Things Not To Do In Barcelona

The beautiful city of Barcelona welcomes millions of tourists every year. It’s one of the safest cities for foreigners because it has a strong security setup and well-developed infrastructure. Despite all of this, it’s very important to know about the things not to do in Barcelona. Keeping such things in mind can make your trip awesome and more enjoyable. Respecting local culture and customs is key to making our vacation perfect wherever we are.

Talking about locals, they are friendly, welcoming, and always ready to help visitors. They don’t disturb you, but help you when you need it. So, never hesitate to approach them for guidance about directions and tips to make your travel easier. Knowing what not to do in Barcelona is just as important as knowing what to do in Barcelona. So, we prepared a guide on things not to do in Barcelona to enjoy the trip to its fullest.

14 Things Not To Do In Barcelona

We can make the most of our time in Barcelona by planning wisely, respecting locals, and being open-minded. I spent a few hours reading blogs to learn about the good and unusual things other tourists did in Barcelona. Before leaving the Boston Logan International Airport, we were well-prepared to begin our journey with confidence. Scroll down to read the complete guide and discover the things you should avoid in Barcelona.

1- Don’t Be Careless About Your Belongings

Barcelona is generally a safe city with an impressive security system, but just like Copenhagen and other tourist destinations, snatching and petty theft can occur. Tourists are primary and easy targets of street criminals. So, keep your valuables safe by staying alert and keeping an eye on your luggage. It’s important to stay aware of your surroundings, which isn’t a difficult thing to do for the safety of your valuables.

2- Avoid Taking Taxis To Get Around The City

Getting a taxi in Barcelona means you have to pay many times more than for public transport. It’s an easy, faster way to get around the city, but not as reliable and affordable as other available options. Taxi drivers can also take advantage of you as a tourist by overcharging and deliberately taking long routes. So, getting a taxi should be one of the things not to do in Barcelona unless you really need it.

3- Validate Your Ticket Before Boarding

Every tourist should prefer public transport to get around the city. The city has an impressive public transport system, which connects every part of the city efficiently to make travel within the city easy. Unlike Paris and other European destinations, the public transport ticketing system works differently in Barcelona. You have to scan and validate your ticket before boarding, especially on trains and the metro. Boarding without validating your ticket can cause problems, so don’t forget to do it.

4- Don’t Limit Yourself to Central Barcelona

Barcelona is a big city where some of the best experiences can be found outside the city center. The surrounding areas of the city center are more relaxing, diverse, and best to live like a local. Many fun things to do and tourist-friendly places are located outside the city center, which you shouldn’t miss. So, make sure to explore every tourist attraction wherever it is located.

5- Don’t Try To Explore Everything In a Day

Only visit Barcelona when you have enough time to explore the city properly and enjoy its main attractions without rushing. It’s a wonderful city that needs your time, attention, and curiosity to experience its hidden beauty and charm. Rushing can make your trip stressful and prevent you from enjoying the moments you’ve spent money on. If I talk about myself, when I was thinking about what not to do in Barcelona, ​​the first thing that came to mind was rushing to explore the city.

6- English isn’t Spoken Everywhere

Barcelona is an international city where people from around the world come for their holidays, studies, and business. Many foreign tourists and students can be seen wandering around the city, with whom you can easily communicate in English. Some taxi drivers were also speaking English when we were looking for transport from Barcelona Airport to the City Center. But don’t expect that everyone in Barcelona can understand English, so it’s helpful to learn a few basic Spanish or Catalan words. Below are some basic phrases in Spanish:

• Hello: Hola
• Goodbye: Adiós
• Excuse Me: Perdón
• I don’t understand: No entiendo
• How much does it cost? ¿Cuánto cuesta?
• Can you help me? ¿Puede ayudarme?
• Where is the Train Station? ¿Dónde está la estación de tren?

7- Keep Your Dress Simple & Appropriate

Dressing strongly impacts your personality, and you never want to ignore how you present yourself in different cultures. Don’t wear unsuitable outfits as they can create a wrong impression. Strolling through the streets shirtless is considered unethical in Barcelona. So, wearing short dresses should be one of the things not to do in Barcelona. Keep your dressing simple, appropriate, and comfortable to avoid unwanted attention.

8- Respect Locals And Their Culture

Your travel experience in Barcelona will be more pleasant when you respect local culture and traditions. Barcelona is a socially and politically active city, and it’s normal to see gatherings on domestic and national issues. You don’t need to get involved in their local matters and disrespect their opinions. Disrespecting others isn’t allowed, and you should add it to your list of things not to do in Barcelona.

9- Avoid Eating and Shopping on Las Ramblas

One of the important things not to do in Barcelona is to eat or shop on La Rambla. It’s a famous street among tourists that runs through many parts of central Barcelona. Every tourist visits La Rambla to experience its lively atmosphere and tree-lined walkways. We stayed a week near this street and suggest you enjoy a walk, but avoid eating and shopping there. Everything is overpriced to take advantage of tourists, and the food is also not as tasty as it is in other parts of Barcelona.

10- Be Aware of Tourist Traps

Be aware of common tourist traps, which can cost you more and fail to provide a memorable experience. Such traps can be found even in the safest tourist destinations, including Rome, Munich, and Zurich. Taxi drivers and local shopkeepers may try to charge you high prices because they know you’re a tourist and may not be familiar with actual rates. So, don’t get scammed by ignoring what to do and what not to do in Barcelona.

11- Think Before You Walk Long Routes

Barcelona is a big city spread over a wide area between the Mediterranean Sea and the Collserola Mountains. Don’t assume you can explore the entire city on foot. Before going on a walking tour, you should take a look at the route and the conditions of the streets and roads. You may get tired due to the hilly streets in some parts of the city. So if you love walking, choose the right place when deciding where to stay in Barcelona.

12- Expect Crowds at Tourist Attractions

Prepare yourself to explore the major tourist attractions in crowds. Many tourists think they can avoid crowds by visiting major tourist attractions early in the morning. If you also think so, you are wrong. Assuming you can explore the tourist attractions without crowds is one of the things not to do in Barcelona. However, purchasing tickets in advance can help you enter easily and avoid long queues.

13- Stay Calm and Behave Respectfully

Your behaviour can make or destroy your impression wherever you are. Spanish people generally stay calm, speak politely, and treat others with respect in their daily routine. They expect the same gentle behavior from you, even if you’re upset about something in a restaurant or bar. Showing respect to others creates a positive impression and helps you build happy interactions with locals.

14- Tipping at Restaurants Isn’t as Important as in Other Countries

You’ll definitely visit many restaurants, bars, and cafes to enjoy Spanish cuisine and drinks. Don’t be surprised to know that you don’t need to leave a tip after getting service from a waiter. Tipping isn’t a common practice in Spanish culture, and you should respect it by adding unnecessary tipping to your list of things not to do in Barcelona. We were unaware of it and left a tip on the table, and saw the waiter rushing towards us to return our money.

Top Things To Keep In Mind Before Visiting Barcelona

As we’ve discussed, there are many things to keep in mind to visit Barcelona in a true sense. We can avoid common mistakes that tourists make by keeping these things in mind. It helps us to make sure a smooth, safe, and enjoyable trip. We have shortlisted the important things not to do in Barcelona, which are as follows:

• Keep your luggage safe
• Use public transport to get around the city
• Understand the ticketing system before getting into a train, metro, or bus
• Take time to explore the city
• Explore everything before you leave
• Dress like a gentleman or a lady.
• Learn some simple Spanish words
• Respect everyone
• Avoid giving tips to waiters
• Walk after proper planning
• Don’t fall for traps
• Behave positively

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Conclusion

Visiting Barcelona was a great experience, and we came back with unforgettable memories. We had heard many positive things about Spanish culture and traditions, which we experienced very closely during our trip. Learning what not to do in Barcelona helped us a lot to make our trip perfect and enjoyable. To make your trip to Barcelona smooth and perfect, you should take advantage of our research and experiences. We hope this guide on the things not to do in Barcelona helps you make your trip one of the most memorable experiences of your life.