We’ve also compiled a list of the best books on Barcelona, so Cheapos can pick something up to read on the train or in your hotel room to get a deeper understanding of one of Europe’s greatest cities.

Altaïr
Gran Via Corts Catalanes, 616

This is THE spot for travel guides, travel novels, travel gear and meeting fellow travelers in Barcelona. Like all the shops on this list, most of the books here are in Catalan or Spanish, but you’ll also find some English goodies. Altaïr’s bulletin board allows travelers to meet other folks who are globe-trotting solo and want company.  I always marvel at their listings, and I have a friend who has gone on several exotic voyages after meeting people through the Altaïr board. You never know!

Laie
Pau Claris 85

There are quite a few branches of this bookshop around the city. A favorite of mine is on Pau Claris under Cafe Laie. Here’s how you visit: browse the bookshop, purchase a title that catches your eye and read it upstairs over a cup of coffee.

FNAC

Pl. Catalunya 4

A biggie and definitely not indie, but it’s still worth mentioning because of their enormous selection of English titles and frequent special events. You want a best seller for the beach? You’ll find it here. Also, FNAC is easy to locate. It’s right on Plaza Catalunya in the center of town. Apart from books they’ve got music, technology, a cafe and a convenient concert ticket sales counter. Plus, check their calendar, because they often put on art exhibits, offer free concerts, and invite authors to read at the store.

Garb a book off the shelf and then head upstairs to the cafe at La Central. Photo: Garret Ziegler

La Central
Elisabets, 6

An exceptional choice for books on art and hipster guides to the city is La Central. With several stores in Barcelona and Madrid, count on spending at least a few hours flipping through their offerings. I recommend the shop in El Raval.

Recommended Barcelona Reads

Now that you know where to get your guides, novels, and non-fiction, it’s time to grab a book off the shelf and read up on Barcelona. Here are a few titles I recommend in a more or less chronological order. Leaf through these publications listed below before or during your trip to Barcelona to get a deeper look into the city.

Start with: “Cathedral of the Sea” by Ildefonso Falcones for some page-turner historical fiction.

Then try: “Shadow of the Wind” by Carlos Ruiz Zafónto to get an idea of what the Gothic Quarter and Tibidabo were like. Again, this is high-drama fiction and a best seller.

Next up: “As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning” which is a beautifully written biography by Laurie Lee.

Finally some classics: Hemingway’s “Fiesta: The Sun Also Rises”, Orwell’s “Homage to Catalonia”, a must-read, and Richard Wright’s “Pagan Spain” for another view.

The post Barcelona’s best bookshops, and a reading list for travelers appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

I’ve lived all over Barcelona, from the upper Eixample by the Sagrada Familia, to the ancient heart of the city in the Barri Gotic (Gothic Quarter). I now live near the sea, which suits me best.

Which barri is right for your trip or move to Barcelona? That depends on what you’re after in your Barcelona experience… and your budget. Here are some questions to ask yourself when choosing a neighborhood:

Colorful El Raval. Photo: Liliane Callegari

1. Are you after hip, multicultural, central, cool, and inexpensive?

Then your barri is El Raval! Right in the center of the city off Pl. Catalunya, this barri is one of the up-and-coming zones of the city. Some of Barcelona’s trendiest bars and restaurants are found in El Raval, as are the contemporary art museums, the CCCB and MACBA. This is where skaters zip around and students share beers on ample squares. This is also where to come to get a late-night kebab.

Yes, there is crime and prostitution and drug use in El Raval, which may be why the prices are lower for apartments and hotels in this barri. If you’re a chica, consider a Raval spot on a well-lit street in the outer Raval, rather than deep within it.

Perks: Ridiculously cool barri with a lot going on.
Drawbacks: Crime, drugs, etc. Not much in the way of green spaces.

2. Are you after a large apartment with an elevator in a somewhat posh area of the city with lots of cutting-edge restaurants and bars, plus easy public transportation?

Then your barri is “Gay” Eixample! It’s called “Gay” because a lot of gay folks live in this area and hence, there are many gay-friendly clubs, bars and establishments. This Eixmple is much cooler than the other Eixample (there are two), and has a lot more going on.

For those moving to town, apartments in this zone are usually spacious with multiple rooms. Also, they tend to have elevators, unlike many buildings in the Barri Gotic and La Ribera/Born.

Perks: Very central, with excellent bars, stores, movie theaters. Newer buildings.
Drawbacks: Noise. Lots of traffic crosses the Eixample. Pollution.

3. Are you after cobblestone streets, buildings with “character,” bohemian bars and history?

Then your barri is La Ribera/Born or Barri Gotic! Two of my preferred areas of the city because of their charm ratio, they’ve got a lot of it! Living in “old” Barcelona is awesome because of the history that surrounds you. It’s like living in the book Shadow of the Wind. Many of the La Ribera/Born or Barri Gotic streets are quiet and lit up at night by enormous and ornate iron lamps.

Fun bars and innovative restaurants mingle with truly bohemian cafes in this barri, where there’s something for everyone. If you’re moving to Barcelona, many of the apartments in La Ribera/Born or Barri Gotic are large, but they may not have heating/elevators/fixtures from this century.

Perks: Central and exceedingly charming. Fun bars and nightlife. Quiet at night (for the most part).
Drawbacks: Too touristy, lack of supermarkets, petty theft.

4. Are you after an artsy-fartsy barri with a “local”/family vibe to it and over 15 plaças to lounge in?

Then your barri is Gracia! Sure, it’s not that central, but most who live in this fabulous area will tell you that they could care less. Nice apartments on skinny streets lined with super cool bars, boutiques and natural food stores keep Gracia people happy.

Once a village called, uh, Gracia, this area still maintains its small town feel, even though it is very much now part of Barcelona. From Gracia it’s only four Metro stops to get to Pl. Catalunya.

Perks: A barri for the people with markets, shops, cafes, bakeries, etc. Family-friendly.
Drawbacks: Small streets, a bit removed from the center, hard to park (if you have a car).

Additional tips:

I also really dig the barris Poble Sec (central, near nature), Poble Nou (near beach) and Sarria (out of the center). Bonanova and Tres Torres and anything on Diagonal are super posh areas with high rent and nice apartments.

Stay clear of distant barris such as Horta, La Pau and Besos. Vila Olimpica is nice for the beach, but doesn’t have much “community.” Living outside Barcelona in a small village is also an option, but unless you have a car you’ll sepend a lot of time on the train.

The post Barcelona: Which neighborhood is right for you? appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Harlem Jazz Club

Despite the name, this club offers more than jazz.  Six days a week, Tuesday to Sunday (closed Mondays), Harlem offers a diverse line-up. Going to Harlem is a local tradition, where you may not know what will be on that night (Read: They used to post the schedule on-line, but no longer do this.), but you can be sure the vibe will be fun and different. Case in point? The last time I went there a Flamenco-Brazilian band was playing a jam set of groovy fusion. Expect to spend €8 for entry and a drink.

Address: C/ Comtessa De Sobradiel, 8
08002 Barcelona
Tel: 933 100 755

Jazz Si

Located in the Raval, this place fills up fast. Concerts start promptly at 9 PM and because they are inexpensive (€7 a pop), they usually sell out. Your best bet is to arrive a half hour early and wait in line to be assured a spot. Check out the line-up via their Web site. Recent concerts featured flamenco, salsa, and pop.

Address: Requesens, 2

Monasterio

This small, but hoppin’ club offers live music every night of the week, plus jam sessions a few times a week. That’s right, Cheapos. During a jam session, even you can play for the house! Tucked away in Barceloneta, most concerts at Monestario cost about €6 though jam sessions are free of charge. Like Harlem, this is a great place to drop into when you feel like taking in some music and maybe getting a surprise or two. A jam session occurs every Sunday night. For more info, visit Monestario’s Web site.

Free concerts in the park

This summer there are free concerts every Friday in Ciutadella Park (city center). It should be said that sometimes these shows are fantastic and at other times they are a yawn. However, it’s really nice to be out in the park, under the stars, listening to the nearby frogs and smelling the aroma of sweet blooming night flowers. Bring a picnic and a couple candles and set up in the grass near the stage. These concerts start at 10 PM and run for about an hour. For a schedule and more, go here.

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