We asked our local friends in Barcelona about the secret guilty pleasures they enjoy on their day to day lives; being eating ultra-caloric ¨xurros¨ while on a diet, or emptying their lungs every time Lionel Messi scores a goal for Barcelona FC even though some of them know almost nothing about football. We managed to compile a quirky bucket list of the unusual things to do in Barcelona by the locals, and we laughed a lot when talking to them. All of these local tips are totally off the beaten path.
Do you wanna read why? Here they are, the Barcelona most beloved secret things to do by the locals:
RUNNING AROUND WORLD HERITAGE BUILDINGS
You hate the tourist crowds, you have to stand them taking their selfies all year long in front of these fairy tale buildings that your ancestors built, so you wake up at 6 am and run around the Barcelona Golden Quarter to enjoy its beauty, just for yourself!
DRINK ICE TEA AT FREDERIC MARES OUTDOOR SEATING ON YOUR OWN
This is one of the most well-kept secrets for locals in Barcelona. At the city bustling center, there is an idyllic outdoor seating cafe, and locals like to go there on their own, the Hans Solo Barcelona adventure within the Gothic Quarter! Who said that a stroll at this touristic area cannot be off the beaten path?
Tip: check out this rooftop bars guide for awesome drinking experiences in Barcelona
PRETEND THAT YOU ARE TOURIST IN YOUR OWN CITY
Grabbing a glass of Orxata (tiger´s milk) at the iconic Sirvent Orxateria (located at Carrer de Parlament 56) and taking a walk to the Montjuic Magic Fountain to mingle with the tourist crowd and enjoy the breathtaking city views from the palace is the choice of many. An unforgettable and fun thing to do in Barcelona!
TALKING ABOUT THE AGBAR TOWER
How many times did you end up laughing with your friends about what Agbar Tower means for your city? It is a long hard talk, and yet, you will do it again!
PARTYING ALL NIGHT LONG JUST TO EAT FRESH XURROS NEXT MORNING
Who said that the Mediterranean lifestyle was healthy? Well, there are some exceptions, and Xurreria San Roman is there to support your cause after a long night of Catalan rumba.
(photo credit: El Periodico)
TAKING THE LIGHT RAIL TO THE COLLSEROLA PARK
It’s the perfect escape from Barcelona without actually, you know, leaving the city.
GO OUT FOR SHOPPING AT FOOD MARKETS
The perfect healthy plan for the lazy one who is missing mom-and-pops delicious food, the same one that Barcelona Eat Local Food Tours provides to their happy customers! Go to La Boqueria, Sant Antoni or Santa Caterina city markets and buy ready-to-eat food for your lazy weekend. Bon profit!
BEING A BARCELONA FC FAN WITHOUT BEING CAPABLE OF DIFFERENTIATING FOOTBALL FROM SOCCER
You might not know anything about football, but every time FC Barcelona scores at Camp Nou, your lungs contribute to that slight tremor that is felt in the city, GOOOOL! If it happens that your friends dragged you to any of the city sport tapas bars, you´ll certainly empty your lungs while hugging anyone besides you, and when Barcelona FC wins a trophy, you climb trees at Las Ramblas. Still, you don’t know the basics of soccer.
(photo credit: Dailymail.co.uk)
NO NEED FOR USING MAPS, UP IS MOUNTAIN AND DOWN IS SEA AND PARTY, THIS IS ACTUALLY A USUAL THING TO DO IN BARCELONA
That slight slope the city has, allows you to understand where is the sea and the beach, and you love that idea. Thanks to the gravity forces you will land by the sea and someone will ask you, in an Asian accent, if you would like a cold beer for 1 euro. Better you get to Barceloneta for a genuine beer and tapas experience.
FASHION STARTS RIGHT HERE, IN BARCELONA!
Woody Allen bought his rimmed glasses on one of his visits to Barcelona, and now everyone wears similar ones all over the world, but wait, there are plenty of new local and trendy designs waiting for your pretty face.
Tip: At our Sant Antoni and El Poblesec Food Tour we take our customers to one of Woody´s favorite lifetime restaurants.
THAT WE DON´T NEED SAINT VALENTINES AS WE HAVE SANT JORDI
Why following the flock? We have a flower business with a romantic purpose and we make sure men read at least one book a year! During Sant Jordi, women get a flower and men a book. Isn’t that unusual?
(photo credit: barcelonabeats)
THAT ¨BIKINIS¨ARE, ACTUALLY A SANDWICH
No kidding, just go to any tapas bar and have the guts to order a bikini! Be sure you are hungry, this is one of the best Barcelona signature sandwiches.
(photo credit: gastronomyblog.com)
IN BARCELONA WE CELEBRATE A SHITTY CHRISTMAS
During Christmas celebrations, there is no Santa Claus, but a guy who poops sweets for the kids! And we all love him!
PICTURING LOCAL ICE-CREAM AT ROCAMBOLESC
One of the best pastry chefs in the world: Jordi Roca, happens to be Catalan, and he just opened an ice-cream parlor in Barcelona, so guess what happens next. His delicious creations are getting more photo-clicks than Gisele Bündchen. This happens only in Barcelona!
(photo credit: La Vanguardia.com)
Barcelona guilty pleasures are brought by the locals who work, live in and wanderlust this wonderful city every day, and we really recommend to put some of these unusual things to do in Barcelona on your bucket list. A big MERCI to all of them who contributed to this blog post, their identities remain confidential and now we are looking to hear from you, would you like to tell us how is to enjoy Barcelona like a local? Just post a comment on our Facebook page and we´ll include you in this post. Be good and healthy!
Barcelona Eat Local Food Tours cater culinary experiences at off the beaten path locations of this Mediterranean city, we eat where the locals go and we love to take curious foodies around! We operate food tours at:
- The Sant Antoni & El Poble-sec districts where traditional and yet trendy cuisine mingles in an incomparable way.
- The Gothic and La Barceloneta districts where we stroll through old taverns and tapas bars.
- El Born District where we run a unique wine tasting experience.
- The Barceloneta, where Barcelona´s beer revolution has found its grounds within epic tapas bars.
Hope you enjoyed this read and that we´ll see you around!
