Tips for a cheap solo Barcelona trip in March?!

[petedicks]

That, really! Found some decent flights. Never been before. Hotels look more expensive than I was expecting.

Any tips on where to stay in particular appreciated. Any sights I can't miss. Particularly interested in art and architecture and culture. Good food too but will be eating alone and hopefully cheaply! Happy walking lots.

Was just thinking 3 days maybe. Thanks!

Ooh lovely! I went last summer (waaayy too hot) and ended up solo as friends due to meet me there got delayed. I'd been before so didn't want to do the same tourist things as previously. I just decided to experience the city! I had a beautiful lunch right outside the cathedral, there's lots of lovely places. Mooched around the shops. Visited some Roman ruins and the Moco art museum. There's an app which shows all the guided tours you can do, there's loads. I ended up walking loads one evening, stopping off for a wine when I felt like it, and then watching a flamenco show with tapas included for dinner. The second night I watched a music and art installation in the Cube. I did end up meeting my friends later, so we had dinner and drinks then took an uber to my hotel. The uber was very cheap, and I always felt very safe wandering on my own even at night.

We enjoyed the Picasso museum even though it is quite small. Mainly though I would be sure not to skip the Segrada Familia. It is just staggering. We saw it first about 30 years ago when it was still mainly a building site and to see it with the roof on and the most beautiful stained glass is incredibly moving - even for an avowed atheist!

@petedicks There's a Travelodge in Barcelona, dependent on your dates not sure on prices

We stayed a little way outside the centre which was much, much cheaper and then just used the public transport to whizz around.

A colleague recommended the hotel as they'd stayed there in the past for a trade show - Ikonik Lex Barcelona. It's a very standard sort of hotel, in the area where the courts are so quite quiet really. There's a huge shopping centre nearby with lots of restaurants and shops/supermarkets. We really liked the area and would stay there again. And it was SO much cheaper than the city centre!

Sagrada familiar, barcelona cathedral and the other big church that I can't remember the name off. You can pay about 5 euros to go on the roof of one of them, it is an amazing view (but a lot of steps!). Also do the cable car over the port, I am scared of heights but ended up doing it twice, it was fab.

I went to Barcelona in November (luckily had very good weather) but not on my own. Public transport is very good and quite reasonable, so you don’t need to worry about getting a taxis. For example, the bus from the airport to the centre of Barcelona was around £6. The buses ran frequently were very punctual and clean.

The city is busy. If you want to visit and go inside the Sagrada Familia, Casa Batlló, Park Güell, etc. you need to book around two weeks in advance (or they will be fully booked) and they are not cheap. Book these attractions direct (as they can sometimes be more expensive using tripadvisor, etc.). The Gothic Quarter of Barcelona is lovely (and we did an evening tour - Ghosts and Legends) but we were warned about pick pockets.

There is lots of information about Barcelona on the web. We did a free self guided walking tour which was very informative and clear.

We bought food in supermarkets for breakfast and lunch, only eating out in restaurants in the evening. We used the web to give us information about good restaurants near where we were staying.

There are plenty of things to see and do, we were there a week and we didn’t see everything. I am sure you will have a lovely time.

Second vote for the underground Roman ruins. You can go up Montjuic hill in a little gondola lift with great views when you get to the top. Sagrada Familia, Parc Güell, Casa Batlo.
I have to say I don't love Barcelona as much as I did 25 years ago, but definitely worth a visit if you've never been.

I am also a fan of hop on hop off buses wherever I go.

Before you buy the cheap flights, look up BA holidays. I found super cheap flights but accommodation was so expensive, it was cheaper to get a flight and hotel package with BA - cost about £250 for a weekend, staying in a very nice, very central hotel. Walking distance to the beach and the old town in one direction and Sagrada Familia in the other direction, near a gorgeous park where groups of people danced around the fountains and wild parrots flitted about, with lovely free and open giant greenhouses to rest in if it was too hot (or rainy - if that happens)

I heard a lot of bad reports but was desperate to see Casa Battlo and Sagrada Familia. But the city was so friendly. The Gaudi buildings were incredible. The food was great and very good value. Every bar or restaurant we went to had a great atmosphere. There was beautiful music and dancing in the street. It felt very calm, not at all the pickpockets' haven everyone warned about. We were there late Spring last year.

We actually went against advice and stayed very centrally at Hotel Quatre Naciones, which was cheap but absolutely fine. Right in the tourist centre, good to find walking tours which I'd recommend.
Also for walking down to the harbour for a different vibe.

Totally agree and a great word to use. I have never seen Anything like it in my life.

There is a lovely market if you have the water behind you looking up Las Ramblas on the left hand side. Best tacos of my life. Cheap and cheerful but ridiculous delicious. Eating by the water is expensive so don’t do it.

We stayed here https://www.discoverasr.com/en/citadines/spain/citadines-ramblas-barcelona?utmsource=google&utmmmedium=maps&utmcampaign=hq-google-maps-alwayson-20240531-all-all-eu-es-citadinesramblasbarcelona-yext-gbp
Very central location and we got a good rate when we went.
It is on Las Rambas so bring earplugs and keep your possessions close.

I was only there before a cruise but the hop on hop off bus hit all the main sights and had good commentary.

Wow lots of helpful stuff - thank you so much

Thank you for all of your tips. I used British airways holidays as suggested and have booked good flights and a hotel in the gothic quarter just off Las Ramblas. £470 for three nights incl flights - annoyingly it was £400 yesterday!

I've already booked a tour of Sagrada Familia. Thinking about booking Casa Battlo. They have some evening thing on until end of February - lighting, projections and a special audio thing.

Wondering if I should book anything else? Picasso museum perhaps or another art gallery - I love art.

I arrive at lunchtime day 1, then two full days, and leave for the airport on the final day 4 at about 6pm.

I don't like to feel I haven't seen much but also like wandering and people watching.

The lights show at the Casa Battlo is worth trying to see - it's only about 10 minutes long, but very good. There's an amazing food court nearby called El Nacional Barcelona.

Parc Guell you had to pre-book the last time we were there. We did a "free" evening tapas tour and a walking tour of the gothic quarter via Strawberry Tours that were both great fun. The tapas tour was a good way of mixing with a bigger group, which might be nice if you are on your own. Much sangria was consumed. The market La Boqueria is a must see. And breakfast/brunch at El Quatre Gats which is in a very old building north of cathedral.

Go to the ticket office at a metro station. It's super cheap and you can buy 10 journeys etc. look where the rec bus goes and go on the metro Citadella park is lovely to sit , watch the musicians, row a boat, free or very cheap
Just walk and look up. It's beautiful. The beaches are walkable to and obviously free. Do have a lanyard for your phone as it's true about pickpockets but it's one of my favourite places ever