Barcelona is one of the European cities most affected by overtourism. Every year, the city receives around 20 million tourists, for a population of less than 2 million. The impact on the lives of Barcelonians is enormous: inflation, conversion of accommodation into tourist lodgings, difficulties in finding housing, noise pollution, over-consumption of resources... Residents are showing their displeasure through increasingly frequent demonstrations. However, it is still possible to visit Barcelona off the beaten track and avoid over-tourism. We tell you everything you need to know to ensure that your visit to Catalonia's capital doesn't have a negative impact, but leaves a positive imprint, while giving you a more authentic vacation away from the crowds.
When is the best time to avoid overtourism and enjoy Barcelona off the beaten track?
Early spring, i.e. March and April, autumn, i.e. October and November, and winter, i.e. January and February, are excellent times to avoid the over-tourism of a Barcelona off the beaten track. To visit the most popular sites, such as the Sagrada Familia, it's best to visit early or late in the day, and preferably on weekdays. This helps protect cultural sites from the ravages of overtourism.
Where to sleep in Barcelona?
When it comes to accommodation, it's essential to choose hotels rather than short-term rental apartments. Hotels don't take anything away from the local rental market, and therefore have no impact on the real estate market. With the same logic in mind, avoid the areas most affected by over-tourism, such as the Gothic Quarter (Barri Gòtic), Las Ramblas, El Born and Barceloneta, and prefer Barcelona off the beaten track by opting for quieter areas. On the other hand, Gràcia, Poble-sec, Sant-Andreu, Sants and Horta-Guinardoare the best neighborhoods to visit.
Tips for protecting Barcelona from overtourism by staying off the beaten track
While it's also possible to find alternative destinations without mass tourism, visiting Barcelona off the beaten track and without overtourism is still possible. You can visit the city while taking care not to have a negative impact on it.
Here's what you can do:
- Stayin hotels.
- Don't visit major sites during peak times.
- Avoid tourist seasons.
- Use public transport rather than cabs or cars to avoid adding to traffic congestion.
- Come by train, as Barcelona is one of the destinations accessible by train from France. What's more: on certain routes, it's a closer destination by train than by plane! To help you out, we've written an article on how to get there.
- Discover local gastronomy in local restaurants rather than in touristy areas.
- Participatein sustainable activities, such as craft markets, workshops or, why not, waste collection walks, and thus practice regenerative tourism and slow tourism.
- Avoid mass-produced or far-flungsouvenirs, preferring handcrafted objects.
- Always collect your own garbage.
12 activities and places off the beaten track in Barcelona
To avoid overtourism, there is a Barcelona off the beaten track. Here are 12 confidential activities and places to discover.
1. The Bunker del Carmel
This first place to see Barcelona off the beaten track and without overtourism is a real nugget. To enjoy it, you have to climb up to the mirador del Turo de la Rovira, near Parc Güell. It may be Barcelona's most beautiful viewpoint, but it's rarely visited. It was once a military base and houses the Carmel bunkers, which served as protection during the Spanish Civil War.
2. Laribal Gardens
The Laribal Gardens are a little-known part of Montjuïc hill. It's a lush space, laid out in Hispano-Arabic style, with fountains and paths that allow you to stroll away from the hustle and bustle of the city center.
3. Sant Pau Hospital
The Sagrada Familia is a real eye-catcher, but there are other masterpieces ofmodernist architecture in Barcelona that go completely unnoticed. The Hospital de Sant Pau is one of them. This former public hospital is a Unesco World Heritage Site, so spectacular is it.
4. Horta Labyrinth Park
Horta Labyrinth Park is a superb neoclassical park occupying the former estate of a prominent local noble family. It features a cypress labyrinth that's perfect for a family visit. But even without children, it's a pleasant stroll as it's always very quiet, which is no mean feat in the hustle and bustle of Barcelona.
5. Torre Bellesguard
The Torre Bellesguard is a good way to avoid Barcelona's overtourism by getting off the beaten track, since it's a house built by Antoni Gaudí, but much less visited than the Sagrada Familia. This modernist residence was built to the famous architect's plans, but it also remained unfinished.
6. El Poblenou
Originally a working-class district, El Poblenou has undergone a certain gentrification in recent years. A district in the midst of a renaissance, it is home to many artists, especially street performers. Take a stroll and admire some superb street art.
7. Pedralbes Monastery
Here's another superb example of Gothic architecture in Barcelona, to be enjoyed without the crowds. The Pedralbes monastery was founded in 1327. Today, it is still inhabited by monks, but part of it is open to the public, who can enjoy a visit without disturbing the tranquility and vocation of the site.
8. Collserola
Just outside Barcelona, the Serra de Collserola nature park is the city's green lung. Covering more than 8,000 hectares, it offers relief, hiking and cycling trails to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.
9. Sant Andreu
Sant Andreu is a district far from the center, where an authentic Barcelona with a Catalan soul still lives on. The village-like district is home to many ancient monuments, churches, parks and good restaurants, catering to locals rather than tourists.
10. Catalonia in Miniature
La Catalunya en Miniatura is a park located some twenty kilometers from the center of Barcelona, in Torrelles de Llobregat. The reason we've included it in this selection of off-the-beaten-track visits to Barcelona is that it's home to a miniature version of Barcelona's landmarks and other of Spain's most beautiful places! This is your chance to admire the Sagrada Familia and other masterpieces without the crowds.
11. Mercat de la Concepció
The famous Boqueria market in Barcelona's historic center is suffering from overtourism. There are more authentic, less expensive and equally attractive alternatives, such as the mercat de la Concepció, located in a 19th-century market hall.
12. Mossèn Costa i Llobera Gardens
Mossèn Costa i Llobera Gardens are located on Montjuïc hill and are particularly little-known. However, they have two major assets: they are filled with exotic plants, and offer a beautiful panorama of the sea.
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