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Japan

Tokyo is a massive metropolis (in every sense of the word) &ndash; it&rsquo;s the city with the largest population in the world, in parts a concrete and neon jungle, in others you&rsquo;ll find tiny shrines and quiet backstreets flanked by high-rise apartments.
It has 23 wards, each with its distinct culture and atmosphere. You may have heard of names like Chuo, Shinjuku, Shibuya or Taito, each with their own neighborhoods. It&rsquo;s the kind of city where you could spend weeks on end and not see everything on your list.
I scored a return trip from London via Copenhagen to Tokyo for under &pound;450, and I spent 5 full days traversing the city. Read on for my tips on how to make the most of your time (and where to get the best ramen) in town.&nbsp;
A quick note on the links in this guide: we&rsquo;re not affiliated with any of the external sites included in this guide, so we&rsquo;re not getting any kick-backs or commission. We&rsquo;ve only included resources we think will genuinely be useful to help you decide if this destination is for you.

<h2>Getting there</h2>
Tokyo is a major transport hub, so it&rsquo;s usually easy to find flights from around the world.&nbsp;
Japan has 2 major airlines that fly from Europe and North America to Tokyo: Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA). Both offer non-stop flights from large hubs like London, Paris, Frankfurt, Munich, Stockholm, New York, LA, San Francisco, Vancouver, Chicago, Boston and Dallas. ZipAir Tokyo is a budget option for non-stop flights from the West Coast of the US.&nbsp;
Most flagship airlines offer non-stop flights to Tokyo as well, like British Airways, Lufthansa, KLM, SAS, Air Canada, Delta, American Airlines and United Airlines. However, the cheapest way to get there is usually to take connecting flights, especially via China.

Here&rsquo;s a handy JFC guide on what to expect when booking your flight to Tokyo:
From Europe:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Expected average price range: &euro;470s-&euro;670s</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">How many cheap flight alerts we&rsquo;d expect in a year: 15+</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Lowest price we&rsquo;ve ever seen:&nbsp;<a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/deals/tokyo-in-330s-390s-rtn-from-across-europe">&euro;300 rtn</a>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
From the UK:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Expected average price range: &pound;350s-&pound;530s</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">How many cheap flight alerts we&rsquo;d expect in a year: 20+</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Lowest price we&rsquo;ve ever seen: <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/deals/free-bag-japan-south-korea-in-320s-340s-rtn-from-london">&pound;338 rtn</a></li>
</ul>
From the USA:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Expected average price range: $570s-$890s</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">How many cheap flight alerts we&rsquo;d expect in a year: 20+</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Lowest price we&rsquo;ve ever seen: <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/deals/la-to-tokyo-at-$257-rt">$257 rtn</a></li>
</ul>
From Canada:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Expected average price range: $770s-$1200s</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">How many cheap flight alerts we&rsquo;d expect in a year: 15+</li>
<li>Lowest price we&rsquo;ve ever seen: <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/deals/tokyo-at-678-rt">$678 rtn</a></li>
</ul>

<h3 dir="ltr">By train</h3>
If you&rsquo;ve arrived in another city in Japan, you&rsquo;ll likely catch the Shinkansen (bullet train) and/or JR Rail (the national rail service) to Tokyo.&nbsp;
Shinkansen tickets are typically pricey, but they make up for that with exceptional service and speed &ndash; you&rsquo;ll be able to get from Osaka/Kyoto to Tokyo in less than 3 hours. As of 2025, ticket prices are around:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">14,920 JPY from Osaka (approx. $100/&pound;75)</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">18,380 JPY from Hiroshima (approx. $125/&pound;95)</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">11,500 JPY from Nagoya (approx. $80/&pound;60)</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">13,320 JPY from Kyoto (approx. $90/&pound;70)</li>
</ul>
You can buy Shinkansen tickets from major stations in these big cities (via machine or ticket counter), or you can pre-book online <a href="https://smart-ex.jp/en/index.php">via the official website</a>.&nbsp;

You&rsquo;ll likely see third-party websites like Klook also selling Shinkansen tickets &ndash; these tend to be a little more expensive (due to their booking fees), so it&rsquo;s better to buy them on the official website or in person at the station.&nbsp;

Larissa's Pro Tip

<h3 dir="ltr">JR Rail pass</h3>
You may be wondering whether it&rsquo;s worth buying a <a href="https://www.jrpass.com/">JR Rail pass</a> (which would give you unlimited travel for a certain number of days), or buy your tickets as you go. Unless you&rsquo;re planning on travelling constantly on Shinkansen trains throughout your trip, it&rsquo;ll likely be cheaper to skip the pass and just book your tickets individually. You can check your individual itinerary <a href="https://www.jrpass.com/farecalculator">here</a>.

<a href="https://boutiquejapan.com/ekiben/">Ekiben</a> are bento boxes that you can buy in stations to eat on the go. You'll find them both before and after ticket gates, but if you're traveling from Tokyo Station, there's plenty of choice in the food court area of Daimaru, a shopping center attached to the station.&nbsp;

<h2 dir="ltr">Visas</h2>
Depending on which passport you hold, you may need a visa to enter Japan.
At the time of writing (June 2025), travelers from the UK, most of Europe, the USA, and Canada will be granted a 90-day visitor visa on entry, so you don&rsquo;t need to apply before your trip.&nbsp;
All visitors need to fill out a <a href="https://www.customs.go.jp/english/passenger/declaration/declaration_app.html">customs declaration</a> before they arrive &mdash; you can do this on the plane with a paper form, or you can organize it beforehand via <a href="https://www.customs.go.jp/english/passenger/declaration/declaration_app.html">Japan Web</a> and present your QR code on arrival.&nbsp;
The rules for each country are updated regularly, so it&rsquo;s important to check your own government guidelines before traveling.

<h2 dir="ltr">Cash &amp; Currency</h2>
The currency in Japan is the Japanese Yen (JPY), with $1 USD being equivalent to around 145 JPY. This is about the price it&rsquo;ll cost you to buy a bottle of water or a pastry at the convenience store.&nbsp;
Your accommodation costs will depend on where you want to stay. Dormitory/hostel beds start at 2500-6000 JPY/night, while a standard hotel room costs 10,000&ndash;20,000 JPY/night. Ryokans are traditional Japanese rooms, with tatami mats, paper doors and dinner/breakfast included, and you can book these (usually outside big cities) for around 20,000&ndash;30,000 JPY/night.&nbsp;
Japan is very much still a cash-based country, particularly for touristy stuff like souvenirs, street snacks, and temple charms. Some restaurants will also be cash-only, even in big cities like Tokyo or Osaka.&nbsp;

Thankfully, getting cash is very easy, even with foreign cards. Just head to the nearest 7-11 (there are thousands of stores across the country) and use the 7-11 bank ATM in the shop. These won&rsquo;t charge you any fees to withdraw cash from your bank account.&nbsp;

The majority of hotels, restaurants, and shops will accept card payments though, either with your bank or credit cards. In a particular Japanese quirk, the <a href="https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2359_003.html">public transport IC card</a> you&rsquo;ll be buying to travel on the metro, the bus or the train can also be used at convenience stores and some restaurants. The most popular IC cards are Suica and Iwoca.

<h2 dir="ltr">Seasonality</h2>
Japanese culture is in tune with the changing seasons, with thousands of festivals and celebrations that line up with the calendar.&nbsp;
Depending on where you head in Japan, the intensity of the cold/heat will differ &ndash; in Hokkaido you&rsquo;ll get much cooler summers and frozen winters, versus Okinawa, where the opposite is true. But for central cities like Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima, the weather will be similar enough.&nbsp;
<h4 dir="ltr">Spring &mdash; March&ndash;May</h4>
Temperature: 5&ndash;28 C/41&ndash;82 F
The biggest celebration of spring is when the cherry blossoms bloom in March&ndash;April, and it&rsquo;s also a popular time to visit the country. The <a href="https://sakura.weathermap.jp/en.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener">maps published each year</a> that predict when the blossoms will peak across the country are a handy tool for planning your cherry blossom tour.&nbsp;
During these times, you should expect crowds of Sakura spotters everywhere, and locals will be out taking part in hanami, or picnics under the cherry blossom trees. There will also be lots of Sakura-flavored snacks and treats on offer.&nbsp;
<h4 dir="ltr">Summer &mdash; June&ndash;August</h4>
Temperature: 18&ndash;35 C/64&ndash;95 F
One word: humid. If you visit during these months, the humidity will be above 70%. That means it&rsquo;s worth packing light layers, as well as sunscreen and a hat.&nbsp;
People often travel for summer festivals in cities like Aomori, Sendai, Kochi and Shiranui. But within Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, you&rsquo;ll hear the sound of taiko drums, and shrines will be decorated with lanterns and finery.&nbsp;

<h4 dir="ltr">Fall &mdash; September&ndash;November</h4>
Temperature: 10&ndash;20 C/50&ndash;68 F
This time of year is becoming almost as popular as cherry blossom season, with autumn foliage painting the country red. It&rsquo;s also cheaper in general to visit Japan post-summer, which makes it a really nice option if you&rsquo;re looking for discounts on accommodation or flights.&nbsp;
Unsurprisingly, you&rsquo;ve also got <a href="https://www.ana.co.jp/en/gb/japan-travel-planner/japanese-festival-omatsuri/0000007.html">plenty of festivals</a> to celebrate the change in season. At&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/mjt5yf/kyoto_autumn_night_illuminations_at_temples_and/">the shrines of Kyoto</a>, there are light shows going into the evening during this time, against a backdrop of autumn leaves.&nbsp;
<h4 dir="ltr">Winter &mdash; December&ndash;February</h4>
Temperature: 4&ndash;15 C/39&ndash;59 F
I visited in February 2025, so I have a particular fondness for this time of year! The majority of my days there were sunny, but I still needed my scarf and a winter coat. We had one day of snow in Kyoto, which was a nice treat, too. It was decent sightseeing weather, but we did have to wrap up at times. 
Our trip also coincided with the&nbsp;<a href="https://hidden-gems-of-kyoto.find-japan.com/plum-blossom-festival-at-kitano-tenmangu/">plum blossom festival</a> in Kyoto &mdash; they&rsquo;re less well-known than cherry blossoms, but equally beautiful. Unfortunately, not many trees had bloomed by the time the festival rolled around on the 25th February, but it was still enjoyable to go to the shrine and have plum tea and dango.

<h2 dir="ltr">Travel Style</h2>
Japan is, on the whole, extremely easy to navigate. You&rsquo;ll find the society there is very orderly (more than back home, at least!), so you can almost guarantee your train will be on time, the streets will be clean, and you&rsquo;ll find signs to get you where you want to go.&nbsp;
Japanese people have, in general, a very welcoming and hospitable approach to foreigners. It&rsquo;s not uncommon for everyone, from the staff in your hotel to a random stranger on the street, to 'go the extra mile' and be willing to help you, even if they&rsquo;re not confident speaking English.&nbsp;
These things combined make it simple to get around big cities like Tokyo and Kyoto without knowing one word of Japanese. Even if you need to order in a restaurant without an English menu, you can point to the pictures of the food you want. Of course, at least a few words of Japanese are appreciated, like:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Konnichiwa &mdash; Hello</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Arigato gozaimasu &mdash; Thank you very much (formal, used for everyone you don&rsquo;t know)</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Ohayō gozaimasu &mdash; Good morning</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Konbanwa &mdash; Good evening</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Itadakimasu &mdash; Thank you for the meal (said before eating)</li>
<li>Sumimasen &mdash; Excuse me (useful to get the attention of waitstaff)</li>
</ul>
Outside of this, Google Translate (or another translation app which has image-to-text translation) will be your best friend. Almost everything is written down in Japan, with plenty of signs, menus, instructions and so on. You just need to know where to look, and when to whip out your phone to find that hidden ramen restaurant.&nbsp;

<h3 dir="ltr">Pickpockets (or, not)</h3>
You may know (or have read stories about) someone who has misplaced their valuables while travelling in Japan, only to be reunited with their phone, passport, or wallet down the line. This may lead you to believe that the country is some sort of anti-pickpocket Utopia, where something lost will always find its way back to its rightful owner, and petty theft is the last thing you need to worry about.&nbsp;
It&rsquo;s true that Japan is, in general, an extremely safe country to visit on the whole &mdash; not only is violent crime uncommon, but even muggings and theft are nowhere near as prevalent as in Europe. But, this doesn&rsquo;t mean it can&rsquo;t happen to you during your visit.&nbsp;
There are some areas of large cities, like Kabukicho or Roppongi in Tokyo, or Nishinari in Osaka, where there is a higher risk of pickpocketing and general antisocial behavior. So, keep your wits about you regardless.&nbsp;

LGBTQI+ travelers are unlikely to receive any harassment or discrimination from locals &mdash; you will find a higher proportion of LGBTQI+ friendly bars, clubs, and businesses in places like Shinjuku/Ni-chome and Nakano in Tokyo, but you won&rsquo;t find these types of businesses outside big cities.&nbsp;
Many LGBTQI+ travelers visit Japan without any problem, but activities that are both specifically aimed at LGBTQI+ people and welcoming of foreigners can be limited and hard to find. World Nomads has a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/travel-safety/eastern-asia/japan/queer-travel-in-japan">great guide</a> on visiting as an LGBTQI+ traveler, with specific bar recommendations and sauna etiquette.&nbsp;
Japan is a conservative country and, regardless of your orientation, physical or sexual touch is seen as something to be kept private, so it&rsquo;s worth keeping this in mind.&nbsp;
POC travelers do stand out in Japan, given that it&rsquo;s a largely homogenous society. That being said, foreigners and expats are now extremely common in the big cities, so you&rsquo;re unlikely to experience any discrimination or harassment. <a href="https://www.malikahkelly.com/blog/2024/4/28/is-japan-racist-what-black-travelers-need-to-know-before-booking-their-trip-to-japan">Here&rsquo;s a first-hand account</a> of a Black woman&rsquo;s experience travelling in Japan.&nbsp;
If you&rsquo;re a solo female traveler, Japan is likely going to feel much safer than some Western countries, due to the absence of violent and petty crime in society. City streets are very well lit, and there are always many people around, no matter when you&rsquo;re out and about.&nbsp;
There have been some reports of sexist and misogynistic behavior against women, but these tend to be targeted towards residents rather than foreigners.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.adventurouskate.com/solo-female-travel-japan-safe/">This article</a> talks about what to watch out for if you do decide to travel to Japan alone.

<h2 dir="ltr">Getting around</h2>
Tokyo has one of the most extensive public transport systems you might encounter anywhere in the world &mdash; no surprise when it has to move millions of people a day.&nbsp;
As with all public transport in Japan, there are certain customs which are seen as normal on the metro but may seem strict in comparison to what you experience at home:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">No talking loudly/playing music on the train, and keep your phone on silent</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">There are no rubbish bins in the station (or on the streets), so take your rubbish with you back to the hotel&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">No eating/drinking on the train (unless you&rsquo;re on the Shinkansen)</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://metropolisjapan.com/women-only-train-cars-tokyo/">Women-only cars</a> are active during peak hours&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Wait in an orderly line on the platform when waiting for the train (you&rsquo;ll likely see arrows on the ground)&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Keep your bag in your lap, and be aware of your surroundings </li>
</ul>

<h3 dir="ltr">Metro and suburban trains</h3>
The crowning feature (and the one you&rsquo;ll likely use most often) is the metro. It&rsquo;s extensive, with 142 stations spread across the metropolitan area. The most popular stations include:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Ginza (Ginza Line, Hibiya Line, Marunouchi Line)</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Asakusa (Asakua Line, Ginza Line)</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Ueno (Ginza Line, Hibiya Line)</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Shibuya (Ginza Line, Fukutoshin Line, Hanzomon Line)</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Shinjuku (Shinjuku Line, Marunouchi Line, Oedo Line)</li>
</ul>
It&rsquo;s quick, clean, efficient (the norm in Japan) and runs throughout the day from 5am until around midnight. It&rsquo;s also fairly cheap, with <a href="https://www.tokyometro.jp/en/ticket/regular/index.html">a ride typically costing between 180 and 324 JPY</a>, depending on the distance. You can buy tickets from ticket machines at each station&nbsp;(in denominations from 180 JPY to 330 JPY), or use your preloaded IC card. You can put money on your IC card directly in your phone&rsquo;s wallet (if you have the e-version of the card, which is exclusive to Apple phones), or via the ticket machine with cash (or debit/credit card).&nbsp;
Using Google Maps is your best bet for navigating the metro, as it has extremely easy-to-understand way finding features. It&rsquo;ll tell you which exit you&rsquo;ll need to take, which carriage you should travel in, and which color line you&rsquo;re transiting on.&nbsp;
To get to places like the Ghibli Museum or Disneyland, you&rsquo;ll need to jump on a suburban train instead. Functionally, there isn&rsquo;t any difference between this and the metro in terms of your tickets (IC card works across both) or the way you navigate it. The only difference is that you&rsquo;ll have to catch these trains from major stations, like Tokyo Station, and the platforms are usually above ground, instead of underground like the metro platforms.

<h3 dir="ltr">Buses</h3>
Similarly to the metro, the Tokyo bus network is extensive. To use the bus, you find the bus stop and stand in an orderly line behind those who arrived before you. In busy areas, there will be lines on the pavement to direct you.
Once the bus arrives, you jump on through the back door. If you&rsquo;re paying with cash, you&rsquo;ll need to take a ticket from the box near the door; otherwise you&rsquo;re fine to just sit down. The normal rules apply here &mdash; if the bus is too busy, offer your seat to those around you who may need it more than you. If you&rsquo;re standing, hold on to the handrail.&nbsp;
When you reach your stop, press the button and get your payment ready &mdash; you&rsquo;ll pay when you leave the bus (via the front door). You can pay with your IC card by tapping it as you leave (via the front door), or with change. Keep in mind, the driver can&rsquo;t break notes over 1000 JPY.&nbsp;

<h2 dir="ltr">Food</h2>
A lot of what we now know as &lsquo;Japanese&rsquo; food originated in Tokyo. That, alongside the fact it&rsquo;s Japan&rsquo;s biggest city, means you&rsquo;ll be absolutely spoiled for choice for every single Japanese dish you want to try.&nbsp;
Here are a few that are known to be particularly good in Tokyo:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Curry: served with rice or udon</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Monjayaki: pan-fried batter topped with cabbage, seafood (similar to okonomiyaki)&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Edomae sushi: the &lsquo;typical&rsquo; sushi you&rsquo;re probably familiar with, with raw seafood on rice</li>
<li>Gyu-katsu: deep-fried beef cutlet (usually wagyu beef)</li>
</ul>

I lined up for about 45 minutes one evening to eat at&nbsp;<a href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/mSwjdSTMpNeP4mSz8">Gyukatsu in Asakusa</a>, and it was well worth it &mdash; you can even grill each piece of beef to your taste. They do have 2 locations within a 5-minute walk of each other, so it&rsquo;s worth scoping out both lines to see which is shorter.

Tokyo also has the highest number of Michelin-starred restaurants in the world, covering not just Japanese cuisine, but also French, Chinese, Spanish and Indian. As with everywhere in Japan, Tabelog is where you should go for restaurant reviews and reservations. Any restaurant above a 3.5 rating should guarantee you a really good meal (these ratings are stricter in Japan than in other countries).&nbsp;

<h3 dir="ltr">Street food</h3>
It&rsquo;s worth noting that &lsquo;street food&rsquo; in Japan isn&rsquo;t quite the same as in other countries, as it&rsquo;s considered rude to eat and walk. Because of this, you&rsquo;re more likely to find shopfronts with proper seating, or casual pub-style spots called izakayas. 
Memory Lane in Shinjuku is a place that comes highly recommended by travelers for its atmosphere and&nbsp;yakitori (grilled chicken skewer) shops. Otherwise, Nakamise Street in Asauka, Tsukiji Outer Market and the Takeshita Street in Harajuku have some street food stalls. 
If you're looking for a little more than traditional foods like takoyaki (octopus balls), taiyaki (fish-shaped pancakes filled with red bean), and sweet sticky rice sticks called dango across the board, Harajuku is where you&rsquo;ll find the latest viral food crazes as seen on social media.&nbsp;
If you do buy food from a shop with no seating, it&rsquo;s either expected you&rsquo;ll take it away to eat later, or you&rsquo;ll eat it standing directly in front of the store you bought it from.&nbsp;

<h3>Convenience store food</h3>
There's no shortage of convenience stores in the country (7-11, Lawson, and Family Mart are the big three). You'd struggle to find a single street in a major metropolitan area that doesn't have one of these stores on it. Because of this, the food available here has become ubiquitous with a trip to Japan. It's almost a type of pilgrimage, where visitors scope out their favorite foods.&nbsp;
As well as the sheer number of stores, the quality of the food is impressive. You can find the usual snacks and drinks you'd expect anywhere in the world, alongside a surprising variety of baked pastries, hot food and take away meals. I'd recommend trying onigiri, katsu/egg sandwiches, and the melon pan&nbsp;from any of these stores.&nbsp;

<h2 dir="ltr">Useful links</h2>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/google-translate/id414706506">Google Translate App</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.jreast.co.jp/multi/en/welcomesuicamobile/">Welcome Suica card</a> (<a href="https://tokyocheapo.com/travel/suica-card-guide/">here&rsquo;s</a> how to get it on your phone)&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://tabelog.com/en/">Tabelog</a> - used for restaurant recommendations and booking</li>
</ul>

Jack's Guide to: Tokyo

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

New Orleans is one of the most unique and culturally distinct cities in the United States. It's packed with history, incredible food and music, and an energy like no other. Here's your quick and easy guide from a writer who knows all the local tips.

<h2 dir="ltr">Visas</h2>
Whether you need a visa to enter the United States depends on your country of citizenship. Visitors from Canada, most European countries, and some Asian countries can visit for up to 90 days without a visa. The state of Louisiana and the city of New Orleans have no local requirements for entry.
Visit the&nbsp;<a href="https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-visit/visa-waiver-program.html">US State Department website</a> for more information.

<h2 dir="ltr">Getting There</h2>
Reaching New Orleans is easy enough &mdash; The international airport is serviced by all major US airlines and features non-stop routes from all over the country, plus Toronto, Montreal, and London.&nbsp;
It&rsquo;s particularly well-connected for budget flights around the US. Spirit Airlines ferries passengers between NOLA and many American cities for $50-$150 RT.
Here&rsquo;s what to expect when booking your flight:
From Europe:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Expected average price range: &euro;450-&euro;650 RT</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">How many cheap flight alerts we&rsquo;d expect in a year: 2-4</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Lowest price we&rsquo;ve ever seen: &euro;418 (LUX- recent) and &euro;238 (AMS- 4 years ago)</li>
</ul>
From the UK:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Expected average price range: &pound;500-&pound;700 RT</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">How many cheap flight alerts we&rsquo;d expect in a year: 5-6</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Lowest price we&rsquo;ve ever seen: &pound;395 (GLA/LHR)</li>
</ul>
From the USA:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Expected average price range: $50-$150 RT (for budget airlines) or $150-$250 RT (for full-service airlines)</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">How many cheap flight alerts we&rsquo;d expect in a year: 8+</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Lowest price we&rsquo;ve ever seen: $48 RT with a budget airline, $98 RT for full service.</li>
</ul>
From Canada:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Expected average price range: $500-$700 RT</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">How many cheap flight alerts we&rsquo;d expect in a year: 0-2</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Lowest price we&rsquo;ve ever seen: No deals so far, but we&rsquo;re waiting patiently! </li>
</ul>
Pro-Tip: Amtrak connects <a href="https://www.amtrak.com/city-of-new-orleans-train">New Orleans to Chicago by train</a>. While not any cheaper than a local flight (and much more time-consuming), it&rsquo;s a neat way to see more of the country and allows you to take advantage of Chicago&rsquo;s much wider selection of international flights.

<h2 dir="ltr">Cash and Currency</h2>
As you&rsquo;d expect, USD is the only accepted currency in New Orleans. Most places accept card, but we highly recommend keeping some cash on you. Some bars are cash only, there are street performers and local vendors everywhere, and public transit doesn&rsquo;t accept cards at all.
While it&rsquo;s not a particularly expensive city compared to other US cities, there&rsquo;s a huge disparity in pricing between the French Quarter and other neighborhoods. If you&rsquo;re visiting on a budget, plan to stay and eat elsewhere when possible.&nbsp;

<h2 dir="ltr">Getting Around Town</h2>
Getting around New Orleans has a bit of a learning curve, but fortunately the city is relatively small and well-connected.
Public Transportation
There are buses and streetcars. The streetcars are popular with tourists and can take you between a couple of major attractions.
If you rely on the bus, be prepared to go with the flow. Schedules are unreliable, routes change for parades, and waits of an hour or more are common.
Pro-Tip: The best way to get an accurate arrival time for your bus is to text 41411. Send a message saying &ldquo;Norta#[four-digit stop number]&rdquo; and it&rsquo;ll send back a pretty reliable ETA.
Neither buses nor streetcars accept payment by card. You can&nbsp;<a href="https://www.norta.com/ride-with-us/how-to-pay">pay using exact change, use the Le Pass app, or purchase a ticket/pass in advance</a>. As of January 2025, the fare for most riders is $1.25.
Rideshare/Taxi
Rideshare apps and taxis here are easy to use and tend to be similar in price, with the apps usually being a tad cheaper. However, United Cab (the primary taxi company in town) is typically cheapest for airport transfers. They charge a flat rate of $36 from the airport to downtown New Orleans, or vice versa.
Pro-Tip: Getting an Uber from the French Quarter is pricey, especially at night. Walk a few blocks away from the action, then order your ride home. I saved $5-15 per trip this way. Just keep to well-lit areas and don&rsquo;t go too far &mdash; especially if you&rsquo;re alone.

<h2>Neighborhoods in New Orleans</h2>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">The French Quarter - aka The Quarter. The most famous (and touristy) part of town. Bars, restaurants, and kitschy souvenir shops.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">The Garden District/Uptown - Beautiful historic mansions, Audubon Zoo and Park, upscale dining. Includes Magazine Street, the best place for non-kitschy souvenirs.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Marigny - A few artsy blocks near the Quarter. Includes Frenchman Street, the main hub for <a href="https://www.neworleans.com/plan/streets/frenchmen-street/">jazz music</a>.</li>
<li>Mid-City - Home to most of the city's famous above-ground <a href="https://www.neworleans.com/things-to-do/attractions/cemeteries/">cemeteries</a>.</li>
</ul>
This is just a taste &mdash; you can read about <a href="https://www.neworleans.com/plan/neighborhoods/">more neighborhoods here</a>.

<h2 dir="ltr">When to Visit</h2>
Aside from some hot and humid summers, NOLA is a pretty pleasant year-round destination. The tourism calendar is driven by festivals.
December-February
Winters in New Orleans are pretty mild, ranging from about 45-65 &ordm;F (7-18 &ordm;C) with minimal rain. The tail end of winter marks the start of high season, as the Christmas and New Year&rsquo;s festivities tend to blur into <a href="https://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/">Mardi Gras</a>. Those parties and parades start around a month in advance of the actual Tuesday (early-February-early March), and begin to peak the weekend before.&nbsp;
March-May&nbsp;
This is technically high season, but if you visit in the weeks directly following Mardi Gras, you won&rsquo;t catch big crowds. It&rsquo;s also got pleasant weather, with warmer temps than winter but less rain than summer. Some of the most beloved festivals happen in mid-spring, like <a href="https://www.nojazzfest.com/">Jazz Fest</a> and the <a href="https://frenchquarterfest.org/">French Quarter Festival</a>. This is one of the best times to visit the city.
June-August
Muggy and hot with lots of mosquitos. While severe storms are highly unlikely, this is peak hurricane season. Unless you really want to visit a seasonal event like <a href="https://satchmosummerfest.org/">Satchmo Summerfest</a> or <a href="https://www.neworleans.com/event/essence-festival-of-culture%C2%AE-presented-by-coca-cola%C2%AE-new-orleans/3296/">ESSENCE</a>, we recommend choosing a different time.&nbsp;
September-November
This is another mild time to visit, with (slightly) cooler temps. It&rsquo;s the tail-end of hurricane season, but that doesn&rsquo;t stop most folks &mdash; New Orleans is a fantastic place to spend your <a href="https://www.neworleans.com/events/holidays-seasonal/halloween/">Halloween</a>. There&rsquo;s also Oktoberfest celebrations and the <a href="https://www.neworleans.com/event/bayou-bacchanal/11654/">Bayou Bacchanal</a>. November tends to be one of the most peaceful months, with nice weather, fewer events, and less hurricane risk.

<h2 dir="ltr">Travel Style</h2>
As you can probably tell, New Orleans is the perfect place to go with the flow. You can see the sights in a few days with little planning, as things move at a relaxed pace. Don&rsquo;t overbook &mdash; wandering, mingling, and soaking up the city's unique energy is the best way to experience it.

<h2>Useful Links</h2>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.neworleans.com/">New Orleans official tourism site</a></li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskNOLA/">r/askNOLA</a></li>
</ul>

Jack's Guide To: New Orleans

United States

I&rsquo;ve had an anxiety disorder for a pretty long time. It&rsquo;s not an easy problem to solve, but most articles mention things like breathing exercises and positive affirmations. When you have severe, debilitating anxiety, that can feel like suggesting a Band-Aid for a broken leg.
Anxiety can hold you back, especially when you throw traveling into the mix, with all its triggers: it&rsquo;s uncomfortable, sometimes risky, and often full of unwelcome surprises. And it doesn&rsquo;t help to see folks on social media travel the world, seemingly with ease, in situations that you know would leave you ill.&nbsp;
This is my story about how I learned to balance anxiety with an incessant need to explore, with <a href="#real_advice">some tips at the end</a> for conquering these struggles yourself.
<h3 dir="ltr">So, you&rsquo;ve got an anxiety disorder.&nbsp;</h3>
The first time I had a panic attack, I didn&rsquo;t understand what it was.
My dad and I had been planning to drive out into the California desert to see&nbsp;<a href="https://www.visitcalifornia.com/experience/salvation-mountain-slab-city/">Salvation Mountain</a>, the psychedelic painted monument that marks the entrance to the hippie haven of Slab City. I was into both artsy hippie stuff and the desert as a teenager, so this was a holy grail location for me.
But rather than being excited to finally make it out to Slab City, I was laying on my bedroom floor, wondering if I was about to die.&nbsp;
If you&rsquo;ve never had a panic attack, it&rsquo;s hard to understand how it feels. It&rsquo;s like drowning. The first sign is a blood rush to my ears, and then I lose my hearing. My face and hands go numb. Usually I feel nauseous; always I feel faint.
When this happens to me now, I can think myself through it.&nbsp;You&rsquo;re having a panic attack. It&rsquo;s okay. It will pass.&nbsp;
But for the first half dozen panic attacks or so, I didn&rsquo;t know what was happening. I actually thought I was having a severe medical emergency. I also thought it was triggered by fear, so I found it embarrassing and impossible to admit.
So when I had a panic attack that morning before going to Salvation Mountain, I didn&rsquo;t really know how to explain myself to my dad. I just told him I didn&rsquo;t feel well. He was obviously frustrated, but agreed we could go another time. (We never did.)
It wasn&rsquo;t until college that I realized that these were panic attacks, and that I had an anxiety disorder. An actual&nbsp;disorder. A diagnosed chemical imbalance in my brain was causing this to happen. Not some random bout of cowardice.
Categorizing this problem as a disorder made it easier to deal with. Where I used to wallow in self-loathing at my inability to cope, now I said, &ldquo;Okay, you have this disorder. What are you going to do about it?&rdquo;
<img src="https://cdn.jacksflightclub.com/id/5c9d9bcad5edcf4149b8860b00b02d5641fa85b6">
<h3 dir="ltr">Pushing through the pain.</h3>
I didn&rsquo;t travel very far from home prior to working for Jack&rsquo;s Flight Club, but when I did travel, the anxiety traveled with me. It followed me through hotel rooms all across the western US. I panicked in Sedona, in Idaho, in Salem, Oregon. All over Washington state. In nice hotels and not-so-nice hotels.&nbsp;
For the first half of my twenties, sleeping in a hotel room meant spending hours on the bathroom floor, feeling like I was dying. And that was a trade I was willing to make, over and over and over again if it meant I could visit somewhere new.
I eventually started to make peace with these panic attacks, more or less. I learned that getting angry with myself, or being upset that I was ruining my trip, or worrying that I&nbsp;might have a panic attack, all made it worse. It was better to just accept it. I&rsquo;d be on edge, and then I&rsquo;d feel the sickness in my stomach and the blood rush in my ears, and I&rsquo;d think Well, here we go. Let&rsquo;s get this over with.&nbsp;
By the time I turned 25, I could spend all night panicking, and then get up the next morning like everything was normal. I had it down to a science.
I needed to travel. Even if it wasn&rsquo;t far. I didn&rsquo;t want to have panic attacks, but I couldn&rsquo;t stand to stay at home. What&rsquo;s a rough night or two, compared to the benefit of seeing the country?
I could cope with it. I learned some of the triggers and the tricks to getting around them. Food has always been a big trigger for me. If I am in a hotel room in an unfamiliar place and I don&rsquo;t have access to bland, digestible foods that I can eat with an unsettled stomach, I am practically guaranteed to spiral.&nbsp;
Thus entered the emotional support tortillas: they&rsquo;re cheap, don&rsquo;t need refrigeration, and can slide flat into my bag. Best of all, I can eat them even if my stomach&rsquo;s upset. I have not gone on an overnight trip without tortillas in years, and they have kept my typical anxiety from ballooning into panic more times than I can count.&nbsp;
If it works, it&rsquo;s not stupid.&nbsp;
So after having panic attacks in several of western America&rsquo;s finest motel rooms, what does an inexperienced traveler with a panic disorder decide to do?&nbsp;
Go to Alaska. Alone.
Naturally, I brought multiple packs of tortillas.&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">Maybe my anxiety ISN&rsquo;T some horrible curse?</h3>
This part of the story&nbsp;ought to see me hyperventilating in the Alaskan wilderness somewhere. It ought to end in disaster.&nbsp;
But it didn&rsquo;t. And contrary to what I&rsquo;d feared, it was my anxiety that saved me.
<img src="https://cdn.jacksflightclub.com/id/492ebc156606c1dc67876edae11a0603a15e7200">
I didn&rsquo;t panic on that trip, but I sure did panic beforehand. I had several sleepless nights in the days leading up to it. I memorized not only the address of where I was staying, but the entire layout of the area. You could have dropped me anywhere within two miles and I could have walked home. I memorized the locations of hospitals and police stations. The address and phone number of where I was staying. All the bus routes. Anything that could have helped in a crisis.
This was, I thought, &ldquo;crazy person behavior.&rdquo; It was driven by pure panic. I planned for every possible contingency, and I berated myself the entire time.&nbsp;You&rsquo;re insane. No one else would need to do this. Normal people don&rsquo;t memorize entire neighborhoods before a trip.
It seemed crazy riiiiiight until my phone died on the way back from a hike. I couldn&rsquo;t get a taxi, so I would need to take the bus. It was raining. It was dark. I had no phone. I was not staying in an area with stores that were open late. It&rsquo;s not like there were payphones, or hordes of other folks around to give me directions. I was completely alone, in Alaska, in the dark and the rain, with no cell phone or car or map and no one in a 500-mile radius who knew that I was there.&nbsp;
So I just&hellip; went home. I knew the way. I knew where the closest bus stop was, and I knew how to get back to my room from my own bus stop. And I only knew these things because I was &ldquo;crazy&rdquo; enough to prepare for such a situation.
This was the first time I thought of my anxiety as anything other than a burden. It had&nbsp;saved me. This thing that I had spent the last twenty years HATING myself over, with which I was getting into constant mental arguments. The thorn in my side. My cross to bear. It saved me.
This situation made me see my anxiety differently. It was always just the thing that was holding me back from fully enjoying traveling, and it offered nothing in return. But that trip to Alaska made it click for me &mdash; my anxiety is the part of my brain that wants me to stay safe.
It&rsquo;s sort of like an overzealous parent. You might resent them. They might be wrong. They might even be harmful sometimes. You can&rsquo;t listen to it every time, or even most of the time. It&rsquo;s wrong more often than it&rsquo;s right. But&hellip; at the end of the day, it just wants to keep you safe.
Understanding that my anxiety was a survival reflex and not a character flaw changed how I approach it. We&rsquo;re less combative now, me and it.&nbsp;
I was already learning how to live with my anxiety, but now I was beginning to accept it too.&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">So&hellip; now what?</h3>
Like any normal person with an anxiety disorder triggered by travel, I began traveling full time as a digital nomad.&nbsp;
And believe me, there are times when I want to shriek about the little personal hell I have created for myself. Every single time I go anywhere &mdash; a day trip, a move to my next apartment, a flight, a train, you name it &mdash; there is a little voice in my head screaming at me: I can&rsquo;t do this.
A few years ago, I would have gotten angry with that voice. I would have let it drown out my own thoughts until I was ill. But now I just say, &ldquo;Yes, you can. You&rsquo;ve done it a dozen times. And we&rsquo;re going to do it again, and it&rsquo;s going to be fine.&rdquo;&nbsp;
And every single time, I am glad I did not listen to that little voice. I sometimes take its advice, and plan a little more or take some extra precautions. I can always use those reminders. But I refuse to listen to it when it wants me to just run and hide. I am happy to say that since that panic attack before Slab City, I have not bailed on a single trip due to anxiety.&nbsp;
I eventually did get to Salvation Mountain, having been haunted for years by the fact that I&rsquo;d missed out on it the first time. So I drove there by myself and stood in front of it, ten years later. I was waiting for some kind of epiphany, I guess, but that epiphany never came. It&rsquo;s a lovely place maintained by some fascinating people, and I had a great time in Slab City. But that sort of cosmic, now-the-balance-has-been-restored feeling didn&rsquo;t come. It was just a nice day.
<img src="https://cdn.jacksflightclub.com/id/38dd107bdde019993c0abb060d5479273c76e1da">
Sometimes you simply grow beyond the need for that feeling. I am not the same kid who broke down over a day trip to the desert.&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">I promise I wrote all of this for a reason.</h3>
You can't sugarcoat the psychological effect that a disorder like this can have on you, even when you&rsquo;re not actively experiencing an episode. It colors your world, and wreaks havoc on the way you perceive yourself.
But here&rsquo;s what I actually came here to say: If you&rsquo;re reading this, and any of that tedious description of my various panic attacks sounds familiar, then I&rsquo;m talking to you. I could have just written a list of advice for traveling with anxiety, but I know it&rsquo;s more complicated than that. This is a full-on internal battle for some of us, and winning it goes deeper than just checking off tips in a listicle.
So I want you to know that I get it. You&rsquo;re not alone, even if it seems like everyone else around you can &ldquo;handle&rdquo; more than you can.&nbsp;
I&rsquo;m not gonna lie and say that &ldquo;anxiety is a gift!&rdquo; or &ldquo;focus on the positives!&rdquo; because that&rsquo;s empty and flat. But I will throw at least one motivational quote at you: you are probably tougher than you think you are.
If you really, truly want to travel and anxiety is all that holds you back, you can overcome it. It might suck&nbsp;a lot of the time. It might be harder for you than it is for your loved ones. It might limit the sort of trips you can take and dictate what you need to bring. But it doesn&rsquo;t have to stop you.&nbsp;
I went from being on the floor, incapacitated, over a day trip, to successfully traveling through a good chunk of North America and Europe. It took me ten years, but I did it. And so long as that infectious &ldquo;travel bug&rdquo; is worse than your disorder, so can you.

<h3 dir="ltr"><a id="real_advice"></a>Some actual, concrete tips for travel anxiety.</h3>
Start small. Your comfort zone is expanded in baby steps. Spend a weekend just a few hours&rsquo; drive or train ride away, then a few hours flight away, and THEN go bigger. Don&rsquo;t jump straight into Indiana Jones-esque adventuring. Book tour groups, and stay in safe and comfortable places. You can work yourself up to more daring stuff later if you really want to.
Get to the root of your triggers. Mine are mostly food and sleep, so I tackle those needs individually (with safe snacks and white noise apps, mostly). Don&rsquo;t try to pack light if you need comfort items to assuage your anxiety. That extra money for a checked bag is a small price to pay if everything in there goes towards keeping your head together. I know some people pride themselves on packing light, but you don&rsquo;t need to be one of them.
Let yourself go a little nuts before the trip. Make that massive list. Make that spreadsheet. Do that research. And for the love of all that is good &mdash; buy whatever travel insurance or free-cancelation upgrades you need to calm yourself down.
At the same time, do your best not to overbook. Schedule in rest days, which is good advice for anyone anyway, but especially important if you might be out of commission for a day or two and still want to see everything.&nbsp;
Make peace with the fact that it&rsquo;s going to be uncomfortable. You will probably never become a light and breezy traveler, and that&rsquo;s okay. What you can do is get lighter and breezier about the fact that you&rsquo;re internally freaking out. You&rsquo;re gonna be nervous, possibly even ill for part of the time. And that is okay. Even for all my horrible motel experiences, I still remember the incredible things I did on those trips more than I remember how hard those nights were.
But&hellip; you can take all this advice, and you might still end up hyperventilating on the floor. So what? It&rsquo;ll pass.&nbsp;
And in the midst of your panic, I hope you look back and remember that it used to take much less to put you there.&nbsp;

What’s it REALLY like to travel with anxiety

&ldquo;What is an error fare?&rdquo; you might ask. It&rsquo;s our favourite kind of flight tip, that&rsquo;s what!&nbsp;
Basically, we consider something an &ldquo;error fare&rdquo; when the flight price is verging on too-good-to-be-true &mdash; usually because someone at the airline genuinely made a mistake when they uploaded the prices. Oops!&nbsp;
<h3>What types of error fares occur?</h3>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">OTA Glitch fare &mdash; This happens when an Online Travel Agency (OTA) offers a fare so low that even the airlines do a double-take. Basically, they post a price that&rsquo;s way off from what the airline intended, leaving you with a deal so good it feels like a crime (but isn&rsquo;t, we promise).&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Currency Conversion error &mdash; When booking in one currency magically slashes the price compared to others. It&rsquo;s like the airlines forgot to check the exchange rate, and you get to pocket the difference.&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Human Pricing error &mdash; The classic. Some poor soul in the airline office fumbles a number, and suddenly that business class seat to Paris is the price of a bus ticket. Let's hope their contract allows a certain number of &ldquo;whoops&rdquo; moments before they're shown the door.&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Fare class error &mdash;&nbsp;When you score a first-class seat for the price of an economy ticket because someone botched the fare brackets. Don't ask questions, enjoy the legroom while the rest of us are cramped up in coach!</li>
</ul>
Over the last 8 years, we&rsquo;ve seen some absolutely crazy, jaw-dropping, unbelievably BUY-ME-NOW error fares. If you blinked when these emails landed, you might have missed them because error fares rarely hang around for long.&nbsp;
Here&rsquo;s a fairly exhaustive list of all the error fares we&rsquo;ve hunted down for JFC members over the last 8 years. From short-haul jaunts (2p to Vienna, anyone?!) to boujie biz class, we&rsquo;ve seen it all&hellip;
<hr>
<h2>2024</h2>
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Madrid and Barcelona&nbsp;in $290s round trip from Dallas/Philadelphia/Phoenix</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Tokyo at $681 round trip from Vancouver&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Bangkok at &euro;277 round trip from Munich&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Canc&uacute;n at &euro;217 round trip from Frankfurt&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Paris at $107 round trip from Los Angeles</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Los Angeles at &euro;99 round trip from Paris&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Melbourne at &pound;449 round trip from London</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Tahiti $539 round trip from Seattle</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">*non-stop/Business Class* Mexico City at &pound;1166 rtn from London</li>
<li aria-level="1">Buenos Aires at CA$310 round trip from Edmonton</li>
</ul>
Route of the year (so far): Los Angeles at &euro;99 rtn from Paris/Paris at $107 RT from Los Angeles were both with Norse and a total steal, especially with summer dates! And our first-ever error fare from Canada :-)
<h2>2023</h2>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">*Premium economy* Mumbai in &pound;410s-&pound;550s round trip from London&nbsp;</li>
<li>*2-in-1* Milan &amp; Dar es Salaam in &pound;170s-&pound;280s round trip from London/Manchester&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">2-in-1* Rome &amp; Dar es Salaam in &pound;280s-&pound;350s round trip from the UK &amp; Ireland&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">*Business Class* Peru in &euro;850s-&euro;980s round trip from Germany&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">*Premium Economy* Cali, Colombia in $300s-$330s round trip from Miami&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Mallorca &amp; Tenerife in $330s-$450s round trip from New York/Boston/Miami&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">*Business Class* USA, Canada &amp; Caribbean in &euro;450s-&euro;610s round trip from Dublin</li>
<li aria-level="1">*non-stop*&nbsp;Paris at $230 round trip from New York</li>
</ul>
Route of the year: Oofh, that's a tough one, considering it was a year of golden-ticket business/premium economy error fares. But Italy &amp; Tanzania take the crown! We're a bit biased, though &mdash; this multi-city trip was so stellar, 8 of our Flight Finders booked! Spoiler: <a href="https://jacksflightclub.com/travel-hub/jfcs-guide-to-zanzibar">Their office views were unbeatable</a>!
<h2>2022</h2>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">*Premium economy* Miami/Orlando to Colombia &amp; Ecuador in $280s-$380s round trip&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe round trip&nbsp;at &euro;292 round trip from Billund&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Victoria Falls at &euro;300 round trip from Copenhagen</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Maldives at &euro;280 round trip from Frankfurt</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Norway in $230s-$380s round trip from New York/LA</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Hawaii in &pound;320s-&pound;410s round trip from the across the U.K.&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">*Business Class* Dubai at &euro;399 round trip from Amsterdam&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">*Business Class* Madrid at &euro;66 round trip from Munich</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Iceland in $100s-$270s round trip from Chicago/Boston/Seattle/Orlando/Washington, D.C.</li>
</ul>
Route of the year: Lie-flat seats allllll the way to Dubai, for the price of an economy deal? Talk about luxury on a budget!
<h2>2021</h2>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">*Business Class* USA, Canada &amp; Caribbean in &euro;450s-&euro;610s round trip from Dublin&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">*Business Class* Peru in &pound;480s-&pound;730s/&euro;550s round trip from London/Frankfurt</li>
</ul>
Route of the year: If it's not one, it's the other.&nbsp;
<h2>2020</h2>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">*Business Class* Seychelles at &euro;775 round trip&nbsp;from Copenhagen&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">S&atilde;o Paulo in $200s-360s round trip from New York&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Porto Alegre, Brazil at $324 round trip from Washington&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Tel Aviv at $275 round trip from New York</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Buenos Aires/Santiago in &pound;280s-&pound;330s round trip from London&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Hawaii in &pound;290s-&pound;380s round trip from across the UK</li>
<li>Las Vegas at &euro;233 round trip from Frankfurt</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Morocco in $250s-$270s round trip from across the USA</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">*Christmas/NYE* St. Thomas at $91 round trip from New York</li>
<li>*Christmas* Vancouver at &euro;222 round trip from Copenhagen</li>
<li>U.S. Virgin Islands in $70s-$180s round trip from across the USA</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Portugal/Canary Islands at $199 round trip from Chicago</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Chile at $227 round trip from Chicago</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">*Business Class* Azores at $594 round trip from Boston</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Australia in $300s round trip from New York/Philadelphia</li>
</ul>
Route of the year:&nbsp;Spending Xmas/NYE in St. Thomas for $99? That's a no-brainer with a side of PCR tests.&nbsp;
<h2>2019</h2>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Auckland at &pound;791 round trip from London</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">*Business Class* Bangkok at &euro;448 round trip from Oslo </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Hawaii in &euro;500s round trip from Germany</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Panama at &euro;185 round trip from Dublin</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Bali &amp; Penang in &pound;300s round trip from London</li>
</ul>
Route of the year: Business class, peak season to Bangkok, or Panama for under &euro;200? That's a tough call. Panama might win on its rarity from Dublin.&nbsp;
<ul></ul>
<h2>2018</h2>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Hawaii from London at &pound;484 round trip</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Tokyo &amp; SE Asia in &pound;200s round trip from Geneva</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">*Business Class* Chiang Mai &amp; Penang in &pound;600s-&pound;700s round trip from Manchester/Edinburgh</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">*Business Class* Caribbean &amp; Americas in &pound;400s/&pound;500s round trip from London</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Mumbai from Amsterdam at &euro;204 round trip</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Panama at &euro;185 round trip from Dublin</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Vienna at &pound;0.02 round trip from London</li>
</ul>
Route of the year: Do we even have to say?&nbsp;
<h2>2017</h2>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">*Business Class* Tokyo at &pound;604 round trip</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">*2-in-1* Malaysia/Thailand&nbsp;in &pound;230s-&pound;250s from round trip Luxembourg</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Cuba at &pound;127 round trip from Milan</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Peru, Cuba, Guatemala, Panama, and Costa Rica in &euro;120s-&euro;160s round trip from Amsterdam</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Seychelles and South Africa at &euro;480 round trip from Dublin</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">New York at &pound;97 round trip from London</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">San Francisco, Denver, Chicago &amp; Houston at &euro;199 round trip from Dublin&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Canada &amp; NYC in &pound;100s/&pound;200s round trip from Manchester &amp; Dublin&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Route of the year: Adventure seekers, beach-bums, history buffs couldn't ask for more with Peru, Cuba, Guatemala, Panama, or Costa Rica &mdash; especially when the whole trip costs the same amount as your electricity bill!
<h2>2016</h2>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Australia in &pound;400s round trip from London</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Mumbai at &euro;204 round trip from Amsterdam&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Los Angeles at &pound;39 one-way from London </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">*Christmas* Tokyo at &pound;248 round trip from Paris/London</li>
<li>Hawaii in &pound;300s-&pound;400s round trip from across the U.K.</li>
</ul>
Route of the year: "&pound;39 one-way to L.A." has a ring to it, but honestly, wouldn't you rather trade your Dysfunctional Family Bingo card for Christmas in Japan?&nbsp;
<hr>
So there you have it &mdash; fares so great, somebody probably lost their job. Did you snag one of our error fares? Drop us a line and share the scoop! We're dying to know.&nbsp;

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Canada

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Greece

Georgia

Colombia

Germany

How to do Christmas differently this year: 5 unexpected places to get festive

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.
. . .

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The ultimate guide to finding cheap flights to anywhere

The rumors are true: finding the cheapest time to fly is no easy task. Most of you will have heard from people who have their own 'tips' on the best time to book flights; your super-organized friend will tell you booking early can save you a fortune. Another, less prepared pal will tell you to book as late as humanly possible.
So, who's right - when is the best time to book flights? Well, it's not that simple&nbsp;- while flight pricing doesn't follow an exact formula, there are many things you can keep an eye out for if you&rsquo;d rather spend all that hard-earned money on your actual holidays. We've curated some golden nuggets from our flight hackers to help you land the cheapest flights.
<hr>
Quick Reference:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/travel-hub/the-best-time-to-book-flights#h_55335685729741653176627671">Is there a best time to book flights?</a></li>
<li><a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/travel-hub/the-best-time-to-book-flights#h_95040722926531653176443444">What is the difference between short-haul and long-haul flights, and why does it matter?</a></li>
<li><a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/travel-hub/the-best-time-to-book-flights#h_45955256119651653176280168">The best time to book flights for holidays</a></li>
<li><a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/travel-hub/the-best-time-to-book-flights#h_48024604517661653176262817">The best strategies for finding cheap holiday flights</a></li>
<li><a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/travel-hub/the-best-time-to-book-flights#h_3634569815641653176238626">The best time to book flights to popular locations</a></li>
<li><a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/travel-hub/the-best-time-to-book-flights#h_8929508713691653176224913">How can I find out about unannounced sales?</a></li>
</ul>

<hr>
<h2>Is there a best time to book flights?</h2>
The best time to book isn't perfectly predictable, but you can use the data we&rsquo;ve collected over the years to set up a strategy for getting flights at their cheapest. The golden rules to follow are:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Don't wait until the last minute&nbsp;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Book flights 3-9 months in advance</li>
</ul>
<img src="https://cdn.jacksflightclub.com/id/77f8885e47712d22720d3916e0a17667dc5d0499" alt="Best time to book flights - girl staring at airport screen" width="512" height="341">
Even as an avid traveler, it can be challenging to keep track of the price tag on every destination on your bucket list.&nbsp; But, we have a feeling you love finding a good deal ​​since you're reading this guide.&nbsp;&nbsp;
So, at some point, you may have wondered how airlines decide on the price of a ticket since it's possible to pay a totally different price than the person sitting directly next to you.
Basically, airlines have different price groups for each seat and use complex algorithms to estimate how many seats need to be sold on each route by a certain period to make the most profit.
Once a target is met, they move on to the higher price group, but if seats don't sell, they get knocked down until they reach the minimum amount.
By this logic, you'd think that waiting on last-minute flights when airlines are desperate to sell off seats would be the best game plan.
But it's actually the opposite. Last-minute fares can go way up in price to take advantage of business travelers and others who may need to travel rather than simply want to. Airlines know they'll be less likely to gawk at the higher fare.
Although this isn't always the case, especially with short-haul flights, it's good to keep in mind:
"Banking on a last-minute deal is like playing roulette. The odds may be in your favor, but the house wins either way."
To find the best time to book your flight, you'll first need to know if it's a long- or short-haul flight.

<h2>What is the difference between short-haul and long-haul flights, and why does it matter?</h2>
How far you are going makes a huge difference when it comes to the best time to buy flights - short-haul and long-haul flights are two completely different beasts.

<h3>What is a short-haul flight?</h3>
Short-haul flights are less than 30 minutes to 3 hours - think quick domestic trips e.g. Boston to Philly or London to Belfast. However, it can also refer to technically medium-haul flights that last 3-6 hours like east coast to west coast trips in the USA or regional travel like Manchester to Ibiza.
We've found that short-haul flights are more predictable when deciding the best time to book: the best time to book a short-haul flight is a few weeks to four months before departure. The price variations for short-haul flights are consistently competitive, especially for popular destinations.&nbsp;
In the US, cheap flights come around pretty frequently to popular tourist spots like Hawaii and Las Vegas from big cities, like New York and Washington, D.C. This is mainly caused by price matching between the bigger airlines, and budget airlines needing more people to cover their costs. On the other hand, smaller cities like Salt Lake City and niche tourist spots like Myrtle Beach may not get to see deals as often.
In Europe, there&rsquo;s a lot more competition for short-haul flights. Budget airlines like Ryanair, Wizz Air, easyJet and Norwegian operate a lot of the same routes, and flash sales can drop at any moment. As a rule of thumb, you&rsquo;ll want to wait it out and book just a couple of months in advance with these guys.
On the other hand, flying with a national carrier like British Airways or Brussels Airlines lets you plan in advance - and includes the all-important hand luggage. They usually have short-haul sales a couple of times a year - once in February/March, then again after summer.
In general, short-haul sales usually mean 20-30 dollars/pounds/euros off the original price, compared to 100+ discounts on long-haul routes.

<h3>What is a long-haul flight?</h3>
Long-haul flights are 6+ to 12+ hours long and always cross into a new border.
When searching for a long-haul flight, booking in advance is a pretty good idea. Broadly speaking, buying tickets somewhere between 8 months and 6 weeks in advance gets you the lowest prices - but more detail on that soon.
One option worth checking for last-minute flights if you&rsquo;re in Europe is charter airline TUI. They buck the trend and often put deep discounts on flights less than 3 weeks away, mostly to beach-type destinations in the Caribbean and Europe.
Keep in mind that these are just general guidelines - prices on each route will vary based on many factors that affect the demand.
<h2>The best time to book flights for holidays</h2>
<img src="https://cdn.jacksflightclub.com/id/ad7042ff77981634c4a55c6d006e0858a496e024" alt="Best time to book holidays - map with sunglasses, toy flamingo and palm tree" width="640" height="437">
Booking cheap holiday flights can sometimes feel like an impossible task, but with 5+ years of experience under our belt, we&rsquo;ve developed a spidey sense for when you&rsquo;ll likely be able to book the cheapest holiday tickets.
<h4>Best time to book Thanksgiving holidays</h4>
As you're putting up your Jack O Lanterns, you might want to be on the lookout for Thanksgiving flights as well. They usually drop four to six weeks before the holiday and shoot up within two to three weeks. While it&rsquo;s rare to find, there's a chance to find last-minute deals a few days before Thanksgiving.
<h4>Best time to book Christmas and New Year's holidays.</h4>
Cheap fares for Christmas and New Year start showing up two to three weeks before the holidays. For Christmas, the closer the holiday gets, the more prices climb. But we tend to see last-minute price drops for New Year's Day - especially after Boxing Day. To cut costs even further - try flying on the day of the holiday.
<h4>Best time to book school holidays.</h4>
Cheap flights for Easter, spring break, and summer holidays pop up between November and February. Because prices for these periods do tend to fluctuate, it's worth monitoring your route to see when prices drop and being ready to take advantage of that
<h2>The best strategies for finding cheap holiday flights</h2>
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Sign up for airline newsletters to keep track of seasonal sales - for example, in the US, Southwest has sales almost at the start of every season. It's common to find blackouts on their pricier days (e.g., Christmas Eve), but there'll often be discounts on days that fall on a holiday.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Track prices with Google Flights tracker - if you've got specific dates already mapped out, the Google tracker is great for letting you know when prices change for that period. Combine that with the price history tool, and voila - no more second-guessing if the price is right! We&rsquo;ve written a handy guide on <a href="https://jacksflightclub.com/travel-hub/how-to-use-google-flights-to-find-deals">how to use the tracker</a> and other Google Flight features like a pro.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Sign up for <a href="https://jacksflightclub.com/">cheap flights newsletters </a>- hey, that&rsquo;s what we do! We take the hassle of price watching off your plate by notifying you when prices are great. We look for deals during the holidays too!</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Travel on the holiday - traveling on New Year's or Christmas Day can shave off quite a few bucks from your total price since most people want to settle in before the big day itself. This also applies to other major holidays like Thanksgiving and Easter.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Avoid the rush where possible - a holiday might fall on the weekend, so it&rsquo;s a no-brainer to come back on a Sunday or Monday to prep for the workweek. But according to <a href="https://www.cheapair.com/blog/holiday-flights/">CheapAir's</a> study, avoiding these popular travel days saved an average of $125 per ticket during Christmas.</li>
</ol>
Knowing the right time to book flights is a good start, but you'll also have to keep in mind where you're heading.
<h2>The best time to book flights to popular locations</h2>
Finding cheap flights to the most popular vacation spots requires some research on the country's weather, peak/off seasons, and some experience with airline pricing patterns. It may seem like a lot of information - but hey, that's why we're here!
Three tips to keep in mind when flying to popular locations:
1) Avoid the peak season hype - Peak season may fall during the dry season/summer or when a major event occurs. If you're not targeting a specific event - it's best to visit just before or after these peak periods.
2) For international (long-haul) flights, we usually start seeing deals 1 - 2 seasons before departure. For example, deals for summer trips show up during winter and springtime.&nbsp;
3) Deals to exotic locations like the Maldives are rare, but the airlines often have flash deals worth setting up trackers to find.
<blockquote>
We've written a guide on finding the absolute best time for the best chances to <a href="https://jacksflightclub.com/travel-hub/best-time-to-book-international-flights-usa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">score a cheap flight from the USA</a> to some of the most popular countries worldwide. It's worth bookmarking for your next trip!
</blockquote>
<h2>How can I find out about unannounced sales?</h2>
Now that you know when to buy the cheapest flights, we thought our go-to tools for actually finding these deals were worth mentioning.
<img src="https://cdn.jacksflightclub.com/id/3cf8793af483f2b1e0c5f15998fbd099ff869c50" alt="Best time to book - man booking flight" width="512" height="384">
<h4>Google Flights</h4>
<a href="https://www.google.com/travel/flights">Google Flights</a> allows you to look through a calendar to see what prices various dates bring back. It's probably the most comprehensive tool when it comes to depth and search options available, and it's also the most responsive.&nbsp;
One minor issue with this search tool is that not all airlines are included in the results (Thai Airlines, Air China, and China Eastern, for example, don't always show up). Also, it&rsquo;s worth noting that it&rsquo;s not great for browsing prices offered by <a href="https://jacksflightclub.com/travel-hub/is-it-safe-to-book-with-smaller-otas-on-momondo">OTAs</a> - the likes of Momondo and Kayak are more suitable.&nbsp;
<h4>Skyscanner</h4>
<a href="https://www.skyscanner.com/?previousCultureSource=COOKIE&amp;redirectedFrom=www.skyscanner.net">Skyscanner</a> has a practical and easy-to-use design that allows users to see, via simple graphs, information about how far in advance to look for flights for specific places. Drop-downs let you input where you're going from and to, as well as showing which months are expensive, and which are less likely to be so. Skyscanner is especially good for budget airlines.
<h4>Kayak</h4>
<a href="https://www.kayak.com/">Kayak</a> is great as its search options allow you to incorporate the cost of baggage within any search. This has become especially important in recent months as many airlines have significantly altered their policies and prices, with bags now potentially adding large numbers onto what initially seemed like very cheap fares.
<h4>Momondo</h4>
<a href="https://www.momondo.com/">Momondo</a> provides an easy-to-use service that lets you see how expensive your flight dates are, combined with information about how flying to different airports or nearby locations may be cheaper. It's best suited for popular destinations like the Netherlands, on which it holds more information.
Want more advice?
Knowing the best time to book takes you one step closer to scoring amazing deals like a trip to Australia from the USA for $200! (Yep, that's actually a deal we've found in the past!)
Finding the best time to book is deceptively simple on the surface, but it comes with a few caveats. To get the thrill of securing a massively impressive deal, keep an eye out for the distance of the flight, the high and low seasons, and the right window for holidays. If you'd like more tips and tricks on how we find great deals, check out our <a href="https://jacksflightclub.com/travel-hub/find-cheap-flights-to-anywhere">ultimate guide to finding cheap flights.</a>

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