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Are you considering solo travel in Barcelona? Maybe you’re tired of waiting around for friends and family, but are unsure if Barcelona is enjoyable alone. Whether it’s insights you are looking for or a boost of confidence to book those flights, you’re in the right place.
I originally booked two days in Barcelona as a stopover while coming home from my Malta solo trip. To be honest, I planned much of my sightseeing at the last minute, and didn’t even have time to develop expectations. When I finally arrived into Barcelona, I mostly felt tired and ready to be home with my husband.
However, Barcelona ended up breathing new life into my trip and even into me as a new solo traveler. Below, I am telling you everything you need to know for your own solo trip to Barcelona, based on my own insights. While I sugarcoat nothing, I hope you leave feeling as excited about your trip as I do about this city!
Solo Travel in Barcelona: What You Need to Know
Why Travel Solo to Barcelona?
There are a lot of cities in Europe, so why did I choose Barcelona for solo travel?
- I couldn’t fly directly back to the US from Malta, but could do so from Barcelona. There were also direct flights to Barcelona from Malta International Airport.
- I had never been to Barcelona, and wanted to visit a new destination.
- Barcelona is one of Europe’s most gorgeous cities, known for its unique Catalan culture, art, and tapas. Therefore, it was sitting pretty high up on my bucket list.
- I had studied Spanish in school for five years and was yearning to try speaking Spanish abroad.
I was sad my husband couldn’t join me due to constraints with vacation time because he would have loved Barcelona. That said, I had a great time on my own, and left finally believing that I could enjoy solo travel.
Learn the Language: The official languages in Barcelona are Catalan and Spanish. Since I did not have time to learn any Catalan, I relied on my Spanish.
As it had been more than ten years since my last Spanish class, I used the Duolingo app to refresh my knowledge. While ultimately my Spanish was very broken, I got by just fine.
Don’t worry if you can’t learn much Spanish or Catalan before your trip. Generally, locals who work in tourism will know English. In a bind, you can always turn to Google Translate!
Top Attractions in Barcelona
When I think of Barcelona, Gaudí and tapas are what come to mind. It can be rather satisfying simply to wander through Barcelona, taking in the atmosphere, architecture, tastes and smells.
That said, you shouldn’t leave Barcelona without visiting at least a few of its iconic tourist sights. Here are the top five:
1. La Sagrada Familia
2. Park Güell
3. Las Ramblas
Las Ramblas is a pedestrian thoroughfare famous for its atmosphere, street performers, and people watching. However, large tourist crowds also make Las Ramblas a favorite hangout for thieves.
Unfortunately, I do not have a photo of Las Ramblas. With limited time and sore feet, I opted to eat tapas instead of strolling this iconic street.
4. Barcelona Cathedral
5. Picasso Museum
Barcelona First Impressions
I had a late night Ryanair flight from Malta, so I didn’t arrive into Barcelona until around midnight. It was easy to grab a taxi right outside the airport, which cost around 30 euros.
Since it was dark out, I had no clue what the city looked like until the next morning. If I’m being completely honest, I wasn’t even that excited to see it. My first solo trip abroad in Malta left me completely exhausted and filled with self-doubt after many rental car issues. I even considered spending both my days in Barcelona recharging in my hotel room.
However, as a lover of travel, it was silly to think I’d actually want to do that. Sure enough, I stepped out of my hotel room the next morning for coffee and got my first look at Via Laietana. It wasn’t even the most charming part of town, but BOOM! Love at first sight.
The city was buzzing with cars and pedestrians, and there were stately buildings all around me in soft, romantic colors. Scents from cafes and bakeries in the vicinity filled the air. I felt like I was living out one of my long-forgotten high school dreams.
Meeting Other Travelers
With only two days in Barcelona, it was not very important to me to socialize during my stay. That said, I did book two tours so I could have at least some human interaction.
I’m so glad I did, because my tapas tour was the highlight of my trip. This tour is a must for any solo traveler. First of all, you have to eat tapas while in Spain anyhow, and second, it’s one night where you don’t have to eat alone.
Plus, if you get lucky like me, the people on your tour will be really awesome! About seven of us on the tour got along really well, and ended up staying out afterwards for one more drink. We were all from different countries, including Germany, Denmark, Ireland, and of course me from the US. It was the kind of serendipitous thing that you hope happens during a carefree trip abroad.
Staying in a hostel is another great way to meet people while traveling solo. I personally opted to stay in this hotel. However, if hostels are more your speed, then you will find many popular options available in Barcelona.
Barcelona Likes & Dislikes
What I liked about Barcelona
- I could walk almost everywhere.
- Eating delicious tapas. The tapas tour I did was awesome!
- The beautiful and diverse architecture of Barcelona, from the Gothic Quarter to Gaudí sites.
- Great availability of cafes with delicious pastries.
- The metro was cheap and easy to use (read more on my Barcelona trip cost here).
- I traveled in late September, which meant thinner crowds and mild weather.
What I disliked about Barcelona
- Only having two days to explore the city.
- Eating paella alone at 7 Portes. The paella was delicious, but this would’ve been a perfect date night spot.
- Getting chocolate all over myself before visiting the Picasso Museum because I was eating a chocolate croissant while walking.
- The uphill climb from the metro station to reach Park Güell, which left me drenched in sweat. Had I timed my walk better, I wouldn’t have been running late and rushing so much to my Gaudí tour.
Safety in Barcelona
This section is based on my own personal observations of safety while traveling solo in Barcelona. For a more nitty gritty discussion on safety, check out this article here:
- Petty Crime: Theft and pickpocketing are unfortunately very common in Barcelona. Thieves particularly like to target tourist heavy areas, like Las Ramblas or the metro. I personally never carry all of my cash and credit cards on me at one time. I also keep my small purse in front of me when I walk, and it sits at a height where I can easily rest my hand over it if I’m nervous.
- Walking in Barcelona after dark: I try to avoid walking alone at night, but didn’t have much of a choice after grabbing drinks with my tapas tour pals. However, I kept to Barcelona’s main streets and areas that were buzzing with people. Barcelona is a city where people dine out very late into the evening, so the streets were lit and far from empty. While I did not feel unsafe, I still talked to my husband on the phone while walking back to my hotel.
- Drinking during solo travel in Barcelona: I do not recommend getting drunk as a solo traveler, as it simply increases the chances of getting lost, robbed, or something much worse. Therefore, keep the drinks to a minimum so that you keep your wits about you.
Should Solo Female Travelers Visit Barcelona?
Solo females should absolutely travel to Barcelona! This vibrant city is full of worthy sights and things to do, while also being generally safe to visit. With its pastel buildings and delicious cuisine, it’s no wonder Barcelona makes it onto so many bucket lists!
Between group tours, intriguing museums, and endlessly gorgeous surroundings to wander, there is plenty to keep a solo traveler occupied.
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If you are considering solo travel in Barcelona, you can be confident that this culturally rich city has plenty to offer. Still feel nervous to go alone? I get it, and all I can say is that time keeps going; there’s no telling whether anyone else in your life will ever be on board. In the meantime, Barcelona is waiting.
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