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’s one of the most visited destinations in Europe, you can’t ignore that it’s also beginning to appear more frequently in headlines due to the impact of tourism. 

Over the years, many of our JFC team have visited Barcelona, and a few have even called it home, so we’re in a good place to tell you what’s what in the city. While we’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.

A quick note on the links in this guide: we’re not affiliated with any external sites we’ve chosen to include, so we’re not getting any freebies or commission. We’ve only included resources we think will genuinely be useful to help you make a decision on whether this destination is for you.

Pre-trip preparation

Visas

Due to being in the Schengen zone, visas here are fairly simple for most travelers:

• If you’re travelling on an EU, or Swiss passport, you won’t need a visa at all. 
• If you’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’ll find more info about this on the ETIAS website here.
• For travelers with any other passports, you can find some more in depth information here.

Vaccines and Medication

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: 

• UK: NHS Fit for Travel
• EU: Travel Advice for EU citizens
• USA: CDC Travelers' Health
• Canada: Canada.ca Travel Advice

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’re needed during your trip.

Other Essentials 

• Sunscreen — In peak summer, you’ll experience around 10+ hrs of sunshine per day, with high-level UV rays to match, so you’ll need some SPF 50+ to avoid any nasty burns.
• Mosquito repellent — A high-level DEET repellent (at least 50%)
• Any higher % DEET typically only increases how long it’ll be effective for, rather than offering ‘better’ protection from biting insects. Applying a 50% DEET should last you 10–12 hours.
• 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’ve applied your sunscreen (or until it’s fully absorbed) before spraying your repellent. 

Clothing 

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’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 research the beach you're on, as not all are nudist-friendly.

Cash and currency

Local currency: The euro (€)

The majority of bars, cafés, restaurants, and shops will all accept both card and cash payments. To avoid the eyes of pickpockets, we’d recommend only bringing a limited amount of cash for small purchases and tips, and paying by card for everything else.

ATMs

Although you’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 in this ATM guide.

Tipping

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’t have a nasty surprise. You can read a more thorough guide to tipping culture in Spain here.

Seasonality

Barcelona's seasons are what you'd expect from any Mediterranean city — hot summers, mild-to-cool winters, and it’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’s what you can expect from each season to help you make your plans:

Winter (December-February)

Winters there are fairly mild, with temperatures averaging around 8º–15º degrees. Snow is very rare, so no need to pack for the white stuff. 

There are fewer crowds roaming the streets, and you’ll find accommodation and activities quite a bit cheaper than during the summer months. It’s also a great time to go see the popular sites because they’re not too busy. 

But the true highlights of visiting in winter are the festive atmosphere of the Christmas markets in December and the Three Kings Parade in January. 

And best of all, the food! The city’s favorite festive treat, homemade turrón, will have hit the shelves (here’s where you’ll find some of the best), and grabbing a warming bowl of escudella i carn d’olla (aka, a festive dish of meats and vegetables in a yummy broth) is hard to beat if you ask us.

Spring (March-May)

At this time of year, it’s a little warmer and the flowers are blooming all over the city, so it’s a great time to go wandering through the parks and gardens. And towards the end of May, it’ll be time to hit the beaches again, ahead of the summer crowds.

You’ll also catch some great festivals that happen during these months, such as the annual Easter festivities, and Sant Jordi Day, where the streets are filled with stalls selling books and red roses. It’s their version of Valentine’s Day!

Summer (June-August)

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’re out and about, it’s worth carrying a hand fan and stopping off for some icy gelato to cool you down—we’ve heard Farggi sells some of the best!

As you’d expect, this is also an ideal time to take a day trip to one of the smaller cities and towns nearby, which won’t have nearly as many tourists visiting at this time compared to Barcelona. You’ll find our suggestions below in the ‘Day Trips’ section.

For some more in depth info, have a look through this summer in Barcelona survival guide—don’t worry, it’s not as dramatic as it sounds!

Autumn (September-November)

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 village of Monserrat, 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.

You’ll also see the city’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—find some of the best spots here.

And if you’re still craving some sea and sand, you’ll still be able to squeeze in a few more beach days before the winter truly sets in.

Note: If you’d like some more in depth month-by-month info, have a look through this guide to the city’s weather.

Transportation

How to get to Barcelona

You can get to Barcelona by air, sea, train, or car.

By air

Barcelona’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’ve seen from Europe, UK, the USA and Canada.

From Europe:

• Expected average price: €60 rtn
• How many cheap flight alerts we’d expect in a year: 12+
• Lowest price we’ve ever seen: €26 rtn

From the UK:

• Expected average price: £50 rtn
• How many cheap flight alerts we’d expect in a year: 12+
• Lowest price we’ve ever seen: £26 rtn

From the USA:

• Expected average price: $350 RT
• How many cheap flight alerts we’d expect in a year: 10
• Lowest price we’ve ever seen: $207 RT

From Canada:

• Expected average price: $710 RT
• How many cheap flight alerts we’d expect in a year: 10
• Lowest price we’ve ever seen: $548 RT
  

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 €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.

By train 

High-speed double-decker trains link Paris Gare de Lyon station and Barcelona Sants station  multiple times a day and take around 6.5 hours. If you book tickets in advance, they can be as low as €45. Be careful, though, as last-minute tickets can be priced over €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.

Transportation

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 buy tickets from the driver or online in advance. They’ll set you back €7.20 for a single trip or €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 €5.50. But there isn’t a direct line downtown, so you’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 €40.

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’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 read more about both cards here.

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.

Taxis & 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:

• The yellow and black exterior 
• Taxi sign on top of the car
• Identity card of the taxi driver in the front window
• Taxi meter on the dashboard

Bikes

Cycling is a great way to move around the city, especially during the summer when the metro gets busy and stuffy. There’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 ‘Bicing’. Sadly, these aren’t available to tourists because you need a proof of residency to unlock them. There are, however, plenty of rental shops, like Barcelona Rent A Bike, which also offers cycle tours of the city.

Internet and Cell Service

Wi-Fi and cell service are reliable and fast across Barcelona, including when you’re riding most metro lines.

Cell service and mobile data

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 eSIM, 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. 

Wi-Fi

Free Wi-Fi is available in several places across the city, such as:

• Barcelona Airport
• Public parks
• Libraries
• Shopping malls
• Tourist information centers

Remote working from Spain

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 many stylish co-working spaces dotted around the city, offering everything from hourly passes to monthly memberships. Most cafés 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’s worth asking at the counter to make sure before you set yourself up. 

Travel style

Barcelona is a safe and easy city to visit, as long as you’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 many social activities you can join, such as walking tours or cooking classes.

It’s also relatively easy to keep children entertained with heaps of child-friendly attractions and exciting family-friendly festivals.

Getting by

Barcelona is a very tourist-oriented city, so there are a lot of signs in English pointing visitors in the direction of popular attractions. 

Flight Finder Lauren says:

“Many locals also speak English and are usually very friendly, so don’t be afraid to ask for directions — 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:

• Hello: hola (oh-la)
• Goodbye: adeu (ah-dyo)
• Good morning: bon die (bon dee-yah)
• Please: si us plau (si oos plow), per favor (per fah-vor)
• Thank you: merci (mer-si)
• I’m sorry: perdo (per-doh)

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’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’s a win-win. One of our favourites has to be this stunning candle shop that was founded in 1761!

Pickpockets and common scams

You’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’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. 

Alongside solo pickpocketers, criminals often work in organized groups that will use distraction techniques to try to steal from you. This might look like:

• A person asking for the time 
• A confused ‘tourist’ asking for directions
• A salesman trying to sell you a tour
• A student doing a survey 

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. 

The most common areas for pickpocketing are popular tourist spots, like along La Rambla and outside La Sagrada Família.

 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 ‘no’ and walk away.

You may also come across fake tour operators attempting to sell you tickets to popular attractions like Park Güell or Sagrada Família. Both of these places have a limited number of entries per day and often sell out weeks in advance, so you won’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.

LGBTQ+ 

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 LGBTQ bars throughout the city (particularly in the Eixample district, like Candy Darling pictured below), along with pride parades during the summer. You’ll also find a LGBTQI+ centre located in the Sant Antoni neighborhood, which you can visit for support, recommendations and social events.

Female Solo Travelers

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. 

In terms of accommodation, we’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, have a read of this guide.

Travel tip: Almas Libres 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.