1. Use public transport
It is very cheap and very reliable. A carnet of 10
journeys cost only about 8€
and can be used on buses, trams and the metro.
2. Take
advantage of the "Menu del día" (Menu of the day)
Virtually every restaurant does this and it costs around 9€ to 11€
for a very good 3 course meal (plus bread and wine/beer/water). This is
only applicable during the working week and practically all of the
locals do this.
3. Explore
by walking
Barcelona is a very compact city.
There are many shops in the L'Eixample area including the famous
Passeig
de Gracia street. It is easy to walk down to the gothic area, into Las
Ramblas and then the beach and port.
4. Don't
over tip
This is something difficult to get
used to if you are from UK or US but 5% is considered a very generous
tip. In a restaurant, no matter the type of restaurant or size of the
bill, tips of 2€ are typical. Many people don't tip at all and
only tip if you think the service was worth it.
5. Be
aware of muggers
Not losing your wallet is most definitely one way to
save money. Mugging
is rife in Barcelona and is perhaps one of the worst places in Europe
for this. Mugging takes place day and night, mostly in the tourist
areas. Make sure any bags you carry are zipped up and that you do not
leave wallets/purses or bags lying around in bars or restaurants - even
if you think that you are watching them.
6. Avoid
eating and drinking in Las Ramblas
Unless of course you want to soak
up the incredible atmosphere. Prices here are normally at least double.
Be aware that a large sangria will cost around 10€.
7. Take
advantage of free activities
Parc Güell, the port, the beach, Montjuic and
entry into the Olympic stadium are all free activities.
8. Bicing
Barcelona offers an excellent
bicycle hiring service. There are automatic bicycle stations all around
the Barcelona and once you have an account, you can use the service as
much as you like.
9. Shop around
There is often a large discrepancy
in prices in Barcelona. For exactly the same product, prices can vary
around 40%. This is even true in supermarkets.
10. Visit Raval
This
area is full of character and
in some way is similar to Bethnal Green in East London. It is diverse
with immigration, prices are very cheap and many young locals are
flocking to this area to live.
