However, there is no denying that La Rambla is a popular landmark in Barcelona with a central location that makes it a useful street to get you from Plaça Catalunya to the Gothic Quarter. Plus, the old city center is a maze of baffling cobblestone streets where it’s almost guaranteed that you’ll get lost (at least once), and La Rambla helps many to get their bearings and stay on course.

As you can tell, I have mixed feelings about La Rambla. Here are a few honest, and hopefully useful, tips on how to survive along Barcelona’s swarming promenade.

Related: Cheapo Guide to the Gothic Quarter | Cheap hotels near Las Ramblas

1. Walking along La Rambla

Truth be told, there are prettier central squares in Spain and Europe than Plaça Catalunya, a humdrum hub with more pigeons than trees. Nevertheless, let the plaza be your starting point for a wander down La Rambla.

There are a couple of reasons to begin your route here, and not down by the water. From Plaça Catalunya, it’s all downhill walking, and once you’ve tromped to the end of the road, you can keep going along the port working up an appetite for tapas in La Barceloneta by the beach. Depending on how fast you walk (and you will not be able to stroll too quickly, as La Rambla is always choked with people), you should make it from Plaça Catalunya to the very end of La Rambla in about 40 minutes to an hour.

2. La Boqueria: Foodie destination

If you love food, La Boqueria, Barcelona’s legendary market on La Rambla, is worth a look. As a local, La Boqueria presents for me the same issues as La Rambla. It teems with tourists, and many of the traditional stalls have given up whatever they did in the past, and now focus their efforts in selling sliced fruit and souvenirs to visitors.

However, there are a few places where life goes on within La Boqueria as it always has. I know the market to be a good spot for an early (and I mean early, like 10 AM) breakfast at its bars and cafes. I also love the modest stands that are set up just beside the covered market, staffed by deeply-tan farmers with vegetables layered in fresh earth. There is something wholesome about dirty, right-from-the-ground veggies.

If time allows, see La Boqueria, but also drop by another Barcelona market to compare and get a more local feel for how people eat and shop in the city. For my money, Santa Caterina Market near the cathedral is an impressive option.

Related: Top 10 attractions in Barcelona

3. Impressive human statues

A friend once told me that he worked for a spell as a human statue on La Rambla. He said he made up to €200 a day dressed in white and silver, pretending to be a marble Roman statue. Some are cheesy, some are brilliant and all these unique ‘actors’ want tips. The human statues speak to what a tourist trap La Rambla is, but I can’t help but smile when I see them. Throw a euro in their hat, and snap a selfie with them for a cute Instagram post.

4. Watch out for pickpockets, swindlers and sex workers

While the human statues make me grin, there is plenty to make me furrow my brow, too. Some nine years back, upon arrival in Barcelona, my telephone was stolen on La Rambla. Pickpockets go where the tourists are, and this is the place in the city where you are most likely to get robbed. Because these guys are so good, you probably won’t even realize your wallet/passport/phone is missing until some time later.

Carry your wallet in your front pocket, keep your purse in front of you instead of to your back, and leave anything you don’t absolutely need back at the hotel in the safe. Follow these precautions, and you’ll be just fine. (More info on pickpockets in Barcelona and spotting scams here.

There are also numerous bands of ‘gamers’ who work a gambling scam along La Rambla. You’ll see a group of people trying to guess where the bean is, as a man rapidly works three cups back and forth. It looks easy enough to win at this game, but rest assured that you never will. Also, most of the people in the group are actually in on the scam. The rule of thumb is to avoid any and all gambling on La Rambla.

Related: 8 misconceptions about visiting Barcelona

Finally, after dark sex workers of all stripes appear on La Rambla. Everyone has a different opinion about how and if sex work should be legal, and that’s not the issue I have to share. Rather, my warning to late-night Rambla ramblers, especially the inebriated, is to watch your wallet and expect the unexpected. If two women approach you, one with her arm around your waist and the other with her hand down your pants (yes, down your pants!)…they are robbing you. You might be so surprised (in a good or bad way) that you miss the fact that they have just handed your wallet off to their buddy. Not all sex workers have this strategy, but I’ve seen it too many times not to mention it. Even my husband, while walking with me, was approached. Unfortunately, when he told them to get lost, the women turned aggressive. Hold your own and keep walking.

5. Finding an affordable and tasty place to eat and drink

With extremely few exceptions, La Rambla is not a good place to have a meal. Cut off La Rambla on the many side streets that stem from it and find a restaurant or bar down the cobblestone lanes. These will almost always be better than anything you find along the main strip. That giant goblet of sangria for €15? It’s not going to do much for you apart from give you a terrible sugar hangover the following morning. Also make sure to avoid the neon-yellow, frozen paella served by the boatload along La Rambla.

It can be trying to find a decent, and moderately priced, restaurant in the city center, but it’s not impossible. Biocenter is just a couple blocks off La Rambla and has healthy vegetarian food. If you’re tired of snacking on oily tapas, it’s a good choice for greens and freshly-squeezed juice. In fact, there are many darling cafes and bars in El Raval, more so even than the Gothic Quarter.

A walk down Carrer dels Tallers, which is near the top of La Rambla and Plaça Catalunya, will take you past a diverse assortment of bars and restaurants. For something a bit more high end, I like La Cucina, a locavore eatery inside Hotel DO. For what it’s worth, I also wrote a book about where to dine (inexpensively) like a local in Barcelona called Eat Guides, which offers up a few more tips on where to go in downtown, and indeed all over the city.

Conclusion

Despite my misgivings, I do think La Rambla is a key part of the Barcelona experience, as much so as La Sagrada Família or day at the beach. The street is a mixed-bag of grimy buildings, five-star hotels, two-star pensions, souvenir shops selling cheap plastic junk and a few old-school boutiques that have been there since the early 1900s. If you really want a real taste of Barcelona, hike it, see it, then steer clear of it as much as possible for the rest of your visit.

The post Is La Rambla a Tourist Trap? 5 tips for strolling like a local appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

However, the timing of the Catalan version of Valentine’s Day—Sant Jordi Festival—has always made a bit more sense to me. The holiday is held on the 23rd of April each year, when spring has officially sprung with love and pollen blowing in the air. What says “amor” more than beautiful Barcelona in full bloom!

Book stalls fill the streets in Barcelona on Sant Jordi’s Day. Photo: Regina W Bryan

Sant Jordi Festival

For Sant Jordi’s Day, either a book or a rose are given as gifts. Men, you’ll want to look for a few select red roses to give to the special women in your life. Women, you’ll need to browse the many book shops and book stands that set up on La Rambla and get a paperback for the important men in your life. These are the rules, and as someone who appreciates both flowers and reading, I like to break them!

Where to stay for an affordable romantic getaway

If you’re traveling through Barcelona in April with that special someone, look for rooms in these hotels that make the perfect escape for lovey-dovey couples.

The rustic lounge is a perfect spot to cozy up for the evening. Photo: Courtesy of the hotel

Cozy charm in the city – Hosteria Grau

Doubles from: $83 to $143

Privacy is key to romance, so avoid the backpacker hostels and instead go for double room at Hosteria Grau, one of the coziest hotels in the city center. The two-star rooms are cute and clean, and the staff is incredibly helpful. Furthermore, Grau is a couple blocks from La Rambla and Passeig de Gracia, where much of the Sant Jordi fun will take place.

The stylish and romantic rooms at Hostal Goya are a real bargain for Barcelona. Photo: Courtesy of the hotel

Designer decor – Hostal Goya

Doubles from: $97 to $152

Ambiance is important if you’re on a romantic escape. Avoid faded rooms with questionable artwork and amateur silk flower arrangements, and instead book at Hostal Goya, a chic option in L’Eixample. Goya’s interiors are some of the best we’ve seen in Barcelona budget hotels. You’ll be wowed by not only the modern tiled floors, the abundance of natural light and the elegant attitude—but also the very affordable price!

Wonderful city walks are just outside the door of Hotel Banys Orientals. Photo: Andrej Nicolas

Old city strolls – Hotel Banys Orientals

Doubles from: $138 to $145

What’s more romantic than wandering the old city with your lover, arm in arm? Not much. So make sure to book at Hotel Banys Orientals in El Born for lots of cobblestone charm. Picture yourself sipping Spanish wine in front of Santa Maria del Mar Church, and then window shopping at the many boutiques near Banys Orientals.

Bonus tip: Not only is love in the air, but spring, and the months of April and May, are some of the best months to visit Barcelona because the weather is gorgeous, and the city is a lot less crowded than summer. Enjoy!

The post Budget romantic hotels in Barcelona to celebrate Sant Jordi Day appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Here are four negative aspects of visiting or living in Barcelona, with their (sometimes quite simple) solutions.

1. CROWDS

The center of Barcelona is crowded, especially in high-season (summer). Sometimes it can be downright frustrating trying to walk down La Rambla if you’ve got somewhere to be due to all the people on it. Of course, the city’s beaches are also packed in the summer, as are big tourist attractions such as La Sagrada Familia. If you don’t like pushing through gaggles of tourists, you’ll want to spend as little time as possible in downtown.

Solution

First of all, don’t stay in the center. Stay in a local, residential area. Avoid booking in the Gothic Quarter or on La Rambla.

Secondly, come during low-season or shoulder-season. October is a good time to see the city as is April and May.

2. THEFT

You knew this one would be on the list, right? Barcelona does not have a problem with violent theft (knock on wood), but rather with petty theft. Think pickpockets and con artists.

Solution

Several safety tips to keep in mind:

• Make a copy of your passport and carry that with you, leaving the original in the hotel safe or with the front desk.

• Don’t walk around with your camera around your neck.

• Men, keep your billfolds in the front of your jeans.

• Women, get purses with zippers and flaps.

• Don’t leave your bags on the back of a chair at a cafe, instead, always keep anything of value in your lap or beside you.

Spanish Rice in Barcelona

3. PRICES

Visitors don’t know the average price of things in Barcelona and therefore are  likely to pay more than a local. This causes businesses in touristy zones to jack up the price considerably and in many cases sell a mediocre product at an outrageous rate. That’s the world we’re living in people!

Solution

Stay away from tourist areas when you’re looking for a restaurant for dinner or shopping. Look at the menu. Is it translated into 10 languages? Then it’s probably catering to tourists. Best to find the place with the menu in Spanish or Catalan.

Look at the people who are eating in the cafe or restaurant. Do they look like they just got off the cruise boat or do they look like locals?

As a rule, don’t eat on La Rambla or on Plaça Catalunya. (Read more cheap eating tips.)

4. GRIME

Not everyone will agree with me, but I do find Barcelona—especially certain areas—grimy. There are a few reasons for this. Firstly, it doesn’t rain much here so the filth is not often washed away. The city does have street cleaners who spray down the metropolis’ many soiled lanes, but their job is an endless and thankless one.

Also, there are a lot of dogs in Barcelona and some of these dogs have irresponsible owners. Ogling some fancy architecture in the Eixample may end with your foot in a pile of puppy mierda. I speak from ample experience.

Or maybe go down to the beach and count how many people pick up their cigarette butts after smoking away an afternoon by the sea…. to say nothing of all the folks (men, usually) who choose to urinate on dumpsters and in doorways (yes! ewwwwwwe) instead of in a nearby bar’s WC.

Wear your shoes in La Barceloneta, Barcelona

Solution

When I lived in La Barceloneta I saw visitors going shoeless and shirtless all the time when walking around the ‘hood. It was all I could do to not run over to them and shake them saying, “For the love of the sun man, put ON your shoes!” I restrained myself, and they probably now have foot fungus or who knows what. Don’t go barefoot unless you’re on the beach. Really.

As far as the dog mierda, well, it’s best to keep one eye on the road at all times, especially if you’re wearing sandals. By and large, you don’t want to sit on curbs and doorsteps. You won’t see locals doing this. You also don’t want to recline against a wall. This is where creatures, both dog and human, pee. Instead, find a bench or a shady cafe.

The post Four Negative Aspects of Barcelona and Their Solutions appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

This lifestyle can be taken to extreme levels, like dumpster diving and eating expired foods. Don’t worry, though, this blog post is not about finding day-old bagels in Barcelona.

Instead, I am focusing here on free things to do and see in Barcelona this summer. Freegans rejoice, you’ll spend nothing more than the bus fare to partake in the following.

Barcelona’s beaches are beautiful, interesting and totally free! Photo: Regina W Bryan

Go to the beach

Oh yes! Barcelona has many a beach, and from May to October you can tan your toes on them gratis.

Now, this is not to say that there will not be many temptations at the beach which a weaker freegan might fall for. You’ll be offered “cerveza, beer,” massage (don’t do it), cookies, bags of chips, sun chairs, sun umbrellas and cold cocktails in beach bars.

Just bring your own water and lunch and tell the hawkers a polite, “no gracias.”

Ready to jump in? Read my other posts on where to hit the beach in Barcelona, beaches worth a quick trip outside Barcelona, and the city’s best beach-side bars.

Play “spot the pickpocket” on La Rambla

This is a fun game I like to play with my husband. He, being a local, is better at it than I am, but over the years I’ve been able to recognize groups of thieves without much effort. Jokes aside (it’s not really a joke, watch your belongings here), La Rambla and most of the center offer excellent people watching. Sit on a bench and observe the circus going on around you. You can find hours of entertainment.

Have a picnic in Park Ciutadella

This is Barcelona’s Central Park, and while it is not nearly as big as New York’s version, it certainly has its own charm.

Wander around and admire the flower beds, jugglers, fountains and pond. Although there are many tourists in Park Ciutadella, it is also popular with locals. Find a shady spot under a palm tree and have your lunch. Note that this is also where you’ll find Barcelona’s zoo, which is overpriced and small.

Spend the day on Montjuïc, Barcelona’s nearest mountain

There are several pleasant parks on Montjuïc, and you can spend quite a bit of time getting lost in them.  The one called Jardins de Mossèn Costa i Llobera is especially nice. Like Park Ciutadella, the area near the Montjuïc Castle is a sweet spot for a picnic.

Celebrate Sant Joan

Basically a summer solstice party, Sant Joan takes place on the night of the June 23, and the following day is a holiday. Bonfires line the shores of Barcelona and revelers get wild setting off fireworks. Find a party and join in the fun.

Need a place to stay?

We have tons of great hotels to recommend in Barcelona, and while they might not be free, they’re definitely Cheapo. Check out our complete list of recommended hotels in Barcelona.

The post Free summer activities in Barcelona appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Here’s my list of five attractions I’d steer clear of in Barcelona. Be strong!

1. La Rambla

You probably should stroll down La Rambla at least once if it’s your first time to the city. Once is enough. La Rambla is a thorn in many a local’s side, and all the junky souvenir shops selling Mexican hats and exorbitant restaurants serving hangover-producing “sangria” make me cringe, to say nothing of all the ladies working it once the sun goes down. (Fellas, they will steal your wallet while feeling you up, you have been warned.)

Stroll it and then avoid it, and by no means stop to play any of the games that are offered by clever con artists on the famous strip.

2. Flamenco and Dinner

We’re not in Andalusia, which means were not in flamenco country. Skip most of the shows you read about on flyers or posters. There are a couple places to see flamenco in Barcelona, and one of them is Jazz Si in El Raval.

Avoid any “flamenco” shows in the center. A great flamenco festival is in Barcelona now through March called De Cajón, and I would recommend any of the shows that are on that ticket. Note that none of them come with dinner.

3. Sangria

I don’t know if sangria qualifies a tourist trap per se, but it isn’t anything a local would drink. I’ve never ordered sangria here, apart from the first week I arrived six years ago. That once was enough to know that there is no good reason to drink very cheap wine with even cheaper hard alcohol mixed into it.

However, “cava sangria” is popular in Barcelona and I would recommend trying a glass or a pitcher of it. Unlike traditional sangria, cava sangria is made with white cava or rose cava (sparkling wine), and usually has less fruit in it.

4. Restaurants with lots of pictures of the food posted outside

As a rule I avoid these places with, often times, hideous food photos. If the menu is in 20 languages, I also tend to go somewhere else. Why? Because they are probably catering to a tourist crowd, which means the prices will be a lot higher. Go for the place with the menu in Catalan and Spanish and use your dictionary while saving money.

5. The single transit ticket

This year the price of a single ticket on the metro or bus jumped to €2 from about €1.40. Is this aimed at tourists? I can’t say, but it sure has upset locals. Most of us who take public transport buy a “T10” or “50/30,” which are not as expensive. Get a T10 and avoid paying single tickets. If you’re going to be here for a month, then get the 50/30 which gives you 50 rides in 30 days.

Bonus Tips:

I also want to add on a couple of touristy things that look like traps but that I think are pretty good deals.

The Bus Turístic is one of these. It’s a super way to get your bearings and recover from jet lag.

Bike taxis also seem like tourist traps, but I think they are a nice addition to Barcelona’s transportation options. I have never taken a bike taxi, but believe a ride in one would be an ideal way to see the seashore.

Open your trap!

Wondering about other traps in Barcelona? Just ask in our comments section! Have you given in to any of the traps mentioned here? Tell us about your experience!

Also in our guide: Heading to Barcelona soon? Check out EuroCheapo’s reviews of the city’s best and most affordable hotels, all visited, inspected and reviewed by EuroCheapo’s editors. We assure you, none of our recommended hotels is a tourist trap! Read more in our Barcelona hotel guide.

The post 5 tourist traps to avoid in Barcelona appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

As the summer approaches the city streets will swell a bit more each month with visitors, tourists, cruise-ship goers and backpackers. This means longer lines at the MACBA and CasaBatllo, cramped buses and hordes of people wandering along La Rambla. Sound like fun?

I do not like crowds, and like them less with each passing year. Maybe I am aging, or maybe I’ve just been elbowed one too many times on the Metro. Either way, I avoid the throngs of tourists in Barcelona whenever possible.

If you too, prefer the road less traveled, take heed and consider these expert tips:

1. Avoid La Rambla

I know, I know, La Rambla is very famous and very central, making it a very easy way to get around the Gothic Quarter. It’s also filled with interesting people doing tricks, selling ice cream and painting portraits. So fascinating, but so filled with people 24/7.

Check out La Rambla quickly and then avoid it the rest of your stay. Take the side-streets, which is what the locals do. This way you will see more “residential” Barcelona and lessen your chances of getting pick-pocketed on La Rambla! It’s a win-win!

2. Come in August

What? But isn’t that when everyone else in Europe is on vacation and therefore on holiday in Barcelona? Yes. But this is also when all Catalans go on vacation and many businesses close for the month.

There are a lot less people in Barcelona in August, and those who are here are either visiting, too broke to travel, or somehow got stuck working while the rest of the city took the month off. Actually, I like Barcelona in August because it is so much quieter.

3. Hit the big sights early

I am not an early riser and fully understand the merits of sleeping in while on vacation. However, if you do not want to stand in line under the blazing Spanish sun to see La Sagrada Familia, then be one of the first in line when it opens.

Another good time to visit popular sights is at lunch, from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., but check ahead to make sure they will not be closed.

4. Get a map… a really GOOD map

With a detailed map of Barcelona you will be able to navigate the side-streets and alleyways of the Gothic Quarter, Raval, Barceloneta and Eixample with no problem. Wander off the beaten path.

If you are on a street that has lots of signs for “Real Spanish Sangria $25.00!!!” then you are in a touristy place, you could even be on Carrer Ferran. Just take a right! Or a left and walk on to avoid the crowds. You’ll see some fabulous, tranquil streets this way and go around the masses.

5. Stay in El Eixample

I recently updated EuroCheapo’s Barcelona hotel reviews. Touring Barcelona’s many hotels and hostels I was reminded that La Rambla is by far the worst place to stay when it comes to crowds and El Eixample (either side) is the best place to avoid crowds. Stay in a B&B like Fashion House and experience Barcelona like a local.

6. Avoid the beaches at La Barceloneta

I love La Barceloneta, the city’s closest beach, but this is not where to go for swimming and sunbathing unless you like listening to other people’s conversations, music, arguments, children crying… etc.

Go much further down the Barcelona shoreline to Marbella or other beaches found around the Bogatell stops (requires some walking). You could also rent a bike and take off from La Barceloneta down the boardwalk along the seaside. After a good 15 minutes of riding you will note that the crowds on the beaches thin out quite a bit.

Always remember to watch your belongings on the beach. (Read my previous post about Barcelona’s best beaches.)

Your advice?

Have any advice to add about avoiding crowds in Barcelona? Please share your thoughts in our comments section.

The post Barcelona: 6 ways to avoid crowds during high season appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

The Sant Agusti is one of our favorite hotels in Barcelona, and it just happens to be the oldest hotel in the city, too. Built in 1880, the hotel is named after the nearby church of Sant Agusti and was a working convent in the 1700s. Many of the rooms still feature original wood beams and stone walls.

We especially adore the attic suites at Sant Agusti (eight in all), replete with their cutesy little tables and chairs and fun views of the square below. Rooms are decorated with modern furniture. The breakfast room, where an old cast iron stove takes center stage, is large and airy.

The only thing we found lacking about Agusti was its location. While it’s near La Rambla and close to pretty much all the sights, its neighboring streets are a frequent stopping point for the area’s homeless and tend to be more unkempt than other areas of Barcelona.

Other than that, Sant Agusti is a unique, family-run hotel with tons of charm!

Read our full review.

The post Barcelona Crush: Hotel Sant Agusti appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.