
Més que una ciutat. More than a city.
By Akhil Mithal · Barcelona, Spain
In the summer of last year, my friends and I went on a post-high school graduation trip to Barcelona. It was the ultimate budget holiday — 13 cash-strapped boys straight out of boarding school looking to make the most of what little they had to spend. It’s safe to say that all of us managed to do just that. We realized that what makes Barcelona unique is that there is truly something for everyone, as cliché as that might sound. When we weren’t in our big group, at a bar, or on the beach, we split up into smaller groups and wandered around the city, always finding something good to eat or new to see.
I was able to book a $27 ticket plus Avios (British Airways’ equivalent of miles) from London — where I was in boarding school — to Barcelona, and a $220 ticket onward to New York five days later. It’s definitely worth using websites like Kayak and seeing what miles you might be able to use if you have a certain type of credit card. Don’t be daunted if the first figure you see is way above what you thought it might — if you do a bit of digging and improvisation, you can often reduce this price by 20–30%. Our accommodation was also inexpensive and very comfortable. We were able to get a 5 bedroom Airbnb, with a kitchen, washing machine and two bathrooms, walking distance from the Sagrada Familia for only €30 per night per person. Make sure you do thorough research before confirming your apartment because the City of Barcelona is clamping down on companies posing to be individuals.
The most rewarding way to get to the know the city is to spend the first few days of your stay walking whenever possible. The contrast of Barcelona’s hyper-urban postmodern grid system with its old Gothic Quarter housing more traditional European squares or “plaças,” makes it a lovely city in which to do this. Barcelona is famed for having a unique approach to urban planning — its designer intended to seamlessly intertwine the older parts of the city with newer ones. The result of this gives the city a unique feel, unparalleled in any city of a similar size. Having said this, you can find yourself walking a lot more than you have to because maps on phones often don’t represent how long distances can actually be. So, it’s definitely worth investing in an unlimited ride Metro pass, especially if you’re going to be there for 4 or 5 days. The pass also works on the bus system which is easy to track and relatively reliable. Taxis– Uber and Lyft are not permitted in the city — are also quite inexpensive, especially if you can split the cost amongst a group. If you’re returning to your apartment in the early hours of the morning, they’re often the best bet in terms of getting home safely.
My favorite part about Barcelona is that there is truly something for everyone in the city, and it’s a perfect place to go if you want to a combination of sightseeing, nightlife and seaside relaxation. If you’re a soccer fan, a trip to the famous Camp Nou is a must — and if you’re in the city between August and May, try and get tickets to see a match. Barcelona has a vibrant jazz scene — spend an evening at the Harlem Jazz Club in the Gothic Quarter featuring local musicians and open improv sessions. Close by, the Picasso Museum houses an unparalleled collection of the artist’s formative works, right in the center of one of the birthplaces of the Spanish Cubist movement. And wherever you look, you can see the influence of the futuristic visions of Antoni Gaudí on the city’s unique landscape. Nowhere is this more apparent than at la Sagrada Familia, Barcelona’s iconic landmark. Try to book in advance, but if you can’t get in, don’t worry, the outside is just as impressive.
“My favorite part about Barcelona is that there is truly something for everyone in the city..”

Amongst this, of course, eating is all-important, especially if you’re thinking about budget. Famed for its elaborate gastronomic culture, Barcelona’s food scene can seem intimidating and sometimes overpriced. The key is to avoid the tourist traps, and when you find yourself in one, make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into. Not only will the food be more expensive, but it will also often be of worse quality. Although tapas is probably the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about Spanish food, it is actually native to Andalucía in southern Spain, not Barcelona. Even though it has since migrated up north, Barcelona’s specialty is its Mediterranean seafood, and fresh fruit. You can find all of this and a lot more at el Mercat de La Boqueria, a vibrant open-air market located just off La Rambla, Barcelona’s main high street. My friends and I went back on multiple occasions and had delicious meals every time. Budget wise, if you limit yourself to two small meals a day and one big one, you won’t find yourself spending too much money on food. At dinners, especially if you’re in a large group, the key is to get a family-style dish that everyone can share. Even if everyone has a side dish, you can keep the bill under €15 per person. Barcelona is also the perfect place to take advantage of Europe’s more lenient drinking laws. I’d highly recommend Rubi’s Bar located in the heart of the Gothic Quarter — the atmosphere is great, the drinks are cheap but good, and the music is perfect.
Before going on my trip, I thought that being able to able to speak Spanish would have been more helpful than it was, and was surprised that all the street signs were in Catalan and most people spoke Catalan whenever possible. As historical evidence and the recent Catalonian independence movement show, the pride of the city’s natives in their identity has not wavered. In addition, its natural draw as a big city close to the south of France, as well as its popularity as a tourist destination in the summer makes Barcelona feels truly cosmopolitan. I feel that the formation of the city’s identity is a result of the seamless integration of the city’s native Catalan population, its immigrants and its visitors, the result of which is something genuinely authentic.
This article was published in the Spring 2018 issue, Budget Travel.
About the writer
Akhil Mithal is from New Delhi, India. His favorite city is London, England because it has a unique history but still feels international.
About Guac
Guac is an award-winning travel publication run by an interdisciplinary group of students at Cornell University. We aim to inspire our readers to celebrate cultural diversity and view the world with an open mind through delivering unique stories from people around the world.
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