Barcelona is a city that really has a bit of everything. Sunshine, sea, hilltop views, beautiful buildings, history, delicious food and wine, a great party scene, it’s all here!
Whether you are backpacking in Barcelona on a shoestring budget or you want to treat yourself to some great experiences while you here, this guide to backpacking in Barcelona covers everything you need to know about this amazing city that spans from the mountains to the sea.
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Highlights and tips for backpacking in Barcelona
Helpful links:
💳 Hola Barcelona card: unlimited access to all Barcelona public transport during your stay!
💳 Barcelona Card: free entry or discounted entry tickets to many of Barcelona’s major attractions
Activities to book ahead:
🚲 Street art cycling tour: cycle the city with a local guide and check out Barcelona’s iconic street art
🚶 Gothic Quarter walking tour: tour this fascinating quarter of the city on a fun guided tour
⛪ Sagrada Familia cathedral: self-guided audio tour — book ahead to avoid queuing and explore the Basilica, one of Antoni Gaudi’s architectural masterpieces
⛵ Vermut Mediterranean yacht cruise: sail and have an optional swim on the brilliant waters of Barcelona’s Mediterranean coast for 1.5 hours while sipping vermouth and enjoying snacks
Accommodation:
🏨 Hotels and hostels: choose from hundreds of options for all budgets
🔑 Self-catering apartments: for more space, autonomy, and group stays, check out our article that covers lots of apartments to suit your needs
Barcelona travel: the basics
Currency: Euros (EUR). See exchange rates at xe.com. Safety: Barcelona is a very safe city to visit. Pickpocketing is the main issue for travellers, and is common in tourist areas. This guide to Barcelona pickpocket safety has some useful tips. Buy before your trip: the Barcelona Card gives free access to dozens of attractions and unlimited use of public transport
Language: Barcelona has two official languages: Catalan and Spanish. Learning a few basic Spanish phrases or Catalan phrases for travellers before your trip will help you get by. Best time to visit: Barcelona has hot summers and mild winters, so it’s great to visit at any time. Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are still warm, and quieter than peak season. Also see our guide to Barcelona in winter.
Top experiences and attractions in Barcelona
Best tours in Barcelona
Barcelona’s tourist board works with great local operators and guides to bring together the city’s best tours. We’ve tried some out, and we just love the Gothic Quarter walking tour as an introduction to one of the most beautiful parts of the city.
The architecture of Antoni Gaudí is some of the most imaginative ever created, and a must to see. Make time for a tour of La Sagrada Familia, his masterpiece, while you’re in the city. Here are some more great tours we’ve tried:
- Street art cycle tour on sustainable bamboo e-bikes, exploring the city’s incredible array of colourful street art
- Camp Nou stadium tour, Europe’s biggest stadium and the home of FC Barcelona, with a brilliant multimedia museum
- Vermut sailing experience, relaxing on Mediterranean waters with great city views and maybe some swimming
- Park Güell guided tour, getting to know another of Gaudí’s great achievements and the story behind it
Free things to do when backpacking in Barcelona
If you are backpacking on a budget, you might find it useful to read our complete selection of free things to do in Barcelona. Here are some activity ideas in the city that won’t cost you anything:
- The Montjuïc Magic Fountain light show is a daily free display of light colour and sound. Check out the schedule.
- Hit the beaches. With 4.5 kilometres of sandy coastline, Barcelona has some of Europe’s best city beaches.
- Many of Barcelona’s museums and galleries have weekly free entry, such as Museu Picasso on Thursdays after 4pm.
- Walk up the city’s hills for spectacular views, such as Montjuïc, Tibidabo and Mirador de Joan Sales.
Best neighbourhoods to stay for backpacking in Barcelona
Barcelona is a huge, sprawling city. There are many neighbourhoods where you can choose to stay, each offering different charms and characteristics. Below we give a quick lowdown on the best for backpackers. Use hostelworld to find budget places to stay, or for self-catered accommodation, check our rundown of the best Vrbo apartments in Barcelona.
- The Gothic Quarter is the best neighbourhood for sightseeing. As the heart of the city, famed for its cathedral, plazas, museums, galleries, and quaint cobbled roads.
- Gracia is a quieter, more laidback area of the city, rich with art-nouveau architecture and home to the magnificent Park Güell. Accommodation is typically cheaper here.
- Raval is an offbeat, multi-cultural neighbourhood in a central location, known for its art and culture centres, quirky bars and places to eat international cuisine.
- El Born is great for outgoing travellers. It’s the city’s nucleus of nightlife, packed with lively cocktail bars and restaurants, interspersed with historical buildings and green spaces.
- Sant Antoni is an upcoming neighbourhood that has grown rapidly around its food market. A hub for remote working, it is rife with coworking spaces and laptop cafés.
- El Poblenou has emerged as Barcelona’s innovation district. A former industrial heartland, it now attracts entrepreneurs and startups in its offbeat seaside location.
Places to visit near Barcelona
Barcelona is not only a spectacular city, but it is also a gateway to exploring a beautiful region of mountains, vineyards and seaside towns. If you want to explore the wider region while backpacking in Barcelona, these are some places we suggest to visit:
- The Penedès wine region is where 95% of the world’s cava is produced. Read how you can visit Sant Sadurní d’Anoia, a hillside village known for its family-run wineries.
- The rugged mountains of Monserrat in Catalonia conceal a remarkable 11th century abbey. You can take a Monserrat Monastery and hiking tour to take in the landscapes.
- Sitges is a picturesque seaside location with a gorgeous whitewashed old town just half an hour’s train ride from Barcelona. Read our guide to how to visit Sitges in a day.
- If visiting Barcelona in winter, the Pyrenees mountains are not far away. You can take a full-day snowboarding trip including a 2-hour orientation session plus time to snowboard on your own at an amazing ski resort.
Food and drink in Barcelona
If you’re a foodie backpacking in Barcelona you’re in for a treat. The city has a delicious and diverse food scene, and there are many ways to experience it, from al-fresco tapas bars to bustling food markets. Here are some of the local delicacies you must try:
What to eat in Barcelona
- Seafood paella – the famous Spanish dish originated in Valencia, but you can find amazing varieties in Barca
- Esqueixada – a seafood salad dish similar to ceviche, combining raw cured cod with tomatoes, onions and olives.
- Escalivada – one of our tapas favourites, comprising aubergine roasted over coals with peppers and onions.
- Fideuà – like paella but replacing rice with noodles, sizzled in a pan with spices, stock, tomato, peppers and seafood.
- Local meats and cheeses – the best way to enjoy Catalan wines is with a delicious charcuterie board of local produce.
- Crema Catalana – a vanilla custard dessert dish, similar to creme brûlée but infused with citrus and cinnamon.
What to drink in Barcelona
- Cava – the sparkling wine is available in abundance in Barcelona from the nearby Penedès region, and often cheap.
- Vermouth – fortified wine that is Italian in origin, but has become wildly popular in Barcelona.
- Sangria – the fusion of red wine of fruits comes in all shapes and sizes in bars and markets across the city.
- Horchata – a delicious, creamy non-alcoholic beverage with sweet and nutty flavours, best enjoyed in the sunshine.
Top food tours in Barcelona
- Barcelona cooking class – including a visit to the famous Boqueria Market to buy ingredients, and a wine pairing.
- Estrella Damm Brewery tour and tasting – behind the scenes of Barcelona’s most famous local beer brewery.
- Tasting Barcelona food and wine tour – a tapas and wine experience exploring classic bars of the Gothic Quarter.
- Hidden markets, tapas and paella tasting guided tour – visit hidden restaurants off the tourist path and taste tapas, paella, and wine.
Festivals, celebrations and other dates for your calendar
There’s always an event happening somewhere while you’re backpacking in Barcelona! It’s a city that likes a party! The calendar is filled with many festivals and celebrations that can make your trip extra special if you time it right. These are some Barcelona festivals to consider:
- Sant Jordi Festival, 23 April – a celebration of love and books, with stalls and stages filling the streets and plazas.
- Epiphany, 5–6 January – an epic and colourful street parade that marks the end of the festive season.
- Barcelona Pride, last weekend in June – a major celebration of LGBT rights and diversity, with parades and parties.
- Carnival, February/March – week-long street parties, music and costumed parades. The best party is in Sitges!
- Festes de la Mercè, end of September – five days of fire runs, fireworks and dancing to honour the city’s patron saint.
- Cruilla Festival, July – a three-day summer city park festival of music, comedy, art and gastronomy.
Getting around Barcelona
Barcelona has an excellent public transport system and so it’s easy to get around when it’s too far to walk. Exploring by foot is fun, but it’s a huge city and sometimes you’ll need to use the metro, trams, and buses. Thankfully, this system covers the entire city!
As above, the Barcelona Card gives you unlimited access to the city’s public transport system alongside entry and discounts at a range of attractions. If you’re only looking for the transport part, the Hola Barcelona Travel Card is a cheaper alternative.
What about cycling? It’s a fantastic, cheaper way to explore the city. With over 200 kilometres of dedicated cycle lanes, lots of hire shops and plenty of places to park your bike, the city is well set up for it. Check out this Barcelona bike rental guide for more.
Where to work remotely in Barcelona
If you need a place to get some work done while backpacking in Barcelona, the city is ready to accommodate you! It’s one of our favourite cities for remote working, with a vibrant network of coworking spaces and cafés. Our guide to taking a workation in Barcelona gives in-depth practical advice on working remotely in the city. These are some of the top spots to take your laptop:
- Aticco Med – with flexible passes, set on the seafront with a terrace and pool in the innovative district of Poblenou.
- Coworking Sant Antoni – warm and inviting modern coworking in Sant Antoni with a great day pass rate for shared spaces.
- El Fornet – look out for these cafés all over the city where you can grab a coffee and a pastry and plug in for a while.
- The Social Hub Barcelona – modern hotel and coworking space where you can stay and work or just drop by on a day pass.
- La Vaca Coworking – bright and comfy space in offbeat Poblesec district, with one of the cheapest day rates
- Cloudworks Sagrada Familia – vibrant working environment just two blocks from Gaudí’s masterpiece
What to pack for backpacking in Barcelona
Whatever time of year you visit Barcelona, you need to be prepared for warm weather! Even in February there will be some t-shirt days. So pack plenty of light, summery clothes (lots of them if you’re travelling in April–September!).
It does get colder in the evenings in winter, and on rare occasions you might even see some snow. So, if you’re visiting out of season, balance out the t-shirts and shorts/skirts with some layers and warm clothes – jumpers, jackets, long sleeves.
Summer gets very hot. Don’t forget all the essentials like hats, sunglasses and sun protection. Each month there are a handful of rainy days, so bring an umbrella too, and check out our guide to what to do in Barcelona on a rainy day for activity ideas.
Money and costs in Barcelona
In general, Barcelona is quite an expensive city, on a par with other touristy Western European cities like Rome, Munich or Dublin (but cheaper than Paris or London). Budget Your Trip gives a very useful overview of Barcelona costs for different travel styles.
But while it’s not exactly a cheap city, there are plenty of ways to save money when backpacking in Barcelona. Staying in hostels, eating at offbeat food markets, and taking walking tours can give you a fulfilling city experience without spending highly.
Accommodation
Budget: hostel dorm rooms from €15
Mid-range: basic hotel rooms from €63
Luxury: fancy hotels from €100
Food
Budget: food markets or lunch “menu of the day” from €10–15 for a meal
Mid-range: regular restaurant meal from €13-24
Luxury: fancy restaurant meal from €35-65+
Transport
Budget: walk for free!
Public transport: Hola Barcelona Travel Card unlimited access from €21 for 48 hours
Taxis: basic fee €2.05, then €0.93 per kilometre
Great books about Barcelona
Before backpacking in Barcelona, you can gain an insight into the city’s identity and culture by reading some books. And, as one of Europe’s most romantic cities, a lot has been written about it! Here are some books about Barcelona to consider reading:
- Cathedral of the Sea by Ildefonso Falcones, an epic novel of war and love set in 14th century Barcelona.
- Barcelona by Robert Hughes, a weighty history of the city from Roman times through to the 1992 Olympic Games.
- Homage to Catalonia by George Orwell, recounting his time in the Barcelona region during the Spanish Civil War.
- Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón, the first of a page-turning four-part series of mystery and romance.
- Homage to Barcelona by Colm Tóibín, a cultural and artistic history of Barcelona told like a personable story.
- Origin by Dan Brown, the fifth in his Robert Langdon series, with locations including Monsterrat Abbey and Casa Milà.
Get our free Barcelona workations guide
For more inspiration on how to take a workation in Barcelona, check out our article Workation in Barcelona and get your free 6-minute Barcelona workation guide by subscribing.
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