We were delayed and therefore missed our slot leaving because they had run out of space for bags in the cabin. As is our previous experience, there was the usual last minute pleas at the gate for people to relinquish their cabin cases to the hold free of charge, taken up by a few people who could then board quicker (not sure that's a positive bribe, but each to their own!). So, as general boarding began, we then spent 20 minutes or so standing in the queue on the air bridge waiting to get on to the aircraft whilst cabin bag space was being found.
When we eventually got seated, and squeezed our rucksack/bag under our seats, chaos continued to ensue with stressed cabin crew going up and down the aircraft trying to squeeze in more cases, of varying sizes.
An hour after our take off time, we eventually moved off. It was a similar experience coming home, but this time we were on a bigger aircraft and were not delayed.
Is it time for BA to consider scrapping their extra charges for putting luggage in the hold, on the basis that it will surely alleviate the time-wasting and inevitable delays? It seemed ridiculous to me that the full aircraft must have been flying with a near empty hold!&rdquo;
</blockquote>

Budget carriers have changed the way we travel by charging for both carry-on and checked luggage. We&rsquo;ve all had to become pros at packing light. And while we usually see larger airlines including a carry-on as a bonus, it means that where there&rsquo;s a free cabin bag, we will make the most of it. Planes simply don&rsquo;t have enough space for that, and chaos descends.
What about the other big airlines, then? Is there a safe bet? Well, it&rsquo;s a mixed bag, but aside from mentions for Aer Lingus and SAS, the major European and US airlines didn&rsquo;t receive resounding support. As one reader pointed out, could this be the pervasive effect of low-cost carriers?
<blockquote>
&ldquo;I'm hard-pressed to think of a brand-leading European state airline, as they've all dumbed down in the face of competition from Ryanair, easyJet etc. Hard to beat the Gulf states in terms of state flagships nowadays.&rdquo;
</blockquote>
As someone who tends to travel with budget airlines due to better routes and affordability, at least I always know what to expect. Unfortunately, that means that when I pay more and fly with a traditional airline, I also expect more. So while Wizz Air et al. go up in my estimations with every new route and price drop, BA etc. go down. And I&rsquo;m not alone:
<blockquote>
&ldquo;People hate on Ryanair, but over the last three years I&rsquo;ve almost never had an issue. It seems as though they really paid attention to all the negative press (and feedback) and then proactively did something about it.&rdquo;
</blockquote>
To wrap up this extended whinge, we could list all the other airlines you&rsquo;ve had bad experiences with (*cough* American, *cough* United). But let&rsquo;s just go for the one that really caught my eye.
I&rsquo;d like to thank reader Grant for now giving me something to worry about every day in the run-up to my transatlantic trip in February:
<blockquote>
&ldquo;As regards to US carriers, well probably American would be top of my list. DELTA however would be plumb last. Do you know what DELTA actually stands for?
Don&rsquo;t&nbsp;Expect&nbsp;Luggage&nbsp;To&nbsp;Arrive&rdquo;
</blockquote>

Thanks, Grant. And thank you to everyone else who wrote in! Your experiences will help Jack's members everywhere, so please keep the travel tips coming.

Delays and Drama - Are Our Flagship Carriers Any Good?

Snow-capped mountains rise in the backdrop of a remote village in Kyrgyzstan.

<h2 dir="ltr" id="part-i-dream">Part I: Dream&nbsp;</h2>

An old Kyrgyz woman turned from the stove, a red-hot spoon steaming in her hand. Before I could flinch, she loomed over me, her calloused hands holding my chin with a vice-like grip, and she pressed the scalding metal to the back of my throat.&nbsp;
I hear my father&rsquo;s voice echoing in my head, &ldquo;God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change&rdquo;.&nbsp;
I wish I could tell you that she was a witch doctor, a hoarder of jars and remedial elixirs promising to restore the HP of weary, wide-eyed travelers. But truthfully, I was too weak to ask. And nor did I care. I was too transfixed by the spectral shapes circling us, fairly certain they were shadows only I could see.
Four days earlier, medical access was the furthest thing from my mind. I was scurrying across Bishkek&rsquo;s streets with my friend and colleague, Kristi, on the hunt for our 4&times;4 rental. We had met for the first time in real life just a few days earlier, having planned this insane trip over Slack.&nbsp;
Pixelated camaraderie and a dirt-cheap Pegasus winter sale convinced us that the next logical step was to commit to ten days mostly off-grid in a &lsquo;Stan. What followed were months of deeply philosophical debate between riding skirts and rain pants, seat savers versus padded cycling shorts.&nbsp;
The only sane solution? Bring it all.

Our plan was to drive 4.5 hours from Bishkek to a village called Kyzart, meet our guide, and start our horse trek into the Tian Shan. We would stay in traditional yurts with nomadic herders, something I&rsquo;ve always wanted to do, and make our final ascent to the alpine lake of Song Kul.&nbsp;
After the trek, we&rsquo;d head another 5 hours south to the town of Naryn and spend the night at a hostel. Next, we&rsquo;d drive off-road deeper into the mountains to guide us through the Kok Kiya valley toward one of Kyrgyzstan&rsquo;s most stunning remote lakes, K&ouml;l-Suu. 
We&rsquo;d need a special border permit to cross a military checkpoint (it&rsquo;s located near a sensitive border zone near China), a few gallons of extra fuel, and old-school coordinates to guide us. No biggie.&nbsp;
Soon enough, I'd discover that I needn't have worried about that permit...

Driving in Bishkek is a touch above beginner level. I had only just gotten my full license a month prior, and so I happily let Kristi take the wheel in what can only be described as Russian roulette.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Oh god, Kash, where are the lanes?&rdquo; she mumbled, half-drowned by the incessant shrill of honking horns and screeching tires. The only thing soothing her anxiety? Taylor Swift, of course.&nbsp;
Turns out, the only thing I needed to do to experience culture shock was to plop myself in the passenger seat of a Toyota, eyes wide at the blur of life unfolding, &ldquo;Anti-Hero&rdquo; crackling on the radio. I could&rsquo;ve saved myself some serious saddle burn.
Genghis Khan statues, hawkers dishing out roadside plov. Overturned transport trucks, twisted carcasses on asphalt. Mosques pressed against Orthodox churches. Wild horses completely unbothered by it all.&nbsp;

&ldquo;Arggggh, are we driving on the left or the right? Why are those guys driving on the right?&rdquo;&nbsp;
&ldquo;Ummm, maybe it&rsquo;s both?&rdquo;&nbsp;
&ldquo;Woah, are those billboards made from rocks? Cool!&rdquo;
&ldquo;Should I go? Do I have time to merge?&rdquo; &ldquo;Go, go, go!&rdquo; 
&ldquo;Wait, is that a baby?&rdquo;&nbsp;

The biggest culture shock, however, wasn&rsquo;t Bishkek&rsquo;s vehicular chaos. I had lived in Mexico. I thought I knew things. I had spent two years acclimated to the toilet paper bin. I took whatever the street-food gods threw at me. But nothing, absolutely nothing, prepared me for Kyrgyz toilets.
Allow me to rephrase: Nothing on God&rsquo;s green earth had prepared me for Kyrgyz ROADSIDE toilets. I won&rsquo;t go into detail here; some things are better left unspoken. But heed these words of advice: Brace yourself mentally, physically, and spiritually. Don&rsquo;t breathe. Don&rsquo;t look down. Remember it&rsquo;ll be over soon (probably).&nbsp;&nbsp;
And for the love of all things holy, empty your pockets.&nbsp;

Back en route, the road unwound before us, and we both relaxed into the rhythm of the drive, deliberately turning a blind eye to yet another multi-vehicle pileup.&nbsp;
I couldn't believe I was here. For years I had dragged that little yellow Google Map man over every street imaginable, fascinated by its nomadic culture, one of the last remaining in the world. 
The people here have watched empires come and go: Mongol invasions, Chinese dynasties, Russian rule, and Soviet control, and yet their flag still rises. Red, with a sun crossed by forty lines, each one representing a clan fighting quietly to keep their traditions alive. And now, here I was coasting along the Silk Road, feeling like I was sharing a breath with everyone who ever passed this way.&nbsp;
The view shifted like a magic eye poster: shepherds setting up the first yurts of May as wild foals stay close to their mothers, traversing squelchy green steppes and occasionally crossing the highways to reach a stream.&nbsp;
Their numbers appeared to multiply the more our eyes adjusted, moving past the dust of ancient settlements and ruins that speak of a forgotten era.&nbsp;

What captivated me the most was the trail of mausoleums leading us deeper into the mountains. Photos of lost loves and eagle feathers adorn ornate, rust-coloured tombs that seemed at odds with the alabaster mountains in the distance.&nbsp;
They reminded me of sandcastles, each plot echoing tales of Islamic faith, Kyrgyz tradition fused with Soviet history. Later on, my guide would tell me that the cemeteries are intentionally placed on hilltops and horse trails across all four corners of the land, &ldquo;close to the heavens, so they can follow the path of nomads.&rdquo;

After a few hours and a minor breakdown of our car, we reached Kyzart, the last village before the trek to Song Kul Lake and home to <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kyzarthorses/?hl=en">our guide Ryskul</a>.

He&rsquo;d been guiding tours here since he was a teenager and knew the mountains like the back of his hand. The money he earned from guiding treks had allowed him to install a full Western-style bathroom with an electric shower and toilet&mdash;a total upgrade from the traditional Kyrgyz setup. He was proud to show us the renovation in progress when we arrived at his home.&nbsp;
His mother, Roza, served us some of the best bread I&rsquo;ve ever tasted. The Italians have nothing on her.&nbsp;

&ldquo;The last time I rode a horse was on my tenth birthday,&rdquo; I excitedly confessed to Ryskul. His brows twisted, a silent sigh escaping his lips when it dawned on him what the next four days with two clueless white women would entail. He muttered something in Kyrgyz under his breath. I didn&rsquo;t wait for a translation.&nbsp;
Our next destination, on the other hand, was deserving of translation: the Tian Shan, or &ldquo;the Celestial Mountains.&rdquo; A bolt of silk dropped carelessly from the heavens, strewn across the &lsquo;Stans before spilling into China.
Only an hour into the trek, my mind was happily suspended in disbelief. Valleys of jade and clay swept me up into a world of saffron and silk, crescent moons and caravanserais&mdash;silent stories carried by the trade winds. I&rsquo;m telling you, borders can&rsquo;t contain something this close to magic.&nbsp;

Sensation was the only thing reminding me I still resided on Earth. A dull ache in my back. The creak of the saddle beneath me. The distant rumble of thunder, and a hundred wild horses running in its echo.
Minutes later, bolts of lightning struck behind us in the valley, threatening to turn our peaceful trot into a test of nerve. Ryskul sprinted ahead, beckoning us with a whistle to haul ass.&nbsp;
My horse lunged forward into a gallop, his mane whipping in my face, and I clung for dear life as we outran the storm. I could feel myself tipping, my hiking boots slipping from the stirrups. I cursed myself for not taking Reddit&rsquo;s advice seriously. &ldquo;I have no horse-riding experience; how stupid would it be to go on one of those multi-day treks?&rdquo;&nbsp;
Bracing myself, I squeezed my eyes shut, waiting for the moment I&rsquo;d be sent tumbling into the valley, whispering silent prayers to every god under the sun. The terrifying plummet never came, and neither did divine intervention, but as I white-knuckled the reins, a jarring "POP" in my spine heralded a revelation: There's a reason why I'm an atheist.

Riding into the first yurt camp was one of many moments that humbled me on the trek in ways I still struggle to put into words.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Wow,&rdquo; I whispered to my horse.&nbsp;
The Kyrgyz steppe stretched out before me like an endless emerald ocean rising and falling in the distance. I had never seen anything like it. Never felt so far from home&mdash;in the most liberating way.
 I have this feeling when I travel, like there&rsquo;s an invisible thread stretched between me and home. The further I go, the tighter the pull, and I can&rsquo;t tell if it's going to drag me back or just break. 
Here, I would have happily let it break.&nbsp;

And the yurts! The colour of bone, layers of ancestral felt hugged all sides of the jailoos, cocoons for shepherds against the darkening sky.&nbsp;
Inside, I was met with a surprising contrast, an explosion of geometric and floral patterns fighting for attention, jolting awake the weary traveler seeking warmth from a crackling stove.&nbsp;
With steaming cups of chai in hand, we sat cross-legged on the floor, the swelling black leaves infusing their power into our aching glutes. Ryskul stifled a laugh beside me. A shepherd, undeterred by his audience of foreigners who didn&rsquo;t speak a word of Kyrgyz, was making a spirited case for Islamic conversion to anyone who happened to wander into his yurt. Today that was us.&nbsp;

A low, intricately carved wooden table snaked around our feet, groaning under the weight of what seemed to be a month's worth of groceries, a testament to the generosity of our hosts. Pots of homemade jam in every conceivable berry, bowls of fluffy white rice, and hearty stews brimming with potatoes and horse meat&mdash;something I'd usually think twice about tasting.&nbsp;
But taste I did; slurping down the broth, I kept my eyes fixed on the towering dessert stands stacked high with pastries and sweet bread. I tried not to dwell on the thought that I might be eating a creature that could have led other travelers to this very door. Horse meat is a staple here, but declining a meal would be seen as insulting to the cook.&nbsp;
People here have relied on horses for everything for centuries, so it makes sense that the tradition made its way onto the table too. &ldquo;Horses are a man&rsquo;s wings.&rdquo; So goes the Kyrgyz proverb. From statues to sports, stamps to soups. To understand the Kyrgyz people is to understand the deep, spiritual bond between man and mare.&nbsp;

We woke early the next morning, ready for day 2 of our trek. Peeling back the makeshift bamboo door of my yurt, my boots were greeted by the slick sweetness of dewdrops, horses grazing in the grass nearby. 
It was all but silent except for the deliberate brush-brush-swish of a traveler using a bottle as a makeshift sink to brush their teeth. A sound that, in my many years on the road, has always said&nbsp;&ldquo;Screw your corporate cubicles and your 401k, I&rsquo;m out here living.&rdquo;&nbsp;

Saddling up, Kristi and I made quite the pair; between us, we must&rsquo;ve had at least 6 layers of clothing on our bottom halves. Me with my padded cycling shorts underneath my leggings and waterproof trousers (earning me a high five from a German trekker who had the same wave of brilliance) and she with her waterproof detachable riding skirt. The circumference of an Edwardian kirtle, it swallowed her and half of the horse.
The Kyrgyz had never seen anything like it, trailing their hands along the warm fleece underside. A helper at the camp pursed his lips together, giving a single nod, the universal sign for &ldquo;not bad.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;
As I wrung out my leggings from yesterday&rsquo;s trek, it was clear Kristi had won that philosophical packing debate.&nbsp;
We rode 5 hours that day, and not for a minute did the rain relent as we ascended 3,228 meters to the Tuz-Ashuu Pass.&nbsp;
The valley surged with sleet and fog, the path ahead completely dissolving the higher we climbed. I no longer trusted I was part of a group; it was just me and an eerie mist swirling around my grunting horse. His hooves came into contact with an impassable trail of pure, treacherous ice, and we sickeningly skidded sideways down the mountain.&nbsp;

"Woaaaaah," Ryskul&rsquo;s disembodied voice called out from the abyss, "No, no, no, stop, stop, you go dowwwwwn&hellip;"&nbsp;
Had he called out a second later, we would've plummeted off the ridge.&nbsp;
That's the thing about fog: it erases everything you think you know is there. By the time we reached the top, I couldn&rsquo;t feel my fingers anymore. The rain had needled them past pain and straight into a dull, clumsy numbness, and the ache in my back had started to spread upwards in a slow, cold creep. Finally, we reached the top of the pass for a quick break.&nbsp;
As Ryskul disappeared to find any bit of cell service, Kristi and I huddled underneath her rain skirt, rubbing our hands together vigorously to regain feeling.&nbsp;
My spine was threatening to snap into shards of ice.&nbsp;&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not sure if I can keep riding,&rdquo; I whispered quietly, mostly to my horse.&nbsp;

But we continued on, for what felt like an eternity, through endless sucking squelchy marshes, every once in a while stepping through a curious mound of blackened bones and matted, half-scorched fur. I could make out a few sheep skulls and vertebrae, cracked and calcined, and remnants of felt or blankets fused to the bones by an intense and deliberate fire.
A cemetery of winter, each of these mounds marked a campsite where the jut&mdash;killing cold&mdash;won. Where a family had to burn what they couldn&rsquo;t save: animals lost to storms, and perhaps felt walls that sheltered them, all confined to the same purifying fire to spare the living livestock pasture from disease. We passed by quietly; the weight of the place settling solemnly into my bones.&nbsp;
Ahead, across the last span of open steppe, the yurts of the camp stood like a small cluster of pearls. And beyond them, a band of silver at the edge of the world, the slate-grey eye of Song Kul.&nbsp;
This was the picture I had come for. But as we rode the final stretch to the camp, the distance to the lake itself seemed to warp and stretch, not shrink; it was a blurry, indifferent dream.

As I struggled down from my horse, Ryskul caught my eye. Not with a smile, but with a long, assessing look. He saw the sweat beading on my cheeks, the unsteadiness of my stance, and the fever burning like a low, sinister inferno behind my eyes. I grasped the barrel of my horse for balance.&nbsp;
He said nothing. He didn&rsquo;t have to. His silence was the clearest translation of all. We were two days from Kyzart. Two days from anything resembling help. And the real journey, the one I hadn&rsquo;t packed for, was about to begin.

Dream and Delirium on the Kyrgyz Steppe

Finland

Scotland

Netherlands

United States

Mexico

Sri Lanka

Fiji

Guatemala

France

Spain

Hey there Travellers,
Like much of the world this week, Katy's off on holiday, so I get the special honor of sending out the first Detour of 2026 🎉
New Year's Eve, for many folks, is a time of reflection! It's the perfect excuse to dig through some old memories and take stock of those meaningful moments.&nbsp;
So that's our theme for this week: memories.&nbsp;This Detour is chock full of them &mdash; from this year's highlights, to nostalgic travel tattoos from trips long past.&nbsp;
Let's make 2026 another great year, Travellers! And let us know in the comments which travel memories you're hoping to create in the next twelve months &mdash; maybe we can help :-)
Wishing you a safe and happy New Year,

Olivia - Sub-Editor of the Detour

Permanent Souvenirs: Our Travel Tattoo Tales&nbsp;

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The Best and Worst Airports in the World according to Jack's Flight Club

The Harsh Realities of a Dream Trip & The Great Airport Debate

Delays and Drama - Are Our Flagship Carriers Any Good?

Dream and Delirium on the Kyrgyz Steppe

Ringing in 2026 with Our Travel Memories

Permanent Souvenirs: Our Travel Tattoo Tales

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Take the Window Seat on the Bernina Express & Jack's Festive Facts