Sustainable tourism in Barcelona: everything you need to know

Sustainable tourism has become the new way of travelling in a respectful way to any city in the world. It consists of adapting as much as possible to the customs of each place, in order to be welcomed by the locals and soak up their culture as much as possible.

At Lugaris we’d like to explain everything you need to know about sustainable tourism in Barcelona and how to make the most of your holidays. 

Choose a sustainable hotel in Barcelona

Sustainable tourism in Barcelona has become one of the best ways to visit Barcelona, a city that offers an infinite number of services for tourists to enjoy themselves and marvel at the most emblematic places in this Spanish city.

Now it is no longer difficult to book your stay in a sustainable hotel in Barcelona that respects the environment and allows you to get to know the most important points of the city, without tourism bringing negative consequences for the planet.

Here are some of the best sustainable hotels in Barcelona from our Lugaris network:

• Lugaris Beach
• Lugaris Rambla

The best sustainable shops in Barcelona

Sustainable clothing shops take into account all areas of production so that it is not harmful to the environment: from the workers’ contracts, the materials they use, the processes necessary to produce the clothes, etc. 

Barcelona has become a city that supports this type of shops so that, as users, we can start buying responsibly. Thanks to these shops, you will be able to know at all times where the products you are buying come from and you will support local commerce, which is what makes small entrepreneurs grow.

These are some of the best sustainable shops you can find in Barcelona:

• Baobab Company Barcelona
• Back to Eco 
• Coshop Barcelona 
• Amapola Vegan Shop
• Green Lifestyle 

Sustainable architecture in Barcelona

One of the main investments of the city of Barcelona has been to start constructing buildings with sustainable architecture in which the constructions do not invade the natural spaces of the city and generate the energy they need to manage themselves. 

You can visit these buildings, as they have become one of the most emblematic points of the city, and you can study how they do it so as not to generate waste that is harmful to the environment.

These are some of the best buildings in Barcelona built using sustainable architecture:

• The headquarters of the Blood and Tissue Bank of Catalonia.
• Glòries Tower
• Media-Tic Building
• Baró de Viver Civic Centre
• Ecourban Barcelona

Get to know Barcelona’s traditions

Barcelona’s traditions and customs are based on Catalan culture and are quite different from those of the rest of Spain. One of the best ways to travel is to get to know the important dates for the people of the land and try to understand some of the most deeply-rooted traditions of their territory.

Here are some of the most important dates for the people of Barcelona:

• National Day of Catalonia on 11 September.
• Sant Jordi’s Day on April 23rd.
• Festa Major (local festival) in the Gracia neighbourhood in mid-August
• La Mercè Festival on 24 September
• The night of Sant Joan on 23 June

These are some of the most famous traditions in Barcelona that you should try to understand in order to blend in with Catalan culture: 

• The Sardana
• Castellers
• Santa Llúcia Christmas Fair
• El Tió de Nadal
• The Easter Mona

Enjoy the best local cuisine restaurants

Food is one of the strongest tools we have when we travel, as it allows us to get to know the culture of the place where we are. 

We recommend that you avoid the big chains and always go to local food restaurants, to enjoy the most typical gastronomy of Barcelona, as well as to collaborate with small entrepreneurs.

These are some of the best organic restaurants in Barcelona, so you can enjoy the healthiest food during your trip to Barcelona:

• La Mare del Tano
• Teresa Carles
• Organic Restaurant
• Vegetalia
• Woki Organic Market

Barcelona is a city that bases much of its gastronomy on local food from the Mediterranean Sea. These are some of the best fish restaurants in Barcelona:

• La Mar Salada
• Mariscco
• Tres Encinas
• Botafumeiro
• Lluritu

Respect people’s timetables in Barcelona

Barcelona is a city that takes things slowly, which is why it has a timetable that is always much later than its European neighbours. If you want to enjoy your holidays and not go out on the streets when everything is still closed or go shopping on a public holiday, we recommend that you follow their timetables.

Meal times:

• Lunch from 14:00 to 15:00
• Dinner from 9pm to 10pm

Working hours:

• The working day starts at around 8 or 9 am.
• Break at around 14:00 and 15:00 hours.
• The working day ends at 18:00 or 19:00.

Business hours:

• Shops open at about 10 a.m.
• From 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. there is a break
• Shops close at around 8 or 9 p.m.

Use public transport and get to know Barcelona’s traffic policy

Pollution generated by private transport has become a real problem in the city of Barcelona, which is why a few years ago it was decided to find a solution. Apart from creating more pedestrian streets in the city centre, access to the city centre for certain vehicles has been restricted in order to avoid the gases they emit into the environment.

Since a few years ago, Barcelona has become a Low Emission Zone and only vehicles with a “green sticker” can enter the city, which certifies that these cars have been produced according to the new legislation of low emission of polluting waste.

The best way to get around Barcelona is by public transport. As the city is not too big, you can easily get from one end of the city to the other using the metro network, buses, trams, trains, railways, etc.

Now you know everything you need to know about sustainable tourism in Barcelona and enjoy this city in all its essence. Take a look at our Lugaris blog to continue discovering the best places in this city that makes travellers fall in love with it.

OUR APARTMENTS IN BARCELONA

Holiday apartments by the beach in Barcelona

Since 2010, Lugaris Apartaments has been offering you the best holiday rental flats in Barcelona, perfect for a family holiday, with friends or as a couple, or for medium-term stays.

You can choose between apartments near the beach in Barcelona, at Lugaris Beach, with sea views, 2 swimming pools (one for adults and one for children) and capacity for up to 6 people, and the Lugaris Rambla flats, located on the Rambla de Poblenou and just 300 m from Bogatell beach, with a balcony or terrace of up to 22 m2 and ideal for couples or families and groups of up to 5 people. All our luxury flats in Barcelona are air-conditioned and equipped with all the appliances, furniture and bed linen you will need during your stay. They also have satellite TV and free high-speed Wi-Fi connection, as well as a safe and a 24-hour private security service.

What’s more, when you make your booking, you can reserve many other additional services: international press in your flat, parking space, transfer service to and from Barcelona airport, bicycle hire, supermarket shopping, museum, sports and show tickets, babysitting service and much more.

For more information, contact Lugaris Apartments without obligation.