Suggestions for a Barcelona trip

mintymoneysaver

Hi, my friend and I ( both female, early 40s) have just booked flights to Barcelona for the first weekend in November. Neither of us has been before, so looking for any recommendations please?

Hotel first and foremost ( budget of up to £250 for the two of us for 3 nights) but then any places to eat/ visit/ places to avoid etc. Looking forward to hearing all your suggestions.

daveyjp

We have just been and stayed the the Hotel Cristal Palace (4*) and having been to Barcelona 3 times it is the best hotel we have stayed in. It is currently showing at €216 for three nights which is in your budget - you may get it cheaper if you book with them directly. We didn't have breakfast there, but there are plenty of cafes for chocolate and churros!

Located within 5 minutes of Passeig de Gracia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passeig_de_Gr%C3%A0cia,_Barcelona) with Casa Batilo just round the corner - direct rail service from the airport (25 minutes) and five minutes from Placa Catalunya which is the northern end of Las Ramblas (airport buses stop hrere if you don't fancy the local train). The area is where all the high end shops are.

Plenty to do (a guide book is well worth having), subject to weather being good. Barcelona is huge, but all the main sights can be reached on the Metro - (€8.25 for ten tickets - bargain - and one ticket gets you to/from the airport).

Too many restaurants to mention- they are more expensive at southern end of Ramblas, but cheaper if you get into the quieter areas. and don't miss the indoor market on Ramblas - stunning.

andygb

In addition to the indoor market at Las Ramblas, you could visit the Barri Gottica (don't know if I have spelt that correctly), the Gaudi park, Sacreda Famiglia, Montjjuic. I love Barcelona, so much to see and do.

Doshwaster

Barcelona is a fantastic place but a couple of things to be aware of

1) Be careful where you eat and drink. Most of the bars and restaurants around the main tourist areas are very expensive. If you are a little savvy you can find much better places a few streets away which are a lot cheaper.

2) Las Ramblas and the side streets around it are swarming with pickpockets at night so be very careful with bags, wallets etc. Only take out with you what you need and leave everything else in the hotel.

mintymoneysaver

Cristal palace looks very nice, but can't find it for 3 nights at the price that you could.

Currently looking at hotel america, which seems to have very good reviews and coming in at around the £200 mark.

Hope to hear any other suggestions too...

daveyjp

You are right - I've just checked the price again (it was on booking.com) and it is now over €400! COuld be worth a direct e-mail.

vivatifosi

You may get the U232 Hotel in Eixemple in November within your budget. Haven't stayed there, but have stayed at its more expensive sister hotel which we loved and would definitely give it a shot. It gets good reviews on Trip Advisor.

In terms of what to do, depends what your interests are. I've been to Barcelona about 10 times and the places that I go back to again and again are: Parc Guell (the most funky park on the planet with great views), Sagrada Familia (well it would be rude not to - its the city's main landmark), Montjuic, just to walk around and look over the city and the former Olympic site, the Picasso Museum. Passeig de Gracia is fantastic for shopping.

Get yourself a T-10 underground ticket to get around cheaply, you can share between two people if you like, but over three days you'd probably use 10 journeys each. For example, if you go to Parc Guell, you can get off the tube at the nearest stop (which is still a long uphill slog on foot to the park itself) or - for the same ticket use - get a bus up to the park and get off directly outside the side exit.

Also take a cross-body shoulder bag with a zip top and wear it under your jacket - this should not be a problem in November. I've seen people pickpocketed in Barcelona many times and it ruins a holiday, but there's no need to be a target if you take sensible precautions.

mintymoneysaver

Thankyou for that. Unfortunately it's still showing as too much, but it does look lovely!

geri1965_2

Do you definitely want a hotel? I have stayed at this place before (self catering) which is very nice.

http://en.bcngotic.com/

llaurenw

We went on a private tour of the Gothic Quarter with my husband, his two teenage sons and our 2.5 year old daughter with Hi. This is Barcelona and it was the highlight of our stay in Barcelona! Jordan was our tour guide and we were all amazed at his in depth knowledge of the culture, arts, history - and food - of Barcelona!

Our only regret was that we didn't hire him to take us on more excursions of the city! We would have benefited so greatly from his knowledge and guidance! This was truly an exceptional experience- very professional and educational and FUN.

ponymad_3

First of all you will have a great trip.... the warnings re pick pockets should not send you into panic mode... Altho I am very street savvy and stopped 2 attempts on myself neither down the Ramblas! Once in the Cathedral and once on the metro . Use a day sac and carry only minimum in so the hand has to go deep to pinch its much harder for them. To shop you need to have a copy of ID and you will get away with a colour photocopy in shops like Zara and Mango. Leave passports etc in the safe.

Restaurants - Do the Tapas thing its much more fun and cheap

Don t miss Cervesaria Catalana open lunch and dinner and one of the few where you can sit down. Its off Passeig Gracia on Calle Majorca
There are other bars but altho now popular also with tourists you get plently of locals here and the choice is really great. Don t order too many at once everything will come together, just keep the menu and reorder.
Back down in 'town' near the catherdral on the Sq Bibao is fun ... you help yourself to pinchos and pay for the number of sticks you manage to eat. They do puddings here too

Down near the prettyist church make sure you go in Sancta Maria in the Born area and a stones throw from the cathedral... you have Sagardi and Vinya del Senyor - the best place to get a great glass of wine. Go around the church and take the road on the left Calle Montcada and make sure you visit El Xampayet... here the drink to have is a bottle of their house cava. Amazing atmosphere - the sun dried tomatoes are scumptious too. This bar is still run by the same family for 80yrs plus and they are great hosts.

The one restaurant I would try to visit is also in the barri Gotic can culleratas - make sure you book It opens at 9. You will think you will be on your own but by 9.15 all the many rooms will have filled. Its cheap and whoelsome food. The seafood which is many dishes over the night will really fill you.

My last eating recommendation is to have lunch by the sea on a sunny day, and barceloneta is the place... just look where the locals are and pick a spot.

Things to do

I won t mention the main sights which I am sure you wont miss out... Even if you don t want to do the full Gaudi trail you can take some in whilst shopping up Passeig Gracia where you will find the biggest Zara.... if just from the outside... Casa Batlo, and La Pedrera are worth a look. I would try to visit one Gaudi house if you can and if it has reopened Palau Guell off the Ramblas would be my choice, followed by La Pedrera. You need to book a tour for the first but it was closed again this early this year.

My other suggestions would be Palau de la Musica... you must book or it will be full - it is very impressive and will take you by surprise.

Walk the Ramblas - them after crossing the bridge come back and walk along the seafront to Barceloneta( for lunch) If you need a coffee stop on the way a choice which may not seem obvious is to go to the terrace cafe at the top of the Musee de Catalonia. The view of the harbour is lovely and free! BTW the Museum if you do get a bad weather pm is really good and helps you understand the Catalonian people and how hard their history has been - and why they are fiercely Catalonian first and not Spanish! From Barceloneta get the bus back using those very useful T10 tickets

At night do try to see the Magic Fountain but when you are there it will I think only operate on Fri and Sat... It is a lovely change from fireworks in Nov.

Hotels
You may struggle with budget, for hotels 4 star, but I think location is key... Also your actual dates . I think the easiest option is to look firstly at Trip Advisor pick a well rated hotel as the approx cost are also shown then you can narrow down. I personally much prefer to stay up P Gracia or just off this street by a couple of blocks. This ensures you will have a quiet nights sleep. ( hotels in this category I can recommend include Majestic/Central and Jazz) In the old town Raco del Pi would suit and its location is really good and reasonably quiet. It should be the right price too - it is 3 star and offers a free coffee bar in the afternoon. They give you a free cava on arrival too which is a nice touch. The rooms are quite small.

TIPS

Get an up to date guide book - I like Timeout

Use the airport bus to Plaza Catalunya - you get the bus outside the airport, just turn right(usually) you can pay on the bus and get a return ticket.

Buy the T10 asap you can get in the Metro at P Catalunya. Use them to save walking too far as you can use on buses and metro. If you have to change metro or bus you can get a free transfer within a set time (I think this is 45mins?) Walk if you can as you will see more and B is a compact city apart from Parc Guell and Montjuic

Sorry but I dont think you need the tour bus!

Sit and chill out have coffee or vino. People watch - you will return and do things next time

HTH and have fun