KRISTEN FUNG TRAVELS

Barcelona is one of the oldest cities in Europe and has been an active trade center since before the Roman Empire. It is a city full of art and architecture, from ancient ruins to the fantastical creations of Antoni Gaudí. It is also one of the best food cities in the world, where students of molecular gastronomy have come to shine. I hope The Barcelona Guide helps you to get a view into one my favorite cities in the world.

If you’re ready to travel, please get in touch with me.

The 411

All of the information you need for first-timers or for those going for the first time in a while.

Transportation

Airport

BCN-Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (aka El Prat)

The EU is slowly rolling out the EES–Entry & Exit System–for all non-EU travelers. This may mean additional time upon arrival and may include fingerprint and facial scans. Check the airport website linked above for updates.

Is there a train from the airport?

Yes, there is a Renfe train that runs between El Prat and a station at Passaig de Gracia, one of Barcelona’s major thoroughfares. You can also take this train to Barcelona Central Station, also known as Barcelona-Sants.

Train

Barcelona is a hub for Spain’s high-speed rail, operated by Renfe. The central train station is Barcelona-Sants.

From Barcelona, it is a quick two hours to Madrid and an hour and a half to Valencia.

Don’t hesitate to contact me if you’d like to discuss trains between different cities or how to navigate the app as an English speaker.

Public Transportation

Barcelona’s public transit is well-connected and easy to navigate. I haven’t had the pleasure of riding it, choosing instead to walk off all of the eating I do. Barcelona is a pedestrian-friendly city with areas closed off to cars and public transportation. Comfortable shoes will be your best friend.

Cruise port

Barcelona is also an active cruise port, both for departures and stopovers for day excursions. I work with Virgin Voyages. If you want to add a cruise to your Barcelona adventures, reach out to me.

Rideshare

For many years, the only rideshare option was Cabify. Now, Uber has added Barcelona to its list of serviced cities. I recommend having both if you need to get around Barcelona.

Currency

EUR-Spain uses the currency of the European Union.

Language

Catalan

Barcelona is located in the Spanish region of Catalonia. This region has its own language, which is widely spoken in Barcelona. Spanish is the second most-spoken language. If you don’t speak either, you can get by with English. Many of my recommendations have English-speaking staff, but note that you will be eating early.

I know it is impossible to learn all of the languages of the world, but learning a little goes a long way.

• Hello–Hola/Buenas
• Thank you–gràcies (Almost the same as Gracias, but note the eh instead of ah)
• Do you speak English? —parles anglès?

When is the best time to visit?

I have visited Barcelona in many seasons, and so far, October is my favorite. There is a little chill in the air, which is perfect for exploring. The weather is warm by most cities’ standards, so you can still experience Casa Battllo’s magic nights and other warmer-weather experiences even into the autumn months.

If you visit Barcelona in spring, you will have the opportunity to experience Barcelona’s festival season. 

Calcots

Calcots, a variety of spring onion, is the region’s delicacy and are celebrated each spring—restaurants and events center around bonfires, grilling vegetables, and serving them with creamy pepper romesco sauce. I have a favorite place to get calcots; let’s work together.

Festival Sant Jordi

Barcelona is covered in roses in late April, in honor of the region’s patron saint. April 23rd is the day of books and roses; don’t forget to check out the open-air book stands on Las Ramblas.

Primavera Sound

The biggest music festival in Spain takes place in late May or early June of each year. Plan your trip to secure hotel deals and reservations at top Barcelona foodie destinations. 

When is the worst time to visit?

I would avoid July and August. Barcelona gets hot, and the city was built before air conditioning was available. If this is the only time you are able to visit due to school and work, I have many recommendations for making your Barcelona vacation more comfortable.

When is Barcelona open?

Every day until late at night, but not really on Sundays. 

Before visiting Spain, I had heard about its siesta culture. Although restaurants are closed between lunch and dinner service — 2:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. — you will find plenty to do. Museums, parks, and vermut/tapa hour will keep you busy for a few hours while some businesses enjoy their afternoon break.

If you need suggestions for restaurants and things to do on Sundays, you should buy my guide.

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How Many Days Should You Spend in Barcelona?

At least four days. This would scratch the surface of what there is to do and see here. It is also a great place to catch the train to Madrid or Valencia.

Planning your Barcelona Budget

This is a hard one to answer because hotel prices fluctuate depending on the time of year you travel. For mid-range hotels, plan on spending $240 a night, plus taxes, when creating your Barcelona budget.

Are tourists welcome in Barcelona?

I get this question a lot.

My answer is to be a good guest.

You may have heard about the protests against tourists in Barcelona during the past couple of years, where citizens of the city took to the streets armed with water guns and let tourists know their impact on Barcelona.

One thing I noticed is that the people who were sprayed with water were sitting outside of Taco Bell and Starbucks. They were easy targets, showing how multinational corporations are part of the problem. Here is my tip and travel mission for you: When visiting a city like Barcelona, consider supporting local small businesses. These small businesses support the local economy, not a company with its headquarters far away. Local businesses directly employ locals. When tourists insist that everywhere they go, be a lot like home, that is how you end up with a Starbucks in the Forbidden City and a McDonald’s every couple of blocks everywhere you go. Traveling is about leaving, not staying the same.

Patatas bravas are better than McDonald’s French fries anyway.

I hope that my travel guide, organized by budget, helps you find the places to support instead.

If you want an experience like Barcelona, but don’t want to visit the city right now, we can chat about alternative destinations.

The three Bs

Here is a breakdown of what I would do in Barcelona at each budget category. (aka the Three Bs--Budget, Bonus, Bougie)

Budget

Praktik Bakery, MACBA, Ultramarinos Marin

• Where to stay: Praktik Bakery
• Thing to do: MACBA
• Where to eat: Ultramarinos Marin
• Where to drink: Get a bottle of local wine at Vila Viniteca 

Why I chose these: Praktik is a chain of hotels in Barcelona and Madrid that follow a theme–from wine to creating your own perfume, they do a lot to provide a bonus experience to your trip. My favorite is Praktik Bakery, on top of an award-winning bakery–Baluard. The smell of butter and great coffee is a fantastic way to start your day. MACBA is the contemporary art museum in the El Raval neighborhood, which always has the exhibits I want to see*. Ultamarinos Marin is a combination of a 1940s counter-style diner and the best seafood tapas. Sitting at the counter allows you to chat with the chefs and watch firsthand how cooking quality ingredients in the simplest of ways can lead to the most delicious of experiences. There is no better place to find a local small vineyard bottle of wine than at Vila Viniteca. I came back from a funky little red from Mallorca that I wish I could have another bottle of. (Get my wine packing MVP recommendation when we chat about your Barcelona trip)

*David Bowie is…. Still stands as my favorite exhibit of all time. The way it was exhibited here, the curators here should have received awards. 

Bonus

Hoxton, Sagrada Familia, Direkete Boqueria

• Where to stay: Hoxton Pobleneu
• Thing to do: Sagrada Familia 
• Where to eat: Direkte Boqueria (Not closed, just moved to a bigger space)
• Where to drink: Dr. Stravinsky

Why I chose these places: The Hoxton Pobleneu is situated in a quieter local neighborhood, offering a more local atmosphere for your trip. If you visit Barcelona, you have to see La Sagrada Familia in person. You might think it’s too touristy, but there’s a reason everyone wants to see it. Sagrada Familia is one of the most awe-inspiring places I have been. Even if you have visited before, it is constantly changing and inching closer to being finished. ADVANCED TICKETS REQUIRED. Direkte Boqueria, which has just relocated from the famous Boqueria market, showcases a perfect blend of Spanish and Japanese cuisine. Dr. Stravinsky is a bar in the guise of an apothecary. The menu should win the best design awards. You follow the taste profiles to intersecting lines that match you to your next favorite drink.

Bougie

Almanac, Casa Batllo, Disfrutar

• Where to stay: Almanac Barcelona
• Thing to do: Casa Batlló Magic Nights
• Where to eat: Disfrutar
• Where to drink: Sips Drinkery House

Why I chose these places: Almanac Barcelona is one of my favorite hotels in the world. Beautifully designed, friendly and helpful staff, and one of the best nights of sleep I have had on a trip. My only regret was not staying longer. All of the Gaudí-designed buildings should be on your Barcelona list. I recommend saving your trip to Casa Batlló for the evening Magic Nights tour. It comes with an audio guide, a glass of cava, and a concert on the roof. There is a reason why Disfrutar is consistently ranked among the world’s top restaurants. It is delicious and innovative–trust me, those don’t always go hand in hand. Your meal will be a fun adventure into what is culinarily possible. We asked many bartenders about their favorite bar in Barcelona, and hands down, it was Sips. This is a cocktail lovers’ bar; if you are one of them, you will love it here and spend every night working through its menu. Since I was last there, Sips added an experiential cocktail bar in the back that I can’t wait to try.

With the news that Barcelona is eliminating 66,000 Airbnb listings by the end of 2026, I hope you will reach out to me when planning your next trip to find vetted house rentals or hotels for your group.

Recommended tours

I have a curated list of Barcelona tours. Contact me and I will send them to you.

I also recommend Laura Tours. I learned about her through an audio tour company I worked with. She possesses a wealth of knowledge and energy, making her a perfect fit for anyone seeking a private tour of Barcelona and/or Girona.

Other recommended cities to visit next