Overview
Barcelona Reviews: Honest Truths from Black Travelers
Green Book global is the only website and app that has authentic Barcelona reviews from the perspective of Black Travelers. If you want to know where to stay, where to eat, what to do etc. but also what it’s like Traveling While Black in Barcelona, then these reviews and travel tips will be essential to your trip planning for both Black travelers and allies alike!
Quick Summary:
Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter, with its narrow medieval streets and historic buildings, offers a glimpse into the city’s past, while the trendy El Born district is known for its chic boutiques and vibrant nightlife. Example, characterized by its modernist architecture including Gaudí’s famous Sagrada Família and Casa Batlló, showcases Barcelona’s unique artistic heritage. Barceloneta, the city’s seaside neighborhood, provides easy access to beautiful beaches like Barceloneta Beach, perfect for sunbathing and swimming. Barcelona reviews often praise the city’s ability to blend historic charm with contemporary flair, appealing to a wide range of visitors.
If you are looking for a city to party, then you came to the right city as our Barcelona reviews highlight. The city’s nightlife is vibrant, featuring everything from traditional flamenco shows to modern clubs and bars. Conversely, art and history enthusiasts can explore world-class museums such as the Picasso Museum and the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya. The city’s culinary scene is another highlight, with tapas bars, seafood restaurants, and bustling markets like La Boqueria providing a feast for the senses. Barcelona’s beaches offer more than just relaxation; water sports like paddleboarding and sailing are popular activities. Additionally, green spaces like Park Güell and Montjuïc provide scenic escapes and stunning views over the city.
Interesting Facts:
- Culinary Delights: Barcelona is known for its vibrant food scene, offering everything from traditional Catalan cuisine to avant-garde culinary experiences. Tapas, seafood, and the local dish “pa amb tomàquet” (bread with tomato) are must-tries.
- Language and Identity: Catalonia has a strong sense of identity and culture. The Catalan language is widely spoken, and there is a significant movement for independence from Spain.
- FC Barcelona: The city’s football club, FC Barcelona, is one of the most successful and popular football teams in the world. Their home stadium, Camp Nou, is the largest in Europe.
Barcelona reviews highlight a city where you can do it all!! Want to see reviews for more cities? Click this link to see destinations reviews for other cities in Europe
So many fun and cute bars for young professionals! The food was MM MM GOOOD. If you’re a charcuterie lover – book your flights ASAP.
Tapas are m’y new favorite way to eat. Barcelona is known for tapas (small portions of food) which are perfect for trying multiple things on the menu. I found so many options to eat in the city (like some of my favorites Bar del Pla and Tapeo). This city is perfect to experience the food scene as a solo traveler and at an affordable price.
I’m a big shopper so there were many opportunities to fulfill that mission! La Rambla was on & popping! We did the normal touristy things, i.e. double decker bus, museum, the Sagrada Familia (which was AMAZING!)…
Had a couple of side glances but felt very comfortable and was able to do a day trip to Madrid via train! Would definitely recommend a visit. It is a beautiful place to visit!
Traveled to Barcelona in July 2023 with my sister and we did not experience any significant issues. We stayed in an AirBnB in the Las Ramblas area, but mostly spent time in the Gothic Quarter and the area where Hard Rock Cafe was. No one stared at us, or was rude to us, or anything. The ONLY issue we had was getting taxis sometimes. They’d drive past us, or say they weren’t going in our direction, or they were taking a break. That said, no one was overtly rude to us or made us feel uncomfortable. The people we did interact with were polite and helpful.
I spent a few days in Barcelona for my birthday. We stayed in the Gothic Quarter. While centrally located, we did A LOT of walking. Make sure you pack your walking shoes, you can leave the heels at home ladies. I went in November, it was quite chilly. We had our coats on at night. There was lots of rich culture and things to do, so many beautiful views and places to see. All the food was amazing! Do a paella making class, you will love it!!
Barcelona always has such mixed responses from the black community. I’ve heard horror stories and also heard amazing ‘coming of age’ stories! I personally didn’t experience anything super negative, but my friends and I were heavily stared at on a consistent basis. We were a small group of 5 black women all with tattoos and 3 of us having colorful hair. It’s not a common look so we are used to being stared at, but it was quite uncomfortable in Barcelona.
The views in Barcelona are not comparable! I highly suggest dining at one of these rooftops:
✨ Ayre Hotel Rosellon
✨ Hotel Colon Rooftop
They offer the best views of the Cathedrals. The food was decent, but nothing to rave over.
Barcelona is a bustling city as you have already heard, but Las Ramblas area is the center of it all! From this location you have shopping, restaurants, the city center as well as easy access to hop on hop off tours. Now hear me out -I love these. I like to explore as much as possible and this hives me a way to see more of a city. Then i can return to areas that fit my vibe and hang out if i choose. I found Barcelona to be very welcoming and diverse. There is a lot of English spoken in many areas, but overall i suggest to always try speaking the language whether it’s with a translator or you practicing what you’ve learned. Happy exploration!
I’ve been to Spain several times (Madrid and Barcelona). It’s been several years since I’ve travelled there. I spent most of the time at one of the beaches with friends from France and the US. I definitely felt racist overtones in Barcelona, absolutely none in Madrid. I went to a gym to work out. I was wearing a sleeveless shirt. After they took my money for a day pass, they said I couldn’t workout in my sleeveless shirt. After I asked for a refund, they got me a shirt. I go upstairs and there were several folks wearing sleeveless shirts (white folks). I was the only black man in the place. At the airport, the airline attendant who checked me in wasn’t rude, per se, but was cold. The bag I arrived with as carry on luggage was suddenly “too big” to take on the plane. When I mentioned that to her, a security officer behind me peeped over and started angrily glaringly at me – as if his eyes were going to put me in my place. Also, there were Africans selling items – can’t recall where exactly – then the police came and they ran like the wind with police chasing them. I get following the laws of the country you’re in, this just felt different and, admittedly, my view was colored from some of my other experiences. I also think I was traveling at the time when lots of refugees and migrants were fleeing parts of the Middle East and North Africa to Europe. Reading the reviews below, I’m glad others have had better experiences than I and I hope that trend continues.
My trip to Barcelona was during the pandemic, August 2021. I only spent a couple of days there, but we mostly relaxed during our time. We first stayed at Hotel Colon and then Le Meridien when we got back from our $66 RT excursion to Venice.
Seriously, take some time to relax in Barcelona. For breakfast, go to a little cafe you find in an alley and sit outside, take in the sun and the leisurely life of many Spanish people. For lunch, go to Honest Greens for a healthy and delicious fast food experience. Then, chill by the beach or take a walk in a local park. The architecture is so beautiful in lesser-known places like Poble Espanyol, so check it out! End the night with a great viewpoint, Búnquers del Carmel. There is a lot to see and experience in the bustling city of Barcelona, but don’t forget to take it slow as well!
I loved ! I visited lots of great places such as the sagrada, casa Battlon, plaça reial, camp nou, the kiss of freedom, etc…
what impressed me the most there was the food prices. I think food costs less. On the other hand, the myth that says that Zara is cheaper in Spain is false. It is cheaper than that of the states but it has the same price as that of France. I thought it was going to be cheaper than that of France since that’s what was said but it’s the same. It’s good to live in Barcelona, people are nice, fun, cool I really liked the stay.
I almost didn’t come back from Barcelona. My husband and I went during our honeymoon when we toured the Mediterranean. We had 2 days in Barcelona. We did a walking day tour and got to understand the lay of the land, got recommendations on eateries, saw works of Gaudi, including Park Gruel and La Sagrada Familia. We ate authentic paella, which was amazing with Sangria.
Barcelona is a very safe and walkable city. There are cable cars and they give great views of the city. Try a churro with hot chocolate, it’s different there than it is in the states. The only thing we didn’t get to do that I wanted to do was see flamenco dancers, but that gives us a reason to return.
No issues travelling while black, Barcelona is amazing.
Its the combination of the beach and the city that makes me love this city.
I’ve been in Barcelona I think 5 times allready. The last time I was there I stayed at the Hotel SB Glow **** Sub. It was a very nice stay, especially with the rooftop infinity swimmingpool. I loved to go swimming in the hotel after a long day of being a tourist in the city center.
I loved spending the whole day in the city where you have lots of attractions. Barcelona has a lot of history, restaurants, shops, art, bars and also the football stadium is a great experience.
In the summer the weather is very nice. I spend most of my days on the beach in the morning, city center during the day, evenings in the pool of my hotel and at night again in the city center. I never really slept haha!
Great city, great experience!
Best place to stay would be the latin quarter this is central to EVERYTHING. The beach is on your door as well as las ramblas (food market). La sagrada familia (Church) this is stunning and less then 10 min by train. My best part was doing a day trip to Montserrat the mountains. You get a train there and can choose between another train or a FUNICULAR half way. There is a museum too after reaching the top mountain hiking fot the first time. I had no energy for that lol.
People can be a bit stand-off-ish to black people in BARCELONA They have a large population of poor under-privileged black people selling stuff to live around the markets or think women are (nvm)…Other than that I found majority very helpful, my phone died on arrival and a local called the place where I was staying , got me a map for free and translated a 10 minute call!
TIP:
I was in Barcelona for only 3 days and then took an overnight 8hr £40 ferry to Ibiza(£20 was on offer if you pay in advance)I used Transmediterranea and they are right by the beach. This is saving you flight and hotel costs. When you arrive just go to San Antonio (20 min bus ride) there is a long strip,funfair, beach, water activities, restaurants , also can take boats to different beach looking islands and return at different set times. This is the place to have fun!
The beautiful city of Barcelona is one filled with culture, sceneries, friendly people and of course Barcelona FC.
Antoni Gaudi was an architect in the 1800’s and his masterpieces are spread across the city and a sight to behold. La Sagrada Familia is my favorite (make sure you pay to get in), its funny how this building is still uncompleted for more than 100 years and still undergoing construction, but trust me when I say it is BEAUTIFUL!
Casa Mila and Casa Batlio are notable mentions, these buildings are known for being different in a visually pleasing type of way. All curves and chamfered edges you can feel the history when looking at these pieces.
This is a great tourist destination. If you have time time go watch Leonel Messi (one of the greatest soccer players) play before he retires.
Barcelona is a gorgeous city filled with so much history but I never have to go back lol! This was probably one of the worst experiences ever. We stayed in the Eric Vokel Sagrada Familia Suites which was very nice and convenient to many attraction . I was not a fan of the food at all but made do. However it was the overall experience that made me never wanted to visit again. I normally do my research before visiting a country to get a better understanding of their culture and beliefs. So many people I know that have been to Barcelona love it so I wasn’t expecting what I received. Which was blatant racism and rudeness. The people there were beyond rude for no reason at all. Walking down the street and a friend was side swiped by a guy on a bike. He didn’t say excuse me or anything, didn’t even look at her. In stores we were overlooked when we needed help. People would get mad when we didn’t speak Spanish. Just not a welcoming experience. Went to NBA Cafe and met a really nice waitress. She gave us some tips while visiting. She stated that Barcelona was well known for pick pocketing. Do not walk around with your phone in your hand or it will be snitched. Do not walk around with your phone in your back packet or it will be snitched. Best to keep all electronics in your bag and make sure your bag is closed at all times. Also be aware of your surroundings at all. It is a beautiful city rich in history and I encourage people to visit at least once to form your own opinion.
Barcelona is easily one of my favorite cities in Europe, I know I say that about Paris, London, Milan and Amsterdam hahaha. When my best friend and I visited Barcelona we went just at the end of May, the weather was warm but not warm enough to enjoy the beach although we had one hot day we enjoyed the beach. La Rambla is full of life, the artists, the shopping (Zara is wayyy cheaper there) and the restaurants. The tapas and the Sangria were so amazing. I had the most amazing paella at a family restaurant whose name escapes me but its along the beach, most restaurants have great service. The night life was amazing and we found it funny that my girlfriend and I didn’t have to wait in line and we got free drinks just because they loved black women, haha so travelling while black in Barcelona we did not encounter any problems except people wanting to take pictures with us. My fav was Park Guell but be prepared to walk a bit so bring comfortable shoes. Casa Mila and Batllo were also great but long line ups. The magic fountains of Montjuic are beautiful at night so make sure you go early, we only caught the tail ending because our flamenco performance. Barcelona has best of worlds, relaxation at the beach, art, history, great food and nightlife. On my to go back list :)
Barcelona has the best of both worlds with its city center and beach. There are an array of free and cheap activities including walking tours, the fountain show at Montjuïc, Park Güell, Barceloneta Beach, Boqueria Market, Barcelona Cathedral, Las Ramblas, and the Gothic Quarter. Gaudi’s unique architecture is visible throughout the city, but each building is pricey to visit. If you’re on a budget (like I was), I’d recommend only visiting La Sagrada Familia and Park Güell. I stayed in the Gothic Quarter and found the city easy to navigate on foot.
Barcelona is an absolutely beautiful country to visit. There is so much history and amazing architecture. I stayed in an Airbnb where the host stayed in the place and it was an awesome experience. She cooked authentic Spanish food for us EVERY night. We were a short walk from la sagrada familia, which is a must see!! As well as the old barracks. They offer a jaw dropping view of the city. The nightlife there is crazy: they bar hop “early” (11pm-2am) and then go to the night clubs which are HUGE and always packed. We frequented la Rambla to visit the Patagonia bar which a super chill spot with great drinks and usually free shots. (There’s also lots of shopping done there). Pacha was my favorite club, located near the beach, we were lucky enough to get to skip the long line bc we met a cool girl that worked there but def be prepared for waiting. We did have a homeless person steal a friend of our’s phone in a pretty stealthy manner so definitely beware of that!! I also had an encounter with a girl in a club who picked a fight with me just because. The women there seem to be super judgmental of any woman that doesn’t look like them but overall the experience was great!
I traveled to Barcelona as a part of a week and a half long international trip with a group of 13 other black professionals to Europe and Africa; we were in Barcelona from May 26-29, 2019. While the weather wasn’t quite hot enough to enjoy the beach, we rented Go Carts through GoCar Barcelona and sped through the streets sightseeing and stopping for pictures at places/sites such as Barceloneta Beach, Sagrada Familia, and Magic Fountain of Montjuic, to name a few. We also visited Arc de Triomf, Las Ramblas, and did some shopping in Passeig de Gràcia. To add to the fun, we partied at Pacha and Opuim and it was super LIT!
I went on a group trip to Barcelona, Spain. Although only there for a few days we were able to explore the city quiet a bit and enjoyed our time. This trip was an all girls adventure and we were pretty good about traveling in packs for safety. During our time there, there were several protects happening throughout the city and even though we were told it would be very dangerous on the streets, we had time earlier in the day to venture out and see parts of the city that were not polluted with protesters.
I didn’t find that there were any issues as a black female in a group of other black females in the city. Our time in and around town was very fun as we encountered very friendly people and others willing to help us navigate around town.
The safety however became an issue and we were for warned about being extremely careful with our purses and such. While in the train station we witnessed a young man steal another young man’s wallet as he got off the train. Several on lookers tried to stop the young man from running off an eventually held him until the police arrived. Another time we saw another tourist walk off the train only to find his fanny pack completely empty – he was also robbed.
Outside of those incidences Barcelona is beautiful, lively and well worth a visit. You’ll just have to be super careful of your belongings.
~ Happy Travels!
@sanchatravels
Barcelona is a must and one of our absolute faves! The city is so vibrant, unique and just a vibe! The people are so cool and you will definitely meet some interesting characters.
We stayed in an Airbnb in Gràcia neighbourhood with this really cool Spanish couple. We spent around 40-50 euros per night and this location was great as it was well situated with good travel links.
Barcelona offer a range of great activities with something for everyone. You can go with your family, friends or even that special someone and have the time of your life.
You may not know this but Barcelona has a really good night life if that is something you’re in to but be warned on a Friday night you may have to wait a little while before getting a taxi home.
We’d definitely recommend seeing the Sagrada Familia, Magic Fountain, Parc Guell and getting some shopping done whilst there.
For black people we would say Barcelona is fine because it’s typically full of young tourist, but there may be the odd chance of you coming across some ‘funny’ people as with everywhere.
To find out more, check us out on Instagram @wanderlustebony
I recently went to Barcelona this past summer. This city was definitely in my top 3 cities I’ve been to. I loved everything about it. It’s so beautiful and there is so much to do. My brother and I stayed at an Airbnb right in the Gothic Quarter. It was super nice and had a decent price. We used the metro to get around and it takes you all around the city and hot spots. There is so much culture and history to look at and learn from. I would recommend just walking all over Barcelona; check out the Sagrada Familia, Park Guell and La Rambla. The Barceloneta beach is also nearby; a bit crowded bc it is popular, but also full of entertainment. It was an amazing experience.
BARCELONA is hands DOWN one of my favorite cities in the world!!! Not only is it the first place that my hubs and I ever traveled to together overseas, but also, I have been here SO many times since then, and each time I enjoy it like it’s the very first time!!! My most recent visit was for this past New Year’s Eve 2019!!! (Going into 2020) My friends and I celebrated at a SUPER popular and upscale club by the name of PACHA! We began the night at a dope bar across the street that served amazing food and had hip hop music bumping from all of the different eras. We pregamed there and enjoyed some really great and affordable drink specials for happy hour. One we arrived at PACHA, The bottle service, tables, atmosphere, music, and drinks (they mix them strong) were AMAZING! (The only thing about this club is that if you’re planning to go for New Year’s Eve festivities, book your table ahead of time online and also arrive early, lastly ensure that they’re not having another event before your NYE event because that WILL delay your entry.) The vibes at the club were LIT to say the least, we had a blast and the transportation to and from the place was easy to come by. Cabs were all around. There are SO many other clubs to go to, but this was the one we chose. I highly recommend traveling to Barcelona in general though. It’s visually stunning, the architecture is to DIE for, and it’s AMAZING for shopping. Enjoy!
Spain, Barcelona, where do I even begin with this glorious country! Well first off, I have been to Spain on numerous occasions however this particular trip was extremely spontaneous! I had just arrived in London from Korea (where I currently reside) on a Saturday and by Tuesday I was on the plane to Barcelona. It was only a short trip and I was only there for a total of 3 nights. The flight prices were really cheap at that time and I got a round trip plane ticket for £50 – I could have got these tickets for half this price had I not been so indecisive! I stayed at a little boutique hotel which cost around £115 for the three nights, including amazing breakfast! I am normally a very spontaneous traveller and usually like to go with the flow when it comes to an itinerary. But as I was only there for a short time I decided to do some research on a few must see places while I was there. So on my first day I headed to ‘Sagrada Familia’ – it’s a very popular landmark in Barcelona and it’s beauty is beyond words. The building is still undergoing construction (and has been for a while now) however, it is still worth giving it a visit. It can be very packed around there with tourists trying to get a perfect shot so my advice is, the further away you go from the building itself the better your Instagram shot will be! After that, I then headed to ‘Cuitadella Park’, in all honesty, this was just a regular park with just a few landmarks to take a few great landscape shots – I wouldn’t really recommend it in my opinion. Later that evening, I headed to ‘Las Ramblas’ for some dinner and stopped at the cutest Italian restaurant and had pizza. The next day I headed to ‘Gothic Quarter’ which in my opinion is a must see if in Barcelona! It’s really big and can fill up most of your day so definitely head there early. I also headed to ‘Casa Battlo’ that day which is basically a really pretty building. I guess it is worth going to check it out if you have some time. This night for dinner I decided to have the traditional Spanish delicacy, Paella! I had the seafood paella and it tasted lush! Other attractions worth visiting which I didn’t have the time to is, ‘Park Guell’ and also the beach; there are loads of activities to do in that area! If rooftop pools are your thing, then many hotels offer services to the public to use their pool (sometimes at a fee or for free!). My biggest advice to any travellers thinking of travelling to Spain, is to be very mindful of pickpockets, especially in the ‘Las Ramblas’ area! I would also suggest going to places on foot, so as to avoid taxi fees as everything is pretty much within walking distance (take a screenshot of the directions on Google Maps before leaving your hotel!)
Interestingly enough, what I love most about Barcelona is the food–and the fact that there are so any vegetarian and vegan options. While on vacation in Barcelona I was in vegan food heaven! My boyfriend and I visited so many vegan restaurants, and to be honest, that was the highlight of the trip. One of my favorite restaurants in Barcelona was Floripa, which offered various vegan food options. The vibe is so cool with their tropical decor and neon lighting. Secondly, the vegan food is to die for. We enjoyed the vegan burger and the nachos, which I strongly recommend. The food is delicious and extremely affordable, which deems this a WIN.
Barcelona is by far one of the best cities I’ve been too. There’s a little bit of everything in this city. The city is booming day and night from shopping, to sight seeing, to museums, and colorful architecture to nightlife raves from sunset to sunrise. I studied abroad in Barcelona for 8 months and visited countless times since and I have yet to see it all. this city is made for walking so be prepared and bring some comfortable shoes. Barcelona is known for its colorful intricate architecture so one of the top things to do is visit some of Guadi’s work around the city. Top 4 Gaudi work are parc guell (great opportunity to walk save 3+ hrs for this one), Sagrada familia buy your tickets online for this one with the guided tour) the lines can get extremely long here and if you don’t buy tickets online there’s a chance you won’t be able to get in. La pedrera is also by gaudi and the views on the rooftop are amazing. Other places worth visiting are Palau Montjuïc and take the cable cars up the views are amazing inside the cable cars and once you get on top, walk the street if las rambles becareful for pick picketers, visit the guathic quarter for some history and shopping, hang out at plaza Espana this place is amazing for views and pictures and finally visit the Barceloneta area both during the day For drinks and beach and at night for bars and nightclubs. As a woman of color I would not recommend walking the streets of Barcelona area especially if you’re coming back from a night out partying . Prostitution is very common In Barcelona, most of the Prostitutes are Brazilians and Africans the Spaniards often think black women walking the streets at night are prostitutes and the police sometimes stereotype. Overall if you’re speaking English the Spaniards are nice however, at first glance Sometimes they’re not usually nice to women of color. This is the only downside to this city.
Barcelona is definitely on the top of my list as a great city. Whatever you want you can find it in Barcelona! I took a from from Paris, France on Vueling airlines to Barcelona, Spain for about $120 euro one way. Barcelona has lovely views, amazing architecture, great food, beautiful beaches, history, amazing museums, tons of shopping, and great hotels. We stayed at the HQ 10Urquinaona Plaza $170 euro per night (they have several centrally located hotels).https://www.h10hotels.com/en/barcelona-hotels/h10-urquinaona-plaza The hotel is amazing and you are greeted with a glass of Champagne upon checkin. The daily breakfast was delicious and they changed the menu daily and included Champagne! The hotel is absolutely beautiful and the staff was very helpful. We went in the summer so we were able to enjoy the rooftop pool. The hotel is in walking distance to the main square where you can shop on the famous Las Ramblas street. The square is also where I got my Hop On Hop Off tour bus ticket! The bus was a good way for me to see the entire city and then get off to take pictures, take other tours, shop and eat! I got the 2 day pass cost about $50euros which was worth the money . Since they don’t have Uber that was fine because I walked just about everywhere. I got my tickets to the La Sagrada online two days before because the La Sagrada familia sells out and is a very popular tourist attraction. It is amazing outside and inside. A must see cathedral. Gaudi’s main masterpiece. Gaudi has work all over the city and you can go inside many of them. Such as The Park Guell was sold out but the Hop On Hop Off Bus has tickets with a guide which was more expensive but I really wanted to go inside. The Park Guell was another masterpiece done by Gaudi. You get to see where he lived and learn the history of what was supposed to be neighborhood. The views from the top are breathtaking. Warning: I took the subway train from the square and then walked up a steep hill to the top entrance of the Park Guell. I made it but it was rough so take a taxi up and down the steps unless you are excellent shape! Let me say I would go back to Spain just for the shopping! TheMercat La Boqueria market in las ramblas has to be one of my favorite markets! We ate the best Queso $2.50 euro not only did have one but i order a second Queso! We walked all over Las Ramblas shopping just know that Sunday’s many of the stores are closed but we found enough open to do some great shopping! They have the best shoes in Spain. Prices are reasonable and what you would expect in a big metropolitan city. I felt safe everywhere I went. We also spent half a day at the beach, which you can go topless and yes we did try it! We visited the Olympic Village area. We also visited the waterfront area where you can just sit and people watch or grab something to eat! We also visited the Gothic Quarter and took pics outside the Cathedral. I will definitely be back soon! Traveling while Black in Spain was enjoyable because everyone was so nice and friendly!
Not my traditional catch all review. I visited Barcelona for New Years 2017.
Where to stay: I stayed at the Sant Jordi Hostel (Gracia location). This place was very cool. The people staying there were friendly and all four locations linked up for New Years. The hostel offered cheap tours, bike rentals, and etc. The hostel also had a nightlife coordinator. He would come in and cook a meal. That is when everyone had something to eat and mingle. Next, we would depart the hostel and visit a bar as a group (by train). From the bar we would hit a nightclub. We would skip the line and get into places like Opium in Barceloneta. I highly recommend this place. You are issued a card that gets you in and out of the front door, your room door, and luggage space. In case you are wondering. New Years was a blast.
FOOD! If you don’t do anything else in Barcelona, you have to try the food. Paella, sangria, patatas bravas, churros, tortillas (Spanish omelet), the Iberian ham, and there’s so much more to try. I feel like I didn’t try it all, so I will be going back. I also liked that I could use my Spanish.
Barcelona was dope. It’s definitely an urban city and there’s a lot going on. If you’re into history & architecture you’ll love Barcelona. The buildings have so much history. You can take the train and walk to all the historical landmarks to save on taxi fares. We walked almost everywhere and stopped into all the local shops. The shops are all over the place.
I was only in Barcelona for one day. It was vibes but I don’t think there’s a lot to do during the day if you stay there for a while. The architecture is nice but if you’ve been to Europe a lot it’s nothing so racial at least to me since I’m not a big fan of visiting cathedrals. They didn’t have Uber and everything was surprisingly walkable so I choose to walk everywhere. The beaches were not nice since they were packed with people. And everywhere you went people were hustling and selling you things. The only black people I came across we’re selling things. It would’ve been cool to see our people also doing other things and to interact with them in our capacities. Overall I didn’t feel uncomfortable like I did in my week in Madrid. I’d come back but not for more then two days.
My favorite place to visit was the Picasso museum. His masterpieces were beautiful and very colorful. It was also very cheap to visit. To get around I would recommend buying the Barcelona pass because you save a lot more money buying a bundle of attractions versus buying individual tickets. I was able to visit park Guell , get a boat ride, aquarium visit and museums entrance . As for the beaches, they are very beautiful and the water is very warm. There is a volleyball court and muscle workout area.
My favorite food was the churros dipped in hot chocolate! This I recommend ordering this at the restaurants.
Food and drinks are amazing and so affordable. Tapas consist of the main dishes and are a perfect way to sample a wide range of flavors. Bubó is a must, it’s a bit of an elevated dining experience with amazing tapas served up in non-traditional ways. The ultimate foodie restaurant! It’s also a chocolatier with amazing desserts so grab some to take home before leaving. If you’re looking for a more traditional dining experience, Pepito was a great find for Catalonian sandwiches and traditional favorites like patatas bravas and croquetas. Would definitely go back to Barcelona for the food alone!
if Chicago and Miami Could have a baby, it would be Barcelona. A cosmopolitan city on the beach. This place has something for everyone; from beaches, to great architecture, to amazing museums, to never ending nightlife. We stayed at “Hotel Arts”. A Ritz Carlton hotel on the Mediterranean. Still one of the best hotels I’ve stayed till this day. La Sagrada familia is a must see cathedral. Gaudi’s masterpiece. His footprints are all over the city. Park Guell is one of the most colorful and visually pleasing places I’ve visited. The energy of las ramblas can’t be matched. The nightlife in Barcelona is endless. Starts at midnight till 6am. There’s truely something for everyone. It’s a European city; so it’s not the cheapest. There’s quite a lot of diversity so I didn’t feel out of place. The only draw back was the pickpocketing. Can’t wait to go back.
Barcelona was amazing! There were so many random things to do; from fantastic food places, to loads of history to music festivals. Travelling whilst black was no problem in Barcelona, I found the locals to be very accepting of black tourists as well as very helpful. Maybe my favorite European city.
Barcelona is probably the best city I’ve ever went to. Here you have a little bit of everything with history, culture, food, nightlife, and beach. Barcelona is a place where you can go with a group of people and find something that caters to each individuals likes. Barcelona is very safe and clean also easy to get around with public transportation.
It was just a 3 day trip that I took with my gf we booked a hotel which was pretty nice for about a $100 a night.
We visited Casa Battllo which cost about $35 a person which Honestly I wouldn’t recommend for the price.
We went to see the Sagrada Familia which was very nice and you can get many good pictures.
We visited park Guell there you can over look the entire city of Barcelona.
We also visited the beach which had many great selections of food.
Barcelona in itself was extremely beautiful. Many of the places I went to eat at were places I found along the way throughout the day. There were loads to eat in Barcelona. Not only traditional cuisines but food from all over. Tapas are extremely popular but be aware that they can be extremely expensive. Tapas are just small dishes, most people share them or you can eat them on your own. Sometimes you may find yourself ordering a lot of tapas and your bill can jump to 300 euros quick in a small group. My favorite place to eat Tapas was Sensi Bistro. The staff was amazing, the food was even better and I didn’t find it to be too pricey. I ended up going there twice during my week’s stay and the staff already knew who we were. They treated us great and the wait for the food wasn’t too long. Additionally, they are located right in the Gothic Quarter. If you are interested in dining there I will make a reservation its a small spot but it fills up very quickly. We were 15 minutes late for our reservation one day and lost our table but the workers tried there best to get us in to eat. TRY THE TRUFFLE RAVIOLI it’s the best seller and was delicious.
Another restaurant that I loved is somewhere I went to for brunch. It wasn’t too far from La Sagrada Familia; called “Billy Brunch”. It is super cute, they have seating outside and in and the food was well prepared and tasted delicious. They had traditional brunch meals and great drinks. All in all, food was easy to access around Barcelona, most of the restaurants closed at 11/12 am and there were many restaurants around our hotel and in the Gothic Quarter.
If your staying in an Airbnb and plan on cooking instead of going out. We bought a lot of food from the supermarket. Mostly lots of wine cheese and meat and they were perfect to eat after a night partying.
The food in Barcelona was amazing!! Even though tapas in Spain are a must if you find yourself in the Gothic Quarters you must stop at Machete Latino Street Food and get yourself some tacos. Literally the best tacos I’ve ever had. Everything was so fresh and made right in front of you. Plus everything here was super affordable!
Make sure you plan your eating around Barcelona’s siesta time or you may find yourself like my group roaming around wondering why everything is closed. The siesta for shops and businesses was usually around 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. while bars and restaurants closed from about 4 p.m. until about 8 or 9 p.m.
I recently traveled to Barcelona and I am so in love with this beautiful city. My best friend and I booked our round trip flight off of The Hopper app about 6 months in advance. We found a ticket for $362 which was a steal. I would definitely recommend downloading this app as it sends you alerts the moment your flight decreases or increases. Two months prior to our trip we researched Hotels vs Airbnb’s. Typically I’m a hotel snob but in Barcelona the hotels are quite pricey( 300-600 Euros per night for 4 stars) and the rooms are less than 300 sq ft. Since I knew we would be partying and out all day I figured lets just do an Airbnb. We paid less than $300 for three nights and this was Friday-Monday. We stayed in the Gothic Quarter which is close to practically everything. The Centre, the beach, restaurants and clubs. Traveling while black in Spain is amazing as the Spanish people love us. I would recommend learning a few words because everyone speaks Spanish and you may need help navigating and dis-ciphering menus. If you are like me and like to eat and drink all day plan on spending no more than $70 Euros a day on food and drinks. Once glass of wine will cost about 3-4 Euros and Tapas food will cost between $5-15 Euros. Being a black woman is a beautiful thing as all the Spanish guys are in love with us and going out at the bars and clubs were a breeze. You can honestly spend your days roaming the streets of all of the culture and and spending your nights dancing and not spending any money. In total we spent about $250 on souvenirs, food, drinks and taxi’s in three days. If you are looking for an amazing cultural and affordable experience choose Barcelona. If you can go with 2-3 other ladies if its a girls trip then it will make the trip even cheaper. You wont find an Uber so I recommend Taxi’s, Bus or Train. I recommend taking a credit card while traveling overseas as you wont incur the 3% charge on every transaction. Another word of advice is do not exchange your money before traveling, wait until you land to get money out of the ATM to get Euros as that will also help you save money with the exchange rate. Here are a few places to eat and drink while vacation there: El Tropezon (tapas) , El Pachuco (Mexican), Elsa & Fred (tapas),Nuba (bar/restaurant), Eclipse Bar(rooftop), Coconut(near the beach), Duquesa Cardona(Rooftop) Carpe Deim(Club), Shoku(Club), Sutton (Club) Razzmatazz(club).
I went to Barcelona in August with a friend of mine via EasyJet. We decided to book a holiday packaging on lastminute.com. Hotel and flight were included for a decent price. However our hotel Sercotel Ciutat de Montcada wasn’t in the city center which was a little bit disappointing but we knew that and decided to go ahead mainly because the hotel has a great rooftop pool and for us the pool was a must. Barcelona is quite cheap compared to other European countries from taxis to restaurants. However they don’t have uber there. Traveling while black wasn’t a problem at all on the contrary many people where complimenting me on the streets which made me feel uncomfortable at some point lol.
Nightlife is great as well we went to the iconic Pacha Barcelona on that same road where Pacha is located there are other clubs like Opium. There so many activities during the day that one can do we mostly did sightseeing. The ones I’ll recommend going are:
Arc de Triompf, sagrada familia, Casa Vicens and Palau de la Música Catalana.
Travel is our key to the world and I’m just so glad I get to indulge in it from time to time. I recently visited Barcelona and Ibiza, which are both located in Spain. Ibiza is known for their party culture (they live up to their reputation) and Barcelona for its culture and architecture. I always try to mix some culture with a good time and you can never visit Europe and only go to one place. It’s a disjustice to yourself and your pockets. Traveling inside of Europe is relatively inexpensive depending on your budget. I caught a flight through Ryanair for about $300 but their were cheaper options if I had left or come in on different days and booked sooner. Some airfares round trip were as low as $37 when I initially started my planning 2 months prior. Expect Europen aircrafts to operate on delays and have last minute changes, so always calculate extra time for the airport. In Barcelona I did a hop on and hop off to tour for about 30 euros, to see all the great sites and to keep from walking so much- don’t judge me but my feet were killing me from partying in Ibiza. Me and a friend were able to capture some great shots and most of the places we visited were free because we didn’t go inside. I booked our accommodations through Expedia for an apartment on Gava beach. It was only 10 minutes from the airport, it was beautiful, and much more cost efficient than staying near Barceloneta beach (where all the parties were). Uber isn’t a thing so prepare to use taxis your entire stay in Spain and they get costly, estimate $30 for each trip. The USD ain’t worth explicit so be prepared or exchange currency at your home bank before you come. Don’t pack heels because there is a lot of walking involved in both cities. O Beach party is a must if your in Ibiza. We also did a boat party. It was nice but I was so tired, I couldn’t really enjoy it. We stayed at Ibiza Rocks- it’s like a dormitory but the pool parties are epic so I guess it was a fine trade off. Pack ear plugs and an eye mask though because the guest r rowdy.
Barcelona is extremely affordable! Generally everywhere we went we were able to get a glass of wine for about 4 euros are less. The food was also very cheap, we were able to get at least three appetizers (tapas) or an entree for under about 15 euros. We went during the winter so sadly we weren’t able to experience the beaches but even in December, the days were generally over 50 degrees. The city is truly architecturally beautiful. There were many moments during the trip where I had to stop to just admire the amazing views that were constantly around me. Getting around is also very easy, we stayed about 30 minutes from the downtown area in I believe it was called. Getting to the central part was extremely easy and cheap as we took the bus that was about 2 euros each way a couple of times. We will definitely be back to Barcelona!
Barcelona is nice anytime of the year. We did a combined visit of Lisbon and Barcelona.
After Three days in Lisbon we went to Barcelona for another three days in April (2017). It was a little cold but very sunny.
I would advise to take an hotel or AirB&B in the center for such a short time (our hotel was located 25mn by bus from las Ramblas).
The waterfront is full of nice restaurants plus a big shopping center (Maremagnum).
You can start with a good continental breakfast in one of the many typical bakeries of Las Ramblas, take a bus tour from there and visited the city (Barcelona city tour stops in front of all the monuments 30$).
Barcelone is for foodies! Corchos Barcelona is one of these great places where the food is fresh, cooked in an open kitchen and the staff is very friendly too.
For diner I recommend MaricsCo for their excellent sea food, and beautiful restaurant. Very well located next to las Ramblas (rather sophisticated).
Must see la Sagrada familia of course, its magical just like what you see on insta pictures, but please go very early to take the nicest pictures (before it gets packed).
What I have loved the most was the food market St Josef (Mercat La Boqueria). There is all type of food and souvenirs like cheese, spices, chocolate…you can test new dishes. I really enjoy talking with locals and discoverer southern Europe typical food.
Travel while black was great, we were very well received everywhere and people on the street are very helpful even If you don’t speak Spanish.
I will probably go back but not in the summertime when it’s the most crowded.
If you’re spending more than two days in Barcelona, I really recommend you to take a day trip to Monserrat, it’s not so far away. You can get there just by taking an organized day trip. The place is worth to visit thanks, to the splendid nature that surround the main Sanctuary, which holds an image of a virgin called The Black Madonna. The Mountains offer a lovely ambiance for the nature lovers, and it makes it more spiritual, if you are looking for some religious sight; they even inspired Gaudi in the project of the Sagrada Familia.
Another amazing Day Trip, the city offers is Figueras. Its main sight is the amazing house- museum of Salvador Dali, one of the most acclaimed artist of the last century. The artworks are amazing and you’ll find more than one photo opportunity.
Obsessed with stunning views, I chose Hotel Colón during my stay in Barcelona. The elegant hotel faces the Cathedral of Barcelona which you can see right from your window or while dining on the rooftop. It is also conveniently placed to enjoy surrounding local cuisine, entertainment and shopping. A definite go-to if you’re looking for a picture perfect place to stay!
Wow ! Barcelona is top my favorite places visited! Last Summer was lit was lit with On the Run 2 being top of my Itinerary. Besides that, the walking food tour at the Baroque was good, weed is legal and smoke house brothers is a dispensary there, it was safe and very decently priced. The Sagrada Familia was such an experience ! To see the magic Gauda put into constructing the church is surreal! We did the cellphone tour and it was cool, ig was different and we went at our own pace and enjoyed it thoroughly. The go cart city tour was also fun. Barcelona was just fun, lol!
Barcelona was a lot of fun. The vibe was great because of the cool clubs and food that you can get there. I also went to a Barcelona Soccer game which was fun because the team was really good. It wasn’t very costly to get around in Barcelona, however I do recommend staying close to downtown or the beach.
Very relaxing beach vibe. My air bnb was in a very nice area about 20 mins from the city. I Walked in the small town in peace, without any large groups of people and still felt like I was in a vibrant and relaxing place. There were a lot of sitting areas and parks with nice artwork to admire, if you just wanted to just take a break. Def would recommend.
I finally made it to Barcelona and LOVED my stay! For one, the city is extremely beautiful and clean (even during Sant Jordi which is one of their biggest holidays). In the midst of large crowds and busyness, everything was still so peaceful and laid back. There was so much to see, including the Gaudí houses, La Sagrada Família, Las Ramblas, and Parc Güell. I loved wandering around and getting lost in the Gothic Quarter. I also enjoyed chilling on the boardwalk at Barceloneta beach. I visited the MACBA where you can see some Basquiat paintings and some dope pro-black art from the 80-90s. Regarding food, the tapas was ok depending on what you order. However, I am definitely a fan of Paella. I came into this trip with mixed feelings due to the things I’ve read about the Racism and treating black women as prostitutes. However, I can say that I did not encounter any overt Racism and for the most part, the people there were very friendly and helpful. I was helped and treated just as anyone else at restaurants and encountered excellent customer service at my hotel. Also, it’s nice that so many people speak English in the tourist areas. I did see quite a few black people around, too. Overall, I had a great time and was put at ease by an amazing experience.
Spain was fun. The nightlife was incredible! They party all night! We stayed in one of the best locations. We could walk EVERYWHERE. https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/15922099
The food was eh, We were not a big fan of all the tappas we ate. There wasn’t food like Rome there I will say. We did ALOT of walking even though were were by the bus stop. The most popular street La Rambla is a must. lost of shopping, vendors and entertainment.
We wanted to make the most of our short stay, so we did the hop on hop off bus to get around. We made sure to see the incredible Sagrada Familia (timed entry passes purchased) and Park Guell (timed entry passes) . Park Guell closes pretty early so I would get to that one as soon as you can! It was so amazing. The art and intricate details from every symbolic reason for every part of the structures is beyond amazing.
We enjoyed it!
Traveling while black is always a concern but I can honestly say I did not encounter any issues while in Barcelona. I spent six days in the city with nine of my boys and we had an amazing time! Key things to know about Barcelona, (1) everything happens later in the day into the night. There isn’t a sense of urgency at all there, so no one moves fast. Smaller bakeries open in the morning but the majority of places open after Noon. Dinner typically takes place around 10 pm and the clubs/parties don’t start until around midnight. It’s even better to arrive at 1 am. (2) People are friendly and willing to speak English. Navigating the city via train and taxi is extremely easy. Barcelona is huge so it’s easy to get lost. After the first couple of days I got the hang of it. (3) There’s so much to see!! Go to Las Ramblas, Park Guell, The Arc de Triomf, etc! Trust me, you won’t get bored in the city. (4) Take a day trip to SITGES for amazing Paella. Sitges is a beach town located 30-40 min outside of the city. You can get there by train. The paella was fresh and flavorful and better than what’s served in Barcelona. (5) Be vigilant when walking around. Someone tried to steal my friends watch right off his arm! Lastly, if you’re in need of a large Airbnb in the heart of the city, look into this location https://abnb.me/7FDfcbaOfW. The apartment looks exactly like the photos and it can accommodate up to 10 people comfortably.
I looooove Spain. Spain is a country that I could travel to over and over and never get tired. Barcelona is also one of those cities. Here’s why: (1) Tons of history: one of Barcelona’s most famous church, Familia Sagrada, has taken over a century to be built and is still being built to this day. The history of this church has one foot in the past and one in the future; not to mention that it is incredibly beautiful. Also, you see the influence of one of Spain’s most famous artists and architects, Gaudi, all throughout the city. Similarly to Michael Angelo, you’ll see parks and buildings touched by Gaudi’s genius. (2) Local Food: I meannnn, who doesn’t like Spanish food? Paella, tapas, coffee, churros, wine! Need I say more? Next! (3) Affordability: Now, the euro tends to be slightly higher than the dollar these days, however, do not let that deter you. Spain is an extremely affordable country to travel and to stay in. Barcelona is a huge city with lots of accommodations ranging from budget traveler to honeymoon vacation. There is a space and opportunity for everyone’s budget no matter how small or high. Most of the tapa bars come with a free tapa is you buy a drink. A glass of house wine or beer would set you back around one euro – not bad! (4) Adventure or Relaxation: I’ve decided to combine these two because, for example, the beaches are great for relaxation. However, the beaches are also great for surfing, exercising, etc. (5) Lastly, Traveling While Back: I mean, it’s always your hope to never have a bad experience, which I have never had in Spain. In my experience, Spanish people are some of the kindest, most generous people around. Barcelona is an extremely diverse city. Like NYC, you’ll find people who live in Barcelona but are from all over the world. The Spanish people are proud, especially those from Barcelona. There’s a distinct culture, language and pride from the rest of Spain. Their energy is magnetic, the city is incredible, AND SAFE.
Barcelona has so much to discover. My wife and I went on our 12th anniversary. Although many people said to check out the beaches, we wanted to experience the energy of the city. We booked a room in Molins De Rei, a small urban community north of Barcelona. We utilized our hotel points to snag a nice room for the low-low. Problem was that it was an half-hour from city central. Cabs/taxis are very efficient so that’ll be your best bet getting around. There’s no Uber in the city from what I can recall. Public transportation isn’t the most friendly for out-of-towners so it forced us to pull out our high school Spanish 2 class skills to try to get from point A to point B. Also, take good shoes because there’s lots of walking. Fortunately, there’s always a kiosk near to cure the thirst & appetite. Speaking of food, there’s a brilliant vegan culture there. Do yourself a favor and check out one of the vegan tours in the Gothic area. We sticking to a kosher diet which sometimes means we have to get creative when we are eating outside the house. Barcelona has so much variety that our romantic getaway quickly turned to a foodie exploration. We had no problem finding the best quick bites or gourmet cuisine. We took a tour van from Barcelona through the Pyrenees Mountains to see the castles left by Charlemange – established to drive the Moors out of the region…which was intriguing because this is where pre-New World “A-moor-ica” got its start. But annny-hooo, the Spanish countryside villas offers lots of dainty shops, diners, and fresh bakeries at every stop. The coffee is amazing outside of the city of Barcelona. Even the corner stores bake fresh baguettes and drip coffee. A large part of their population is Catalan (Roman, French, and Spanish mixed heritage) and have a rich influence in the region. There’s not many melanated peoples in Barcelona from what we could see. However, aside from the constant stares from the locals, whenever we asked for assistance the people were generally polite and willing to help. I even tried to pay an elderly gentleman and he being kindhearted he refused my euros. (Bless him Lord!)
Overall, my wife enjoyed and to me that’s a win! Can’t wait to return. So much more to try, do, and see.
Not everyone likes to splurge on vacation. It’s sometimes nice to really explore and enjoy different cultures all while saving a little cash. Traveling to some parts of Europe can be quite expensive at times, but there are always cheap, if not free, things to do.
1. Playa de La Barceloneta: With the weather is warming up and what better way to spend a relaxing day than at a beach. Pack a lunch and drinks and soak up the sun along with the locals. There’s even nearby restaurants, bars, and ice cream stands all along the beach.
2. Can Paixano (La Xampanyeria): ATTENTION: CHEAP CHAMPAGNE BAR! This bar is a hidden gem. Enjoy countless glasses of champagne and wine for no more than 2 Euros each! Yes, 2 Euros! They also have little appetizers such as cheese platters, artichoke, and meat. But you can only enjoy the price special during happy hour times.
3. Bunkers del Carmel: If you’re in to beautiful skylines and views, you have to visit Bunkers del Carmel. It’s a steep hike up to the top, but trust me, the views are well worth it. On your way up the hill, stop by a wine store and head to watch the sunset. Got 2 liters of wine for 3 Euros. The view is phenomenal!
4. Plaça de Catalunya: Think of this as the Times Square of Barcelona. Here is the large square in Central Barcelona. This is where lots of people hang out and walk by the fountains. Brace yourself as there are hundreds of pigeons walking and flying around. Perfect for a photo op, if you’re not afraid.
5. El Corte Ingles at Plaça de Catalunya: Looking to ‘Treat Yo Self?’ Well look no further. This mall is located in the city center and has 9 floors to satisfy your retail therapy needs. Or you can always window shop.
6. La Plaça Gastro Mercat: If you would rather much eat, on the top floor of El Corte Ingles is a classy, yet affordable cafeteria-like restaurant that offers a selection of different types of food such as Italian, Chinese, and bakery goods. If you’re lucky enough you can snag a table by a window that overlooks the city of Barcelona.
7. Café Hop: Walk around the city and pop in Cafés for a beer, drink, or snack. It’s a great way to walk and explore the city and meet people. You might even get lucky enough to wander in on a live band.
8. Dow Jones Bar: The Barcelona Drink Exchange: This bar is actually pretty cool. It’s pretty much set u like the New York Stock Exchange. There aren’t set prices for drinks. The more people that buy the same drink, that price goes up as the other drink prices go down. There’s a screen to indicate the price exchange.
9. Park Güell: Parks are usually free for you to roam, explore and relax, but to access a special point, you’ll have to purchase tickets to tour the restricted area. This park is full of landscape gardens and genius architecture. Highly recommended to purchase tickets online beforehand. General admission is 7.5 Euros. Additional tours will be extra.
10. Sagrada Família & Barcelona Cathedral: This Temple is covered with tourists but it’s definitely a must see. Tours are available for purchase to tour the inside of the church or you can do like everyone else and just snap photos of the outside and embrace its architectural beauty.
*Bonus: Sangria & Tapas: If you have some down time, you’re definitely at the right place to enjoy this combo. These can be ordered just about at any restaurant or café. But, it’s even better when enjoyed outdoors, typically near the beach.
*Bonus: Obama Bar: One of the waiters at our restaurant recommended the Obama Bar, Yes Obama bar. It literally has a statue of President Obama. Great drinks, live music and a great time there!
I visited Barcelona on a whirlwind 1night/2day trip with my sister in Dec 2018 and it was such a fun experience. There’s so much to do and see in that city, so if you’re there on a shorter trip like we were I highly recommend doing the hop-on-hop-off bus tour. Actually I recommend this even if you have a longer stay, because it’s such a great way to see the city and major points of interest, and get a history lesson as you go. I don’t remember the exact price but it was affordable and worth every cent. You can pick and choose the spots you want to see and spend as much or as little time at each place as you like. My favorite stops were the Sagrada Familia and Park Guell.
We did the bus tour on the first day and on the second day we explored by foot: La Rambla, La Boqueria market (my favorite experience of the entire trip), the Gothic quarter, and just strolling along the harbor. The bus tour staff warned us to be wary of pickpockets so I would say keep your bags and purses secure, but we didn’t have any negative experience.
I know there is so much more to do and see, so I definitely plan to be back. It’s a beautiful city with rich history and if you love quirky architecture you’re in for a treat. I highly recommend!
Barcelona was very pretty and laid back. It was clean and bright, also pricey. We stayed at the Room Mate Anna hotel and it was really colorful, although I didn’t know it was a chain until my visit a little later that year to New York. It was centrally located, but while we were there it was a taxi strike and getting around was a little difficult. I would plan ahead all of my activities in Spain because its so laid back that it is hard to find activities last minute. We had an Airbnb wine tasting and Sunset sailing that were both amazing. I learned a lot about wine! English is not easily found but the people are laidback so it is easy to navigate. There are a lot of Burger Kings just in case you get tired of the native food. Nearby, about an hour away from Barcelona is the city in the Game of Thrones know as “Braavos” that would be good to visit for pictures etc, along with Ibiza which is a quick cheap flight. There is a lot of nightlife, and there was a great burger spot we found called “Gringos” lol it had a dj and everything! For the nightlife take flat shoes or wedges! They don’t allow pointy heels.
Barcelona is beautiful place. When it comes to this city there is not much negative things I can say besides the crazy amount of cigarette smokers but I feel like that’s all of Europe.
The food is truly one of the best I’ve had and their distinguished dish called Paella is all that which I high recommend particularly if you are going to travel to southern Spain.
There are an abundance amount of options as far as places to stay. I recommend staying within the city, it makes life a lot easier for you. The transportation system is very efficient and the train/metro/buses/taxis and this app called Blablarcar (long distance carpooling system) if you desire to go places that trains and other popular forms of transportation won’t be able to take you to. When I went I stayed at an Airbnb apartment by Playa de la Barceloneta.
Be prepared not to see a lot of Blacks in Barcelona. It will be a culture shock to many if not all of you. They will stare at people in public and they don’t really smile or feel welcoming unless they know you. You might also likely feel some racism. I particularly didn’t but many people who have been to Barcelona/Spain tend to. If you are trying to experience and be around the black people you’d have to travel out of the tourist areas and go into the less popular/poor areas. You’ll get a true sense of the divide with the Spaniards and outsiders who immigrated to their country. You do get an influx of so many different African roots from all over but again their living conditions is not what they show you about Spain. You do get to see black travels from other parts of Europe who are traveling in Barcelona as well.
Overall I do recommend Spain. I enjoyed it very much even though it didn’t have as much black people around. There is so much to do and see including the many famous works of Gaudi’ which is all through Barcelona. His work is truly something incredible and pictures won’t do them justice. Places like La Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, Casa Milá, Casa Batlló, Magic Fountain of Montjuic, Picasso Museum, and many more are all places to see. If you have time and are a big soccer/fútbol fan checking a game out in Camp Nou is something truly amazing. It is a chance to see some of the worlds best players playing with one of the most famous legendary clubs. But it has to be during the season otherwise it’ll just be a tour of the stadium if they are out of season. Also take advantage of the beaches all over Barcelona, they are absolutely very beautiful!. But brace yourself some people will be nude, which is totally allowed and normal.
I didn’t experience much in Barcelona since I was only there for 4 days but it’s really pretty there. Being a black traveler in Spain was pretty difficult. I’ve gotten ignored at some restaurants until I had to raise my voice and the waiters finally seat me. Or my Hispanic friends would get more attention because they knew Spanish and I didn’t. My best experience in Barcelona was New Year’s Eve. The club Tango was sooooo on point. I danced with so many people. Extremely fun.
I went to Barcelona for my birthday and It was the best idea I could’ve had especially regarding nightlife. My birthday was on a Wednesday and we went out and It was actually insane for a weekday. We showed up to a club called Ramatazz at 10:30 and It was pretty dead in the club, but by 11:30-12 It was packed and everyone was dancing having fun until 5am. Some other fun clubs are found closer to the beach. Definitely recommend If you’re looking for a good place to go out, experience some great sights and most importantly amazing food!
I absolutely adore Spain! I had the chance to travel to Spain last summer with my mom and it was absolutely stunning. Spain just gives off so many happy vibes. The buildings and cities are very colorful and the people are super friendly especially to tourists. There is also so much to do. I recommend going to see all of Gaudi’s works. His architecture is truly incredible and pictures cannot do them justice. I had a chance to go to the La Sagrada Familia, Casa Mila, Park Guell, Casa Battlo. I did not do this through a professional tour company but on my own. I also recommend going to the beach. Truly stunning and magnificent. Lastly, make sure to go downtown and see the Magic Fountain of Montjuic. It slightly reminds me of the Ballegio fountain in Vegas but 100x better. Its light show is incredible and looks like a movie especially as the castle displays in the background.
I was in Barcelona only for a couple of days but it was a CIT-AAAYYY; i mean I’m from Lagos and even Barcelona to me was so crowded and busy. It is a gorgeous city (and beach) with such amazing food; I am actually able to say i didn’t have a single bad meal there. The food and drinks were all amazing.
Barcelona was a great place to visit. I went there to see my very first soccer game for the most viewed game in history, which is the El Clásico soccer game with FC Barcelona vs Real Madrid, a real rivalry. The energy in that stadium was unreal. The history in Barcelona is so rich, I go to visit the Segrada La Familia. The late great architect Antoni Gaudí was so unique, so breathtaking. The attention to detail in his work was just unbelievable, definitely have to see these places in person. The people was so amazing and vibrant, the nightlife is insane, so if you’re a party goer, this is definitely the city to visit because they don’t stop partying until 6am. I definitely recommend everyone to visit Barcelona. I could see myself living there.
Barcelona, an unmissable destination in Europe for a weekend or a holiday. This beautiful city full of colors has really been a favorite.
Here is what I could do and visit during this weekend of 3 days:
– Visit Park Güell: otherwise called Gaudi’s house, you know the famous place that we find on all the photos of trips to Barcelona with benches filled with pretty mosaics? Well that’s it! We had a great time. We took the time to discover the park and not to stay near the corrugated bench and colorful (too many people), it allowed us to walk in the countryside but especially to discover beautiful panoramas of the city. I think it’s one of the must-see places in Barcelona. The price of the park is € 7 online and € 8 on site (counter / distributor).
– Camp Nou Stadium. The stadium tour was € 25 per person. Honestly, I did not really want to visit an empty stadium, so we preferred to go to the FC Barcelona’s official store to buy small gifts and souvenirs. Fortunately, my darling is not a soccer player …
– Walk to Barceloneta. We had a small snack close to the beach, it was very nice, although the Barceloneta is not a very nice beach (for my taste), it’s always nice to feel the sea air. Then we went to the Barri Gòtic (Gothic Quarter) and the Rambla. We saw Casa Mila and Casa Batllo via El Passeig de Gracia.
– Montjuïc, where is the shopping center Arenas de Barcelona, but also the National Palace that can be seen from Plaça Espanya and the fountain of Montjuic. From the top of the National Palace we get a magnificent view of Barcelona!
– Picnic at the Ciutadella Park. Leaving the subway, you will come directly to the Arc de Triomf in Barcelona. There are magicians, street artists, but also skaters. It is a place filled with joys of life, we let ourselves quickly get carried away.
– Agbar Tower which is a skyscraper in Barcelona. Unfortunately, we did not go in, we just saw.
To chill out, the best night club in the city is Shôko!
I was in Barcelona for 4 days and didn’t have the opportunity to do as much as I wanted.
Things to do
If you are a soccer fan, you MUST visit the Barcelona Football stadium.
My boyfriend is a Barcelona fan so it was a must we went there. It is usually recommended that you purchase tickets online (cheaper) we were lucky to find a random person at the place offering a coupon for tickets which we used and got online pricing. They have a huge gift shop where you can purchase merchandise. You can customize your jerseys for a token too.
La Boquera market: this is an amazing market and is a must visit. From fresh fruits to an array of candy, ice Lollies and what have you this market has it all. They also have nuts and aged meat if that’s your thing. Don’t visit Barcelona without taking the time to visit this market.
La sagrada familiar: I went to this awesome attraction around noon and it was the worst decision every as there were too many tourists. So my advice is go as early as you can so you can take good photos. I didn’t pay to get in because I felt I could just stay outside and take a good enough picture.
Barcelona is amazing. I traveled there from Washington, DC and upon arrival feel in love with Spain. From the airport i suggest catching the bus to the train station and a train to your hotel, Airbnb, etc. The train is the best and most affordable way to travel. It’s easy to navigate and everything is in English. The train will take you to or close a lot of the historical sites within Barcelona.
Wear you comfortable walking shoes and bring extra batteries for your camera.
The food is amazing.
The people are nice.
The vibe is dope.
Must visit.
Also, go to the beaches if you can. It’s worth it. Trust me.
Spain
Barcelona is such a lively city with so much to do. From good eats, to cool interactive tours, and shopping. I visited Barcelona with friends. We stayed at an AirBnb that was the perfect location and had great interiors. We did just about everything from bike tours, to boat excursion, tapas, and shopping.
I enjoyed the city, however, the architecture felt somewhat dark which aligns with the gothic designs. Barcelona is such a large city, that there is tons to do no matter where you stay in the city. With so many options this can be overwhelming. I would recommend doing a little research if you are visiting on a limited amount of time.
Not necessarily one of my favorites cities in Europe, but perhaps would give another try.
Barcelona is a beautiful city!
From the delicious paella to the historic buldings with so much character, there’s not many reasons you can find to hate it.
However, if you’re a traveler that’s used to the American style of living, you might want to check your expectations at the door.
European flats (apartments) are generally smaller than America’s.
My family and I stayed at a flat in Barcelona. It was in Catalunya which is about 15 mins outside of the inner city.
They do not provide hand towels that you’d use to wash your face or body with. Their hot water tanks don’t hold as much waters as ours making hot showers shorter.
They don’t use dryers so be prepared to hang dry your clothes.
These types of things didn’t bother me because I’m usually out most of the day when I travel and only use my out of the country home to clean myself and sleep.
For travelers that would get bothered by these types of changes, I’d suggest staying the W Barcelona.
It’s beautiful and the shape mimics the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai.
It overlooks the ocean to where each room has a view and their smallest room looks like a suite.
It’s gorgeous, affordable, close to town and has the amenities to make city travelers comfortable!
I went to Barcelona for the On the Run II tour, but fell in love with the ease of the city. I even managed to see French Montana perform at Club Opium. I love food, and I didn’t meet a resurant I didn’t like! I did an e-bike tour, which was pretty cool as I haven’t ridden a bike in years! The tour was booked through Viator (https://www.viator.com/tours/Barcelona/Barcelona-Electric-Bike-Tour-with-Tapas-and-Drinks/d562-5963WINE) and ends at cool little spot for tapas and drinks call Els 4 Gatos which has it’s own cool history. The beach, though man made (was made for the 1992 Olympics) and busy was nice, the art and history–amazing. From Park de Guell, to La Pedrera, to the Gothic Quarter to Sagrada Familia. I wish I had someone with me to ride the go karts through the city, it looked so fun!
More food: there’s a little spot called La Boqueria Mercat, which is like an open market of restaurants. I didn’t eat, there but I did have a couple drinks which were delicious. I did eat at Itapa which is directly across the street. They had all-you-can-eat Tapas and Sangria for like $20 (papas bravas are my favorite)—best decision ever! The food was so good, I went back just before my flight! Near La Boqueria is also a “coffee shop.” You have to have a membership card to enter. I was a bit tipsy so I don’t really remember the process but I was with someone who had one, so my process was simple (just show ID and pay the €5 or so.
Barcelona is a beautiful city, so urbane and historical at the same time. Staying in the city center allows you access to everything, it’s almost like New York, where you can walk everywhere. We took in a Flaminco show and traditional dinner, which was amazing. The Spanish wine and food can’t be beat. We also did a city tour that included Old Barcelona and the Sagrada Familia, which you have to see to believe! Our overall experience in Barcelona was great, great shopping, great people, and great food!
My, oh my! Yes, love, if you make it to Barcelona you will not want to go back home at all! Unless your home is Barcelona! Every place I went to was pretty awesome. I love to ask questions and ask the locals questions like, “Where do you like to eat?”, “Where is the best place to go shopping?”, “Which beach do you like?”, “What activities can I do for myself or for kids, or simply bae and I?” And every person I spoke to was genuinely engaging and happy to answer. In 1 day, I went to the beach, Montijuic ride, a mid-day cruise, transported by a horse and carriage to the Las Ramblas, ate a buffet for 8 euros, then got some gelato, and chocolates, went to the Park Guëll, Arc de Triomf, and there’s more but that was just day 1! I only spent 2 days there and I can not wait to go back and dive into some more adventure! I may even buy a vacation home out there. After visiting London and Paris, Barcelona was more relaxed and enjoyable. There is so much to do and this was just one city! I can not wait to explore the other cities in Spain too! My advice, take a week or two and enjoy the scenery slowly cause you do want to miss out on anything!
Barcelona is a beautiful place filled with a little bit of everything for everyone! If you are a foodie then this is the place for you! Tapas on deck! Paella is AMAZING! History buffs can stroll the streets and find endless amount of great history. And there’s tons of nightlife! Just don’t get lost lol
Barcelona, what a amazing place! The weather was great, the people were nice, and the city is beautiful! One of their popular dishes is a seafood paella that is simply delicious! There so much to do in Barcelona I guarantee you won’t be disappointed. We visited Park Guell, la Sagrada Familia, and Casa Batllo which were all unique places to visit. Shopping is pretty affordable too!
It’s one of the best cities I’ve been to. The architect and history of the city is amazing. Beautiful views and romantic and family style. Love it ?
Barcelona offers so much to the cultural atmosphere, there is so much to see, something new and interesting around every corner: Gothic architecture, the famous Las Ramblas avenue, Gaudi’s Güel Parc and the unfinished La Sagrada
Cathedral, the old Raval quarter, La Ribera and La Barceloneta, a beachside ravel of corridor style streets where you can find some fantastic local
restaurants and bars, away from the typical tourist area.
Gaudi Barcelona- its distinctive architectural style is admired around the world and its gothic creations have greatly influenced the overall character of the
city. Gaudi‘s most notable works are the iconic temple Sagrada Familia, the beautiful Park Guëll and the Casa Batlló.
the food there is a dynamic mix of traditional and modern exploratory dishes; the city of Barcelona itself has more than 600 years of gastronomy culture and ranks along with Gaudi, its gothic inheritance, the Born archaeological finds and the art influences of Miró and Picasso.
Barcelona!
This city is nice to visit at all time in the year.
There are so many things to do there. The publique transportation is very developed. You can take it to go everywhere around even to go to the beach!
In Barcelona you can visit many places like
Sagrada familia
Gothic quarter
La Rambla walk
Plaça de Catalunya
Park Guëll
La boqueria (food market ?)
Arc de Triomf
Barceloneta (beach area)
And you can do more!!!
You have a nice choice of accommodations dépend of your budget.
Enjoy your time there ?.
If you love seafood and fresh fish, you’ll never want to leave Barcelona! There’s a market in the middle of La Rambla (a long street full of shopping and restaurants) where you can buy fresh seafood and they’ll cook it up for you, right there! Literally the freshest and largest prawns I’ve had in my life. Price was around $13, which is a deal considering how fresh it was. Spain is also the home of sangria and pretty much everywhere you go they will make it fresh at your table. If you love wine, Barcelona is a great stop. Also, Paella!
Barcelona is one of my favorite cities in the world. I loved it so much I think I would be okay to live there. From sightseeing all of Gaudi’s work to taking a bus to Montserrat I would say Barcelona is perfect for history bluffs who want to see the old stuff and the new stuff. Sagrada Familia is an obvious stop and I actually teared up while listening to the audio describing Gaudi’s dedication to his work and to God. The gardens are also great and they all represent Spain’s history in one way or the other.
In Montserrat besides making the pilgrimage if you are catholic you can hike up the hill and also listen to the boy choir. They are phenomenal. We loved the food, the vibe of the city and especially the Jewish Quarter which also has some great history behind it.
I really can’t say enough good things about Barcelona. I actually went twice in one month. This Catalan city is drastically different than the southern Spain city where I currently reside. They actually Catalan and not Spanish. Many of them know Spanish but their primary language is Catalan. I found the people to be very friendly. They were especially friendly if you at least tried to speak to them in Spanish. They are more than willing to be helpful and teach you the proper way to say words and phrases.
First things first: We stayed in a hostel while there called Yeah Barcelona http://www.yeahhostels.com It was fantastic. They offered dinner every night for around 12 euro. It included an open bar. You’d sit at a long table with other travelers and just mingle and get to know everyone. It was such a relaxed and comfortable environment. The hostel also offered nightly pub crawls after the dinner for an extra fee. Definitely worth it. The hostel is also centrally located. Only about a 10 minute walk to the Sagrada Familia.
Favorite Activities:
-Obviously the Sagrada Familia. This is a must do in Barcelona. Your trip won’t be complete without it. We purchased tickets to go inside and we weren’t disappointed. You do need to buy tickets beforehand. I’d also suggest getting there early so you don’t have to fight the crowds for your perfect instagram picture.
– Park Guell. Another must-do. Beautiful views of from the top. Its super important that you purchase these tickets prior as well because they only let in 400 guests at a time to preserve the architecture. Make sure you don’t miss your time slot. And also once you leave you can’t go back in.
-Walk around Las Ramblas and also the Gothic Quarters
-The Barcelona Cathedral
-Sail Boat Tour- This was so much fun!! There were about 10 of us on a boat out in the Mediterranean . Food and drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) were served on board. WE had the opportunity to swim far out in the water. Floaties and paddle boards were also provided.
-Food and wine tour- my favorite thing about this tour was that they gave you full glasses of wine with every tasting. Definitely worth it. The food was pretty good, but I also still felt like I could eat more after the tour. Heres there link: https://www.viator.com/tours/Barcelona/Barcelona-Food-and-Wine-Tasting-Tour/d562-26613P7
Nightlife
– So even in southern Spain the bars and clubs don’t close until the wee hours of the morning. Barcelona is no exception. I just can’t keep up like I used to. These people are always ready to party. I found some really great spots while I was there. One of them was a nice little salsa bar called Antilla. If you’re looking for a cultural place where the locals hang out look no further. You won’t find a tourist anywhere in sight. You have people basically professionally salsa dancing all around you. And watch out because they might just grab you and get you to join. It was so much fun! Especially because at 11 they had an instructor come out and he taught a Zumba class! Right in the middle of the bars dance floor. It was so unexpected and absolutely perfect. Apparently they do a class twice a night.
If you’re looking for more of a turn up I would suggest Pacha or Opium. Make sure you get a table though. Those places just get so crowded and the dance floor is insane.
Food/Drinks
-Brunch and Cake: Okay this really was the cutest little restaurant I’ve ever been to. And to top it off the food presentation is out of this world. Everything was just so…pretty. I had to fight the urge to walk around to everyones table and take pictures of their meal. I will say however, the food looked a lot better than it actually tasted. I mean it was good but it wasn’t the best brunch of my life. I would still suggest going there though because I think you’ll be hard pressed to find another restaurant with that level of food presentation.
-La Esquina: Another brunch place. I actually went there both times I was in Barcelona. It was just that good. The restaurant is quiet cute rustic place. The mimosas are on point too.
-The Box: So this is actually a Street Food Latin American Bar. Let me tell y’all. We stayed here for hourssss and I am completely obsessed with this place. Its pretty tiny with only about 5 tables but the atmosphere is perfect. They have tons infused rum cocktails you can choose from. The bartender is extremely helpful in choosing something you’ll like. They also have the best hotdogs there that are literally the size of your forearm. If you don’t do anything else in Barcelona please make sure you come here. I don’t think I’ll ever go to Barcelona without stopping by to visit.
Mercado de la Boqueria- This food market is just beautiful. You can spend hours just walking around trying different tapas, fruits, meals, and drinks. Highly recommend.
All in all I really enjoyed my trips to Barcelona. The people are friendly and the nightlife is poppin. If you’re looking for a good turn up you have definitely come to the right place. Its the perfect mix of adventure, sight-seeing, and partying.
We were able to find a roundtrip flight to Spain for under $400. During our trip, we decided to catch a bus to Bunol, Spain at a reasonable price as well as a fairly priced flight to Ibiza for less than $40. From Ibiza, we caught a flight to Marseille, France and then a train that road along the coast of France and Spain to get us back to Barcelona. While there, Taxi’s were fairly priced as well as the cost food. We found a great deal on a 1 bedroom apartment centrally located so we were overall satisfied with the cost of everything!
Barcelona was a great location for me, especially as a solo traveler. There were so many things to do, the time I had absolutely wasn’t enough for. The food was great and I was fortunate enough to meet several solo travelers while there, which made the trip so much more enjoyable. I highly recommend taking a paella cooking class (if that’s your thing) and taking a day trip to Montserrat Monestary. The views are amazing, and if you’re lucky, you’d get a chance to tour the school while it is in session. Again, highly recommended and please go if you get the opportunity to.
Kris and I loved Barcelona! It is the perfect balance between touristy and relaxation. We were able to keep the spark alive throughout our stay with various couples activities. We started with the week with a salsa dancing class! It was free through Airbnb under their “experience” section. We were also able to do a paella making class and layout on a nude beach, Montgat. Overall Barcelona is the perfect baecation. Strolls down La Ramblas while enjoying gelato was our favorite. Location plays a huge part in the city, it is important that you are at least near a metro station. The metro is super easy and reminds me of NYC. I would advise getting 10 tickets to start because you’ll likely end up walking a majority of the time. Be sure to indulge on paella (anyway) but especially a Thursday when Paella is traditionally made. If you are missing Chipotle I suggest heading to Gonzalez and Co. Truly it’s way better than Chipotle and I’m 98% sure you’ll want to return again before leaving Barcelona. If you’re looking for a cute brunch spot, Brunch and Cake is a must! The aesthetic is perfect to get cutsy brunch vibes photos. We found a pretty lit bar named Crepes al Born! They played american music from 2006, so think Usher Yeah and Snoop Dogg Beautiful. Be sure to get their signature drink, Zombie, it’s lit (literally comes with a lit orange slice). Tourist attractions to be sure to stop by: Park Guell, Picasso Museum (check online for discounts/free days), Sagrada Familia, La Boqueteria. If you’re looking for an urban club, check out Ottokutz and Harelm Jazz Club they both play great music! Will def be back to Barcelona soon, my fave!
xoxo,
Keya
Something was just off, I couldn’t ping point what was it, but we did it have the usual fabulous experience in Barcelona that all of my family/friends had experience. It was not terrible but for sure not our favorite place. I’m not sure if we made the mistake of having this pictured in our head of how amazing the city was for so many other people and expect something that never came and that sort of ruined our own experience. So many people love Barcelona. It’s a beautiful city without a doubt, but for me personally if the people , food and culture are not all there. It’s hard to truly enjoy it at it partially it’s hard to love a place. I recommend doing day trips from Barcelona to explore other cites.
A city for everything. Loved my time there. have to get back. I stayed at the W hotel, where it was always something going on, and seemed to be the epicenter of Barcelona lol.
Transportation
-Most of the city is walkable & clean. Wide sidewalks for bikes to ride pass & not interfere with people walking.
-Just take the metro(dirt cheap), but if you have to take a taxi, cut down your distance by walking a little bit. A lot of short rides add up. Uber only has like 100 cars on the road, so they’re basically never around unless you get lucky. Plus, taxis are easier to order & instruct.
Point blank, there certain things you have to see:
-La Sagrada Familia – They worship gaudi here, so check out the basilica. Get your tickets online in advance if you want to go inside.
-Park Guell great for views of the city, but also has more of gaudi’s artwork.
-Barceloneta Beach is basically the public beach of the city. The sand isn’t the softest, and the water is cold, but you can soak up that coastline for miles. Plus they have beachside bars where you can have drinks.
-Go to Montjuic. Another place for beautiful views, as there’s a castle on top of the mountain. Also the National Art Museum of Catalonia is great fro history, art, and panoramic city views.
-The Magic Fountain is in the park section of Montjuic, but it lights up at night, and goes to choreographed music. Great and FREE.
-Take a stroll down Las Ramblas. Not saying to eat here, because they price it up for tourists, but at least walk it.
Food
-Brunch & Cake for breakfast.
-Try the Iberian Ham anywhere around town. It’s wonderful. My pick: Enrique Tomas
-Have some paella at a local restaurant in the gothic quarter.
-If you like tapas, hit up Tapas 24
-Drink the wine, not necessarily the sangria. The wine is dope.
-If you go during summer, you might be there during taste of Las Ramblas, where they feature dishes from all regions of the world!
Sports
If you’re there at the right time, you gotta check out a game at the Camp Nou. Only a few times do you get to see the GOAT Lionel Messi on the pitch.
Clubs
Only got to hit up Opium & Shoko, but they didn’t disappoint. It was live all night! Like frfr all night lol. Go late and expect to go until damn near sunrise
Hey guys! Barcelona is truly an amazing city and from my own experience you could have tons of fun without spending a crazy amount of money, what’s better?!!!
Here are a few things that you should definitely check out in Barcelona:
1. La Sagrada Familia – Make sure you get your tickets online prior to arriving if you want to go inside.
2. Parque Guell if you want to see more of Guadi’s amazing work – great for pictures.
3. Mercado de la Boqueria – one of europe’s largest food markets. If you love food like me, this is the place to spend a couple hours for sure. Make sure you come with an empty stomach to fit as much as you can!!
4. La Costa Brava – if you wanna see and swim in beautiful waters, use one of your vacation days to travel to this beautiful coastal region of Catalonia. You could either take a train or drive there yourself.
5. Rent electrical bikes and ride up to the top of Montjuic. Make sure you get the electrical bikes as getting up a mountain on a regular bike could be a lot of work. If you enjoy beautiful views this is the activity for you. The mountain offers an amazing view of the entire city of Barcelona. It is truly beautiful.
Looking for things to do at night? Barcelona is the city that NEVEERRRRRR sleeps. If you thought New York City was, you got it all wrong!
Party until the sun rises in Barcelona’s clubs
I partied at Opium as well as Shoko – both these clubs were so much fun. Neither played that house fist pump music all night. They played a great variety of music – hip hop, top 40, afrobeats, reggaeton, you name it. The people are here to have fun. Make sure if you don’t want to be in a crowd of sweaty people that you get a table because the crowds here are absolutely insane.
I travelled to Barcelona at the end of July 2018 with a group of girls to celebrate a friend’s birthday. We were there for 5 days, which I think, was the perfect number of days for such girls trip. Enough time to have day(s) for yourself to do activities you personally like or just relax and do nothing and also have time to do things with the groups. Since we went for a party we were not back-to-back on executions but still managed to fit a couple/few in/. I went to Sagrada Familia which was 5 minutes walk from my Airbnb, Placa de Catalunya and La Barceloneta. One of my favourite things I did there was spending time at the beach, sleeping in the sun on Barcelona beach. Another activity I really wanted to do but was able to do due to time was to take a yacht tour at Port Olympia. If you are interested in doing this I would recommend you plan and book before time. They mainly do private tours, which of course is pricy especially when you do have the big group to share the cost. They have shared group experience where you pay per person (much affordable) but they only do that one or twice a week so you will have check before hand. We also took a trip along the coast to a water park called Illa Fantasia, with a big group of people, all black people, from a number of countries, America, UK, the Netherlands and others. I believe this was organised by a couple of guys from UK and US. One of our friends told us about it and got us involved. The same group organised an all white boat party and a pyjama party, which fell through, i believe due to taxi and uber strikes that were going on at the time of our visit. If this is your scene I would recommend you Google party package to find more information. Generally, I found Barcelona a lovely city with tons of things to do, I turn to love relaxation trips, with eating and a little bit of sightseeing and adventure. With this trip I had the relaxation, sightseeing top two and then food I will grade last.
I highly recommend visiting Barcelona at least once in your life. We stayed in a hotel just off the main street and it was perfect for getting around during our short stay. We rented bikes and explored every corner we could find. Casa Mila, Gaudi House Museum, and Park Guell are must-sees. I have never seen such beautiful and interesting architecture. Make sure you book your admission tickets in advance for the popular sites. They tend to sell out early and it would be a shame to miss it.
The beaches are lovely. I highly recommend grabbing food from La Boqueria and taking a picnic to the beach.
You can get the best Paella in the city at a spot called Restaurante My Way. They greet you with a complimentary shot or champagne and food is served tapas style. Although it is in a touristy area the entrance is located in an alley which keeps it hidden from big crowds.
I’ve always wanted to go to Barcelona ever since watching the cheetah girls movie when I was a young girl! There is so much life and beauty in this wonderful city. The people are kind even with Spanish and Catalan sometimes being a language barrier. There’s so much things to see and do in Barcelona we tried to squeeze as much as we could in the 5 days we spent there. The Hop-on Hop-off is a must if you enjoy being a tourist! Walking the streets of las ramblas was very exhilarating as well. The city is clean, beautiful and surrounded by beautiful architect making bike riding around the city a much more exciting. My friends and I stayed at an Airbnb in plaza espanya which is only 2 or 3 metro stops away from las ramblas and the downtown square. We found that taking the metro was super cheap and easy and convenient based on the location of our Airbnb. We also opted by booking a sail boat excursion through the Airbnb app which was one of the highlights of our tour! Being from Canada we met a lot of young people from the US and London and Paris who we later met up with in the evening to go party with. Booking a boat ride through Airbnb is soooo much cheaper than going to port Olympic than booking it through travel companies who target tourists at the ports and beaches. But my favorite part about Barcelona was the night life! Never in my life have I partied back to back 4 nights straight on week days and had sooo much fun! If you go to Barceloneta you’ll see a street filled with clubs right infront of the beach that stay open until 6am! Epic! We met so much great people who we kept in contact with via social media. Not to mention a little broken Spanish and some kindness might get you in the club for free a few nights LOL! I was expecting a lot of EDM and fist pumping music in Barcelona based on my experience in Mexico but I was in for a surprise. They played the top 40, hip hop, rap, trap music, Afrobeats, reggae and a few soca and dancehall here and there! I loved Barcelona so much I even started thinking of opportunities to move there for about a year. Ohhh and make sure you go try a seafood plater at Salamanca restaurant located in Port Olympic next to the beach! I promise you won’t be disappointed. A trip to Barcelona is not complete without some seafood!
The club to go to with the best music in Barcelona is Shako! We were at club almost every night. We also tried Opium and Catwalk but I can’t remember them being as good as Shako and they definitely did not play afrobeats the way Shako did!
Barcelona is amazing! I stayed in an air bnb in the old town. I visited during the off season, so many shops were closed down. Food in Barcelona was great, in old town there were many options. Getting around is fairly simple, if you are in a convenient location as I was. I walked mostly but caught a taxi when needed. One thing that occurred during the trip, random Europeans treating my friends and I as exhibitions. It only happened on one of the nights, during our time at a bar, so it’s not representative of the entire visit.
Barcelona the city that never sleeps; and you thought it was New York! There are bars and clubs right on the sea and give you a feeling of being in paradise. I recommend going to the club Catwalk, me and my friends had a great time there every time we went, the DJ had a great selection of music and everyone is on the dance floor dancing. I don’t know if this still exist, but there is a bracelet that you can buy for 35€ and you have access to all of the nightclubs ( ask for the bracelet at any hookah bar). Rent bikes and do a tour of the city, you can visit all of the major sites. Barcelona is a great city for a great party, great architecture and great people.
If you love to go and and party till the morning, Barcelona is the place for you! I love this city the night life is incredible and it’s vey affordable. The food is also incredible and there is a ton of variety. If you want to have a good summer time I’d recommend this place 100%.
I took a plane from London to Barcelona which cost me about 80 euros, it could’ve been cheaper but it was a same day ticket.
I took a train from the airport into the city and I was not disappointed. I headed straight for the beach. Barceloneta Beach, was amazing, it’s a nude beach, well at least there were females there topless. The water was a bit ruff when I was there but the water temperature was perfect for the hot weather, and when you get hungry, there were several shops that you could purchase food from.
Throughout the city there were bicycle rental stands, I walked mostly but that’s an option too.
They have this designated area in the middle of the city full of venders, so if you’re looking to get a souvenir, find that spot and you’re good to go.
Have you ever heard of the Sagrada Familia? It’s that huge church that looks like it’s made out of mud and clay, its just a train ride away from the main city. Up close, the church was beautiful, the architecture is just so unreal. I highly recommend seeing it.
I loved Barcelona! It is a city that is alive at night with plenty of things to do and see. We stayed at a hotel called Ohla Barcelona. The hotel has great views and rooms weee very clean. Highlights were seeing Sagrada familia and all of artist Gaudi’s architectural masterpieces! Also, the food in Barcelona is so good!
I travel to Barcelona for the first time in the fall of 2016. It was a wonderful city and in mid October the weather was beautiful! All I needed was a light jacket, and at certain points in the day I could walk around and just a T-shirt and jeans. I stayed in a hotel that was About a 2 1/2 star. But I was not very concerned about that. I came to see the city. It is a very walkable city, and the people are very friendly. There are lots of places to eat and drink, and my favorite thing to eat was definitely the ham about a 2 1/2 star. But I was not very concerned about that. I came to see the city. It is a very walkable city, and the people are very friendly. There are lots of places to eat and drink, and my favorite thing to eat was definitely the jamón ibérico. There are plenty of places to shop retail and for souvenirs. If you’re looking for things to sightsee, I suggest Going to Park Güell! It’s beautiful! And gives an amazing view of the city! If you go when the weather is nice, you can also visit the beach which is also walking distance from Barrí gothic. There is also the Casa Goudi, which is a tasknto actually enter, as you out have tickets in advance and wait on a long line.. but the pictures from the outside are also amazing. The whole city has amazing abstract architecture and it is definitely a place to see!
LOVE BARCELONA. There is a really vibrant and cool energy within this city. But it is also very laid back and chill at the same time. I’m definitely here for the TAPAS AND WINE THOUGH! Do yourself a favor and go to Tapas 24 for delicious food and wine. Also don’t order sangria. It’s not the drink of choice. Order Cava. It’s delicious! Of course check out Sagrada Família because it’s stunning and the history is incredible!
Barcelona was an amazing experience! It’s a very clean place and if you stay in the city center you’re a 6-10€ cab ride to all historical sites, the beach, and clubs. Some of the great restaurants I experienced were La Central Hamburguesería, Firebug, Cara Vella, Tosca, Tlaxla Catina, Teresa Carlea, and Alsur Cafe which had a Vodka Oreo Milkshake to die for.
Barcelona Spain
Barcelona has some amazing sites .I stayed at the W which was the perfect location for the (Topless ?) beach , site seeing , food and nightlife. They have a nice club on the top floor and guest are giving VIP access. Sunday was hip hop night . The party was packed with people from around the world .The pool side Resturant was good . The drink were a little pricy but good and I had the best Cobb shrimp salad . While there I visited Obrázok Barcelona Cathedral. In the evenings the had live break dancers putting on a cool show. They were not a part of the church’s entertainment but they did pass around a collection plate at the end of the night for tips from the crowd.The La Sagrada Familia was breathe taking. It’s a must see.I walked back to my hotel alone at night time from the Obrázok Barcelona Cathedral at night time. It was so many armed guard I felt that safe . After pool side pimpin and a couple of drinks, I built up enough nerve to take advantage of the topless beach. That’s one off of my buckle list. Barcelona gets 10 stars from me.
Such a beautiful city I would defintely go again. Some say its the Vegas of Spain because of the nightlife which I agree but during the day the beauty of the city really shows with its 18th and 19th century buldings. The food and thr people are great. They all warn us about pick pocketers lol
Barcelona has to be one of my top 5 favorite cities in the World. It’s amazing from the landscapes, people, food, entertainment, attractions, and the highly impressive subway system. While visiting Barcelona the sagrada familia cathedral is a must see I can’t stress it enough. It’s a incredible piece of art I’ve never in my life seen. The Spanish paella is something I bet you’ve never tasted in your life. It’s literally something out of Spain. I stayed at the Kabul party hostel located in the plaza real which is a great location to be for entertainment and food. Kabul party hostel was accommodating making sure it was clean and staff. I paid about 20 euro a night at Kabul party hostel. I would highly recommend it for any solo traveler.
Barcelona gets 5 out of 5 stars from me. This is the kind of city you want to pack up and move to. It has everything! Clean city life, beaches, history, beautiful architecture, amazing food, convenient public transportation, nice weather, poppin’ night life, and lots of things to do. Here are a few things to see/do:
-Sagrada Familia Church
-Park Guell
-La Rambla Street (shopping)
-The Gothic Quarter
-Montjuic
-Montserrat
-La Barceloneta (beach)
-La Boqueria (food market)
-Camp Nou (futbol/soccer stadium)
– Tibidabo
-Day Trip to Costa Brava
The list goes on and on….but these are the top things to do : )
Barcelona caught me by surprise. There was plenty to see in different areas. Las Ramblas was the city center that was the more lively part. There were plenty shops and local eatiers. Taxi and bus are the main transportation options out there. I recommend bus (station info is in apple or google maps) as taxis can get costly.
Sagrada Familia church is the jewel of the city. Paid 15 euro for a ticket and you can roam around it on your own. The structure is breathtaking. It is a very detailed building with history at every corner. There’s a lot to say about it but it’s something you have to experience for yourself
Barcelona, was so cheap for us. I got a flight from Louisville, KY to New York to Barcelona for $400!!! I was flexible in my dates so I was able to get a great deal. I found the flight using Skyscanner. If you didn’t know, now you know!! In Barcelona, bourbons were literally a third of what we pay in New York!! I was there for 5 days and May have spent $1100 on the entire trip(including the flight)!! ALSO, I WAS VIP THE ENTIRE TIME! It was quite ridiculous actually. I had so much fun! Definitely going back.
If you want to party hard Barcelona is your city! The parties start late so do not worry if you arrive to an empty club. It will start filling up from 1am and finish at 6am.
The clubs to hit are:
Otto Zuts
Catwalk
Opium
Shoko
Jamboree
Any of these clubs will show you a good time, with multiple rooms but Rnb and hip hop is what I go for and what you will find at these joints.
One of the incredible things that makes Barcelona such a special city is the work of Art Nouveau Artist/Architect Antoni Gaudí. Although you might not want to pay to enter into Park Güell, trust me when I say it’s worth it for the photoshoot alone! His stunning works are dotted throughout the city, including Casa Batlló and the sagrada familia. Make sure not to miss them!
Barcelona was a great trip that I shared with two of my girlfriends. We went in July there was so much to do there was Reggae Music Festival. We had so much fun and we went to a small village where there was a beautiful beach outside the city
Barcelona is great a place! I recommend going in July. Food was pretty affordable but if you wanted to eat at a more fine dining place you easily could have. Being a person of color I did not experience any racism or discrimination. I definitely reccomend Barcelona for familes and perfect for young children. Shopping was great and affordable. The main streets and shopping are easily accessible by foot and there are busses that take you around the city to show you historical sites that are very affordable. If however you do get lost many people speak English and are more than happy to help you. I did not experience any theft however I encountered people who did so I would be careful.
Barcelona has so many things to do and places to explore. I loved that we stayed central in the city and explored Park Guell, La Sagrada Familia, Casa Mila etc. At night La Rambla and the Gothic Quater come alive.
On the second half of our trip we stayed in the W hotel and enjoyed the relaxation of the beach.
This is a place you could visit with your partner, friends or family and enjoy it in different ways.
I would most definitely recommend
So I was strolling through Instagram one day and saw one of my followers post a pic.. Stair way to heaven it said.. me being an angel though dammmm that’s my kinda place to go visit and let me tell you this visit was one of the riskiest things I’ve done in a foreign country.
As soon as I saw her pic I started to research how I could get there, and how I could climb these massive square blocks and get me a “do it for the gram” pic ;)
Little did I know it would be blocked off by 3 meter high fences and patrolled by police to stop people from climbing them (health and safety they say)
We took a train from Barcalona to Monserat, then a cable car to the top of the mountains. I remember waiting for 30 minutes for the clouds to clear up and try to sus a way up.. it was one of those ones where there was never going to be a “right time” so I just pulled up my shorts and socks and got my monkey on, leaped over the fence with a little luck from the wall one the side and climbed up way to the very top for my shot! And there it is.. papabecks on the top of the Stairway to Heaven. :)
Barcelona was amazing, I was surprised to see how laid back everyone was despite being a big city, our hotel had a rooftop deck equipped with a pool, jacuzzi and bar, we sat up there for hours lounging and looking over at the bustling city beneath us. In the mornings we had local food for breakfast which unlike the states is very lite and mainly consisting of sandwiches, and croissants; if you’re looking for the traditional American, eggs, potatoes, sausage and pancake type of breakfast you’re going to have to look really hard! There are lots of street performers there, nice beaches as well. Want to see a bit of history or just marvel at the attention to detail of a building, then go to Sagrada Famila! Absolutely beautiful work of art and a sight to see. After leaving there head over to Park Guell, you’ll feel like a real life Alice in wonderland. Barcelona has something for everyone, sadly I was only there 2 days. Will definitely return.
Barcelona is one of the more expensive places I visited. I suggest airbnb or hostels and carry a good amount of pocket change for food and getting around!
I stayed in a hostel off of la rambles, and when I mean there are a million things to do within walking distance in downtown Barcelona I mean it. You can find literally every origin of food within walking distance, there are street performers to watch, lots of shopping selections, and the beach is a short bike taxi away. Also the nightlife is great as well as there are lots of bars and clubs to stumble into. Barcelona was one of my favorite places to visit!
I stayed at the Princess Barcelona when I visited this beautiful city. The hotel is right over a mall with all the stores you would want during travel. H&M, Pull and Bear, and a PRIMARK for cheap last min items you forgot for your vacation. It is located near two beaches with drink and food services. The train station is only a 5 min walk away. The hop on hop off tour bus stop is literally out of the side door of the hotel. It stops at all the sites to see throughout Barcelona. The hotel has a rooftop pool and lower level pool as well. The staff were very helpful and assisted with any questions I had about travel. There are two local food restaurants across the street for a quick bite to eat before heading out for the day. I had a great experience. Oh and it was about 200 euro a night to stay there. Well worth the convenience and security.
Barcelona’s Night life is LIT !!
The nightclubs are easy to reach. From La Rambla to by taxi takes less than 10 min ..and shouldn’t cost more than 10-12€.
There are 4 night clubs right next to each other and they are located just at the beach.
The Coconut Club, Pacha, Shôko, Opium
In front of every nightclub there are usually promoters that offer you discount on entry. Definitely take advantage of that ! But make sure that they take INTO the Club.
All clubs are awesome and they all have a back exit that leads to beach.
Even if you don’t enter a nightclub the vibes at the beach are amazing.
Going back home by taxi can be pricy, because the taxi drivers tend to tripple the price around 6-7 am around the party area. We usually walk along the beach to a the habor which is right at the at the beginning of La Rambla. It takes about 30 min by food and it’s a lot of fun because you always meet new people from all over the globe !
Things To Do – You must visit La Sagrada Familia. The outside is incredible and tour of the place would be worth it I think. There is a park with a pond across the street for a good photo op as well. Exploring the Gothic Quarter, La Rambla, and Passeig De Gracia (they’re all near each other) is a must. Outside of the city center, Park Guell and the National Palace at Montjiuc are must sees as well. I also recommend day trips either to Montserrat mountains or to Andorra and Southern France.
Adventure – Due to it’s location, you can do many things in Barcelona. You can sail the Mediterranean or drive up to the mountains for hiking. You can also just stay in the city and enjoy the art scene.
History – The history of Barcelona is interesting because their culture identifies with Catalonia not Spain. Learning more about that history and how proud the people are to be Catalan will give you a lot of insight to the protests so they can try to win their independence from Spain.
Affordability – I thought it was one of the more affordable cities I’ve been to. It has a Southern Cali, Southern Florida vibe but not as expensive.
Relaxation – Like any city, you can relax there but it just depends on your definition of relaxation. During the summer months the best place to go would be the beaches.
Local Food – I actually wasn’t too impressed with the food. Don’t get me wrong, it was good but nothing really special though. They have a lot of seafood and many dishes with Iberian ham. They also seem to really love burgers. If you go you must have the paella of course.
Great city especially for first time visitors to Europe! Many people spoke multiple languages including English. The beach and clubs along the beach were beautiful. My favorite attraction was bunker del camel which oversaw the entire city from a hilltop
Barcelona is a must for anyone looking for fun, adventure, history and shopping. The nightlife was one of my best experiences. If you’ve never been, the clubs all join at the back on the beach so you can go in and out, have a few drinks, mingle with other people and just have an amazing night.
What an amazing city , authentic and rich in history. Port Olympic is a very popular tourist area with many restaurants and bars and night clubs. There are many breathtaking churches to see as well that date back as early as the 17th century. The beaches there are clean and water is amazing , it is Europe so most time clothing is optional so please be aware. Rich in history I would suggest getting on hop off hop on bus to take you around the city. Amazing weather in early spring a perfect time to go in my opinion. Worth a trip while in Europe.
Barcelona was my first international love. I studied abroad there in college and this city stole my heart and ignited a passion for travel. Even 13 years later with plenty travel adventures all over the world, it’s still my absolute favorite city! I’ve been there 3 times now and it’s a place I always crave and will always return to. It’s such a diverse city with a vibrant vibe. It’s architecture is amazing. So many magnificent works of art by famed architect Antoni Gaudí: the Sagrada Familia, La Pedrera, Casa Batlló, and Park Güell are all must-sees. It’s a great city to get lost in… whether you are strolling down Las Ramblas, wandering the Gothic Quarter or taking in the magic of Montjüic.
It’s also a great location to use as a base to explore other beautiful towns so you should definitely take advantage of this and swing by to nearby Girona or visit the Costa Brava. I highly recommend at least two days in Tossa de Mar, a picturesque and quaint beach town on the Costa Brava. It’s like walking into a real life fairy tale. I promise!
You can check out my IG: @thebrunchbelle or my website http://www.BrunchBelle.com for more of my travel adventures.
Barcelona is my absolute favorite!!! The beach, the parks, the buildings, everything is ahhhmazing! The must do’s are the beach, las ramblas, mount juic, parc guell, and the Picasso museum! You should also just walk around and get lost to see you what you find! It’s a city where you can create your own adventure and march to the rhythm of your own drum!