How do you avoid tourist traps in Barcelona?

However, as a first time visitor there are some common tourist traps in Barcelona to avoid.
  1. Buying a ticket to Park Guell. ...
  2. Purchasing Knock-Off Name brands on the street. ...
  3. Thinking sangria is a special drink in Spain. ...
  4. Locating the local restaurants. ...
  5. Any store with “Barcelona” attire. ...
  6. Eating at restaurants with nice waiters.




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Avoid These Travel-Related Faux Pas and Blend in With the Locals
  1. Dress for the season (and don't wear a fanny pack)
  2. Understand Catalonian values (and don't call it “Barca”)
  3. Don't eat on Las Ramblas (and eat dinner late)
  4. Don't keep your valuables on show (Including your camera)


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Want to be on the safe side? Then consider avoiding Ciutat Vella. This covers the area of the Barri Gotic, El Born, El Raval, and Barceloneta. Besides containing poor quality housing, this too-touristy area is also rather expensive and a haven for pickpockets (and also burglaries) due to the tourists.

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Skip the hordes that clog up La Rambla and the Gothic Quarter in favour of other neighbourhoods such as Barceloneta, El Born or El Raval. And instead of La Boqueria, try one of the many other Barcelona markets where you'll be rubbing shoulders more with the locals than other visitors.

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Similar to Madrid's Plaza Mayor, Las Ramblas is extremely popular with tourist crowds. In fact, there's a good chance you won't find anyone else on this street other than tourists and vendors selling to tourists.

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As a general rule, you should avoid the bars and restaurants on La Rambla because they are of poor quality and ridiculously overpriced. Some establishments can charge up to €10 for a beer or a Coca Cola, which sell for around €2.50 elsewhere in Barcelona. That said, there are a few exceptions and places worth visiting.

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Public transport such as the metro, tram and FGC are the quickest, simplest, most convenient and most sustainable way of getting around Barcelona. You can choose from the different ticket types and travel cards. Bicycles are a healthy, clean and silent way of getting around the city.

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Leave some cash and cards at your Barcelona hotel or apartment in the room safe. Remember you don't need video cards, gym cards, library cards, and all the other loyalty cards you have at home in Barcelona. Take them out of your wallet before you leave home. Or buy a secure wallet for vacations.

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According to regulations, it is allowed to make noise in your own home from Monday to Friday from 8.00h to 21.00h. Although some Spanish municipalities have chosen to extend this to 22.00h or 23.00h, on weekends everyone is obliged to follow the same regulation: you are only allowed to make noise from 9.30h to 21.00h.

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La Rambla is the boundary between the quarters of Barri Gòtic, to the east, and El Raval, to the west. Barcelona's safest areas tend to be the more affluent neighborhoods, such as Eixample, Poble Sec, and Poblenou.

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Gràcia is the best place to escape the tourists, with its tranquil plazas and cafés full of locals and an appealing small-town atmosphere. Barceloneta has the closest beach to the center of Barcelona, within easy walking distance from Las Ramblas. It's also Barcelona's longest beach, and popular with families.

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Local Etiquette
  1. Don't talk politics. ...
  2. Do bring your own bags to shop in the market or supermarket.
  3. Don't have tapas for dinner. ...
  4. Don't show up for dinner before 9 p.m.
  5. Don't wear a Barça jersey except on a day where there's a game (unless if you're under ten years old).


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Dress code for Barcelona clubs Guys should go for dark shoes rather than light ones and avoid trainers like the plague. For women, heels aren't common at most of Barcelona's clubs, except the fanciest ones. The beachfront clubs generally have much smart dress codes, with dresses for women and collared shirts for guys.

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Barcelona is a vibrant city; day in, day out. You will find many people on the streets of Barcelona at any time, so you don't have to be afraid at night. Yet, the neighbourhood around La Rambla turns into a hotspot for prostitutes and johns at night.

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Tipping Your Servers: Tips aren't expected in Barcelona, but they are always appreciated. Credit cards – tipping is possible with a card, just be sure you ask them to add it to the total as they run your card. There's no space on the credit card receipt when it comes time to sign.

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It is generally safe to walk at night in Barcelona though you should avoid doing it alone and in secluded areas. Some areas are safer than others. Stay in well-lit areas and avoid exploring abandoned streets and beaches after dark. Traveling with a group is better at night.

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Bringing your own drinks is cheap and it is fun too. Unfortunately they overdid it on a regular basis, so that Botellónes are banned in most cites and federal countries of spain. Also in Barcelona the consume of alcohol in public (streets, parks, beaches) is prohibited and fined.

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Whether buying the Barcelona Card is worth it depends mainly on your travel plans and need for convenience. As a rule of thumb: the Barcelona Card is a good deal if you plan on traveling by public transport and visiting various museums and attractions per day.

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Barcelona is a very walkable city. We could stroll through the differernt neighborhoods first hand and get a feel for the local markets and shops. Of course a stop at the open air market of La Boqueria is a must. You will find fruit stands, sweets, tapas, cheese, and of course meat vendors.

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Barcelona is easily worth two days, and no one would regret having a third day (or a fourth, or a fifth…). If you can spare only one full day for the city, it will be a scramble, but a day you'll never forget.

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La Rambla is a pedestrian-only thoroughfare in the heart of Barcelona. It's a tree-lined pedestrian boulevard that runs for 1.2 kilometers. The place is always decked up with kiosks, flower stalls, artists, living statues, terraces, restaurants, and shops and is a major tourist hotspot.

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The Bari Gothic Quarter of Barcelona is arguably the most desirable area to stay in, which is why it gets so much foot traffic. It's close to many of Barcelona's most popular attractions and has many great restaurants—another reason why people love it.

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