Destinations + Experiences | Digital Nomad Life | Solo Female Travel

Digital Nomad Guide to Barcelona from a Solo Female Traveler

By Tasha Prados
| Sep 27, 2024

Sponsored by Liv Tours

This guide was developed with the support of LivTours and published in its original format on LivTours – check out their intimate 6-person tours in Europe here. I met LivTours at a travel conference in Spain and liked their approach to sustainable tourism. We hit it off and I went on a bike tour with them in Barcelona – check it out here!

 

Barcelona is an amazing city, and it has become a go-to spot for digital nomads. With a great climate, a ton to do, history, culture, fabulous food, lots of outdoor activities and close trips, and a relatively affordable cost of living in Europe, what’s not to love?

I studied abroad in Madrid, and hadn’t been back to Barcelona since then – so it was amazing to spend a month here as a digital nomad. Barcelona is vibrant, rebellious, artistic, and will draw in your heart and soul. I absolutely loved my time in Barcelona, and will be back for sure.

In this guide, I’ve gathered everything you need to know to make the most of your time here – neighborhoods and colives to stay in, coworks and coffee shops to work from, and must-dos while you’re here.

 

Contents

  • Where to Work and Stay in Barcelona as a Digital Nomad
    • Neighborhoods to Stay in as a Digital Nomad
    • Coliving and Coworking Spaces
    • Good Cafes to Work From in Barcelona
  • Getting Connected – Online Digital Nomad Communities in Barcelona
  • Getting Around
  • Getting Groceries and Ordering Food
  • What to Do in Barcelona
    • Get Oriented
    • Must-See Architecture
    • Outdoors
    • Museums
    • Culture
    • Weekend Trips and Day Trips from Barcelona

Where to Work and Stay in Barcelona as a Digital Nomad

It’s easy to understand why Barcelona has become a popular digital nomad hub – it’s a beautiful city with great vibes, a ton to do, and it’s on the beach. What more could you want?

With the popularity has come rising prices – and backlash against tourists. Respect locals and their culture.

You’ll need to book well in advance, especially in high season (around June through September). Keep in mind that many apartments might not have air conditioning, and you might want it – especially in the hottest months (July and August).

If you want to save money on accommodation, join relevant Facebook & WhatsApp groups (some suggestions below), and sublet from someone there. It takes a lot more work, and the likelihood of getting scammed is a lot higher; but you can find places for cheaper. If you go with a reputable company you can avoid your deposit being retained. 

 

Neighborhoods to Stay in as a Digital Nomad

Every neighborhood in Barcelona has a different feel – from medieval to hipster to beachy. El Raval, Born, and Gotico are overrun with tourists – go here to hang out; don’t stay there. El Raval also has a reputation for being more dangerous.

Barcelona is a very walkable city with great and cheap public transportation, so it’s easy to get around no matter what neighborhood you stay in.

Great neighborhoods to stay in as a digital nomad in Barcelona include:

  • Gràcia – Beloved by locals, Gràcia is one of the few neighborhoods that has maintained some authenticity. It’s got a hip, artsy vibe, and there are many plazas to relax in for a drink, shops, and restaurants. I stayed close to here and LOVED it.
  • L’Esquerra de l’Eixample – Still very close to the center, but less crowded and with wider streets. “Gaixample” is at the center of LGBTQIA+ life, with lots of inclusive and gay-friendly bars, shops, and restaurants.
  • Sant Antoni – Home to a huge central food market, Sant Antoni has the wide streets characteristic of Eixample, and is a popular place to live and work – it also tends to be a little more affordable.
  • Poblenou – Right on the beach, this neighborhood has a totally different vibe. Poblenou has newer buildings and a more open, spacious feel – very different from the narrow medieval streets you’ll find in most central neighborhoods. A lot of nomads like it, especially beach-lovers. It’s not my vibe, but if you want to go to the beach every day, and want wider, open spaces, could be a great fit for you!
  • Dreta de l’Eixample – Smack in the center of the city, by the infamous Rambla de Catalunya and Passeig de Gràcia, Dreta de l’Eixample is upscale and bustling. You’ll be close to everything, though it will be crowded and you’ll be around lots of tourists. This neighborhood is a bit too boisterous for me, and since it’s so easy to get around, I’d rather visit than stay here.

Coliving and Coworking Spaces

With so many digital nomads in Barcelona, tons of colives and coworks have sprung up, including some unique and innovative takes on the concept of coliving and coworking.

Short-term fully-furnished leases can be hard to find, and some of the coliving places in Barcelona are more about providing that than traditional coliving, which is equally focused on community. So make sure to really vet the place you’re looking at.

In a good colive, you can live and work with other like-minded digital nomads in the same house who want to be productive, co-create a community, and explore the city together. Colives typically have great internet, desks and coworking spaces, and a community with similar values. Most colives have an application process to vet members and make sure they’ll be a fit for the community.

If you prefer your own place, but still want to go to an ‘office’ every day, check out some of the city’s coworking spaces, some of which are geared towards digital nomads and focus on building community. Because there are so many nomads here, 

 

Colives:

  • Karisma – A five-bedroom house in Gracia, starting at €900 per month, one-month deposit required. Every room has a desk, and there’s a big terrace with a view of the sea, Sagrada Familia and Park Guell. You can tell this house was built with love as a passion project, and the founder also runs a beloved social club. I’m definitely going to try and stay here next time I come to Barcelona.
  • Circles  – On a hill in Vallvidrera, this aesthetic house has both dorm beds (starting at €700 per month), and private suites (starting at €1600). It includes a beautiful rooftop, coworking space, and a fitness room. The property looks gorgeous. I haven’t visited personally; and I wonder how the walk up the hill is!
  • Coasis – They have two apartments, one in Eixample with four beds and two bathrooms, and a one-bedroom in Gracia if you want your own place. Minimum stay is 30 days, and prices start at €750 per month, with discounts for long stays. You’ll get a 5-day pass to their coworking space as well. This is something I’d be curious to check out; though typically I prefer colives with more people – this seems like more of a group house.
  • Palma – A villa on top of a hill with 10 bedrooms close to Park Güell, Palma has a large garden, pool and sauna. The minimum stay is 30 nights, and prices start at €1800 per month for a room with a shared bathroom. This is where I stayed, you can read my full review here.
  • Haaus – They have fully-furnished rentals all over the city, and they have some local discounts and community events. The minimum stay is one month, and with a €250 management fee included; the average monthly price is about €1100.
  • Aticco – They have fully-furnished apartments all over the city, with prices starting at €690. The minimum stay is over three months, and you’ll have to sign a contract, put down a one-month deposit and a non-refundable €400 administrative fee. For me, the fee makes this a no-go unless I was planning to stay for a really long time.
  • Kalima is opening in September 2024.i

Coworks:

  • Aticco has multiple coworking spaces in Barcelona – in Gracia, Poblenou, and Eixample Dreta. Monthly plans start at €220. These beautiful spaces have terraces, restaurants, and one even has a pool. Some of these locations look truly epic.
  • Coasis has a coworking space in the iconic Rambla Catalunya; monthly plans start at €155. It looks like they have a good community, so I’d be keen to check it out.
  • Itnig, primarily geared at startups and entrepreneurs, has several locations around the city which include cafeterias. Monthly memberships start at €150. I worked at their coffee shop that’s open to the public and it was great.
  • Nest City Lab has an environmentally-conscious coworking space with community events, and memberships starting at €187 per month. This place looks gorgeous.
  • The Social Hub in Poblenou began by serving students. A monthly pass starts at €109 and includes access to a gym, rooftop pool, and member events. The amenities look amazing.
  • You can also visit Circles for coworking; monthly passes start at  €150. I’d be curious if any nomads actually do this, or if it’s mostly just colivers who work at the house.

And more:

  • Karisma primarily bills itself as a social club for entrepreneurs and creatives. They have multiple events a week at different locations around the city: masterminds, masterclasses, networking events, workouts, dinners, parties – even summer camp. Membership is €39 per month. I will definitely join this next time I go to Barcelona.

 

Good Cafes to Work From in Barcelona

Even if you have great wifi and a desk in your room or in a cowork, sometimes you just need to work from a coffee shop.

Here are a few of our favorite coffee shops that are laptop-friendly.

 

Getting Connected – Online Digital Nomad Communities in Barcelona

Besides the above communities, there are many online nomad groups you can join on Facebook, Meetup, and WhatsApp before you come to Barcelona to start meeting people – and even find an apartment.

There’s a popular nomad meetup that’s been happening every Wednesday since 2020, and they have a Facebook and WhatsApp group as well. I went and met some cool people.

A quick Facebook search for groups with the terms Barcelona + digital nomad will get you some solid ones, and you can also look for expat groups like this one and groups specifically for women, like Girls Gone International Barcelona, which is super active.

 

Getting Around

Barcelona is quite walkable, and the public transportation is fantastic – cheap, efficient, and easy to use.

I was such a big fan of the metro in Barcelona that I joked I was on their PR team. The subway system will take you all over the city. A T-Usual metro card for Zone 1 will get you a month of unlimited rides for about €20 (everywhere you’re going will probably be in Zone 1). The card will also get you access to the bus system – just make sure to validate it after you board the bus. If you’re only staying a few days, a T-Casual card will get you 10 rides and is about  €10. For trains outside the city, you’ll take the Renfe.

Want a ride? Barcelona is a rare city where you can often get a ride more quickly by hailing a metered taxi than by calling a car on an app. Apps that work best for getting a ride are FreeNow, Bolt, and Cabify. Uber exists in Barcelona but wait times tend to be long and rides are sometimes canceled.

Barcelona also has more than 200 kilometers of bike lanes. The city’s bike service, Bicing, is just €50 per year if you have an NIE, a Foreigner Identity Number. There are several bike and ebike rental companies in the city, or you can use an app like Donkey for €19 per month if you don’t want to rent your own bike.

 

Getting Groceries and Ordering Food

You’re going to want to eat out a lot in Barcelona – there’s a fabulous food culture here, and quality ingredients are celebrated. Lunch is generally the largest meal of the day, eaten after 1pm, and dinner is something lighter after 9pm (yeah, you’re gonna be up late).

You can get tapas to share and cava, sangria, or beer quite affordably. Meals – or even just drinks – tend to be leisurely, social affairs. In true Spanish fashion, outdoor dining is encouraged, and you’ll never be rushed to leave, even if you only order drinks – in fact, make sure you leave plenty of time to get the check and pay the bill. While in Barcelona, make sure you eat croquettes, patatas bravas (fried potatoes), paella (a popular rice dish), and crema catalana (think creme brulee) for dessert.

Groceries are easy to come by – and don’t forget your reusable bags. For a fun, local experience, shop at some of the covered markets for fresh produce and food. The infamous Mercat de la Boqueria, on Las Ramblas, is the oldest and most famous of the Barcelona markets – and now is primarily a tourist attraction. Check out Mercat de Sant Antoni, Mercat Princesa, Mercat de Santa Caterina, or Mercat de la Concepció for fresh flowers. 

There are also plenty of popular supermarket chains, like Carrefour, Mercadona, Caprabo, and El Corte Inglés.

For the days you want to order food to be delivered, apps like Glovo, Bolt, and Uber Eats all work in Barcelona. I mostly used Glovo (for the first time!).

 

What to Do in Barcelona

We know you didn’t just come here to work! There’s never a shortage of things to do in Barcelona, whether it’s your first time here, or you’ve been many times. There’s something for everyone – whether you love the outdoors or you’re a history, art, or architecture nerd.

There’s so much to see and do in Barcelona, including plenty of free things. Here are my Barcelona must-sees if you’re a first-time visitor, plus what to do if you’ve been here before.

Get Oriented

When you arrive, you’ll want to get the lay of the land. Check out Barcelona’s Ciutat Vella, or old town – known today as the Gothic Quarter. You could also do the sunset bike tour I did with LivTours. It’ll introduce you to the Born neighborhood, Port Vell, Barceloneta beach, cava (Catalan champagne – you’re going to be drinking a lot of that), and Parc de la Ciutadella.

 

Must-See Architecture

If you aren’t familiar with Antoni Gaudí, your life is about to be changed forever. It’s hard to think of Barcelona without thinking of Gaudí, the modernist Catalan architect whose unique designs are the hallmark of the city.

Gaudí’s works are a UNESCO World Heritage site. He’s known for thinking through every detail of his buildings, from the ironwork to the stained glass to the ceramics. Make sure you book tickets early – especially in high season – they sell out.

Sagrada Familia, the largest unfinished Catholic church in the world, is a must-see – and going inside is non-negotiable. I definitely recommend going inside Sagrada Familia – I joked that “I’m an atheist, but this is the kind of church that could make me believe in God.” There aren’t words to capture how jaw-dropping the interior is. The light beaming through the colorful stained glass windows will make you feel like you’re in an enchanted forest made of stone. I just did a normal entrance ticket, but LivTours has small guided tours if you want to really understand the history and catch all the details here.

Park Güell, a 42-acre park designed by Gaudí, is another must. It’s full of colored mosaics, sculptures, and monuments inspired by nature. This is also a must-do. You’ll get incredible views of the city, and you can literally spend half a day exploring all the secrets and hidden gems in this park. I just did a normal entrance ticket here, but if you want all the context for the amazing details in this huge park, check out LivTours’ 6-person-max tours.

Casa Batlló, as with all of Gaudí’s works, is stunning from the outside – and definitely worth a visit inside, too. I did a tour here with my mom, but next time I’ll definitely do one of their live concerts (the roof deck, home to the “dragon’s back,” is stunning). The building has a distinct and colorful marine-inspired façade. The interior takes you inside a wondrous underwater world full of animal-esque design.

Casa Mila is nicknamed ‘La Pedrera’ – the stone quarry. See Gaudí’s eccentric warrior rooftop, quirky whale attic, rounded walls, murals, and the butterfly and flower-themed courtyards. I haven’t been inside yet (I’ve only seen the outside), but it’s on the list! LivTours has an intimate guided tour here.

Casa Vicens, Gaudí’s first masterpiece, is a little more out of the way, and less-visited. I’ve only seen the distinct exterior, but inside there’s stunning tile work, a cafe, and a garden. 

Outdoors

After Park Güell, Parc de la Ciutadella is a must-visit and a great place to spend a lazy day picnicking, strolling through the gardens, or taking a boat ride around the pond. I spent several afternoons here. Nearby is the impressive Arc de Triomf, originally built as the gateway to the 1888 Universal Exhibition Barcelona hosted in Parc de la Ciutadella. It’s also close to Aire Ancient Baths where I got a massage and had bougie spa day in their candlelit ancient pools.

Spend a day or three wandering around Montjuïc – meaning “Jewish mountain” for the Jewish cemetery, and the birthplace of the city. It’s now home to many parks, museums, public spaces, and attractions. Take the cable car up to the Castle of Montjuïc for amazing 360 views, wander around the botanical garden, the Olympic stadium, the museums, and take a swim in the municipal pool. Don’t miss the magic fountain at night, either.

The city is surrounded by hills with great views. Montjuïc, Park Güell, and Tibidabo all sit atop hills. Tibidabo is an amusement park and a great place for a hike – or you can take the funicular up.

One of the best things about Barcelona is all the free things to do and outdoor spaces. Visit each of Barcelona’s beaches and pick your favorite. Join a game of pickup volleyball or tan topless, which is normal here. Nomads tend to gravitate towards Bogatell beach in Poblenou – it’s less crowded than Barceloneta – and is surrounded by the Parc del Poblenou if you’re not feeling beachy.

 

Museums

Barcelona has dozens of museums, so whatever you fancy, you’ll find it here. The Museum of the History of Barcelona (MUHBA) tells the story of Barcelona from Roman times to now, and has its main location in Plaça del Rei in the Gothic Quarter. I’ve heard great things about the MUHBA’s Refugio 307 on Montjuïc – the 307th bomb shelter that was built to protect civilians against bombardments from Franco’s army during the Spanish Civil War. Make sure you stop in the Born Center for Culture and Memory to see archeological ruins that date back to the 1700s.

You’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to art museums. Visit the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya at the Palau Nacional on Montjuïc for Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque art. Some other favorites are the Picasso Museum and the Joan Miró Museum, which intertwines art and nature to showcase the work of the Catalan artist. If you prefer modern, contemporary, and street art, don’t miss the Moco Museum, which currently has several Banksy works on display. I went there and really enjoyed it.

 

Culture

One must-see in Barcelona is a flamenco show – a folkloric gitano music and dance tradition from Andalusia. Catch a performance at the architecturally stunning Palau de la Música, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, or attend a more intimate performance with LivTours’ guided tour that includes pre-show tapas in the Gothic Quarter.

Sports fans will want to catch a game of the infamous FC Barcelona soccer team at Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium – the most successful team in Spain.

You’ll quickly adapt to Spanish culture, which prioritizes enjoying life, good company, and taking your time. Dinner doesn’t start until 9pm, afternoon siestas are mandatory, and the nightlife is vibrant. There are plenty of plaças to sip on sangria, munch on tapas, and watch the world go by.

Enjoy the bustling walk down the infamous Rambla de Catalunya, people-watching, and strolling through the medieval streets. You’ll stumble on pop-up markets, art galleries, vintage shops, and markets to pop into.

 

Weekend Trips and Day Trips from Barcelona

Honestly, you could spend months in Barcelona and not see everything. But it’s always nice to get out of the city and explore something different. It’s easy to get up and down the coast on the train or to take buses to nearby towns.

Montserrat is a must-visit if you have the time. It’s home to a Benedictine monk sanctuary, great hiking, a funicular, spectacular mountain views, striking rock formations, and it’s considered a holy site where an image of the Virgin of Montserrat was discovered.

Costa Brava – the wild coast – stretches along the Mediterranean Sea from northeast of Barcelona to the French border. The medieval architecture combined with the crystalline water and coastline makes for a great getaway. Go scuba diving, eat all the paella you can, and dine in Michelin-star restaurants. Tossa de Mar is closest to Barcelona and a popular first stop or day trip by train. If you have a few more days, take the bus or rent a car to see more of this rugged coastline; some towns you can also get to by train or ferry. Other popular spots along the Costa Brava include Lloret de Mar, Cadaqués, Blanes, and Peratallada.

Girona can be combined with a larger trip – like to Costa Brava – or can be done as a day trip. This charming medieval town has a beautiful old quarter, landscaped gardens, and the remains of a Roman fortress was the backdrop for Season 6 of Game of Thrones. LivTours has a guided day tour that will cover all of that, plus the world-famous 11th-century Tapestry of Creation in the Cathedral of Girona and a guided visit to the Salvador Dalí Museum in Figueres. If you aren’t familiar with Dali – like seeing Gaudís work – it will change you. Dalí’s eccentric paintings are bizarre, surreal, and visionary. He’s one of my all-time favorite artists.

 

I hope you have the best time in Barcelona! Let me know @t.prad if you use this guide, if these tips are helpful, and if you have any changes or additions! 

 

Disclaimer: You’ll find some affiliate links throughout the site – along with real talk about what I do/don’t like about the product/service. I don’t recommend things I don’t like. If you decide to act on my (free!) advice (you’re welcome 💁🏽‍♀️), this means I’ll get back some coffee money on my efforts – so it’s a great way to show your support for this multicultural creator 🙂

Get inspo in your inbox.

FOLLOW @T.PRAD ON INSTAGRAM