Barcelona (1 Viewer)

Kitty Kat

Kitty Kat

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Hi travelites!

Pear Boy and i would like to go to Barcelona in the spring. Please could you give me your tips/recommendations/must dos and don'ts including hotels/best time of year to go etc etc.


THANKS in advance.
 
September is my favourite time to visit Barcelona but I love it any time really. I know it really well and like to stay just outside the city centre in the Selva de Mar district which is close to the quieter beaches, the Diagonal de Mar shopping district and only 10-15 mins by metro to the city centre so you can dip in and out of the tourist masses easily. I guess if it's your first time there you might want to stay more centrally but I preferred to be away from the bustle. The Vincci hotels normally have decent offers on in terms of accommodation.
 
It's the bustle I like about Barcelona, so I was going to say be careful where you DO stay, because a lot of nice 4* (particularly the more business orientated ones) are in the business district or a metro journey away. I just don't want that when I want to immerse myself in a city, amongst the hubbub of it all, but it very much depends on what you want, I guess!

If you do choose to stay centrally though, I think it's generally a good idea to avoid particularly the bottom end (the coast end) of Las Ramblas which can get quite seedy after dark. I've stayed at the top, nearer Plaça de Catalunya twice, and been fine, though. And I also stayed on Passeig de Gràcia, which was very busy, a bit like staying on somewhere like Regent St, I suppose. Thankfully we had a courtyard room, though.

Gaudi is probably the biggest draw of Barcelona for me; Parc Güell in particular I would say is my absolute must. Outside of that there are a whole host of other places well worth visiting, though. It's been a few years since I last went, so I'm sure others are probably better equipped to recommend other places. And as far as nightlife is concerned, I know nothing.
 
I've been three times and I stayed at the Hilton, the Barcelo and Ibis. The Hilton is exactly what you'd expect, and it's on the beach. Barcelo is also fabulous and also on the beach. Ibis is Ibis... the one I stayed at was about 20 mins walk to the beach and a few tube stations from town, so not bad at all. Beware, though, if you go in the summer - as you know Ibis has no temperature control so the room will be freezing!

I'd second all of Lolly's site-seeing suggestions.. plus if you have a day to spare you should also do mount Tibidabo.
 
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Thanks guys! Keep 'em coming!

I think we'd like to be fairly central but not absolutely; we'd be fine to have a bit of a walk/cab journey home. We'd only be interested in restaurants and quiet bars for nightlife, nothing raucous. I am old and practically married now, after all.

Lolly i'm sure your recommendations are still valid from a few years ago.
 
Barcelona is ALL about Gaudi for me. So my recommendations only really hold if you're willing to go tramping around various houses he built in the city. Then there's the Picasso museum as well.

Oh, I loved the Barceloneta district as well.
 
aw half of Star's photos in the old thread have disappeared :(

Where are the magic fountains?
 
They are are the foot of Montjuic, the big hill nearer the city, where the Olympic Stadium and communication tower is. Sort of underneath the National Art Museum of Catalonia. Which is also worth a visit.
 
They look fabulous :disco: As does Parc Guell.

Have to decide whether to spend a day going to Figueres for the Dali museum...
 
Make sure you allow at least a day for just wandering. Because for me that's a huge part of Barcelona's appeal.
 
Thanks Star! Which area do you lot think is the best place to stay? Also, how long do you think is a reasonable amount of time to spend in Barcelona? And is it practical to do a few days there and a then a few days somewhere else not far away?
 
You could always GO GAY in Sitges. Although (out of season particularly), it's not that gay at all. I think that's the only place I've day tripped from there. I'd like to go to Monserrat, but I don't know there's much to do there to stay for more than a day. Personally I think you can stay in Barcelona for a week without getting bored easily enough.

I've stayed on and just off the Ramblas, and then also just up Passeig de Gracia. There seem to be quite a few reasonably priced hotels around the Cathedral (that's the proper old cathedral which is central, not Gaudi's unfinished one which is a bit of a way out of the centre).
 
HI AGAIN.

We're going to Barcelona next week... how much moolah should we exchange for 8 days in Barcelona/Valencia?

Our holiday last year was all inc so i've no idea how much we'll need for all our food, drink, everything else...

FANKS.
 
I looove Valencia. make sure to go for a walk in the Turia gardens and around the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias

can't you just use cards instead of exchanging?
 
I would limit the cash you take everyone I know other than myself has been pick pocketed in BCN.

I am obviously imune to the perils of STREET LYFE
 
I don't have one of the more reasonable debit cards for overseas transactions and we don't have enough time to order a cash-loaded card so it'll have to be primarily cash. We might use cards for some things but I'd rather avoid the fees.

Any ideas, people?

Thanks.
 
never been to Barcelona but if I remember correctly a drink out in Alicante/Valencia is 4-5 euros (they don't measure so plenty of booze) and a dish at a restaurant is like 7-10 euros. I never used public transportation but I believe a ticket is around 1 euro

all in all it's not a very expensive country
 
big ron said:
I would limit the cash you take everyone I know other than myself has been pick pocketed in BCN.

I am obviously imune to the perils of STREET LYFE
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Yes my friend had his wallett stolen from his hand on the Metro. Somehow he managed to steal it back and the robbers got away with ripping his map. Like anywhere, you've got to be carefull, but Barcelona's pretty renowned for it.
 
Kitty Kat said:
I don't have one of the more reasonable debit cards for overseas transactions and we don't have enough time to order a cash-loaded card so it'll have to be primarily cash. We might use cards for some things but I'd rather avoid the fees.

Any ideas, people?

Thanks.
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Even if you don't have one of the more "reasonable" ones, it's about the same cost.

Because even if your bank charges for the transaction, you get pure exchange rates. Compare that with an exchange place, and often it's no charge but the rates are well out.

(as long as you withdraw most of your money in one or two goes - otherwise yes, it's expensive)
 
Indie said:
Even if you don't have one of the more "reasonable" ones, it's about the same cost.

Because even if your bank charges for the transaction, you get pure exchange rates. Compare that with an exchange place, and often it's no charge but the rates are well out.

(as long as you withdraw most of your money in one or two goes - otherwise yes, it's expensive)
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I'm happy to have a lump sum in the hotel and only have small amounts on our person day to day.

Any other suggestions on how much to take? Would £500 per person suffice?

We'll be eating a snacky breakfast & lunch and an evening meal per day, drinking a little bit, going to a few attractions but mainly the free ones, getting public transport around and perhaps purchasing a few minor souvenirs.
 
you should walk around Valencia. it's small enough to enjoy by foot! I can see why you'd do public transport in Barcelona though

I should say that 500 quid are more than enough! are you taking the train from Barcelona to Valencia? that's at least 40 euros per person for a one way
 
One thing you have to know if it's your first time is that water tastes awful in BCN, just in case you are thirsty in the hotel, remember to have mineral water with you.
 
Oh and you have to taste the typical Pan tumaca (google images), that you have EVERYWHERE in BCN, very nice for breakfast. It's basically bread with tomato spread on it. Spanish ham is optional.
 
Alla Flickor said:
Oh and you have to taste the typical Pan tumaca (google images), that you have EVERYWHERE in BCN, very nice for breakfast. It's basically bread with tomato spread on it. Spanish ham is optional.
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Is that the same as is referred to as Pan Catalan, here in the UK at least? I guess the name makes sense. Just a hunk of bread toasted, then rubbed with a clove garlic and ripe tomatoes so you spread the flesh all over? And then with olive oil poured all over it, naturally. I LOVE IT, if so.
 
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lolly said:
Is that the same as is referred to as Pan Catalan, here in the UK at least? I guess the name makes sense. Just a hunk of bread toasted, then rubbed with a clove garlic and ripe tomatoes so you spread the flesh all over? And then with olive oil poured all over it, naturally. I LOVE IT, if so.
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yes it is, tomato and olive oil, garlic is optional too. I think tumaca is tomato in catalan. One of the best breakfasts you can have.
 
It's delicious. Don't think I've ever had it for breakfast though, more as a tapas (or is it pintxos?) or a starter. Obviously it would work for breakfast, though.

I think the secret is in the tomato being over ripe, isn't it? So that it essentially just falls apart as you smear it over the bread. I'm sure I read it was originally a peasant dish made to use up stale bread and tomatoes that weren't really good for anything else, so they weren't wasted.
 
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