Trip to Barcelona

[Woodingdean Gull]

Going to Barcelona for a week at the start of April as a silver wedding present to my wife. (Nearly 3 years late but never mind).

Apart from the Nou Camp, has anyone any suggestions on where to visit, mode of transport, easiest way to get from the airport to the hotel, shopping areas, etc? I know I can get a guide book but first hand knowledge and recommendations are always welcome..

Any ideas would be much appreciated.

 

[Easy 10]

The Ramblas is tremendous, if you're into cruelty to chickens.

 

[Pigsy]

dinner in one of the restaurants on the marina

 

[Monkster]

I'm going at the end of this month, you've saved me starting a new thread... cheers dude!

 

[The Large One]

Sagrada Familia (the half built church that they started on in about 1880-odd). The Gaudi Park. The excessive amounts of naturist beaches just outside the city. The marina. Barcelona Zoo (actually, don't bother), Ramblas. Nou Camp. Olympic Stadium if Español happen to be at home...

 

[CHAPPERS]

Get around on the metro. It looks complicated but isn't at all.

The Gaudi Park is brilliant, has excellent views down to La Sagrada Familia. I would use the BUS to get from airport to hotel. They are extremely cheap (3 euros I think) and very regular and have a large number of stops around the centre of town.

If you want something nice to eat do NOT BY ANY MEANS eat on La Rambla, it's SHIT. Head into the gothic quarter where there are some lovely little restaurants and little bars. If you can find Bar Ra you must try and eat there, it's f***ing excellent and there's a great little cocktail bar which does good food just round the corner....http://uk.holidaysguide.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-59097-bar_ra_barcelona-i.

Barcelona is SWEET. You will NOT fail to have a good time.

The best tip is to stay off La Rambla as much as you can and get into the back streets. The markets are also very good for food.

 

[The Merry Prankster]

Tipi D'Abo and the Guell Park. Cathedral, the Sagrada is a must. The food market just up from the Liceu (Opera House) in the Ramblas is fantastic (not Mondays). My favourite European city - you will have a great time.

 

[CHAPPERS]

Tipi D'Abo and the Guell Park. Cathedral, the Sagrada is a must. The food market just up from the Liceu (Opera House) in the Ramblas is fantastic (not Mondays). My favourite European city - you will have a great time.

Yes, that food market is sweet. Go through there and out the back to the right and you will come across the bars I was talking about.

 

[East Staffs Gull]

Although the metro is cheap and reliable, I'd recommend the city bus tours (especially if the weather is decent). There's a red route and a blue route. You could spend a day on each route, getting off and back on at almost every stop. They include audio commentaries and are great value. Most of the places mentioned in the above threads are on one or other of the routes.

Nou Camp tour is brill. Allow 2-3 hours for that.

 

[clapham_gull]

I really liked the new modern Tapas bars they have in Barcelona compared to old style ones you get in Madrid.

Some are chains like this one, but I thought it was great

 

[Pigsy]

Miro foundation is good too

 

[clapham_gull]

Some other pictures I took, the park as mentioned above

Needs no introduction

.. but also the other stuff that Gaudi built that shouldn't be missed

.. and of course the beach

.. and around the port

 

[csider]

My brother lives there, went 4 times last year......not seen many tourist attractions!!!

He lives next to Guiel Park, very nice, but can get very busy....the park not his flat!

Ramblas is fun in the daytime, but very different at night, biug fat black women want to rob you and charge you for a cock suck!!

Port very nice as are most of the restaurants to the east of it.

Large food market off ramblas is good. Also the El bourn old district where all best bars are at.

Best and cheapest way to town from airport is train. Direct eveyr 30 mins or so and about 2-3euro. Taxi about 20euro. Metro good and busses.....be aware few speak english, not that they should but can be difficult when busy!!

 

[Woodingdean Gull]

Thanks Guys, much appreciated.

It’s more that two months before we go but I’m really looking forward to it. If you can think of any other attractions or tips, keep ‘em coming.

 

[Djmiles]

Sagrada Familia - Climb all the way to the top for stunning views

Gaudi Park - Nice way to relax during the day

Olympic Stadium - Views from up there are simply stunning

The Dali Museum not too far from Barcelona

Beautiful town of Cadaques, again not too far from Barcelona

 

[Herne Hill Seagull]

I bow to Chapman's shout on not eating on La Ramblas itself, but just off La Ramblas, about three quarters of the way down on the left hand side, in Calle Escudelleres, is a superb restaurant called Los Caracoles ('The Snails', weirdly).

If you're there any length of time, under no circumstances miss the opportunity to eat there.

Can also second the shouts on Parc Guell, and Sagrada. Check out the Miro museum too, and Gaudi's house on El Diagonal.

Top, top city.

 

[Happy Seagull]

Although the metro is cheap and reliable, I'd recommend the city bus tours (especially if the weather is decent). There's a red route and a blue route. You could spend a day on each route, getting off and back on at almost every stop.

If you want to waste your money then by all means do the bus tour. Ask one of the people for a map and then do it all yourself on the metro.

I goto Barna about 7 times a year and absolutely love the place.

 

[Happy Seagull]

Sagrada Familia - Climb all the way to the top for stunning views

I think you can only get to the top via the lifts now

 

[CHAPPERS]

I think you can only get to the top via the lifts now

Correct. Queues likely but they aren't too bad if you get there early and in April it shouldn't be too bad anyway. If you do go make sure you read EVERYTHING about the way it's being built, it really is AMAZING.

 

[Frutos]

Definitely do the cable car trip up from the port area across the bay to Montjuic (the hill on which you'll find the Olympic Stadium). Other than that, I'd definitely second the Sagrada Familia, Camp Nou and Parc Guell.

Tarragona is a nice enough town to visit as well.