Solo Female Travel in Barcelona

Barcelona, located in the northeastern part of the cosmopolitan country of Spain, is a vibrant city known for its stunning architecture, flavorful cuisine, and vivacious culture. This Mediterranean city is famed for its unique and inspiring landmarks, such as the iconic Sagrada Familia and the whimsical Park Guell, both masterpieces of the eccentric genius Antoni Gaudí. Barcelona's acclaimed Gothic Quarter invites explorers to wander through its narrow medieval lanes brimming with its history while the bustling La Rambla, offers a colorful array of shops, cafes, and a lively street atmosphere. From its sunny beaches and bustling food markets to the thriving nightlife and rich football culture showcased in the legendary Camp Nou, Barcelona continues to enthrall travelers with its perfect blend of history and modernity.

Travel rating

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Travel index

Safety:Safe

Barcelona is generally safe for solo female travelers. The crime rates are relatively low, however pickpocketing and bag snatching are common in crowded places and on public transportation. Basic precautions like avoiding deserted areas, not flaunting wealth or valuable possessions, and being vigilant on the street and in the metro, especially after dark, should ensure a safe stay.

Transport:Easy

Barcelona's layout is relatively simple to navigate. The city's grid system makes it easy to predict where you're going. Moreover, it is equipped with a comprehensive public transportation system, including subway, bus, and tram options, making it simple to reach any part of the city. However, pickpocketing can be an issue, especially on crowded public transportation and in tourist-intensive areas, so constant vigilance is necessary. The city is also quite walkable for a more immersive experience.

Things to do:Fascinating

Barcelona is a treasure trove of captivating culture, diverse geography, and historical richness. The architectural beauty, from the modernist landmarks by Antoni Gaudí to the Gothic Quarter's medieval landmarks, is breathtaking. You can indulge in culinary delights at La Boqueria market and distinct neighborhoods offer distinctive attractions. Outdoor enthusiasts can spend time at beautiful beaches, parks, and mountains. It's also an artistic haven, housing numerous museums like the Picasso Museum. Barcelona's vibrant nightlife with an array of tapas bars, live music, and dance clubs provides limitless entertainment opportunities. Overall, Barcelona guarantees an engaging, multi-faceted travel experience.

Food:Excellent

Barcelona boasts of a vibrant and rich culinary scene, offering an exquisite blend of local Catalan dishes and international cuisine. The city offers everything from fresh seafood, tapas, and paellas to mouth-watering desserts. As a solo female traveler in Barcelona, you can delight in a gamut of food experiences. Whether you fancy exploring local markets teeming with fresh produce, or uptown eateries serving modern fusion flavor - Barcelona has it all. The fusion of traditional recipes and modern gastronomy makes the city a true foodie's paradise. Diversity is the keyword in Barcelona's culinary landscape. Rest assured, the variety of food, the quality, and the culinary experience will not disappoint!

Budget:Moderate

Barcelona holds a mid-range position when it comes to cost-effectiveness for travelers. The city has a mix of options that cater to both budget travelers and luxury seekers. Affordable public transport, free attractions like the Gothic Quarter and some beaches, along with budget-friendly eateries, ensure you don't burn a hole in your pocket. However, renowned attractions like Sagrada Familia and Park Guell have entrance fees, and the cost of accommodation can also be relatively high, especially during peak tourist season.

Is Barcelona worth visiting?

Overall rating

4.5 /5

based on 77 experiences

Rating summary

Things to do

4.6/5

Safety

4.2/5

Food

4.5/5

Budget-friendly

3.4/5

Solo travel experience

During the day I always felt safe in Barcelona and I highly recommend visiting the city! It's full of life and you never feel alone despite travelling solo. I spent most of my time outside in parks and there are hundreds of sights to visit. After hiking to the top of the Tibidabo, I had a picturesque view! For lunch I usually had really good empanadas for a low price. You should definitely walk along the beach and let your feet get wet although I have to admit the water was a bit cold in April. All in all, it was a wonderful experience!

Posted: March 27, 2024Experienced: March, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 3/5Safety: 4/5
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Couple travel experience

We felt pretty safe. But you definitely have to be careful of pickpockets! Keep your belongings close to your body and try to not act like a tourist too bad. We mostly used taxis or Uber. I can recommend it. They have fair prices and it was the easiest for us. The Steak House and Jansana (Gluten free bakery) are our favorite food places. We also visited the popular bar Orient Express Cocktail Bar. It’s been worth a visit and a cocktail. But nothing to spend more than an hour at. We visited the Olympic Parc at sunset. Go for it! It’s so wonderful!😍

Posted: March 25, 2024
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 3/5Safety: 4/5
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Group travel experience

Most people don't speak English but if need a help they will try to explain you in Spanish))))A friend of mine lost her bag, Mobile phone so people should be more careful with their stuff in metro or beach.

Posted: March 24, 2024Experienced: July, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 4/5Budget-friendly: 3/5Safety: 2/5
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Solo travel experience

Stayed at onefam ramblas. It was a fun and social hostel! Felt safe even with mixed dorms. Food was alright. Your typical Spanish food. Some places were more expensive than others and were not filling. I had a small slice of toast with hummus for €12 or so which I found to be pretty pricy for that price. It wasn’t even filling and this was for breakfast. Streets were dirty. Lots of graffiti and I saw I’d like to imagine, dog poop on some wall. I wasn’t worried about getting pickpocket since I wore a jacket that had an inner pocket where I kept my valuables. If I have my phone in my front pocket, I tend to walk where I’m constantly brushing my hand against my pants to feel my phone.

Posted: March 21, 2024
Things to do: 2/5Food: 3/5Budget-friendly: 3/5Safety: 3/5
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Solo travel experience

My phone got stolen on the way to Park Guell, after only two days in Barcelona. After that, I just did not feel safe. I read all the reviews saying how bad the pickpocketing situation is and I felt prepared, but never anticipated they were that bad. For this reason alone, I don’t recommend it. Completely ruined my trip.

Posted: March 14, 2024
Things to do: 3/5Food: 2/5Budget-friendly: 2/5Safety: 1/5
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Solo travel experience

Barcelona felt very safe, I wasn't scared to walk alone even at 3am. They have a good transportation system but because my hostel was in a good location (more on hostel later) I walked a lot. The weather was so good too! It was mostly sunny but not too hot. I stayed at Yeah Hostel and it was the best! Reasonably priced, very social atmosphere if you're up to it (they host group dinners and bar crawls every night, and walking tours in the morning) and the location is perfect with many restaurants and attractions nearby :) I don't think I would come back though as it seems too.. touristy 😆

Posted: March 7, 2024Experienced: February, 2024
Things to do: 3/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 4/5Safety: 5/5
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Emily

Emily

Italy

Group travel experience

It's a beautiful city, and the people are sunny and generous. The food isn't bad; the paella is very good. I'm staying here for 5 days and I haven't seen everything in Barcelona. Regarding transport, the metro is fantastic. The pullman and the train for the airport are also great.

Posted: March 5, 2024
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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Solo travel experience

It's a nice city but I didn't feel really comfortable with the locals, especially men. I've been there for a week and I saw the Picasso's museum, it is pretty good I recommend it. I didn't like the food, it was too expensive and it didn't taste good.

Posted: February 22, 2024Experienced: August, 2022
Things to do: 4/5Food: 3/5Budget-friendly: 4/5Safety: 3/5
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Family travel experience

Barcelona is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen, I was there during New Year's time so I think they kind of scam you with the prices, but it is still quite affordable. You never get bored, the bars are always full of people and music. They have a liveliness and a desire to live that is not seen in Italy for a while. It has a special place in my heart.

Posted: February 22, 2024
Things to do: 4/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 2/5Safety: 4/5
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Maide

Maide

Turkey

Group travel experience

I visited Barcelona in 2019 with my two female friends. It was a beautiful city with great architectural structures and historical view. I felt safe most of the time but one should be careful about snatchers especially while visitimg touristic and crowded areas. Take care of your phone and your purse. We stayed in two different places that we booked through Airbnb. The houses and the hosts were very kind and welcoming. One should try the famous tapas, sea food and wines in Barcelona.

Posted: February 8, 2024
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 2/5Safety: 4/5
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Local tips

Barcelona is a save city for women. The best option for transport is Metro or Bus. Its so easy to move arround. If you want to visit places near Barcelona, we have great nature. - In the coastline I recomend: Costa Brava (Cadaques, Calella de Palafrugell, Peratallada, Pals villages) - In the mountain I recomend: Montserrat, el Montseny, Aiguestortes

Posted: February 6, 2024
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Maya

Maya

Spain

Barcelona is a great city to visit for female solo travellers. It is generally very safe, even to walk alone at night. The only caveat I would add is to try to avoid the Raval area at night, not because it’s very dangerous but mostly because it’s a bit dodgy. The best areas to stay in my opinion are Eixample, El Born, and Gracia. The Gothic Quarter is very nice also but tends to be quite noisy and full of tourists at all times. When I first came to visit Barcelona I stayed in Casa Gracia which is a nice hostel in an excellent location, right on the border of Gracia and Eixample. In terms of food, there are loads of great options, but please do yourself a favor and don’t eat anywhere on Las Ramblas! The whole street is one long tourist trap. Also, if you want good coffee, go to an Italian place, not Starbucks. In general, try to seek out the more out of the way places. Some of my favorites are La Vinatería del Call, Kinza, Askadinya, and SpaccaNapoli. Best ice cream in town: Anita Gelato in Gracia. Public transport here is excellent. You can get around using the same ticket on the metro, the bus, and the trams. Just be careful not to bend or fold the cardboard ticket because it is not very resilient. Taxis are also a good option. I only got cheated once by a taxi driver but that was on my way to the city from the airport. Most drivers are honest in my experience. Must sees: The Cathedral in the Gothic Quarter, the Sagrada Familia (in daylight!), Tibidabo, Passeig de Gracia, and Montjuïc. Go watch a Barça game at Camp Nou if you’re a sports fan, and a concert at Palau de Sant Jordi if you’re a music junkie. Things to skip: I am personally not that into architecture, so I would skip the Gaudí buildings (except for the Sagrada Familia) and Parc Güell, but that’s just my personal preference.

Posted: January 29, 2024
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There is a huge gastronomical variety in Barcelona so honestly if you're in the mood for anything specific just google maps it and go wherever the best reviews are at, Spanish people know their stuff when reviewing food haha! If you're unsure what you want I think a tapas place is your best bet since you'll be able to try several dishes and everyone can find something there. My personal favourites (quality-price wise) are the three 4 latas restaurants and Bar Alegria. Barcelona is overall perhaps not the safest city in Europe. There is quite a lot of pickpocketing (so keep your belongings close especially in the metro and very touristy places). At night I'd say it's pretty okay to go out almost anywhere but there are a few areas I would totally avoid: El Raval and La Mina.

Posted: January 25, 2024
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Pickpockets usually operate in the subway, on La Rambla, in the Gothic Quarter and Raval. Don't go there alone at night. Keep your belongings in front of you and be careful with your phone, don't leave it on tables etc. Just the usual precautions that are applied in any big city. In Barcelona, the app for ordering taxis is called Cabify.

Posted: October 10, 2023
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I spent 5 weeks in Barcelona, living in different parts of the city, returning home in the middle of the night and walking with my entire camera set before sunrise, without any problems, I never felt unsafe.

Posted: July 26, 2023
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Barcelona is a city filled with sunshine and bliss, and everywhere you look is a cultural sight to be adored! The food’s never disappointing and you can find many different cuisines in the city. Definitely take the time to visit the museums as well, they add a lot to the experience. However, beware of catcalling and pickpockets. It unfortunately is very common and police is most likely to do nothing about it.

Posted: June 24, 2023
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In El Born, my favorite places are Santa María del Mar, Passeig del Born, Plaça Sant Agusti, Carrer del Portal Nou and the Barcelona Edition rooftop. In El Gótico: Carrer de Joaquim Pou, the cathedral, the murals from the kiss at Plaça Isidre Nonell, Carrer del Bisbe, Plaça Sant Felipe Neri, Plaça Reial. Other favorite places: Ayre Rosellon hotel roof, from where there is an amazing view of Sagrada Familia, the roof of the 360 hotel in Raval, the roof of the yurban hotel on Calle Trafalgar. The Arc De Trionf area with Park Ciutadella, the Bogatell beach, the Carmel Bunker. Eating places: El Xampanyet, Bar Jaica, Llamber, Can Fisher, El Nacional (for a glass of wine, but WITHOUT food), Hoffman, which serves the best mascarpone croissants in the city.

Posted: November 23, 2022
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Meet locals in Barcelona

Meet local women in Barcelona who are open to meet up for a coffee or a drink, show you around, give local advice or practice a language with.
Judit

Judit

About Me

Hey :-) I'm open, easy-going and curious. I like old things in general, nature, good food, being in the sun, walking around. Here to connect with people!

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Anna

Anna

About Me

Hi! It's Anna here. I'm a history teacher but a job doesn't define you. I love to learn, I'm very curious: languages, cultures, everything!! I truly believe that knowing new people enriches yourself and the other person. In this moment of my life I want to travel around this amazing world and learn from their people.

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Stay with locals in Barcelona

Stay with local women in Barcelona who offer free accommodation as part of cultural exchange. Couch surfing is a great way to meet new people, learn more about new cultures and experience destinations like a local.
Anna

Anna

Barcelona

Can host for:

3 days

About me

Hi! It's Anna here. I'm a history teacher but a job doesn't define you. I love to learn, I'm very curious: languages, cultures, everything!! I truly believe that knowing new people enriches yourself and the other person. In this moment of my life I want to travel around this amazing world and learn from their people.

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Judit

Judit

Barcelona

Can host for:

3 days

About me

Hey :-) I'm open, easy-going and curious. I like old things in general, nature, good food, being in the sun, walking around. Here to connect with people!

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Upcoming visitors to Barcelona

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Anni

Anni

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Hello, my name is Annie. I‘m 24 years old and I love to travel. :)

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Monica

Monica

About Me

Hello! I’m Monica. My wife and I love visiting new cities, learning about new cultures and making new friends. She’s from Texas and I’m Colombian. We currently live in a small town in France and want to see as much of the world as we can.

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