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The second largest city (in both land area and population) in the Kingdom of Spain, Barcelona has now turned into a major tourist destination. The active city is sophisticated, stylish, and cool. It’s the capital city of the region of Catalonia, and it has the second largest airport (Barcelona International Airport) in Spain. Barcelona is a favorite destination for student travelers and it’s considered a global city due to its cultural and economic influence, as well as it’s sports and music. When traveling to Barcelona, most people tend to think the spring and the early summer is the best time to go, but the city always has something to offer, and is a popular destination throughout the year. That being said, mid-summer (July and August) can get very hot and very crowded, and if you’re not crazy about rainy weather, you may want to avoid October. Students describe Barcelona as fun, trendy and vibrant – when are you going?

Barcelona Pictures

Things to do in Barcelona

Barcelona offers a wide range of activities for student travelers, like going to historic, urban, thematic or forest parks, hitting any of the city’s seven beaches, or visiting the different museums that display famous collections of Romanesque, Catalan, and Spanish art. For sports enthusiasts, watching a major Spanish football (soccer) game would also be excellent, as Barcelona is known to have one of the best football teams in the world. If you’re a golfer you definitely want to do a bit of research before you head there, as the courses are amazing. When you’re in the city there are plenty of places to go swimming, running, cycling or to play tennis.

Nightlife in Barcelona

Foreigners, students, and tourists usually fill up the various bars and clubs in Barcelona. At these places, the music ranges from jazz to techno and electronica. People in Barcelona like to party, and there are a lot of festivals and events going on throughout the year–a little bit of online research before you go can give you the scoop on the party scene during your trip. For student travelers who want to spend their nights in an easy and inexpensive way, the tascas (taverns) are a good option, where you can settle in for a bottle of wine or beer. There are also coffee shops that offer alcoholic drinks, and they’re usually open until 1 A.M.

Dining in Barcelona

The culinary reputation of Barcelona, and of the whole region of Catalonia, is very strong. With that in mind, some of the restaurants might not necessarily be in the price range you have in mind, especially as a traveling student. But there are certainly affordable options. In wine bars you can order simple, classic Barcelona food (typically with olive oil, garlic, and tomato) that is reasonably priced. There is also an abundance of seafood because of the city’s proximity to the Mediterranean. You’ll have delicious meals in Barcelona, and you’ll meet people that take great pride in their food.

Shopping in Barcelona

Barcelona is known for being a fashion-conscious city. There’s an endless display of anything stylish in individual stores, large department stores, and shopping centers. You can try shopping at El Corte Inglés, which is the biggest chain of department stores in Barcelona, or at Maremagnum, the biggest mall in the city. But if you have a limited budget for shopping, there are also a good number of stores that sell inexpensive but fashionable clothes. One key to remember when shopping: most of the stores in Barcelona close midday (from 2 P.M. to 4 P.M.) for lunch, so make sure you schedule your shopping excursions accordingly.

Barcelona travel tips

• Research online and make sure you get your cheap student flight and hotel.
• Pick pocketing is unfortunately a problem in a lot of cities in Spain, so keep an eye and don’t leave your handbags and wallets anywhere.
• The two official languages of Barcelona are Catalan and Spanish, yet in most tourist areas, many can understand English and some understand French or even German.