Spain
FAQs
What do we need to know about Spain?
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When is the best time to go to Barcelona?
Given the current feeling towards tourists in Barcelona, I would avoid the high season (although we went in July).
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What’s the best way to get to Barcelona?
We took the train from Paris and the journey was marvellous. For about $500 for 3 of us, we caught the Inoui to Barcelona. The journey took about 6 hours but the time seemed to pass easily.
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Is it safe? Will we need any vaccinations?
As with any tourist city, take care with your personal possessions. Pick-pocketing is high in Barcelona so be on alert. Extra vaccinations are not necessary for Spain. Drinking the local tap water is not recommended and hotels should provide you with daily water. Recently, tourists have been targeted in Barcelona so be mindful. For more information, check out smartraveler.gov.au.
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Will we need Visas?
Australian citizens so not require visas for Spain.
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How much should we budget?
We had breakfast included in our stay and we also used this service to pack sandwiches for lunch whilst we were out and about. So, all we needed to pay for was accommodation, Dinner and metro tickets (and attractions). Our daily budget was $320ish.
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Will I need local currency?
Some food vendors and restaurants prefer Euros so it’s recommended to keep about 100 euros in smaller notes with you.
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What’s the best way to travel around?
Taking the train is the best was to travel throughout Barcelona. It is affordable and easy.
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What about laundry?
There are laundrettes within reasonable walking distance. We paid a fee (about 20 euros) for a bag of laundry to be washed and dried, and it was ready the next day.
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What should I expect to eat and drink?
In Barcelona, you’ll have food-a-plenty with gelato galore. Try to find some paella for a true Spanish experience. Expect a little spice in your food.
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What are the family must-sees?
We enjoyed the train-funicular-cable car - castle (Montjuic) experience and it was quite cost effective if you have a metro ticket.
Visiting Sagrata Familia is a captivating experience. You must purchase tickets to Sagrata Familia in advance.
Also, a train trip to Park Guell is a cool family day out (albeit a very steep hill walk). We got a combo ticket which suited us well.
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What can our family do there if we’re on a budget?
Head to the Mercado de La Boqueria markets in Barcelona for a cheap and cheerful dinner. Do not buy anything; not food, drink or souvenirs anywhere in the vicinity of the Sagrata Familia if you don’t want to break the budget in a single moment.
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What should we expect with accommodation in Barcelona?
There are strict laws about how many people can occupy a room in Barcelona so don’t rock-up expecting to add an extra bed at the last minute (ask me how I know), even a note to the hotel on booking.com won’t suffice. Ensure that you book all the beds that you require at the start. We had a roof-top pool at our hotel and, although, it was tiny, it was welcome on a hot Barcelona day.