Barcelona advice
Author
Discussion

Magic Merlin

Original Poster:

75 posts

258 months

Wednesday 9th May 2012
quotequote all
I am taking the OH on a 4 day break to Barcelona in June, and would like to take a Segway tour of the city. I have seen someone on here reccomend a company that organises this, but am unable to find the thread. Anyone got any recommendations? I also have been told that a city card may be a good investment, basically this covers all public transport costs within the city and gives discounts on attractions, such as museums and restaurants, anybody used these, and what are the pros and cons?

Cheers

MM

Pulse

10,922 posts

249 months

gaters

1,373 posts

228 months

Thursday 10th May 2012
quotequote all
A must do in Barcelona is to go on the open top your bus. You get to see all best places and can hop on and off. Do it.

gaters

1,373 posts

228 months

Thursday 10th May 2012
quotequote all
A must do in Barcelona is to go on the open top your bus. You get to see all best places and can hop on and off. Do it.

Pulse

10,922 posts

249 months

Thursday 10th May 2012
quotequote all
Another 'must do' is the cable car. It is absolutely fantastic!

There are so many other 'must dos', too!

uk_vette

3,336 posts

235 months

Thursday 10th May 2012
quotequote all
Be very very careful when you go down La Rambla.
So much thieving.
The thieves seem to work in a group of 3, and 1 will stand a few meters from the various ice cream sellers, and watch where you return your purse, or wallet to after buying ice cream.
If you return your purse to your hand bag, then the thieves will follow you to your next attraction, like the many street entertainers.
When you are engrossed watching the street entertainer, they will slide a scalpel into the side of your hand bag, and remove your purse.
Her, just turned around as she slightly felt the scalpel cutting in her bag, fortunately her purse was still there, but the hand bag was now slit wide open.
She actually thinks what she felt was the girls hand in her hand bag, through the slit.
We are pretty sure we saw who cut her bag open when she suddenly turned around, but we didn't want to approach the girl.
She was what looked like central African decent.
later the same thief was then sitting with 2 other central African looking guys, who were all carrying the paper type carry bags, presumably to drop the stolen purse into, and swap it between each other.

vette

andye30m3

3,500 posts

285 months

Thursday 10th May 2012
quotequote all
I'd agree with the comments regarding La Rambla especially at night. 2 of our group had stuff stolen.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sagrada_Fam%C3%ADlia is a must see in my opinion

Mark.

11,104 posts

307 months

Thursday 10th May 2012
quotequote all
Bus Ride - yes
Cable Car - yes
La Ramblas - nono Didn't witness any thieving but an utter waste of time, I didn't see anything of interest, all it seemed to be was street stalls and chuff. Far better things in Barca to see/do than that, spend the time walking the lanes of Bari Gotic.

Great city and can't wait to go back

dreamer75

1,459 posts

259 months

Thursday 10th May 2012
quotequote all
thumbup for the Segway Tour with Edgar (make sure you get the right one!). It was brilliant fun ! I want a Segway !!!!!!


Magic Merlin

Original Poster:

75 posts

258 months

Thursday 10th May 2012
quotequote all
Thanks for all the advice, especially about the Segway tour, I can't believe how many there were to choose from, so wanted to make sure we got a recommended one. Do you think the bus top ride is still a must after a Segway tour, or will it be a bit of a repeat?

Podie

46,649 posts

306 months

Thursday 10th May 2012
quotequote all
uk_vette said:
Be very very careful when you go down La Rambla.
So much thieving.
Actually, it's everywhere. We were sat in a restaurant a couple of years ago, when a woman screamed her bag was missing.

Food is generally very good - even if you are stuck on the tourist trail. If you're a foodie then check out Osmosis restaurant - www.restauranteosmosis.com/

The DK Eyewitness guide is a worthwhile read if you want to do the sight seeing bit.

The Leaper

5,725 posts

237 months

Thursday 10th May 2012
quotequote all
Wife and I went to Barcelona in March 2012. Had a great time. Certainly get the tour bus and go on all the routes...great way to se the main sights and get around this large city, and hop off anywhere interesting.

Our hotel (excellent) was on Las Ramblas and we did not see or hear anything about pick-pocketing.

We prebooked from the UK via the Tourist Office the Old Town walking tour for one morning: a good thing to do.

If you're needing a classy restaurant we can recomend the "Nine Portes" down near the marina. It's been there for 100 years +. Must book in advance, though.

R.

Magic Merlin

Original Poster:

75 posts

258 months

Thursday 10th May 2012
quotequote all
Thanks for the tips, let you know how I get on...

Mastiff

2,515 posts

272 months

Thursday 10th May 2012
quotequote all
Podie said:
Food is generally very good - even if you are stuck on the tourist trail. If you're a foodie then check out Osmosis restaurant - www.restauranteosmosis.com/
...or Cinc Sentits. Bloody brilliant.

http://cincsentits.com/


The jiffle king

7,543 posts

289 months

Thursday 10th May 2012
quotequote all
I live in Barcelona and have answered this a few times.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

This thread links to about 3 others

Best Tapas going at the minute is Paco Meralgo.... just outstanding and relatively cheap too.
Happy to answer specific questions, but the threads attached give you an idea


Oh and thieves... Las Ramblas... the metro from the airport., the metro. Just watch out for people with coats over their arms (normally women) with an attentive gentleman with them. They usually crush into the carriage just as the doors are closing... they usually only stay 1 stop!

Don´t worry about it, take normal precautions (wallet in front pocket, take out what you need in cash/cards)

Oh.... its a great place to live/visit


Edited by The jiffle king on Thursday 10th May 17:32

Pulse

10,922 posts

249 months

Thursday 10th May 2012
quotequote all
The jiffle king said:
Don´t worry about it, take normal precautions (wallet in front pocket, take out what you need in cash/cards)

Oh.... its a great place to live/visit


Edited by The jiffle king on Thursday 10th May 17:32
This. We had absolutely no concerns when we went, but then we were sensible. My partner left her handbag at home, and I kept my wallet in my front pocket.

Deva Link

26,934 posts

276 months

Thursday 10th May 2012
quotequote all
Pulse said:
This. We had absolutely no concerns when we went, but then we were sensible. My partner left her handbag at home, and I kept my wallet in my front pocket.
We had concerns after all the warnings but didn't have any problems with pick-pockets.

The thieving taxi-drivers were another story though. furious

Pulse

10,922 posts

249 months

Thursday 10th May 2012
quotequote all
Deva Link said:
We had concerns after all the warnings but didn't have any problems with pick-pockets.

The thieving taxi-drivers were another story though. furious
No need to get a taxi in Barcelona though, so you can at least avoid that!

The jiffle king

7,543 posts

289 months

Thursday 10th May 2012
quotequote all
Pulse said:
No need to get a taxi in Barcelona though, so you can at least avoid that!
25/30 euros from the airport to the centre. If you land at T1, there is a free shuttle to T2 and a T10 ticket (currently 9.25) takes you to the centre (P.De Gracia) which is for 10 journeys, so keep your ticket. You can also pass between friends on a trip so just pass back at the turnstile and swipe 2x.

Pulse

10,922 posts

249 months

Friday 11th May 2012
quotequote all
The jiffle king said:
25/30 euros from the airport to the centre. If you land at T1, there is a free shuttle to T2 and a T10 ticket (currently 9.25) takes you to the centre (P.De Gracia) which is for 10 journeys, so keep your ticket. You can also pass between friends on a trip so just pass back at the turnstile and swipe 2x.
Exactly. Far cheaper, and the public transport is pretty good! We had absolutely no problems.