9 Tips to Know Before Traveling to Barcelona
In January of 2019 I was fortunate enough to study abroad for 3 weeks in Barcelona.
It has been a dream of mine to study abroad and do more than just vacation. My experience was truly magical and I wish I could do it again! Of course, when preparing for your trip you can do all the research in the world and there will still be surprises.
Here is what I learned about living in Barcelona from my 3-week experience. If you are planning to stay even longer, then you may learn even more!
Everyone smokes
Thankfully, in the US we have collectively realized that smoking is well…terrible for your body. There are still plenty of people who smoke in the US (and don’t even get me started on juuls) but for the most part, there is a negative connotation around smoking cigarettes, more than there ever has been before.
In Barcelona, this is not the case. Smoking cigarettes is a cultural norm and people do not care if you don’t like it. Everywhere you go there will be cigarette butts on the ground and people blowing smoke practically in your faces. It may seem weird at first, but that is just how it is there. The many, many, drawbacks of smoking haven’t reached Barcelona yet and it is just something you should be prepared for.
People in Barcelona don’t go out until 2 am…or later
You will never appreciate the bars at home closing by 2 am more, until you come to Europe I am not joking when I say that the typical time to go out to a club in Barcelona is 2 am.
A typical day in Barcelona is very different from a typical day in the US and it is normal to not start your night until after midnight. You can choose to go out early, as you would at home, but be warned that you may either be the only ones in the establishment, or they won’t even be open!
This is something to consider when planning your itinerary because a night out until 5 am could greatly influence your plans the next day!
Know the Different Modes of Transportation
This was actually taken outside of a biker cafe in Girona called La Fabrica Girona!
Ok no, you will not have to ride around a rusty old bike to get around Barcelona. (This was actually taken outside of a biker cafe in Girona called La Fabrica Girona!). But I think it is interesting to note that in Barcelona there are as many bikes as there are cars, if not more.
A lot of Barcelona’s parking is underground and there is very, very, limited street parking. If people do not have cars, then they have bikes. Either a bicycle or a motorcycle. You will see a lot of motorcycles while you are in Barcelona and men and women alike ride them around the streets in their work clothes and weave in and out of traffic.
It is a very different dynamic and I also advise to be extra aware of people driving motorcycles whether you are walking or driving!
Extra tip: Public transportation is huge! And easily available. You can practically get anywhere in Barcelona through the metro system and I highly recommend using it. There are different metro passes you can buy that work for the bus systems and the subways. It is extremely easy to figure out and honestly, I enjoyed it!
Recognize Barcelona Fashion
One big difference between US fashion and Barcelona fashion is the use of loungewear. Barcelona locals don’t go anywhere in sweatpants or gym clothes, unless they are actually exercising. In the US, I admit I do sometimes go out in my gym clothes even when I’m not working out (I’m not the only one, right?).
You don’t need to dress like a local to visit Barcelona, but it can be useful to know and respect this part of the culture. Clothing is one way to pick you apart as a tourist and that could result in being pick-pocketed, depending on where you are. (Be extra cautious of overly touristy areas, the metro, and Starbucks).
I’ve noticed that people from Barcelona love to wear clunky, platform shoes, fashionable sneakers (not so much running), fuzzy coats, and embellished pants. You will fall in love with the fashion while you are in Barcelona, as there are boutiques at every corner!
Some popular Barcelona clothing stores to look out for are Zara, Pull and Bear, H&M, Mango, and Desigual. Check them out! These stores have similar prices to the US and usually have rebaixes, which is Catalan for rebate, or sales!
People from Barcelona are casual drinkers
When people from other countries think of the US one phrase that comes up is ‘binge-drinking’. (Can we say that they are wrong?). In Barcelona they love to drink, but not to a point of being completely intoxicated. Being overly drunk in public is frowned upon and it is another tell-tale sign that you are American.
Don’t be ‘that American’. By all means, go out and have fun! But be able to control yourself unless you want to get in trouble with the locals. It could also be very unsafe to be overly drunk while in another country. Being safe is always better than being sorry.
Yes, this drink is bigger than my head. No, it is not water. YES, I was responsible and I was even in bed by 2 a.m. @Pippermint Barcelona
Uber is available, but not well-liked by the locals
You may have heard the rumor that Uber is not very well-liked overseas. I am here to confirm that the rumor is true. (I’m not going to say I did not use Uber while I was in Barcelona, because I did) That sounds crazy, doesn’t it? Uber is so popular, and useful, in the US that it is hard to understand that it isn’t popular everywhere else.
Well, in Europe taxi services are still very much available and an important part of city life. Uber is a competitor that is taking away customers from the taxis. While I was in Barcelona there was actually a taxi strike! It may still be going on as far as I know, so if you are planning to travel soon, do your research on this.
Here is what I know. The taxi company did not like the fact that with Uber, customers could wait 15 minutes or more for their ride, and they want more regulations on these app-sharing services. To gain the attention of authorities, the taxi drivers parked their cars on main roads and just left them there. This did disrupt traffic, including the metro, and Uber was also facing challenges during this so their services have been limited.
Just a warning before you travel! (Metro links listed above!)
This is not a drill…people will walk into you
When I first got to Spain I noticed that people do not watch where they are going and small collisions happen if you do not move fast enough. At first I thought they were just a few weird coincidences, until I was at the CIEE study center and there was a sign that said something along the lines of, “Tip: when people are walking in groups on the street be aware because if they are in conversation they will not notice you and may walk into you!”
Isn’t that crazy?! It is an actual issue of people walking into each other in Spain due to being in a conversation. I was mind-boggled the whole trip just thinking that people didn’t care to watch where they were going.
The reason I felt it was this important to put into this blog post was for a few reasons. One, most people are harmless and are simply having a good time and aren’t aware of where they are walking so do not take offense. Two, they could be trying to pick-pocket you. You can know the difference by whether if they are looking at you or not. If someone is clearly headed straight at you with a purpose, they then could be trying to pick-pocket you especially if you are alone. Just be careful!
There is currently political unrest in the Catalonia region
If I had not been studying abroad I don’t think I would have ever picked up on this without being told. I do believe it is important to know what is going on in the country you are visiting for safety and respect reasons.
Currently in Spain, the region of Catalonia is trying to gain political freedom and become its own country. This includes Barcelona, Girona, Tarragona, and Lledia. In this region the main language is Catalan, which is closer to French than Spanish. The Spanish government does not believe that Catalonia should become its own region and have taken Catalan citizens prisoner due to some of their actions.
While in the Catalan region you will see lots, and I mean lots, of different flags, signs, words, posters, etc calling for the release of the prisoners and separation of Catalonia from the rest of Spain.
There are three different types of flags and they all mean different things. Here is a site that can explain the different flags and what they represent.
Traveling to Catalonia is not currently dangerous but that is just an inside look at what is happening to the Catalan people. It is always important to be respectful and aware of a city’s culture while you are visiting.
An example of one of the Catalan Flags (Yellow and Red) taken in Girona
Well that is what I gathered about Barcelona from my time there! I hope learning about the in’s and outs of Barcelona makes you want to go there even more. It is truly a beautiful city with so many amazing things to offer. If you already have your itinerary planned, use these tips to make the most out of your trip and if you are still in the works, then get going!
*Disclaimer: This was written in February of 2019, I am not sure of the current conditions of the city or this issue.