You're planning on having a car in Barcelona? Why?

We are leasing a car while in Europe for the 8 weeks so the car is with us but we will be just parking it while in Barcelona . . .I know crazy is in my name but I'm not that crazy

Perhaps stay in the vibrant Born district, close to both the Barceloneta beach and the Ciutadella park? Both could be great for both you and the kids. Lots of nice cafés/bars with terraces, tapas bars, restaurants, shopping, sights etc. About El Born: http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/areas/el-born.html

Not so many areas to avoid although Barcelona has a reputation for petty theft. Large parts of the Gothic quarter and Las Ramblas are crowded with tourists and a good "market" for pickpockets, although normally not dangerous at all. But I would be more careful at night in the lower parts of the Gothic quarter (a little down from Carrer Ferrán) and in the authentic but somewhat dodgy Raval district. About El Raval: http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/areas/el-raval-barrio.html

Cable car over the harbour is worth a trip, then there is a fair bit of architecture to look at.

what about here? They are offering a very good price.
http://negre.us/apartments/Valencia/33/

Great and central, non-touristy residential area, here you'll definitely get the feeling of living in Barcelona. Fairly close to fashionable Passeig de Gracia with some of the most famous Gaudí buildings, upscale shopping, excellent restaurants/tapas bars etc. You'll be a bit further away from the Ciutadella park with the zoo, the rowing boats and the Barceloneta beach. But all in all, this seems like an excellent option.

our biggest concern is safety and being close to going somewhere at night for tea etc should we stay near the beach since we have the kids?

as kimhe said, Born is close to the beach, lively and near a nice park. I would not stay right on the beach

take a look at
http://www.habitatapartments.com/en/barcelona/apartment

we used them 3 times...other posters as well

i have looked at their apartments! I liked a lot of them but I don't know the areas. I like the idea of the "Born" area but I haven't seen it mentioned. I might send them an emailand see what they come up with.

Many thanks

Medieval El Born would be better if you want to be very close to cafés, restaurats, terraces, tapas bars etc. The city's most trendy district since about 2000, and today it's a vibrant area with great sights such as the Picasso museum and the famous Santa María del Mar church. Very safe, people all over long into the night. Ten minutes walking to the beach and the bustling and atmospheric Barceloneta area with lots of outdoor cafés and restaurants. http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2001/jan/28/barcelona.spain.observerescapesection

More about El Born:
http://www.tourist-barcelona.com/default2d.asp?view=barcelona-neighborhoods/guide-to-el-born
Very popular (and all the time more tourists go here): http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g187497-d254718-Reviews-El_Born-Barcelona_Catalonia.html

I stood at both Hotel Curious and Hotel1898 - both in good locations which are close to everything and both are really nice. Hotel Curious is not luxury at all but has wonderful management and no frills just a good hotel. Hotel 1898 is luxury, pool spa and all

We've stayed as a family in this building, and loved being able to reach so many things on foot and not too far from the park: http://www.likelivingthere.com/Documents/Apt%20pages%20BCN/BCN%20pdf%20pages/El%20Born%203%20bedroom.pdf

Goodmorning!!! and can I just say to you all THANKYOU!!! <<<<Alan_CT>>>> we are going to try and stay where you stayed!!!! So so so thankful!!!! <<<kimhe>>>> thanks for those articles! and Shareen3 thanks also for you suggestions!

Dear kimhe,

I'm going to visit Barcelona for a quick trip on 24th-26th April 2013 (2 nights) and then we're driving to Carcassonne and Provence then Paris. We're 2 couples and it's our first time ever in Spain. I've been following your suggestions about Barcelona and I really like all that you've suggested, from your posting about the Flamenco show and in this post.

There are so much to see in such a short time, and I can't decide what's most important. Can you please help me?

Q1: We're gonna be jetlagged on our first day (we arrive in the morning after a really long flight) and wondering where should we go and do first ? One thing I want to see are the Gaudi buildings and eat a really good and authentic Spanish food, and maybe some shoes shopping.

Q2: I've been trying to find Flamenco performance schedule in Barcelona of all the really talented Flamenco dancers you've mentioned (Bellen Lopez, Rocio Molina, Olga Pericet, etc) but couldn't find any. What's the best performance available in Barcelona on the night of 24th or 25th April 2013?

korof,

For traditional Catalan food, I like very much both Can Culleretes (from 1786, the second oldest restaurant in Spain) and legendary 7 Portes from 1836. Both are popular with tourists but the local people also keeps coming here in great numbers for the atmosphere, the Barcelona history in the walls and the good quality traditional food. Can Culleretes is more basic, affordable and no fuzz service while 7 Portes is more of a place where celebrities have always come to.

Go for lunch, especially on Sunday, to join a more local crowd in both places.

Can Culleretes: http://www.culleretes.com/
7 Portes: http://www.7portes.com/catala/index2.php

Dined at both restaurants a couple of months ago.

For a really special food experience, I recommend to book a table at Tickets bar, the new and quite affordable gourmet tapas bar opened by the world's most reknown chef Ferran Adria a little over a year ago. Onle booking two months in advance, and the place is normally full two months ahead some hours after midnight. It means you can prpbably get a table if you book on-line early in the morning of either 24 or 25th of February (They only accept on-line reservations).

Info and reservation: http://www.ticketsbar.es/web/

Videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24MqdqnO49k
http://www.41grados.es/

I just answered your flamenco questions in the Barcelona-flamenco-thread.

Have a nice trip!

Dear kimhe,

thank you so much for your suggestions...! The Tickets especially is something that's very interesting..Just for clarification, The Tickets is tapas style restaurant and 41degree is a regular restaurant?

One more question, how much do we expect to pay for lunch/dinner at Barcelona? What's the price range for standard price, or more expensive meal?

Tickets is tapas style restaurant, while 41grados seems to be a special combination of sound, snacks, fingerfood and cocktails for 200/265€.

Expect some 60-70€ pr. person at Tickets.

Three course dinner at Can Culleretes incl a bottle of perfectly fine house wine would be very! much food and some 30-35€ pp. Mains around 15€.

10-15€ more for a three course meal with wine at 7 Portes. Mains 15-25€. Last time here I was very happy with just a huge and delicious Arroz caldós for 22€.

Most restaurants would serve a great value three course Menu del día (Today's menu) at lunchtime, the main meal of the day for most Spaniards (From about 1.30pm). Local restaurants will offer this for some 8-10€, more tourist oriented restaurants and top restaurants would also have this kind of offer for some 15-25€. (Three course menu for 22,50€ at Can Culleretes both for lunch and dinner).

For a lunch bargain, I can highly recommend l'Aribau in Carrer d'Aribau, 3. On a corner close to the impressive university from 1450. Here businesspeople and academics drop in for a three course lunch for 8,60€ (before 14, 9,60€ after 14h). Salad or today's soup, grilled meat or fish with poatatoes/vegetables and dessert. Excellent place with lots of Catalan specialities. http://barcelona.salir.com/laribau

Dear kimhe,

I'm forever grateful for your help...I have so many questions I hope you don't mind ^^

None of us speak or understand Spanish, can you please suggest us some menu that we shouldn't miss? Like I have no idea what's Arroz caldós that you mentioned before...

And how do I order in Tapas restaurant if I dont know the names of the food?

Thanks again and again

I think in most places people will speak a little English, and in many places in central Barcelona the menus also come in English. But often it's more fun going to more local places with menus in Catalan or Spanish only. So I think you would be greatly awarded for reading up a bit on local food specialities.

In tapas bars you can just point at the bar disk where most of the tapas normally are on display.

Arroz means rice, and all dishes starting with Arroz are very typical of the region, often they are delicious sea food rice dishes not very unlike the more famous paella (which also is very popular in Barcelona) but the arroz dishes are more liquid, close to being a rice and seafood soup. As paellas, the arroz dishes with meat and/or vegetables are also very popular. Arroz with seafood: https://www.google.no/search?q=Arroz+caldoso+marisco&hl=no&tbo=u&rlz=1C1ZMDB_noNO518NO518&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=5RYEUeaoAaWs4ASg8oD4Dg&ved=0CD8QsAQ&biw=1600&bih=762

In general they love their soups and stews in Barcelona. Most places has got an affordable today's soup or stew that ideally has been cooking for hours and which many places take great pride in. Soup is sopa and stew is cocido. Ask for Sopa del día (Today's soup) or Sopa de la Casa (the house soup)/ Cocido del día or Cocido de la Casa. House soups and stews were my finest food experiences last time in Barcelona. Had them late lunchtime and late at night, all were very rich and full of flavour after simmering for hours.

One famous meat soup/stew is Escudella i carn d'olla. It comes in several variants with meatballs and/or sausages and dates back to the 14th century
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escudella_i_carn_d'olla

Escalivada, grilled vegtables, is also a Catalan speciality. Delicious in itself and together with meat dishes. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escalivada

You should try Esqueixada, a salted and dried cod salad with tomatoes, onions and green peppers. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esqueixada

I love the local sausage Botifarra, often served with white beans (mongetes/judias). http://elperal.wordpress.com/2010/04/29/botifarra-con-judias-blancas-catalan-sausage-with-white-beans/

"Everybody" has Pan amb tomaquet, toasted bread with olive oil, tomatoes and garlic, for breakfast: https://www.google.no/search?q=pan+amb+tomaquet&hl=no&tbo=u&rlz=1C1ZMDB_noNO518NO518&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=Mx4EUbjIOqj24QTXtoCICQ&ved=0CDcQsAQ&biw=1600&bih=762

Be inspired at the Boquería food market, one of the finest in the world and just off Las Ramblas: http://www.boqueria.info/index.php?lang=en

The Paradeta restaurants are seafood and fish heaven. Just point at what you like at the market-stall and they prepare it for you in a few minutes. Affordable and as fresh and genuine as it gets: http://www.laparadeta.com/
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g187497-d887372-Reviews-La_Paradeta-Barcelona_Catalonia.html

A couple of sites about local cuisine:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catalan_cuisine
http://www.red2000.com/spain/barcelon/gastro.html
http://www.barcelonaby.com/recipes/recipes.htm

... and in Tickets, I would just let the chef compose a menu for the sum you suggest. In some of the best tapas bars, this would often be a great option and you would normally have a fantastic food experience. http://www.foodandthefabulous.com/restaurants/ferran-adrias-tickets/

Look at this aparthotel, apartments( with washers and dryers)for families but also with a front desk to assist you, near La Sagrada Familia. Hipanos7Suizas. With a two and a four year old, I would think a W/D would be an asset.
Look at www.maribelsguides.com and click on Barcelona link for extensive inforamtion on the city.
( there are links to other places in Spain and French Basque region as well)

Thanks everyone ... I have booked our stay here . . .

http://www.likelivingthere.com/Documents/Apt%20pages%20BCN/BCN%20pdf%20pages/El%20Born%203%20bedroom.pdf

Hopefully it will work out Now onto the next drama of getting from Barcelona to Italy by car

I'll second bilboburgler's suggestion of the cable car. We did that last summer (3 adults) and enjoyed it. There is a restaurant on the other side from the Barceloneta right where the cable car lets you off. Rather pricey and nothing but basic fare, but worth going for a ice cream with the kids to look at the view.

Will do the cable car! Now to decide where to stay and for how long from Barcelona to Varenna

Dear all,

I just came back from my trip and I wanted to thank all of you, especially @kimhe who has suggested me to stay in El Born area. El Born is simply wonderful, friendly, non-touristy, safe and give you a feeling of going back in time walking through the small alleys and cobbled street that makes this area so great! It's still central and easy to go anywhere. I recommend El Born as the area to stay whenever you visit Barcelona

Thanks for the follow-up post. We are also doing 3 days in Barcelona in Sept so will be checking out a number of these ideas

Glad you liked it. Just back myself from five fabulous days in Barcelona. Among many things, we had a great evening at Tickets with paradise versions of traditional tapas, but once again 7 Portes came out on top.