Barcelona is the capital of the Catalonia region of Spain, the third largest tourist city in Europe and the heart of the south Europe cannabis café scene. The laws in Barcelona mean that it’s legal to join a cannabis club in the city and enjoy the delights of marijuana in the comfort of these clubs. It’s still not completely legal as you aren’t allowed to carry it in the streets and you aren’t allowed to smoke it in public. You can however get high in a club and then walk around stoned out your mind! But where’s good for a visit if you are stoned and going for a walk in Barcelona? Below we’ve listed a few of our favourite tourist spots to hit up when high. Some of them will be a little busy at times but all of them offer you a unique view of Barcelona life and are completely free.
1. The Gothic Quarter
Gothic Cathedral Barcelona Morning Street Medieval
One of the first places that most people visit in Barcelona is the Gothic Quarter. This area of Ciutat Vella is nestled between El Born and El Raval and is home to some of the oldest history in Barcelona. The Barcelona Cathedral, the Basilica de Sata Maria del Pi, the Església de Sant Jaume and Parroquia Basílica De La Mare De Deu De La Mercé are all located in this historic district. You can also visit plenty of museums and art galleries in this area and some (although not all) of these are free.
You’ll also find historic areas like Plaça de George Orwell and Plaça Reial in the gothic quarter. This area will often be busy, but the number of free things to see is huge. As well as the plethora of BCN cannabis clubs located here, there are also a huge number of benches and seating areas around. It’s a perfect area to get high, grab a snack and people watch. Remember to smoke all your weed in the cannabis club and you’ll have nothing to be paranoid about.
2. Barceloneta beach
Barcelona Beach
You can’t visit a city like Barcelona and not visit the beach. It may be busy at times, but it is also a must visit. This area used to be largely docks and sub-standard living quarters, but since the Olympic games in 1992 the area has been under a huge amount of regeneration. It’s a major tourist attraction and a great place to spend time when the sun is out – which is basically all the time in Barcelona.
You can get the Metro to this part of town if you don’t fancy the walk, although if you do walk to the beach you are sure to come across some great buskers. If you’ve got a case of the munchies and want to try seafood in Barcelona, then the Barceloneta district is known for it’s freshly caught fish. Keep away from the obvious restaurants and head in to the back streets for the authentic Catalan seafood experience.
3. Montjuïc
Montjuïc
Montjuïc is a huge area of Barcelona right next to the sea. This huge mountain is thought to be named after the Jewish graveyard that was found here (translation: Mount Jewish) and plays host to a whole range of experiences. You can get here on the metro or by using the Teleférico services from the beach.
Montjuic castle is the original attraction here, although now there are sports grounds, memorials, galleries, open-air architecture exhibits and museums as well. It also has several beautiful gardens that are free to walk around. Jardins de Joan Brossa and Jardí Botànic de Barcelona are both located on Montjuïc and offer beautiful views of the sea and mountain side. If you’ve just stumbled out of a Barcelona cannabis café and want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, then head up to Montjuïc and find yourself a nice patch of grass to relax on.
4. Parc De La Ciutdella
Parc De La Ciutdella
Located in the heart of the city next to the Arc de Triomf, this huge city park is home to all kinds of life and activity. On a warm day it is bustling with life and it’s common to fund buskers and live bands littering the walkways. It’s a popular place for band practices and for students to play frisbee on its many green spaces.
It’s also home to the Barcelona Zoo, the Cascada Monumental fountain, the bandstand, boating lake and even the giant elephant sculpture called Mamut. If that isn’t quite enough for you it’s also the location of the Catalan parliament building and the library of the parliament. This park is hugely popular with locals and tourists alike so if you don’t mind being surrounded by people it’s an essential part of any Barcelona trip.
5. The Metro/Renfe System
Barcelona Metro Map
If you’re in Barcelona and you are high, chances are you will want to be lazy and get the Metro at some point. The city is huge and most of the BCN cannabis clubs are located around one area, so it’s helpful to get on the Metro to travel around. There are two things you should be aware of before you walk in a stoned haze on to these convenient city trains.
The first thing to note is that it’s cheapest to buy a T10 ticket. This gives you ten rides on the underground system and works out at just under one euro a trip. You can also share the ticket between friends – you don’t have to buy one each. Just pass the ticket back to your friend and they can use the same card. It’s perfectly legitimate to do this as that’s the way the ticketing system has been designed.
The second thing to note is that there are two train systems in Barcelona. The Metro and the Renfe. The tickets you buy will work on both, but you must be aware that a lot of stations have two sets of entry gates. Don’t rush in assuming that all gates lead you to the same trains. Some of the stations are particularly confusing. Take a second and think about where you are heading. It’s a confusing system sometimes, especially when you’ve just left a BCN cannabis club and you are super high.
6. The Bunkers
Barcelona Bunkers del Carmel
Bunkers del Carmel is one of the favourite locations amongst locals in Barcelona for getting panoramic views of the city. This former gunner station is a relic from the Spanish civil war. It’s one of the areas of the city that hasn’t undergone regeneration. Possibly left over as a reminder to the local inhabitants of their recent divided history. It’s completely free to visit and offers some spectacular views of the city. Greenardo’s cannabis club is close by, as is the Guinardo park. It’s perfectly placed for a stoned walk if you are a member of this BCN cannabis club. You can also catch the Metro here easily enough if you are member of another Barcelona cannabis café.
7. Passeig de Gràcia
Passeig de Gràcia
This area of Barcelona is easy to locate and is full of interesting buildings. Architecture is one of Catalonia’s great cultural gifts to the world and their golden boy Antoni Gaudí spent much of his life working in and around Barcelona. Both Casa Batlló and Casa Milà are located on this street and they are huge attractions for tourists visiting the city. This wealthier area of Barcelona is also home to numerous other buildings worth seeing and has an exceptional number of great restaurants nestled in it’s side-streets. There aren’t as many cannabis clubs in this part of town, but it’s very easy to get here from Ciutat Vella which is crammed full of quality cannabis cafés. Grab the Metro or walk, either way it won’t take long.
8. Las Ramblas
Las Ramblas
One of the most well-known attractions in Barcelona, Las Ramblas is a collection of streets that run from the port area of town up to Plaça de Catalunya. It divides the Gothic Quarter and El Raval which means it’s close to most of the Barcelona’s cannabis clubs. It’s perfect for a stoned walk after leaving a BCN cannabis café. However, be on guard as this area is known for pick-pockets and con-artists. That doesn’t mean it’s not an enjoyable area to explore, just keep an eye on your wallet and don’t keep your phone sticking out of your back pocket. For those exploring this area you can check out hundreds of street performers, buskers and local food stalls. Las Ramblas is also home to the erotic museum, the wax museum and an array of value-for-money tourist treats.
The advice the locals give is to not go into the restaurants in this area. Many of them are just there to cater for the passing tourist trade and won’t give an authentic Catalan eating experience. If the munchies hit and you do want to eat in this area, you can check out the Mercado de La Boqueria. This historic market place has been in residence for hundreds of years and you can grab plenty of authentic snacks and street food on the go. It’s a really convenient stop if you’ve been getting high in the gothic quarter cannabis clubs and want some great value food.
