The Ultimate holiday guide to Barcelona

Barcelona is the cosmopolitan capital of Catalonia, a region in Spain, and it is one of the most visited cities in Europe. Barcelona competes with Madrid itself, with just as many (if not more) tourist attractions, cultural and historical sites and inspiring architecture.

With a lot to offer, Barcelona is definitely a visit that needs to be planned and thought of beforehand. Especially if you’re only in Barcelona for 48 hours.

Here is a handy guide of what you need to know before traveling to Barcelona:

Best time to visit

If you want to visit during the peak temperatures, June to September can get really hot there with over 30 ºC. This time of the year is also the most crowded with tourists and the city is buzzing with activities, festivals and people.

March to May or October to November tend to be a bit more mild with around 16-20 ºC. This time Barcelona is still warm and sunny enough to spend all day walking around and exploring the city and is perhaps the best time for those who cannot handle crowded spaces and extremely hot weather.

Winter in Barcelona are considered crisp and chilly, yet it is still mostly sunny and the temperatures stay as high as 10-13 ºC. This time of the year is the least popular to visit, which means less queuing and cheaper plane tickets.

Where to stay

Booking a hotel is one of the most common ways to get holiday accommodation in Barcelona and it is clear why. You can often get a nice view, spa services and all-inclusive deals. However, it is increasingly popular to rent one of the Barcelona beach apartments for the holidays.

These are great because you can stay right next to the beach in a more authentic Spanish street as well as have the whole apartment to yourself. This choice is often popular with families, as you get an autonomy of using your own kitchen, washing machine and so on. Besides, that Lugaris Rambla holiday apartments are just as modern and luxurious as hotels but for considerably cheaper.

Getting around Barcelona

Public transport is perhaps the most easy and convenient way to travel around Barcelona, with the options of buses, trams and metros. The tickets are not the cheapest in Europe, but they are definitely not going to break the bank.

If you want to travel more on your own terms, renting a car is also a common choice, as it saves you time and it is great for families. However, bear in mind that the city does get full of cars and tourists, so it may end up being more frustrating to get to places.

There is also a choice of sightseeing buses, which tend to be extremely popular during summer or spring (when it is warm and sunny). These are amazing if you want to be taken to the main attractions, however, you may not be able to spend your time walking around or looking through them.

Lastly, walking can be healthy and quite easy way to get around Barcelona – although it is a big city and not all the attractions are close together, you will be able to see quite a few.

Safety

There is always a question of safety in Barcelona when visiting these big cities, especially when you are travelling with small children. Generally, Barcelona is considered a safe city, with crime rates being considerably low compared to most European cities.

However, there are a couple things you should look out for and keep in mind when in Barcelona. One of these is keeping your purse and wallet close and preferably in front of you, especially in crowded buses or attraction sites. With so many tourists filling the streets, Barcelona becomes an absolute goldmine for pickpocketers.

Additionally, like any other city, Barcelona, of course has some areas that you should probably avoid in the dark.

Things to do in Barcelona

Barcelona is full of architecture, arts, museums and other attractions to visit. It is however recommended to book your tickets online to avoid long queuing, as it does get insanely busy. Here are some things that are a must to do in Barcelona:

Enjoy some football 

Barcelona is known for their passion for football, being home to one of the biggest and most successful football teams in the world. The local football stadium Camp Nou is definitely something to try and get tickets to and experience the energetic atmosphere.

Try local cuisine 

Spain is known for its delicious cuisine, which is something you don’t want to miss out on. There is a lot of tapas style restaurants there, that offer the famous paella. Trying out their local wines and the well-known sangria is also a must.

Siesta in the beaches

Barcelona is rich with beautiful white sand beaches, which is where you should spend the hottest times of the day, or as called by locals – siestas. Lounging about in the sun with a cold drink can be exactly what you need on a holiday.

Visit the attractions and museums

There are plenty of attractions to visit in Barcelona. Some main ones include La Sangrada Familia, Park Guell, La Rambla, Montjuic and its magic fountain, Cathedral of Barcelona, Aquarium of Barcelona, Ciutadella Park, Barcelona’s history museum and so on.