Advice for Short Barcelona trip

poor_johno

Hi all,

I am going to Barcelona for a few days in September for the first time.

We land on the Saturday around 6pm and leave on the Tuesday around 4pm. We are staying in the Poblenou area.

I am thinking that maybe the first night to just take a walk along the Rambla del Poblenou, grab some food and drink etc. I'm assuming it'll be a bit late to go further once we've got to the hotel and checked in?

We have a few ideas of what we'd like to do e.g. Nou Camp tour, la Sagrada Familia, La Rambla, beach, etc.

Do you have any must dos, tips or advice for short visits? Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[Deleted User]

The fish market in la rambla and keep your wallet well out of the way. Most of all enjoy it and just wander

spearmintsorbet

hiya
you'll have a great time! I used to live in BCN.

Regarding the Sagrada Familia, definitely buy tickets on their website to avoid the ENORMOUS queues. These can be printed free at local ATMs using the card you paid with if you don't have a printer. Also visit on a day when it's not windy as for safety reasons all its towers close during high wind, and climbing the towers is well worth doing.

Highly recommend this restaurant in the area, which is like a fishmonger- select and buy your fresh fish then walk through and they cook it for you in the restaurant- delicious. Go early as the locals all flock to this place. I can't post links so google La Paradeta Barcelona.

Have fun!

travellerboy

Sagrada Familia is covered in scaffolding and netting for cleaning, at least it was in June. Buy a day ticket on the Ho-ho bus, ideal to get your bearings and see the city. Then use the metro to the points of interest thereafter - metro is cheap, 2 euro / journey to almost anywhere in the city.
Go to Tibidabo up the funicular railway, fabulous views of the city.

Gratis

sorbet87 wrote: »

Highly recommend this restaurant in the area, which is like a fishmonger- select and buy your fresh fish then walk through and they cook it for you in the restaurant- delicious. Go early as the locals all flock to this place. I can't post links so google La Paradeta Barcelona.

No problem; permit me to oblige.

Own website

On TripAdvisor (Certificate of Excellence 2013)

Video

:money:

moneysavvy35

Hi

I've just come back from my 2nd trip thier. La Sagrada Familia has still got some netting & scaffolding on the outside but its still lovely to look at. (never been inside)

I did a walking tour of the Old Town of Barcelona - very interesting, after doing that I wanted to visit the barcelona history museum but never got the chance.

The HOHO bus is a great way to get your bearings on this city. For me my trip wouldn't be complete without a trip to Parc Guell - get the the number 24 bus from Placa Catalunya.

Visit Boqueria Market for lovely fruit smoothies. Take a wonderful stroll down to Port Vell - lovely down thier!!

Buy a t-10 ticket which will save you money in the long run. you buy just the 1 and share the ticket between you. so you should get 5 return journeys on that, then just buy more as and when you need. (people sometimes sell remaining journeys left on tickets on ebay)

Do watch out for pickpockets, although I've never had any incidents its supposed to be rife.

Barcelonetta beach can get really busy, if thats the case for you walk down further to bogatell, if staying near poblenu that maybe nearer anyway.

If you like shopping then glories centre if you like markets then I like el encants but some say its not very good.

Check out Trip Advisor Barcelona Forum

Make sure you bring sunglasses - you will need them. Like others says just walk and enjoy. I love it thier.

momum

What dates are you there? The Festa Major del Poblenou runs from Friday 6th until Sunday 15th. Loads of fiesta type things going on. On the Friday night there is a huge open air concert at the top end of La Rambla. All the locals have an evening meal on trestle tables. There are beer stalls with Estrella for 1 Euro. The music is really infectious and goes on until about 2am.
There are loads of other stages at street corners with every kind of music from line dancing to heavy metal.
Plan to be there Thursday 5th until Tuesday 10th. Watch for pink skin with freckles lol.

theGrinch

moneysavvy35 wrote: »

Hi

I've just come back from my 2nd trip thier. La Sagrada Familia has still got some netting & scaffolding on the outside but its still lovely to look at. (never been inside)

They are still building it. Its just over mid way through and will be finished in the mid 2020s

theGrinch

I bit more pricey than the metro, but we used the hop on hop off tour bus to get around all the sights, stopping off at places of interest. Otherwise get a T-10 ticket at the airport station.

Its valid for 10 journeys up to 1.5 hours each so you could combine metro and bus in that 1.5hrs

travellerboy

There are two companies operating Ho Ho buses around BCN - they both follow very similar routes. The Turistic is more expensive than the Red Bus and the Red Bus offer discount for the over 60. Both are cheaper to book on-line than pay on the bus.

poor_johno

Great tips guys , cheers