10 sustainable reasons to visit Barcelona
Barcelona, once again Europe’s most visited city in 2016, has a side you might not be aware of. Something is moving in Barcelona. People are starting initiatives, politics are changing and startups and enterprises go the sustainable way. A whole bunch of new (or less new) sustainable projects and places are to be discovered. As if the city’s major highlights weren’t enough, they add a whole different side to the city. With city-trip season approaching quickly, these are the reasons (and tips for when) you should (re-)discover Barcelona.
- The beach
We can’t write an article full of tips without mentioning the beach off course. A large part of Barcelona’s identity and culture is built around the connection with the sea and the beach is a locals’ and travelers’ favourite. An association of young people, called Surf&Help organizes events at the beach that are used to support one cause or another. It means for instance going for a morning swim including a small beach clean up, or making a walk or other activity (including surfing, off course), with some local and sustainable information included. Check them out via this link, they’re really cool to hang out with!
2. Food, food and more food.
If you are a vegetarian or vegan, you’ll have a wide choice of supreme vegetarian and vegan eateries in the city. But Barcelona is also one of the innovators in the expanding scene of slow food. One such place is Mostassa. Mostassa works with regional products, natural and homemade food, seasonal ingredients, local craft beer, etc. Everything your tummy loves! Another place for those wanting to discover the true Catalan cuisine is La llavor dels origens, which works with nothing but Catalan products. They have a restaurant in El Born and one in Gracia.
3. The mountains
Locals like to say that Barcelona is one of the only cities in which there is a mere two-hour distance between laying in the sun or skiing in the snow, which is true. But even closer to Barcelona some really nice hills and natural parks exist. One of them, Collserola, is extremely close, almost visible from any part of the city, and a true natural delight. A 15-minute metro (FGC)-ride from Plaza Catalunya takes you to Baixador de Vallvidrera, where you can find a visitor center with maps of amazing walks in the Mediterranean landscape. A perfect getaway for a few hours and you won’t believe you’re so close to the city!
4. Specialty coffee
For some time, Barcelona was lacking a little behind as to the coffee scene. But now they are on full speed! Gorilla Bar (a really nice bar with great coffee), Onna Coffee (liquid gold from Costa Rica), Syra (newcomer with affordable and superb quality coffee) and Slowmov (a wonderful association promoting a slower (and more valuable) style of life, including when it comes to coffee) not only offer you a sustainable espresso made with love, they also let you discover the wonderful neighbourhood of Gracia, a district of the city full of independent shops, eateries and bars. Don’t forget to check out the squares and to have a seat in the sun while you’re here!
5. Craft beer
Beer-lovers are spoiled in Barcelona! The craft beer scene is truly booming with some amazing bars to visit. If you’re in the Eixample area, Garage Beer Co is definitely worth a visit. They brew their own beers in the back of the “garage”, and the bar itself is a local’s favourite! Another bar that should be on any list for Barcelona is Ale&Hop in El Born. Here, top quality craft beers go hand in hand with specialty coffee and veggie food (with ingredients from their own cultivation!). Two incredible innovators, passionate about the work they do and the product they offer. Cheers!
6. Fashion
That our current methods of mass fashion are not sustainable is generally known. Luckily, a whole new scene of slow, ethical, organic and fair fashion is rising, and some of the main drivers can be found in Barcelona. They not only provide you with a sustainable piece; quality, uniqueness and professionalism are always included! To find some of the fashion innovators in this city, you can follow this link. One shop certainly not to be missed is SoleRebels. In this very pretty shop you’ll find shoes which are made from re-used car-tires, assembled with organic cotton by artisan hand-workers (which get paid a fair price for their work). A sustainable success story that is truly transforming society.
7. Parks
Even though the surrounding mountains and natural parks offer a great natural escape, even the city itself encompasses some nice green areas and parks. One of the most famous being Park Guell, which is more than the (hugely touristic) historic side of it (tips to visit it in a more relaxed way can be found in this article). The Ciutadella Park provides a nice green area in the middle of the city center. It’s particularly interesting to visit this park on a Sunday, since between 12h00 and 14h30 open air swing dance sessions are held in the bandstand (but at any moment of the week you might find an interesting activity in this park, such as yoga meetups, running, … a whole set of ways to meet local people!). Another interesting park is the hill of Montjuïc, full of gardens and monuments. A particular interesting moment to visit Montjuïc is by visiting the open air cinema in summer, which is becoming a hugely popular event!
8. Wellness
You have a beautiful sunny day, you had some good food, an enjoyable time in the mountains or at the beach. Now what is missing? Wellness off course! Even in this field Barcelona has a wide variety of businesses that try to do things differently. Hairdresser Alone not only gives you a fashionable look with their stylish hair-cutting, they do things sustainable, with for instance a 1EUR donation to the project Salvem el Jardi for every beauty product sold. This charity wants to preserve gardens, trees and their history in the neighbourhood. If you need a massage you should surely check out Under Pressure Massage Barcelona, Barcelona’s first sustainable massage-institute. Here the hands of a professional masseur go combined with exclusively organic oils and other sustainable measures.
9. Local culture
The Catalans like to party. And the Catalans value their history and culture. A combination that creates some of the greatest local events and traditions. One such event, never to be missed is the Festa Major de Gràcia, which must be one of Europe’s most traditional, moving and dynamic celebrations. This festival takes place at the end of August, for one week in the neighbourhood of Gràcia. A whole bunch of events are held (food and drink tastings, concerts, walks, and so on), but the most astonishing part are the decorated streets. Neighbours working together for many months to decorate their street, most often by re-using certain materials and being creative with them. The results are marvelous. If the festival wasn’t already a huge salute to the local culture, it is an example of social cohesion and sustainability.
10. Ho(s)tels
Time to sleep. In a city with so many visitors every year, the choices as to accommodation are huge and varied. So let us suggest some of the sustainable ho(s)tels, which are to be found here. One of them is the Jam Hostel, an example of sustainability. Next to providing you with a comfortable night of sleep, they take care of energy saving, working with local and cooperative partners, sustainable building measures, creativity, free fair-trade coffee, … The people of Jam Hostel show they care about more than just making money, but instead are one of the sustainable leaders in the hostel scene. You’ll rest assured! 
For more places in Barcelona, check out this link; for more sustainable places all over Europe, go to goodgoal.org
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