Birthday in Barcelona.. ideas and suggestions please

Dozey_crow

Hi everyone,

I usually post on relationships and old style boards or on dfw sometimes but I have ventured on here to ask for some advice please.

DH and I have just booked out first holiday abroad in 10 years :j. We are going to Barcelona, neither of us have been before and it is DH's birthday whilst we are there.

We are staying in the "Gothic quarter" in a really nice hotel and I would like to do something/go somewhere special on his birthday as a surprise. Any ideas welcome please.

We aren't sporty people, dh loves cars (f1 especially), gadgets, music, architecture. We love eating out and history too. I have a flexible budget of about £100.


has anyone been here and do you have any recommendations or ideas please?

phatbear

a visit to sagrda familia is a must just ensure you pre-book the tickets or you may not get in.

barcelona catherdral is beautiful too.

wander around the bari gothic, i can recommend some really good bars, esp for cockatils.

just take it all in a enjoy barcelona ive been 6 times and never get sick of it

Dozey_crow

Thank you.. I will look that up. 😆

peachyprice

They do a guided tour of the F1 circuit for €10, it's a 20min €2 train ride from the centre of Barcelona, unless you're there 8-11 May, in which case the race will be on

http://www.circuitcat.com/en/visitaguiada/index.php

realised

Thoroughly recommend this!

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g187497-d2534564-Reviews-Travel_Bound_Barcelona_Free_Walking_Tours-Barcelona_Catalonia.html

maman

Not for DH's birthday meal;) but if you want a good value lunch or a coffee when you're there it's worth going to the restaurant at El Corte Ingles (large John Lewis type department store). It's on the 9th floor with fabulous views and the food's OK too.

Pollycat

If it's 'your cup of tea', all the Gaudi places are fab.

We went to Parc Guell, Casa Batllo (Dragon House), La Pedrera and also took a quick look at all the remaining facades designed by Gaudi throughout the city.
La Sagrada Familia is (imho) wonderful. We got there early in the morning before it was too busy.

Boqueria Market on La Ramblas is fab.

I think there may be a hop on-hop-off bus too - we think these are pretty good for getting your bearings in a city.

I'd recommend picking a couple of travel books from the libarary and planning what you want to do.
When we do a city break, we always do this.
No point in turning up somewhere and not knowing what there is to see and where it is!
We plan to visit things of interest that are close together so you're not criss-crossing the city.

When we went a few years ago, you could get a Barcelona Card that gave you a discount on certain things.
You'd need to work out what you want to see and see if it would save you money.
It also gave you unlimited use of public transport including the metro but you'd need to check on currect T&Cs.

I too suggest you pop onto Tripadvisor.

We did find a wonderful local restaurant full of locals doing great tapas - it was somewhere down from La Sagrada Familia but I can't remember the name of the road or place.

We loved Barcelona.

aaroncaz

I just brought a DK Witness pocket size travel book for Barcelona and Catalonia from the Works, it had 30% off so was under £3! some great ideals in it plus maps etc......

Dozey_crow

These are all amazing ideas.... Thank you all so very much.

It sounds like there is loads to do. OK my task now is to buy a travel book and look up all of these links on the web.

Cup of tea time I think.

I am very grateful to you all so thank you! Xxxx

Tuesday_Tenor

I would go to a concert at this amazing hall.
Wonderful glass, amongst other things.
You can look round as a tourist (have to book a guided tour, not wander individually), but attending a concert gives you a very special experience:
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g187497-d190824-Reviews-Palace_of_Catalan_Music_Palau_de_la_Musica_Catalana-Barcelona_Catalonia.html

English web page of programme so you can see what's on on his birthday.
Note evening concerts start pretty late, as everywhere in Spain, typically 9 or 9.30.
http://www.palaumusica.cat/en/programme_314?season=&month=&date_range=&!!!!!&external=True&date=&expired=False&cycle=

Dozey_crow

Thanks. I will have a proper look at these over the weekend!