Barcelona is the away day most supporters want first, and it earns it. The city is walkable, the food is honest and cheap if you know where to look, and the ground sits right on the metro. Here is how to do it properly over a weekend.
Getting there
Direct flights from Manchester run most mornings and put you in El Prat inside two and a half hours. From the airport the metro L9 Sud takes you into the city without touching a taxi rank. If you would rather keep your feet on the ground, the fly-and-train option through Paris is longer but turns the journey into part of the trip.
- Direct flight is the quickest at roughly five hours door to door.
- Metro L9 runs from the airport straight into town, buy a T-casual for ten rides.
- Match nights get busy on the L3, leave a little earlier than you think.
The ground is on the metro, so you never need a car and you never need to gamble on a taxi after full time.
Where to stay
Eixample is the sweet spot: central, well connected and full of small places to eat that locals actually use. It is a short walk or one metro stop from most of what you will want to do, and it keeps you clear of the pricier tourist strip down by the marina.
Around the game
Get to the ground early and walk the outside before kick-off, it is worth the time. Afterwards the old town is where the night carries on, with narrow streets full of bars that stay open long after the final whistle. Keep your ticket and your phone somewhere safe in the crowd and you will have a proper night.
- Eat in the Gothic Quarter, not on the main tourist drag.
- Carry a little cash, some of the best small bars still prefer it.
- Last metro is earlier than you would like, plan the route back.
Plan this trip
Draw the whole Barcelona away day, every leg and the stay, in one honest all-in figure.