Travel tips & advice: Discover the city of Barcelona

Whether you’re taking an evening stroll down the bustling streets of Las Ramblas, soaking up rays on the city beach, or admiring the city from up on high, Barcelona is beautiful from every angle.

A city devoted to food, great company, and the unique energy that comes from living well in a vibrant city, Barcelona has so much to offer every city break holidaymaker.

Barcelona is divided up into quarters, each with its own special flavour.

On either side of Las Ramblas we have Raval, and the Gothic Quarter.

For further reading about the city, planning the trip, finding accommodation on Destinia, neighbourhoods, or places to sleep check out my travel guide to Barcelona below:

Explore the Raval Quarter

Raval is the beating heart of Barcelona’s evening scene. Pop into one of the many vibrant bars for a cold cerveza.

(Time for pinchos, a must in Barcelona.)

The selection of pinchos at many of the bars is an experience not to be missed.

Tiny bitesize snacks are served on toothpicks you can pick up and eat straight away, and you just pay for the number of toothpicks you’ve collected at the end.

We particularly loved Foni African Bar & Restaurante for some of the best (and cheapest) outdoor mojitos we’ve ever seen!

Discover the Gothic Quarter

The Gothic Quarter is home to some of Barcelona’s famous architectural sights, and its grandeur is hard to top.

Taking a wander at will through its winding streets will lead you straight to some of the jewels of this district.

Walk around the Barceloneta district

For some of the best tapas and hot treats in town, head to the Barceloneta district and get ready to elbow your way in to Can Paxiano, one of the hottest eateries in town.

It’s easy to find hotels in Barcelona in the Barcelona district. It’s a great place to base yourself and book your hotel location whilst exploring the city.

Stand shoulder to shoulder with a lively crowd of locals and tourists, and choose from a delicious selection of hot snacks eaten on your feet.

The menu can be overwhelming for non-Spanish speakers, but picking at random can be a fun and entertaining experience, especially as the prices are so good.

Buy a bottle of their house cava for 5 euros, and toast your trip amidst an authentic Spanish atmosphere.

Soak in the sun on one of Badalona’s three beaches

(Why not enjoy the beach life of Barcelona.)

Barceloneta beach is a fun day out, but the touts and sellers constantly vying for your attention can get a little irritating if you just want to be left alone.

For a quieter beach experience, hop on a train from the city centre and arrive at one of Badalona’s three beaches within 20 minutes.

It’s still in zone 1, so you can get there on a standard ticket! Alternatively, jump off a few stops earlier and walk along the promenade to spot the rollerbladers and joggers who populate this area.

Grab a fresh fruit shake from one of the fruit vendors along the strip and take in the fresh sea breeze.

Stop by La Boqueria food market

(Not to be missed on a visit to Barcelona.)

Near the top of Las Ramblas, the world-famous La Boqueria food market holds an untold wealth of cuisine gems to taste and enjoy.

(Sample some of the local produce straight from the vendor.)

Sit at a seafood bar to enjoy a delicious fish supper amongst the hustle and bustle of the market.

(Barcelona is full of smiles, especially with coffee.)

Grab a coffee from one of the many vendors, or sample and sniff your way through the vast array of spices to be found in this heaven for food lovers.

Be sure to stop off at Park Güell

(You can find Gaudi’s architecture all around the city of Barcelona.)

Finally, any trip to Barcelona is not complete without a special expedition to Park Güell, the true home of Gaudi’s art and architecture.

The stunning art vision amidst the hilly landscape of Carmel Hill offers both an unrivalled artistic experience, and also a great vantage point of the city.

Barcelona travel safety tips

(Be alert in busy areas of Barcelona.)

One thing to bear in mind during any trip to Barcelona is the pickpockets.

These pickpockets are trained to spot tourists, and often strike up a seemingly friendly conversation with you, whilst subtly picking your pocket.

Be on guard and make sure your cash and valuables are stored out of easy reach.

Carrying a cheap decoy wallet in your pocket is a favourite technique of savvy tourists to thwart pickpockets.

Try to keep some of your travel cash in your hotel or hostel safe and secure whilst out and about in Barcelona and be on alert at all times.

Thank you for reading my blog post about Barcelona.

Thank you for reading my blog post. This blog post was put together in collaboration with Avis car rental Barcelona. I hope you enjoyed this travel guide to Barcelona!

If you do have any further questions, I’m very happy to help. You can leave a comment below in the comment section of this blog post or feel free to send me a tweet @traveldaveuk.