6 Things You Should Know Before Visiting Barcelona
Updated 6/16/26
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Boisterous and beautiful. That is Barcelona. This city in northeast Spain is a sight to behold and a privilege to visit. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t problems.
Barcelona was the first city we visited when we began our full-time travels in the spring of 2018. We enjoyed learning the history behind the famous sites and taking in the striking architecture and street art, but we didn’t love Barcelona. Were our expectations too high? Were there too many unfriendly people? Did listening to the constant street noise get old fast? Probably a little of all these things.
Here are six things you should know before visiting Barcelona.
All money is in U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated.
1. Gaudi’s Creations Grace the City
Antoni Gaudi (1852-1926) was a Catalan architect and a master of the Modernisme (or Catalan Art Nouveau) style of architecture. Modernisme is characterized by organic and botanical motifs, symbolism, rich ornamental details, and curves.
Here is information on twenty-one sites in Barcelona where you can admire Gaudi’s genius. These are the three Gaudi sites we visited:
La Sagrada Familia
La Sagrada Familia (The Sacred Family) is Gaudi’s masterpiece and the culmination of his life’s work. It was so important to him that he chose to be buried inside it.
This Roman Catholic minor basilica is the most visited site in Barcelona. Stepping into the basilica is a magical experience. The sunlight shining through the stained glass bathes the interior in vibrant colors, the columns are suggestive of trees, and the ceiling is exquisitely detailed.
The exterior is as dramatic as the interior. Its three facades represent three phases in the life of Jesus: the Nativity, the Passion, and the Glory.
Construction of La Sagrada Familia began in 1882. The estimated year of completion for all but some decorative elements is 2026. If that deadline is met, it will have taken 144 years to build. The year 2026 marks the 100th anniversary of Gaudi’s death by being run over by a street tram at the age of 74.
La Sagrada Familia gets over 3 million visitors a year. You are unlikely to get in unless you book in advance. You can check availability a few months before your visit.
Read more about visiting La Sagrada Familia and get some great info about the basilica in this article by The Flashpacker.
Here is some information about the structure and symbolism of the basilica.
Casa Mila
Casa Mila was built in the early 1900s as a home for husband and wife, Pere Mila and Roser Segimon. The locals thought it was ugly and nicknamed it La Pedrera, which means “the stone quarry” in Catalan. It is still sometimes referred to by that name.
The owners lived on the main floor and rented out apartments on the upper floors. Even today, people are living in some of these apartments. Other parts of the building are used as a cultural center, a foundation headquarters, and commercial space.
The whole building is amazing, but the roof is a delight. It is covered in fancifully designed chimneys you can walk amongst and even through.
Park Guell
No visit to Barcelona is complete without a stop at yet another Gaudi creation, Park Guell.
It was built in the early 1900s at the behest of Count Eusebi Guell as a luxury planned community. Of the sixty houses planned, only two were built. It became a public park in 1926.
You must buy a ticket to enter, and visitors are limited to 1,400 every hour. Buying them online is recommended. Find out more here.
There is a lot to see in the park. Don’t miss the Hypostyle Room. It is an open space featuring a multi-domed, tiled ceiling and 86 Doric columns. I missed the opportunity to get some fab photos. Please don’t make the same mistake.
You will also see gingerbread-style buildings, the colorfully-tiled Greek Theater (or Nature Square), and the laundry room portico.
If you walk upward through the park, you will be rewarded with spectacular views of Barcelona.
2. There are Great Non-Gaudi Things To Do, Too
You can find many non-Gaudi things in Barcelona. Stroll the beach at Barceloneta, check out the Montserrat Monastery, shop at the Mercado de La Boqueria, or take a day trip to Cadaques to see the Salvador Dali House Museum.
Here are four of our favorite non-Gaudi attractions:
Labyrinth de la Horta
Our favorite place in Barcelona was the little-known Labyrinth de la Horta. This 22-acre park was once a private residence. The park was established in 1791 and donated to the City of Barcelona by the Desvalls family in 1967. It underwent renovation in 1994.
As the name suggests, there is a labyrinth on the property, but there is so much more. As you stroll through the park, you will be surprised by unexpected scenes. Each one is a delight.
We recommend this park if you want a break from the hustle and bustle of Barcelona. We saw only a few other people there.
Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau
A hospital wouldn’t usually be high on our sightseeing list, but we’re glad we didn’t miss the Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau. The complex of 27 buildings was constructed from 1905-1930. It showcases the work of Modernisme architect Lluis Montaner.
Montaner believed in the therapeutic properties of nature, color, and form. This belief is reflected in the wealth of details on the buildings and in the gardens.
The hospital was in use until 2009 and in 2014, Recinte Modernista de San Pau became a museum and cultural center. Today you can see 16 of the buildings.
Sitges
Sitges is a beach town on the Mediterranean Sea 42 km or 26 miles southwest of Barcelona. We first visited it on a tour that included a stop in Tarragona (below). Even though we were there on a drizzly day, we were captivated by Sitges. We were charmed enough to return on a sunny day.
Sitges will enchant you with stately mansions along the promenade, twisty side streets, and quaint shops. It has just under 30,000 residents, but in the summer, the number of people in town can be four times this.
Sitges also has a sassy side.
Tarragona
Tarragona is 82 km or 51 miles southwest of Barcelona. It is known for its well-preserved Roman ruins including an amphitheater, a Roman circus, and walls. There is also the 2,000-year-old Tarragona Cathedral and a 15-kilometer coastline with many beaches.
3. They Have Cava (and Cava Sangria)
Cava is the Spanish equivalent of Champagne. Almost all of it is produced in the Catalonian region of Spain.
Cava can be used to make cava sangria. It is especially refreshing to drink while overlooking the Mediterranean Sea on a sunny day.
I tried to make it when we returned to Florida, but it wasn’t the same. I guess I’ll have to return to Catalonia.
4. It’s Crowded and Suffers From Overtourism
Barcelona welcomes over 12 million visitors each year, drawn by its sunny skies, sandy beaches, and one-of-a-kind attractions. With a local population of just 1.6 million, it’s no wonder the residents are fed up with tourists.
The overcrowding in Barcelona is exacerbated by the fact that the city is densely populated. The population density is 16,000 people per sq. km. Compare this to New York City’s density of 11,300 people per sq. km.
The city has taken several steps to combat overtourism, including banning short-term vacation rentals, limiting tour group sizes, working to control the impact of large cruise ships, and having one-way walking on some streets. You can learn more about Barcelona’s overtourism issues in “Barcelona Overtourism & What We Can Do to Help.”
5. It’s Noisy
Because Barcelona is so crowded it is also very noisy, largely due to traffic. Many people ride motorcycles which adds significantly to the road noise. It is not unusual to see people slowly ride their motorcycles onto the sidewalks.
Even with our windows closed, we never got a break from the noise.
6. Pickpocketing is a Persistent Problem
Barcelona is one of the cities in which you are most likely to be pickpocketed. Pickpocketing can happen anywhere, but crowded places like the Metro, La Sagrada Familia, and Las Ramblas are especially problematic.
It is not uncommon to see people walking with their backpacks on their chests to keep them safe. You can’t be too careful or too paranoid about pickpockets in Barcelona.
You can read all about our pickpocketing experience in our post “Pickpocketed in Barcelona.”
Our Take on Barcelona
In seven years (and counting) of travel, one thing has been constant. That is the warmth and kindness we have been met with. The one exception was in Barcelona.
For example, we shopped at a nearby supermarket daily and used our basic Spanish, but got no acknowledgment from the cashiers. We did not take this personally. As we watched the crowds from our balcony, we did not see many smiles.
Despite its problems, we feel fortunate to have experienced Barcelona and would like to visit it again. If we do, we will plan a shorter stay and definitely revisit Labyrinth de la Horta.
Trip Details
Dates: April 22 to May 23, 2018
Number of days: 31
Total cost for 2: $3,600
Cost per day for 2 people: $116
More Information
You can find out what we spent during our first eight months as full-time travelers in “Wind and Whim’s 2018 Full-Time Travel Costs: Europe.”
Happy traveling,
Linda
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