T-Mobilitat is the new contactless ticketing system that replaces the old cardboard travel passes that were used on public transport in Barcelona until spring 2024. In this post, we take a look at what the T-Mobilitat is, how it works, what formats are available, and how you can use it when travelling by public transport…
Category: Tips
How to Get to Sitges from Barcelona Airport
Sitges is a beach town located thirty-five kilometres south of Barcelona. Once a sleepy fishing village, the picturesque narrow streets of the old town, sandy beaches and lively nightlife have been attracting tourists since the nineteenth century. If you’re flying into Barcelona and planning to spend a few days in Sitges, you might be wondering…
How to Travel from Barcelona Airport to the Costa Brava
The Costa Brava, or Wild Coast, is the stretch of coastline which runs from Blanes, sixty kilometres northeast of Barcelona, to the French border. The area is known for its good weather, good food and pristine sandy beaches, and is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Spain. The Costa Brava is served by…
Free Train Travel in Barcelona During 2024 With The “ABONO RECURRENT” Ticket
In September 2022, the Spanish Government introduced two new train passes aimed at frequent travellers to encourage more commuters to start using trains. The scheme was extended throughout 2023 and has now been continued into 2024. The idea behind the scheme is that commuters pay a small deposit every four months to obtain a frequent…
What To Do If You Run Out Of Medication While Visiting Spain
When travelling abroad, whether on holiday or for work, you should always ensure that you have enough medication for the duration of your stay. For longer stays, your doctor may be able to write you an extended prescription. On the other hand, sometimes plans go awry, causing you to run out. Maybe your bags got…
Doing Laundry In Barcelona (Laundries, Laundrettes, Dry Cleaners & More)
If you are staying in Barcelona for more than a week, or are visiting the city as part of a more extended trip, then chances are, you’ll need to find somewhere to wash your clothes. Doing laundry when travelling has the advantage that it allows you to carry less luggage, but it does require some…
Taxis in Barcelona: Information, Fares, Apps & Tips
Taxis are a quick and easy way to get around in Barcelona. The distinctive black and yellow cabs operate twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, and in most areas, you will only usually have to wait a minute or two to flag one down in the street. Alternatively, there are more than two…
Contactless Payment in Barcelona (Credit & Debit Cards, Google Pay, Apple Pay & Samsung Pay)
Contactless payment has been available in Barcelona since 2012 and has become so widely available that you no longer need to carry cash. All shops and supermarkets in Barcelona now accept contactless payment, and you can pay with credit cards, debit cards and smartphones at bars, restaurants and tourist attractions. The only caveat is that…
Where to Buy Alcohol in Barcelona on Sunday (with map)
Most shops and supermarkets in Barcelona don’t open on Sunday, which is good news for people who work in shops, but not so great for tourists, especially for visitors who arrive in Barcelona on a Sunday or simply weren’t organised enough to get the beers in on Saturday. Fortunately, there are exceptions, and whether you’re…
How to Check if a Holiday Apartment is Legal in Barcelona
Short term apartment rentals are an increasingly popular alternative to hotel accommodation. Whether you are visiting Barcelona with your family, on holiday with a group of friends, or planning an extended stay, renting a holiday apartment is often cheaper than staying in a hotel. You can also save money by shopping at local food markets…
How To Book Spanish Train Tickets On The RENFE Website (Step-by-Step Guide)
The Spanish rail network is among the best in Europe, with a fleet of modern high-speed AVE trains connecting major cities at speeds of up to 300km/h. Tickets for the AVE trains typically go on sale ninety days before that date of travel, and if you book in advance, you can get a discount of…
How To Claim Compensation If Your Train Is Delayed In Spain
Public transport in Spain is good value for money, easy to use and efficient. In major cities like Barcelona, Madrid and Valencia you can choose between buses, trams, metro and urban trains. When travelling between cities, you have the choice of long-distance buses or trains. The Spanish national train company is called RENFE, which stands…
Buying A Prepaid Spanish SIM Card At Barcelona Airport
Buying a Spanish SIM card at Barcelona airport can save you money on roaming charges while ensuring that you stay connected throughout your stay. Free Wi-Fi is widely available in Barcelona, but the connection is quite slow, and with prepaid SIMs available for as little as fifteen euros, it makes sense to buy a local…
Where To Buy A Beach Umbrella & Other Beach Accessories In Barcelona (with prices and map)
If you visit Barcelona during the summer, the chances are, you’ll want to spend some time on the beach. The city boasts over 4km of sandy coastline, and Barcelona’s beaches are great places to relax after spending the morning visiting the city’s many cultural attractions or after a long night partying at one of the…
Where to Stay in Barcelona: Best Areas & Neighbourhoods
It’s no secret that choosing the right hotel or apartment can make or break a holiday, and deciding where to stay is possibly the most important decision you’ll make when planning a trip to Barcelona. In this post, I’ve pooled together the knowledge gained from more than twenty years of living in the city to…
When’s the Best Time of Year to Visit Barcelona? (Month-by-Month Guide)
For most visitors, the best time of year to visit Barcelona is from early April through to mid-October. Throughout this period the weather is generally warm and sunny. It’s also when most of the city’s many vibrant festivals take place. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t visit at other times of the year. In fact,…
Which Barcelona Airport is Best? (BCN, GRO, REU)
Three international airports serve Barcelona and the surrounding area with flights to and from the UK, Spain and other European countries. When visiting Barcelona, it’s best to fly to Barcelona Airport, which is located 14 kilometres south of the city centre and is the largest of the three airports. There are frequent bus, train and…
10 Charming Squares & Pretty Plazas in Barcelona (with map)
Barcelona’s squares and plazas are the very essence of city life. Places where locals and visitors alike come to meet friends, relax and enjoy a drink or a meal. From large imposing plazas surrounded by elegant buildings to tiny squares where children can run and play, there are literally hundreds of squares of all sizes…
21 Most Instagrammable Locations in Barcelona (With Map)
Barcelona is one of Europe’s most photogenic cities with plenty of opportunities to fill your Instagram feed and Facebook timeline with images that will turn your friends back home green with envy. In fact, there are so many Instagram worthy sights that if you’re not careful you might end up missing out on some of…
Top Barcelona Travel, Food and Expat Blogs
Barcelona is one of the most visited cities in Europe with an abundance of things to see and do. In fact, there’s so much on offer that if you don’t make at least a rough plan before you arrive there’s a good chance you’ll end up missing out. Luckily there are literally hundreds of independent…
How to Unlock Your Suitcase When You’ve Forgotten the Combination
Picture the scene, you’ve just arrived at your hotel in an unfamiliar city after a long flight. You put your suitcase on the bed and slowly turn the numbered wheels of the three-digit combination lock. You press the button to get access to your case but nothing happens. The metal zipper tags remain firmly trapped…
B-OIL: The Cheapest Petrol Station in Barcelona
Whether you’ve hired a car in Spain or are on a road trip around Europe, you can save money by comparing prices every time you fill the tank with petrol or diesel. Fuel prices are lower in Spain than in the UK but you can make your €uros go further by avoiding motorway service stations…
From Barcelona Airport to the Cruise Ship Terminals
Barcelona’s cruise port is conveniently located near the city centre, at one end of the famous Las Ramblas Boulevard. Although there are various public transportation options to reach the city centre from the airport, none of them provides direct access to the cruise ship terminals. As a result, most people either opt for a taxi…
Sagrada Familia: Tips for Visiting Gaudi’s Masterpiece
Antoni Gaudi’s unfinished masterpiece, La Sagrada Familia, is one of the world’s most popular tourist attractions. In this post, we answer some common questions and share tips to help you make the most of your visit, including how to avoid the queues. The Sagrada Familia receives approximately 4.5 million visitors each year. The number of…
From the Cruise Ship Terminals to Barcelona City Centre
Barcelona is Europe’s largest cruise ship port, and the city receives more than two and a half million cruise ship passengers every year. Fortunately, there are plenty of transport options available to get you from your ship to the city centre as quickly as possible. Which mode of transport you choose will depend on which…
Free Commuter Train Tickets When Travelling by AVE
The Spanish AVE high speed train network is a fast comfortable and affordably priced way of travelling around the country. In many cases the AVE is more convenient than flying because you don’t have to transfer between the airport and the city centre and can board the train just minutes before it departs instead of…
Eat Breakfast Like a Local in Barcelona
If you found this post whilst searching for a list of the best places to eat brunch in Barcelona, you may want to click the back button now! Let’s face it, as much as I enjoy hash browns, French toast, huevos rancheros or broccoli and cheese frittata. The truth is, the majority of Barcelona residents…
Why I Prefer to Fly EasyJet Between Barcelona and the UK
I’ve lived in Barcelona for more than twenty years and regularly fly from Barcelona to the UK to visit family and friends. At first I used to compare prices offered by different travel websites, but nowadays I normally go straight to easyJet.com to purchase my flight. Here’s why: Competitive Prices Value for money is always…
6 Places To Eat Well In Barcelona For Six Euros Or Less
Barcelona has hundreds of restaurants catering to all tastes and budgets. Generally speaking food here is good value for money and the cost of eating out compares very favourably with other major European cities. If you’re on a budget, I recommend you do as the locals do and make lunch your main meal. The majority…
Articket – 50% Discount at Barcelona’s Best Art Museums
Barcelona is a fantastic holiday destination for art lovers. In addition to world-famous architecture and works of public art, the city has excellent museums and art galleries. Most of the museums charge between €5 and €20 per person, and it can soon add up. This is where the Articket Barcelona discount card (aka Barcelona Art Passport)…