After spending a few days at a women’s retreat in Malgrat de Mar — a quiet coastal town about an hour north of Barcelona — I decided to stay on for another five days to explore the city. I’d been to Spain before, but there’s something about Barcelona that feels different: the mix of beaches and art, Gaudí’s dreamy architecture, and the easy rhythm of Mediterranean life.
This trip turned out to be one of my favourite solo getaways — part relaxation, part curiosity, and full of lessons for mindful, budget-friendly travel.
Getting Around Barcelona
Barcelona’s public transport is one of the best I’ve experienced in Europe — clean, efficient, and easy to navigate once you understand how tickets work.
I used the T-mobilitat card, which costs €1 and can be recharged at machines in metro and train stations. A single journey ticket costs €2.65, but I recommend purchasing a 24-hour unlimited travel ticket for €11.60 if you plan to make five or more journeys. There are also 48-hour and 72-hour options, as well as a 10-ride ticket for those who prefer flexibility. This site often offers transportation and other tickets at lower prices.
📝 Tip:
You’ll need to buy your ticket from the machines before boarding — Barcelona’s metro and trains don’t accept contactless payments (Oct 2025). There are usually only two machines per station, so allow extra time if you’re catching a train to the airport or heading out early.
Getting from Malgrat de Mar to Barcelona by train costs €6.10, while the metro to the airport costs €5.60.
If you love walking, though, Barcelona is made for it. I ended up exploring most neighbourhoods on foot — it’s the best way to feel the city’s rhythm, stumble upon hidden cafés, and take in the architecture. Renting a city bike is also an option via AMbici, which offers electric bikes with a pay-as-you-go system, making it a good choice for visitors. It costs 0.15€ for the first 30 minutes, then 0.50€ for the next 30 minutes, up to 2 hours. After that, each additional hour is charged 5€. You can also purchase a daily pass (€5), a 48-hour pass (€9), or a 72-hour pass (€12).
If you want a more peaceful day at the beach and to avoid crowds, such as on the most popular beach, Playa de Barceloneta, arrive at Playa de Bogatell around 10 am, and order anything off the menu at the beach bar for daily use of sunbeds and umbrellas.
Exploring the City on Foot
Barcelona is full of photo-worthy corners. While I didn’t go inside every famous attraction, I still admired most of Gaudí’s masterpieces from the outside — including Casa Batlló, La Pedrera, and of course, the Sagrada Família.
Entrance tickets to Sagrada Família start at €26 (plus €10 for tower access) and usually sell out weeks in advance, so book early if you’d like to go inside.
If you’re travelling on a budget, you can still enjoy these landmarks: peek into the gift shops or nearby cafés for free glimpses of the interiors, or simply sit outside and people-watch.
📝 Tip:
Other travellers mentioned that arriving at Park Güell before 9:30 a.m. often lets you enter before ticket checks begin — saving the €18 entry fee.
The temperature reached 26 °C during my visit, so I recommend wearing SPF — especially if you have fair skin.
Food and Drink Favourites
Since I stayed in a hostel with an equipped kitchen, I cooked most of my meals — a great way to stay healthy and balanced while travelling solo. Some good grocery stores are Condis, Mercadona and Spar. But I did make time for some local flavours and discoveries.
A highlight of my trip was joining a walking gastronomy tour that included tastings from local markets and patisseries. You can book it directly here; it’s a great way to learn about Catalan food culture and meet fellow travellers.
I also discovered Mercat de Santa Caterina — a vibrant, fresh food market we visited on the tour. I opted for cod croquetas, cous cous with veggies and sugar-free biscuits for lunch. After the tour, I treated myself to a croissant from Brunells patisserie – awarded the best croissant in Spain — crispy on the outside, buttery on the inside, a great discovery on the tour.
If you love fresh juices and smoothie bowls, you’ll find plenty of small spots around to grab one on the go. For acai bowls and smoothies, try Tizana. If you love sugar-free ice cream, visit Forn De Pa La Virreina – they are selling 100% pure fruit ice cream for 2.70 EUR or with a chocolate finish for 3.60 EUR. I’d also recommend Las Tapas in the Gràcia area for good sangria and tapas in a relaxed setting.
Even though I didn’t eat out much, I saved several other highly rated restaurants for my next visit — and will list a few of them.
If you enjoy mindful travel, you might also like my post on Healthy Eating on the Go, where I share easy meal prep ideas for trips.
Dance, Culture & Nightlife
One of the most unexpected highlights of my stay was discovering Barcelona’s Latin dance scene. Outdoor socials were happening in the evenings, some right by the beach, and even an event near the Design Museum, hosted by a local salsa school.
A few nights later, I visited Seven Dance, which also hosts salsa and bachata socials. It’s a fun way to connect with locals while travelling solo. The entrance cost €9, and you needed to download an app to register with your ID — a bit much for travellers just dropping in, but the venue and dance floor were great. The downside: the bar doesn’t offer tap water and only sells 50cl bottles for €3.
During the day, I also visited the Design Museum properly — tickets were €6 and included access to four permanent exhibitions. If you enjoy art or fashion, it’s definitely worth it.
Practical Travel Tips
Here are a few small but useful things that made my trip smoother:
- Earplugs and an eye mask: essential if you’re staying in a hostel or shared room.
- SPF and water bottle: Barcelona’s sun is strong, even in autumn.
- Good walking shoes: many streets have cobbled or uneven surfaces, so choose comfort over style here.
- Arrive early at attractions: not just for photos, but also to avoid queues.
- Use Google Maps: save spots you want to visit for easier navigation.
If you need a haircut, try Nuska & Corto&Cambio, both offer a wash and blow-dry for as little as €18. Prices accurate as of Oct 2025.
Final Thoughts
Barcelona surprised me in the best ways — not only for its beauty and history, but also for how easy and enjoyable it was to explore on my own. Between early morning walks, late-night dancing, and beach swims in October, I left feeling recharged and inspired.
Whether you’re visiting for a weekend or a week, my biggest advice is to slow down — skip a few tourist spots, wander, and let the city reveal itself one street at a time.
You might also enjoy:
– Healthy Eating on the Go
– My Favourite Tools for Planning the Perfect Trip
