How we spent a week in Barcelona
Of all the places I’ve visited, Barcelona is the only one that I’ve left thinking, ‘yeah, I could live there.’ Why I haven’t yet? I don't know. But while I work out the logistics of moving to the Catalonian capital, check out my tips on how to spend a week in Barcelona.
Things to do in Barcelona
There’s a lot to see in Barcelona. In fact, just wandering the city itself is an experience. From traditional Spanish architecture (although don’t make the mistake of referring to Barcelona as Spain when you’re in Catalonia!) to impressive feats of modern architecture. City parks to imposing cathedrals. There’s plenty to keep you occupied in Barcelona. But these were our favourites:
Check out the work of Gaudi
Wander the Gothic Quarter
Hit the beach
Go to the park
Visit the Picasso museum
Eat out! For our favourite foodie spots, read my blog: the best places to eat and drink in Barcelona.
Find out more about the best places we visited in our blog: Things to do in Barcelona.
Where to stay in Barcelona
I’ve stayed on both the west and east sides of Barcelona: first in Paralel and also in Sant Marti near Selva de Mar.
In Parallel I stayed at the Hotel Universal. It has a central location, rooftop pool, and a fairly cheap price considering the comfort and style of the design. This was a great option for a long weekend in the city. As it’s located right next to the metro station and is easily walkable to the beach and other central areas.
When staying in Sant Marti, we were lucky enough to have a friend’s studio apartment to rent. The location was more residential and slightly further out than most tourists would tend to choose. But we could walk to the beach in 20 minutes and easily travelled into the centre of the city via the Selva de Mar metro station.
Experiencing the opposite side of the city was a benefit, having already visited. As it helped to ensure that we did new things. We were close to the Diagonal shopping centre and lots of local bars and restaurants. But with T10 metro tickets that give you 10 journeys for just over $10, we were able to explore the whole city with ease.
Do you need to rent a car in Barcelona?
Barcelona is an easily walkable city with an accessible and easy-to-use metro system. So unless you’re planning big days out away from the city, there’s no need to hire a car in Barcelona. It’s also unlikely that your hotel or Airbnb will have car parking spaces, if you’re staying central.
The roads aren’t too busy, so it’s easy to catch a cab to get anywhere you need. But I’ve relied on the metro both times I’ve been to Barcelona and it’s never let me down! It also runs later on the weekend.
What to pack for a week in Barcelona
The weather in Catalonia stays fairly mild all year round, with very hot weather in summer and some rainy spells in autumn and winter. I’ve visited in May and November, and my packing list didn’t vary a huge amount – with the exception of a layer or two.
This is what I packed for a four days in Barcelona in May:
Two jumpsuits
Three dresses
A t-shirt
A skirt
One pair of trousers
A sweater
A light outer layer
A pair of sandals
A pair of trainers
Regular daily toiletries + SPF
This is what I packed for a four days in Barcelona in November:
A jumpsuit
Four dresses
A t-shirt
A maxi skirt
One pair of trousers
A jumper
A jacket
A pair of boots
A pair of trainers
Regular daily toiletries
For my full packing list for different times of year, read my blog: What to pack for a week in Barcelona.