slow travel barcelona

Unique Food and Wine Experiences In and Around Barcelona

Get ready for a high-end local experience, 100% off the tourist radar.

Penedes Wine Tour

Organic cava &  wine tour near barcelona.

Montserrat Wine & Olive Oil Tour

Wine & olive oil experience.

Farm To Table

Cooking experience.

Barcelona Food Tour

Evening fine dining experience, featured in.

Our Concept

A Unique Experience With The Farm Owner

We believe that meeting the farm and winery owners is much more enjoyable than a standardised group visit with a guide. That’s why we handpicked the friendliest and most knowledgeable producers and curated unique experiences with them for you to get to know their farms, their produce and their passion.

Private Visits & High-End Tastings

So while you will discover the finest boutique wineries, cheese farms, olive oil and other food producers of Catalonia, we’ll make sure you have a custom visit -always private- with the owner of each place, and that you have tastings of their finest produce available.

Food Tours In Barcelona

We also offer private food tours in Barcelona to the finest food stores and gourmet restaurants that offer food and wine that is connected to our countryside experiences.

Testimonials

​​​​sustainably sourced & organic food, slow cooking, local experience i highly recommend these experiences to anyone who loves good food, believes in sustainable and eco ways of living, is interested in local or slow travel, or just wants to learn more about these things..

This was one of the most ma gical days

we had in our 40 years of traveling!  

The tour, let’s put it simply: it was truly excellent! We had a long and wonderful day, that left us with intensely fond memories of not only the people but also the land of the Penedes. We hope to be able soon to return and spend more time exploring this wonderful region. It was truly a day we will never forget!!

I wish I had booked two private tours! We spent the week of Christmas in Barcelona and my family of five (three grown young men age 20 plus) will say that the day we spent in the Penedes Wine region learning about the organic wines and cavas was their favorite day of all. 

Tracy Hallett

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Barcelona Travel Guide

From cycling around the city gazing at beautiful architecture and lazy afternoons on the beach to cooking meals with fresh produce from La Boqueria and drinking Catalonian wine in any of the city’s outdoor squares, Barcelona is an ideal slow travel destination.

Seeking out local experiences and taking your time to travel slowly in Barcelona lets you get a feel for the city, learn about the local culture, and travel responsibly.

Barcelona is included in nearly every itinerary for travellers who are doing a whistle-stop tour of Europe and is a popular destination for a weekend away. Most travellers you speak to only have three days in the city and their must-sees are usually very similar.

Whether you have just three days or three weeks, you don’t have to pack in a million sightseeing activities to get the most out of the city. You can experience Barcelona the slow and local way.

Activities in Barcelona

Whether you love discovering historic places, delving into local culture, hiking in the mountains or long beach days, Barcelona is rich in slow travel activities. We mostly decided to do our own thing and organise our own activities, but there are plenty of tours and groups that you can join for slow travel style activities too.

Walking Tours of Barcelona

You might be imagining huge groups all carrying little coloured flags and straining to hear their city guide right now, but Barcelona has a great alternative walking tour scene. If you are thinking of doing a walking tour, you will get more out of the experience by doing one on your first or second day in Barcelona, as they are usually aimed at people who have just arrived in the city.

Spanish Civil War Tour – If history is your passion, then follow in the footsteps of George Orwell, the International Brigade’s most famous militiaman, as historian Nick Lloyd brings the Spanish Civil War to life bullet hole by bullet hole. At four hours, the tour is not for the faint-hearted, but for those with even the slightest interest in the resistance to Franco and fascism, the experience is completely unmissable.

The tour costs €25, and sets off from Plaça Catalunya at 9:00am in the summer and 10:00am in the winter. Luke 100% recommends.

Hidden City Walking Tours – This alternative walking tour company is a social enterprise that employs guides who were previously homeless. The classic tours include both traditional churches and favourite tourist stops, but also delves into homelessness, prostitution and poverty that is afflicting many people in the El Ravel sector. However, the tour is often light on the social issues and heavy on the high culture. While the social concept and very small tour groups does differentiate the tours, the company is still largely business focused.

The tour costs €15, and sets off from Plaça Nova 1. Tour times vary depending on demand. Charlie tentatively recommends.

Free Walking Tours – If you’re counting the euros, then there are many free walking tours in Barcelona. You can find walking tours that cover the best of Barcelona’s attractions, discover Gaudi’s incredible architecture across the city, or explore the old city. If your navigation skills are pretty good, you can also just grab some inspiration from the maps on tour websites and wander off on your own city tour.

Cycle Around the City

As with the walking tours, there are endless options when it comes to cycling around Barcelona. We decided to rent our own bikes and go slow on our own, but you can go on a cycling tour if you want ( there are even slow travel cycling tours! ) We cycled over to Camp Nou (where Luke wanted to go) but the cycle routes are a bit haphazard if you don’t know the city, so we’d certainly recommend planning your journey carefully before setting off.

To rent your own bicycle, expect to pay around €6 for 2 hours. You can get a better deal if you want to rent for a whole day, a couple of days or even a week.

Hike Carretera de les Aigües

If you’ve ever walked around Barcelona and wondered how so many people can be so beautiful, well the answer is at least partly found above the city on the carretera de les aigues (road of waters in English). This 10km track through the hills overlooking the city is a favourite with fitness fans who run and cycle through the intense heat in their quest for health and the perfect body. If like us you’re keen for a hike, you can walk the trail. To get there, take the FCG from Placa de Catalunya to the station called ‘Peu de Funicular.’ From here you can take a funicular up to the carretera de les aigues (first stop). If you walk north east along the carretera , you’ll eventually find yourself at a car park which leads to a bus station which will take you back to the FCG.

Take in the Views from Tibidabo

A completely surreal experience. I have no idea why the normally stylish Spanish would decide to build a fun fair right next to a cathedral, but they did, and you can see the result here at Tibidabo (go for the views, not the fun fair). In fact, you can see the results from almost anywhere in Barcelona because Tibidabo is on yet another hill overlooking the city. To get there you can take the funicular to Vallvidrera Superior and walk the 2 (steep) kilometres to the cathedral.

Marvel at La Sagrada Familia

If you’re going to see any of the famous sights, then this is the one to choose. Everyone’s favourite ultra-right wing religious zealot, Antoni Gaudi, left his masterpiece unfinished when he was killed in a tram accident. The subsequent burning of his workshop and plans during the Spanish Civil War means that now there is more than a little controversy over exactly how this magnificent building should be finished – if it ever is at all. Though the completion date has been pushed back yet again to 2026, visiting the Sagrada Familia remains one of the must-see Barcelona experiences for everyone visiting the city.

To avoid the worst of the substantial crowds and save a little on the entry price, buy your ticket online and go as early in the day as possible.

Wander Around Parque Guell

Another of Gaudi’s gifts to the people of Barcelona, Park Guell is a green space designed by the master of modernism himself. While the majority of the park is free to visitors, the section where Gaudi’s sculptures are located is ticketed. The closest Metro stations are Vallcarca and Lesseps, with the park being about a five minute walk from either. The place tends to be packed all day every day, so try to get there very early for some (relative) peace and quiet and take it slow.

Like at Sagrada Familia, buying tickets online (€7) will keep the costs down and reduce the amount of time that you have to spend waiting in queues, which can be formidable all year round.

Check out the Contemporary Art Museum of Barcelona

An eclectic collection of modern art makes for an intriguing but not spell-binding afternoon in the Contemporary Art Museum of Barcelona. Exhibitions change every three to four months, but you can expect thought provoking pieces every time. The plaza outside the building has become an unofficial meeting point for a tribe of skateboarders that make for great people-watching in their own right.

Concessions are available throughout the week, and on the 18th of May (International Museum Day) entry is free. There are also 20% off coupons that can be found in the Aerobus brochure. Normal entry is €10.

Have a Lazy Beach Day at Sant Sebastian & Barceloneta or ‘Barcelona Beach’

A friend of mine, a Barcelona local and lifelong resident, recently admitted that she had been to Barcelona beach perhaps only once or twice in her life. “It’s a tourist beach!” she explained. “Nobody who goes there actually lives in Barcelona.” But that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth a look, especially if there is a party on as festivities often spill out from the city centre onto the beach. We recommend walking the length of the beach taking in some of the sculptures and art installations along the way.  

Explore Castell de Montjuic

The easiest way to escape from the deliciously sweltering maze that is Barcelona city centre is to head to Montjuic, a great green hill by the sea that makes for welcome relief for the city-sick traveller. Atop the hill is the Castell de Montjuic, a fort which offers wonderfully imperious views of the city below. You can get to Montjuic by taking the Metro to Paral-lel, then taking the Funicular towards the Castell (both are covered by one ticket). From here you can walk up the hillside if the heat isn’t too heavy. The Castell is best at sunset, when the heat is diminished and the light is photogenic.

Bring some form of ID (a photocopy is best) as there are numerous concessions available on the €10 entry fee.

See the Sunset at Plaça d’Espanya

A roundabout by a shopping centre doesn’t sound like the most promising of spots, but there’s more to this Plaça than you might first think and out of all the places we went for sunset this one shone. Once you’ve left the Metro, you can climb the stairs (€1 cheaper than taking the lift) inside the shopping centre (which was once the les arenes bull-fighting ring) to get to the view point above, giving you superb views of the palatial Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya – not to mention the rest of Barcelona. You can get an even better view of sunset opposite at the top of the stairs outside the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya.

Bonus: Keep Fit at the Gym

We mostly keep fit by walking and cycling, but sometimes a visit to the gym can be a nice way to spend a morning. Our friend who lives in Barcelona recommended the Gym4Less app which locates your nearest gyms and provides discounted entry rates – either for one off trips or monthly membership. We used the app to find our nearest gym, which happened to be on the rooftop of a very nice hotel and only cost €5 per session.

Vegetarian Food in Barcelona

Barcelona’s vegetarian, vegan and organic eating scene is really good. There are more vegetarian-friendly restaurants than you can imagine and HappyCow doesn’t even scratch the surface. Here are just a few of the vegetarian friendly and responsible eating places we loved:

• Flax & Kale
• Maoz Falafel

Tip: Most of Barcelona’s restaurants have a menu del dia (menu of the day) during the day time, which usually includes a first and second course and a drink or dessert, at a set price. A good vegetarian menu del dia will cost between €8-15.

Take a Slow Food Cooking Class

If like us you love learning how to cook local foods, then check out the incredible tapas cooking class with Barcelona Slow Travel . This isn’t an ordinary cooking class – it’s run by Barcelona locals Guillermo and Christina, based in their own apartment, and is all about home cooked slow food. Guillermo and Christina don’t rush through the class: they are slow foodies who believe in using local produce, sourcing sustainably and cooking with organic ingredients. The tapas cooking class isn’t exclusively vegetarian, but they’re happy to accommodate all dietary requirements if you let them know in advance. Book your cooking class here .

Buy Local & Cook Your Own

If you’ve got your own apartment and kitchen during your stay in Barcelona, then cooking at home is a good budget-friendly alternative to eating out. We always ate at least one meal in every day. We mostly opted to bake our own breakfast granola to eat with yoghurt and fresh figs so we could go slow in the mornings, and made up some smashing sandwiches with pan integral from the local bakery, Spanish cheese and fresh basil for when we were going out hiking.

Every neighbourhood in Barcelona is full of fruterias stocked with fresh fruits and veggies, here and there are grain shops where you can get organic rice, bulgur wheat and other grains, large markets that have all kinds of amazing produce, and local wines that are hands down some of the best we’ve had.

Real foodies can head over to La Boqueria , Barcelona’s most famous food market, located next to Las Ramblas. Ignore the first row of vendors whose prices are higher than the less prominent stallholders that are further in. You can find loads of locally sourced produce here. For wine, when facing the market take the first left out under the arch and there’s a small wine shop with good local and ecological wines from as little €3 a bottle .

Accommodation in Barcelona

When it comes to slow travel and local experiences in Barcelona, you can look for alternative accommodation options that go beyond the standard hotel experience and help you to enjoy slow travel culture.

Not to mention that the average price of low end hotel and hostel rooms that we researched during September came in at around €50 per night, making slow travel accommodation options in Barcelona better for your budget too.

Rent an Apartment

If like us you have more time in the city, then renting a room in an apartment is a great idea. In the summer there are usually rooms available in apartments by the month. We had three weeks in Barcelona so we rented a room from some expat friends for €300 between the both of us.

There are lots websites and organisations for finding apartments in Barcelona, such as OK Apartment, but be careful which ones you use. A quick warning that there are lots of apartment scams on Craigslist and you shouldn’t transfer/wire money to anyone you met on the website.

The Barcelona Rentals and the Student Rooms and Apartments in Barcelona  Facebook groups are a good place to find temporary rentals with locals.

Rent an Apartment on Airbnb

If you have less time in the city, you can still  choose to stay in an apartment short-term with Airbnb . Most of the travellers we spoke to were using Airbnb. Finding a shared apartment or a private apartment in your price range can be done: we met a honeymooning couple who found a high-end private apartment overlooking Sagrada Familia, but we also looked up lots of apartment shares with smaller rooms costing much less than the average hotel.

Read More: Highly recommend this article on the Airbnb phenomenon, its impact on cities like Barcelona and how it can benefit local hosts .

Sustainable Hotels and Hostels in Barcelona

Before we decided to stay for as long as three weeks and subsequently organised our apartment rental, I did a some research into more sustainable and green hotels in Barcelona. I emailed them all to ask if I could come to have a quick look around but received very few replies unfortunately, so I can only point them out rather than personally recommend them.

Budget Eco Hostels – Using 100% renewable energy suppliers, LED lighting and biodegradable cleaning products and with dorms rooms available for €23+, Sleep Green Eco Youth Hostel comes in as the most budget friendly eco hostel that I found.

Midrange Eco Hotels – The ecologically designed urban hostel, EcoZentric , boasts LED lighting, ecological thermostatic showers, ecological thermal insulation and 100% organic cotton sheets amongst other things. Double room are priced at €75 and up.

Higher End Eco Hotels – For budgets that can stretch to over €100, Casa Bella Gracia is powered by renewable energy, has a grey water recycling system and uses natural, ecological materials. I met three Canadian girls at a cooking class who were staying here and absolutely loved it. They said there was no formal reception desk and instead they had a keycard and pin code so it was like coming and going into your own apartment.

You can search for green and sustainable hotels in Barcelona on Expedia and a number of different search comparison websites. Always check recent hotel reviews on TripAdvisor before making a decision to book.

Photo courtesy of Casa Bella Gracia

How to Get Around in Barcelona

Safe, reliable and reasonably priced, Barcelona has a great public transport system. While walking is a really good way to explore specific neighbourhoods, if you want to head further out then definitely use the Metro and the buses.  We found that a €10 ‘ten journey ticket’ was much better value than buying a single ticket and lasted us about a week and a half. More dedicated Metro users might get through the same amount of journeys in half that time though. 

Responsible Tourism in Barcelona

The challenge of keeping Barcelona a city that people can live in, not just holiday in, is a difficult one.

Barcelona has a better claim than most at being the world’s oldest tourist city; some sources allege that the Plaça Catalunya had to be cleared of French tourists before the first shots of the Civil War were fired in 1936. After the war, and particularly after Franco’s dictatorship ended, tourists began flooding back to Barcelona in astonishing numbers.

In fact, roughly 7.4 million tourists visit this city of 1.6 million every year, and such unsustainable numbers are making life uncomfortable for locals, but at the same time keeping the city immensely wealthy. As more residents move out to make way for bars, restaurants and souvenir shops, it becomes a genuine danger that Barcelona will lose the very thing that makes it charming in the first place.

Choosing a slow travel trip to Barcelona is one way to alleviate some of the issues associated with this. Travel in a way that supports the local community by renting from or staying with locals, buying locally sourced food, not drinking to excess or making lots of noise at night (something which many neighbourhoods experience and dislike tourists for) and by using public transport.

Charlie and Luke

Coastal Paths, Clean Beaches and Local Heritage in Porthtowan

Tourism disrupts turtle nesting in ostional, costa rica.

Great guide..! Having been here quite often before I’ve now finally taken the decision to live here. Will definitely check out the castle of Montjuic and the food at la bascula! Love from here!

Charlie on Travel

That’s awesome, Jesper! Do you have any recommendations that I didn’t includein my guide?

Hope you enjoy Montjuic :)

Great guide about Barcelona ! The funny point for me is that I went to Barcelona one day before your post :O

Thanks Mael! Oh, did you?? How long were you (or are you) in Barcelona for? What was your favourite thing?

Suze - Luxury Columnist

I’d heard of slow food but never before of slow travel so this was a really thought provoking read and I’d definitely consider staying in one of the sustainable hotels

Hey Suze! Slow travel is really a relatively new phrase/movement. It’s an off-shoot of the slow travel movement with very similar core values, but relating to people/community/culture as opposed to food :) Glad you enjoyed the read!

Hey I just recently went to Barcelona and wish that I would’ve seen this post before. I did a few of things you recommended just by happenstance and really enjoyed them. Makes me wish that I had the knowledge to do the other things you recommend. My favorite thing was the bicycle tour because it allowed me to see a lot but also have the ability to be immersed in wherever I was. Also, I loved the aspect that I wasn’t contributing to pollution while doing it because when I travel I want to be conscious and respectful of my impact on that country. Thanks for sharing these ideas and the next time I’m there I want to finish your list of recommended stuff.

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About charlie & luke.

We’re Charlie and Luke — UK travel bloggers, adventurers and storytellers. We travel slow and write about sustainable travel . We want to make responsible travel choices and help you do the same. Get to know us .

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Barcelona Slow Travel

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Barcelona Slow Travel - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Barcelona Slow Travel

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Similar Experiences

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Barcelona Slow Travel - All You MUST Know Before You Go (2024)

Barcelona Slow Travel

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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

BARCELONA SLOW TRAVEL: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Barcelona Slow Travel

Review Highlights

“ Guillermo was great in educating us on many of the items in the market and translating when we had questions. ” in 14 reviews

“ Their English is wonderful, and the apartment easy to find, about a 20 minute walk from Plaza Catalunya. ” in 4 reviews

“ While I've been cooking all my adulthood they still had tips to share with me that I'm delighted to know. ” in 4 reviews

Location & Hours

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08008 Barcelona

L'Eixample

Serving Barcelona Area

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Our cooking class was an outstanding culinary experience! Very conscientious about quality and the impact our food choices have on our bodies, food supply, and our planet. We also used Barcelona Slow Travel services to guide us on a day trip to the Costa Brava. Visited quaint fishing village, medieval village, and Dali museum. We mixed in a long lunch that was a top 10 culinary experience! Thank you Barcelona Slow Travel

See all photos from Andy W. for Barcelona Slow Travel

"I finally started learning how to make tapas! My wife and I enjoyed the evening with a couple of dear friends from the UK, along with a couple of their friends, a young couple from Alabama and another couple from Sweden... and our hosts from Barcelona. 10 courses, with ample wine. Not only did we learn the secret of how to eat garlic without painful side effects (those of you "our" age will know what I mean) but I also went back for seconds on mussels. (A first for me.) ...and thirds! Wait... what? Some of the food that I have only tolerated in the past? I couldn't get enough of it! And my favorite gazpacho? Fuggedaboudit! ...and they promised to share their recipe for their mojito ice cream. JUST WAIT. You'll love it! Photos to follow..." That's how I posted to FB upon getting home from our experience at Barcelona Slow Travel. I was eager to share that to give a sense of enthusiasm that I had for that evening! Our hosts, Christina and Guillermo, were warm, friendly, funny and eager to please. While some of the treats on their menu were not a surprise (olive plate, gherkins and pickled garlic, and gazpacho) the rest of the evening's menu was entirely dependent on what Guillermo could find FRESH at the market that morning. ...and FRESH made all the difference. Their space is intimate and inviting. After getting to know each other for a bit, each of the guests were seated around a large butcher block table and given a cutting board and a sharp knife, along with a task - from zesting limes to veining garlic to prepping mushrooms, mussels, peppers and the rest, they put us to work! Guillermo ensured that each guest was performing their task just right, while giving us the background of the dishes we were preparing, making small talk and generally making everyone feel "at home." Frankly, the next several hours passed by in a blur. No, it wasn't the wine (okay, maybe just a little bit) but it was the pleasure of the company, the work involved, and the gastronomy! The evening was a resounding SUCCESS. I would not hesitate to return there. (In fact, one of our group was there for her second time!) So if you're in Barcelona and want to understand the food and the pacing of the dining experience, be sure to check these guys out! You won't be disappointed!

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Cristina G.

Business Owner

Jul 21, 2015

Thank you very much Ruben, what a fantastic description of our Tapas Cooking Experience! Hope to see you soon again. Regards, Cristina.

A dream come true... After extensively researching private experiences in Barcelona we chose Barcelona Slow Travel, and we are so happy we did! We ended up booking two experiences- The farm to table and the Gourmet Food tour. From the beginning we knew we chose well...emails were responded to quickly, communication was great, booking was easy! Guillermo was a great in providing some assistance and educating us of local festivities that were happening at the time of our visit, and making recommendations of some of their favorite restaurants. We got a chance to meet and tour with both owners, Guillermo and Cristina with the two different experiences. Guillermo guided us on our Farm to table experience which started out by meeting the local farmers, harvesting our fresh vegetables, learned about the wonderful people and how they farmed the land in that area. We then went to the most beautiful country farmhouse which was also our "cooking class". We could never of imagined how much of a great time we'd end up having had laughing, drinking, learning, cooking and eating as we did on that perfect day! We learned from Guillermo how to make authentic Catalan dishes that not only looked amazing, but were truly delicious especially with the spanish wines he had selected to enjoy with our meal! We will remember this day forever! Our Gourmet food tour was amazing as well as this time, Cristina was our guide as she showed us around a few different neighborhoods in Barcelona. We learned a lot about the history of the areas we walked through, she taught us about the history of the traditional food and drinks as we got to enjoy them! All of the artisanal cheeses, local wines, traditional drinks, authentic tapas we had that evening were amazing! We ended our evening at a "favorite" restaurant of theirs to be greeted by a sweet lady who was one of the owners. We were also surprised by a special guest who joined us for dinner, Guillermo! Needless to say, we had the most a wonderful experiences with both Guillermo and Cristina whom we are so grateful to have had met on our trip to Barcelona! We are now on a mission to send all of our friends and family to enjoy an experience with "Barcelona Slow Travel"! We can't wait to return to create more memories of a lifetime!

See all photos from Michelle S. for Barcelona Slow Travel

Must do experience when visiting Barcelona, book with Christina and Guillermo for a lovely evening of shopping, cooking, drinking socializing with the best hosts and a group of interesting fellow food lovers. Get a taste of the local fare and fascinating encounter with fellow travelers ... we definite will book another experience with them ... hopefully soon!! Gracias Christina and Guillermo we had a blast!

See all photos from Jacky R. for Barcelona Slow Travel

I'm sure that this group is a perfect tour guide. My disappointment has to do with their business practice. We had a cruise scheduled that was stopping in Barcelona on Monday, April 13. We booked a food tour with Barcelona Slow Travel at the cost of EUR 500, and I put down a deposit of EUR 250. Because of the Coronavirus, the cruise line decided to cancel the Barcelona stop on April 13. At about the same time, we decided to cancel our trip and asked Barcelona Slow Travel for a refund. Their response was, "If the cancellation is made more than 15 days before the beginning of the experience, 80% of the total price of the experience will be refunded to the customer by Barcelona Slow." The cancelation fee was EUR 100, making the refund EUR 150. As it turns out, Spain imposed a nationwide lockdown around March 14. Because of this, Barcelona Slow Travel would not have been able to provide us with the tour. They would have had to offer me a full refund, which did not happen.

Apr 28, 2020

Thank you, David, for your review and we're sorry to hear about how the Covid-19 and subsequent cancelation of your booking with us was an inconvenience. We've had to deal with lots of cancelations these last weeks and we tried to do our best, adapting our cancelation policy to each case. We did offer the option to get a full refund to most of our customers at the exception of a few specific cases. In your case, we had created a new itinerary for a food tour especially for you and your wife, which involved a full day of our work. Since the itinerary was customized, we are not able to offer it to anyone else in the future which is why we offered you to either reschedule the tour in the future or refund you 80% of the total cost of the tour. I've tried to explain this by email, but I realize that I may not have been able to find the proper words to do it and I'm sorry about it. I hope this message clarifies why we had to keep a 20% cancelation fee. And again, I'm sorry about the inconvenience due to the whole situation with the Covid-19 and the cancelation of your trip. Just like any other tourism company, we are praying for this virus to disappear and let us go back to offering wonderful experiences to all our clients. Wishing you all the best in these difficult times, Kind regards from Barcelona, Guillermo & Cristina, Owners and founders of Barcelona Slow Travel

Can't believe I haven't written this review sooner! Do yourself a favor and book this now! I can't say enough good things about Cristina and Guillermo and the nights that we spent with them. They are some of the nicest and most charming people I have ever met. The experience is relaxing, fun, and delicious. You'll learn more about Catalonian culture than you ever would elsewhere and the food is amazing. We enjoyed it so much that we booked a second dinner two nights later. You're guaranteed good food, conversation, drinks, learning, and to meet wonderfully interesting people from all over the world.

Apr 18, 2016

Thank you Sarah! We're glad to hear from you. Take care and see you on your next visit to Barcelona for another great Slow travel experience.

Our "Market Tour and Paella Cooking Experience" with Guillermo and Cristina was fantastic. Their unique blend of local gastronomic education and interactive food preparation make this class a welcome detour from a typical tourist destination. Guillermo and Cristina were excellent hosts and made us feel like we were just visiting old friends. The food was very enjoyable, especially because we sourced the food from the local market and make it as a group. This is our first time to Barcelona. Although we had a wonderful time seeing many of the sights and eating the local cuisine, our time here would not be the same without the unique experience that Guillermo and Cristina provide. Do yourself a favor and sign up for this great class.

Mar 25, 2016

Thank you Steven! We hope to see you soon again for another Slow travel experience in Barcelona! All the best back home, Cristina.

Don't Miss This Experience! This is such a great way to meet local people, learn more about the culture and sample local cuisine. Chef Victor, Christina and Guillermo took great pride to select a menu that represented the most fresh seasonal foods straight from the market and local suppliers. We also sampled food that isn't even offered in our respective countries. They were super respectful of my friend's (severe) food allergy, and with absolutely no fuss, simply plated his serving before adding seafood to entrees for the rest of us. Christina and Guillermo have made so many connections through their gastronomy research, they've expanded into tours as well. It was a unique experience, we were allowed to "help" with preparations, and a of course had great conversation with like-minded people. This is what I love most about traveling.

While it's wonderful to go to an elegant restaurant, it's EVEN BETTER to have an elegant meal in the lovely home of a generous, fun, couple who really know how to cook Catalan cuisine and who teach you how to do it, too. While I've been cooking all my adulthood they still had tips to share with me that I'm delighted to know. And our meal had all fresh organic ingredients that are locally sourced. We love Barcelona and now we love it even more. We arrived at 6pm by the 59 bus from Barceloneta - easy and straight there. And we left at about 11:30 pm and went home by the metro (two blocks away) safely and easily. There are still lots of folks about since this is a night time city and it doesn't get dark in the summer until after 10pm. Between those two times, the time flew. I loved that we participated in the cooking but there was no pressure to do it 'right.' My husband has never cooked but loved taking part in the dicing, shucking and peeling adventures. Each course was yummy and it all was accompanied by different wines. And since it was a hot summer evening the menu was lighter fare - mussels, cod, gazpacho, Mojito sorbet and much more that I don't remember the names of right now - especially the cheeses and sausages. Guillermo and Cristina and fabulous at helping people feel relaxed and playful so the 10 of us thoroughly enjoyed meeting each other, too. And since their English is great, I didn't feel uncomfortable with my lack of Spanish. Go prepared to eat well, have fun, and learn something about the food and culture of Barcelona and Catalunya. It will be an evening you'll remember all your lives.

Thank you very much Robin for your wonderful review. As you mentioned, everyone is invited to cook, although noone really has to cook. We have had guests that enjoyed seating and watching while sipping on their wine, and that is totally fine too! Rather than a cooking class, our events are -as you described them so well- journeys to discover the local lifestyle and gastronomy in Barcelona. We wish you all the best and hope to see you on your next visit to Barcelona. Best regards, Cristina

My wife and I spent 6 days in Barcelona for our Honeymoon and the live tapas experience with Guillermo was by far one of the highlights of our trip! The organic & local food, the company, the fun & lively conversation, and the overall experience were EXCELLENT! Guillermo recommended several "non-touristy" things to try which we really appreciated! He was very warm and welcoming and it was clear that he LOVES doing what he does. We could not recommend them more! We'll definitely go back on our next visit to Barcelona

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Barcelona Slow Travel

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Last updated on March 12, 2018

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Passeig de Gracia 104 Barcelona,

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EXPERT TIPS BY: Sam Mednick Barcelona Local Expert

• Culinary Classes : "Their classes book up quickly so definitely reserve in advance"
• Best Attractions & Activities : "Book early as they fill up quickly especially in the summer"
• Best for Culinary Classes Because: One of the only companies that caters to sustainable tourism and culinary experiences
• Recommended as Best Attractions & Activities Because: A sustainable approach to tourism, one of a kind in Barcelona offering authentic experiences with locals

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BARCELONA SLOW TRAVEL - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

How To Comfortably Long Term Slow Travel In Europe

Posted on Published: December 15, 2020  - Last updated: December 19, 2023

Categories Europe , Travel Tips

There’s never going to be a good time to quit your life back home and long term slow travel for a few months. Let me tell you from first hand experience, this isn’t an easy task but it’s incredibly worth it!

In fall 2019 my partner and I took the plunge to embarked on the biggest trip of our life. We left Montreal behind to slow travel Europe for 4 months. This took a lot of planning , and we of course still ran into some hiccups along the way.

We lived in Brussels, Edinburgh, Aix-en-Provence, and Barcelona for one month each! We decided to travel during low-season in the fall from September through December. This way, we could enjoy the local atmosphere without the abundance of tourist season (plus it made it a bit cheaper!).  

Keep in mind, this is not a guide to how we backpacked for 4 months in Europe. We saved up from years of working so we could live comfortably while we were away. We did have a budget, and we didn’t spend our money extravagantly, but we made sure we had enough to not have regrets and live comfortably during our long term travel.  

Psst! This blog post contains affiliate links in it which sends me a bit of extra money if you use them… at no extra cost to you!

When Should You Go? There’s Never A Perfect Time…

There’s never going to be the perfect time to stop everything and put your life on hold for four months. That’s why you just have to do it. We decided to take the leap because I was working a dead-end job and my partner was in the final stages of his PhD (writing his thesis).  

I was going to quit my job anyway, so I just put off looking for a new one for a few months. For him, he could work from anywhere. We realized that he’d be working full time after he graduated, so this might be our last opportunity to leave the city for an extended period of time.  

And just like that, we started planning!  Before we knew it we were off to slow travel Europe for four wonderful months.

Plan the ultimate vacation

My  digital travel planner template  has everything you need to plan your vacation: research templates, travel planner itinerary, travel budget templates…etc. . You can print it out or use it digitally on your phone, tablet, or computer.

Considerations Before You Leave

What kind of trip are you looking for.

When we did this trip, we were 25 and 26. We could have backpacked for 4 months in Europe, but that didn’t interest us. You could easily make this into four months of intense hostel jumping and partying. You’d probably be able to ‘see’ more countries but we were more interested in slow travel in Europe. You know, getting a taste of local experiences and cultures.  

So we decided to live in one place for an entire month, took our time exploring the city and the surrounding areas. We didn’t travel everyday, we had a lot of days off where my partner worked on his thesis and I worked on this blog. It was the perfect excuse to sit in a local cafe for the afternoon and recuperate from the day trip we took the day before.  

Keep in mind, this was not the Euro trip to be cheap. We didn’t live in luxury for four months, but we lived comfortably, as we would have at home . We saved up enough money over several years to be able to do this. We didn’t want to have missed out on opportunities and for lack of funds to be the reason.

How Long Do You Want To Travel For: Why We Chose 4 Months In Europe?

4 months in Europe was a slightly random decision, but it was actually the perfect amount of time for us. We didn’t want to leave for too long (like 6 months) because we still had responsibilities at home (like my partner graduating from his PhD!). But, we wanted it to be longer than a 2 month summer camp experience. We figured that four months is like a semester abroad. 

Let me tell you, by the end of our trip, we were ready to go back home. We were exhausted, felt like we had so many new unimaginable memories to look back on, and we really missed our bed! 

Tips For Long Term Travel For Canadians…

As a Canadian, you have to live in your province for 4 to 6 months of the year (depending on the province) for health care. We ran into an issue though. As a Canadian, we’re also only allowed to stay in the Shengen zone in Europe for 3 months every 6 months.

The Shengen zone is pretty much all western Europe, with a few exceptions (like the UK and Ireland). So, without a visa, you’re only be able to stay for 3 months… We still managed to do our four month trip by leaving the Shengen zone for a month. 

Should You Apply For A Visa?

If you do want to stay longer, as a Canadian, you’re able to apply for work away visas (like the  International Experience Visa ). This is primarily easy for those looking to go to Europe and are under 30. A visa allows you to live and work abroad for up to 2 years.  

We opted against this, as we wanted it to be more of a vacation for us, not a work away from home.

Responsibilities Back Home To Cancel

Applying for a visa and booking accommodations and flights are one thing. Dealing with your responsibilities at home is an entire other ball game.  

There are so many monthly costs to life. I’m talking things like rent, a car lease, and your phone bill! But then there’s where you’re going to receive mail, if you have any plants…etc.  

Most people probably wouldn’t have done what we did, but we were so happy we did. We pretty much didn’t cancel ANYTHING during our 4 months in Europe . All our friends thought were INSANE! But I assure you, there was a reason for everything.  

Another thing to watch out for, look ahead to see what costs might be coming up in the upcoming months when you’re away. For example, my partner’s car registration was due in October so he had to pay it before we left. This can also be your license, any taxes …etc.

Monthly Costs Worth Cancelling

Here’s an overview of some of the monthly costs we pay for that you may want to cancel for your long term travel:

• Car Insurance
• Home/ Renters Insurance
• Phone Plans (Mobile, Home)

So Why Didn’t We Cancel Anything?

First, we wanted to keep our phone numbers, so we paid a smaller monthly fee to keep them without having an actual talk/text plan.  

Next was the car. We looked into doing a lease transfer or trading it back to the dealer, but at the end of the day we had to pay 1-2 thousand dollars to get rid of it (more than our payments for the four months!) and this way we would have a car when we got back. But once we decided not to trade it in or do a lease transfer, we needed to find an alternative.

We don’t have a parking spot, and it’s not exactly a good idea to leave a car inactive for four months. So we offered the car to my sister for those months. She had a parking spot at her apartment and now she had access to a car! It was a win win for everyone!

Are You Telling Me You Paid Rent For 4 Months But Didn’t Live There??

Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying. People thought we were mad when they heard we had been paying rent for four months but weren’t living there anymore. Again, we did the calculations and it didn’t cost for us to not keep it.  

There were a lot of costs associated with us not keeping our apartment back home. We’d need a moving company, monthly storage for everything, and then another moving company when we got back.

There’s also the added stress of then finding a new place. We figured we’d have had to live at my parents house until we found a place… not exactly ideal in my mind. 

But, then we ran into the issue of leaving the apartment unattended for four months. We offered it to my younger sister to live in on the weekends (she lived at my parents in the suburbs, our apartment was in the city).

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This killed several birds with one stone. She got a place to stay on the weekends in the city, and we had someone to water our plants, check on the apartment, and check our mail. She did pay us for amenities that she wanted but we didn’t need to pay for if no one was there (like heating and internet).  

Alternatively, we could have sublet our place. To be honest though, I’m not so keen on having a stranger live with my personal belongings. But that could be an option for you!

Setting An Appropriate Budget For 4 Months In Europe

As I mentioned, this was not a backpacking Euro trip. Our long term travel budget was quite a bit higher than if it was, but we nonetheless still had a budget. We set an appropriate budget for ourselves to make sure that we didn’t come back totally broke. We still wanted some money in the bank, especially since I didn’t know how long it would take me to find a new job.  

A budget is also important for setting certain guidelines for how much to spend. For example, we had a budget for accommodations, food, attractions, and everything travel related.  

When I budget, I always over estimate EVERYTHING! Just because I’d rather think I can spend more and then spend less, you always need some wiggle room. There’s also always unforeseen expenses, and you might spend less in some areas, but more in others! 

Figure out how you want to live when you’re abroad. We more or less wanted to keep the same lifestyle we were living at home, plus the added travel costs. So that was the starting point for our budget.   We ended up budgeting that the trip would cost us around $33 000 CAD ($16 500 each).

Long Term Slow Travel Budget Vs. Reality

Our initial budget for the trip was around $33 000 CAD and we ended up being off by about $9 000! Again, I’d rather be expecting to spend more, and have the money, than budgeting less and get caught in an undesirable situation. The final tally for the trip was around $24 000 CAD ($12 000 for one person). 

We spent more or less what we thought we would on food and monthly living expenses (minus accommodations). That’s because it’s similar to what we spend in Montreal (about $150/week).  

Every month, our credit card came to $3,000 when we were away which was double what it was at home. But now we had the added travel expenses.  

The main place where we were off was the cost for our accommodations. When we initially budgeted, we had thought we’d be able to find a month long stay for $1500… MAX. This was not the case!  Booking an Airbnb for a month cost us an extra $1 000 than we thought it would. We wanted a reputable host, and in a good location, so you have to pay for that!

What We Spent For 4 Months Abroad (2 People)

Return Flight To Europe : $2 000 (upgraded to include luggage) Inter-Europe Transportation : $1 000 (flights, trains, buses…etc.) Total : $3 000

Accommodations : $2 500/ month  Total : $10 000

Monthly Costs: (Food, touring, misc…etc.): $3 000/ month  Total : $12 000

Total: $24 000 Each: $12 000

Long Term Travel Money Saving Opportunities

We chose the timing of our 4 months in Europe (Sept-January) for a reason. This is low season in Europe. Not only does that mean less tourists to deal with, but a lot of the flights, hotels, and attractions may offer certain low season discounts.  

But! Be aware that some places might also be quite empty and even closed during low season! 

We also chose to stay for a month in each location for a reason: airbnb hosts will offer discounts the longer you stay. Our discounts ranged from 60% to 25% off! That makes a huge difference! We also saved on booking an Airbnb because we were able to buy local and cook our own meals.

Another trick is to get a travel credit card or bank account! Continue reading for tips!

Traveling as a couple? Here’s some tips to save money

What To Do About Foreign Exchange Fees

Paying foreign exchange fees when you’re on vacation is never fun (especially for us Canadians). We don’t usually think about it because it’s for about 2 weeks. When you’re travelling for longer, it can add up quite a bit! 

There are two main ways to avoid paying a foreign exchange fee, and maybe even get some money back! You can sign up for an appropriate credit card or bank account. Opening up a bank account in another country is typically a bit trickier. For us, it really didn’t work because we were constantly changing countries.  

Instead, we found out that Scotiabank in Canada has agreements with several foreign banks though ( see the list here ). We opened up an account (it was free for us as my partner was a student) and this meant that we could take out money at certain banks without paying any fees.  

For a credit card, we traveled with the Rogers Mastercard. It had 3% cash back on foreign purchases at the time (now it’s 1.5%), and no foreign exchange fee. The Rogers Mastercard ended up being killer! We even payed back some of the trip with the cash back we got!

The Scotiabank account though was a bit unnecessary. We left with €100 for Belgium, and then we only took out cash about once a month (a total of three times). It would have been fine to pay the small fee to take out the money at that point.

Double Check Your Travel Insurance!

We thankfully did not need to use it, but you still need to have it. We were on my partners insurance plan which included travel insurance. Because he was a student, the travel insurance covered up to 6 months (I guess to accommodate semester abroad). Double check your insurance if it covers long term travel. You might need to get separate coverage. 

In addition to travel insurance, make sure you’re covered for car insurance if you want to rent a car while abroad. We were covered through both our credit cards. I’d recommend going over the policies to know exactly what you’re covered for though! You don’t want to think you’re covered for something, but aren’t. 

5 Money Saving Tips For Booking Direct Flights Online

The Fun Part: Choosing Where To Go

Now that you’ve figured out what kind of trip you want, how long you’re traveling for, and your budget, it’s time for the fun part! Choosing your destination(s) for your long term travel experience is so important.

Depending on how long you’re traveling for, you might decide to stay in one place or travel around to a few.  We decided that a month in one place would be more than enough time to explore and learn about the culture. So, we chose four completely different places based on four main factors.

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1. Location, Location, Location!

I’m not just really excited about the location, there are three location factors you have to decide on for your long term travel.

The first location you have to decide on is what continent you want to travel around for your long term slow travel adventure? Do you want to go as far away as possible from your home country or stay relatively close? We threw around the idea of traveling to Australia or Asia, just because you’d rather only do that kind of big flight once!

We ultimately decided on 4 months in Europe because we wanted to be a bit closer to home and knew a few people already there. We didn’t want to be completely cut off. My dad travels to Europe for business, so we figured we could see him (which we did) and we met up with a few friends along the way. 

Second, you have to decide on the country? Do you want to stay in one country, or maybe travel to a few on that continent?

The third location is all about the city. Do you want a relaxing beach vacation or experience high intensity city life?

We wanted a bit of everything, so we wanted places that were more or less centrally located that had really good day or weekend trip opportunities. But, we also wanted a big enough city that we could hang around there if we chose to. 

2. Do You Speak The Language?

If you’re living somewhere for a month or longer, you probably want to know the language… at least a bit. We debated on some smaller towns in Italy (based on the weather) but… we don’t know any Italian. 

For us, another main goal for spending 4 months in Europe was to improve our French, so we were looking for French-speaking countries.

3. The Schengen Zone & Visa Requirements

Are you able to stay in Europe for the amount of time that you want to travel for? We needed to leave the Schengen zone for at least one month, so we needed a place outside! 

See more information about the  Schengen zone . If you’re looking to stay in the Schengen Zone, find out more about an  International Experience Visa  for Canadians. 

4. Weather Considerations For Long Term Travel

Weather played a HUGE factor for us when deciding where to go. Another goal for us was to escape some of winter. So we were looking for relatively warm fall weather in Europe. 

Weather also played a role because we were moving every month, we needed to keep it relatively consistent for packing reasons. I didn’t want to need shorts for September and then a winter jacket for December. 

Even with trying our best to find countries with similar weather, we had a lot of variance, and I ended up needing to buy a warmer jacket halfway through. But that’s why you always leave room in your suitcase!

Fall Travel: Pros Vs. Cons

Our Picks For 4 Months In Europe & Why!

We ended up living in Brussels, Edinburgh, Aix-en-Provence, and Barcelona.  

Brussels (in Belgium) had two perks for us. First, it was the ultimate central location in Europe. Not only were we able to travel throughout Belgium, but also the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Germany. As an added bonus, we wanted to improve our French while we were away, and Brussels is primarily French.  

Next up we chose Edinburgh. Our decision to come to Scotland was purely based on the fact that we needed to leave the Schengen zone for one month. We could have gone anywhere in the U.K. or Ireland. Ireland was too expensive to live in Dublin, and I’d been to Edinburgh for the day already and fell in love with it!  

Aix-en-Provence, in the South of France, was actually the inspiration for this trip. Our dream was to live in the South of France, and then we stumbled upon Aix-en-Provence! The perfect spot to relax midway through the trip, and again, work on our French. Plus, it was the perfect weather when we were visiting in November.  

Our last destination was Barcelona, purely chosen for the impeccable December weather! We also knew a few people from Barcelona who helped us out planning that leg of the trip (like where to stay!). I’ll admit, it’s a lot easier to live somewhere for a month where you’re familiar with the language.

Long Term Slow Travel: How We Spent Our Days

As I mentioned, we wanted the full local experience and a more relaxed, slow travel Europe experience. That’s to say, this was not the go-go-go touring vacation we were used to. We spent time going to the grocery stores, cooking local food, and actually working (finding the best cafes in each city!). But, that doesn’t mean we also didn’t explore our home city a lot, and the surrounding area.

We ended up going on day trips about two to three times a week. When we stayed in our host city, we’d typically split our day in half. We’d tour in the morning, and then settle down in a local cafe to work in the afternoon. This also gave us some time to unwind, our day trips were usually pretty densely packed.  

Our itineraries also shifted based on where we were. In Brussels, our first location, we still had the travel bug and tons of energy. We went on the most day trips of the trip (including a 3-day overnight trip to Amsterdam! ).  

Scotland was similar with an overnight trip to the Highlands and 2 day trips a week. By the time we got to Aix-en-Provence, in the South of France, we were exhausted! Aix is a much smaller city, so we were able to relax a bit and travel at a much slower pace. We were able to just sit back, enjoy the local cafes, and focus more on our work. Barcelona on the other hand is a huge city, that we only went on 3 day trips throughout the entire month!

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Booking Your Accommodations: Where To Stay For Long Term Travel

As I briefly mentioned before, we booked all our accommodations through Airbnb in each location. We did this because we were able to get a monthly discount. Plus, this way we could fully immerse ourselves in local culture by staying outside of the tourist epi-centers. It was unbeatable! We had our own place where we could cook, and make ourselves feel at home for the month.  

Another main perk for us by booking an Airbnb was that we looked for places specifically with a washing machine. Even though we were there for a month, we didn’t want to waste time waiting for laundry at a laundromat. This was something we spent extra on at our Airbnbs, but it was worth it! 

Booking an Airbnb also lets you seek out more local locations to stay. For example, we LOVED our stay in Gracia in Barcelona , a 20 minute walk from the city centre. Or Ixelles in Brussels, where we discovered our favourite local bar that we’d go to several times a week (shoutout to Le Pantin)!

Before Booking Your Airbnb For Long Term Travel: Read My Guide

Packing Guide For 4 Months In Europe

What the f*** are you supposed to pack for 4 months in Europe? Obviously, you’re away for a long time, but you can’t exactly pack your entire wardrobe.

I packed myself and my partner in two MASSIVE suitcases ( TravelPro Maxlite 5 29″ ). I was worried they were a bit big… and to be fair, they probably were. They didn’t fit in most cars, but we never had to check them in as oversize luggage (which I was worried about). I’m a huge supporter of TravelPro, but I think one size smaller would have been better ( the TravelPro Maxlite 5 25″ ).  

Travelpro Maxlite 5 Review: Why Travelpro Is The Best Suitcase Brand

My mentality for packing for 4 months in Europe was to pack two weeks worth of clothing (NOT 4 months!). I didn’t want to be doing laundry every day. So, I brought two weeks worth of underwear, shirts, and pants.  

Here’s the list of everything I brought (keep in mind we traveled during the fall, so I brought warmer clothing) for 4 months in Europe. I also bought a few things while we were away (I needed a warmer jacket halfway through). 

Long Term Travel Packing List (For The Fall!)

• 1 pair of shorts (in case of hot day in September)
• 5 pairs of pants 
• 14 shirts (12 short sleeve, 2 long sleeve)
• 14 socks (+2 thin wool socks)
• 20 underwear (take up no space and you always seem to run out!)
• 2 pairs pajamas
• 1 Bathing Suit
• Boots ( Blundstones )
• Sneakers (white  Stan Smiths )
• Flip Flops  ( Plastic Birkenstocks  – perfect for walking around the apartments and showers, if necessary)
• Oxfords  (fancier shoes that I could walk all day in)

Toiletries:

• Conditioner
• Battery powered toothbrush
• Moisturizer
• Hairbrush & hair elastics
• Microfiber packable towels
• Packable Kleenex
• Mini Toiletries (for weekend trips: shampoo, soap…etc.)
• Sherpa lined jean jacket
• Thin bomber jacket
• Water & windproof Kway (Packable)
• Long yellow rain jacket
• Cotton zip sweater
• Thin wool pullover
• 2 Cardigans (thick & thin)
• Fanny pack ( Love the Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag! )
• Small purse
• Knapsack 
• Packable duffel bag
• Packable totes
• Adapters ( UK ,  EU )

Miscellaneous: 

• Ziploc containers (for liquids while travelling and storing leftovers)
• Plastic bags
• Medication (full bottles: Advil, Tylenol, Allergy, Zinc)
• Swiss army knife
• Notebook & pens
• Refillable water bottle
• Pillow case

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Long Term Travel Packing Guide Key Takeaways

What i’m happy i packed for slow travel in europe….

If you’ve read my packing guide , I mention not to pack any of these “what if” items, or items that you can only wear once. I’m not saying to pack only these items now, but you might want to pack some. You’re going to be away for a long time, you want to look nice, and be comfortable.  

For example, I packed my K-way (as a packable rain jacket) but then I also packed a larger yellow raincoat. This is not a practical travel item, it takes up a lot of space and I was already bringing a rain jacket, but I absolutely loved having it. It’s a lot longer than my K-way so it was perfect to wear when it rained in our home city.

Plus it really stood out in pictures! I also packed some comfortable lounge items (and probably packed way more pants than I needed because I brought some to just wear in the apartment!). I would never pack lounge pants on a regular vacation, but you kind of need it for long term travel.  

I also packed a thick mustard yellow cardigan, it was really warm, but mustard yellow… that does not go with everything! I would have shunned myself if I packed this for a 2 week vacation! 

7 Tips on How To Pack Your Suitcase Like A Pro

On top of some extra fashionable clothes, I also packed some kitchen items, like Tupperware and plastic bags. These came in handy so often. To travel, I stored my liquids in them, so they didn’t leak into my suitcase. But I also used them to store leftovers in! The plastic bags were useful to take snacks and lunch on the road! I could have bought these while I was there, but what’s the point, I’m going to need room for them in my suitcase anyway. 

I was also very happy to pack a silicone packable collapsible water bottle ( read why I chose the Nomader Collapsible water bottle ). Sure, it was great as a water bottle but it came in handy in so many more ways! I used it as an icepack when I needed to, and as a heating pad! So either pack a heating pad, or something that can turn into one!

What I’m Happy I Packed And You Should Pack Too For Slow Travel In Europe!

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What I Wish I Packed For My Long Term Travel In Europe

Because we were staying in AirBnBs for 4 months in Europe, there were a few things that I wish I’d brought that I didn’t think of before.  

For example, a blanket for cozying up on the couch with. Something that I guess I take for granted at home while I’m watching TV. I don’t typically watch TV on vacation so it didn’t even cross my mind to pack. I ended up going out and buying a cheap one at Primark (btw Primark is going to be your best friend!). If you don’t want to bring one from one, order a new one for travel from Amazon like this one .

I also wish I packed my pillow for long term travel in Europe. I always pack my own pillow case but I never thought about packing my pillow itself. It was really stupid that I didn’t. My pillow is one of those down-filled pillows that flatten to nothing and wouldn’t have added any weight to my suitcase. 

What I Wish I’d Packed For Long Term Travel!

A cozy blanket for long term travel.

A Collapsible Travel Mug For Slow Travel In Europe

• COLLAPSIBLE COFFEE CUP – Enjoy your favorite hot or cold beverages anywhere, anytime. Once you finish your pick me up drink, simply collapse and store your reusable travel cup. Never be caught without it, just collapse and go!
• DURABLE & LEAK-PROOF – Unlike bulky travel mugs, Stojo quickly collapses into a leak-proof disk that conveniently stows anywhere. It includes an insulated lid and sleeve to protect your hand from hot beverages
• SIP, STOW, GO – Collapsed (height 2-inch x diameter 4-inch). The coffee travel cup collapses into easy to clean parts that are both dishwasher and microwave safe

Looking back, it was a no brainer that I should’ve brought my pillow for long term travel. Especially because as it turns out I’m quite picky with the pillow I sleep on. Less than halfway through the trip I ended up with terrible neck and shoulder pain.

It probably could have been avoided if only I’d packed my pillow. I’m usually fine on vacation with pillows, but I usually never sleep on the same bad one more than a few nights in a row. Anyway, if you can, bring your pillow, you can thank me later!  

Last but not least, I brought all these packable items, like duffels and tote bags, even a packable rain jacket. But, I didn’t think to bring a packable travel cup (like a Stojo Collapsible cup – read my review! ) for long term slow travel. It would have come in handy on several occasions. There were many mornings when we left super early in a hurry so I didn’t have time for my a coffee or tea. It’s a good way to save a few euros here and there (plus more eco-friendly!)

Stojo Collapsible Cup For Long Term Slow Travel Review

How To Get A Data Plan Abroad For Long Term Travel!?

I still remember the first time I traveled in Europe when I was 19. It didn’t even cross our minds to get an international data plan. We traveled around, without any data for an entire month. We would download offline maps and jump from WIFI to WIFI spots throughout the cities. This doesn’t really work for long term slow travel…

When you’re on a long term travel adventure, and living somewhere, it’s kind of hard nowadays to be without a data plan. Today, the easiest way to get a data plan is actually with an eSIM card. Most new phones these days are equipped with two SIM card slots, on regular and one for an eSIM (an electronic SIM).

You can buy a plan before you leave through an app like Airalo … P.S. Save on your first international data plan with my code MEGHAN4678 or  click here

If your phone doesn’t have an eSIM slot, you can still do it the old fashioned way. When you arrive abroad, just to swap out your SIM card. Remember to unlock your phone at home first! You can order it online before you leave, but we just bought it when we first landed at  Orange . All you need is an address (we gave our Airbnb) and your passport.  

Alternatively, you can also buy  pocket WIFI . We actually booked each of our Airbnb’s with pocket WIFI, but none of them actually had it (I think they just thought it meant regular WIFI…?). It’s essentially a portable WIFI router that you can connect to on the go.

Important: Stay Connected To Home During Long Term Travel

I cannot stress this enough! This is also a reason to get a data plan for long term travel. You want to stay connected to home as much as possible.  

If you need to, plan times to call your parents, siblings, grand parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends… etc. It’s important to not lose touch with people back home, remember, they’re the ones that are going to be there when you get back .  

It’s going to be hard, but make an effort, put it into your calendar if you have to. We made sure that we spoke to people at least once a month. And I don’t mean just sending off a text once a month, I mean getting on video call with them. They also want to hear from you and all about everything you’ve been up to! 

I also put in an extra effort to share updates every day through a photo sharing app (like iCloud, Google Photos…). Plus this way you get to go over your pictures everyday and show off your best ones! You can also start a blog, but that takes a lot more effort… trust me!

What I Learned From Slow Travel In Europe

Appreciation for home & better habits.

Travel is exhausting. It’s nice to have a place to call home where I can relax in the comfort of my home! 4 months in Europe taught me to appreciate my own backyard a bit more. When we came back to Montreal, we put our long term slow travel routines to good use. 

We decided to take back our weekends and explored a lot more of Québec. In fact, we were pleasantly surprised by what we found.  We used to be exhausted from the work week, and don’t get me wrong, we still are. But we made a promise to ourselves to go on a day trip at least one day of our weekend. We can relax on Sunday, but Saturday we need to get out – no excuses! 

It’s also nice to be around family and friends, and not have to video call people all the time. At the end of the day, long term slow travel is such a unique experience that I wouldn’t trade for the world.

If I Did It Over Again, What Would I Change?

Honestly, I don’t think I would change anything. It was practically perfect in every way! Anything that went wrong throughout our 4 months in Europe, has since turned into hilarious memories and life lessons (like when when we were almost washed up by the sea in North Berwick walking to Tantallon Castle !).

Well, maybe I would change one thing… invest in a good place to stay during long term travel. Keep in mind, you’re going to be sleeping here for quite a few nights, you want it to be as comfortable as it can be. It’s worth spending a little bit more for a nicer place. We did cheap out on our first Airbnb in Brussels and it definitely affected that part of the trip.

But…Did Our French Improve At All??

I know this is the question you’ve been waiting for. Did our French improve at all during our 4 months in Europe!?

Well, I like to believe that I’m more confident speaking French now compared to before. I think the biggest difference isn’t necessarily speaking French, but we watch a lot more French TV now than before. It gave me more of an appreciation and drive to be better at the language. 

Quick Links – My Amazon Travel Favourites

Related Travel Guides

• How To Decide if Fall Travel in Europe Is For You?
• Money Saving Hacks For Couples
• How To Plan Your Vacation In 9 Simple Steps

Share My In-Depth Long Term Slow Travel Guide With Others!

Last update on 2024-05-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Jane Williams

Sunday 11th of June 2023

Just loved this article. My husband and I are hoping to spend up to 6 months travelling through Europe and the UK in 2024. You are so inspiring and brave for taking this step in your lives. As we are retired, we are hoping that this may be our last big adventure. Thank you for sharing your experience. Jane

Monday 12th of June 2023

Thank you so much Jane! I hope you have a wonderful 6 month trip - that sounds amazing and is really the dream! Enjoy being with each other and getting to experience new adventures together!

Don't hesitate to reach out if you have any other questions about longer term travel!

Tuesday 11th of April 2023

I searched 'live in europe three months' and came across this article. Nicely done. A bunch of years ago, we took a year off and travelled around the world with our kids for nine months. Three months in Europe, then the Middle East, India, and Southeast Asia. An absolute life changer. While we didn't stay anywhere for a month, there were a number of extended stays (like two weeks on a Greek island, two weeks in Istanbul, two weeks in Gokarna, India (which was super fabulous, by the way)), and lots of one week stays here and there. We rarely stayed only one night in any place. One of the things we learned early on was to pack light! We each (four of us) had our own backpack, and mine was the largest at 80 litres. A good backpack made stairs and cobblestone and all forms of travel much more relaxed. As well, knowing that if you forget something really important (other than your own pillow), wherever you are, whatever you need, the people there will likely need it to, so you can probably find it somewhere. Now we're looking at some post retirement trips that involve some version of slow travel, like three months entirely in Croatia (with maybe a little visit to Montenegro and/or Slovenia), or maybe something similar to what you've done, and spend a month each in Crete, Itay, Portugal, or some other warm combination. Coming from the Canadian Prairies, the idea of a very warm fall or spring is particularly appealing. Good luck with your future travels!

Monday 17th of April 2023

Wow! That sounds like an amazing trip of a lifetime! Very good point about being able to buy all the necessities - I do think I've changed over the years with packing A LOT lighter than I used to and its made traveling so much more enjoyable!

I can't recommend staying in one place for the month enough - in fact we've done it twice more since that trip (although only one month at a time instead of 4 months total!) and it's such a nice way to explore an area. Such a slower pace so you can figure it out as you go and not have it all planned in advance. Plus, I love becoming a regular at a place and having the staff recognize us by the end!

Definitely warmer locations at that time of year is key! Just keep in mind when choosing a place to stay that some places might be closed or deserted during low season - we ran into that issue in the fall quite a bit!

Happy and safe travels :D

Runaway Ann

Saturday 23rd of January 2021

I love that guide! You described all possible aspects - I really admire that ! thanks! :)

Monday 25th of January 2021

Thanks so much! I hope it can help you go on a similar trip :D

Monday 28th of December 2020

As a mother of three who is currently homeschooling, this sounds so amazing I could cry. Pinned so I can refer back when the world opens back up again. I LOVE Edinburgh. It's my favorite place in the world. Thanks for all the advice!

Tuesday 29th of December 2020

Hi Laurence, Oh boy! I can only imagine :P That's awesome, I really hope you get to experience a trip like this soon. It's the perfect trip to also bring the family on! Homeschool them during the week, travel on the weekends. Edinburgh is the absolute BEST and can go back there in a heartbeat for another stay (short or long!)

Wednesday 23rd of December 2020

I love this idea of traveling so much before he finishes his PhD and starts school! I might do the same with my boyfriend who's working on his PhD!

You really should!! Honestly there's no better time to go. Keep in mind that it might delay his graduation by a bit (obviously he wasn't working on it full time for 4 months) but SO worth it! It's such a perfect opportunity to travel because you can work on your PhD from anywhere!

Passing Thru Travel

Embracing Slow Travel – Beyond Boundaries and Into Adventure!

Posted: March 18, 2024 | Last updated: March 18, 2024

Slow travel is an approach that emphasizes connection to local people, cultures, food, and music. It’s about taking the time to immerse oneself in the environment and experience a destination more authentically. This guide introduces the concept of slow travel through 15 different aspects and destinations, encouraging travelers to embrace a more relaxed and meaningful way of exploring the world.

1. Cultural Immersion

Cultural immersion is a cornerstone of slow travel, allowing you to deeply connect with the local way of life. This immersive experience goes beyond typical tourist activities, inviting you to participate in local customs, from traditional cooking classes to local craft workshops.

Engaging in community events, such as festivals or local markets, provides a genuine insight into the residents’ daily lives. You might find yourself learning a traditional dance, helping to prepare a communal meal, or even participating in local agricultural practices.

This approach to travel fosters a deeper understanding and appreciation of diverse cultures, breaking down barriers and creating meaningful connections.

Insider’s Tip: Try learning a few phrases in the local language; it can be a great icebreaker and show respect for the local culture.

2. Sustainable Practices

Sustainable practices in travel are crucial for preserving the destinations we love. Slow travel emphasizes the importance of making environmentally conscious decisions, such as choosing accommodations that prioritize sustainability, engaging in eco-friendly activities, and minimizing your carbon footprint by using public transportation or cycling.

It’s about leaving a place better than you found it, whether by participating in beach clean-ups or supporting conservation efforts. Sustainable travel also involves respecting local cultures, investing in the local economy by purchasing from local artisans, and eating at restaurants that source ingredients locally.

Insider’s Tip: Research and choose accommodations with sustainable practices, such as water conservation, recycling, and use of renewable energy.

3. Long-Term Stays

Long-term stays offer a unique opportunity to truly immerse yourself in a destination. By spending more time in one place, you can explore beyond the surface level, discover hidden gems and form deeper connections with locals. This approach allows you to understand the nuances of local life, from the rhythm of daily routines to the subtleties of regional dialects.

Long-term stays also often lead to more spontaneous and authentic experiences, as you find yourself invited to local gatherings or discovering off-the-beaten-path spots that aren’t in the guidebooks.

Insider’s Tip: Look into local laws and regulations regarding long-term stays, including visa requirements and housing laws.

4. Mindful Exploration

Mindful exploration is about being fully present and engaged in your travel experiences. It involves slowing down and taking the time to truly observe and appreciate your surroundings. This could mean sitting quietly in a local café and watching daily life unfold, taking a leisurely walk through a neighborhood to notice architectural details, or spending an afternoon in a park simply enjoying the natural setting. Mindful travel encourages you to savor each moment, leading to a more fulfilling and memorable experience.

Insider’s Tip: Keep a travel journal to reflect on your experiences and thoughts during your journey.

5. Slow Food Movement

The slow food movement is integral to slow travel, celebrating local cuisine and traditional cooking methods. It’s about taking the time to enjoy meals, understanding the source of your food, and appreciating the effort that goes into its preparation.

Participating in the slow food movement might involve dining at farm-to-table restaurants, visiting local farms, or attending food festivals. This approach enhances your culinary experience and supports sustainable agriculture and local communities.

Insider’s Tip: Visit local markets and try cooking with regional ingredients, or take a cooking class to learn traditional recipes.

6. Walking Tours

Walking tours are a quintessential slow travel activity, allowing you to explore at a pace that lets you truly absorb your surroundings. These tours can range from guided historical walks through city centers to self-guided hikes in nature.

Walking provides a more intimate perspective of a place, whether you’re meandering through ancient streets, exploring rural pathways, or discovering hidden urban gardens. It’s an opportunity to connect with the environment, observe local life, and uncover the stories and history that shape a destination.

Insider’s Tip: Wear comfortable shoes and be prepared for the weather. Don’t hesitate to stray off the beaten path.

7. Train Journeys

Train journeys embody the essence of slow travel, offering a relaxed and scenic way to explore new landscapes. Traveling by train allows you to unwind and enjoy the journey, watching as cities give way to countryside and mountains.

It’s a chance to mingle with locals and fellow travelers, sharing stories and experiences. Train travel also often provides a historical perspective, as many railways have been in operation for decades if not centuries, and pass through areas of cultural and historical significance.

Insider’s Tip: Consider investing in a rail pass if you plan to travel extensively by train.

8. Rural Retreats

Rural retreats offer an escape to simplicity and tranquility, away from the hustle and bustle of urban life. These retreats can be found in various forms, from rustic cabins in the woods to countryside bed and breakfasts.

Staying in a rural setting allows you to connect with nature through hiking, birdwatching, or simply enjoying the stillness. It’s an opportunity to slow down, breathe fresh air, and experience a different, more grounded way of life.

Insider’s Tip: Choose a location where you can participate in local activities, such as farming, hiking, or wildlife watching.

9. Homestays

Homestays provide a unique window into local life, offering an authentic and personal travel experience. Staying with a local family allows you to see a destination through the eyes of its residents. You might share meals, participate in family traditions, or join in everyday activities. Homestays can also be a more sustainable accommodation option, as they often involve fewer resources than traditional hotels and directly benefit local households.

Insider’s Tip: Be open and respectful of your host’s customs and privacy. Engage in conversations and participate in family activities if invited.

10. Off-Season Travel

Traveling off-season allows you to experience destinations without the crowds and commercialization that often accompany peak tourist seasons. This approach often reveals a more authentic side of a place, as locals are typically more relaxed and open when not overwhelmed by tourists.

Off-season travel can also lead to unexpected discoveries and experiences that aren’t available during busier times, such as seasonal festivals or unique cultural events.

Insider’s Tip: Research the off-season months for your destination and be prepared for the weather and any potential closures of attractions.

11. Digital Detox

A digital detox involves consciously disconnecting from electronic devices to fully engage with your surroundings. This break from constant connectivity allows you to be more present and open to new experiences. It can lead to deeper interactions with locals, a greater appreciation for the environment, and a more reflective and mindful travel experience.

Insider’s Tip: Set specific times to check your devices, or consider leaving them behind during certain activities or days.

12. Local Experiences

Engaging in local experiences allows you to delve deeper into the culture and lifestyle of a destination. This might involve activities like attending a local music performance, participating in a community project, or taking a traditional craft workshop. These experiences provide a richer understanding of the place you’re visiting and often lead to meaningful interactions and memories.

Insider’s Tip: Look for experiences that are not typically targeted at tourists. Local community centers or cafes can be good places to find information.

13. Nature-Based Activities

Participating in nature-based activities is a way to connect with the natural world and appreciate the beauty and diversity of our planet. Whether it’s hiking in the mountains, kayaking along a river, or simply spending time in a local park, these activities encourage a slower pace and a deeper appreciation for the environment.

Insider’s Tip: Always follow environmental guidelines and practices to minimize your impact on the natural areas you visit.

14. Volunteer Travel

Volunteer travel, or voluntourism, combines exploring new places with giving back to the communities you visit. This can range from environmental conservation projects to educational initiatives. It’s a way to make a positive impact while gaining a deeper understanding of local issues and cultures.

Insider’s Tip: Research and choose ethical volunteer opportunities that positively impact the community.

15. Artistic Retreats

Artistic retreats offer a space for creativity and inspiration, often set in picturesque and serene environments. These retreats can include workshops in various arts, allowing you to develop your skills, meet like-minded individuals, and explore a destination through a creative lens.

Insider’s Tip: Look for retreats that offer a balance of structured activities and free time to explore the surrounding area.

The Bottom Line

Slow travel is about quality over quantity, experiences over sights, and connections over checklists. It’s a mindful approach to travel that enriches your journey and deepens your understanding of the world. As you embrace the principles of slow travel, you’ll discover that the journey itself is as rewarding as the destination.

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The post Embracing Slow Travel – Beyond Boundaries and Into Adventure! republished on Passing Thru with permission from The Green Voyage .

Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / frantic00.

For transparency, this content was partly developed with AI assistance and carefully curated by an experienced editor to be informative and ensure accuracy.

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If you’ve tried meditating but can’t sit still, here’s how — and why — to try again

FILE - A woman meditates on the beach in Miami Beach, Fla., on April 28, 2010. Research shows a daily meditation practice can reduce anxiety, improve overall health and increase social connections, among other benefits. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)

This photo shows Tara Brach leading a meditation class at the River Road Unitarian Universalist Church in Bethesda, Maryland on March 23, 2012. Research shows a daily meditation practice can reduce anxiety, improve overall health and increase social connections, among other benefits. (Jonathan Foust/River Road Unitarian Universalist Church via AP)

Marcelle Hutchins meditates in her studio in West Hollywood, Calif. on Jan. 13, 2024. Research shows a daily meditation practice can reduce anxiety, improve overall health and increase social connections, among other benefits. (Marcelle Hutchins via AP)

FILE - A man meditates and practices breathing exercises at a playground in New York on March 25, 2020. Research shows a daily meditation practice can reduce anxiety, improve overall health and increase social connections, among other benefits. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)

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The first time Marcelle Hutchins sat down to meditate, she put on a guided session, relaxed her shoulders and tried to close her eyes. She lasted two minutes.

“I had a deadline, and I thought, ’I don’t know if I can sit still this long,’” said Hutchins, who was working as a radio journalist.

At the urging of her father, a longtime practitioner, she tried again and managed to finish a 10-minute video on her third attempt. “I remember feeling this sense of joy and relaxation,” she said. “I used to be that person who said, ‘I can’t meditate.’”

Hutchins has since become a certified meditation teacher — and serves as an example that busy, restless people who try once should try again. Research shows a daily meditation practice can reduce anxiety , improve overall health and increase social connections , among other benefits.

The trick is to get over that initial barrier. Experts say it’s more achievable when you throw common misconceptions out the window. For instance, many people try meditation only once because they feel they’re doing it wrong or that they can’t turn off their brain.

That’s not the point, says Tara Brach, who holds a doctorate in psychology and has trained more than 7,000 people to be meditation teachers.

“It’s not about stopping thoughts. The mind generates thoughts the way body creates enzymes,” she said. “It’s about being able to get larger than the thoughts and witness them.”

START SIMPLE

There is no right way to meditate, Brach stressed.

The key is to relax and focus on something in the present moment. Feel your breath pass through your nostrils, listen to a guided recording, mentally scan your body from head to toe, repeat a loving phrase to yourself or try countless other techniques.

You can sit on the floor, in a chair or on a cushion. If you can’t get comfortable, lie down. You don’t even need to close your eyes, though it’s recommended to try.

There is no standard amount of time to begin with, but set an achievable goal.

“You can customize it to who you are,” said Brach, author of several books, including “Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life With the Heart of a Buddha.”

“Start with the most you can comfortably do without having to feel like you want to quit,” she said

That could mean starting with as little as a few minutes, said John Mitchell, an associate professor in psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Duke University who uses meditation to treat patients with ADHD . The goal should be working meditation into a routine and focusing on the quality of the practice, not the quantity.

“Then the question is, what do we do to create success so we can have momentum and start off without feeling like you’re failing right way?” he said.

WHEN YOU CAN’T SIT STILL

When you inevitably get distracted — everyone does — notice the thought or urge to move, acknowledge it and bring your attention back to where you are.

Instead of judging yourself, get curious for a minute about the nature of restlessness, Brach said. Ask yourself, “What does it really feel like if I want to jump out of my skin?”

Then take a long, deep breath, and sit for one more minute. If you still want to move, then move. But Brach recommended doing so mindfully. Stand up, do a light stretch, take a deep breath and sit again. You will be surprised at how that sense of restlessness will change over time, she said. “It will evolve.”

If the restlessness builds to a point where you are uncomfortable, consider taking a slow, meditative walk, Mitchell said. Stay alert but calm, focusing on the sounds, sights and smells around you, or maybe on the sensation of the wind and sun on your face.

“You’re not restricted,” he said. “You don’t have to sit there in silence and be still all the time.”

TOMORROW, AND THE NEXT DAY, TRY AGAIN

After sticking through the first session, you will almost certainly feel calmer, no matter the length. But to get the full benefits, as with exercise , research shows you need to practice consistently.

For people having trouble starting, that can be daunting, but Brach suggested trying a few techniques to find the right fit.

“It takes a bit of experimentation to find the style of meditation that works for your particular body, mind and personality,” she said.

Luckily, there’s a universe of free meditation resources online.

“Nobody reading this needs to go buy anything,” she said.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Albert Stumm lives in Barcelona, Spain, and writes about food, travel and wellness. Find his work at https://www.albertstumm.com