Barcelona is one of those cities that don’t need any long introductions. It’s definitely the most iconic European city in many ways, from the unique architecture to the amazing food and unlimited time spending opportunities. There’s no way you’ll get bored in Barcelona. This city has it all: unmatched night life for the restless ones, culture and history for the art passionates, tempting dishes for the food lovers, the best mediteranean weather for those chasing the sun, diversity in all terms, and most importantly, Barcelona has lots of fun – something we are all craving for when thinking of Spain’s most alive city.
A few facts about Barcelona:
- It’s the biggest city on the Mediterranean Sea
- Camp Nou, FC Barcelona’s home stadium, is the largest football stadium in Europe, and the 2nd largest in the whole world
- has 9 UNESCO protected monuments: Park Güell, Palau Güell, Casa Milà, Casa Vicens, La Sagrada Família, Casa Batlló, and the Crypt of the Church at Colonia Guell.
- the Eiffel Tower was initially planned to happen in Barcelona, but the city didn’t embrace the idea
- it’s the most visited city in Spain
I’ve visited Barcelona for the very first time in 2017 and it became my second home ever since, as I’m always eager to get back there. I always say the first impression counts the most, and Barcelona did a great job on impressing me when we first met. This city gave me nothing but good and peaceful vibes, combined with a sense of curiosity and eagerness to see what it has to offer. Barcelona is the city I keep recommending all my friend to visit, and many of them already did and thanked me for that.
There are so many things to do in this city, that you will most probably want to come back there soon. But with a little bit of good planning, there are plenty of activities you can do in just 5 days in Barcelona. The majority of the most popular attractions are pretty close to each other, which is a big plus when your time is limited. You can easily reach them by taking the metro or even by walking. I’ve been visiting Barcelona at least once every year since 2017, and I’m always super excited to be back.
When it comes to what budget do you need for a trip to Barcelona, I would say that there’s no right answer for this. It’s true that Barcelona is not a cheap destination, but the budget can be adapted to everyone’s needs. It also depends a lot on the period you’re going there. The most expensive time to be in Barcelona is clearly during summer months. And if you’re thinking of visiting Barcelona during summer, I’ll explain below why this is not the best idea.
1. When is the best time to visit Barcelona?
Thanks to its Mediteranean climate, Barcelona can be visited throughout the year. I’ve been there in all seasons and I never complained about the weather. But for me, spring is the best time to visit Barcelona. Spring months are a great time to wander on Barcelona’s streets, as temperatures are still not that high as they are during summer. Also, if you’re considering summer time for the sole reason of spending time at the beach, I would say to think again. Barcelona is a wonderful city, but I don’t recommend it as a beach destination. If you want spectacular beaches with white sand and breathtaking views, you can easily reach Palma de Mallorca or Ibiza from Barcelona. Autumn is another great time to visit the Spain’s most vivid city, as prices go slightly lower, even though the temperatures are still high in September and even October. As for winter, you should know that Barcelona has mild winters with temperatures between 14 and 20°C.
2. What is the closest airport to Barcelona?
When planning to visit Barcelona, you can consider one of these airports:
- Barcelona–El Prat Airport ( 12.2 kilometers)
- Girona–Costa Brava Airport (75.9 kilometers)
- Reus Airport (87.2 kilometers)
- Andorra–La Seu d’Urgell Airport (122.7 kilometers)
3. How do you get from Barcelona El Prat Airport to the city?
- Aerobus – runs from T1 and T2, and can leave you at Plaça España or Plaça de Catalunya. If you don’t necessarily need to reach the city center, there are other stops along the way as well. A single ticket costs 5.90€, while for a return one you’ll pay 10.20€.
- Airport Bus No. 46 – runs from 04:50 to 23:50, and it has more stops than Aerobus, which makes the trip to the city center longer. The advantage of using the bus number 46, is that you can use the T-casual ticket, which is Barcelona’s public transport ticket, that can be used for metro and buses.
- Airport Night Bus: NitBus N17 – runs from 21:55 to 04:45 and you can also use the T-casual ticket for it.
- Renfe Train – you can take the train from Barcelona Airport to Barcelona Sants Estacio, Passeig de Gràcia or Clot, from where you can change to metro to reach your final destination.
- L9 Metro Link – there are two metro stations at the airport: Aeroport T1 and Aeroport T2. You need to know that you cannot use the standard metro single ticket for the airport trip, nor the T-Casual ticket. You need to buy the Metro airport ticket called Billete Aeropuerto, which costs 5.15€.
4. Where is the best part of Barcelona to stay in?
5. Do you need to rent a car in Barcelona?
6. What to eat in Barcelona?
- Seafood Paella – definitely a must try in Barcelona when it comes to food. For the best experience, go to Port Olimpic where you’ll find the tastiest sea food you’ve ever had
- Pamtomaquet – this is the Catalan style bread with tomatoes, olive oil, garlic and sea salt. It’s so tasty that you surely won’t stop at one
- Patatas bravas – the authentic Spanish fries recipe, served with a special “bravas” sauce, that can be made of spicy mayo or tomatoes sauce with a pinch of vinegar.
- Jamon Iberico – you can not go to Barcelona without tasting the famous Iberian ham. Go to La Boqueria where you can taste it and purchase some directly from the locals
- Tortilla de patatas – this is a very popular Spanish dish, similar to an omelette, made of potatoes, onion and eggs
- Chipirones Fritos – very small fried and crispy squid, which will be a total delight for the crunchiness lovers
7. What can you visit in Barcelona in 5 days?
Barcelona is one of those cities that will offer you something new to see or to do with every occasion. It cannot be fully discovered in 5 days, but you can surely check some of its most important attractions. Thanks to Gaudi, Barcelona has some of the most beautiful architectural details in the world, placing the city at the very top of the “must see European city” list.
What you shouldn’t miss in Barcelona:
- Park Guell
- Sagrada Familia (I cannot stress enough how beautiful it is)
- Passeig de Gracia
- Casa Batlo
- Arcul de Triomf
- Barrio Gotico
- Catedral La Seu & Basilica Santa Maria
- Montjuïc
- Aquarium
- La Barceloneta Beach
Enjoy your trips! 🤩
