Barcelona travel blog
Stories, tips and inspiration for your Barcelona and Catalonia adventure
La Mercè festival: Barcelona's biggest free party
Everything about La Mercè, Barcelona's 5-day patron-saint festival in September — free concerts, castellers and the correfoc fire run.
Sónar 2026: Barcelona's electronic music festival guide
Sónar 2026 runs June 18–20 in Barcelona. Two venues, day and night programmes, digital arts. Everything you need to plan your visit.
Primavera Sound 2026: what to know before you go
Primavera Sound 2026 runs June 4–6 at Parc del Fòrum. What to book, when to book it, and how to combine the festival with the city.
Is Barcelona worth visiting in 2026? An honest answer
Honest pros and cons of visiting Barcelona in 2026 — overtourism, Gaudí centenary, best timing, and a clear verdict with no sales pitch.
Gaudí centenary 2026: what it means for visiting Barcelona
2026 marks 100 years since Gaudí's death. Record demand, centenary surcharges and longer booking lead times — here's how to plan your visit.
Sant Jordi: Barcelona's most romantic day
April 23 is Sant Jordi — Catalonia's Valentine's Day. Books, roses, open-air stalls and the best streets to walk in Barcelona.
Sitges Carnival: the guide to Spain's most colourful festa
Sitges Carnival in February is one of Europe's most spectacular — elaborate floats, bold costumes and a famously welcoming atmosphere.
Three Kings parade Barcelona: the Cabalgata de Reyes guide
The Three Kings parade on January 5 is Barcelona's biggest children's event. Route, candy, viewing spots and Epiphany traditions explained.
Christmas in Barcelona: markets, traditions and what to expect
Barcelona at Christmas means festive markets, cava, Catalan traditions and fewer crowds. What to see, eat and do in December.
Festa Major de Gràcia: Barcelona's most photogenic festival
Festa Major de Gràcia runs August 14–20 in Barcelona's Gràcia neighbourhood. Elaborately decorated streets, free entry and local food.
Brunch in Barcelona: the best spots by neighbourhood
Barcelona's best brunch spots neighbourhood by neighbourhood — from Australian-style cafés in El Born to local esmorzar culture in Gràcia.
Barcelona beaches in summer: what to expect and where to go
What Barcelona's beaches are actually like in summer — crowded Barceloneta, quieter local options, and when to go for the best experience.
Spring in Barcelona: why April and May are the best months
April and May are Barcelona's optimal travel months — perfect weather, lower prices than summer, and Sant Jordi on April 23, the city's best local day.
Best restaurants in Gràcia: eating like a local in Barcelona's village
Gràcia has no chain restaurants and no tourist traps — just independent bars, natural wine, and Catalan cooking on neighbourhood squares.
Rainy day in Barcelona: 10 things to do indoors
What to do on a rainy day in Barcelona — museums, markets, cooking classes, and bar crawls that are better indoors anyway.
Autumn in Barcelona: October and November travel guide
October is Barcelona's secret best month — golden light, empty museums, shoulder prices and the wine harvest in Penedès just 45 minutes away.
Best restaurants in El Born: where the locals actually eat
The restaurants in El Born where locals actually eat — from classic vermouth bars to creative tapas spots, with prices and what to order.
Montserrat hiking trails: beyond the monastery
Most visitors only see the monastery. The hiking trails at Montserrat — Sant Jeroni peak, Sant Joan, the hermitages — are the real reason to go.
Romantic Barcelona: the couples' guide
Barcelona's most romantic experiences for couples — from Bunkers del Carmel at sunset to Sant Jordi roses and cava in the Penedès.
A day trip to Girona: medieval city, Jewish quarter and game of thrones
Girona is Barcelona's most underrated day trip: medieval walls, Jewish quarter, coloured river houses and Game of Thrones streets, 40 min by train.
Solo travel in Barcelona: everything you need to know
The honest solo travel guide to Barcelona — safety realities, the best neighbourhoods, solo dining culture, and how to meet people.
Poble-sec pintxos crawl: the best bars on Carrer de Blai
Carrer de Blai is Barcelona's pintxos street. Here's how to do the crawl properly — best bars, what to order, prices, and when to go.
First-timer mistakes in Barcelona (and how to avoid them)
The most common first-timer mistakes in Barcelona — and practical fixes so you don't repeat them on your trip.
Cava country weekend: a guide to the Penedès wine region
The Penedès wine region is 45 minutes from Barcelona by train — home to Codorníu, Freixenet, and Spain's finest sparkling wine country.
What I wish I'd known before visiting Barcelona
The things nobody tells you before your first Barcelona trip — from Park Güell's free zones to why you should skip beachfront paella.
Costa Brava's best beaches: a day trip guide from Barcelona
The best Costa Brava beaches reachable from Barcelona as a day trip — from easy Tossa de Mar to the remote coves near Begur.
Hidden gems in Barcelona most tourists miss
Ten Barcelona spots that most tourists walk past — from free hilltop panoramas to a Modernisme hospital that rivals the Sagrada Família.
Barcelona in 48 hours: the honest two-day plan
A realistic 48-hour Barcelona plan built around actual booking lead times, walking distances, and what's worth your limited time.