When I told everyone I was heading to Barcelona solo for my birthday, they thought I was crazy. As a flight attendant, I constantly hear my colleagues solo travel stories, and their adventures sparked something in me. I remember sitting in my jump seat talking to a fellow flight attendant about wanting to take a risk and solo travel. She said, “I do it all the time and have a good time! Just do it and don’t overthink it.” That was all the confirmation I needed. Planning group trips stressed me out from the coordinating schedules, dealing with flaky plans, and waiting on people to commit. I decided I’m not waiting anymore because I was ready to create my own memories. This trip was about stepping out of my comfort zone, proving to myself that if I could explore the world alone I can accomplish anything I want. It was more so self discovery trip to conncect with myself without having all the outside noise. Barcelona was the perfect backdrop for this journey.

Where I Stayed in BarcelonA?

Not only was this my first solo trip, but it was also my first time staying in a hostel. If you’re unfamiliar, a hostel is a shared accommodation where you bunk with other travelers, often in dorm-style rooms. Let me be real some hostels get a bad reputation for being overcrowded, unclean, or chaotic. But before you make a face, let me tell you Hostelle Barcelona exceeded my expectations. It’s a chic and all-female hostel, and it was exactly as advertised girly, aesthetically pleasing, and super clean.

🌸 It felt like a giant sleepover with women from all over the world.

🌸 It was the perfect way to meet other solo travelers without feeling unsafe.

🌸 They provided weekly activities to help travelers connect and explore together.

Why I Loved the Location:

📍 Neighborhood: Via Júlia (North of the city)

🚇 Metro: Right across the street made it so easy to get around!

🌍 Local vibes: I loved watching the daily lifestyle of Barcelona—parents walking their kids to school, people heading to work, and life outside of tourist areas.

If you’re a solo traveler, I highly recommend staying at hostel especially if its your first time. It’s budget-friendly, safe, and super social.

WHAT I DID IN BARCELONA?

Tango Dancing Class 💃🏾

This was hands-down one of my favorite experiences! The class was held on a rooftop in the heart of the city, which made it feel so authentic and intimate.

We kicked off the night with wine and introductions.
I was paired with another solo traveler from the U.S., and we had so much fun.
We laughed, embraced the music, and got lost in the rhythm of tango in Barcelona.

Moco Museum 🎨

No matter where I travel, I always visit a museum. The Moco Museum was a place of pure inspiration.I had a moment where I just paused and thought wow, I’m really in Barcelona, living my dream. That’s the beauty of solo travel it fills you up in ways you can’t even explain.

Park Güell 🏰

This one was personal. If you grew up watching The Cheetah Girls, you already know why. I was so excited to visit Park Güell because of that movie scene, and the nostalgia hit so hard. Beyond the movie memories, the park itself was stunning filled with rich history, breathtaking architecture, and insane views of the city.

La Boqueria Market 🍓🍢

I could’ve spent the entire day here just eating.The market had endless food options fresh fruit, tapas, pastries, and more. I spent a good hour and a half just walking around, stuffing my face. It was so vibrant you could literally feel the energy of the city inside this market.

Sunset Boat Ride ⛵️

This sunset boat made me feel like I was in a movie scene from the live instruments being played in the background to everyone sipping sangria moving across the ocean. I try my best to show as much gratitude but this moment I took a deep breath and just soaked it all in my life, my job, my courage to explore the world alone.

Walking La Rambla + Shopping 🏙️

La Rambla was everything I imagined beautiful buildings, super busy, and endless shops. A memory I will never forget is walking through La Rambla streets during St Jordi Celebrations which is similar to Valentines Day in America. I was able to see how Spain approached love. All the women were walking around with roses and the men was carrying books they received from women. It was the cutest thing ever! It put so much into perspective how America is a box and its so much more going on around the world down to how we perceive different holidays.

What I Ate in Barcelona?

One thing about Barcelona? You’re never going to run out of amazing food. Tapas everywhere! Barcelona is literally tapas heaven. Whether it was patatas bravas, croquettes, or pan con tomate, I was never disappointed. Tapas are meant to be shared, but since I was solo, I got to try a little bit of everything for myself.

Paella, Of Course! 🥘

I was on a mission to get authentic seafood paella, and I found the perfect spot near Park Güell. I loved it so much that I was craving it again, and one of the solo travelers at my hostel actually cooked homemade paella for me. It was one of my favorite memories of the trip.

Dining in Local Neighborhoods 🍽️

I also made it a point to eat outside of tourist areas in the Via Júlia neighborhood. My Spanish was struggling, but it forced me to be patient and try to learn. Also, the people from spain appreciate it when you take the time out to emerge into the culture and try to learn different things. So If you visit Barcelona, step outside of the tourist spots and eat where the locals eat. It’s so worth it.

It’s been a long time since I took a risk that truly stretched me. The last big leap was leaving media/advertising salary paying job to freelance and become a flight attendant. Before that, it was moving to Atlanta from Jersey on my own. So booking this solo international trip to Barcelona was huge for me. It reminded me that I’m still capable of stepping out my comfort zone and choosing me even when its scary. I’ve never been the type to let people project their fears onto me, but I won’t lie it feels weird when you share you excitement and people don’t match it, or worse make you feel guilty for wanting to live life on your own terms. I take these kind of risk not just for myself, but for the person watching quietly wondering if it finally their sign to take their risk. This is your reminder we may get older, but that doesn’t mean we stop making memories. There’s a whole world waiting for you on the other side of that boarding pass.

MY FIRST SOLO TRIP TO BARCELONA, SPAIN