You may have heard that locals in Barcelona, one of the world’s most beautiful and visited cities, protested recently with squirt guns, chanting “Tourist Go Home,” complaining that they were ruining their city. So does that mean we stop visiting?
The answer is a big no. We visited in May, a few weeks before the summer rush, and while we did experience huge crowds in certain places, for the bulk of the 7 days we were there, we saw a charming city and couldn’t wait to return.
Bottom line: once you get the major attractions out of your system, as in the Sagrada Familia, the unfinished gothic church created by architect Antoni Gaudi over 150 years ago and some of the other Gaudi masterpieces in Barcelona, you’ll have the city to yourself. Well, maybe not to yourself, but very manageable. We were never turned away from a restaurant, even in the busiest places, hailing a cab was simple, we had no issue with pickpockets and we fell in love all over again with Barcelona, a city we had last visited in 2010.
With a few simple strategies, you can still enjoy, document the magic of Barcelona and take all the Selfies you’ve ever wanted, with plenty of room to move. And if you’ve never been there before, don’t be scared. You need to visit.
Timing is Everything
One of the golden rules for photographing Barcelona (or other European cities attracting huge crowds, like Amsterdam and Venice) is to start early and stay late. (And don’t visit in the summer!)
The city’s best sidewalk strolls, from Las Ramblas to Avinguda Diagonal, are like great free outdoor museums, with colorful architecture, the likes of which you won’t see anywhere else. And they are best visited at dawn, where there are few people on the streets, or dusk.
Itinerary:
La Sagrada Familia
Most people make this mistake before they leave: they don’t get around to reserving tickets for the great Barcelona attractions from home, and once they arrive, they’re sold out.
The no. 1 attraction in Barcelona is the great La Sagrada Familia, the gothic church started by architect Antoni Gaudi over 150 years ago and still under construction. Don’t forget to pre-book your tickets online—these popular spots often sell out, and securing your entry in advance will assure that you get in.
Inside the church, you’ll find yourself surrounded by intricate details and vibrant stained glass windows. Yes, it will be crowded (less so earlier in the day, natch!) but the place is so large and cavernous that there’s lots of room to move.
And while the crowds can be thick, patience is key. Wait a little bit, and people will step out of your frame—really.
Also, use the height of the building to your advantage. If there’s a crowd (of course there is) just reach over their heads and capture the grandeur by looking up. See example below? At the Sagrada the ceilings are as amazing as anything you’ve ever seen.
Exploring Las Ramblas and Beyond
Las Ramblas, the heart of Barcelona, is a bustling promenade lined with street vendors and a prime spot for pickpockets. (Be careful!)
People come to experience because it’s basically car free, and you can walk for blocks, people watching, souvenir shopping and stopping for plenty of opportunities for a tapas break. Again, the best experience is early in the morning before the crowds descend. And while this area is undeniably touristy, you can slip onto one of the side streets, where you’ll find fewer people, and the real charm of Barcelona. Here, you’ll find hidden gems and quieter scenes perfect for street photography.
Cathedral
You want to be in Barcelona on a Sunday, where around noon there’s the traditional Catalonian folk dance in the square, by the Barcelona Cathedral. Accompanied by a live orchestra, this event is a fantastic (and free) opportunity for street photography, capturing the local culture amidst a vibrant crowd. This was my favorite Barcelona moment, but then, I love music and watching local dances.
Barcelona’s Markets
La Boqueria Market is renowned as one of Europe’s great markets, but its fame means it’s often packed, even in the early hours. Here it was just too crowded for me. For a more relaxed experience, seek out smaller, less crowded markets where you can enjoy the local flavors and capture the essence of Barcelona’s culinary scene without the hustle and bustle.
Other options:
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Mercat de Sant Antoni: Location, Carrer del Comte d’Urgell, 1. Less touristy, and beyond local foods, there’s also clothes and books.
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Mercat de la Llibertat: Plaça de la Llibertat, 27. This market is in the Gràcia neighborhood, a small but vibrant market with a variety of stalls selling fresh produce, meats, seafood, and local Catalan products.
More Gaudí
The Sagrada isn’t the only Gaudi experience in Barcelona. Don’t miss:
- Park Güell offers a mosaic-covered wonderland with stunning views of the city, especially at sunset. Even though it’s a public park, you’ll need a ticket to enter, so plan ahead.
- The Casa Batlló, with its colorful and eccentric design, is a must-see due to its extraordinary and imaginative design, and is considered a masterpiece of modernist architecture.
In Venice, officials have tried to deal with overtourism by charging a meager 5 Euro a day to visit, as if that would stop anyone looking to visit one of the greatest cities in the world. I feel about Barcelona as I do about Venice: it’s truly one of a kind, with the architecture, art, local foods, great weather and walking. You can walk for miles with your eyes agog at what you’re seeing, while also beating the crowds.
Stay at a nice hotel, in a nice neighborhood, go out early and late in the day, and trust me, once you get Sagrada and other Gaudi attractions out of the way, you’ll love Barcelona like a local, and get great photos to remember forever.
