9 Common Mistakes Tourists Make in Barcelona
Catalonia is one of Spain's most visited regions, and Barcelona is easily the top spot. With more than 30 million visitors in 2016, the city has been cracking down on tourism, and even creating laws to keep tourists at bay. Here at The Points Guy, we think you should visit Barcelona this year -- just please, do so responsibly.
Being a knowledgeable and thoughtful tourist will ensure you have a safe and happy visit to Barcelona (and Catalonia in general) and leave a smaller footprint on the area's already-overwhelmed tourism industry. So if a trip to Barcelona is on your radar, avoid these nine common mistakes travelers too often make.
1. Not Buying Attraction Tickets in Advance
Barcelona boasts some of the most famous tourist attractions in the world, including the stunning Sagrada Familia cathedral designed by Antoni Gaudí. As the massive church nears its target completion date of 2026, the number of daily visitors continues to grow. It's essential you book tickets ahead of time, online, if you want to see this magnificent piece of architecture during your visit. The same goes for the Gaudí-designed Park Güell: a green space atop Carmel Hill with a variety of whimsical attractions like a mosaic-covered lizard, a life-size gingerbread house and, of course, those famous undulating benches, where you can relax and enjoy sunset views of the city and sea. Buying your tickets online will prevent you from waiting in very long lines or even the disappointment of realizing these attractions do, indeed, sell out for the day (or even the week).
2. Missing Lesser-Known Attractions
While there's a reason the city's big-name Gaudí attractions and popular Boqueria market are at the top of every tourist's to-do list, go deeper for a closer look at the city's history and culture. Markets such as Ninot or La Concepció are what the Boqueria was before it became a space primarily for camera-toting travelers. Museums like the Fundació Antoni Tàpies's will open your eyes to spectacular Spanish art, while an afternoon in the Parc del Laberint d'Horta, with its labyrinthine maze of manicured shrubs, will delight the entire family. There are even secret bunkers and shelters underneath the city streets dating back to the Spanish Civil War you can explore during your trip to Barcelona. Beach bums can reach some truly fantastic seaside spots just by taking a short train ride from the city center that are much less crowded than the city's main Barceloneta beach.
3. Losing Sight of Your Personal Belongings
Yes, we know that all you TPG readers are savvy travelers. But I've watched even the most experienced travelers set their iPhone down on a table while dining or leave their belongings unattended while dipping in the ocean for a quick swim -- and I've been guilty of doing the same myself. Barcelona, while safe from most violent crimes, is sadly known for pickpocketing and petty theft. Be on alert, leave your passport in the hotel safe and take care of your belongings, especially while dining (both inside and out); walking along on crowded streets; at the beach; and while riding on public transportation. If you plan to leave Barcelona to visit the Costa Brava, be watchful of your rental vehicle and be aware of potential scams that may occur, which include distracting travelers by damaging a tire and then stealing items from the car.
4. Spending Too Much Time on La Rambla
If you want to walk along La Rambla, one of Barcelona's most famous streets, go for it. Tourists should still see all the main tourist attractions, after all. But spending a long time there is exhausting: You'll have to push through crowds, clutch your personal belongings like there's no tomorrow and avoid street vendors peddling, well, pretty much everything. Even eating along La Rambla is overpriced and unauthentic, and wandering just a block or two away will give you a far less hectic and more affordable experience when it comes to eating, shopping and simply admiring your surroundings. (Unless it's McDonald's you're after, anyway.)
5. Joking About the Great Catalonia Debate
While this debate has been happening for many years, 2017 and 2018 saw referendums, strikes and protests related to Catalonian independence. Regardless of what side you're on, it's probably best not to loudly air any opinions on the matter, discuss the topic with locals unless you know someone well or are specifically asked to share your position. This is a sensitive topic all across Spain that dates back to the early 20th century, but obviously tensions are far more heated in the Catalonia region, so be respectful and avoid any joking, insensitive questioning or intentionally combative opinions.
6. Eating Paella on the Beach
Paella hails from the seaside city of Valencia, and you can find spots to eat this aromatic saffron rice dish in many other areas of Spain — including Barcelona. But do yourself a favor and don't order it along the beach, an area known for having overpriced and, frankly, pretty bland paella. As a rule of thumb, any restaurant with photos of paella isn't the right spot to order it. If you really want to sample the dish, ask your front desk agents at your hotel where they like to go. Typically, at the best paella spots, you'll have to reserve and order the dish the day before (especially if you're in a group) so they can make a personalized pan of paella. Planning ahead and asking for recommendations will ensure you get to sample the dish in a reasonably priced, authentic way.
7. Skipping the Bike Ride
Move over, Amsterdam. For travelers who love to cycle, Barcelona is one of the greatest cities in Europe for biking. Most of the city center is reasonably flat (if you stay away from Park Güell, of course), with a number of designated bike lanes. Plus, you can almost always count on mild, sunny weather year-round — absolutely perfect for cycling. Bike tours are an excellent way to view the city's architecture and there are plenty of rental places scattered across the center and near the beach, if you prefer to cycle off into the sunset on your own. If you don't want to get mixed up in navigating the downtown area, the bike lanes along the beach allow riders to cruise away without fighting car traffic.
8. Walking Around the City in Beachwear
The beach is one of Barcelona's greatest selling points. But the distinctly separate beach and city scenes must be navigated carefully. One of the easiest ways to offend locals is to walk around non-beach areas of Barcelona in a bikini or without a shirt: it's taboo. So save your bikinis and speedos for the beach and cover up with clothing when you're exploring the city area -- especially when venturing inside shops or restaurants.
9. Forgetting the Hour
Although Spanish mealtimes are later than most, locals don't expect you to adhere to them. Eat when you want — just don't be surprised if a restaurant is completely empty at 7:30pm (or still closed); if nothing is open at 6am for breakfast; and if smaller shops are closed between 2 and 5pm. Many places are slowly changing to cater to tourists, but being flexible when it comes to mealtimes and shop hours is key. After all, the beauty of the Spanish culture is due, at least in part, to the nation's relaxed attitude. The best suggestion is to go with the flow -- and why not take a siesta too while you're at it, too.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.