Barcelona must SEE / must DO?

[Cruiser Elite]

Heading to Barcelona on Tues with Cruiserette - have done my fair amount of research online - would hate to think I missed something simply by not asking.

So here goes - all you AFF experts out there with Barcelona experience - what are the absolute MUST SEE and MUST DO highlights not to be missed whilst in town?

 

[elbarto]

Sagrada Familia

The hop on hop off bus takes you to all the main tourist sites

 

[drron]

Sagrada Familia

The hop on hop off bus takes you to all the main tourist sites

Absolutely.
My TR from 2008,all the photos have disappeared though.Bacelona posts-80-87.
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....s/from-broken-hill-amazon-jungle-13855-3.html

 

[amaroo]

Sagrada Familia
Casa Batllo - Casa Batll. Official website. Gaud modernist museum in Barcelona
Lunch at Cuines Santa Caterina - cuines santa caterina - Google Search
If you're in town for a few days montserrat spain - Google Search

 

[tuapekastar]

I only spent two nights there, but the Sagrada Familia church and the famous street La Rambla stick in my memory (ensure your pockets are secure, and if you want to eat in the area, go a couple of streets off LR, much cheaper and less touristy apparently, though no personal experience). SF church easily accessible by subway. Waterfront area (redeveloped IIRC for the Olympics) worth a look, and though I did not get there, possibly the Montjuic Olympic Games areas is a worth a look.

 

[Princess Fiona]

La Sagrada Familia and Las Ramblas are the two standouts, the Boqueria is a great spot for people watching and breakfast

 

[oliverd]

I had the good fortune of a 2-day conference there a couple of years ago, with a free day at the start and end (so only 4 days in Barcelona)

What stood out for me, other than the city sights (like La Sagrada Familia, which I only saw from the outside as the queue was almost 1km long):

Montserrat
Amazing views and well worth it if you're into hiking, even if it's only a short walk. Took an early train and was back by about 3pm for an evening flight home, but would have liked a full day.
https://picasaweb.google.com/odescoeudres/Montserrat

Montjuïc castle
Take the skyway up which also gives you a great perspective of the city, and return via funicular + gondola, or vv. There's a museum with a large collection of Joan Miro works (I didn't have time to go in, but colleagues did and recommended it), botanical gardens and a few other attractions. A good half-day excursion that covers a bit of ground.

Tibadabo
Tallest mountain in the Serra de Collserola and not far away from the city centre. Get there via Tramvia Blau, an old tram and then a funicular. There's an impressive church at the top (took 60 years to build) and a less impressive amusement park, and a view across the entire city to the ocean. Another half-day that takes you through different parts of the city.
Tibidabo - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Have a great trip!!

 

[Febs]

Visit a little tapas joint called "Lolita". Not too far from Las Ramblas (5min in a taxi from memory). Phenomenally good tapas. Apparently used to be run by Ferran Adria's old pastry chef? Anyway, worth getting there early as the queue goes around the block later in the night.

Love Barcelona!

Edit: oh and there are some interesting wine and cava day trips worth doing if you like wine.

Cheers
Febs.

 

[Alanslegal]

Depending on how long you are in Barcelona I guess. If you're limited with time, then Hop On Hop Off red bus will do the trick I thought Park Guell was pretty cool, lovely view of the City from there.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Depending on how long you are in Barcelona I guess.

In Barcelona for 10 nights / 9 full days

 

[Pushka]

Paella at one of the restaurants overlooking the harbour. The amazing market off Las Ramblas. (Boucqueria?) Also, Barcelona is RIFE with petty crime. We will be there in July. I'm not even going to use a handbag, but a small amount of cash in the concealed pouch. Watch out for people trying to be friendly, they aren't. Watch out for the numerous "gypsy" tricks. Watch out for men posing as police officers wanting to check for counterfeit currency. Watch out for crowds at road crossings. You are pretty much safe from violent crimes, but they are experts at the pick pocket stuff and tourist scams.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Quick update - MUST SEE in Barcelona - the whole of this city - it is spectacular been here for 4 days and TOTALLY in love with this city - so beautiful - spectacular architecture - perfect weather.

MUST DO - must stay at Arts Hotel - Hotel Arts Barcelona :: Luxury hotel in Barcelona - a Ritz Carlton Hotel - PERFECT - have never stayed in any hotel where staff accross all sections so brilliant - staff are sensational.

As I said been here 4 days - now got it totally sussed. Hotel costing €298/night - Laurent Perrier champers poolside and in bar €16/glass - at brekkie free.

Told Cruiserette that we gotta get to brekkie at 7 when gates open - could easily knock off doz to 15 champs for brekkie - almost get room for free then.



Speaking of Cruiserette - watch the news in ensuing days - I am sure she has singlehandedly turned around the fortunes of Spains economy - look for a sharp spike in the GDP.

 

[juddles]

Paella at one of the restaurants overlooking the harbour. The amazing market off Las Ramblas. (Boucqueria?) Also, Barcelona is RIFE with petty crime. We will be there in July. I'm not even going to use a handbag, but a small amount of cash in the concealed pouch. Watch out for people trying to be friendly, they aren't. Watch out for the numerous "gypsy" tricks. Watch out for men posing as police officers wanting to check for counterfeit currency. Watch out for crowds at road crossings. You are pretty much safe from violent crimes, but they are experts at the pick pocket stuff and tourist scams.

Pushka, you are taking the fun out of travel! Yes, Spain has criminals, but so does everywhere. A bit of mild alertness puts you way ahead of the pack.

As for the OP, just get out and enjoy everywhere. And hit the smallgoods duty free selection, even if you have to scoff it on the return flight for fear they will seize it on entry to Aus.

 

[Pushka]

Pushka, you are taking the fun out of travel! Yes, Spain has criminals, but so does everywhere. A bit of mild alertness puts you way ahead of the pack.

As for the OP, just get out and enjoy everywhere. And hit the smallgoods duty free selection, even if you have to scoff it on the return flight for fear they will seize it on entry to Aus.

Hmm, when a bag was stolen off me by slashing the tie in Vietnam, I still love to travel, but am much more careful now.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Thanks so much to all contributors re Barcelona.

In short Barcelona has knocked the socks off Cruiserette and myself - so much so already booked 2 x J Savers MEL-SIN-BCN June 19, 2013 - booked them imm the 350 day lead time would allow - and will definitely book Hotel Arts again next year - best service I have received in a hotel in any country.

Yes we saw crime -witnessed a perfectly excecuted hand bag snatch by 2 cyclists - worthy of inclusion in any Hollywood blockbuster. But BCN in general - the food - the cheap alchohol - the people - the architecture - the culture - just adored it.

Aside - see on other threads QF devotees bemoaning redemption non-availability on QF - god I love SQ - and next year MEL-SIN on 380 - SIN-BCN 0n 77W - we missed the crossover this year by 2 weeks - D'oh.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Oh one MUST DO for anyone who is visiting BCN and wants an adults night out - thoroughly recommend Hotel Casa Fuster on Thur nights - they have Moet & Chandon Jazz night - 3 pc jazz ensemble playing from 9 til 11 - 4 course meal which was beautiful - and a bottle of Moet thrown in - €100ea - bargain IMHO.



And:

 

[Cruiser Elite]

We stayed at Hotel Arts at Port Olympic - Hotel Arts Barcelona :: Luxury hotel in Barcelona - what a fabulous choice.

But one thing I really loved was price of champagne in restaurants. Most restarants on waterfron at Port Olympic Moet or Bollinger or Mumm €46 to €50ea. In one restaurant we went to in centre of BCN Moet was €38ea - gotta love that.

Oh and the paella - my god - I loved it.