What to do in Barcelona?!?!

[megumic]

FI has a last minute business trip to Barcelona - and guess who gets to tag along on the company''s tab?!?! ME!

We''ll only be there for four days, but what should we see, where should we eat, what shouldn''t we miss?!?!? This is a huge thing for me because I am a planner, and to leave 48 hours after finding out is crazy spontaneous, but I''m trying to embrace it and I am BEYOND excited.

Look forward to hearing from everyone!

 

[princesss]

Here is a link of some tips from a while back.

Enjoy! Barcelona is one of my favourite cities. Take time to wander around - it''s a great city.

 

[Mara]

there is a really great online guide for Barca.. I am trying to remember the name of it...but in the meantime gospain.about.com is a good place to look.

Barca is big on tapas..you can find it almost anywhere. Lots of great walking. If you like Gaudi. We ate at a few great places but unfort I can't remember them, mommy brain.

A lot of people think it's cheesy, but we like doing the red bus tour when we only have one or two days somewhere. It's worth it because you can get on and off as you wish and see a lot of things in one day.

The big cathedral there in the center of the square..I can't remember the name but it is VERY popular--but it is the only church we saw where you can't enter if you have bare shoulders. So bring a shawl or something, they will turn you away.

Oh and def try chocolate and churros...SO YUMMY. Google for the top place or two in Barca. We went to 2 while there.

eTA lol clicked on the link and realized i posted better information in my first posts..! Maribel's guide was the one I was thinking of, I just googled it. have fun!! My husband just LOVED spain.

 

[monarch64]

SO lived in Barcelona for a bit--he''s sleeping right now (so adorable) but I''ll see if he has contributions after he wakes and I get to work tomorrow. Sounds like a fab trip you''re about to take!

 

[iheartscience]

DO NOT miss La Sagrada Familia! It''s the cathedral Gaudi started and it is amaaaaazing. Parc Guell is awesome too-another Gaudi-designed place. It''s kind of far from the city center but worth the trip for sure. And there are several Gaudi buildings on the main street near La Rambla. If you google for Gaudi buildings you''ll find them. Also check out the market near La Rambla (La Boqueria) as well as La Rambla (pedestrian street area with vendors, restaurants and great people watching).

And be sure to have chocolat con churros-it is SO GOOD! There''s a little cart outside La Boqueria that we went to every morning for coffee for the hubs and choc con churros for me. It''s way better than regular hot chocolate-thicker and soooooooo good.

I''m off to bed and will try to think of more tomorrow. I love Barcelona-one of my favorite cities in the world! I''m sure you''ll love it too! Have fun!

 

[ladypirate]

Split some paella and a bottle of wine over lunch, then wander around Park Guell and the neighborhoods around it checking out the architecture and end the day with tapas at a local bar. That is one of my favorite days I''ve ever had!

 

[movie zombie]

anything and everything Gaudi.

mz

 

[megumic]

Thank you everyone! Seriously - reading your posts has me practically in tears thinking about how nice of a time we''ll have, even if it''s only three days! It''s been a tough year, so I think this will be a great way to begin putting everything behind us and moving forward.

 

[zipzapgirl]

Ditto all the suggestions on the Sagrada Familia and Parc Guell!

There is an amazing Picasso museum.

Spend some time on the Ramblas walking around and having a pitcher of sangria.

Shop at Zara''s flagship store--lots cheaper than in the USA. Located at the non-Christopher Columbus end of the Ramblas, I believe.

Have fun! Barcelona is one of my favorite weekend trips!!!

 

[princesss]

Date: 6/24/2010 3:31:06 PM
Author: zipzapgirl
Ditto all the suggestions on the Sagrada Familia and Parc Guell!

There is an amazing Picasso museum.

Spend some time on the Ramblas walking around and having a pitcher of sangria.

Shop at Zara''s flagship store--lots cheaper than in the USA. Located at the non-Christopher Columbus end of the Ramblas, I believe.

Have fun! Barcelona is one of my favorite weekend trips!!!

I just want to ditto this whole post!

Also, if you like Dali, there is a small Dali museum that is really cool - he''s one of my favourites and the museum really captures his essence - cool and creepy. I loved it!

 

[blingmyring]

I agree with everything that has been posted and would only add that I really enjoyed the Picasso walking tour that leaves from the Plaza (another poster mentioned the location - opposite end of La Rambla from Christopher Columbus statue). The tour ends with free entry into the Picasso museum. You are going to have such a wonderful time - great weather, great food ..... Enjoy !

ETA: The walking tour leaves from Plaza Catalunya (near El Corte Ingles department store). The touristy bus tours leave from the opposite side of the Plaza (FYI: I haven't been in almost 5 years so hopefully I'm not giving you misinformation).

 

[sammyj]

We only had a couple of days to spend in Barcelona (but didn''t stay overnight) and we did one of the city bus tours on the first day with a large group of friends. The company we went with had a North and South tour and we only did one of them. It was great to be able to get around the city and pick out specific places to check out on our 2nd day.

I''ll echo everyone''s suggestions to visit Parc Guell, La Sagrada Familia, and stroll up and down Las Ramblas. One of my friends went to the amusement park and hung out on the beach in Barcelona...so that''s another option if you manage to see everything you want to see and need a day of relaxation

.

 

[parrot tulips]

I''m so jealous right now! I agree with everyone''s previous suggestions, but if you don''t mind setting a whole day aside for a day trip, my absolute FAVORITE thing I saw/did when I was in Barcelona was to visit the Montserrat Monastery (maybe an hour train ride...?). Amazing, breathtaking. The monastery is built into a mountainside, has a small museum, and we were fortunate enough to catch the boy''s choir singing.

 

[Arkteia]

agree with everything + Salvador Dali''s museum in Figueras, about 2 hour drive north of Barcelona. Agree with everything about Gaudi.

Also - go to bed late. As they do, 2-3 pm, it is so much =fun on the streets in the evenings!

Sorry for the font. My computer is playing tricks on me. Maybe my past in the "country of the revolution" has come back to get even with me...

 

[Yimmers]

DH and I spent part of our honeymoon in Barcelona - I loved this city!

Places to eat:

Fonda Gaig - more pricey, but good Catalan cuisine. Great homey dish was this cope-teta (sp?), I think it was chickpeas cooked with a ham hock in a tomato broth. Awfully good.

El Salon - this is a really good place, outdoor and indoor seating. Off of La Ramblas

La Boqueria - the big market on Las Ramblas. There is a big seafood stand that cooks razor clams, Kiosko Universale - quite good with a morning beer, haha. Our guide advised us that the cheaper prices are toward the middle and rear of the market; the stuff near the front is usually the priciest.

Paella is really more of a Valencia thing, if you want seafood, you should head down to Barceloneta, which is by the waterfront. Don''t eat right at the waterfront, but restaurants near there should have better paella. Avoid eating at most restaurants right on Las Ramblas, the people will try to pull you in, but they are very touristy and not good. If you head off into the side streets, you will generally find better restaurants.

To Do:

In addition to the stuff people have mentioned, here''s a few extra things:

In the Lonely Planet traveler''s guide, we found this walking food tour and had a person take us through parts of Barcelona; so we got to have some cheese, dessert, and wine on this tour. She also talked about the city and its history. It''s a little more off the beaten path then the ones through the official tourist agency in Plaza Catalunya.

Take the tram or subway lines to Montjuic, and see the old fort and the Olympic Stadium and Olympic Museum. We didn''t have time, but there''s also other museums up there as well. Pack a lunch, though, since food up there is pricey.

Most of the shopping runs up one street through the city. I bought a pair of Valentino shoes there in a moment of weakness.

Couple of tips: Unlike the US, they will charge you a Euro for bread. So if you don''t want to pay for it, politely decline. There is also often a 1-2 euro charge for sitting outside. Be awares! On the other hand, wine is cheap. So, drink up.
Also, be careful walking down Las Ramblas, it is a notorious place for pickpockets.