Visiting or Moving to Barcelona? Here are 5 Things You Should Know.

The good, the bad, and the ugly.

This is the paid follow-up to I Felt Safer in Mexico Than I Do in Barcelona. If you don’t have a paid subscription, don’t worry. The last post was free, and the next one will be too. This post is for the people who help me pay for grad school and adventures with paid subscriptions—as well as those who have appeared in my blog posts and videos over the years. Thank you!

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Barcelona has stunning architecture, beautiful beaches, and delicious food. It’s a cosmopolitan city with people of virtually every culture calling it home. That diversity means you can sample much more than the traditional Spanish offers. Whether you want to attend Afrobeats festivals or listen to live music in an Irish pub, Barcelona has something for you.

Unfortunately, the city does have its dark side. Rent is high, and salaries are comparatively low. Sadly, some residents have responded by turning to crime. Getting robbed is almost a rite of passage in this city of towering cathedrals and Roman ruins.

Still, if you know what to expect and how to avoid trouble, you can have a fantastic time in Barcelona. Use these five tips to get started.

1. La Ciutat Vella is the worst part of town.

I spent both trips to Barcelona in La Ciutat Vella. It’s one of the most inexpensive parts of town for hotels and Airbnbs. It also puts you within walking distance of every attraction in Barcelona worth seeing. I know this because I walked to all of them from my location: