Barcelona tip?

Ian_iD

Hi, originally posted as going to Croatia but it has proved a bit difficult and expensive. So have now decided to go to Barcelona at the end of next week from Manchester. Started looking on goggle, but again, any tips are greatfully recieved. Thanks!

davetrousers

Apparently there are a lot of pickpockets!

chickaroonee

Yes there are, my purse was nicked there! Look after your bags.

My top tips would be - avoid La Ramblas, awful overpriced tourist trap.

Go to Park Guell, either at Sunrise (if you're an early riser!) or sunset, and have a drink in the outdoor cafe. Amazing view and the park is stunning.

juliescot

The hop on hop off bus tour is well worth the money. Leaves from the Placa Catalunya at the top of the Ramblas. The food market off the Ramblas, La Boqueria is great. The colours and smells are amazing and you can sit and have a cheap meal and a drink as you watch the world go by.

Park Guell is a good day out too.
La Sagrada is interesting, if you are into architecture and Gaudi. Some good shopping to be had in various parts of the city.

frugallass

Lots of pickpockets - happened to a colleague of mine just recently - people ask you to sign a petition or something, then you're suddenly surrounded by a group (in this case it was teenage girls), your wallet gets lifted and they run off in all directions......

getmore4less

Public transport is great and cheap.

http://www.tmb.net/en_US/home.jsp

great interactive map
http://www.tmb.net/onsoc/en_US/mapalocalitzacio.jsp

Take the train or bus 46 to the city €0.77pp with a T10
http://www.tmb.net/en_US/barcelona/moute/planols/lineabusplano.jsp?linia=046

Consider either a T10 or one of the full day(s) passes
http://www.tmb.net/en_US/barcelona/moute/targetes/targetes.jsp

BenL

Fly into the good airport, not the ones on the outskirts. I think we used Easyjet who go to Barcelona.

Girona and Reus are 1H30 away.

Ian_iD

Thanks very much everyone!

geri1965_2

chickaroonee wrote: »

My top tips would be - avoid La Ramblas, awful overpriced tourist trap.

Go to Barcelona and not walk along Las Ramblas? What a weird thing to suggest. It is expensive to eat & drink there compared to the rest of the places, but it's one of the things you should really experience.

Presumably you are not a tourist when you go there, then?

chickaroonee

geri1965 wrote: »

Go to Barcelona and not walk along Las Ramblas? What a weird thing to suggest. It is expensive to eat & drink there compared to the rest of the places, but it's one of the things you should really experience.

Presumably you are not a tourist when you go there, then?

I would possibly walk down it the first time I went, although I have been several times to Barcelona, although I do still stand by what I said. Whenever I've been, we have been bieseged by people trying to sell us 'lucky flowers', surrounding you and generally quite intimidating. I don't particularly like all the caged animals, which in my opinion is a bit cruel, and the food and drink is vastly overpriced. I meant tourist trap as in it is well known, attracts loads of tourists because of this, but doesn't really offer much in return.

The OP asked for tips and that was mine!

geri1965_2

I agree with you about the animals - I generally walk straight past without looking at them. It is also hellishly busy at times, but as a tourist attraction it isn't something I would tell people to miss out on.

How else would you see Caf! Moka, where George Orwell fired at the Guardia Civil during the Spanish civil war, or the fantastic cake shop with the Art Nouveau frontage, or go for a drink at Cafe de l'Opera?