Is Barcelona a Country? Answer + 7 Fun Things To Do
Is Barcelona a Country?
Barcelona is one of the highest visited places in the world, but is Barcelona a country?
This can have impacts on traveling there and what visas you need.
While we are not natives of Barcelona, we do love traveling to Barcelona. During our most recent trip, we chatted with the locals on this topic to provide you with the best answer!
Is Barcelona a Country?
Barcelona is not its own country, but rather it is part of Spain.
Barcelona follows all Spanish rules and regulations. This means that the official language in Barcelona is Spanish.
Since Spain is part of the European Union (EU), they use the Euro (€) as currency. Additionally, they are subject to EU rules and regulations as well.
That being said, Barcelona is part of Catalonia which is an autonomous community of Spain. As an autonomous community, they are empowered to be self-governing in some areas, but they are ultimately governed by Spain.
Catalonia has several significant cultural differences from the rest of Spain.
First, the main language in Catalonia is Catalan. Catalan is similar to French and Italian. Most people who live in Barcelona speak both Catalan and Spanish.
School is taught in the language of the country, Spanish, while everyday life is typically conducted in Catalan.
Another main difference is the food. Catalonian food has a heavy French influence which is pretty different from that of the rest of Spain.
A final difference is culture. There are holidays, like La Mercé on September 24th, that are only celebrated in Barcelona and not the rest of Spain.
The Catalonian people view themselves as more middle-class and hardworking than the rest of Spain.
All of these differences leave you feeling like you might be in a different country when visiting Barcelona versus the rest of Spain. The locals of Barcelona feel this as well.
Since the beginning of Spain, there have been many pushes by the Catalonian people for Catalonia to become its own country. Still to this day, it is a hot topic of conversation!
When walking around Barcelona, people “mark” who they support, Catalonia or Spain, by hanging the respective flag outside their window.
Is Barcelona a City or Town?
With a population of over 1.62 million people, Barcelona is a large metropolitan city.
Due to its size, Barcelona has a fantastic international airport (BCN). Additionally, it has a Metro system comprised of trains and buses which helps the population move about.
When you visit Barcelona, we highly recommend taking advantage of the robust Metro system. It can save you a lot of time and money when navigating around Barcelona.
Plus, they have their own app which makes planning your trip super easy!
What State is Barcelona in?
Barcelona is the largest of the 4 provinces in the Spanish region of Catalonia.
The other 3 provinces are Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona.
Where is Barcelona?
Barcelona is located in Northeastern Spain on the Mediterranean Sea.
The entire province of Catalonia expands up to the border of France. On this border is the Pyrenees mountain range.
While France is to the North of Barcelona and the Mediterranean Sea to the East, the providence of Aragon is to the west and Valencia is to the south.
The other major Spanish city is Madrid, which is southwest of Barcelona in central Spain. You can travel to Madrid easily by train, plane, or car!
What is Barcelona Known for?
Barcelona is known for its rich cultural history, stunning architecture, and delicious food.
When visiting Barcelona, we recommend at least 3 days to explore but you could easily spend a full week in this bustling city!
To dive into the rich cultural history and learn more about Catalonia, be sure to take a tour of the Old Town and Gothic Quarter.
We recommend this walking tour – the guide does a fantastic job providing details on the culture and what makes Barcelona so unique!
Next, you must visit the architectural masterpieces that Barcelona is known for. The majority of these masterpieces were designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí.
In fact, in 1984 UNESCO designated seven Barcelonian properties built by Gaudí as World Heritage Sites. We definitely recommend visiting at least a few!
Arguably, the most iconic is the Sagrada Familia. This church has been under construction since 1882 and isn’t scheduled to be completed until 2026 (though the date is frequently pushed).
The Sagrada Familia is a stunning work of art and truly unlike anything else! We highly recommend booking tickets to visit it ahead of time as the tickets sell out quickly.
When purchasing your ticket, definitely add on the tower! Your ticket will come with an audio guide that can be worked from an app on your phone and is fantastic.
Another fantastic Gaudí site to visit is Park Güell. This park is like a fairytale with the unique building and beautiful mosaics. We highly recommend visiting early in the day to avoid the large crowds.
This tour allows you to skip the line and provides a guided narration of the park. The tour is important since there are few signs around the park to provide information!
To get to see more of Gaudí’s works, we recommend taking a Gaudí tour. This e-bike tour is a great option since many of the locations are spread out.
Lastly, you must explore Barcelona’s excellent food! The food experience starts with Barcelona’s market – La Boqueria.
Inside of La Boqueria are numerous stands with fresh fish, produce, spices, and local goods. Mushrooms are a specialty in Barcelona and the market is a great place to buy them!
Additionally, there are restaurants scattered throughout that have some of the best food in all of Barcelona. A few of our favorites are El Quim, Bar Restaurante Pinotxo, DIREKTE Boqueria (Michelin Star restaurant that books months in advance).
If you have time, we highly recommend taking a cooking class that also visits the market to buy ingredients for Paella or a Spanish Omelette. A cooking class is a wonderful way to learn more about the local food and produce. Also, they are a ton of fun!
Is Barcelona in Spain or a Country?
No, Barcelona is not a country. It is a large metropolitan city located in the Spanish region of Catalonia in Northeastern Spain.
Catalonia has been pushing for it to become its own country since the beginning of Spain, due to its cultural differences with the rest of Spain.
If you are looking for an exciting and vibrant city to visit, Barcelona should be at the top of your list!
From the vibrant culture to the jaw-dropping architecture, there is something in Barcelona for everyone.
We wish you the best travels, and don’t forget to set your “Out of Office!”
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Read More About the Best Things to Do In Spain
Spain Travel Planning Guide
🚙💨 Is it safe to rent a car in Spain?
Yes! Renting a car is a necessity in most of Spain if traveling between cities! If you want to go on day trips or adventures outside of the major cities, you can use public transportation, but we recommend renting a car. Discover Cars is our go-to choice for car rentals in Spain.
📲 Will my phone work in Spain?
Maybe, but it will be expensive! Depending on your provider, plans can charge you $10 per day while in Europe.
To use your phone in Spain and save money, we recommend an eSim with Airalo. Airalo simplifies the steps and provides you with all the necessary data for convenient travel. There is not a lot of free WIFI in Spain, so you’ll need your phone for navigating.
🌐 Do I need a VPN when on the internet in Spain?
While abroad, we consistently prioritize our online security by using a VPN to appear as if we’re streaming from the US and protect ourselves from cybercrime.
NordVPN serves as an incredibly convenient solution for both mobile phones and laptops, effortlessly ensuring our safety while browsing or streaming.
🏩 What’s the best way to book my Spain accommodations?
Our go-to for Spanish hotels is Booking.com. They offer the widest range of choices, and their filtering system simplifies the process of discovering the perfect accommodation for your needs.
✈️ What’s the best site to buy flights to Spain?
For finding cheap flights to Spain, we recommend Kayak. Their awesome multi-city flight search and handy price notifications help us save big, allowing us to splurge on other adventures once we arrive. Vueling is usually our airline of choice while in Spain.
🚐 Should I book tours in Spain? Do the guides speak English?
We LOVE taking tours in Spain. We prefer to book our tours on Viator and GetYourGuide for easy searching, trusted reviews, and transparent pricing. We always filter for the tours that are offered in English.
For free walking tours in English, we always book through GuruWalk.
🚑 Should I buy Spain travel insurance?
100% YES! Spain has a publicly funded healthcare system known as the Sistema Nacional de Salud (SNS), which provides universal healthcare coverage to all Spanish citizens and legal residents!
Foreigners visiting need travel insurance in case anything happens on their visit. We recommend Safety Wing – they provide general travel coverage as well as medical!
💧Can you drink the water in Spain?
Sometimes! In many areas of Spain, the water is safe to drink. However, there can be variations in water quality from one location to another. In some rural or remote areas, or in older buildings with outdated plumbing systems, water quality might not be as high.
For an extra layer of protection, we recommend always using a LifeStraw Go Series to stay safe and hydrated.
🎫 Do I need a visa for Spain?
Likely Not! US passport holders don’t need Spanish visas for travel less than 3 months. If you plan to stay for more than 3 months, you will be considered a resident and must have an entrance visa.
