Barcelona attraction tickets

Old Jul 24th, 2016, 01:03 AM
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Barcelona attraction tickets

Hi just after some advice regarding whether it's worth buying tickets in advance for some of the attractions we're looking into visiting whilst in Barcelona.
We are travelling to Barcelona from September 2nd-10th.
The places we would like to visit are:
Casa batllo
La pedrera
Park guell
Gothic quarter
Palau guell
Picasso museum
Sant pau recinte modernista

Should we buy tickets individually in advance to avoid queues?

Also does anyone have an opinion as to which hop on hop off bus is better? Or maybe it's not worth it to and just walk?

We also plan a trip to figueres and Montserrat.

Many thanks in advance
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Old Jul 24th, 2016, 08:29 AM
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I didn't know they had more than one hop-on/off bus company, but if so, I'd just compare the routes as that is the main difference in companies (that and price). I took one that was good (Bus Turistic), I thought that was the only one but I cold be wrong.

Barcelona is actually a fairly large and spread-out city. The hopon/off bus is a nice way to get an excursion and see the entire city, especially in fine weather. If you only want to see the things you named, it wouldn't be good, though, as those are mainly in the old center, which is the main area where that bus isn't such a good idea due to traffic and places being close together, anyway. For Parc Guell, it can be useful but it doesn't drop you off right at the entrance (I went there a different day and took a city bus that did). But the hopon/off bus was very good and pleasant for seeing some of the other areas of barcelona -- the Catalonian Art Museum, which is fantastic, going by Plaza Espana, the park area where the Miro museum is, etc.

https://www.barcelonabusturistic.cat/en/rutes
Take a look at those red and blue routes, they cover attractions pretty far from the dead center. If you don't intend to go to any of those, it probalby isn't useful.
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Old Jul 24th, 2016, 08:37 AM
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oh, advance tickets -- they can be useful for some of those Gaudi sites, like Casa Battlo and Pedrera. Presuming you know when you want to go. Also for Sagrada Familia if you want to go there. I've never seen lines at Palau Guell, however, it's not as visited. I don't know about the parc, I didn't buy one in advance and had no trouble whatever in July, but I think I've read they had timed tickets now or something different so maybe someone else had other opinions on that one.

I had no wait at the Picasso Museum, either. I didn't think it was that great and I don't even like Picasso that much, so I'm sure I never would have waited in line for that. I don't think his best works are there, of course, they are in other museums. It's mainly works from his early years. But I don't think you need advance tickets if you want to go. For example, right now you can buy a ticket for most of Tuesday, and that wouldn't be the case if it were really crowded.
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Old Jul 24th, 2016, 01:14 PM
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Thank you for the great advice. I'll look at the bus turistic and book tickets in advance for the main attractions to beat the queues. Would it be safe to say you could spend one day each doing one of the routes (re, blue and green)?
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Old Jul 24th, 2016, 06:25 PM
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I vistied in late May of 2015, and was glad to have reservations for each of the sites you mention other than the Gothic Quarter (I just roamed around and visited places with no need for a reservation), the Picasso Museum, and the Sant Pau Recinte Modernista. There were lines for EACH of the others sites.

I agree with Christina that you should book for the Sagrada Familia if you plan to visit it. And I notice that the magnificent Palau de la Música Catalana is not on your list. If you have any interest, that's another place I would recommend reserving in advance.

I didn’t take any of the HOHOs, so I’m no help there.
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Old Jul 24th, 2016, 09:02 PM
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We have just returned from Barcelona and did the Hop On Hop Off Tour. There were 2 companies - we used Turistic. The other company had a red bus - I can't remember the name of it.
Whilst these buses are very 'touristy', we have always found them to be an useful ito giving one a good sense of the lay of the land as well as some general information about the city. However, we all agreed (a family of 4) that this was probably the most uninteresting and useless bus tour we have ever been on (we did 2 of the 3 routes). Add to that that most of the speaker sets did not work in the buses and if they did, they would keep changing languages. If you are intending on using the bus as a means to get from one place to another then I'd say OK go for it but it's an expensive option for that with very little information offered in return. You'd be better off then using the local buses and the metro.
Something that might be of interest you - Runner Bean Tours. These are free tours offered by the locals and you tip based on how you enjoyed the tour. They offered a Gaudi tour and a tour of the Gothic quarter. I'd say it's worth doing the one of the Gothic Quarter to get the little snippets of info that aren't offered in general tourist information.
Enjoy your time in Barcelona.
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Old Jul 25th, 2016, 10:57 PM
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Hi guys thank you for the great advice regarding the attractions. so much to see and so little time. I've come up with an itinerary perhaps you guys could let me know if it would work;

Friday september 2th- Land at barcelona 2pm

Saturday- segrada familia first thing in the morning, then casa battlo, la pedrera and park guell

Sun- gothic quarter- sandeman free walking tour and picasso museum

Mon- gothic quater- el born, palau guell, la rambla

Tues- day trip to figueres visit Dali house and costa brava

Wed- barcelona turistic bus green route along beach

Thurs- day trip to monsterrat

Fri- free day

Sat- leave barcelona for Geneva

We are staying 5 mins from Casa Mila. Nothing is set in stone, this is just a draft of what I came up with.

Does this sound ok?
Also as we land at 2pm and by the time we get settled it will be around 4.30pm, does anyone have any suggestions what we could explore that first night?

We're interested in modernista art, lots of food and as much spanish culture at night we can handle.

Thanks
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Old Jul 25th, 2016, 11:02 PM
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kja
 
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I like to take long walks after hours on a flight, so I'd go for Parc Guell after your arrival.

Enjoy!
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Old Jul 26th, 2016, 04:20 AM
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We did the Green Route and you really do not see much from the bus. Rather catch the Metro down to the beach front and walk along there - so much nicer and you see so much more. We actually walked from Place Catalanya down Las Ramblas and then across to the beach and all the way along the beach front - we stopped for tapas and a drink. It was a lovely walk. We did this the first day we arrived - as kja says and I agree - long walks after long flights are good
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Old Jul 26th, 2016, 04:21 AM
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I had some of the same questions.
Just getting my sightseeing organized for mid-September in Barcelona
Looking at advance tickets for Casa Battlo and Casa Milo. Casa Battlo has an option of "anytime" admission for 5 euros each extra which appeals to me. We will go to Sagrada Famila early in the morning. What should our next logical stop be and then for how long? What advice can you give me.

Thanks
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Old Jul 26th, 2016, 04:24 AM
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Forgot to mention that we have a guide for a tour of the Gothic Quarter and Jewish Quarter. Will go to the Picasso Museum after that.
We also have tickets for a concert at the Palau de la Música Catalana, so I am not concerned about going there.
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