We’ve all done it: touched down in a new city determined to pass as a local and, more fool us, stuck out like sore thumbs. It’s especially easy to do in Barcelona, a chocolate box of a city that tempts millions every year with all its incredible sights and bites. You don’t need us to tell you that tourists often get a bad rap in the capital of Catalonia, which is why some pointers for fitting in are ultra-handy. Here, DK Eyewitness Senior Editor Lucy Richards gives 9 ways to avoid looking like a tourist in Barcelona.

Barcelona Like a Local

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First thing’s first, you need to start with the name; locals affectionately shorten Barcelona to Barna. This is not to be confused with their beloved football club, which goes by Barça. Don’t confuse the two – you will be judged for mixing them up.

There’s no denying that Barcelona has had an incredibly difficult history. It was in the 1930s that General Franco and his Nationalists rained bombs on the city, triggering years of oppression in Barcelona and wider Catalonia. So it’s understandable why Barcelonans don’t love to speak Spanish, the language of Franco. Earn yourself some serious points and learn a few Catalan phrases for your stay in Barna. The locals really will appreciate the gesture.

Yes, this is a coastal city but Barcelona is also a powerhouse of fashion and design, so beachwear is strictly worn on the beach. Barcelonans might not dress up much for drinks or dinner, but anyone approaching a bar dressed in swimmers and flip flops will receive some eye-rolls. It’s behaviour like this that goads the locals to whisper “guiris” – a scathing name for tourists. In essence: don’t be a guiri, save the swimwear for the beach.

Don’t get us wrong – we love the Sagrada Família (it’s truly spectacular), but so do the thousands who descend on the unfinished cathedral every single day. Consider paying your respects to visionary architect and local boy Antoni Gaudí at another of his stunning masterpieces, like Palau Güell in whimsical Park Güell, or the lovely Bellesguard manor house. And there are loads more Modernista buildings besides: gorgeous piano bar El Quatre Gats, the chocolate-inspired mansion Casa Amatller, even Farmàcia Aguilar Pérez, which is the most stunning pharmacy you’ll ever clap eyes on.

It’s hard to beat tucking into a vast pan of bubbling, saffron-spiced paella with loved ones. But know that this scrumptious, sociable dish is strictly a lunchtime affair (Barcelonans tend to eat the main, filling meal of the day at lunch, before a much-needed siesta) and any restaurant serving paella at dinnertime is aimed at tourists. By all means park up at a beachside restaurant and indulge in a hearty paella, so long as it’s lunchtime; then, later, head out to Sant Antoni or Gràcia for an evening grazing on tapas.

While we’re on the topic of mealtimes and food, know that – unlike most other cosmopolitan European cities – brunch just isn’t a thing in Barcelona. You read that right: no smashed avocado on toast, no stacks of fluffy pancakes, no bowls of house-made granola. Instead, Barcelonans are all about sandwiches (or bocadillos) which they happily munch on for elevenses. Want to see what the fuss is about? Conesa in the Gothic Quarter and Entrepanes Díaz in Eixample are great places to start.

Sure, Barcelona has got some great beaches but some of the loveliest – and least busy – await outside the city limits. Pack up a picnic and catch a train out to the golden sands and the crystal blue waters of Platja de Montgat or Platja de Garraf. You’ll have both bags of space and bragging rights.

Barna might have a reputation for sea, sand and sangria but this is a myth; you’ll never catch a Barcelonan ordering sangria at a bar. Their chosen aperitif? That’s vermouth, a fortified wine that’s drunk neat over ice (and sometimes, in more traditional spots, even without ice). Sip this delicious delicacy and mingle with the locals at the charmingly old-school Bodega E. Marín or uber-hip Morro Fi.

Still thinking about that pan of paella? We hear you. Gather your nearest and dearest and indulge in a long, leisurely lunch before enjoying the after-eating art of sobretaula. This custom is all about putting the world to rights, often for hours on end, with digestifs and coffees in hand. So forget your ticklist of Barcelona sights, order another vermouth and sit back and relax. Of all our pearls of wisdom, it’s this that will make you feel like a true Barcelonan.

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