The English-language guide to Barcelona
Barcelona,
in plain English.
Where to go, what's on this week and who to know — independent guides, listings and trusted local businesses for visitors and everyone who lives here in English.
What's on
This week in Barcelona, in English
Meetups, dinners, sport and walks from the communities in our network — visitors and newcomers welcome.
🍷 AmigoUp: Vermuteo & Meet New People at Soul Market
Port Olimpic de Barcelona
AmigoUp Barcelona English Speakers Meetup, Residents only
Temple Bar Irish Pub
Concerts, culture & festivals
Live music, exhibitions and festivals around the city — no Catalan required.
Pur Funk: Clarence Bekker Band
Jamboree, Plaça Reial
MR SHINGLES SOUL & BLUES JAM SESSION (soul, blues, R&B)
Harlem Jazz Club
Classical Music Concert of Vivaldi, Mozart, Bach & more
Carrer de la Mercè, 1
Entradas para el Big Fun Museum. 8 museos en un sitio
Rambla de Sant Josep, 88
Visiting Barcelona
Plan a better trip
Honest, practical guides from people who live here — what's worth your time, what to book ahead and what to skip. Start with our top 20 attractions.
Top picks
The best things to do in Barcelona
Gaudí, markets, viewpoints and beach bars — the essentials, plus the local favourites tourists miss.
10 min read
Practical
Getting around Barcelona
Airport transfers, the right metro ticket, taxis and why walking is often fastest.
7 min read
Sun & sea
Barcelona's beaches, from busy to blissful
Barceloneta, Bogatell, Mar Bella and the better beaches a short train ride away.
Food & drink
Eating out in Barcelona: a guide for English speakers
Meal times, tapas etiquette, the menú del día, markets and how to dodge the tourist traps.
Further afield
The best day trips from Barcelona
Montserrat, Sitges, Girona, Tarragona and the Costa Brava — all reachable without a car.
Save money
Barcelona on a budget
Free viewpoints and museum days, cheap eats and the transport tickets that save money.
Neighbourhoods
Find your barri
Every neighbourhood has its own personality. Here's where to stay, eat and — if you're moving — live.
01
Gothic Quarter
Medieval lanes, Roman walls and the cathedral — the historic heart of the city.
- Historic
- Central
- Busy
02
El Born
Boutiques, cocktail bars and the Picasso Museum in medieval streets.
- Stylish
- Nightlife
- Boutiques
03
El Raval
Multicultural, creative and gritty, with MACBA and great vintage shopping.
- Creative
- Multicultural
- Edgy
04
Eixample
Modernista architecture and the famous grid, with Gaudí on every corner.
- Elegant
- Central
- Architecture
05
Gràcia
A village within the city — squares, independent shops and terraces.
- Local
- Bohemian
- Squares
06
Barceloneta
The old fishermen's quarter by the beach — seafood, bombas and sunshine.
- Beach
- Seafood
- Lively
07
Poblenou
Former factories, the tech scene and the best city beaches.
- Beaches
- Tech
- Relaxed
08
Sant Antoni
A food lover's neighbourhood around its grand restored market.
- Foodie
- Vermut
- Local
Where to stay
The best hostels in Barcelona
Party, social, quiet or by the beach — our picks for every kind of traveller.
Barri Gòtic
Kabul Party Hostel
Barri Gòtic
One of the city's best-known party hostels, right on Plaça Reial in the Gothic Quarter. Games room, sangria nights and pub crawls — come for the nightlife, not the sleep.
- Party
- Pub crawls
- Central
Eixample
Mediterranean Youth Hostel
Eixample
A family-feel hostel in a quiet part of the Eixample, with chef-cooked dinners (paella night is a favourite) and optional bar crawls.
- Social
- Dinners
Barri Gòtic
Itaca Hostel
Barri Gòtic
A small, quiet hostel in a bright old building near the cathedral — a calm base right in the Gothic Quarter.
- Quiet
- Small
- Central
Poblenou
Amistat Beach Hostel
Poblenou
A short walk from Bogatell and Mar Bella beaches, with daily activities like beach volleyball and paella nights, and a relaxed, local neighbourhood around it.
- Beach
- Activities
Living in Barcelona
Moving here? Start with these.
From the NIE appointment to your first friends, the practical side of building a life in Barcelona — in English.
All living guides- 1 Moving to Barcelona: the practical guide Visas, NIE and padró, healthcare, finding a flat and the scams to watch for.
- 2 Working in Barcelona in English English-speaking industries, remote work, going autónomo, coworking and networking.
- 3 Finding English-speaking services in Barcelona Doctors, dentists, gestors and lawyers who speak English — and emergency numbers to know.
- 4 Meeting people and finding your community in Barcelona Social clubs, sport, language exchanges and the English-speaking communities worth joining.
Directory
English-friendly places we love
Restaurants, pubs, shops and services where you'll be welcomed in English.
Food & drink
Milk Bar & Bistro
Barri Gòtic
Opened in 2005 by an Irish couple, back when nobody in Barcelona did brunch. Its "recovery brunch" has a cult following, and it becomes a cocktail bar in the evening.
- Brunch
- Cocktails
Food & drink
La Fianna
El Born
A laid-back bar-restaurant in a medieval building with stone walls and candelabras, serving tapas (with vegetarian options) and classic cocktails.
- Tapas
- Cocktails
Our communities
Find your people
Barcelona in English is the hub for a network of in-person communities. Pick the one that fits — or join them all.
AmigoUp
Meet people, make amigos, explore Barcelona
- Weekly socials
- Sport
- Dinners
Barcelona English Speakers
The social circle for English speakers who live in Barcelona
- Conversation
- Coffee meetups
- Activities
Irish in Barcelona
The Irish community in Barcelona — and friends of Ireland
- Irish pubs
- GAA
- St Patrick's Day
More communities
New groups are on the way
- Coming soon
Do people speak English in Barcelona?
What is the best time of year to visit Barcelona?
Is Barcelona safe for tourists?
How do I meet people in Barcelona?
For businesses
Reach the people searching for Barcelona in English.
Visitors planning a trip, newcomers settling in and thousands of English-speaking residents use our guides and communities. Put your restaurant, bar, clinic, school or service in front of them.