Poblenou, for one, has trendy bars and restaurants, plus some of Barcelona's best beaches. I've lived in Barcelona for five years, and the key to enjoying your time is to balance visits to major attractions with stops at lesser-known cultural sites and venture a bit farther from the center to discover local neighborhoods. In 2019, prior to the pandemic, this city of 1.6 million people saw nearly 12 million tourists visit, plus many day-trippers arriving by cruise ship. Remarkable Gaudí landmarks - Sagrada Familia, Park Güell - and top sites like the Picasso Museum have become perpetually packed with tourists, especially in the summer high season.įortunately, there are ways to support responsible tourism and avoid major crowds. Even exploring the warren of narrow streets and pocket squares of the medieval old city can take a whole afternoon.īut as beautiful as my adopted home city is, it also suffers from over-tourism. By clicking ‘Sign up’, you agree to receive marketing emails from InsiderĪs well as other partner offers and accept ourīarcelona is jam-packed with attractions, from incredible architecture to world-class museums, lively markets, and fabulous urban beaches.
