What to see in barcelona?

What to see in barcelona?

Author
Discussion

sc0tt

Original Poster:

18,032 posts

200 months

Thursday 13th November 2014
quotequote all
Heading to barcelona on wednesday for 3 nights next week? Any must see places to visit or things to do?

Thanks

Fishtigua

9,786 posts

194 months

Thursday 13th November 2014
quotequote all
Go and stuff your face at La Boqueria Market. One of the great markets and the food is just so nom-nom, I could spend days in there.

http://www.boqueria.info/mercat-parades.php

The Can Paixano Cava Bar can get packed but well worth a late night visit. Remember, they eat very late at night around there. That's why you need the tapas to keep you going.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/can-paixano-barcelona-4

I have no idea about the touristy stuff as I'm normally there work-wise. My local Pub was the Fastnet, down by the marina.


SlowMoped

184 posts

145 months

Friday 14th November 2014
quotequote all
Look up Fat Tyre Bicycle tours. I recommend doing that on your first day- its a good way to have a look around the significant sites and get your bearings and some tips from the tour guide. You can then go back to the things you want to see in more detail. It costs about Eur24 and lasts for 4 hours. Its not a strenuous ride.

WinstonWolf

72,857 posts

238 months

Friday 14th November 2014
quotequote all
Get a pass for the open top bus, it's a great way to see the city and you can hop on/off at all the major places of interest.

The jiffle king

6,894 posts

257 months

Friday 14th November 2014
quotequote all
I used to live there.......

Open top bus is good
Camp Nou tour is great
Tickets for Barcelona FC can be bought at the ground or at a stall on Las rambles
Las Ramblas
Parc Guell
Casa Milla
Casa Batillo
Mon juic (Castle is great for views)
Shopping (if you are into that, but not Las Ramblas
Food is great away from tourist areas... just go 3 streets away and you'll find great restaurants
Las arenas (shopping centre, but the real attraction is the free view from the top
Tibidabo - theme park if thats your thing or just great views
The beach... might be cold but sometimes 20C at this time of year
bike tours
segway tours
just sitting with a coffee or drink

and loads more... fill yer boots!!

g3org3y

20,606 posts

190 months

Friday 14th November 2014
quotequote all
The jiffle king said:
I used to live there.......

Open top bus is good
Camp Nou tour is great
Tickets for Barcelona FC can be bought at the ground or at a stall on Las rambles
Las Ramblas
Parc Guell
Casa Milla
Casa Batillo
Mon juic (Castle is great for views)
Shopping (if you are into that, but not Las Ramblas
Food is great away from tourist areas... just go 3 streets away and you'll find great restaurants
Las arenas (shopping centre, but the real attraction is the free view from the top
Tibidabo - theme park if thats your thing or just great views
The beach... might be cold but sometimes 20C at this time of year
bike tours
segway tours
just sitting with a coffee or drink

and loads more... fill yer boots!!
^What he said. If you can manage to watch a match at the Camp Nou, even better (assuming you are a football fan of course).

Be a little wary of pick-pockets on Las Ramblas.

Otherwise have a great time!

HaplessBoyLard

1,546 posts

187 months

Friday 14th November 2014
quotequote all
g3org3y said:
Be a little wary of pick-pockets on Las ramblas
I got done by a group of girls who wandered over at 3am when we were slightly the worse for wear. Crowded round me pretending to be hookers. A couple of them were distracting me one side while another unzipped my jacket pocket and swiped my phone.

A mate of mine got mugged too a few years back, walking las ramblas alone at night.

BlackST

9,079 posts

164 months

Saturday 15th November 2014
quotequote all
Open top tour is brilliant. Think it was 25 euros each.

The jiffle king

6,894 posts

257 months

Saturday 15th November 2014
quotequote all
Security... Barcelona is like most other European cities and the places to watch for your wallet are on Las Ramblas (They target wallets in back pockets, drunk tourists) and on the metro from the airport (Watch for the people with coats over their arms. They have an accomplice who stands near them and usually only stay for 1 stop.
It's just a case of being careful like you would anywhere else... oh and no phones/wallets on the table for drinks outside or putting your bag on the ground without securing it..
Majority of people who get caught are careless or drunk

Only take out what you need e.g. money and a card just in case. We were never robbed through being careful.

Don't let it put you off a brilliant city

Edited by The jiffle king on Saturday 15th November 08:33

Lordbenny

8,575 posts

218 months

Tuesday 9th February 2016
quotequote all
Most over rated city in Europe IMO! Sorry! getmecoat

TwigtheWonderkid

43,248 posts

149 months

Wednesday 10th February 2016
quotequote all
The city is great but the football is overrated. 50% of the fans are tourists, and there's no roof so the atmosphere is rubbish.

toon10

6,140 posts

156 months

Wednesday 10th February 2016
quotequote all
I'll echo a lot of what has been said. Without doubt Barcelona is the worst city break I've been on and I've been on a lot. Las Ramblas is where you'll need to be very wary of pick pocketers and prostitutes (who will also want to pick pocket you.) Do some research on bars/music venues as we didn't and failed to find a nice bar in 3 days. If you like standard tourist places and Irish bars then you'll be OK.

Saying that, the Catherdral is well worth wandering around and doing the stadium tour and taking in a match is high up on the list. I saw them play Levante when Eto was playing up front. Being a Newcastle fan, it was refreshing to see how the game should be played biggrin

I'd definately use trip advisor and other sites to get an idea of what to do. When I went it was a last minute thing and I went in blind thinking I'd find nice places and things to do. I didn't.

WinstonWolf

72,857 posts

238 months

Wednesday 10th February 2016
quotequote all
So footie fans can't appreciate culture? Who would'a thought it...

toon10

6,140 posts

156 months

Wednesday 10th February 2016
quotequote all
Nothing like a good sweeping generalisation biggrin

There are many people who love the beautiful game and also appreciate culture. I like different places for different reasons. The history of Krakow, the atmosphere of Berlin, the culture of Budapest, the architecture of Bruges, etc.

Saying that, when I was in Barcelona it was for a 40th birthday and a “lads” trip so the group priorities were sightseeing and enjoying the nightlife.

If you’re after culture and you think Spain is the place to go, maybe you’re doing it wrong?

WinstonWolf

72,857 posts

238 months

Wednesday 10th February 2016
quotequote all
Gaudi and the gothic quarter not good enough for you? Food festivals, opera singers randomly performing, it's all there but it's not necessarily a 'lads' city. smile

You were looking for Dublin...

toon10

6,140 posts

156 months

Wednesday 10th February 2016
quotequote all
WinstonWolf said:
Gaudi and the gothic quarter not good enough for you? Food festivals, opera singers randomly performing, it's all there but it's not necessarily a 'lads' city. smile

You were looking for Dublin...
Gaudi is worth a look yes but Barcelona isn't the place I'd go for culture. Too many boozed up Brits, pimps, pushers and prostitutes for my liking. I've not been to Dublin so can't comment but the cities I've visited aren't exactly the go to places for the Blackpool experience which is what you seem to (incorrectly) think I'm into.

bigbob77

593 posts

165 months

Wednesday 10th February 2016
quotequote all
What to see in Barcelona... Your belongings in someone else's hands as they run away frown

WinstonWolf

72,857 posts

238 months

Wednesday 10th February 2016
quotequote all
toon10 said:
WinstonWolf said:
Gaudi and the gothic quarter not good enough for you? Food festivals, opera singers randomly performing, it's all there but it's not necessarily a 'lads' city. smile

You were looking for Dublin...
Gaudi is worth a look yes but Barcelona isn't the place I'd go for culture. Too many boozed up Brits, pimps, pushers and prostitutes for my liking. I've not been to Dublin so can't comment but the cities I've visited aren't exactly the go to places for the Blackpool experience which is what you seem to (incorrectly) think I'm into.
M'kay, you seem to have been to a different Barcelona to the one most people visit. Benidorm begins with a B, are you sure you're not mistaking the two?

Then again, you went to see footie, not surprising you met some pissheads...

tescorank

1,985 posts

230 months

Tuesday 5th April 2016
quotequote all
bigbob77 said:
What to see in Barcelona... Your belongings in someone else's hands as they run away frown
two mates of mine where having a nice relaxing game of golf last month, they were putting out when suddenly a bandit jumped out of bush and jumped on their buggy and drove off with clubs bags, passports in bags (as they felt they were staying in a dodgy hotel) also phones and hire car keys, so after walking back to club house the golf club were only interested to charge them for the stolen buggy as they had left keys in ignition. It was a 4 day weekend trip that turned into 9 days of hell. Apparently on some courses you see beware of "bandito" signs and this is a regular occurrence.


Edited by tescorank on Saturday 9th April 07:06

Jayou5

45 posts

122 months

Tuesday 19th April 2016
quotequote all
Looking for some advice on hotels in Barcelona and having read this thread and others I think I've narrowed it down to three but anyone have any experience of them. They are the Banys Oriental, Mercer Hotel and the Grand Hotel Central all in the Gothic area.

We are going in September and I'm not sure how much the rooftop pool is needed or if we would use the beach instead (is it safe to leave belongings on the beach). We will be spending the first four nights in Barcelona, then two in Girona followed by one final night in Barcelona so I had thought of using the Grand Hotel or Banys Oriental for the first four nights then having the final night in a suite in the Mercer.

Also if anyone has ideas on things to do in Girona for a day please let me know.