Three minutes from the hostel, Plaça de Catalunya is one of those squares that earns its reputation. Fountains, wide open space, and the kind of energy that comes from being at the centre of a city that takes its public spaces seriously. It also connects every Metro line, FGC train, and the airport bus, so the whole city opens up from here.

Four 2,000-year-old Roman columns hidden inside a mediaeval courtyard on Carrer de Paradís, ten minutes on foot from the hostel and free to visit. Most people walk straight past the entrance, which is precisely what makes finding it feel worthwhile. One of Barcelona’s genuinely best-kept secrets.

The plaza outside MACBA is the heartbeat of Barcelona’s skate scene, world-class skaters, hip-hop, and a crowd that has been gathering here for decades. Five minutes on foot from St Christopher’s, completely free, and best experienced with a cheap drink from a nearby bodega and no particular plan for the afternoon.

Barcelona’s most iconic landmark is worth seeing even if you only have a day in the city. Book tickets in advance and try to visit early in the morning to avoid the biggest crowds and get the best light inside.

An abandoned Civil War anti-aircraft bunker complex sitting high above the city with a 360-degree panoramic view over Barcelona, the Sagrada Família, and the sea beyond. Free to visit, best at sunset, and well worth the short bus ride or uphill walk. Bring supermarket snacks and stay for the full show.

Els Encants is a flea market that has been running for centuries, now reimagined under a spectacular mirrored roof that reflects the city skyline above it. Free entry, and a proper place to find vintage clothing, retro football shirts, and old vinyl at prices that make sense on a backpacker budget.

For a hostel in Barcelona near the beach, St Christopher’s puts you fifteen minutes by bike from Barceloneta — a proper Mediterranean beach with wide sands, beach bars, and open water. Hire a bike from the hostel reception and you can be there before the best spots fill up.

An unpretentious, old-school Galician tapas bar hidden in the Gothic Quarter where locals and travellers eat side by side. Skip the tourist traps on Las Ramblas and come here instead for patatas bravas, pimientos de Padrón, and fresh seafood at €4 to €8 a plate, in a place that has no interest in performing for anyone.

A standing-room-only sparkling wine bar in El Born that has been pouring house cava since 1929 at around €1.50 a glass. Squeeze in at the marble counters, order a round, and let the staff pass pinchos over your head. The kind of place that turns a quick drink into a long evening.

A punk-themed vegan craft beer and burger joint in El Born with a fierce independent atmosphere, cat-themed decor, and food that makes sense on a backpacker budget. Croquettes, burgers, and comfort food at €3 to €10, in a place that feels nothing like anywhere else on the street.

A rustic, cavernous tavern hidden down a side street minutes from the hostel; massive wooden picnic tables, cheap beer, pool tables, and loud music. Sangria by the glass or by the pitcher at €3 to €12, and the kind of crowd that makes meeting people feel effortless. The easiest first night in Barcelona.