Exploring a New City as an Intern in Barcelona

Looking for a sun-soaked, fun-filled city of culture and heritage? Barcelona’s the place. Discover how to explore Barcelona as an intern and how to get the most out of your new city.

With a wealth of urban regeneration kickstarted by the 1992 Olympics, much of the Barcelona of today is brand-new; even the sandy beaches along the seafront! 

The city has used international events to attract private investment and encourage innovative thinking in city planning and architecture; today, the results are clear across this modern and forward-thinking city.

Barcelona is famous across the world for its sun and sea, and the city does make for a fantastic holiday destination. But it’s also a haven of architecture, art, and cultural delights. Not to mention the vibrant culinary scene.

Starting out in a big city, especially as an intern, can be daunting. So we’ve put together this guide; perfect for if you’re new to Barcelona and looking for tips and guidance on making the most out of the city.

Read on to discover exactly what to do when you touch down in Barcelona.

You’ll likely arrive in Barcelona Airport, also known as El Prat Airport; this is the main international hub of the region, and the second busiest airport in Spain. You’ll feel blasted by the heat and the sun as you step off the plane; you’ll soon get used to it. A pair of sunglasses and a tube of sunscreen never go amiss in Barcelona.

If you’re a Beyond intern, we’ll be waiting to pick you up and take you straight to your accommodation. Simply join us and we’ll shepherd you from the airport to your new room. It’s as simple as that.

If you’re striking out on your own, it’s time to navigate the Barcelonan transport system. This will be your first challenge; to explore Barcelona as a new intern and for the first time!

However, as you might expect, the airport has excellent transport links into the city, so getting there will be straightforward. 

Your fastest choice will be taking a taxi, which will bring you to the city center in about 20 minutes; the cheapest is taking the bus, which will take about 40 minutes. If you intend to use a taxi, we recommend booking ahead; there’s always a queue, and you don’t want to fall foul of miscommunication issues with the local drivers. 

Alternatively, grab the metro from either Terminal 1 or Terminal 2. We recommend purchasing an Hola Barcelona Travel Card; this will allow you to travel unlimitedly across all public transport. You can buy a card that will last you anywhere from 48 hours (€16.30) to 120 hours (€38.00). It makes hopping across trains, metro, and buses a breeze. 

We think one the very best ways to explore Barcelona as a new intern is with your tastebuds!

Spanish food is famous the world over, and you’ve probably got a few favorite dishes of your own. But there’s nothing like trying some truly authentic Spanish dishes from a market or restaurant. You can pick up a snack or two at the airport if you’re feeling peckish, but we recommend waiting until you’re in the heart of Barcelona to start trying the good stuff.

Multiple cultures, from the Jews and Romans to the Greeks and Carthaginians, have passed through or conquered Spain in the years gone by, leaving their unmistakable mark on Spanish culture. But it’s the Moors we have to thank for what we consider quintessentially Spanish tastes and smells. The Moors introduced fruits and light seasonings into the Spanish diet, combining these with meats and fish. Most importantly of all, they also introduced rice to Spanish cuisine.

In that spirit, the first thing you’ll want to try is paella. It’s widely considered an international dish of Spain, but Spaniards consider it the dish of the nearby Valencia region. Nevertheless, you’ll find world-class paella wherever you are in Spain. 

Traditionally cooked over an open fire, producing an aromatic smoke, there are a variety of styles for you to try. A standard Paella valenciana will see you enjoying softly fried sauté meat and green vegetables; an alternative Paella de marisco (seafood paella) will replace the meat with shrimp, lobster, and mussels. Lots of eateries also offer a mixture of the two.  

Another great way of sampling the varied dishes of Spain is through tapas. Tapas refers to the style of serving food, not the food itself; it’s a great way of mixing and matching small plates of food to try a range of Spanish cuisine. 

The widely held origin of tapas is that they began as small slices of meat or bread that bar-goers used to cover their drinks to keep flies out – ‘tapas’ means ‘to cover’ in Spanish, after all. Eventually, the snack became a quintessential part of the bar experience.

So what should you order? For your first dip into tapas, we recommend trying as wide a range of food as possible; this way, you can quickly figure out what you like. A couple of highlights include: Boquerones (anchovies soaked in vinegar); Tortilla de patatas (a kind of quiche-like tortilla with eggs and potatoes); Pincho moruno (‘Moorish spikes’, skewers of roasted meat covered in spices); and Pimientos del padrón (spicy green peppers). 

You can also take any recommendations from your restaurant or café. And the locals will probably have an opinion on what you should try!

Spain is a fantastic place for wine drinkers. But for those of you who don’t drink alcohol, you’ll find plenty of regional fruit juices famous for their own unique flavors.

But if you’re a fan of wine, Spain is the second largest producer in the world; so you’ll find lots of it in Barcelona. For a long time, Spanish winemaking was highly traditional. Some wines spent up to two decades aging in oak barrels! 

Today, the country employs a mixture of high-tech and rustic methods. You’ll want to try some Cava, the famous sparkling wine of Spain; especially as most Cava is produced just north-east of Barcelona. 

Tempranillo is the most-planted red grape in Spain, and you’ll find it all over the region. This is a relatively neutral grape, so you’ll often find it blended with other flavors for that distinctive fruity taste. 

Lastly, you’ll want to try some tasty sangria. This is a sweet and refreshing mixture of red wine and fruit, including berries, pineapples and peaches. The more recent alternative, white wine sangria, is equally tasty!

One of the best ways to truly get to know another culture is through art. And as you explore Barcelona as a new intern, you’ll discover it everywhere. As your internship progresses, you’ll feel like an honorary Barcelonan.

While you’re in Barcelona, you’ll want to take in as many sights and attractions as you can. This can be something as simple as taking a walk along the beach or soaking up the atmosphere in the heart of the city. And it can be as offbeat as visiting the Calder Mercury Fountain or Chocolate Museum. 

It’s an obvious one, but we’d be remiss if we didn’t talk about the guiding hand behind the look and feel of Barcelona: Antoni Gaudí. 

Across the city, his collected works are a UNESCO World Heritage site; there’s no better way of truly understanding what makes the city tick than familiarizing yourself with his architecture. First up, the Sagrada Família is world-famous – and with good reason. The cathedral has been under construction since 1882, and is even now still several years away from completion. 

There’s something special about getting a glimpse of this not-quite-finished masterpiece. The exterior is awe-inspiring enough, but if you’re looking for a deep-dive into history, you can get a guided tour for €27. Then spread out across the city and look out for the rest of Gaudí’s contributions to Barcelona. 

We highly recommend capping off your architectural immersion with a visit to the Park Güell, found on Camel Hill. Here you’ll find a hodgepodge of Gaudí designs; make sure you get a photo with the famous El Drac!

Another good choice is the Museu Picasso, one of the most extensive Picasso collections in the world – it houses over 4,000 pieces! You’ll find it in the La Ribera neighbourhood, spread across five contiguous medieval palaces. 

You can get a guided or self-guided tour here – a guided tour is €6 on top of the price of admission, and is well worth it. With tours available in a range of languages, you’ll find out just how much inspiration Picasso drew from Barcelona when he lived here in his formative years; you’ll also get a glimpse of some of his earliest major works, including The First Communion and Science and Charity.

Barcelona has more to offer than just fascinating history and architecture; there’s a fantastic cultural scene here too. Culture permeates in every street, you’ll immerse yourself in it as you explore Barcelona as an intern.

You might be unfamiliar with how Spain does things, but you’ll soon get the hang of it. Most shops open a little later at 10 AM, and tend to close at around 8:30 PM. Barcelona also has an extremely active nightlife; bars and restaurants are typically packed until well after midnight as the revellers bask in the cool air. 

You’ll have the chance to sample the aforementioned food and drink in a variety of restaurants, markets, and bars. Or try a chiringuito (temporary snack bar) beside the beach. And as you eat and drink in the heart of Barcelona, you’ll hear music spill out through the streets. From powerful flamenco music to hot jazz, traditional Spanish sounds regularly flood the city! 

And if you fancy it, Barcelona has one of the best clubbing scenes in Europe. Head out on the town and enjoy it.

If you’re a fan of getting out in the sun, the nearby Collserola hills provide a great setting for hiking and mountain biking; you’ll get a work-out while getting a fantastic view over the city. Similarly, Barcleona’s beaches are great for swimming or water sports, including paddleboarding and kayaking. Or take a peaceful cruise alongside the city.

And if you’d like to take in some performing arts, the Gran Teatre del Liceu is a world-renowned opera theater. If you time your internship right, you might also find yourself attending the Sónar Music and Primavera Sound Festivals; both of which take place around May and June each year.

Like every city, Barcelona has so much more to offer than just the well-known highlights. Whether you’re walking the ancient streets of the Gothic Quarter or taking a ramble down La Rambla, you’ll always find something new to occupy your time.

But if you’re ever in need of guidance or specific recommendations, our local community team is here to help. Exploring a new city can be a daunting prospect; but our local teams are experts in helping you make the most of it.

If Barcelona sounds appealing, why not read a bit more about our Barcelona-based internships? Get ready to explore Barcelona as an intern. And if you feel energized and ready to begin planning your program, contact us and find out more!