Barcelona....

slinga

I think this was the tour we used.
It definitely used the Travel Bar as the meeting place.
https://www.getyourguide.com/barcelona-l45/barcelona-free-walking-tour-t27550/

Just in case you haven't been on a free walking tour although there is no upfront cost you should tip the guide.
Not absolutely necessary but most people do.

richardvc

Thanks everyone.

Some great advice and plenty of excellent ideas.

All I hear about from people are pickpockets - which doesn't exactly fill me with joy !

We have money belts and travel pretty light anyway so they won't be getting much !!

Ballard

La Sagrada Familia is a must but bear in mind that it's a building site inside. It's been at least 10 years since I went and maybe it's changed in that time but there was very little to see inside. My advice would be to admire it from outside (for free!)

Parc Guell, on the other hand, is a fantastic park designed by Gaudi and well worth a visit. From memory it's a short bus ride away from the centre.

I went for a long weekend on my own and found myself the only one in restaurants at 8pm as I was hungry after a day's sightseeing. Be prepared to either eat in an empty restaurant or wait until the locals dine a couple of hours later.

aaroncaz

richardvc wrote: »

Thanks everyone.

Some great advice and plenty of excellent ideas.

All I hear about from people are pickpockets - which doesn't exactly fill me with joy !

We have money belts and travel pretty light anyway so they won't be getting much !!

I have been twice on day trips from Salou, the 1st time was worried silly abt pickpockets but it was fine, the 2nd time, no worries and am planing a longer visit this year. Just be sensible, like if you are sitting outside a cafe, don't leave your phone on the table......it will be gone. Enjoy, I love the Bari Gotic area.

richardvc

aaroncaz wrote: »

Just be sensible, like if you are sitting outside a cafe, don't leave your phone on the table......it will be gone. Enjoy, I love the Bari Gotic area.

We're pretty sensible about things (famous last words) but it just seems that the word pickpockets comes out of everyone's mouth as soon as you mention Barcelona.

agrinnall

Ballard wrote: »

La Sagrada Familia is a must but bear in mind that it's a building site inside. It's been at least 10 years since I went and maybe it's changed in that time but there was very little to see inside. My advice would be to admire it from outside (for free!)

It has changed a lot, I visited in 1998 and 2011, and while it was indeed a building site it is now much more complete inside. I actually preferred it in 1998 as you could go to places that are now prohibited, but it's certainly much easier to view the interior now without cranes in the way. It's quite expensive to go in so while it's probably worth doing once I would now do the same as you and look from the outside.

Pollycat

I would plan what you think are 'must-sees' and do a route so that you're not criss-crossing the city which will obviously waste some of your limited time.

Re things I would 'do' again are Gaudi's Parc Guell, Dragon House (La Pedrera), Casa Batllo & La Sagrada Familia. We went to the top of the cathedral in the day then revisited at night.

We walked down las Ramblas and into Barri Gotic (Gothic Quarter).

The market (La Boqueria) was interesting to us.