Solo Travel Week in Barcelona
If you enjoy solo travel, food-grazing, thought provoking architecture, and vibrant nightlife – add Barcelona to your travel bucket list. Last year (the novelty of saying that is still great) I spent a week wandering around Barcelona, as part of a month long Europe trip. I had actually planned to only spend 3 or 4 nights before venturing over to the Canary Islands but fell in love with the vibrancy of this beautiful city so much that I decided to stay. Despite my relatively short time in Barcelona, this city now holds a very special place in my heart. Solo travel always reminds you of how capable you really are and how special human connection is. This trip was my first solo trip in about 2 years and I think it rekindled the old flame in my heart for travelling on my own. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your time in this loved city (though it is hard not to in the first place) particularly if you are travelling solo.
About Barcelona
Barcelona is the proud capital of Spain’s Catalonian region and the fourth most densely populated European city (though it didn’t feel like it, in a good way). I found Barcelona to be rich in art, culture, architecture and food – all of my favourite things.
Flights (International)
I departed from sunny Brisbane, Australia, which meant a wonderful 23 hour flight arriving in Barcelona with a stopover in Dubai (approx. 12 hours). I flew via Emirates and booked my flights through STA as they offered pretty competitive / on-par flight costs, but mostly because they offer a $99 deposit and payment plan for the flights. My Europe flights totalled about $1800 return (departing from Rome to Brisbane during peak/high shoulder season). For domestic flights, I highly recommend using Sky Scanner for a the best broad search of cheapest flights. I find the Sky Scanner interface easy to use on both desktop and mobile and enjoy the ‘save flight’ and ‘save search’ features. On a side note, my favourite feature of all time is the ability to ‘search flights to everywhere’ on a certain date or within a month i.e. allowing you to find the cheapest flights to anywhere in the world, perfect for new adventures!
Travel from Barcelona Airport to City
- Airbus – Timetable here.
Stop at square Catalunya (last stop and a central city spot). The buses depart every 5 to 10 minutes. 5,90€ one way / 10,20€ return.
- Subway/Metro (my choice)
An easy way to travel from the airport to the city is via the metro line. The frequency of passing subway trains is every 7 minutes or so, but it can be reduced to every 4 minutes in high peak times. The travel time is roughly 30 minutes from the T1 airport’s terminal into town. Metro lines runs until midnight. 4.60€ one way.
- Train (Only from Terminal 2)
Catch the direct train from Terminal 2, which passes every 30 minutes. Stop at Passeig de Gracia in the city center.
- Taxi
A taxi from the airport costs around 35-40€ one way (FYI that’s like 8 tapas plates).
Where to Stay
I stayed at Rodamon Hostel, which was clean, friendly and had a top notch central location. Shared paces were light filled while dorm rooms were quiet and had block out curtains. Rodamon served a fantastic fresh breakfast every morning for about 5€. A Veritas (whole foods store) was also conveniently located next door to the hostel. I was able to walk to most city sights or use the metro station, which was an easy 5 minute walk. The hostel was based right along the main strip of La Rambla (the hub for shops, restaurants, and cafes).
Getting Around
Being the nervous driver that I am, I LOVED being able to get around Barcelona mostly just by walking. I averaged 20-25km of walking per day and my waist was very thankful. Second to this, using the metro system was also easy. I may have caught a cab once during the trip on a very hungover morning and this also proved to be a pleasant and not overly expensive experience.
Things to Do
Day 1 (rest and dinner around Vila De Gracia Square):
I arrived foggy-brained around 4pm local time. Usually, I am one to dump my bags and rush out the door to explore new places. However, this was my first 23 hour flight haul and oh man, was I jet-lagged. Once I arrived at the hostel, I checked in and crashed, having a power nap (love) for a few hours. Eventually, I headed out on foot to the local dining precinct of Vila De Gracia Square recommended to me by the hostel staff. I later discovered that this street was much more low key and where you find the locals dining in comparison to the more touristy spots e.g. La Rambla. Despite being quiet at first appearance, I was amazed to see how the busy restaurant became as the evening went on. By 10pm, the restaurant was full with couples, groups, and families. I love dining on my own, it is such a great time for people watching plus you can eat a meal uninterrupted. Another joyous thing I found about Barcelona was the price of food. The price I would pay for a fresh tapas dish averaged 5-7€ and 2-3 plates would be satiating enough. Overwhelmed at the vast array of salivating menu options, I chose 4 tapas dishes at the waiter’s recommendations. Unfortunately, I had severely underestimated my jet lag and only made it through a few mouthfuls before feeling nauseous. So with doggy bag in hand, I made it back to the hostel for a good night’s sleep (but not without seeing Placa De Rius along the way, thank you Barcelona).
Day 2 (Casa Battlo and Cathedral Barcelona)
Before beginning my journey around 8am, I enjoyed breakfast with a view at the hostel. Quite ignorantly, I had not done much research prior to my trip to Barcelona and was not familiar with the name “Gaudi“. Luckily, thanks (again) to the hostel staff. I was recommended to check out Casa Battlo, which coincidentally was in 10 minute walking distance to the hostel. As it turns out with most of Europe, it is cheaper, more efficient, and sometimes mandatory to purchase your tickets online prior to visiting. For Casa Battlo, you can purchase tickets directly through the official website or Get Your Guide, which is what I used basically 99% throughout Barcelona and Europe. If you don’t mind parting with a few extra euro I would highly recommend paying more for the ‘skip the line‘ tickets as this saves SO much time and angst (plus you feel like total red carpet material walking past crowds of sad/angry looking people). I managed to purchase my tickets using the Get Your Guide app literally at the corner street of Casa Battlo 10 minutes before the next wave of admissions. Second to this, I used Tiquets. Casa Battlo is a must see and opened my eyes to the ‘way-before-his-time’ works of Antoni Gaudi. Tip: I chose to do the unguided tour for this one (but later did a few guided tours, which I have 0 regret about. They were extremely informative and interesting). Just make sure to always check the fine print.
Even on day 2, I immediately found myself captivated by the gothic art laced around Barcelona and decided to check out one of the city’s oldest buildings, Cathedral Barcelona. Works to the church commenced in 1298 – I meant it when I said it was old – and it is located on the fringes of Gothic Quarter in ‘Old Town’. Pay the 3 euro and go on the rooftop tour – not only is it stunning but you get an extremely high vantage point of the city.
Day 3 (La Boqueria Market, Port Vell Beach, Flamenco show):
On day 3, La Boqueria Market, the world renowned food and produce market, was first on my agenda and took about 15 minutes to reach on foot from the hostel. When I arrived my eyes were greeted by an exhibition of vibrant colours and satiating food options.
For a change of pace and scenery, I walked to the waterfront harbour of Barcelona, Port Vell (about a 15 minutes walk from La Boqueria). Port Vell translates to “old harbour” in English. It was only logical that I indulge in a spanish seafood paella and sangria by the seaside – and that is exactly what. I did (only costing me about 25 euro). Make sure to take your time to stroll along the beachside for perfect people watching. For this Aussie, I sat by in amazement watching people sun bathe and swim in below 20 degree weather.
To make the most of my evening, I booked a Flamenco Show via Tiqets. I really enjoyed the show, which was delivered to a small intimate crowd but it was my new found company that made my evening. I met two fellow travellers, American Alex and Scottish Alex, and before I knew it, found myself at a dive jazz bar, on a pub crawl, through Barcelona’s night hot spots. Goodbye sleep. Side note: I ended up seeing Scottish Alex in his homeland on my way to London and he now lives in the same state as me in Australia – there is something to be said about making like minded friends whilst travelling isn’t there?
Day 4 (Free Walking Tour, Saint Mary cathedral, and an Irish Bar)
At the suggestion of my new found / fellow dusty friends, we commenced a late morning free walking tour via Donkey Tours. The ethos behind the tours is that if you enjoy your tour, you tip your guide. Groups can range from small to large (we were lucky to have a group of 3, it was basically a private tour). Meet at the yellow umbrellas in Placa Nova in Old Town. After the tour, we parted ways for a while and I checked out Saint Mary Cathedral solo for a few hours. We reunited near La Sagrada Familia and found an Irish pub that seemed fitting to celebrate our last hoorah together, as the boys were leaving the day after. Whilst I was enjoying kind whisky pours I heard a familiar twangy accent – turns out the bartender was from the beautiful coastal town of Byron Bay close to my home town (what are the odds).
Day 5 (Gothic Old Town, History Museum of Catalonia, La Sagrada Familia)
Seeing as La Sagrada Familia is one of Barcelona’s most popular and busiest attractions, there was limited availability on the day for tickets. My best option was to purchase a small size guided tour via Get Your Guide, which I was reluctant to do since I am not a fan of forced listening. However, this proved to be one of the best experiences during my trip. Amy, the tour guide, was incredibly knowledgeable about Gaudi’s work and her passion for his art shone throughout the tour.
After a taste of Barcelona’s old gothic architecture, I hastily made my way back to the Gothic Quarter, this time with an intent to see all edges of Old Town. I would highly recommend dedicating at least 2 hours to wander around Old Town to check out all of the quaint shops, cafes/bars/restaurants, busker corners and sights (and then come back another day). The History Museum of Catalonia is also a must see. You don’t necessarily need to go inside but it is worth the visit to at least revel in the architecture and water feature.
Make sure you wander back to old town for dinner and drinks, the evening vibe is totally different to daytime. Feeling a bit peckish myself and drawn in by some live string trio music, I ended my night with a tapas dinner and drinks for one at Cafe Shilling.
Day 6 (Montjuic):
I made my way to Montjuic to enjoy sweeping views of Barcelona city on the Montjuic Cable Car ride, To get to Montjuic, catch the Montjuic Funicular via the Metro (from stop Paral-lel to stop Montjuic) for a step back in time. At stop Montjuic, you can purchase the cable car tickets to the top of Montjuic hill (approx. 14 euro for a return ticket). At the top make sure to check out Castell Montjuic (approx. 5 euro entry ticket) to revel in the vantage point sights and history of Montjuic area.
Day 7 (Parc de la Cieutadella and Magic Fountain Show):
In awe at how only 6 days felt like weeks, I spent my last day in Barcelona basking in the sun at Cieutadella Park and watched water dance to the beat of Queen at the Magic Fountain Show.
Park de la Cieutadella is located near Old Town and is a great people watching spot. It was one of the first green spots in Barcelona’s early days and now remains as one of Barcelona’s largest green areas. Take some time to view this stunning water monument, which is dedicated to the LGBTQI community of Barcelona.
After a lunch and siesta (while in Spain right), I headed back out to commemorate my final evening in Barcelona. For the magic fountain show, check the official website for show times, as they change depending on the season. I caught the metro line to make the 9pm show (I often went out at night and felt very safe on the busy and brightly lit streets). The show runs for about 30 minutes and IT IS AMAZING. Take some pictures but then put your camera away and just enjoy the show with your own eyes and ears.
So that’s it! Barcelona, you stole a piece of my heart. I can’t wait to visit again to see the sights that I missed on this trip (like Park Guell, Casa Mila, Picasso Museum, and Tibidabo to name a few).
All opinions and recommendations mentioned in this post are my own 🙂 I hope you have enjoyed this post – thank you for reading. Leave a comment below – I would love to hear about your experiences and favourite places in Barcelona.
