Image Credit: Madi Chantry

So, you’re planning on going to Barcelona, but don’t know where to start? Well, you’ve come to the right place because I am your personal travel guide, giving you plenty of recommendations to check out whilst you’re there!

I visited Barcelona for a weekend in January, which meant the location was prone to having terrible weather, but that didn’t make the trip any less fun. I flew with RyanAir, making the return flight £45. Since it was a weekend getaway, I only had to take a small carry-on bag. My friends and I didn’t want to pay extra for allocated seats, so we were all spread out during the journey, waiting to see each other again on the other side. The flight was only around two hours and flew by so quickly… no pun intended! 

But, without further ado, let’s get into how you can have the best time in Barcelona whilst saving money. 

Where to Visit:

Sagrada Família (Carrer de Mallorca):

Image Credit: Madi Chantry

Sagrada Família, located in Carrer de Mallorca, is a must-see when visiting Barcelona, especially as it’s classed as a UNESCO heritage site. It is one of Gaudí’s most stunning architectural works in Barcelona, and the construction of this church has been ongoing for 144 years since it started in 1882. Tours are priced at around 26€, which isn’t too bad if you ask me! The surrounding areas were bustling with life, and there were people of all ages, making Sagrada Família inclusive and accessible to everyone. 

Mercat de la Boqueria (La Rambla):

This was a food market that was sparkling with soul and spiritedness. From meat to pastries to paella, to fruit, to ice cream, there’s everything you can think of. The market is situated in a massive warehouse, so if you’re visiting during weather that isn’t ideal, this is the perfect place to be! There are also lots of bars down the aisles if you’re fancying a quick, cheeky drink. However, raw meat is showcased everywhere, so if you’re not a fan of that, keep it in mind if you’re thinking of visiting. When I went, I got a blueberry and coconut smoothie, which tasted like a vanilla milkshake, and then I bought a sugar doughnut, which was soft and sweet! Both were 2€, which was incredibly cheap.

Gothic Quarter (Ciutat Vella):

Image Credit: Madi Chantry

Walking through the Gothic Quarter made me feel like I was Lara Croft from Tomb Raider doing a mission in an ancient city. The architecture was breathtaking, and I would really recommend checking this area out, particularly as it’s free to do so. Barcelona Cathedral was beautiful and had so many fascinating details. There are also a plethora of shops, cafes, and restaurants in the Gothic Quarter, which can fulfil anyone’s needs! 

Parc Güell (Gràcia):

Yet another one of Gaudí’s most famous locations, Parc Güell is situated up a massive hill, but you’ll be happy to know that there are some escalators to get you up there. I paid £19 for my ticket, which is equivalent to 23€. So, if you’re someone who loves art, nature, bold and bright colours, this is the place for you. Although I visited during a time when it was raining, it was still exceptional, and I’m sure it would be even more so during the summer. 

Casa Batlló (Passeig de Gràcia):

Image Credit: Madi Chantry

Casa Batlló, a building designed by Gaudí, is among an entire street filled with all of the high-end shops you can think of, including Chanel, Jimmy Choo, Sephora, and Louis Vuitton, which has a notable juxtaposition if you really think about it. This extraordinary, colourful building is surrounded by modern, minimalistic, and sleek storefronts that are a luxury to most. There’s even a McDonald’s, which has a ceramic interior full of vibrant colours to mirror Gaudí’s designs. One thing I noticed when walking down this street was the sense of community; a group of people wearing robes gathered together, singing songs in front of Casa Batlló, and everyone who watched rejoiced and was filled with happiness. Even if you don’t buy a ticket to tour Casa Batlló, it’s definitely worth visiting  Passeig de Gràcia. 

Where to eat:

Viena (Rda. de Sant Pere):

This is a fast food place which has an assortment of food and drinks, with plenty of places to sit. I bought a mini ham baguette and a Fanta Lemon for 8.55€, and they were delicious. I did expect the baguette to come warm, but it came cold. However, it was still super tasty. As for the Fanta Lemon, it was very refreshing!

Restaurante Terrazza Ravello (Plaça de Pau Vila): 

Image Credit: Madi Chantry

At this Italian restaurant (I know, Italian in Spain…), I bought a Margherita pizza, which was 14€, and a mojito, which was 12€, making it 26€ in total! The pizza was delicious, but the base was really thin, so the contents kept sliding off the top, and the mojito was poured with a generous amount of alcohol. Nonetheless, both were still fantastic. This restaurant is also located by the port, so if evening walks by the sea is your thing, then stop by the ambient, and very friendly Restaurante Terrazza Ravello.

Cappuccino (La Rambla): 

Image Credit: Madi Chantry

In this elegant café located on La Rambla, you can be a part of a lively atmosphere with a multitude of drinks and food options available, at a reasonable price too! I got the churros dipped in hot chocolate, and also some water to quench my thirst. There were four churros in total, which were exquisite, and the hot chocolate was thick with a dark taste. In the end, everything was 9€, which I think is definitely budget-friendly. 

MEXITALY : BAR & RESTAURANTE MEXICANO Y PIZZERÍA (Carrer de Cartagena):

Image Credit: Madi Chantry

I arrived at this colourful, vibrant place around 6:30 pm, and it wasn’t busy at all. I got the chicken quesadillas with a mojito (again), which was 21.50€ in total. The quesadillas were made to perfection, although they were a bit plain, but that’s nothing some sour cream couldn’t fix! As for the mojito, it tasted better and better after every sip. This place is definitely worth a visit if you like food that has a spicy kick to it. 

Bristol Café (Carrer de Roger de Flor):

Image Credit: Madi Chantry

This café had an abundance of cakes and desserts, which were affordable. There was a classy, elegant, cottagecore kind of vibe because of all of the pastel colours and plants; it was a very aesthetically-pleasing place! I got the pancakes with Nutella, banana, and chantilly, with a chai latte, making the total 12€. When I say that the pancakes were heavenly, I mean it. They came with bananas, raspberries, and blueberries, as seen in the photo. However, despite how pretty the chai latte looks in the photo, it wasn’t what I was used to, so, unfortunately, I didn’t drink it.

Where to stay:

No Limit Hostel Graffiti (Carrer d’Aragó):

Image credit: Madi Chantry

I stayed at No Limit Hostel Graffiti, which is located just a 15-minute walk from the Sagrada Família and only a 2-minute walk from Encants Metro Station. It was £12.99 per night, so for me it cost £25.98 for two nights. The hostel had numerous bedrooms containing bunk beds and lockers (you do have to bring your own padlock, though). All of the bunk beds had curtains attached to them to ensure privacy when staying there, which I thought was such a fantastic feature. Another great feature was how you could only get into the building itself by identifying yourself through the intercom at the front door, which is a phenomenal reassurance for safety and security. There’s also a shared kitchen and two shared bathrooms for all of the guests staying at the hostel. One thing that wasn’t as good was how there were no locks on the showers, so my friends and I had to stand guard for each other when we wanted to shower because we didn’t want any strangers to walk in on us… So, I’d keep that in mind if you are thinking of staying at this hostel! Overall, it was perfect for a weekend in Barcelona. 

How to navigate the metro:

As someone with major anxiety about public transport, the metro was surprisingly super easy to use and get around with. I paid for a 48-hour metro pass, which was 18€, and then on my last day I bought a 24-hour pass for 13€. All you had to do was scan it on the machines when going through the gates, and that was it. It’s as easy as that! Another great thing about the metro locations was that on almost every wall, there was a full map of each metro line and where each stop is. Knowing that we’d always be able to get back to a specific place by using the map made the entire weekend so much more relaxed. The carriages did get very busy, no matter the hour, so be prepared to be stood up for most of the journey… Unless you’re like the person in the picture who brought their own travel chair!

Convinced yet?

Barcelona is definitely somewhere I’d go again, and next time I’d go in summer and stay in a hotel… That won’t exactly be on a budget, but it would be worth it to go and treat myself to a week in the sun. The thought of bread and aioli with olives is calling my name, and if there are Spanish cocktails, then I don’t need to be convinced any further. Will I see you there?