A gorgeous city on the coast of northeastern Spain, Barcelona has many specialties; fabled architecture, captivating beaches, and towering temple columns. The Mediterranean city is a true blue artist’s heaven that boasts a thriving dining and drinking scene.
On average, you can spend around $26 on meals for the day, $16 on local transportation, and about $80 on a hotel room per night. While the amount of money you spend daily depends on many factors, the average daily falls around $128 for food, local travel, and accommodation.
You don’t have to limit your adventures because of your budget. If you want the best experience in Barcelona, check out this Barcelona on a budget travel guide. I love Barcelona, and I want to share how you can spend a few days in Barcelona as a first-time solo traveller.
Accommodation choice
The best area in Barcelona to stay for first-timers would be Barri Gòtic, Eixample. You presumably want to base yourself near the heavyweight attractions.
For modernist architecture, including the incomparable Sagrada Familia, Eixample is the best choice. To explore the heart of the city, Barri Gòtic is perfect, mainly because it’s easy to walk to El Born, El Raval, and Eixample. This area is a short metro ride to attractions further out on Montjuïc and Gràcia.
Be sure to book your hotel/accommodation ahead of time to avoid inconvenience upon arrival. There are also a lot of different affordable hotels you can visit. Take time to look for a hotel before you fly to Barcelona.
Food
Barcelona is well-known for tapas; finger food served in small portions to complement drinks. Choose tapas and drinks if you’re interested in tasting local flavours. Check out LOS CARACOLES for their best tapas.
But what is Barcelona without trying, Paella? You can never go wrong with LA FONDA DEL PORT OLIMPIC’s Paella. Enjoy the view of the Olympic marina while tasting authentic Paella from the market as part of a 3-course feast. Choose between 2 menus designed to offer you a gastronomic feast of Barcelona’s culinary variety.
If you are into seafood, make sure you include seafood in your list. Restaurants around the marina also offer a great variety of food for an affordable price.
TOURIST SPOTS
Of course, nothing beats walking and taking tons of beautiful photos of the picturesque Barcelona. Visit the famous Gaudi buildings like the majestic Sagrada Familia. I highly suggest you visit Sagrada Familia because it is worth visiting for a breathtaking view of the Basilica and Barcelona. Parc Güell is a privatised park system located on Carmel Hill with parks and architectural details. At the park’s main entrance, you can find Gaudí’s colourful mosaic salamander, known as “el drac” (the dragon).
If you haven’t heard of Casa Mila, Casa Mila stood as one of Gaudí’s first buildings to hold night-time activities on the rooftop. You can appreciate the finest jazz performed live on a genuinely fascinating rooftop. From Casa Mila’s rooftop, you can appreciate breathtaking views of the city of Barcelona. It is a unique area where Gaudi converted the chimneys and staircase exits into veritable sculptures.
I also highly suggest visiting Casa Batlló. The house’s interior is open to visitors, but there is an entrance fee. Nevertheless, it is worth the price as it is pretty irregular. You can also enjoy and chill at Barceloneta Beach, with 60 miles of coastline stretching along the region; Barcelona is a coast lover’s dream come true.
Barcelona’s Port Vell harbour is one of the city’s most stunning places to explore and enjoy. Famous with visitors and locals alike and with a ton of things to visit and do, it’s a great place to unwind with friends and family.
You can also explore Arco de Triunfo de Barcelona. A beautiful arc surrounded by palm trees. Attractive to walk through as you’re headed to park Ciutadella. There were some people playing music, which made it wonderful. Close to many restaurants and stores. Gorgeous architecture and is worth going to. We were a little weary about going because we were told about pick picketers all over, but the area was not busy. But like any tourist, you have to make sure you keep your eyes peeled in crowded areas.
Lastly, visit the famous Mercado de La Boqueria market; this popular food market sells some of the freshest fruit, vegetables, and seafood in Barcelona. The Las Ramblas for the best tapas cooked inside the market and a few stalls selling oysters. If you are tired of crowds on Rambla, turn to Placa Reial to find some rest and enjoy the picturesque square with the fountain in the centre, lanterns by Gaudi, and giant palms.
The Placa Nova is a square where the bronze statue of Casals can be seen. Compared to the city centre of Barcelona, I got the impression that there are more residents here. The stores had an unpretentious atmosphere, and there was a local market during the daytime—a great place to chill and de-stress. End your Barcelona tour by visiting Catedral de Barcelona. It is open to visitors daily, and entry to the cathedral is free depending on the time you visit. The Barcelona Cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Barcelona and is known for its ceiling, home to sculptures of gargoyles and other mythical creatures.
I spent at least four days in Barcelona but felt it wasn’t enough. The best walking tours and majestic works of Gaudi occupy a lot of Barcelona’s beauty. Not only is this the best place for architectural fans, but foodies and tour enthusiasts. There’s a lot to explore in Barcelona and a week may be great if you wish to really savour the best of Barcelona’s beauty.
Want to visit Barcelona and include it in your Euro trip? Check out my post on Visa Requirements for Philippine passport holders. Are you planning to visit Europe? You have a lot of options to check out. Read the rest of my blog conten
