Now you’ve decided to backpack in Europe, your next decision is where to start. Well, there’s nowhere better to start your backpacking adventure than Barcelona. There are many great things to see and do in Barcelona at brilliant prices. Food and alcohol is also very reasonable as long as you avoid the obvious tourist traps by the big attractions.
Barcelona is a very smart place to start your backpacking adventure. Since you are in mainland Europe you can begin your travels easily without needing to resort to flying. First of all, before going anywhere it’s a good idea to have some idea of your accommodation options. Barcelona is known to have many great value hostels. I’d recommend Hostel One. This is a well-known highly rated hostel with beds from €16.
There is a wonderful atmosphere and it is regularly frequented by many backpackers so you might find some travelling buddies here. If you turn up and they are booked out, don’t worry as there are many other great hostels in Barcelona. Sant Jordi Arago and Casa Gracia Central are also highly rated on Hostelworld.com and known to be nice places to relax and meet similar thinkers. Also there are some great camping grounds near Barcelona. A great campsite just over 10km from Barcelona is ‘Camping Tres Estrellas’. It is also great as buses run quite regularly from Barcelona to the campsite.
While in Barcelona there are a few things you have to see. The first of these is the Sagrada Familia Cathedral. This cathedral is still under construction but is a truly magnificent and well worth a visit. It is architecturally amazing even before stepping in the doors and the history of its construction is fascinating. If you have a little extra money paying for a guided tour would be recommended. Or if not, just research the Cathedral beforehand to truly understand its magnificence. For those looking for some nightlife, there is a wide selection of evening entertainment. There is a huge amount of bars and nightclubs. Two of the best are the Tower Bar and La Fianna. Stop by and check out the atmosphere. Generally Fridays and Saturdays are extremely busy but also the most fun.
Even if you’re not an avid football fan, make time to go to FC Barcelona Stadium. It’s a great stadium with a little museum at the end for those truly interested in the sport. Try to take a walk along Las Ramblas to see the city but don’t order any food or drink here as it’s very expensive. Before leaving Barcelona, a great way to spend an afternoon is wandering around Parc Guell. The park is filled with Gaudi’s work and will not fail to impress you. From Barcelona you can hop on a train to start the rest of your backpacking trip. Travel to more cities or towns in Spain or cross the border to France to begin the next step in your journey.
