Barcelona is the perfect combination of the big city, beach, and mountains which makes the city one of the world's leading tourist destinations. Barcelona has a lot to offer from its culture, history, and art to gastronomy, architecture, relaxing parks, and not mention the world’s oldest magic shop, speakeasy bars, and secret restaurants. Yet, the greatest value to me is the kindness and compassion of Spanish people who can make your stay unforgettable.

✳️ Best time to visit

▪ May ~ mid-September

If you want to enjoy the beach this period is the perfect time to visit Barcelona. I would avoid August since by usually this time the sea warms up and jellyfish are present.

▪ October-May

If you prefer a more pleasant climate, less-crowded places, less waiting time at tourist attractions, and cheaper accommodation, recommend visiting during October - May. You still can go to the beach (open & free) but the sea will probably be too cold for a bath.

▪Fun fact

Barcelona is heaven for those women who are looking to undergo IVF treatment due to the excellent public & private healthcare system, advanced technology (Barcelona is a Health Tech hub), high success rates, and multilingual medical professionals.

✳️ Safety

Most of the countries have a consulate in Barcelona (embassies are in the capital) so make sure you have their contact details in case of lost documents or any other emergency.

▪Areas to need to avoid: La Rambla, the port & the district of Raval at night or when there are no people around. If you like legends, there is one about the Vampire of Raval.

▪Pickpocketing: Barcelona is generally a safe city. However, pickpockets are the main crime problem (generally not violent) mainly in the city center and near major tourist attractions. Keep your bags in front of you when walking in crowded places. In the metro, no wallet in your back pocket, and don't put phones, or cameras on tables at cafes and restaurants. It’s also an issue on beaches so if you plan to swim, I recommend renting a locker for your belongings.

✳️ Public transportation

If you prefer to discover the city on your own and create your own itinerary, the Barcelona public transport will be your best friend since it’s very convenient, reliable and you can get to the attractions easily.

You have the options:

▪Hola Barcelona Travel Card: It provides unlimited journeys on public transport for consecutive periods. ▪T-casual ticket: Individual 10-journey ticket, one journey is valid for 75 minutes when changing lines or mode of transport.

▪T-dia ticket: Individual ticket for an unlimited number of journeys in one day.

▪Moovit app: This is the app I use for public transport since it shows real-time arrivals. With this app, you can be completely independent and save money on the taxi ride.

✳️ Things to do on the first day

To start the first day in Barcelona, looking around the entire city can be a good choice. They guide you to some historical sights and famous attractions. It helps your understanding of new places at once. Here is information about the walking & bus tour.

▪Barcelona Free Walking Tour

▪Hop on Hop off Bus Tour

▪ Barcelona Night Tour Bus

✳️ The apps to help organize your trip

▪Barcelona beaches: This is the website of the city and provides real-time updates about the occupation level, sea conditions, water quality, and jellyfish presence on the Barcelona beaches, and you’ll also find useful info about activities, living, and working in Barcelona.

▪Nextdoor app: If you’d like to discover and connect with people in your neighborhood or exchange recommendations, check this app out

▪My 112 app: I haven’t used this app but it can be an interesting option. If you call the emergency operator from the app, it automatically sends your location to the operator so they can locate you more quickly (only works in Spain).

👩 Alma Schiffer(IG: @almaporbarcelona) lives in Barcelona. Traveling and learning about new cultures is her passion. Recently, She creates some great designs that she gets inspiration from the famous Korean drama called Extraordinary Attorney Woo. Do you want to follow up on her next trip? Then find her in the NomadHer community. She is waiting for women travelers to share their travel stories and inspiration right now! You can connect to her through the NomadHer community now!