10 Best Ways To Enjoy Barcelona On A Budget

Barcelona street life is irresistible, but sometimes you want to rise above the crowds. Beach life at Barceloneta is by far the most entertaining beach and full of life.

Some of the best views in Barcelona are also probably the least well known, like El Turó de la Rovira.

You will find plenty of examples just by wandering the streets or join a tour such as the highly-rated Barcelona Street Style Tour (free, donation requested).

For the last couple of years it's been the setting for Ús Barcelona, where a whole street, including parked cars, is transformed by artists over a weekend in May. Food vans, DJs and bands add to the fun.

New five-star hotels pop up in Barcelona with alarming regularity. If you don't want sand in your popcorn, then films from Mecal - the International Festival of Short Films and Animation of Barcelona - will be screened outdoors all summer at Poble Espanyol and on the rooftop of the Hotel Silken Diagonal.

One of Barcelona's most interesting, eclectic and downright bizarre markets called Encants, is in a fabulous, new semi-enclosed building.

Barcelona's not a city of big parks: blame the medieval walls that kept people crammed together, and then developers in the 19th century who screwed with the open areas planned for the new town, known as Eixample.

Food trends sweep through Barcelona faster than a pickpocket down the Ramblas.

Thankfully Barcelona's public transport system puts many cities to shame.

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