Off to Barcelona - any hints on where to go?

[janeyo]

I am vereeeeee excited as on Saturday OH and me are off to Barcalona for a few days. The squids are off to Grandmas as I have never found citi-breaks and small children to be very compatible. We sooo need the break too after all the house alterations we have been doing.

I have a guidebook with map which I will be reading on the plane but any thoughts on where to go/ eat/ drink? Hints or tips? Neither of us has been before.

Thanks muchly

janeyo

[plantsbypost.com]

Visiting the 'la Sagrada Familia' cathedral is a must, go early or late in the day if you are going at the weekend. See if you are brave enough to climb to the top!!!!

Some very nice restarants down by the harbour, not cheap tho. Obviously the main dishes tend to be based around fish.

In the evening take a walk along 'las ramblas' this is the focal point of the 'social entertainment' - artists, flower stalls, etc. all stay till late.

One word of caution tho - watch out for pick pockets.

Neil

[janeyo]

Thanks, I will note them down and put it in the book to plan the days when we are there

janeyo

[Comfreyfan]

Parc Guell looking down over the city is amazing too.
The gothic cathedral in the old part of town - loads of restaurants here - every kind of cuisine you can think of!
The tourist buses are good, buy a ticket, listen to the commentary and hop on and off as you want.
I could live on tapas - if you're not sure what to order, most of the cafes/bars etc serve a selection.
San Miguel seems to be the beer of choice (and why not!) and of course there's Cava - wonderful and comes from just down the road (I admit to drinking it all day, every day while we were there - well when in Barcelona. . .
We loved Barcelona - can you tell?! I'm very envious, have a wonderful time.

[nelliegemini]

I too can recommend the buses, great system - it's worth staying on for the grand tour on the first day, and then you can plan where to go.

Loved the wild Gaudi house, which the bus passes, the street outside has all these very 'organic' GAudi designed streetlamps - can only imagine how the city council must have thought, 'hmmm, these are cool' all that time ago. There is a main street - Las Ramblas as plantsbypost mentioned, there is an excellent market just off it - loads of fish and veg. They tend to eat late in Barcelona, we missed our flight and had to catch a later one, we thought all the restaurants would be closed but most of them were just starting up.

When we visted I still smoked, and it seemed to be compulsory - don't know if it still is.

Loved the place, keep saying we must go back.

[Alice]

You'll love Barcelona, Janeyo. Everybody has said it. Gaudi's cathedral - La Famillia Secrada - is an absolute must. The tourist bus - where you buy a ticket and hop on and off as you like is great value. The harbour area is good, and off course Las Ramblas - that's where it all happens. The tapas bars are excellent everywhere. Hope you have a good time. If you can't enjoy yourself in Barcelona you want like it anywhere.

[Two_Sheds]

Barcelona! My favourite city!
I loved... Parc Guell (I hated Gaudi before I went, but his stuff just blows you away ... it is so mad, so Barca). Barcelona Gaudi: Barcelona Architecture

Have a ride on the tourist open-top bus first thing you do ... you can get an overview of the city that way, and make a note of things you must go back and see properly.

also try and go up to the Olympic Village. It's worth a hike up the hill, great views, nice places to eat. Olympic Harbor/Village- Barcelona, Spain - VirtualTourist.com

Beware the beer at £5 a pint. Estrella lager is cheaper than Coke though if you buy it in cans xx

As a veggie, I had to eat in the Hard Rock cafe every night ... Barcelona is great for fish lovers though.

have a splendid time, wish I could come with you.

PS. they don't speak "Spanish" (Castilian), they speak Catalan. Mostly.

[markinessex]

Agree with the other comments about the tourist buses, they are the most organised I have ever been on. We purchased a 2 day pass, as there are 2 routes. If I recall correctly there is a red route and a blue route which shows different parts of the city.

Go to the Olympic area that is very impressive, and then go to the cable car station at the top, have a coffee or a beer at the cafe and look down to the city....... it's fantastic, then you can either walk down or catch the cable car.

The food is great too, lots of little places to eat.

It is the best European city I have visited.

[petal]

Fabulous, lucky you. Go on a Gaudi tour, absolutely. Watch out for pick pockets - especially 'gypsy woman trying to steal your tears'..... no seriously - they distract you with flowers whilst their friend raids your purse.

[Skotch]

If you are in to your food, then a visit to the Boqueria (sp?) Market is a must! Take a leisurley sunday late morning Gin & Tonic at the Opera bar (across the road from the Opera building) on the Ramblas. Whilst in that area, then a visit to the gothic quarter is a must - lots of interesting streets and then the fantastic Gothic Cathedral (as opposed to the Sagrada). Finally, a visit to the Picasso Museum is worth a couple of hours detour

HTH

Skotch

[OverWyreGrower]

Another vote for the open top buses... they are brilliant! I loved the cathedral.

Also, walk down Las Ramblas to the pier on the sea front - great shops there for little presents.

2 of our favourite restaurants are:
Les quinze nits - Placa Reial 6, Barcelona 08002 (fabulous meals any time of day, brill tapas, good prices)
Actual - Pare Gallifa 3, Barcelona 08003 (posh restaurant attached to Grand Hotel Central, excellent fusion food, don't go before 9pm though!)

[littlemark]

We quite enjoyed wandering around Barceloneta which has some very nice bars and restaurants, though it's likely to be too cold for the beach.

Being quite close to the Basque region there are a lot of Pintxos bars about (Basque tapas) which I would heartily recommend. Particualrly good if your Catalan is not up to much as most have a help yourself and pay by the number you've eaten system.

If you fancy something a little different have a look at this page on the ukcider wiki which has a good listing cider bars and restaurants, most of which have Basque cider and pintxos: http://ukcider.co.uk/wiki/index.php/...pain#Barcelona

Mark

[Hilary B]

One word of warning. Keep your valuables VERY close.
Barcelona is a lovely city (as long as you don't try to drive in the centre), but has a reputation for theft, and I have encoutered several people who have had bags stolen or pockets picked there. Just be VERY ready for the possibility, and all should be well. The time to start being alert (well, even MORE alert) is when you get off the plane......

[janeyo]

Some great ideas - much appreciated

Am meant to be sorting out stuff now, mum has got the baby for a few hours, as boys going to mums when we go,so lots to organise - that's why I've come on here lol.

Will prob not take a handbag out and about, just get OH to put his bum-bag on. You'd have to be a brave pickpocket to venture down there.....

janeyo

[Winged one]

The tourist buses keep going til late enough in the evening (I think about 9 or 10pm) as well - which is handy for getting around in the early evening too (as long as you can tune out the commentary in your head). A 24 hour ticket or 2 day ticket would be a really good idea.

definitely go down the ramblas. Have a wander at nighttime (keeping a watchful eye as warned) for the life. But DO go down it during the day as well and go into the market (on right hand side as you face the sea) - fabulous fruit, veg and fish. We bought a few bits of fruit each day to have while we wandered around which was great.

Fish there is great. And so is the tapas.

we are more daytime than party people, but really enjoyed a nice relaxing meal and then stroll back to the hotel each evening.

Do lots of Gaudi stuff if you are into architechture. The park up the hill is great if the weather is good - nice walk around, great architechture and great views over the city (it's on the bus route). The apartment is really cool too (I still have dreams about the lift well).

The Soccerclub is open to fans at various times too if that floats your boat - on bus tour I think.

We really enjoyed a nice amble by the harbour - lots of life, boats, sunshine, plenty of places to eat (not all of them at huge prices).

we were there 4 years ago so I couldn't say exactly where we ate or anything at this stage, but it was one of the best citybreaks we've taken (adn we used to do lots before the toddler arrived).