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Preparing your trip to Barcelona is simple and beautiful. You know that soon you will travel to the Catalan capital to carry out your studies, meet new people and live a typical Erasmus experience.

That’s why in XiorLofttown we thought we’d give you a roadmap so you know, step by step, what you’re going to find. We will also give you some tips to make your stay more comfortable and practical.

We put ourselves in your situation when preparing your trip to Barcelona: from your sofa or bed reading this blog; guiding you through the steps to follow when arriving in Barcelona.

As a student you will have a wide range of opportunities and options to enjoy this wonderful city. From its beaches and mountains, through its architecture and gastronomy to its cultural variety, Barcelona is the city you chose and we are sure that you will have an unforgettable experience. Look: you can tempt yourself and choose to live here.

But enough of the preamble and let’s get to it. As a student residence in Barcelona, from XiorLofttown we tell you how to prepare your trip to the city and enjoy your Erasmus or stay as a student.

Climate

Barcelona is characterized by good weather and this is not a minor fact when preparing your trip. It’s March, and Spring begins to give its first signs. Maximum temperatures will be around 20 degrees and the minimum 13 degrees. Don’t worry as the sun will be present during the day so the feeling of warmth will be higher. You’ll arrive in perfect weather!

Already thinking about the summer, the maximums will be in the 30s. Why are we talking about this? To keep it in mind when putting together your suitcase: you can come with summer clothes and some other clothing to be a bit warmer at night.

We’ve already talked about this in another article , which we invite you to read. There you will find in detail all the recommendations for the rest of the year.

Then you already know: pack a suitcase with the beach in mind. If you like the mountains you can add specific elements for those activities.

Do you have it clear? Well, come: you arrive at your city airport, get on the plane and land in Barcelona. With your suitcase in your hand you leave El Prat and ask yourself: how do I get to the city centre? Well, read on.

How to travel from the airport

Without a doubt, when preparing your trip you should know how to get to the city centre from the airport. El Prat (Barcelona Airport) is very well connected and you have different options. Since you’re a student, and I’m sure you’ll want to spend money on other activities, we’ll tell you the most accessible.

Public transport

From either of its two terminals -T1 or T2 – you can take the bus or the metro. Both services can be paid in cash.

During the day the bus that will drop you off in Plaza de España is the 46. We remind you that the Plaza is in the heart of Barcelona and, from there, it will be very easy to get around.

However, during the night, bus number 46 doesn’t run. Don’t be scared: Barcelona has everything in mind. Buses N16, N17 and N18 will deposit you in the heart of the city: in Plaza Universitat, a few steps from Plaza Catalunya.

The metro is also an option thanks to Line 9 (L9). This metro line is new and still under construction, so you’ll have to make a change once you get closer to the city. Please note that the metro provides service between 5 a.m. and 2 a.m.

Note: You can purchase a Casual or Usual card. It will be cheaper and you will have more trips for the future. Here we leave you the link with all the information. You can find the ticket vending machine at Metro stations.

Aerobus

The Aerobús is a service that joins Barcelona Airport to the city in 35 minutes. The cost of the ticket is €5.90 and you can pay by card, cash (€20 note max.) or make the purchase online. Here’s the link.

This service has stops at Plaza de España, Urgell, Universitat and ends at Plaza Catalunya. Inside the bus you will have free Wi-Fi service.

Places you must visit

You have arrived; at the XiorLofttown student residence in Barcelona we welcome you with open arms. You leave your bags and… now what? A little sightseeing is not bad:  walking and getting acquainted with the city is a good plan.

Once you are comfortable in our student residence, you can choose to go out to visit different places of interest. XiorLofttown has a prime location within the city: everything is close by!

You can go out to know the Passeig de Gracia and visit its shops and bars. You can’t leave out going to the Sagrada Familia, a Gaudí architectural work of art that will leave you with your jaw dropped.

We also recommend you walk the streets of the district of Gracia, its squares and its cultural diversity of young people who make their social life in the streets.

Now with more time, and having known the neighbourhood, you must go for a walk through the Gothic Quarter, the Rambla, the Born, Barceloneta (its beaches and its gastronomy), and the harbour promenade.

Then… you will discover all the options that Barcelona offers you: Park Güell, the beaches of Bogatell and much more. That’s it… we leave it to you to be surprised on your own.

Getting around in Barcelona

You’ll walk a lot at first. Come on… everything is close. But then you’ll want to get about using other means.

In Barcelona you can find Bicing, the public bicycle system. To use it, you will need to meet two requirements: have a NIE or DNI, and pay €50 for the service. Don’t panic: payment is made only once and is valid for one year.

You can use the mechanical bikes for free as many times as you want; unlimited service. You will also find electric bikes. These have an additional cost of €0.35.

Finally, as mentioned above, you will be able to purchase the Usual or Casual cards. Once you choose one of them you can take any public transport service: train, metro and bus.

For more detailed information, we leave you this article on mobility in Barcelona.

Ready! You already have all the necessary information to prepare your trip to Barcelona. A roadmap for you to start imagining your student days in this beautiful Mediterranean city.

If you have any questions write to  the XiorLofttown team. We will be happy to know you!