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Barcellona è una delle città più visitate dai turisti di tutto il mondo, con molte attrazioni come la Sagrada Familia, il Camp Nou, senza dimenticare la sua lunga e vivace costa di spiaggia sabbiosa. Se sei pronto a conoscere anche un altro lato di Barcellona, per vivere una esperienza autentica, come un vero catalano, devi essere disposto a cimentarti con la lingua del posto, conoscere le tradizioni e la cultura catalana ed altro… qui ti diamo qualche dritta che ti puó aiutare per stare a Barcellona  come uno del posto.

Relax

Dove pensi di trovare la gente di Barcellona durante il weekends? Alcuni lo trascorrono sulle montagne dei Pirenei, al nord di Barcellona per godersi del tempo con la propria famiglia. Qui il clima é freddo durante l’ inverno, quando nevica, ma durante l’estate é fresco quindi ci rilassa molto bene. Anche la spiaggia é una destinazione ambita dai catalani, durante l’estate, ma se vuoi davvero immedesimarti con loro, evita la spiaggia della Barceloneta a tutti i costi e prediligi quelle leggermente fuori, come Castelldefels, Montgat o Garraf, annoverate fra le migliori spiagge della Catalogna, tra cui la Cala de Sant Francesc e Calella de Palafrugell.

Parc de la Ciutadella, nonostante sia un’attrazione turistica della cittá, é spesso frequentao anche dalla gente del posto, di solito la domenica pomeriggio, quando ci sono molti eventi come concerti gratuiti o lezioui di salsa, quindi é un posto perfetto per confondersi nella mischia!

Turó de la Rovira (detto El Bunker del Carmel) é un altro posto famoso tra i residenti di Barcellona. Questa montagna, che forma come un bunker con i resti della Guerra Civile Spagnola, is located next to Park Güell and offers amazing, 360 degree views over the city without the hoards of tourists, making it the perfect place for a quiet picnic. Bus V17 from Port Vell, or bus 119 from Carmel, will take you directly to the top of the bunker. Alternatively, you can reach the top of the steep hill in 20 minutes from Alfons X metro station (L4).

Local lingo

Barcelona is a bilingual city in which most signs and announcements are in Catalan rather than Spanish. Speaking Spanish is more than enough, however if you truly want to blend in here are some informal Catalan phrases to help you on your way…

Hello = Hola
Good Morning = Bon dia
Good Afternoon = Bona tarda
Good Evening = Bona nit
How are you = Com estàs?
Good, thanks, and you? = Bé, grácies, i tu?
How much is this? = Quant costa això?
I don’t understand = No ho entenc
Goodbye = Adéu

Wining and Dining

First things first, dining like a local in Barcelona means you’ll have to eat your dinner in the late evening, around 10pm. And tapas? It’s just a snack, not a meal! One tasty tapas dish that is the epitome of Catalan cuisine is pa amb tomàquet (bread with tomato) – said to originate from Catalonia, you will find this served at many restaurants throughout the city, often as an appetiser.

In the Poble Sec neighbourhood of Barcelona, on C/ Blai, you will find an array of pintxo bars. Here you will find many natives enjoying a beer and the best of these tasty bite sized snacks amongst friends.

Within the quaint streets of the Gràcia neighbourhood, away from the shopping centres and fast food chains, you will find many local bars, restaurants and cafés just waiting to be discovered. Plaça del Diamant is a great place to start. This quirky, hidden square is the go-to place for the residents of Gràcia when meeting up with friends and family. A few of our favourite spots in Gràcia include Taverna El Glop, a tasty Mediterranean restaurant with a BBQ twist, and Gasterea, the best place to grab tapas and a drink.

As for the bars and clubs in Barcelona, they tend to get busy after 12 midnight and parties often last until the early hours of the morning. If you want to experience nightlife in Barcelona like a local might, avoid the likes of Las Ramblas, Barceloneta and head to El Born or El Raval for a huge variety of bars, cafés and clubs. Still located in the centre of the city, these neighbourhoods are well known amongst residents more-so than tourists.

There’s always an excuse for a party!

Throughout Barcelona, Catalonia, and the rest of Spain, you will find there is a fiesta almost every other week. Whether they’re welcoming summer with a bang at the beach or celebrating the city’s patron saint in the streets, the people of Barcelona sure know how to throw a party! One of the most popular celebrations in Barcelona is La Mercé in September. This festival is in honour of the patron saint of Barcelona, Santa Eulàlia, and sees some crazy traditions take to the streets. From ‘correfoc’ fireruns to human tower building, this is one local festival you just have to get involved in!

Where to Shop

Barcelona is one of the best shopping cities in Europe, and the infamous shopping street Passeig de Gràcia is something you must experience at least once in your life. However if you’re looking for something different, something less well-known than the likes of Portal de l’Àngel, where the people of Barcelona might go to add to their wardrobes, we recommend the quirky boutiques within the El Born neighbourhood. Here you are guaranteed to find some of the latest trends straight out of Barcelona, all for a reasonable price.

Barcelona’s markets are also popular with the locals in the city. La Boqueria food market, on Las Ramblas, has become one of the biggest tourist attractions in the city. You won’t find many residents here, however. The people of Barcelona prefer to shop at their neighbourhood markets – every neighbourhood has one!  A popular alternative to La Boqueria is Mercat de Santa Caterina, a colourful market in El Born with all the qualities of La Boqueria, minus the hoards of tourists.

Getting about

Public transport in Barcelona is used equally by tourists and local citizens. Without a doubt the metro and bus links in the Barcelona are extremely convenient, but the latest craze to hit the city is cycling. Barcelona’s bicycle culture was brought to life by Bicing, a local bicycle sharing system, and the improvement of the cities cycle lanes.

Although not as well-known as the likes of Amsterdam and Copehagen, cycling has fast become a popular method of transport in Barcelona. If you’ve made the move to Barcelona you can get on board the bicycle sharing scheme, but unfortunately it’s only for residents. If not, you can always rent a bike from one of many top rental companies in the city and live like a local in Barcelona for a day!

Renting an apartment

The ultimate way to feel like a Barcelona local is to rent an apartment rather than stay at a hotel. You can step out your front door onto the streets of the city, try out some typical Mediterranean recipes in your own kitchen (dining al fresco on your own terrace in the warmer months!) and stay together with friends and family all in the same place.