Barcelona, Spain’s most frequented city, welcomes around 12 million tourists annually. But the tourism boom is also said to have put a strain on health services, water supplies and housing which has led to a significant backlash from locals.
Anti-tourist graffiti can be seen across the city’s historic walls, with some protesters resorting to squirting tourists with water pistols on beaches. YouTuber Ed Chapman decided to visit Catalonia’s capital to gauge the level of hostility British tourists face on the streets.
Despite the reported anti-tourism sentiment, Ed found that he was warmly welcomed by the locals. In one instance, he even experienced what he believed to be more than just friendliness, bordering on flirtation.
He shared: “I’m not saying there was something there but just saying we shared a smile and she asked for [the name of] my channel so I’m just saying who knows? Maybe she’s watching this right now.”
Ed did issue a word of warning about booking well in advance for Barcelona’s most iconic attraction – the Basílica de la Sagrada Família. The grand church, designed by renowned Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, has been under construction for over 140 years and is expected to be completed in 2026.
Ed advises that visitors need to plan their trip well in advance, allowing at least 10 days before a visit. As an alternative, Ed visited Park Guell, a large open-air exhibition showcasing Gaudi’s architectural ideas.
But even this was somewhat overpriced according to Ed. “It’s alright, but it’s not worth €28,” he commented.
The biggest shock for Ed came from a bar where the prices of cocktails actually increased while he was in the process of ordering them. He described Barcelona as a very expensive city to visit.
He continued: “They add about €1 a night in city taxes, tourist taxes and so on. This place cost about £180 a night, but a three star would be half that price in the UK.”
The most significant price shock came when Ed tried out a local cocktail bar. In the Dow Jones bar, he explains, the various different cocktails are priced according to the level of demand.
“I’ve never heard of a place like this before,” he said. “I ordered a strawberry daiquiri and it was €7 60 when I ordered it, then the price went up to €8.20 so it went up 60 after my order.”