How to experience Barcelona like a local
Want to step out of the well-trodden path, and maybe even your comfort zone, when visiting Barcelona? Get some insider tips on how to experience Barcelona like a local!
By Fabiola Chirinos
09/30/2016
Travellers always seek the most authentic experience possible because they know that they’ll make the trip more than once: when they actually visit the city and every time they relive that visit. The Catalonian capital is one of those cities where it’s worth it to leave the usual tourist activities aside for a couple of days and get to know the habits and routines of the local residents, including what they do for fun. It’s a great way to make good friends who have first-hand knowledge of this city that has its own distinct identity and that can be equally enjoyable regardless of whether you’re travelling alone, with your partner or with your family.
With so many places of interest, it might seem impossible to find the time to get away from the typical tourist attractions. You don’t have to sacrifice a visit to those places. By simply choosing the right lodging option, you can get a look at how the locals live. There are a number of companies that rent tourist apartments, which provide visitors with a home away from home, where they can enjoy privacy, quiet surroundings and local neighbours.
Residential neighbourhoods are typically filled with parks and bakeries, which are great places to meet local families. Another advantage of staying in a tourist apartment is that the owners are generally attentive to the needs of their guests and are more than happy to make recommendations, based on their intimate knowledge of the area.
Sarrià is a charming neighbourhood for travellers looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, relax in peaceful surroundings and explore the area’s many green spaces. If you’re a fan of Gaudí, nearby you’ll find Bellesguard, one of the architect’s works that isn’t overrun by hordes of tourists. If you’re visiting in summer, you can enjoy concerts by local artists, which are held on the terrace during the night time hours of July and August. It’s a pleasant way to pass the time with some of the city’s inhabitants. The neighbourhood’s many elegant buildings lend it a certain sense of exclusivity.
Step out of your comfort zone
The official language of Barcelona is Catalan. Although people will understand you if you speak to them in Spanish or English, it’s not a bad idea to learn a couple of basic phrases. You can greet them with a ‘com va’, which means ‘how are you?’ And if you want to go a little further, you can say goodbye with a ‘ha sigut un plaer parlar amb tu’ (‘it has been a pleasure speaking with you’).
Another way to interact with the locals is to enrol in specialized courses or to attend fairs or conferences on a subject that interests you. There’s no better way to break the ice than by having a common interest. Being a hub of culture, Barcelona continually plays host to events of every kind. So there’s really no excuse for limiting yourself to activities that have been pre-organized by tour guides!