9 Don’t Do’s in Barcelona

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Ok, so when I began planning my trip to Barcelona I have to admit I failed to really investigate these Don’t Do’s ahead of time + learned the hard way as you’ll see farther down in this post. But I don’t want you to fall into the same trap as me.

I’ve created a list of things you might want to pay attention to before you visit Barcelona. Not to say that they are all things to avoid, rather things that you should know that will make your stay so much more enjoyable.

1. Don’t expect to see a bullfight

As of January 2012 the ruling by the Catalan government banned bullfighting in Barcelona + the Catalonia region came into effect citing that they saw it as animal torture. Four years later a Spanish court voted to overturn Catalonia’s bullfighting ban.

Despite the ban being lifted, the bullfights have not returned.

There is only one remaining bullfighting arena remaining in Barcelona, La Monumental. But it is now home to a museum (Musea Tauri) about bullfighting.

The nearest active bullfighting arena near Barcelona is about 200 miles away in Zaragoza.

2. Don’t think you’ll be allowed to smoke just anywhere

In most areas in Europe smoking is still very popular. However, as of January 2011 in Barcelona tobacco consumption is prohibited in all public buildings + on public transport, including taxis. You can’t smoke at workplaces, railway stations, bars, restaurants or nightclubs. It’s also not allowed on hospital grounds, health centers + schools. Previous rules such as separate smoking areas in restaurants or free choice in bars no longer exist.

Up until the ban Spain + Barcelona had a reputation whereby the smoking in pubs + bars was so heavy that you couldn’t see your hand in front of your eyes + that the smoking bans were consistently ignored. But this is definitely not true for Barcelona. Even the majority of smokers were actually in favor of the strict law. Recent polls show that about 70% of the people in Barcelona are now non-smokers.

3. Don’t plan on going to a nightclub before midnight

Lunchtime in Spain doesn’t hit it’s peak until 1:30-3:30pm. Dinner is usually around 8:30-10:30pm. So you can see that it wouldn’t make sense for nighttime adventures at the bars + clubs to start earlier than closer to midnight. Right? But what if I told you that it doesn’t really get into full swing until about 2am? Well, that is exactly what you can expect. 

Barcelona has a well-deserved reputation for having some of the best nightlife in Europe, from greasy dive bars to high-class beachfront clubs + pretty much everything in between. Clubs are almost always busy until the bars close their doors at 6 a.m.

Tip: Although Barcelona is pretty laid back in their dress code for nightlife, leave your shorts + flip flops at home. As a matter of fact the only other item looked down on is tennis shoes. Anything else goes.

4. Don’t think you’re smarter than pickpockets

After having an absolutely fabulous time in Barcelona we had an unfortunate occurrence during our stay. And although this is definitely an amazing city to which I hope to return it has one flaw that can’t + shouldn’t be overlooked: Barcelona has been coined with the title “Pickpocket Capital of the World.” Unbeknownst to us before our visit, unfortunately. Let me confirm: this is not just a rumor.

So here’s what happened. Roydio went out late on our last night in town to buy some water at the store which was about a block away from where we were staying. As he was walking back to our hotel which was located in a dark alley less than a block off the main promenade, he was approached by a guy trying to get him to come to a nightclub. When told no several times, the guy kicked his leg between Roydio’s legs. Thinking it was strange Roydio turned around ready for an altercation, then kept walking.

About a minute later another guy came up behind him + asked “is this your phone?” And it certainly was! Apparently guy #1 had used the “kick between the legs” method of pickpocketing to kick Roydio’s phone out of his pocket maybe thinking it was a wallet! Wow! Apparently Roydio’s broken phone was of no use to the pickpocket so he must have just dropped it on the street – at least that’s what we figured happened. 

To this day we still aren’t really sure. All we know is that you cannot carry things in your pockets at all because they have found creative ways to rob you.

Tip: keep your money, phone, etc. in a jacket or vest with inside pockets or wear a money belt under your clothes that is not visible to pickpockets. If they don’t see an opportunity they will leave you alone.

 5. Don’t wear your swim suit in the street

Barcelona has a pleasant Mediterranean climate year round + is particularly warm + sunny from May through October. With a large stretch of beach not far from the city center it’s as much a beach town as it is a cultural mecca. However, unlike some other vacation hotspots, don’t stroll the streets in a bikini or swimming trunks even if you’re heading to the seaside. You might be able to get away with it on the beachfront promenade but cover-up elsewhere. It’s not just considered tasteless + inappropriate, it’s actually illegal. You can be fined 100 to 200EU if you are caught walking around in skimpy beachwear. Even men wandering bare-chested in shorts is not acceptable.

 6. Don’t choose the wrong airport

Europe’s budget airlines are infamous for flying to airports that are nowhere near the actual cities for which they advertise. For example Ryanair describes both Girona + Reus as Barcelona airports even though they are a long way from the city proper. Expect to spend at least an hour getting to the center from either of these airports.

BCN is the airport you want. It is closest to Barcelona’s city center.

7. Screaming after quiet hours — they will pour water on you

Being loud after quiet hours (around 10-11pm), is a major faux pas + violating this rule has consequences. You know why locals always keep a carton of eggs handy? Because they throw them at people who are being too loud! Throwing water down from balconies is another popular punishment for loud visitors. It’s really just about being considerate of the people who live here. Not everyone in Barcelona is a tourist without early morning commitments.

8. Don’t think Barcelona is like the rest of Spain

Barcelona is known as the capital of Catalonia + Madrid is the capital of Spain. Even though Catalonia is part of the Spanish nation it is a distinct region that has its own customs that make it unique.

Catalonia is one of a few regions in Spain that has its own language apart from Castilian Spanish. Catalan is a romance language closer to French + Italian than Spanish or Portuguese.

Catalonian food is also different from the typical Spanish cuisine + most known for its specialties such as butifarra (a cinnamon pork sausage), fideuas (a type of noodle) + calcots (spring onions).

Tip: Try to learn a few Catalon phrases. Bon dia = good morning, perdo = excuse me, sisplau = please. The locals will really appreciate that you are aware of the region’s uniqueness + that they speak their own language. Try this Kindle edition app of the English-Catalonian phrase book

9. Don’t try to see it all

Don’t try to see all of even the most important sites in Barcelona in one visit. There are people who have lived here for years + are still exploring new sides of the city. I’ve been in Barcelona twice + haven’t even come close to seeing most of the places Barcelona is known for.

I would recommend that you plan to see one major attraction for each day of your visit. Slow down enough to have a local beer + do some people watching, take in the atmosphere. Savor the local cuisine (I’ll cover that in more detail in my Beginner’s Guide to the Best Food in Barcelona post). Try to just enjoy being here because the best part of the city is the city itself. Immerse yourself in the culture. Barcelona is a truly amazing place.

Barcelona is a great city filled with history + culture + fun! But you will enjoy it much more by considering the things I’ve mentioned above. You don’t need to necessarily blend in with the locals but you certainly don’t want to upset their way of life.

My next post will go more into detail regarding the food. Because this is definitely a subject that deserves a post all its own. Bon profit!

Click here to check out everything Barcelona has to offer + use it to book tickets, restaurant reservations, tours, etc. Goooooooaaaaaal!