Solo Travel In Barcelona
I almost chickened out.
The first time I traveled to Barcelona was also my very first solo trip and I almost didn’t go. I almost didn’t experience the sunshine, amazing architecture, mouthwatering seafood, delicious sangria, and finally, getting terribly lost for over an hour. Since my first trip, I haven’t stopped dreaming about Barcelona. I’ve gone back and have dragged friends and family along to experience everything Barcelona has to offer! How would I describe Barcelona? Dreamy.
Okay, let’s back up and start from the beginning.
WHEN TO VISIT BARCELONA
I looked at the weather in Barcelona for summer and winter and decided my first trip should be in the summer. Barcelona’s summer weather is, hot. I technically went right before the summer season (May), but it was still so hot I frequently ran into stores just to soak up their air conditioning. In summer, day temperatures can go up to 29C/84F.
WHAT TO WEAR IN BARCELONA
You should pack dresses, shorts, loose shirts and anything else that will keep you cool. The nights can fall below 19C/66F so add a light jacket to your luggage. When it comes to your feet you want to go with a good pair or two of walking shoes as there are lots to see and with the traffic in Barcelona, it’s quicker to walk. A stylish pair of wedges would be perfect for dinner especially if you take a taxi to the restaurant.
TIP FOR THE 9-5 & TRAVEL
How did I make this trip work? I took advantage of the Spring Bank Holiday at the end of May and you should too. A Bank Holiday is a great time to get a 3-4 day trip in without impacting your 9-5 job. If you’re willing to take one day off work, it’s even better to travel Sunday morning, Monday is the bank holiday and travel home Tuesday night! There are lots of flight deals around Europe for Sunday mornings.
WHERE TO STAY IN BARCELONA FOR THE FIRST TIME
Barcelona is made up of 10 districts with the main ones being:
- Eixample – known for: Gaudi’s buildings (Casa Mila, Batllo, + Sagrada Familia) and La Rambla
- Ciutat Vella – known for: Gothic Quarter and Mercado De La Boqueria
- Sant Marti – known for: Ciutadella Park and Bogatell Beach
- Gracia – known for: Park Güell and Plaça De La Vila de Gracia
- Sants-Montjuic – known for: Plaça d’Espanya and Parc de Montjuïc
If this is your first time in Barcelona, I’d recommend staying in Eixample. As a solo traveler, this was my first pick. Eixample is home to all of the main tourist attractions which makes it easy to walk from one place to the next. Being a tourist area also means it’s filled with hotels, usually well lit and there are a lot of people around so you won’t find yourself on a street alone. When it comes to picking a hotel, I couldn’t imagine visiting my first European country solo without the accommodation having a balcony. We’ve all seen the movies, right?
Here Are 3 Barcelona Hotels With A Balcony:
- Catalonia Passeig de Gracia
- NH Collection Barcelona Podium
- Hotel Pulitzer Barcelona
I stayed at Hotel Pulitzer Barcelona and it was the right pick for so many reasons. The hotel allowed free bag storage, the staff were really friendly, the air conditioning was a welcomed treat, the room was clean and the balcony view was the icing on the cake. As a light sleeper I came prepared not to sleep well because I assumed being in the city center and having a balcony meant I would hear the street noise, but surprisingly it was really quiet. I slept like a baby. The extra special touch is the hotel staff delivering an assortment of chocolate with your checkout letter
FUN THINGS IN BARCELONA
There is so much to see in Barcelona, so be prepared for a packed itinerary. Here’s my tip to get in as many sights as possible during a weekend trip: Hop-On Hop-Off Buses. I know we’ve all grown up seeing older people and the corny tourists on the hop-on/off buses, but hear me out, it’s the perfect way to move around any city without spending your entire day walking or catching expensive taxis as the bus takes you directly to the main tourist attractions. The company I recommend is Barcelona Bus Turistic. They have two bus routes (red & blue line) and their final pick up/drop off location is Placa de Catalunya which is only a 5-minute walk from Hotel Pultizer!
HERE’S WHAT I SAW:
- Casa Mila – a 112 year old masterpiece designed by Antoni Gaudi as a home for the Mila family. Casa Mila is famous for its quarry/wave-like shape with iron balconies. It was the last structural commission of Gaudi before his untimely death.
- Casa Batllo – If you can’t visit both Casa Mila and Batllo, visit Casa Batllo. This sea-like masterpiece is a must-see. I recommend getting the Silver ticket for a truly immersive experience as this ticket includes a virtual reality tablet!
- La Sagrada Familia – Have you ever had your mind blown? I promise this church will do just that. Gaudi began its design in 1882 and to this day it is still under construction. The church shows the journey of Jesus and other biblical characters.
- Park Güell – When you step into Park Güell, I’m sure the first thing to come to mind will be: a magical mosaic garden or simply put, a fairytale. Sea serpent-like benches, wildlife like parrots and eagles, and panoramic views of Barcelona, no wonder the park is a UNESCO world heritage site.
- And so much more.
Between each stop, I hopped off, toured the attraction and hopped back on to visit the next sight. Bus Turistic offers 24 and 48-hour tickets so you can spread out your itinerary if you want a more leisurely holiday.
HERE’S WHAT WENT WRONG
Truth? This is when I got lost for over an hour. As you read this, remember I am directionally challenged so the average person will not make this mistake.
At the Park Güell stop, the bus drops you at the entrance of the street and not directly in front of the park. It was a straight road to the entrance, but I still used my GPS just to be sure. The park is absolutely beautiful and I would visit again, but it is huge. When I got lost in the park, I just headed for the nearest exit. No surprise, the nearest exit was nowhere near the initial entrance. I, unfortunately, could not remember the street name where the bus dropped me and would be waiting for pickups. I spent so much time wandering empty streets going up and down hills to find my way back. My biggest fear for solo travel is getting lost and that’s exactly what happened. At the time, Uber wasn’t fully functioning in Spain and there were no taxi cabs near me to hail. I panicked.
What was the saving grace? I found an old GPS notification on my phone that I hadn’t swiped to delete yet. It wasn’t the exact street for the bus, but it was near enough for me to find my way back!
Thankfully now Uber is operating in Barcelona and the app even allows you to contact local black and yellow cabs too!
ALL THINGS FOOD
Here are the best two diet options in Barcelona..
Vegan Food In Barcelona
- Mercado de la Boqueria – fresh juices fresh juices fresh juices. The amount of times I visited this market for the juices is insane. I visited different vendors and all were delicious. My favorite juice is the Strawberry & Coconut Milk (on the right), this alone could convince me to move to Barcelona.
2. Vegan Tapas – the options are endless at Velada Restaurant, but my favorites are the Teriyaki Skewers and Artichoke Flower tapas. Extra special touch was the friendly staff who help me practice my Spanish!
3. Vegan Paella – this photo should be enough to convince you. Vegetalia is on of the best Vegan Restaurants in Barcelona! I never thought I’d love artichoke until I had it in Spain. This vegan paella will have you coming back again and again.
Seafood In Barcelona
- Casa Lolea – yes, it is worth the hype. Social media got it right with this recommendation. I tried a few dishes and the Truffle Risotto and Salmon Blinis got my highest votes.
- El Nacional Barcelona – I accidentally found this gem. If you want a bar atmosphere or restaurant vibes, El Nacional is the best of both. Delicious Sangria and Seafood Paella!
- El Quim de la Boqueria – a staple to everyone’s first trip to Barcelona is: Squid + Eggs. Nestled in the heart of Mercado de la Boqueria, El Quim is famous for this very unique combo.
WHAT TO BUY
I don’t know about you, but one of my favorite parts of traveling is souvenirs! And not the typical fridge magnet or something else you’ll never use. When it comes to souvenirs, I value items that you can use every day at home.
- Tea – if you’re not a tea lover, I know there is at least one in your life. Bringing back fresh teas from your travels is a great way to keep the memory of the trip alive. Sipping tea from Barcelona 3 months later can bring back all the best memories of your trip! I recommend checking out Tea Shop right near La Rambla. My favorite teas are the Tearamisu and Praline.
- Sauces & Seasonings – they have hot sauce, BBQ sauce, pineapple ginger sauce, you name it! Adding seasonings or sauces to your meals at home is a great way to remember the delicious flavors from your trip. I recommend the spice stalls in Mercado de la Boqueria. When traveling with sauces, the packages are sealed so I don’t worry about spillage, but ensure the bottle size matches the liquid requirements for a carry-on.
- Postcards – postcard postcard read all about it! Or is the saying ‘extra extra’? Regardless, postcards are my number one thing to collect during my travels. You can write your favorite memories on the postcard and store them in an album! Better yet, add them to your travel journal! Postcards can be found on La Rambla or if you forgot to buy them, you can always grab some at the airport!
- Chocolate – so easy to bring back for your loved ones! They travel well and are easy to pack in your carry-on or purse. There are many chocolate stalls at Mercado de la Boqueria and at the airport but they’re usually more expensive there.
- Accessories – Imagine you’re back home and before leaving the house you realize it’s a cold day. You run to grab a scarf and realize the one you just pulled out is from your Barcelona trip five years ago. You’re late, but you take a moment to smile because you remember the time you got lost in a foreign country, but successfully found your way proving that you can face your fears. Are you convinced? Accessories are my favorite items to buy for myself. A piece that holds memories without it just sitting on a shelf. I have a purse, bracelet and scarf from Barcelona!
Check out my 4-Day Barcelona itinerary to plan your first visit!