Barcelona Travel Blog

Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia in Spain. It's one of my absolute favorite cities in Europe, which is why I visit regularly. Since childhood, I've been vacationing around the city on the beaches, and I was able to attend the Olympic Games with my family and visit studying friends in Barcelona.

I've already made around ten visits to Barcelona. I've stopped counting. But here, I've written down all my tips for your city trip to Barcelona.

Here you will find all the tips and information you need for your city trip to Barcelona! Click on the individual sections to get more information.

And many more places that I've written down here: These include the Sagrada Familia, Barcelona's iconic landmark and Gaudí's still unfinished masterpiece.

Park Güell, I love this park with views of the city.

Tibidabo, the city's local mountain.

The football stadium of FC Barcelona. The most visited museum in the city. Awesome atmosphere!

Gothic Quarter (Barri Gòtic)

Montjuïc and the fountain in the evening.

And many more places that I've documented here: The most important sights in Barcelona.

Have fun in Barcelona!

You can visit Barcelona all year round.

It is especially recommended to visit between April and June or in the fall (September to October). The temperatures are pleasant, ideal for sightseeing and exploration.

But beware: during these months, Barcelona can also get quite crowded, especially during Easter and Pentecost. From June onwards, it can get really hot, often with temperatures over 30 °C.

Tip: Be sure to check if cruise ships are docked at the port during your stay.

Believe me - these things are a hassle. They flood the city with people who want to see everything in a short time without really leaving anything behind - except trash.

Accommodation prices are highest from May to September, just like the queues at the attractions. In August, some shops and restaurants may also be closed. No wonder - many Spaniards and Catalans use the summer holidays to go to the coast themselves.

It tends to get cold and rainy between December and February.

I once spent a week in Barcelona right after Christmas - during the day it was very pleasant at 16 to 22 degrees. However, it got quite chilly at night.

If you travel then, I recommend getting a hotel as many apartments in Barcelona do not have proper heating, as we know it. Otherwise, you'll be freezing your behind off at night.

If you want to experience Barcelona with fewer tourists:

Come during the pre-Christmas season or over New Year's Eve. The atmosphere is really special, many traditions are different than what we're used to - and I found it to be fantastic!

Here I have summarized all the tips for travel preparation. This way, you'll be well-prepared for your city trip to Barcelona.

Cities like Barcelona can be wonderfully discovered spontaneously and without a set plan.

However, the number of tourists increases significantly in spring - and you can quickly feel it: The city becomes fuller and more bustling. Especially in summer, it can get really crowded when the cruise ships discharge thousands of people.

I've traveled to Barcelona in every season. I particularly enjoyed it around New Year's Eve, in spring (April), and in October.

But to be honest: Due to the many cheap flights, hardly any season is really quiet anymore. There's always someone there.

To help you plan your city trip to Barcelona stress-free, we've gathered our best tips for you here.

This way, you make the most of your time on-site - without hurry and with plenty of highlights!

For many tours and attractions, you can get tickets cheaper if you book them before your trip. It's best to do this through the official websites of the attractions. Alternatively, you can get the official Barcelona Card or the Barcelona Pass.

Which Barcelona Pass is truly worthwhile? I've compared all the major city passes for Barcelona. Conclusion: The best deal currently is the Barcelona All-Inclusive Pass or the Explorer Pass from the same provider. Savings Tip: Sign up for the Go City newsletter to receive a 10% discount - but only when booking through this link. Important: Enter discount code in uppercase.

During my trips to Barcelona, I once tried the Barcelona Pass 'all-inclusive' and once the Turbo Pass Barcelona (also known as City Pass).

The benefit for you?

You pay for the city pass once and can then get started right away - just go to the attraction and show your pass. You'll receive your entry ticket without paying extra.

This way, you have a sort of flat rate for attractions. You don't have to think about whether your budget is still enough for the next museum - and experience shows that you actually see more with the pass than without it.

No wonder: Around 17 million overnight guests come to Barcelona each year - many of them want to see these highlights. With the pass, you're relaxed and faster there.

The most popular are:

Sagrada Familia

Park Güell

Nou Camp Stadium of FC Barcelona

Casa Mila (La Pedrera de Dia by Gaudí)

Without exaggeration: Especially at the Sagrada Família, queuing and long waiting times are to be expected.

The Barcelona City Pass, also known as the Turbo Pass, offers free entry to 30 attractions, free use of public transportation (from the airport), and additional discounts on.

If you're particularly interested in the numerous museums in Barcelona, you can save a lot here. But also famous attractions like Sagrada Família, Picasso Museum, or a ride on the hop-on hop-off bus are free with this pass.

The pass is available for up to 5 days. We had the pass for 3 days when we were in Barcelona and tested it intensively.

All information and our test of the Barcelona City Pass will soon be available in a detailed article.

More information about the Barcelona City Pass

Consider before your trip which attractions you want to see. Reserve your tickets online before your trip.

Do you feel like standing in the seemingly kilometer-long queue at the Sagrada Família?

In over 30 °C in the blazing sun? I don't.

The church is becoming increasingly popular every year, and the tourist crowds in Barcelona are growing larger - and the line at the entrance is getting longer.

Fifteen years ago, you could still drop by spontaneously. Today, it would be a real mistake not to book a ticket in advance.

With a reserved time-slot ticket, you save yourself a lot of waiting time - and nerves.

During my last visit, I took the audio guide tour (€34). That was sufficient. I recommend booking the audio guide or a real guide for your first visit. Gaudí incorporated so many details into the church that you might otherwise miss.

If you want to buy a regular ticket without waiting in line with a tour, you can reserve it here.

Here you can view all tickets for the Sagrada Família at a glance.

If you're in Barcelona for the first time, you might not know where to start.

To prevent you from wandering around aimlessly, we've gathered our best travel tips for you.

This way, you can quickly see what you can accomplish in a day - and which highlights are nearby. It's best to note down in advance what you want to see.

Tip: Plan attractions that are close to each other together. It saves time and effort.

You can explore the center of Barcelona super well on foot or by bike - without stress and flexibly.

To help you navigate better, you'll find a Google Maps map at the end of the article.

In it, we have documented all the top attractions, our favorite spots, and restaurant tips - perfect for orienting yourself locally with your smartphone.

You save the most time when you look for accommodation in a central location.

We recommend a hotel in the trendy district of El Born or Raval - both are super central and perfect for exploring Barcelona on foot.

You can find our personal hotel tips further down in the article.

The fastest and often also the cheapest way to get to Barcelona is by plane. Once, I traveled to Barcelona by bus (about 20 hours) and once as a child by car (it wasn't fun).

Many airlines fly directly from Germany to Barcelona.

Most flights from Germany land at El Prat Airport, the second largest in Spain. From here, you can reach the city center in about 20 - 30 minutes.

However, some budget airlines also land at Girona Airport. The bus ride from Girona to Barcelona takes about an hour (depending on the time and traffic). Factor in the price of the bus ticket into the city. Overall, flights are often not cheaper than with another airline.

BOOK FLIGHTS ✈️ We always search for cheap flights on Kayak. Here are my tips for booking cheap flights. Make sure you specify checked luggage, as basic flights only include hand luggage. This can initially distort the price and make it appear cheaper.

Most tourists arrive at El Prat Airport. From here, it's super easy to get to the city center.

The airport bus departs from terminals 1 and 2. It takes you directly to the city center at Plaça Espanya, Gran Vía, Plaça Universitat, and Plaça Catalunya. When you leave the airport, you can recognize the bus by its light blue color and the label 'Aerobús'.

Depending on the time and traffic, the journey to Plaça Catalunya takes between 25 and 45 minutes.

Cost of a single journey (Un billete sencillo) €5.90

Round trip (ida y vuelta) €10.20. Valid for 9 days.

You can buy the ticket directly from the bus driver or from the machines at the bus stop. The driver only accepts exact cash, while you can also pay with a credit card at the machines. The bus is super affordable, fast, and convenient.

Buses run every 5 minutes starting at 5:30 AM.

The L9 Sud metro line connects the airport with Plaça Catalunya and other important stops in the center. Depending on where your accommodation is located, this is the fastest option to get to the city center.

This bus costs only €2.15 to the center, making it the cheapest option to get there. Since it's a regular city bus, the journey takes considerably longer because it stops everywhere.

The final stop is Plaça Espanya. From here, you'll need to take the metro (L1, red line or L3, green line).

Also, there isn't a designated spot for your luggage (it is just a regular bus). Here you can use the T-10 tickets with 10 rides for bus and metro, the Barcelona City Pass, or theHola Barcelona Card.

The bus runs from the airport (both terminals) to Avenida Parallel. I recommend getting off one stop earlier (Plaça España) and switching to the metro. From here, you can use metro lines, L1 (red line) and L3 (green line).

For an initial overview, we recommend taking a bike tour. You can see the city from a different perspective and quickly and easily view all the attractions. Perfect for a first impression!

Here you can reserve your ticket for the bike tour.

Alternatively, you can also take a tour with the hop-on hop-off bus. You will hear the most important historical details about the Catalan city via audio commentary.

Here to buy tickets for the hop-on hop-off tour.

We also enjoy food tours in cities. We find the tours from Secret Food Tours Barcelona to be great and recommend them. The tour lasts about 3 - 3.5 hours and takes you through El Born and Barceloneta.

Here to book tickets for the food tour (beware of high demand as it is very popular).

The city offers excellent public transportation infrastructure.

The best way to get around Barcelona is by metro or on foot. The center is also easily explored this way. Aside from the Hola Barcelona Card or the Barcelona City Pass, the T-10 ticket for metro and bus (if you don't want to buy one of the passes) is recommended:

Do you do a lot of walking and only occasionally use the bus or metro?

Then the T-10 ticket is just right for you. It's valid for 10 rides on the metro, tram, bus, FGC, and Renfe (also for trains within the city limits).

The best part: You can share the ticket with others.

For 1 zone (which actually covers all of the Barcelona center), the ticket costs €10.20 - a little over €1 per ride. You can buy it at the machines in the metro stations.

Important: The bus driver only sells single-journey tickets - so it's better to get them from the machine beforehand.

And one last note: The T-10 ticket is not valid for the new L9 Sud airport line of the metro.

The Hola Barcelona Card is a great alternative to the T-10 ticket. The card is available for 2, 3, 4, or 5 days. With it, you can travel unlimited on the metro, tram, bus, Montjuïc Funicular, FGC, and Rodalies (RENFE commuter trains). The ticket is also valid for the new Airport Metro line L9 Sud. You can buy the Hola Barcelona Card in advance here.

2-day pass: €14

3-day pass: €20.50

4-day pass: €26.50

5-day pass: €32

Before a trip, I not only research online but also like to buy traditional guidebooks. I have quite a few at home for Barcelona. No wonder I've been here very often in recent years.

The two best guides for preparation were the Barcelona guide from Dumont.

Nevertheless, there are many other guidebooks and travel literature that I think are great and have at home on my shelf:

You can find my recommendations for the best Barcelona guidebooks here.

Did you know that Barcelona has over 4.2 kilometers of man-made beaches that are only 10 minutes from the center? The beach area starts in Barceloneta and extends as far as Malgrat de Mar in the north. With breaks, that totals around 60 km. The beaches are also very well accessible by metro and tram.

Along the beaches and promenade, there are almost everywhere toilets, changing cabins, cafes, bars, and rental sun loungers.

In Barcelona, you will find accommodations for every budget: You have a wide range of choices. Should the hotel be on the beach in Barcelona, or would you prefer to stay in an apartment in a trendy neighborhood with locals?

Is this your first visit to Barcelona? Then I recommend looking for accommodation near the attractions.

Neighborhoods like El Born are suitable for this. This trendy area is not only beautiful but also right by the harbor, and you can quickly walk to many attractions. Here you'll find a variety of recommended tapas bars, cafes, restaurants, and pubs.

During my last visit, I stayed at the stylish H10 Port Vell hotel directly by the harbor of Barcelona and right in the trendy nightlife district of El Born. It was truly a coincidence that the famous Xampanyeria is located on Parallel Street.

The view from the rooftop terrace is stunning, and the Barceloneta metro station is just a few meters away. It's about a 10-minute walk to the beach.

Here you can find more information and photos of the hotel.

Our stylish room at H10 Hotel Port Vell in Barcelona:

The Motel One offers consistent quality like in Germany. It is only a 20-minute walk from the beach and is located directly at the Botanical Garden. I particularly like the location, as friends have lived for a long time in the adjacent neighborhood of Poblenou.

Here you can view and book the hotel.

Book Flights - My tips for booking flights here

Book accommodation. Especially in the summer months, Barcelona is a very popular destination for city travelers. Hotels in Barcelona are quite expensive, as the city is among Europe's top five cities.

Reserve tours and tickets in advance! The top attractions in Barcelona are highly sought after. Long lines are normal. My tip: Book all tickets (ideally a sightseeing card for Barcelona) in advance. You definitely need to reserve tickets for the Sagrada Família in advance!

Buy a travel guide for Barcelona, research on travel blogs, download the Spotted by Locals and Trip Advisor app for Barcelona on your smartphone (you can find my tips and which guidebooks I had below in the article, and here are additional travel apps I recommend.

Camera - My cameras with accessories for travel and purchasing advice on the best digital camera for travel.

Credit card - withdrawing money abroad without fees? Here are my 3 favorites.

Sneakers - a city trip without comfortable sneakers? Never. I walked almost exclusively in Barcelona.

My detailed packing list for city trips to print out.

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