Barcelona is one of the places in Spain. An immensely beautiful Gaudi Architect is covering the city & each street has its own story. This is one of the essential places in Spain to travel.
The mind-blowing architecture, mouth licking food, mile-long beach & wild parties till early morning all these & many more things are waiting for you at this place. There needs to be a special mention of streets, the beautiful narrow streets are full of beauty & city in itself. Barcelona is surely not a place to be missed by any traveler. Here is the complete Barcelona travel guide for solo travelers.
Spain Visa:
Spain visa is in the European Union which means to visit Spain one requires Schengen Visa. Schengen Visa needs to be applied for a country where one intends to stay for the maximum number of nights.
How To Reach Barcelona:
By Flights:
Barcelona international airport is located at approx. 14 Km from the city center. The city is also home to probably one of the most followed football clubs in the world FC Barcelona. Direct flights from India will hover around 20K INR. However, if one is lucky to find some offers book the flights at the earliest. As the prices hardly ever drop, especially during the summer time which is also a peak time to travel to Europe.By Trains: :
Trains can be one option to reach Barcelona from European cities. All the major cities are connected through rail network. The prices are in line with the flights. So, it is always recommended to book flights prior than to book train. This will save time & money. Go Euro is one of the prime operators to book inter-connecting train tickets.By Bus:
Europe has a fantastic road network & if you combine the same with the landscapes, a road trip becomes a lucrative offer. However, the only constraint is time. If you are short on time avoid road trips. However, if you are not then there is no better way to reach Barcelona than Bus. The route is awesome & in between, one can enjoy some layover cities. I explored Lyon in such manner.Best Things To Do In Barcelona:
Barcelona is a great city to be especially if you are a youngster. A perfect blend of modern infrastructure & vintage architect. The combination is pleasant to the eyes & the city will impress you with each corner. Here is the list of best things to do in Barcelona, Spain.Gaudi's Work:
The impression of Gaudi is all over Barcelona, the famous Park Guell, Sagrada Familia & Casa Batilo are some of the famous work of his. There is a huge queue on all these sites, hence ticket well in advance. Gaudi's work doesn't require any introduction. His impression is all over the city, the structures like Park Guell, Sagrada Familia are highly famous among the tourists. Sagrada Familia construction is still in progress, which I guess is under construction since last 100 years shocked already? Entry charge usually starts from 7 Euros.La Ramblas:
The street of La Ramblas is perfect for a walking tour. Each street is unique & beautiful. There are few hidden gems which can only be explored on foot. I would recommend trying walking in these streets, as there is plenty of things to enjoy. Even if you are lost, don't worry you will have much more fun. There are plenty of foot tours available but I would recommend walking on your own.Museums:
Picasso museums & Barcelona history museums are two of the main attractions of the city. If Picasso was about painting, Barcelona history museum is the history of the city. The influence of art can easily be noticed across the city. As advised book tickets in advance else, you will lose time while waiting in the queue. Entry charges start from 6 Euros.Beach:
Barceloneta beach is the famous beach of the city. However, it is very crowded. It will be hard to find some quiet corner during day & night time. One more problem is theft, it is not advisable to keep your valuables unattended. But, the beach is a great place to enjoy life & it should not be missed.
Camp Nou:
Best things to do in Barcelona is incomplete if anyone misses this; CAMP NOU. Camp Nou is home ground of much celebrated, followed & world's leading footballers. A visit to this place is must, one can visit the common area free of cost. However, if you want to feel the ground & pay homage to the legends you need to pay 25 Euros. But, if you don't follow football & don't have an interest in football fields skip this place.Parties:
Barcelona is a city for youths, the clubs don't start until 1 am. The party lasts till morning hours & it gets wild with the time. The place is full of young crowds so expect jam pack environment in the clubs. I will suggest trying at least one of the place to get the feel of the place. Entry charges are applicable to visit most of the clubs, the entry charges start from 10 Euros, but expect to pay a lot more for famous places. Also, there is a mandatory dress code for clubs. Hence, dress to kill should be your motto if want to party in Barcelona.Lloret De Mar:
This place is hardly known to tourist. The small town some 60 Km from Barcelona is famous for its water park & Bungee Jumping (highest point in Spain for bungee jumping). The beach has clear water & some cliff jumping sites. Loret De Mar is a small town & most of the town can be found on the beach.Aquarium:
A great place to watch experience some aquatic life, there are many water tanks which have different species. Kids will enjoy a trip to the aquarium. Entry charge starts from 20 Euros. Young lads can give it a miss.Montserrat:
This is a great place for a day trip. The national park near the mountain is great for a day. Enjoy walking around the place & enjoy its serene beauty.Budget For Barcelona
Accommodation:
There will be difficulty in finding budget hotels as there is no cheap neighborhood in Barcelona. Dorms & hostels are better options to stay. The price of a hostel bed starts at 15 Euros. A 3-star hotel will be upward from 35 Euros. The best place to stay is without doubt La Ramblas, from La Ramblas beach is hardly any walk & a metro station connects you with length and breadth of Barcelona.Food In Barcelona:
Spain has one of the best foods among its neighboring countries. There are a lot of eateries out on the street. Asians can have a tough time in terms of food as taste around European countries are very blend. But, Spain is a bit different from its counterparts. Wok The Walk is one chain you should keep an eye on. I am sure Wok The Walk will satisfy your tastebuds. Also, tapas is locals delight & is very fulfilling. If eating on street vendors expect to pay around 6 to 10 Euros & approx 25 Euros for one time meal at some fancy restaurants. A can of beer starts from 0.75 Euros in the supermarket.Transport:
The cost of one hour ticket will be 2.15 Euros for Bus & metros. However, the best way to commute around the city would be buying a city card. The city card allows one to commute freely. Night charges are different. Barcelona city card can be bought for 3 - 5 days. The rate for 3-day city card starts at 50 Euros. Renting a bike is an option but that requires card & if you are not used to using credit cards abroad. The best would be to buy a city card & enjoy free unlimited transport.Site Seeing:
There are entry fees for most of the tourist sites; it is advisable to book in advance to avoids queues. In general, the prices of attractions start at 6 Euros. There are many free attractions which can be enjoyed. Look for the information at visit Barcelona website to plan things.The minimum budget for a day shall be 55 Euros. This cost prediction is based on my experience of touring the city in 2017 & taking into account that one will stay at hostels & prepare most of their food.
Barcelona On Budget
European cities are too expensive to the liking. But, there are few things that one can do to keep a budget in check.
Hostels: Hotels are very costly in Barcelona & hostels can be the best option to reduce the cost of the trip.
There are plenty of options available. Cheapest ones will start at 20 Euros.
Couchsurfing: Couchsurfing is an option to get free accommodation if the host allows it. If you are lucky you can get some good option for free.
Couchsurfing: Couchsurfing is an option to get free accommodation if the host allows it. If you are lucky you can get some good option for free.
City Card: City card is a must for many reasons like free transport, free entry to certain attractions.
So it can be a great thing to have with you.
Supermarkets: Partying is one of the things people do in Barcelona, which can eat up your budget. So, drinking at hostels & buying from the supermarket will be sense. The stores are open 24*7 so you will find most of the things here only. Cooking your own food can save a lot of money.
Supermarkets: Partying is one of the things people do in Barcelona, which can eat up your budget. So, drinking at hostels & buying from the supermarket will be sense. The stores are open 24*7 so you will find most of the things here only. Cooking your own food can save a lot of money.
Best Time To Visit Barcelona:
The best time to visit Barcelona is, of course, summertime. The climate if pleasant & outdoor activities are enjoyable. Barcelona throughout the year is a bit warm if compared to the Eastern European countries. So, pack your stuff accordingly.Is Barcelona Worth Traveling To?
Barcelona architecture, narrow lanes, climate & food is all in favor of traveling to this fantastic place. Barcelona justifies its tag & is worth a visit. I personally like it very much for many reasons & I will leave it to you, to decide yours.Handy Resources:
Below are the few resources you should check before making an itinerary.Agoda: Best place to book hotels of your liking. Agoda provides the best solution & great offer while booking a hotel.
Skyscanner: Skyscanner compares various sites & sort the flights based on the rates. A great way to check flight cost. Although the only drawback is that rates are flexible. Hence, the cost might change while you are making the payment.
Jetradar: Jetradar is a comparing site which is just like Skyscanner. But, is much more accurate & much more handy in use.
Booking: Best place to book hostel rooms. There are plenty of options available & with so many properties booking becomes much easier.
Couchsurfing: Best place to find free accommodation. It is as easy as filtering people & messaging. If you will get lucky you will find free accommodation in local resident house.
Travel Insurance: There are numerous options available to get one. So, you can choose anything which suits your requirement. Make sure you read the terms & conditions before buying one.
Barcelona City Card:Don't wait to reach Barcelona & book in advance to avail great discounts on the card.
Very impressive blog.
Interesting article right on the subject.
Thanks tracy