Everything to know about visiting Barcelona
Whether you’re going to see the art, for the nightlife, the beach, or anything else I’ll help break it down.
I absolutely love Barcelona, I will always recommend visiting it in your 20s (or any time, it’s amazing). I’m a little biased because I studied abroad there, but the food, weather, and nightlife are unbeatable. For some background I spend this past summer there for a month, as well as studying abroad there in 2022. I also am planning to visit in a few week and will create some more detailed posts on restaurants, bars, ect. I’ll go into details on what activities, restaurants, and nightlife that I recommend to all of my friends. Continue reading for a guide to all that Barcelona has to offer!
First up… where to stay and general notes about visiting Barcelona
I would like to note I haven’t stayed in many hotels here, as I’ve always stayed in apartments or with friends, but I do have some recommendations for neighborhoods. I would recommend staying in:
El Born
Gothic Quarter
Gràcia
I will say, the public transportation and walkability of Barcelona are AMAZING, so I wouldn’t be too worried about getting around as long as you stay in the city center.
Here are some other tips and notes:
Barcelona speaks Catalan instead of Spanish, although Spanish can still be used I recommend learning a few common Catalan words
The Spanish enjoy the late night dinner time around 9:00 and 9:30; this is when I would make reservations for to get the full experience of most restaurants
Be careful with your belongings and watch out for pick pockets (I would know, I got my phone stolen TWICE)
The metro system is great, definitely take advantage of it and get a ticket with a few rides
Monday-Friday a lot of restaurants have lunch specials that include a starter, main, dessert, and drink for around 12 Euros (known as Menú del día); this is typically the largest meal eaten in Spain
Now on to where to eat, drink, and see the sights!
Best tapas bars in Barcelona
Best Tapas Bars
Barcelona has so many tapas restaurants, it can be underwhelming. In my time there I have tried many ranging from less expensive to a little on the pricier side. I spent the summer trying to perfect the perfect tapas order. My go-tos to order are pan con tomate, patatas bravas, croquettes, pimientos de padrón, and jamón iberico. I also definitely recommend trying something new each time you go, each restaurant has a slightly different selection!
My top tapas restaurant is Bodega La Puntual; it is located near the Gothic Quarter and has amazing food (order the chicken wings!) and an fun ambiance. It’s also not too expensive, but has a slightly nicer vibe if you want a night out; I;ve gone for date nights as well as with friends and family. Bellow are some of my other favorite tapas restaurants around the city.
La Bodegueta- In Gracia neighborhood; great for classic tapas and a local laid back fee;
Perikete- Near the marina and has a great variety of options
Bastaix- Get the Choricito flambéed with rum!! It comes out lit on fire and is amazing
Tantarana- Can’t go wrong; one of my favorites
Santaugustina- On the nicer side (a little more expensive) but great for a nicer night out
Bar Del Pla- Stopped in here mid day and had great patatas bravas; may be busier at night (look into reservations)
The live saxaphone player at Downtown
Interior of Paradiso
L’Ovella Negra during the European Cup
The best of Barcelona nightlife
The first thing I will say is prepare to not sleep. When I was first getting ready to go study abroad in Barcelona everyone told me stories of the clubs and dancing all night an into the morning. I didn’t fully believe them until the I got there and started going out. Most clubs don’t get busy until around 1:00 or 2:00 am and close around 6:00am. The clubbing scene in Barcelona is unmatched in my opinion. However, there are so many options and each club is a little bit of a different vibe.
Best Barcelona Clubs
Some of my favorites are Razzmatazz and Jamboree, Razzmatazz is a must visit; it’s a 5 floor club with each floor having a different dj. I love this place because usually everyone can have fun and find a floor they like. If you go I would recommend looking online and seeing if you can buy a ticket ahead of time (usually not too expensive and you get a free drink with it). Jamboree is another great club located near the gothic quarter. This place has a smaller dance floor and bar on the top, but downstairs is where the fun is. It’s a smaller club but definitiy worth checking out if you’re in Barcelona. Some other great options for a great night out are Opium, Shoku, and Pacha which are all in the same area and are right on the beach. These are bigger clubs with great music and cool set ups. They do have more tourists and can be crowded, but I have had some great nights at these (if you stay late enough you can see the sunrise on the beach after). I would recommend trying to get on a promoter list to get free entry as there can be a cover of around 20 euros. The last I’ll mention in Downtown. The last time I was here they brought out a live saxophone player who played along with the DJ, which was super cool. It’s a fun club, but further out of the city and may require a taxi ride.
Best Barcelona Bars
If clubbing isn’t for you or you want something more laid back (or a pregame for the clubs) the bars are also great in Barcelona. My favorite of all time in L’Ovella Negra. There are two locations, I prefer the one near the marina; it’s a large beer hall where you can order a 5 liter jug of sangria or beer which is great for sharing with a big group. It is super close to Razzmatazz and makes a great pre-game spot. It’s also a great spot to watch sports games. We went for the European Cup and it was a lot of fun. If you want a nicer bar Paradiso is a world ranked speakeasy in El Born. They have crazy cocktails and a great ambiance; it is definitely worth checking out. The line is always hours long, I would recommend putting your name on the list earlier in the day. If the wait is too long there are a bunch of bars in the area. Bar Sauvage is one option that is great in the area; they have cocktails and also an area to dance. This is located in El Born on a street with a variety of bars to check out as well. If nightlife is something you’re into Barcelona is the place to be!
Seeing the sights.
Beaches
Barcelona is has amazing art, beaches, and gorgeous views; I would definitely take advantage while you’re there. If you’re visiting in the summer the beach is a great way to cool down. The one closet to the city is Barcelonetta, however, it can get pretty crowded in the summer. My favorite beach is Bogattel beach. It’s a quick metro ride and walk away from the main city and is much less crowded. If you are up for a longer journey I absolutely love the beach town of Sitges. Sitges is a smaller beach town about 30-40 minutes away. The beach there is amazing and the town it’s self id definitely worth checking out for a day.
Art and Museums
As far as art goes, there are plenty of options. Barcelona is known for the famous Gaudi work. Some things I would check out the Gaudi houses; there are 3 of them, of which I have only been to Casa Batlló and would definitely recommend. I bought a ticket day of and did a self led tour, but would check the website for ticket availability. Also Gaudi work I would go see if I was visiting is Park Güell. This is a whole park full of amazing artwork by Gaudi. Plan to get tickets for this as well! Other great art museums include the Moco Museum, a modern art museum, and the Picasso Museum.
Also, of course you probably already have plans to see Sagrada Familia; it’s definitely a must. I did a guided tour and definitely thing it was worth it just to really learn the history behind it. Another gorgeous church I would recommend stopping by is the Barcelona Cathedral (pictured to the right). This is located in the Gothic Quarter and is absolutely stunning; check out some roof top bars near by that also have a great view of it.
Views
My final recommendations are my favorite because they both have amazing views of the city, especially during sunset. First is Montjuïc Hill, home of Montjuïc castle, the old Olympic stadium, Barcelona Cable Cars, Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, and amazing city views. It can be a little bit of a hike if you want to make it all the way to the castle on the top, so you may want to look into the cable cars for that. It also has a gorgeous fountain in front and some nights there is a live fountain show! The next sunset activity for you to check out is Bunkers de Carmel. This view point is full of people hanging out, drinking wine, and watch the views. It also is a little bit of a hike, but the end result is definitely worth it. The last time I went access was free and you could go any time, however, due to protests from the neighborhood I believe there may be time restrictions on when you can access it. I would look into this before making the trek over there. Finally, for some other great views, Barcelona has some great rooftop bars to look into if you aren’t looking to take a hike uphill.
Overall, Barcelona is full of things to do and see and it is hard to be disappointed. I would recommend looking to see if there are any festivals, special markets, or events happening during your visit as well!
Barcelona Cathedral
The Olympic pool at Montjuïc
Sitges, the charming beach town
The view from Musea Nacional d’Art de Catalunya