Barcelona

The Metro is the backbone of the city and a T-Casual card (ten trips, around €12) is the smartest first purchase you can make. That said, Barcelona is one of the most walkable cities in Europe and a hire bike handles almost everything else.

Montserrat is an hour by train and genuinely worth a full morning. Sitges is forty minutes south and far quieter than Barcelona beach in high season. If you have more time, the Costa Brava coastline north of the city is one of the most underrated day trips from Barcelona going.

Very much so, though pickpocketing is common and worth taking seriously. Las Ramblas and busy Metro stops are where it happens most. A cross-body bag, phone in a front pocket, and basic awareness covers it. The city itself is welcoming and well-lit, and solo travel here is straightforward.

May to June and September to October give you the best of Barcelona without the peak summer crowds. July and August are very hot and the city is at its most congested. Winter is mild enough to visit comfortably and significantly cheaper for accommodation.

Avoid anywhere on Las Ramblas with a laminated photo menu. El Born and Gràcia are where the better neighbourhood restaurants are. The Raval is worth exploring for lunch. And if you have booked direct with St Christopher’s Inn Barcelona, Belushi’s Barcelona is downstairs with 25% off food throughout your stay.