A couple last minute questions before my first trip to Barcelona
May 20th, 2017, 09:12 PM
#1
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A couple last minute questions before my first trip to Barcelona
I'll be leaving for Barcelona in a few days and just had a couple last minute questions:
1. For getting to and from the Barcelona airport, my hotel recommended the aerobus since it's so much cheaper than taxis, but I'm wary of pickpockets and thieves from all the stories I've read. Can anyone here speak from experience that they had no problems when taking the aerobus while jetlagged and having their luggage with them? I'm leaning toward just paying the extra cost for a taxi to have the peace of mind.
2. Any personal recommendations for great non-seafood restaurants? On my trip to Italy last year I had a whole list of highly recommended pizza places to try, and a relative recommended an amazing place for pasta in Florence called 4 Leoni, but I still haven't got any great places to eat in mind for Barcelona. I'll be staying in the area right between Placa de Catalunya and Arc de Triomf, if that helps any.
Any help appreciated!
1. For getting to and from the Barcelona airport, my hotel recommended the aerobus since it's so much cheaper than taxis, but I'm wary of pickpockets and thieves from all the stories I've read. Can anyone here speak from experience that they had no problems when taking the aerobus while jetlagged and having their luggage with them? I'm leaning toward just paying the extra cost for a taxi to have the peace of mind.
2. Any personal recommendations for great non-seafood restaurants? On my trip to Italy last year I had a whole list of highly recommended pizza places to try, and a relative recommended an amazing place for pasta in Florence called 4 Leoni, but I still haven't got any great places to eat in mind for Barcelona. I'll be staying in the area right between Placa de Catalunya and Arc de Triomf, if that helps any.
Any help appreciated!
May 21st, 2017, 12:15 AM
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<Any personal recommendations for great non-seafood restaurants?>
Tons of more to the Catalan kitchen than seafood, and Barcelona is food heaven.
The Born district is close to where you stay, and plenty of fabulous tapas bars and restaurants here. Tapeo was our great food find a couple of years ago: http://www.tapeoborn.cat/tapeo-del-born.html
Ca l'Estevet is also quite close, one of those timeless places: http://www.restaurantestevet.com/en/
Go to Xemei in Poble Sec for the best pasta in the world. I've eaten pasta twice a week for my whole life, and nothing compares to the Bigoli en Salsa Veneciana in Xemei. You see it here after 1 min 35 sec. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Lvcjtoh0tU
Fun and laid-back Tickets is now on the world's 50 best restaurants list, and you can see if you can get a last minute table. Just tell what kind of food you like, and for some 70-80 € you would have some 15 tastings, some great cava or bear and a meal you will never forget. http://www.theworlds50best.com/The-L...0/Tickets.html
A taxi from the airport to central Barcelona is just some 25€.
Tons of more to the Catalan kitchen than seafood, and Barcelona is food heaven.
The Born district is close to where you stay, and plenty of fabulous tapas bars and restaurants here. Tapeo was our great food find a couple of years ago: http://www.tapeoborn.cat/tapeo-del-born.html
Ca l'Estevet is also quite close, one of those timeless places: http://www.restaurantestevet.com/en/
Go to Xemei in Poble Sec for the best pasta in the world. I've eaten pasta twice a week for my whole life, and nothing compares to the Bigoli en Salsa Veneciana in Xemei. You see it here after 1 min 35 sec. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Lvcjtoh0tU
Fun and laid-back Tickets is now on the world's 50 best restaurants list, and you can see if you can get a last minute table. Just tell what kind of food you like, and for some 70-80 € you would have some 15 tastings, some great cava or bear and a meal you will never forget. http://www.theworlds50best.com/The-L...0/Tickets.html
A taxi from the airport to central Barcelona is just some 25€.
May 21st, 2017, 02:41 AM
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We used the Aerobus lasy May with absolutely no problem at all. The only ones on the bus are people like you who are going to the city from the airport. Usually the bus is waiting as you get to the stand outside the airport, we bought our tickets from the driver. If you do have to wait it'll only be a short while, just be careful with your bags at that time.
BTW, you want to have exact change for the Aerobus ticket, maybe you can keep it separately in your bag even before you travel, or even on the flight.
BTW, you want to have exact change for the Aerobus ticket, maybe you can keep it separately in your bag even before you travel, or even on the flight.
May 21st, 2017, 04:00 AM
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I would think that the bus is fine from the airport, but do use a money belt at all times and be overly cautious. We were pickpocketed on a train despite knowing and being ultra careful. Never saw it happen and witnessed other people who were pick pocketed also during our travels in Barcelona. These are professional thieves who you will never see coming.
May 21st, 2017, 05:07 AM
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We, too, are going to Barcelona soon. It will be our 5th or 6th trip there. It's one of our favorite cities from all of our travels, possibly #1. The design vibe is fabulous and the food is even better.
I second kimhe's suggestion of Tapeo in El Born. We have a lunch reservation there. Other places we like and are returning to: Windsor (upscale), Gresca (small, bistro with exciting offerings), Paco Meralgo and Tapa 24--both tapas favorites as is Cervaseria Catalana. Boqueria market a must--try food from the many stalls there. Trying Topik for the first time. Less edgy but nice and quite reasonable are Alba Granados and L'Olive. Vinotecha Torres is a lovely wine bar on Passeig de Gracia, but our favorite is Vinya del Senor just outside the Santa Maria del Mar church in El Born. Senyor Parallada is fun in that area as is Sagardi, a good chain of tapas options. Bar Mut is a Chowhound favorite. Mosquito is a fun Asian tapas place in El Born. Dos Palillos is a Michelin starred Asian tapas place in Raval area.
Did I say that there are some great food experiences to be had in Barcelona?!!! Truth be told, if you just stop at any place that has a nice design vibe and get some tomato bread you'll be blown away. Enjoy your time in Barcelona. It's a special city and the food is the best of all.
I second kimhe's suggestion of Tapeo in El Born. We have a lunch reservation there. Other places we like and are returning to: Windsor (upscale), Gresca (small, bistro with exciting offerings), Paco Meralgo and Tapa 24--both tapas favorites as is Cervaseria Catalana. Boqueria market a must--try food from the many stalls there. Trying Topik for the first time. Less edgy but nice and quite reasonable are Alba Granados and L'Olive. Vinotecha Torres is a lovely wine bar on Passeig de Gracia, but our favorite is Vinya del Senor just outside the Santa Maria del Mar church in El Born. Senyor Parallada is fun in that area as is Sagardi, a good chain of tapas options. Bar Mut is a Chowhound favorite. Mosquito is a fun Asian tapas place in El Born. Dos Palillos is a Michelin starred Asian tapas place in Raval area.
Did I say that there are some great food experiences to be had in Barcelona?!!! Truth be told, if you just stop at any place that has a nice design vibe and get some tomato bread you'll be blown away. Enjoy your time in Barcelona. It's a special city and the food is the best of all.
May 21st, 2017, 05:19 AM
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If you have just one suitcase you should be fine. I rode the Aerobus to and from the airport and had no problems. Just keep an eye on your suitcase. The Aerobus is good and if you buy online/roundtrip there is a discount.
Enjoy Barcelona. I too was worried about pickpockets and thieves because of the stories but if you use common sense and street smarts, you will be okay.
Enjoy Barcelona. I too was worried about pickpockets and thieves because of the stories but if you use common sense and street smarts, you will be okay.
May 29th, 2017, 09:37 AM
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Only got one day in Barcelona due to flight cancellations and delays, but I did get to try Tapeo and wanted to give a big thanks for that recommendation. I got 4 items there without paying much attention to the prices and was shocked when the bill came in at under 20 Euros for such quality food! For future reference to anyone else, I definitely recommend making a reservation since I waited about an hour to get in after putting my name on the list around 9pm.
May 30th, 2017, 08:52 AM
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well, I can verify that I took the Aerobus and had no problems with pickpockets but I don't behave in a manner that lends itself to pickpocketing, and I don't have anything to pick. I don't keep things in my pockets, unlike many males, for example. Nor anything in a backpack in my back, nor in an open bag dangling down at my side, etc.
I am also an alert person in general, I know many people are not and act in a clueless manner. I see them all the time when traveling.
I'm not afraid of pickpockets because there is really not much of a way they could do that. Thieves? You think people are on the Aerobus that are stealing your luggage?
Having said that, the Aerobus is not the place I'd be worried about pickpockets in Barcelona, if you are so afraid of that, you will never go anywhere or do anything in Barcelona, including taking the metro or going to any tourist attraction or walking down Las Ramblas, all of which have a great risk, I imagine.
<<I'm SORRY but anybody who "witnessed" someone ELSE being pickpocketed and did nothing is a jerk.>>
NO, they are not, you can witness something from afar and there is nothing you can do about it. Or you could witness something but the thief is gone immediately, which often happens with pickpockets (ie, they pick a pocket just before stepping out of an open metro door just before it closes). Also, the way the person worded that could just mean they heard someone talking about it happen to them. It is highly unlikely this person was standing right next to someone and saw them being pickpocketed and during the action did nothing and said nothing and could have stopped it. Pickpockets are very fast, also, actually.
I am also an alert person in general, I know many people are not and act in a clueless manner. I see them all the time when traveling.
I'm not afraid of pickpockets because there is really not much of a way they could do that. Thieves? You think people are on the Aerobus that are stealing your luggage?
Having said that, the Aerobus is not the place I'd be worried about pickpockets in Barcelona, if you are so afraid of that, you will never go anywhere or do anything in Barcelona, including taking the metro or going to any tourist attraction or walking down Las Ramblas, all of which have a great risk, I imagine.
<<I'm SORRY but anybody who "witnessed" someone ELSE being pickpocketed and did nothing is a jerk.>>
NO, they are not, you can witness something from afar and there is nothing you can do about it. Or you could witness something but the thief is gone immediately, which often happens with pickpockets (ie, they pick a pocket just before stepping out of an open metro door just before it closes). Also, the way the person worded that could just mean they heard someone talking about it happen to them. It is highly unlikely this person was standing right next to someone and saw them being pickpocketed and during the action did nothing and said nothing and could have stopped it. Pickpockets are very fast, also, actually.
May 31st, 2017, 08:17 PM
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Hi - I took the bus (solo). It was very clean, organized and easy. I felt very safe. I had asked on these forums about pickpockets, etc and everyone assured me it would be fine. It was. Just keep your eyes on your phine and valuables (wallet).
May 31st, 2017, 08:25 PM
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That should be "phone". I will also add tht Barcelona was a wonderful city. The people were very friendly and helpful. When I got off the bus, I sort of wandered a bit until I found my hotel but That was my fault for not mapping the directions properly.
Jun 1st, 2017, 12:50 PM
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The aerobus is great. I was a little nervous about pickpockets too, but I didn't have any problems. I made sure to keep an arm over my bag when my attention was engaged in taking pictures and when I was in the metro and the markets.
I had a wonderful sandwich at Foc i Oli - a casual little place a few blocks off the Passeig de Gracia. Also, there are tons of little fruit stands where you can pick up apricots, peaches, cherries, etc. for really cheap. Finally, there's a little churro place in Barri Gotic called Xurreria Dels Banys Nous that sells sugary churros filled with dulce de leche or nutella, as well a white and dark chocolate covered churros. So good!
I had a wonderful sandwich at Foc i Oli - a casual little place a few blocks off the Passeig de Gracia. Also, there are tons of little fruit stands where you can pick up apricots, peaches, cherries, etc. for really cheap. Finally, there's a little churro place in Barri Gotic called Xurreria Dels Banys Nous that sells sugary churros filled with dulce de leche or nutella, as well a white and dark chocolate covered churros. So good!
