Is Barcelona worth visiting? Is Barcelona expensive? And everything else you need to know

Are you planning a trip to Spain and wondering is Barcelona worth visiting? In this guide we go through absolutely everything you need to know about visiting and answer all the important questions like is Barcelona expensive, and what is there to do in Barcelona, to help you decide if you should go.

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Some background

Before we answer the question ‘Is Barcelona worth visiting’ here is a little bit of background. Barcelona is the capital of the autonomous community of Catalonia. It’s also the second largest city in Spain.

It has also been said that Spain is older than Rome, and was founded 400 years before the Italian capital was built.

Another cool fact is that Barcelona is home to the busiest cruise port in Europe. Nearly 3 million passenger arrive in the city each year, which also makes it the 6th busiest cruise port in the world.

Is Barcelona expensive?

One question we hear a lot tends to be is Barcelona expensive? We found Barcelona to be a moderately priced city. You can do things on the cheap easily, which is good news if you are aiming for a budget holiday. It’s probably on par with places like Berlin or Rome.

We recommend budgeting €100 – €150 per person per day. This will cover meals, attractions, and transport. For accommodation we would recommend budgeting about €150 per night for a mid range hotel. You should also keep in mind that hotels increase in price in the busy season, so book these well in advance.

There are plenty of ways to save money in Barcelona. Our biggest tip though is to avoid the tourist traps, particularly when it comes to food and drink. Try and find local restaurants, and you will get decent food at decent prices.

Do I need cash in Barcelona?

The vast majority of places in Barcelona will accept credit and debit cards. That being said a lot of places often have a minimum spend. In which case you may require cash on your trip. Barcelona like the rest of Spain uses the Euro. You can get these out at ATMs across the city.

What language do they speak in Barcelona?

Barcelona has two official languages, Catalonian and Spanish. The majority of people who live in the city are able to speak both.

English is also widely spoken in Barcelona, with a good majority of people speaking it. So if you are visiting, and only speak English you should generally be able to get by.

Is Barcelona easy to get to?

Barcelona is an incredibly popular tourist city, meaning that it is very easy to get to. The main airport in Barcelona is the El Prat de Llobregat Aeropuerto. It’s a popular airport with European carriers, US airlines, Middle Eastern airlines, and Asian carriers.

Once you arrive at the airport getting into town is simple. You can get a taxi which is about €40. This will obviously be your most convenient option. You can also get a bus or a train into town for a fraction of the cost.

We also mentioned at the beginning of this article that Barcelona is home to Europe’s largest cruise port. So this is another popular way of getting to Barcelona.

How long should I spend in Barcelona?

We would say that 3 days in Barcelona is your absolute minimum. It’s a big enough city with so much to do that you need a decent amount of time to explore it. Five days tends to be a good amount of time to get to grips with some of the neighbourhoods, see the main sights, and eat a lot of that incredible Spanish food.

If you have more than 3 days you may want to consider doing some day trips from Barcelona.

Is Barcelona safe?

Barcelona is a generally safe city. Of course like anywhere you should avoid certain neighbourhoods, and take precautions walking around alone at night. If you stick to the popular tourist areas though you shouldn’t have any hassle.

The biggest issue in Barcelona is the petty theft and pickpocketing. This is common around La Rambla as groups may target tourists and a lot of the time you won’t even know something has been stolen until it is too late.

Is Barcelona worth visiting compared to other European cities?

Barcelona is definitely worth visiting in comparison to other European cities. It’s very different even to other Spanish tourist spots like Madrid. There is a laid back beach vibe in Barcelona, and it is a popular summer destination. There aren’t a lot of European cities like it.

Can I use public transport in Barcelona?

Barcelona is a big city so chances are you will need to rely on public transport to get around. In the centre you can travel via metro, tram, and bus. The city operates an integrated fare system so you can use the same ticket throughout the public transport network.

For more information you can click this link.

What is there to do in Barcelona?

Wondering is Barcelona worth visiting for tourist attractions alone? Here are some of the top things to do in the city. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but will hopefully give you a bit of inspiration for your own trip.

Park Guell

Park Guell is located on Carmel Hill, which is a bit of a climb but worth it to explore the park. This is also where you get that beautiful shot of the Barcelona skyline with the Park in the foreground.

There are parts of the park you can explore for free, but if you want to see Gaudi’s masterpiece in the the monumental zone you do need to buy a timed ticked.

La Rambla

La Rambla is a pedestrianised street in the centre of Barcelona filled with markets stalls, cafes, and restaurants (although I should point out overpriced ones at that). It gets super busy as well especially during peak holiday season.

It is a really vibrant bustling stretch and definitely worth a visit. It does feel very touristy so we wouldn’t recommend spending ages here.

Mercat de la Boqueria

Off La Rambla, was actually one of our favourite places in Barcelona, the Mercat de la Boqueria. The market is a real treat for the senses with bursts of bright colours at the fruit stands, smells of hot food cooking or fish chilling in ice ready to be sold. There are also chocolate shops with treats your tastebuds will thank you for. Although we do advise that you eat the chocolate as soon as possible to avoid it melting in your bag.

La Sagrada Familia

Arguably the most popular tourist attraction in Barcelona is La Sagrada Familia which was designed by Anton Gaudi. If you want to see the inside you HAVE to book your tickets in advance. We lined up for an hour to buy a ticket for the next day as this was the earliest entry we could get.

Camp Nou

Home to one of the world’s best football teams, Camp Nou is a must see for football fans. It is the biggest football stadium in Europe, a fact which provided little solace when we had to march up staircase after staircase during the tour.

La Pedrera

Another Gaudi masterpiece, La Pedrera was a private residence built from 1905 – 1910. The roof is definitely the coolest bit. It is filled with giant chimney pots and you also get a really nice view of Barcelona. Another highlight is that you get to explore an apartment which has been done up as if a rich family from the early 20th century still lived there.  It really is an architectural wonder and a highlight in Barcelona.

Museu Picasso

This museum houses the world’s most extensive collection of works by none other than Pablo Picasso. For people not overly familiar with art, Picasso is one of the most famous painters in the world. He was also known for co-founding the cubist movement. The museum showcases his work (and a side note you aren’t allowed to take pictures inside).

Barcelona Cathedral

This gothic style cathedral is worth a visit. The interior of the cathedral is really spectacular and in the cloister you will spot 13 white geese. What is also really cool is that you can get a lift to the roof and bask in some amazing views of Barcelona. It is worth noting there are times when entry into the cathedral is free when it can get congested.

Is Barcelona worth visiting for solo travellers?

Barcelona is a pretty safe city so for that reason it is the perfect place to visit for solo travellers. It’s also incredibly easy to get around, with tons of attractions to keep you entertained.

If you are wanting to get out and meet people there are several bar crawls, or group tours you can book onto as well.

Is Barcelona worth visiting for couples?

In our experience Barcelona is a great place to visit for couples. You can sip cocktails at one of the many rooftop bars in the city, or stroll around the romantic Gothic Quarter. You can also sip sangria by the sea, or have an intimate tapas meal for two.

Is Barcelona worth visiting for families?

If you are wondering is Barcelona worth visiting for families we have you covered. Barcelona is an incredibly family friendly destination. Not only is it safe and easy to get around, but there is so much to see and do with kids.

You have beautiful family friendly beaches you can explore, some great food, and a lot of really cool architecture for the kids to admire.

Is Barcelona worth visiting for foodies?

Barcelona is honestly a foodies dream. Not only is it incredibly tasty, but if you go to the right places it’s actually quite cheap. You have a mix of Catalan and Spanish cuisines, and you can essentially wander around the city popping into tapas spots and nibbling away.

I don’t think we had any bad food in Barcelona at all. A great thing to do is visit several tapas style bars in a night. Try the prawns in one place, the omelette in another, and the Patatas Bravas elsewhere. It’s all about good food and good drinks in Barcelona, and there is no shortage in the city.

Is Barcelona worth visiting for the nightlife?

The nightlife in Barcelona is some of the best in the world. There are some really impressive nightclub, bars, and pubs in the city. In fact the cool thing about nightlife in Barcelona is that there is a little something for everyone. You have beach clubs, swanky cocktail lounges, boat parties, and hole in the wall bars. Whatever you are in to you will find it in Barcelona.

Is Barcelona worth visiting for nature lovers?

Barcelona might be a city, but its location on the Mediterranean coast makes it the perfect spot for nature lovers. It’s also surrounded by mountains and nature spots, that will be sure to impress.

Barcelona itself has a number of parks, and is quite a green city, but if you really want to explore nature you will need to go a bit further out. Parc del Garraf is one of the most popular nature reserves in the Catalan region.

You also have Parc Natural del Montseny which is about an hours drive our of Barcelona. The park is made up of 3 peaks and was declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1978.

Is Barcelona worth visiting for culture lovers?

Culture lovers will absolutely enjoy Barcelona. Not only will you find theatres for opera and music that are over 100 years old, but you can also discover works from the artists and writers that once called Barcelona home.

Catalan has its own language and this is reflected in the culture of the region which also includes Catalonian dishes and art.

There are also lots of museums, galleries, and festivals that culture lovers can visit year round, making it the perfect place to expand your horizons.

Is Barcelona worth visiting for a beach holiday?

A lot of people flock to Barcelona for beach holidays. There are many urban beaches you can relax in. Although you might not realise that the Beach in Barcelona was actually artificially created. This was done as part of a project to transform the cities coastline.

If you want to see some of the less artificial beaches you will need to head out of town. There are so many quaint seaside towns you can explore as well as the renowned Blue Flag beaches. The good news is that lots of these beaches can be accessed by train so in under an hour you can be sunning yourself and enjoy some of that natural coastline.

Is Barcelona worth visiting in the summer?

Peak tourist season in Barcelona happens to be over summer. There is less chance of rain and the days are brighter for longer. It’s also perfect beach weather with temperatures averaging at 28-29 degrees Celsius. Keep in mind though it can get a lot hotter and summer temperatures in the mid 30s (Celsius) are not unusual.

July and August tend to be the busiest months in the city when it comes to tourism. This is something we learnt the hard way. If you travel during this time be prepared for long lines at tourist attractions.

If you want to enjoy the summer weather, but don’t want the queues and craziness brought about by school holidays late May and early June are your best bet.

Is Barcelona worth visiting in the winter?

Barcelona is actually a great place to visit in the winter months. Tourist numbers dwindle, and the weather is quite mild. It’s actually a good choice for a winter ‘sun’ holiday.

Temperatures range between 9 and 15 degrees Celsius, so it’s not beach weather, but definitely warmer than other parts of Europe.

What to pack when visiting Barcelona?

Here are some must haves for visiting Barcelona, particularly in the summer months.

• Hat, Sunglasses etc.
• Sun cream
• Cool clothes (flip flops, shorts, light t-shirts)
• Comfortable walking shoes – a lot of the streets are uneven with cobblestones so a good solid shoe is recommended
• Water bottle to fill up along the way

What should I know before visiting Barcelona?

Here are our top tips for visiting Barcelona.

• Book tourist attractions in advance to save having to queue. If you are somewhere last minute try buying a ticket online to save you waiting ages with swarms of other tourists.
• It’s hot particularly in the summer so be sun safe.
• Siesta’s are a thing so be mindful some businesses may shut down at noon.
• Be mindful of pickpockets.
• Book any restaurants you really want to try in advance.

So Is Barcelona worth visiting?

Still wondering is Barcelona worth visiting? We think that it is very much worth visiting. I mean millions of other tourists can’t be wrong!

If you are going to visit try not to do it in peak season, as Barcelona gets crazy busy. Prices shoot right up for accommodation, and you will find yourself spending half your holiday in a queue.

We also recommend you do your research and avoid tourist traps for food and drink. Go where the locals go, and that way you will get good food at reasonable prices.

Hopefully this guide has helped you answer the question is Barcelona worth visiting. Make sure you pin it for later!

Happy Travels!