Articles by locals
All articles written by local residents, who have lived in Barcelona for years.
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Getting AroundBarcelona Travel Cards
You have a few options when it comes to using public transport in Barcelona –– and even better, the tickets available represent great value compared to other major European cities. In this article, we will break down the different options, including cost, which you can use to get to the airport, and more.
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GuidesUltimate Guide to the Costa Brava
The Costa Brava is one of the most beautiful coastal places to visit in Catalonia and a lot of it remains un-visited by many people visiting Spain! Here's the must see spots to check out on your visit to the Costa Brava this summer.
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GuidesThe Ultimate Guide to Opening a Bank Account in Barcelona for Newcomers – Best Options & Common Pitfalls (Update 2025) Updated
Moving to Barcelona, like many other cities in Spain, often means navigating a complex web of bureaucracy. One of the first challenges newcomers face is opening a bank account—something that may seem straightforward at first but can quickly become complicated. This guide is designed to help you avoid common pitfalls, make informed decisions, and choose the best banking option for your specific situation.
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Going OutLlum BCN 2025
The Barcelona Llum Festival (locally known as Llum BCN) is an internationally recognised light arts festival held each year in one of Barcelona's most acclaimed neighbourhoods, Poblenou. It is usually a 3-day festival in February over a Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
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GuidesA Local's Guide to Montjuïc Updated
Perched above the bustling streets, this hill is more than just a patch of greenery—it’s a cultural hotspot packed with museums, gardens, and a fortress that’s brimming with stories of old Barcelona. Whether you are looking for some of the best places to hike in the city, visit some of the Olympic sites, or to catch an event at Palau St Jordi - it really has a lot of variety. My suggestion would be to pack a blanket (to sit on) and some food and drink and go and explore/get lost - as there is a lot to see.
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Going OutThe Best Places to Watch the NFL and Super Bowl in Barcelona
American football may not be the biggest sport in Spain, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find great places in Barcelona to catch the action, whether it’s regular NFL games or the Super Bowl. While most locals might think of "football" as "soccer," there’s a thriving expat community and a handful of bars ready to cater to NFL fans. If you’re looking for a spot to enjoy the games with good food, cold drinks, and a lively atmosphere, we’ve got you covered.
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GuidesSmooth Sailing in Barcelona: 5 Must-Know Tips for Newcomers
So, having been here for almost 10 years now I wanted to share 5 things I wish I had known when I moved to the city.
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GuidesThe Ultimate Guide to Barcelonas Beaches Updated
Did you know, Barcelona’s "beaches" did not exist before the Olympics in 1992? It used to be said that the city turned its back on the sea, as the lower class neighbourhoods used to be next to the water, whilst the more affluent barrios (Spanish for neighbourhoods) were at the top-side of the city. Regardless, the beaches of Barcelona are now an iconic part of the city and make it one of the few places in the world where you can go skiing in the morning and to the beach in the afternoon (if you are lucky with the snow).
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GuidesYour ultimate guide to Primavera Sound 2025 Updated
Welcome to your comprehensive guide to Primavera Sound 2025 in Barcelona! This post provides all the essential information to ensure you have an unforgettable experience at this iconic music festival.
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GuidesRecycling in Barcelona Updated
Recycling in Barcelona is quite easy and there’s lots of recycling points. The ajuntament (city council) publish guidelines on their website about how to recycle, but here’s our useful tips that will hopefully help you to understand how recycling works in Barcelona.
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GuidesWhere to watch the football in Barcelona
Finding a place to watching the match in Barcelona can be tricky, especially if you're on holiday and don't know where to go. Fortunately, our local residents have done their homework and have come up with this ultimate guide to watching the football in Barcelona!
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Going OutPrimavera Sound Festival Updated
Welcome to the ultimate guide for the Primavera Sound music festival in Barcelona! This blog post is your all-in-one resource, packed with up-to-date information to help you make the most out of this vibrant event.
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GuidesA Guide to Montjuïc and the Castle
It's obligatory to visit Montjuïc when you visit Barcelona and you should discover all that it has to offer, from historical art museums to verdant gardens and of course, the Montjuïc Castle, standing at the top of the Montjuïc hill. Be sure to pay a visit when you come to Barcelona.
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GuidesSkiing in Andorra from Barcelona
Information about skiing in Andorra is under-documented and mostly fragmented across multiple websites, intertwined with the marketing and e-commerce for ski resorts.
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Going OutSitges Carnival 2024: A Festive Escape Near Barcelona
It's February and Barcelona is starting to wake up after a short winter break. Winters are getting milder and more pleasant, and with that, many parts of Spain are already in carnival fever. In addition to the Tenerife and Balearic carnivals, the carnival in Sitges, a small idyllic coastal town near Barcelona, is one of the more famous. As well as being the organiser of one of the most visited carnival destinations in Spain, Sitges is often described as the gay capital of Europe and is also well known for its film festival.
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GuidesDon't do these things in Barcelona
Tourists come to Barcelona and like to experience what it has to offer, but are they really sampling the Catalonian culture, cuisine, or the things that make Barcelona famous?
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GuidesAmazing places to meet a new client in Barcelona Updated
From classy business lunches to high-end establishments, you can't go wrong with this list of places to schmooze a client or impress at a company meeting.
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Going OutUnmasking Barcelona: An Expedition Beyond the Tourist Map
As an iconic global city, Barcelona brims with world-renowned sights like La Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, and Casa Batlló. However, the true essence of the Catalan capital reveals itself not in its postcard-perfect monuments, but in its local secrets.
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GuidesA Guide to Mount Tibidabo
A mountain complete with its own amusement park, towering over Barcelona. Mount Tibidabo offers incredible breathtaking views over Barcelona with its lofty viewpoints and a curiously placed theme park for children at the top.
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GastroPlaces to eat calçots in Barcelona 2024
A “Calçotada” is a Catalan tradition, where people get together and eat “calçots”. If you live in Catalunya and you've not heard of a calçot then it's possible that you have not yet completed your 'Catalan onboarding'.
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Going OutAll The Irish Bars in Barcelona 🍺 Updated
Have you ever wondered where the best Irish pub is in Barcelona? Checkout our comprehensive battle-tested guide to the Barcelona Irish bars!
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GastroBest Coffees in Poblenou and the @22 District Updated
Barcelona has hundreds of coffee shops and places to drink coffee. But if you’re looking for the absolute best, we highly recommend you to check out the El Poblenou neighbourhood, where you will find some of the best coffee in Barcelona!
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Getting AroundBicing Tips & Tricks
Bicing is a city-wide bike sharing system in Barcelona. It is intended to be used by residents of Barcelona and not aimed at tourists. Wherever you are in Barcelona, there will generally be a Bicing bike station closeby, within a few minutes' walk. In the central neighbourhoods there are bike stations on almost every other street corner.
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GuidesMercat de la Boqueria
A mini guide to visiting the Boqueria Market - Barcelona’s most iconic and vibrant tourist market found on Las Ramblas in the heart of Barcelona.
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Going OutPlaça Reial
A popular square for eating, drinking, and dancing, found just off Las Ramblas. Dropping in to Plaça Reial is a must - day or night.
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GastroTapas on Carrer de Blai
Bar-hopping along 500 metres of tapas heaven - Renowned as Barcelona's ‘Tapas Street’, Carrer de Blai serves up bar upon bar offering every conceivable variety of Spain’s iconic delicacy.
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GuidesThe Bunkers of El Carmel
Secluded spot for unrivalled panoramas - built to defend Barcelona from aerial bombardment during the Spanish Civil War, these restored hilltop ruins today serve as a much-loved mirador with spectacular 360° views of the city.
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GuidesPalau Nacional - The Barcelona National Palace
Magnificent Renaissance-style palace near to Plaça d'Espanya in Barcelona. Built as the jewel in the crown of the Universal Exposition of 1929, the enormous Palau Nacional was completed in just three years and now houses the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya.
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Going OutBest Viewpoints in Barcelona
Barcelona is full of amazing views and almost all of them are free. Let us take you on a tour of Barcelona and show you the best jaw-dropping views it has to offer!
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GastroBest Hipster Brunches in Poblenou
Poblenou is home to some of the best hipster brunch and lunch places in Barcelona. Here’s our ultimate list where you are sure to find a tasty brunch in Poblenou.
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GuidesExchanging your UK driving licence for a Spanish one Updated
This guide is intended for people who have a UK driving licence and would like to exchange it for a Spanish one in accordance with the new UK-Spain governmental agreements dated 16th March 2023.
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GuidesBarcelona Unveiled: A Local's Guide to the City's Hidden Treasures
Unmasking Barcelona: An Expedition Beyond the Tourist Map.