Nice informative video. Guy’s want to invite you to our Filipino restaurant here in Barcelona. Located at calle Valencia 59. DAYAMI is the name of the restaurant. We will be happy to see you and try Filipino dishes! See you all there! ❤
Trigger warning: Barcelona taxi driver saved me from an assault. Creepy guy jumped me and I fought him off and I ran. Pounded on a taxi car bonnet. Driver took me home and didn’t charge me anything.
I'm from Barcelona and the metro is cheap and a good way to move around but be really careful with the "carteristas" people trying to steal your phone and wallet as soon as you get distracted.. and they mostly go behind tourists
Hi! Maybe you can answer my question. A caption popped up and said contactless payment now accepted at the turnstile. Does that mean you don't have to buy tickets like they're doing at 3:10 in the video? We have to get from the airport to our hotel, then around the city for 2.5 days.
@@TracyKMainwaring u can't use contactless with a normal debit or credit card, u have to buy a tube card carton that costs 0.50€ (if i dont remember wrong) and that one is contactless or you can buy the plastic one but it's i think 4-5€. Both are reusable so u can top it up any time u want. Hope that helps! 😊
We stayed in Barcelona for a month this past April/May (1 week in Barceloneta and 3 weeks in Gracia) and tried to walk in as many different neighborhoods as we could. Our local market was Abaceria and we had both a butcher and fishmonger on our block. We hung our wash outside our windows. We were within blocks of the Sagrada but the neighborhood was quiet with great parks and restaurants. A highlight was going to see the castellers make their human towers. And, yes, we drank a lot of cava!
You are incorrect. Everyone in the four large buildings that surrounded the center courtyard hung their clothes outside their windows. There were cloth lines to do so. They weren’t visible from the street.
I love how you got others who are familiar with some places to do and or not to do. Well done, I also follow Patrick for a while who helped me with some information for my trip to Spain during the pandemic
The gothic quarter was fun to walk through and I loved being able to walk on the rooftop of the barcelona cathedral during sunset. Was so fortunate to take a video of my time here. Great place to visit!
I've been to many cities around the world and the TAXIS in Barcelona are the BEST! Yes, the subway can be SUPER CHEAP but the taxis are awesome and one of the cheapest I've ever ridden. But yes, walking Barcelona is so wonderful and easy! Great Video!! Really great video here.
James, thanks for another great video! My husband and I will be arriving in Barcelona on 10/21/2023 and then heading to Madrid the following week. I have purchased a food tour from Devour Tours for both Barcelona and Madrid! I’ve watched your videos for years and can’t wait to experience in person! Thanks!
Booked both Sagrada Familia and Park Güell over a month in advance. Both sold out last year both in early May and even in November. Bought the T Casual ticket for 10.35€ last Nov. It includes the train RN2, not Metro, from Barcelona airport terminal 2 and Metro from Passeig de Gracia to Liceu for one ride of ten ride T casual ticket. Got to my hotel on Las Ramblas for 1.13€. Love Barcelona! Great video!
I feel in love with Antonio Gaudi on our Barcelona stay. We did a walking tour over a few days on our own and found and visited all his amazing creations. Keep inspiring.
Thank you for this video. Barcelona is my favorite city in Spain and will keep coming back. Ive never been to Sant Antoni and Poble Sec. Your video has pointed me in the right direction the next time I visit.
Barcelona was the first place I visited in Europe and I immediately fell in love. Thank you so much for what you do, I definitely need to plan another trip soon!
Barcelona is an amazing city. My wife and i are lucky to have a couple of friends living there. They were our guides, took us to non-tourist sites like the "bunkers" viewpoint, gave us advice and lent us their bikes to explore the city. In the week we were there we only took the metro twice,one of them was actualy returning home from the annual festival on the Gracia ,we mostly walked. Which wasn't a problem for us.
If you plan it out well - get tickets to first visit the Hopital de Sant Pau (touring several museum buildings in one campus) then walk down to the La Sagrada Familia. Make sure you also pay to take the elevator up one spire and then walk down through another spire.
Since 1995 I have been visiting Spain every year once or twice. Never get tired of Spain. Great food, nice people and excellent weather ( I avoid the hottest months)
Totally agree about visiting the neighbourhood markets. I'd also recommend the Hola Barcelona ticket as it includes the metro to and from the airport, and unlimited public transport. The cost of the airport bus is around 10 euro return, so the cost of Hola Barcelona is worthwhile if you're going to use the metro or buses a few times.
We visited Barcelona a month ago. The Sunday we were there, the school attached to the church was celebrating their 25th anniversary. A lady who was a part of the school gave us some lapel stickers which got us in and were able to see the mass. We were only going to see the outside.
The truth is that you simply shouldn't go to a restaurant located in Ramblas, Paseo de Gracia, or Rambla Cataluña and adjacent streets, but as an over-the-thumb rule, never ever go to a restaurant that has pictures of the dishes hanging outside or a guy/girl standing outside asking you to go in. You'll get overpriced sh*t inside. Another (sad) truth is that we locals avoid Barcelona as if it were the black pest, unless you are stuck living there. Middle-class Barcelonians tend to live outside the city, many in Maresme County, some 20 Km north, and only go to the city for work or dinner at a good restaurant. Speaking of restaurants, here is my selection as a local food hedonist: - Terraza Martínez: best paella-style rice of the city. - Sagardi Argenteria: best Basque food, "txuletón" t-bone included. - Shanghai: best Chinese food (actually a fusion of Basque and Chinese). - Bar Cañete & Paco Meralgo: best tapas in town (even though tapas are not typical from Catalonia, just recently included in the city's gastronomical offer due to the people asking for it).
Speak for your personal feeling and opinion, it is not the same as that of all Barcelonans. I agree that you should not eat in restaurants on Las Ramblas or those where there are photos of the dishes, they are tourist traps, but on La Rambla de Cataluña (not to be confused with Las Ramblas) or on Paseo de Gracia there are very good restaurants.
Fellow Catalan here! My parents lived in bcn when they were younger and settled down further south in the coast, Sitges and Vilanova if anyone is interested. As a student here we go to Barcelona city for special occasions like Sant Jordi or other traditions. A lot of students go on the train everyday to university also but we maintain our local traditions from our “village” since it changes a bit and we have different sayings and preconceptions. Love my culture, proud to be from here :)
As a local, I definitely wouldn't recommend visiting Sant Antoni unless you want to go to a particular restaurant. That neighbourhood does not have anything special and some areas can be dangerous at night
10:30 Tripes are fine food, and very common in France, but seldom served in restaurants. They are bought ready-made; you just heat them until the jelly has turned into a sauce. They are generally served with a boiled or steamed potato. My favorite variety is _tripes à la mode de Caen_.
I'm from Manhattan NYC (not Manhattan, Florida) and was just in Barcelona in April '24 and the crowds were breathtaking. It was like full on Times Square - when it's going full blast all over place. Beautiful city and great people! - just know it will be filled to the brim with people. Europe and everywhere else is crowded with other tourists at least great cities like Barcelona are - I just wasn't expecting NYC to seem mellower than Spain. That was a shocker. Maybe I'll try again off off season like December! Just keeping it real on the streets people!
Barcelona has a great charm to it. Especially during summer, it’s laid back, trendy and the catalan language makes it exotic for us North Americans. I can’t compare it to nyc, it’s so different. Nyc would be more comparable to london, but london is like 20x bigger and grand.
Great video!!! Thank goodness I’m a planner and buy tickets for the attractions way in advance and even like skip the line tickets!!! I’ll be there in March! Can’t wait!
Barcelona is my favourite European city! I simply love it ❤ I don't remember having any issues with the metro. I wish I stayed longer, as there's so much to see. I guess that's a reason to plan another trip there 😊
Aun asi es derivado del frances😅 . Phonetically and grammatically, many words derived from french and kept evolving, such as merci. Which youre right. Comes from mercès. But even the way of writting it is wicked french. I guess you could say, socially it derives from french. But its evolution is very much Catalan. Dont be surprised or defensive, catalan is a romance language too and it has a heavy french and italian influence as well. Also, very close to Latin (compared to the other romances) El catalan esta bien rico en mezclas y es increiblemente interesante
First time in Barcelona for me, I was so exhausted from my flight and jet lag that I spent five minutes trying to get on the metro using my hotel room key card.
Mama Mia, your Barcelona "insider" travel tips are awesome! I Love how you showcased the local spots, markets, wine shops and restaurants in the local neighborhoods that the local Catalans go to with the help of local guides Patrick and Tara. My best friend is visiting Barcelona in August 2024 and I've already shared your vlog with him with the hopes that he will follow ALL of your suggestions. This Barcelona vlog is One of The Best TH-cam travel vlogs I've seen so far so Muchas Gracias!
Mercat de Santa Caterina, we've eaten there the best cherry of our lifetime, 6 or more different varieties to choose from, looking like something out of a food catalog, just perfect and a taste to die for.
First of all, thank you James and Yoli for doing such an awesome job on your every video! You are great partners for this vlog! It is always pleasant to watch you guys and your every video is helpful and/or educating. I live in the US and just returned home from my 7-day trip to Spain. I can say, I have become enamoured with Spain. I managed to visit Barcelona, Madrid and Sevilla and I used y'all's videos as a guide what to eat, where to go, and how to get around. Blessings!
"Merci" comes from "mercès", another form to say thank you, like in Spanish, "mercedes". Evidently, there is a relationship with French since all of them are romance languages. It is like "ta" in the UK.
As a Catalan, Cava is NOT okay at any time of the day. It is reserved for special occasions!!! We only have for Christmas or other festivities, nobody has cava for breakfast. Old people do have wine. It's mostly coffee tho
1) My main tip for all would be to avoid Las Ramblas like the plague. 2) Try stepping off the main tourist streets, and go even one or two streets paralell either side. You'd be amazed at what you'll find. Quieter, no tourist premium, no one trying to sell you stuff. Seriously, sometimes a paralel street is all it takes. 3) Try some of the further flung neighbourhoods. Sants, Clot, La Sagrera, Sant Andreu, Horta, are all nice barrios with their own identities and own charms, and many tourists don't go anywhere near them. The Barcelona metro makes it easy and cheap to get anywhere (you'll almost never spend more than 20 minutes on the train). And they can be just as lively as the centre if you get them at the right time of day. 4) Don't try to do too much. Really the best thing about Barcelona, and really any Spanish city, is wandering around, eating, drinking, people watching, and taking in the vibe. There are some cool tourist sites in Barcelona, but don't chase them around at the expense of enjoying yourself. If you find yourself in a barrio you really like, stay there and soak it up! No need to rush off to the next tourist site. 5) Don't let anyone scare you away from going to El Raval. There are some (often richer) locals who are genuinely scared to step foot there and will tell you it's as dangerous as Caracas. It's absolute nonsense, so ignore it. As with anywhere else, watch your stuff, and if you're alone at night, stick to the busier streets. But otherwise, it's an excellent barrio, lots of excellent Middle Eastern and South Asian food, and some of the best late-night bars and clubs in the city.
Having lived in Spain (Madrid, Logroño, and Granada) and visited Barcelona a few times, it was never really one of our favorite cities. Yes, it was beauitful and has the beach, but we never really enjoyed it as much as other places. After this video, we realized we did make some mistakes though, so we'll have to go back and give it another try!
I am so glad you got to do something with Patrick he deserves the keys to the city for the work he does to promote our city in such a positive way.. you can hear the passion and love in his voice.
As someone with mobility issues, the Metro involves a LOT OF WALKING. You could basically walk the distance because you are going to be walking a lot to change trains. We just take taxis. They are reasonable and, for me, worth it.
Fantastic info! Oh, how I wish I'd seen this video before visiting Barcelona earlier this month. I'll be back soon and will check out a few of these recommendations.
I went to the Hospital de la Sant Pau complex late morning (very interesting). Then walked down to the La Sagrada Familia for an early afternoon tour (first of the basilica, then took the elevator up to one of the spires and walked down). It was a perfect day. It also is a must to track down a “casteller” human tower. There are websites that can identify where you can track down one. Generally they are in a neighborhood town square. And different neighborhoods may have their own team. [It can go up many tiers and if you are lucky you can see two teams competing near each other].
If you liked Parés Baltà, you should also try Loxarel... get out of bcn and discover the land around, like Penedès, one of the wine areas here in Catalunya... did you try a calçotada yet...?
i rented a bicycle one day when I went to Barcelona. I went down the coast then up Av. Diagonal, somehow ended up down paralell, then just wandered sant antoni and gothic quarter and the rambla. it was a fun day
Very interesting. Thank you. We plan to be in Barcelona in April 2024 could you please address the crime? Also, no tripe, but could you discuss the ordering of coffees - expresso or latte, what time of the day? Hours that restaurants open? Like in France from 11:30 to 2 PM and 7 PM for the night? also delicious desserts and wine. Cava is it like prosecco?
Crime: Pickpocketing mostly in the touristy areas. Other than that, you'll be safe. Coffee: You'll find a lot of coffee shops that are open throughout the day. Coffee isn't great here, but it's pretty decent. Restaurant hours: Lunch: 12:30 PM to 3PM Dinner: 8 PM to 10 PM. Touristy places are usually open earlier. Deserts: The most traditional are Crema catalana (creme brulee), mel i mató, bunyols, coca / coca de llardons / coca de vidre. Cava is literally champange, and we traditionally have it for desert. Wines: Too many to recommend. Just ask the waiter, but I'd recommend a local red wine. Also, try our Vermouth.
The Philippines, as a former colony of Spain, have a cuisine that is Spanish-influenced. One of the dishes we also enjoy is Callos, shown in this video. We spell tripe in Filipino as ‘tuwalya’ (towel) or ‘toalla’ (Spanish). But we enjoy it during special occasions only. We also use tripe in Chinese-influenced dishes such as rice porridge dishes we call ‘goto’ (perhaps Chinese term?), bec the beef tripe is the main ingredient. Its good for an all-day breakfast and for rainy days.
wow, thanks for that tip, i'm going to head to Barcelona next month. I have been to metros in many cities and this is the first time I am seeing a ticket being inserted on the left hand side. That is just not normal.
Poble Nou, for the amazing cemetery and the many vermut bars on the main rambla. Sarrìa for beautiful apartments and 19th century buildings. If using the suburban trains (Renfe only) buy an Abono Recurrente for a deposit of 10e, then the travel is free on the 6 lines of Rodalies. The ticket is valid for a quarter but if only staying a week it will pay, if you use it. You can get almost to France on this ticket with the last few kilometres being charged, very little and often not at all. Using the ticket, and one or two euros more, you can get to La Tour de Carol where there are connections to Toulouse and a sleeper train to Paris.
I visited the Sagrada Familia in 1985, there were just a handful of workmen on the site and i was allowed to wander freely throughout the still uncompleted structure and even managed to climb one of the towers until i almost reached the top and had a vertigo inducing episode. I recall chatting with the construction workers who told me jokingly that at the rate they were working the cathedral would not be finished for another 500 years. There were no visitors at all except me. I was glad i saw this amazing piece of architecture before it became a tourist trap attraction. People forget that this building was built as a place of worship but it appears that the original and intended purpose at present is to make money at any cost.
It has really been many years since you visited the Sagrada Familia and it has changed a lot. Your assessment that the current objective of the Sagrada Familia is to make money is not correct. Precisely, the Sagrada Familia has grown so much in recent years thanks to the amount of tickets paid by its visitors. This money is used exclusively for the construction of the building as it is only financed by tickets and private donations. He does not receive a single euro from any institution or from the Spanish State.
Intent of any building is not to worship God, since he doesn't need a cage to venerated him. All these cool monuments are manifestation of human endeavor and persistence.
1985 was a nice time for those of us who were traveling! I was in Paris in 79 and it felt like the Paris of the 1800’s…NYC too. The world’s population doesn’t allow for those experiences anymore. You’re very lucky to have your memories and I cherish mine!
Really nice insights! And quite sensitive tips for tourists to really enjoy the city whilst keeping it as a place where locals can live. However, regarding Boqueria, tourists have already fucked up one of our most beloved markets, please, leave the rest for us...
We had some of the best olives in Barcelona. Unlike all the other olives we had, these were less salty and more garlicky. Haven't been able to find them again since. 😮💨
The “family” ticket he mentioned means that 2 different people can travel the same journey using the one ticket. The T-casual which is 10 tickets used to allow this until last year but it has now become a ticket which only one person can travel with on a particular journey. However, if I buy a T-casual and use it to travel one journey, for example, I could give it to somebody else to use for the remaining 9 journeys.
About the transport ticket he failed to mention something, and some people don't know it actually. Quote from "rodalies gencat": Up to four different modes of transport can be used on each transfer, and the transfer times for 1 zone tickets are 1 h 15 min
Putting this as a reply because youtube tends to delete my comments by itself, this means you use a ticket (-1 ride count on in example metro) then bus, then "tram", and won't "-1" again unless you repeat the transport type or the specified time passes. Just ask a guard or the staff about "cuál es el tiempo de transbordo?" and they'll tell you in case they update it in the future.
Actually "merci" in catalan is a natural evolution of the language, from "mercès", which used to be the way to thank people back in the day, rather than an inherited french word
Barcelona stopped being a livable city decades ago. I grew up in the Gothic Quarter, from the 70s to the 90s. The Boqueria Market was the market where my mother shopped almost every day. A couple of decades ago we neighbors had to leave, the neighborhood became unlivable due to the massification of tourism and prices that a neighbor could no longer support. It's sad but that's the way things are
Good video. Also places to "emorzar de forquilla i ganivet" in Barcelona in addition to Can Vilaró, are "Bodega d'en Rafel", Manso street 52, very close to Can Vilaró, "Bar Bodega Bartrolí", Vallespir, street 41 in the Sants neighborhood and restaurant Gelida, Diputació street, 133 in the Eixample neighborhood. All very good
Timing is everything. First time visit was Oct 2023 for last stop on ocean cruise. Us (900 passengers) and five other cruise ships had same idea. I figure just from the cruise ships we added 20K in population to city that day. Plus Spain was on four day Columbus Day holiday so lots of residents in town. Much too crowded. Next time was first stop on another ocean cruise (Apr 2024) the low season as some say. Still crowded. When went our own way and missed much of crowds. We used suggestions from travel writer consultant Rick Steves. Word of warning; America's Cup yacht race is scheduled for Aug-Oct 2024 which will bring crowds.
which bodega was this one? Thank you. I want to try the Indigena and maybe buy it to bring it on our cruise. Is it super dry? Does it have any trace of sweetness in it? Thanks again.
''Merci'' wasn't took from the french, it comes from the old expresion to say thank you ''Moltes mercès''. It's still used in some VERY formal e-mails. But on common speech you'll always hear the shortened version ''Merci''.
We visited Barcelona from Athens last year and wanted to stay there and never come back. We felt it as our home, we fell in love. Barcelona is so beautiful. We are definitely going back to Spain to explore other cities to.
Went on Devour's Tapas Taverns & History and Gaudi Tours in March 2023. Easy, informative, fun and well worth the price. Also learned a lot from James & Patrick's videos. Thank you!
Hi great video. I've just downloaded your tapas guide and saw La plata in Barcelona as a recommendation which stood out to me as you didnt need to reserve and as I'm visiting with children this would probably be a better fit for us. Do you have any recommendations for good food in the Sants Montjuic area?
It’s a really big city so without knowing where you will be using them, I can tell you that the beachfront has plenty of bathrooms every 200-300m. They are next to the bars where the promenade is at the same level as the sand, and underneath the promenade where it is above the beach. In Plaça Catalunya there are public bathrooms next to the tourist office which is underneath the square next to Portal de l’Angel and the El Corte Inglés department store. You can also find bathrooms inside this store at every other level. Generally speaking, the main train stations will also have bathrooms, and public buildings such as council buildings (ajuntament) or libraries (biblioteca). And of course restaurants and bars, although it is courteous to buy something as these are mainly for customers. So you could stop for a coffee or cold drink and use the bathroom in a pinch.
Visited la Sagrada Familia hace Mas de 20 years ago. It is really more impressive in person, but would never do it again, especially not in high tourist season.
I LOVE that the two creators I watched before going to Barcelona are doing a video together. I feel like our trip was a nice blend of must sees and chill local vibes. Will confirm after I finish watching
Our Splurge restaurant was an incredible spot: Restaurant Prodigi The very first place we ate upon arriving was Casa Amalia and lemme just say that was also incredible but we had just arrived, showered and were a bit exhausted and were adjusting to being there still so we were probably a lot but that was also wonderful and great way to start our trip.
The weather is very good in September here. Warm and sunny but not excessively hot like it is in July and August. You can still go to the beach and the sea is warmer too 👍
Hola ! Nice Video. If you don't want to spend lots of time in learning language then it is best way to learn some most useful phrase. and that too for some most repetitive conditions. Like in Medical condition what to say.. In Airport what to say...in Restaurant...etc. Here there is a book which have such most frequently used phrases in Portuguese, German, Spanish, Italian and French. Go for it. “START SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGES: TRAVEL GUIDE FOR CONVERSING IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES.” this book will definitely help to use European language without learning it.
Hallo, James, I am a catalan girl from Barcelona, but you should first get in touch with catalan people to explain a couple of things about catalan way of life and culture. At least people who reproduce the catalan pronunciation. You shouldn't tell, like your mate does, "gràcies" is pronounced like the spanisch "gracias" but with other spelling... 🙄 It also hurts me you recommend other parts of the city for tourism, we already are too much "touristized". Otherwise paying 110,-€ for a meal shows only it is a touristic location, sorry about that. Anyway I appreciate the quality and good intentions of your videos.
🎉 Get my FREE Tapas 101 Guide: swiy.io/Tapas101
*includes tapas bar recommendations for Barcelona, Madrid, Seville & San Sebastian
Nice informative video.
Guy’s want to invite you to our Filipino restaurant here in Barcelona. Located at calle Valencia 59. DAYAMI is the name of the restaurant. We will be happy to see you and try Filipino dishes! See you all there! ❤
Turn down the opera music when you guys are talking so I can hear the lady what she's saying
@@JPM-87where is the complete add please.I want to visit ur place.By the way ,Anong site po mg book in advance sa sagrada familia?Salamat
Which site should I book for Sagrada Familia.Thanks
@@Oph03 The Sagrada Familia app (the one you use to schedule your visit) has a lot of information--I would start there.
Trigger warning:
Barcelona taxi driver saved me from an assault. Creepy guy jumped me and I fought him off and I ran. Pounded on a taxi car bonnet. Driver took me home and didn’t charge me anything.
I'm from Barcelona and the metro is cheap and a good way to move around but be really careful with the "carteristas" people trying to steal your phone and wallet as soon as you get distracted.. and they mostly go behind tourists
Hi! Maybe you can answer my question. A caption popped up and said contactless payment now accepted at the turnstile. Does that mean you don't have to buy tickets like they're doing at 3:10 in the video? We have to get from the airport to our hotel, then around the city for 2.5 days.
@@TracyKMainwaring u can't use contactless with a normal debit or credit card, u have to buy a tube card carton that costs 0.50€ (if i dont remember wrong) and that one is contactless or you can buy the plastic one but it's i think 4-5€. Both are reusable so u can top it up any time u want. Hope that helps! 😊
Para ser un transporte público no es barato
@@93Gemma 7:45
We stayed in Barcelona for a month this past April/May (1 week in Barceloneta and 3 weeks in Gracia) and tried to walk in as many different neighborhoods as we could. Our local market was Abaceria and we had both a butcher and fishmonger on our block. We hung our wash outside our windows. We were within blocks of the Sagrada but the neighborhood was quiet with great parks and restaurants. A highlight was going to see the castellers make their human towers. And, yes, we drank a lot of cava!
When you hung your wash on windows is because you are a tourist or very very por. Not nice to see clothes or towels on windows or balconies.
You are incorrect. Everyone in the four large buildings that surrounded the center courtyard hung their clothes outside their windows. There were cloth lines to do so. They weren’t visible from the street.
@@maalfons not true. If you live in a small appartment it's quite common not to have a dryer, no need to be poor
Where (area/streets) did you stay in Gracia? I am looking for a nice place to stay for a while, and your description sounds perfect 😊
" We hung our wash outside our windows. " - sure sign of a barrio in decline from tourism...
I love how you got others who are familiar with some places to do and or not to do. Well done, I also follow Patrick for a while who helped me with some information for my trip to Spain during the pandemic
Only one big Tip.. get plastic bag from DÍA the cheapest supermarket and use it as your purse nobody will dare to robe you
és un bon consell, si portes la bossa del dia amb 4 estrelles i un fuet cap marroquí vindrà a robar-te, facts
Do they still give plastic bags ? Not in Argentina, at least.....
Thanks
The gothic quarter was fun to walk through and I loved being able to walk on the rooftop of the barcelona cathedral during sunset. Was so fortunate to take a video of my time here. Great place to visit!
I've been to many cities around the world and the TAXIS in Barcelona are the BEST! Yes, the subway can be SUPER CHEAP but the taxis are awesome and one of the cheapest I've ever ridden. But yes, walking Barcelona is so wonderful and easy!
Great Video!! Really great video here.
James, thanks for another great video! My husband and I will be arriving in Barcelona on 10/21/2023 and then heading to Madrid the following week. I have purchased a food tour from Devour Tours for both Barcelona and Madrid! I’ve watched your videos for years and can’t wait to experience in person! Thanks!
Booked both Sagrada Familia and Park Güell over a month in advance. Both sold out last year both in early May and even in November. Bought the T Casual ticket for 10.35€ last Nov. It includes the train RN2, not Metro, from Barcelona airport terminal 2 and Metro from Passeig de Gracia to Liceu for one ride of ten ride T casual ticket. Got to my hotel on Las Ramblas for 1.13€. Love Barcelona! Great video!
I feel in love with Antonio Gaudi on our Barcelona stay. We did a walking tour over a few days on our own and found and visited all his amazing creations. Keep inspiring.
Antoni, without the final o
Gracia was my favorite neighborhood, good vintage shops and probably my meal in Barcelona.
Thank you for this video. Barcelona is my favorite city in Spain and will keep coming back. Ive never been to Sant Antoni and Poble Sec. Your video has pointed me in the right direction the next time I visit.
Barcelona was the first place I visited in Europe and I immediately fell in love. Thank you so much for what you do, I definitely need to plan another trip soon!
Is it safe to visit Barcelona right now ?
@@americaksushantkinazarse5747 Sure, Just be carefull with your things.
Thank you for all your great videos. Booked our first trip to Spain largely in part to your videos.
Barcelona is an amazing city.
My wife and i are lucky to have a couple of friends living there.
They were our guides, took us to non-tourist sites like the "bunkers" viewpoint, gave us advice and lent us their bikes to explore the city.
In the week we were there we only took the metro twice,one of them was actualy returning home from the annual festival on the Gracia ,we mostly walked. Which wasn't a problem for us.
Love your videos James! Coming to Spain & visiting Barcelona for the first time! Very excited after watching this video! Let’s goooooo
how was your trip? was it solo? is it safe?
If you plan it out well - get tickets to first visit the Hopital de Sant Pau (touring several museum buildings in one campus) then walk down to the La Sagrada Familia. Make sure you also pay to take the elevator up one spire and then walk down through another spire.
Since 1995 I have been visiting Spain every year once or twice. Never get tired of Spain. Great food, nice people and excellent weather ( I avoid the hottest months)
Totally agree about visiting the neighbourhood markets. I'd also recommend the Hola Barcelona ticket as it includes the metro to and from the airport, and unlimited public transport. The cost of the airport bus is around 10 euro return, so the cost of Hola Barcelona is worthwhile if you're going to use the metro or buses a few times.
We visited Barcelona a month ago. The Sunday we were there, the school attached to the church was celebrating their 25th anniversary. A lady who was a part of the school gave us some lapel stickers which got us in and were able to see the mass. We were only going to see the outside.
The truth is that you simply shouldn't go to a restaurant located in Ramblas, Paseo de Gracia, or Rambla Cataluña and adjacent streets, but as an over-the-thumb rule, never ever go to a restaurant that has pictures of the dishes hanging outside or a guy/girl standing outside asking you to go in. You'll get overpriced sh*t inside.
Another (sad) truth is that we locals avoid Barcelona as if it were the black pest, unless you are stuck living there. Middle-class Barcelonians tend to live outside the city, many in Maresme County, some 20 Km north, and only go to the city for work or dinner at a good restaurant. Speaking of restaurants, here is my selection as a local food hedonist:
- Terraza Martínez: best paella-style rice of the city.
- Sagardi Argenteria: best Basque food, "txuletón" t-bone included.
- Shanghai: best Chinese food (actually a fusion of Basque and Chinese).
- Bar Cañete & Paco Meralgo: best tapas in town (even though tapas are not typical from Catalonia, just recently included in the city's gastronomical offer due to the people asking for it).
Speak for your personal feeling and opinion, it is not the same as that of all Barcelonans. I agree that you should not eat in restaurants on Las Ramblas or those where there are photos of the dishes, they are tourist traps, but on La Rambla de Cataluña (not to be confused with Las Ramblas) or on Paseo de Gracia there are very good restaurants.
There are some amazing restaurants on teh side streets of Paseo De Gracia
Fellow Catalan here! My parents lived in bcn when they were younger and settled down further south in the coast, Sitges and Vilanova if anyone is interested. As a student here we go to Barcelona city for special occasions like Sant Jordi or other traditions. A lot of students go on the train everyday to university also but we maintain our local traditions from our “village” since it changes a bit and we have different sayings and preconceptions. Love my culture, proud to be from here :)
As a local, I definitely wouldn't recommend visiting Sant Antoni unless you want to go to a particular restaurant. That neighbourhood does not have anything special and some areas can be dangerous at night
10:30 Tripes are fine food, and very common in France, but seldom served in restaurants. They are bought ready-made; you just heat them until the jelly has turned into a sauce. They are generally served with a boiled or steamed potato. My favorite variety is _tripes à la mode de Caen_.
I'm from Manhattan NYC (not Manhattan, Florida) and was just in Barcelona in April '24 and the crowds were breathtaking. It was like full on Times Square - when it's going full blast all over place. Beautiful city and great people! - just know it will be filled to the brim with people. Europe and everywhere else is crowded with other tourists at least great cities like Barcelona are - I just wasn't expecting NYC to seem mellower than Spain. That was a shocker. Maybe I'll try again off off season like December! Just keeping it real on the streets people!
Barcelona has a great charm to it. Especially during summer, it’s laid back, trendy and the catalan language makes it exotic for us North Americans. I can’t compare it to nyc, it’s so different. Nyc would be more comparable to london, but london is like 20x bigger and grand.
Great video!!! Thank goodness I’m a planner and buy tickets for the attractions way in advance and even like skip the line tickets!!! I’ll be there in March! Can’t wait!
Barcelona is my favourite European city! I simply love it ❤ I don't remember having any issues with the metro. I wish I stayed longer, as there's so much to see. I guess that's a reason to plan another trip there 😊
We use White Vermouth for martinis and Red for Manhattans or white for a Dry Manhattan
Had 3 full days in Barcelona, and is definitely on my must see again list.
I'm catalan, we didn't take Merci from the French, we say merci as a short way of saying "moltes mercès" o "mercès" 😊
Aun asi es derivado del frances😅 . Phonetically and grammatically, many words derived from french and kept evolving, such as merci. Which youre right. Comes from mercès. But even the way of writting it is wicked french. I guess you could say, socially it derives from french. But its evolution is very much Catalan.
Dont be surprised or defensive, catalan is a romance language too and it has a heavy french and italian influence as well. Also, very close to Latin (compared to the other romances)
El catalan esta bien rico en mezclas y es increiblemente interesante
Merci, is very catalan indeed! stress on the first sylabille
Or Mercedes 😊 just kidding lmao
Good to know.
@@michellemorrison9663no es derivado del francés sino del latín
First time in Barcelona for me, I was so exhausted from my flight and jet lag that I spent five minutes trying to get on the metro using my hotel room key card.
😂😂
For those who remember the David Letterman show, this fits in the category of what I call "Stupid Jet-Lag Tricks." They do happen.
I wish I have watched this earlier. I was just there at Barcelona, weekend to yesterday. Argh!!! Now, I need to be back!
The food market is an absolute must to visit. We have been there several times on visits to Barcelona.
Mama Mia, your Barcelona "insider" travel tips are awesome! I Love how you showcased the local spots, markets, wine shops and restaurants in the local neighborhoods that the local Catalans go to with the help of local guides Patrick and Tara. My best friend is visiting Barcelona in August 2024 and I've already shared your vlog with him with the hopes that he will follow ALL of your suggestions. This Barcelona vlog is One of The Best TH-cam travel vlogs I've seen so far so Muchas Gracias!
Great video! I get really stoked about our upcoming trip. Any suggestions on how to find up and coming chefs and their restaurants?
Mercat de Santa Caterina, we've eaten there the best cherry of our lifetime, 6 or more different varieties to choose from, looking like something out of a food catalog, just perfect and a taste to die for.
First of all, thank you James and Yoli for doing such an awesome job on your every video! You are great partners for this vlog! It is always pleasant to watch you guys and your every video is helpful and/or educating.
I live in the US and just returned home from my 7-day trip to Spain. I can say, I have become enamoured with Spain. I managed to visit Barcelona, Madrid and Sevilla and I used y'all's videos as a guide what to eat, where to go, and how to get around. Blessings!
"Merci" comes from "mercès", another form to say thank you, like in Spanish, "mercedes". Evidently, there is a relationship with French since all of them are romance languages. It is like "ta" in the UK.
As a Catalan, Cava is NOT okay at any time of the day. It is reserved for special occasions!!! We only have for Christmas or other festivities, nobody has cava for breakfast. Old people do have wine. It's mostly coffee tho
1) My main tip for all would be to avoid Las Ramblas like the plague.
2) Try stepping off the main tourist streets, and go even one or two streets paralell either side. You'd be amazed at what you'll find. Quieter, no tourist premium, no one trying to sell you stuff. Seriously, sometimes a paralel street is all it takes.
3) Try some of the further flung neighbourhoods. Sants, Clot, La Sagrera, Sant Andreu, Horta, are all nice barrios with their own identities and own charms, and many tourists don't go anywhere near them. The Barcelona metro makes it easy and cheap to get anywhere (you'll almost never spend more than 20 minutes on the train). And they can be just as lively as the centre if you get them at the right time of day.
4) Don't try to do too much. Really the best thing about Barcelona, and really any Spanish city, is wandering around, eating, drinking, people watching, and taking in the vibe. There are some cool tourist sites in Barcelona, but don't chase them around at the expense of enjoying yourself. If you find yourself in a barrio you really like, stay there and soak it up! No need to rush off to the next tourist site.
5) Don't let anyone scare you away from going to El Raval. There are some (often richer) locals who are genuinely scared to step foot there and will tell you it's as dangerous as Caracas. It's absolute nonsense, so ignore it. As with anywhere else, watch your stuff, and if you're alone at night, stick to the busier streets. But otherwise, it's an excellent barrio, lots of excellent Middle Eastern and South Asian food, and some of the best late-night bars and clubs in the city.
Having lived in Spain (Madrid, Logroño, and Granada) and visited Barcelona a few times, it was never really one of our favorite cities. Yes, it was beauitful and has the beach, but we never really enjoyed it as much as other places. After this video, we realized we did make some mistakes though, so we'll have to go back and give it another try!
Which city you recommend most?
Valencia@@magdaanna7535
Barcelona smells like urine everywhere, nasty
I am so glad you got to do something with Patrick
he deserves the keys to the city for the work he does to promote our city in such a positive way..
you can hear the passion and love in his voice.
As someone with mobility issues, the Metro involves a LOT OF WALKING. You could basically walk the distance because you are going to be walking a lot to change trains. We just take taxis. They are reasonable and, for me, worth it.
I also have mobility issues, so thanks for that advice.
Fantastic info! Oh, how I wish I'd seen this video before visiting Barcelona earlier this month. I'll be back soon and will check out a few of these recommendations.
Great, been waiting to see this collab for a while
Do you have a list of local restaurants and festivals in and around Barcelona? :)
I went to the Hospital de la Sant Pau complex late morning (very interesting). Then walked down to the La Sagrada Familia for an early afternoon tour (first of the basilica, then took the elevator up to one of the spires and walked down). It was a perfect day. It also is a must to track down a “casteller” human tower. There are websites that can identify where you can track down one. Generally they are in a neighborhood town square. And different neighborhoods may have their own team. [It can go up many tiers and if you are lucky you can see two teams competing near each other].
We did a tasting at Parés Baltà winery last year, it was one of the best I've ever been to. Great wines.
Great video James, thanks to you and thanks to Patrick and Tara!
If you liked Parés Baltà, you should also try Loxarel... get out of bcn and discover the land around, like Penedès, one of the wine areas here in Catalunya... did you try a calçotada yet...?
I just got into can vilarò! I am so excited and I ordered the same dishes they recommended 😍
So helpful as i start to learn about Spain - May 2024 stop with family prior to niece Tuscany Italy Wed.! Crazy
i rented a bicycle one day when I went to Barcelona. I went down the coast then up Av. Diagonal, somehow ended up down paralell, then just wandered sant antoni and gothic quarter and the rambla. it was a fun day
Very interesting. Thank you. We plan to be in Barcelona in April 2024 could you please address the crime? Also, no tripe, but could you discuss the ordering of coffees - expresso or latte, what time of the day? Hours that restaurants open? Like in France from 11:30 to 2 PM and 7 PM for the night? also delicious desserts and wine. Cava is it like prosecco?
Crime: Pickpocketing mostly in the touristy areas. Other than that, you'll be safe.
Coffee: You'll find a lot of coffee shops that are open throughout the day. Coffee isn't great here, but it's pretty decent.
Restaurant hours: Lunch: 12:30 PM to 3PM Dinner: 8 PM to 10 PM. Touristy places are usually open earlier.
Deserts: The most traditional are Crema catalana (creme brulee), mel i mató, bunyols, coca / coca de llardons / coca de vidre.
Cava is literally champange, and we traditionally have it for desert.
Wines: Too many to recommend. Just ask the waiter, but I'd recommend a local red wine. Also, try our Vermouth.
Nice video man! Come to Seville soon!
The Philippines, as a former colony of Spain, have a cuisine that is Spanish-influenced. One of the dishes we also enjoy is Callos, shown in this video. We spell tripe in Filipino as ‘tuwalya’ (towel) or ‘toalla’ (Spanish). But we enjoy it during special occasions only. We also use tripe in Chinese-influenced dishes such as rice porridge dishes we call ‘goto’ (perhaps Chinese term?), bec the beef tripe is the main ingredient. Its good for an all-day breakfast and for rainy days.
I swear that your videos are addictive. Why can't I stop?!
I wish I saw your video before I went to Barcelona. Very helpful would that be.
wow, thanks for that tip, i'm going to head to Barcelona next month. I have been to metros in many cities and this is the first time I am seeing a ticket being inserted on the left hand side. That is just not normal.
Great videos. Very helpful and informative. Huge fan.
One pet peeve: There’s such a thing as over-enunciation!
Poble Nou, for the amazing cemetery and the many vermut bars on the main rambla.
Sarrìa for beautiful apartments and 19th century buildings.
If using the suburban trains (Renfe only) buy an Abono Recurrente for a deposit of 10e, then the travel is free on the 6 lines of Rodalies. The ticket is valid for a quarter but if only staying a week it will pay, if you use it. You can get almost to France on this ticket with the last few kilometres being charged, very little and often not at all.
Using the ticket, and one or two euros more, you can get to La Tour de Carol where there are connections to Toulouse and a sleeper train to Paris.
I visited the Sagrada Familia in 1985, there were just a handful of workmen on the site and i was allowed to wander freely throughout the still uncompleted structure and even managed to climb one of the towers until i almost reached the top and had a vertigo inducing episode. I recall chatting with the construction workers who told me jokingly that at the rate they were working the cathedral would not be finished for another 500 years.
There were no visitors at all except me. I was glad i saw this amazing piece of architecture before it became a tourist trap attraction. People forget that this building was built as a place of worship but it appears that the original and intended purpose at present is to make money at any cost.
It has really been many years since you visited the Sagrada Familia and it has changed a lot. Your assessment that the current objective of the Sagrada Familia is to make money is not correct. Precisely, the Sagrada Familia has grown so much in recent years thanks to the amount of tickets paid by its visitors. This money is used exclusively for the construction of the building as it is only financed by tickets and private donations. He does not receive a single euro from any institution or from the Spanish State.
Intent of any building is not to worship God, since he doesn't need a cage to venerated him. All these cool monuments are manifestation of human endeavor and persistence.
1985 was a nice time for those of us who were traveling! I was in Paris in 79 and it felt like the Paris of the 1800’s…NYC too. The world’s population doesn’t allow for those experiences anymore. You’re very lucky to have your memories and I cherish mine!
Yes, it was still that way in the early 1991-1998 when we were going, drop a few coins at the door if you like and wander around. 😊
Really nice insights! And quite sensitive tips for tourists to really enjoy the city whilst keeping it as a place where locals can live. However, regarding Boqueria, tourists have already fucked up one of our most beloved markets, please, leave the rest for us...
Nobody does this travel videos better than you, thank you and keep the good work
Thank you!
We had some of the best olives in Barcelona. Unlike all the other olives we had, these were less salty and more garlicky. Haven't been able to find them again since. 😮💨
Great tips! Can’t wait to go back for a visit. Patrick is a great guide! Have taken a trip with him to Montserrat, highly recommend!
what is meant by sharing a ticket: means two people can travel same time with one ticket or one can use a trip and another one for another trip
The “family” ticket he mentioned means that 2 different people can travel the same journey using the one ticket. The T-casual which is 10 tickets used to allow this until last year but it has now become a ticket which only one person can travel with on a particular journey. However, if I buy a T-casual and use it to travel one journey, for example, I could give it to somebody else to use for the remaining 9 journeys.
thank you very much@@wavyjenny602
About the transport ticket he failed to mention something, and some people don't know it actually.
Quote from "rodalies gencat":
Up to four different modes of transport can be used on each transfer, and the transfer times for 1 zone tickets are 1 h 15 min
Putting this as a reply because youtube tends to delete my comments by itself, this means you use a ticket (-1 ride count on in example metro) then bus, then "tram", and won't "-1" again unless you repeat the transport type or the specified time passes. Just ask a guard or the staff about "cuál es el tiempo de transbordo?" and they'll tell you in case they update it in the future.
Bravo James! Gracias!
Actually "merci" in catalan is a natural evolution of the language, from "mercès", which used to be the way to thank people back in the day, rather than an inherited french word
Barcelona stopped being a livable city decades ago. I grew up in the Gothic Quarter, from the 70s to the 90s. The Boqueria Market was the market where my mother shopped almost every day. A couple of decades ago we neighbors had to leave, the neighborhood became unlivable due to the massification of tourism and prices that a neighbor could no longer support.
It's sad but that's the way things are
Good video. Also places to "emorzar de forquilla i ganivet" in Barcelona in addition to Can Vilaró, are "Bodega d'en Rafel", Manso street 52, very close to Can Vilaró, "Bar Bodega Bartrolí", Vallespir, street 41 in the Sants neighborhood and restaurant Gelida, Diputació street, 133 in the Eixample neighborhood. All very good
Thank you!
Okay taking notes!
Timing is everything. First time visit was Oct 2023 for last stop on ocean cruise. Us (900 passengers) and five other cruise ships had same idea. I figure just from the cruise ships we added 20K in population to city that day. Plus Spain was on four day Columbus Day holiday so lots of residents in town. Much too crowded. Next time was first stop on another ocean cruise (Apr 2024) the low season as some say. Still crowded. When went our own way and missed much of crowds. We used suggestions from travel writer consultant Rick Steves. Word of warning; America's Cup yacht race is scheduled for Aug-Oct 2024 which will bring crowds.
which bodega was this one? Thank you. I want to try the Indigena and maybe buy it to bring it on our cruise. Is it super dry? Does it have any trace of sweetness in it? Thanks again.
''Merci'' wasn't took from the french, it comes from the old expresion to say thank you ''Moltes mercès''. It's still used in some VERY formal e-mails. But on common speech you'll always hear the shortened version ''Merci''.
it really says something when you are rating wine beacause reasons? insteaf of it is good or not
I cant wait to go to barcelona!! (Im from barcelona)
We visited Barcelona from Athens last year and wanted to stay there and never come back. We felt it as our home, we fell in love. Barcelona is so beautiful. We are definitely going back to Spain to explore other cities to.
Yes! Go also to Madrid, Segovia, Córdoba... Spain is so much more than Barcelona
Would be grateful if you could add the names of what you ate in Maleducat
My students learning English in Korea will listen this tour guiding clip to practice lisening! You are so clear and fun❤❤❤
Great video, what I would be interested in is the weekly shopping of Tara. What does her weekly shopping and menu for the family look like.
Great collaboration with Patrick!
Went on Devour's Tapas Taverns & History and Gaudi Tours in March 2023. Easy, informative, fun and well worth the price. Also learned a lot from James & Patrick's videos. Thank you!
Hi great video. I've just downloaded your tapas guide and saw La plata in Barcelona as a recommendation which stood out to me as you didnt need to reserve and as I'm visiting with children this would probably be a better fit for us.
Do you have any recommendations for good food in the Sants Montjuic area?
Hello new subsciber here ,Is there a way you can vlog about where’s public bathrooms incase people need to use it,so that we have an idea.
It’s a really big city so without knowing where you will be using them, I can tell you that the beachfront has plenty of bathrooms every 200-300m. They are next to the bars where the promenade is at the same level as the sand, and underneath the promenade where it is above the beach. In Plaça Catalunya there are public bathrooms next to the tourist office which is underneath the square next to Portal de l’Angel and the El Corte Inglés department store. You can also find bathrooms inside this store at every other level. Generally speaking, the main train stations will also have bathrooms, and public buildings such as council buildings (ajuntament) or libraries (biblioteca). And of course restaurants and bars, although it is courteous to buy something as these are mainly for customers. So you could stop for a coffee or cold drink and use the bathroom in a pinch.
Excellent video!
Visited la Sagrada Familia hace Mas de 20 years ago. It is really more impressive in person, but would never do it again, especially not in high tourist season.
How can use those family tickets in the metro? One person goes through and passes back the ticket for next? Is this going to be one ride out of eight?
I LOVE that the two creators I watched before going to Barcelona are doing a video together. I feel like our trip was a nice blend of must sees and chill local vibes. Will confirm after I finish watching
Our Splurge restaurant was an incredible spot: Restaurant Prodigi
The very first place we ate upon arriving was Casa Amalia and lemme just say that was also incredible but we had just arrived, showered and were a bit exhausted and were adjusting to being there still so we were probably a lot but that was also wonderful and great way to start our trip.
Hi! Love your videos ..how is the weather in September?
The weather is very good in September here. Warm and sunny but not excessively hot like it is in July and August. You can still go to the beach and the sea is warmer too 👍
Parés Baltà winery is amazing!🎉
Fantastic video. Wish I could have seen it in May before my visit to Barcelona.
Another tourist guide video and I start eating shoes
What does the "1 Zona" mean on the screen with the Metro tickets?
Hola ! Nice Video. If you don't want to spend lots of time in learning language then it is best way to learn some most useful phrase. and that too for some most repetitive conditions. Like in Medical condition what to say.. In Airport what to say...in Restaurant...etc. Here there is a book which have such most frequently used phrases in Portuguese, German, Spanish, Italian and French. Go for it. “START SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGES: TRAVEL GUIDE FOR CONVERSING IN EUROPEAN LANGUAGES.” this book will definitely help to use European language without learning it.
Hallo, James, I am a catalan girl from Barcelona, but you should first get in touch with catalan people to explain a couple of things about catalan way of life and culture. At least people who reproduce the catalan pronunciation. You shouldn't tell, like your mate does, "gràcies" is pronounced like the spanisch "gracias" but with other spelling... 🙄 It also hurts me you recommend other parts of the city for tourism, we already are too much "touristized". Otherwise paying 110,-€ for a meal shows only it is a touristic location, sorry about that. Anyway I appreciate the quality and good intentions of your videos.
I love it when favorite Channels team up! Way to go guys! Just returned from Barcelona Sep 1… La Vuelta y Barcelona was Fantastico!!
Glad you had a great time.
Hello James from Walnut Creek, California. The San Francisco east bay area. Absolutely love your videos.