If you want to experience Barcelona

The Barcelona Guide

Let architecture guide you

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 get a view into one of my favorite cities in the world.

Let’s Plan Barcelona

The Basics

Here is the information I would tell first-timers or those who haven’t visited Barcelona in a while.

Planes

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

Trains

Barcelona-Sants is the central station that connects to high-speed and regional rail within Spain. This makes it easy to add Madrid and Valencia to your trip.

Customs

The European Union has implemented its Entry/Exit System, aka EES, as of April 10th, 2026. This will mean additional time upon arrival to collect more biometric information, which can include fingerprinting or facial scans at arrival kiosks. There is also a process to leave the EU as well. Lines have been long. I recommend hitting the loo before you get in line. Read more here. (Includes app to download)

Rideshare

Uber is now available in Barcelona, but has competition from Cabify and Free Now, which have been in the country for a while.

Is there a train from the airport?

Yes. See more information here.

Do you need to rent a car?

No. Barcelona is very walkable and well-connected by public transit. Having a car would be more of a nuisance. If you want to travel to other cities in Spain, both Renfe and local carriers like Vueling make it really easy.

EUR–The currency in Barcelona is the Euro.

Credit cards and phone payments are pretty common everywhere. I recommend having some cash for some of my personal recommendations. (I love Spain. I’d love to plan it for you)

Catalan is the most widely spoken language in Barcelona.

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?

Planning Tips

This is the advice I give to all clients who aren’t sure when to travel to their dream destination.

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 Batlló’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.

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 can visit because of school and work, I have many recommendations to make your Barcelona vacation more comfortable.

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.

This is a hard one to answer because hotel prices fluctuate depending on the time of year you travel. For mid-range hotels, plan to spend $275 per night, plus taxes, when creating your Barcelona budget.

Budget Calculator

Barcelona is closed on Sundays, but siesta isn’t really a thing here. Tourists eat early, and locals eat late.
If you book with me, I will give you a list of recommendations for what to do on Sundays when much of the city is closed.
People are more creative with their dress, and I get a lot of inspiration wandering around the city. People are casually dressed, but you can tell the garments are high quality. People dress up more for special events and dinners.

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 over the past couple of years, where citizens took to the streets armed with water guns to make tourists aware of the impact they have on the city.

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, it 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. Traveling is about leaving, not staying the same.

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

If you book with me, I will find great small businesses for you to support. (Let’s Plan)

Become A Client

CLIENT PERSONALIZATION

For the client that loves art & culture

My recommendations straddle the line between being in the center of it all and feeling quiet and local. This isn’t a contradiction in Barcelona. I’d love to plan your trip, curating each recommendation to your vibe, diet, and budget. The photos on the left show a design-forward hotel, an icon that has sunset concerts, and recipes from the first published cookbook.

GET STARTED WITH MY TRIP INQUIRY FORM

Want A Self-Guided Experience of Barcelona?

This is a curated guide of Barcelona featuring my top recommendations for every budget. Get this guide to take the guesswork out of your trip to Barcelona–including upcoming travel changes, where to eat on Sundays, and free museum days.

$25.00

This guide includes:

A pdf (digital product)
A Google Map of all the locations
A checklist before you go
City information
Where to eat on Sundays when everything is closed.

Get The Guide

Stunning aerial view of Sagrada Familia surrounded by Barcelona cityscape at dusk.

Barcelona for Primavera Sound

Betsy was one of my first clients before I became a travel advisor. Planning her Barcelona Curated guide inspired me to put all of my travel knowledge to good use by helping to curate trips for others.

She wanted to explore the less touristy side of Barcelona for a first-time trip to the city to experience Primavera Sound.

“Kristen’s recommendations were invaluable for our trip to Barcelona. Her love of food led us to some of the most delicious meals, and her tips (book for dinner on Sunday because many restaurants aren’t open!) made sure we could enjoy the best the city had to offer without a wait or having to miss out. She really dives into a city and gets to know it, so you can be confident that you’re getting the best a place has to offer without winding up in a tourist trap.“

Betsy B.