A Last-Minute Weekend in Barcelona That Somehow Worked Out
Booked it on a whim. It ended up being one of my favorite short trips.
Flights were affordable, and even with spontaneous planning, things mostly fell into place. Food and drinks were cheaper than in other parts of Europe I’ve been to. At Tossa, I bought water for €0.65 and didn’t think twice about ordering bubble tea and a full Chinese lunch right after. Transport was cheap too—return train tickets booked online came to just over €20. The only thing that added up was accommodation, mostly because of taxes (usually €6–12 per night depending on the city).
If you’ve only got a day near Barcelona, I’d actually recommend heading out to Tossa. It's touristy but calm, the sea is bright blue, and the view from the cliff trail was worth the side trip. There’s a dog-shaped cave spot that’s popular on socials—we went there, and it was packed.
Later that night, I checked out a Latin bar called Opium—live music, energetic crowd, and a solid cocktail included in the entry after 11:30 PM.
Final thoughts:
Spain feels full of life. Affordable, accessible, and energetic. If I get another chance, I’ll be back for the Picasso Museum.
One note—if you can’t find a taxi at the airport, skip the apps and walk straight to the rental area. Car rentals were cheaper and easier to deal with than expected. About €40 got us into the city.
🎒 Travel gear used:
Backpackbeat Court-to-Street Expandable Backpack 20L — perfect for mixing city days and beach hikes
